Will Corporate Presence on Social Networks Ruin Customer Evangelism?

Author: Greg  //  Category: Evangelism, Legitimacy, New Media, Rise in Cynicism, The New Customer, seesmic

All I wanted to do was tell someone about an amazing burger I had. So I posted this video up on Seesmic singing the praises of the Southern Smokehouse Bacon Big Mouth Burger from Chili’s.

I felt pretty good telling other bacon lovers about this burger with the amazing thick-cut bacon. After all, anyone that knows me knows that bacon is a hobby of mine. And I only hope that means an endorsement from me about the quality of the bacon on this burger, might cause others to try this thing too.

But within 2 minutes of posting my video I received this reply. In short, “Bill” asked if I worked for Chili’s. At first I was shocked that he would consider my praise to be a thinly veiled paid endorsement by Chili’s. But after re-watching my post, I realized that I don’t blame him. Read more…

The Fraternal Order of Pushy Telemarketers

Author: Greg  //  Category: Rise in Cynicism, Telemarketing

I got accosted yesterday on the phone. Bullied. Beaten down. Imagine Rodney King over the phone. The Fraternal Order of Police called me. Normally I screen all my calls with the Caller ID. If it says “Out of Range” or “Private Number” I send it to VM. But now more and more my wife and I have friends whose numbers come up “Private Number” so I picked up.

Bad bad move. Mistake #1

RIght away I was verbally bullied by a guy who pretended he knew me. Who pretended he and I hang out with each other at the local bar. Mr. Nuge? Mr. Ning? Uh…is this Gregory En Jee?

I answered “Uh huh.” Mistake #2

Normally I am at the top of my game, able to quickly cover and say, “No. He’s not home. i am the housesitter.” or “He just stepped out. WOuld you like to speak to my younger sister? She handles these types of calls.” or my personal favorite, “Sorry. I don’t speak english.”

But not this day. This day, influenced by the fact that I dunno, these are the police and they can legally carry and shoot firearms and oh yeah they know my voice, my address, and my phone number, I said, “Uh huh.” Read more…