Protest of SEW politicalizing.

[Marcia]

I find this article totally and completely offensive:

http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3629136

How about let's stay with religiously and politically neutral SEM/SEO and Internet Marketing topics, and keep (runny, snotty, regardless of whose) noses out of religiously/politically controversial topics that are bound to offend and alienate a good portion of the readership/membership?

Do these forums *REALLY* want to get into the kind of religious and political debates that can so easily turn ugly?

[mcanerin]

What I read in the article was an example of two competing groups using social media - one effectively, one not.

I don't really see a difference between an Obama/Clinton comparison or a Linux/Windows one, myself. An example is not necessarily a testimonial or endorsement.

I imagine there are some Linux fans who might find that a comparison to MS is controversial, religious and political all at once. I suppose it just depends on what buttons you have.

If the article had come across as a partisan endorsement I would agree, but it really didn't come across that way for me, sorry. Perhaps it's because I'm a Canadian and couldn't care less about US politics - I'm simply not partisan myself.

If American members feel this is inappropriate and wish to censor themselves, fine. But I doubt you'd find a lot of non-US members thinking that this is a big issue (more like a boring one), and certainly not something that a journalist should be censored over.

Ian

[Marcia]

Perhaps it's because I'm a Canadian and couldn't care less about US politics - I'm simply not partisan myself.

That's probably why you find it to be acceptable - because you couldn't care less; and it doesn't affect your life or future one whit.

But I am U.S. based, and very politically inclined (and always have been); and I do care about U.S. politics - a lot, because it does affect my life and my future. So therefore, I see it with what are probably completely different eyes and viewpoints.

[AussieWebmaster]

I just read it as two people using social media

[Marcia]

What I read in the article was an example of two competing groups using social media - one effectively, one not.Ian, that isn't at all how I read it.

An example is not necessarily a testimonial or endorsement.Oh, but darlin' - it depends wholly on how it's written.

The all time authoritative expert on the subject of objectivity, bias and semantic interpretation: S. I. Hayakawa (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS237US237&q=S+I+Hayakawa), the author of the classic Language in Action - a must read for anyone who even barely reads or listens to speeches or writings (especially by politicians) and wants to understand what they're actually saying and what they're reading and/or hearing.

If the article had come across as a partisan endorsement I would agree, but it really didn't come across that way for me, sorry.Oh, but it certainly did come across as just that. And that's exactly why my fur got ruffled.

Perhaps it's because I'm a Canadian and couldn't care less about US politics - I'm simply not partisan myself.I am partisan, and do care about US politics. Which kind of emphasizes and proves the point, doesn't it?

If American members feel this is inappropriate and wish to censor themselves, fine. What does "censor themselves" mean? Does it mean, "Stuff it and shut up?"

But I doubt you'd find a lot of non-US members thinking that this is a big issue (more like a boring one), and certainly not something that a journalist should be censored over.Of course, it's the U.S. that's in the middle of heated primary campaigns for the Presidency, so while it may be a boring issue for non-U.S. members, it's a highly critical one for U.S. members who have significant issues at stake.

I imagine there are some Linux fans who might find that a comparison to MS is controversial, religious and political all at once. I suppose it just depends on what buttons you have.Political buttons are HOT BUTTONS, with far more critical and far reaching impact than software issues; and it doesn't take much understanding to separate the significance of the differences between the two. It fails me understanding how life and death, survival and non-survival issues can be compared with the importance of software choices.

And to wit, here you have it:

I'm a perfect example of why it's an excellent idea to stay completely clear of such topics, and why that article should not have been published. The article is decidedly slanted, and anyone with any degree of political fervor who does not agree with the direction of the slanting (the candidate in whose favor the article is slanted) will not just passively accept it as editorially, politically and ideologically acceptable.

[mcanerin]

I'm a perfect example of why it's an excellent idea to stay completely clear of such topics, and why that article should not have been published. The article is decidedly slanted, and anyone with any degree of political fervor who does not agree with the direction of the slanting (the candidate in whose favor the article is slanted) will not just passively accept it as editorially, politically and ideologically acceptable.

You've clearly demonstrated that <grin>.

From my persective it's not an issue, so I won't persue it and will respect your feelings in the matter.

Of course, in a very real sense my opinion doesn't count for much, not being management. Perhaps you could write a rebuttal or something?

Come to think of it I think it would be fun to see a thread here about online marketing practices used during the election (or politics in general) and how effective they are. Lately it's been boring in the forums and I think a little passion might be interesting.

Ian

[AussieWebmaster]

Ian,
I am doing some political advertising this election.... a whole new and really simple system this year... going to get harder over the next few years

[Marcia]

Ian,
I am doing some political advertising this election.... a whole new and really simple system this year... going to get harder over the next few yearsI getcha, Frank; it ain't easy, is it?

I have a little cousin (an attorney in your area, BTW) who's running for a local Congressional seat for his local area, so I have a particular interest in the topic, though I've been long gone from anywhere near there.

How do you tell someone who isn't "wise to the *ways of the web*" that he/she will have to become a linkwhore and/or instigate some eyeball_baiting yellow journalism tactics to get exposure?

Hey, I'm not saying where I stand or who I'm "for", but here's how it stands now with regard to how the press sees the influence of the internet press.

Obama, Propelled by the Net, Wins Democratic Nomination (http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/obama-propelled.html)

[jimhedger]

Just to drag on a point Ian made... I too am Canadian. I care deeply about the outcome of the US election. The outcome effects me directly as a neighbour of the Americans and as an Internet worker. Whichever party wins control of the White House and Congress will have a direct influence on my future and that of my nation. I therefore have a responsibility to care. (I suspect Ian actually does care about the outcome too)

The US election is going to have a tremendous effect on the future of the Internet. Shying away from debate on issues that effect tech workers is NOT a good policy, even if some of those reading get offended. For a working democracy to work, the electorate needs to be fully informed. Given the sorry state of mainstream media in the US, much of which is centered around celebrity gossip, I don't think there are other many other venues in which tech workers can intelligently discuss issues before November.

As for Li's piece, it did not read partisan to me in any way. In fact, she was right with her comparison. Mr.Obama used social media applications to communicate with voters far better than Ms. Clinton did. He won the nomination.

I am an avid political junkie and am very capable of reading between, through and beyond the lines printed on my screen. I suspect other members of this forum and readers of SEW are as or more intelligent than I am. Since I can not vote in the upcoming election, I only hope they are as well informed. This is a place where they get their information from. That is more important than the perceived risk of hurting someone's feelings.

The online media is stepping into the shoes of the mainstream media. We need to act like we are prepared to handle such responsibility.

[Discovery]

Cant believe I'm so late in finding this thread.

The topic of online marketing in political campaigns is a legitimate one and one that is clearly relevant to our community.

At the same time it is the third rail topic of forums. This article does a decent job in trying to explain the strategies of the two campaigns, although it is clearly pro Barrack.

So there in lies the issue, many member's responses may not stay on the track of responding from a marketer's point of view but instead from a political point of view. And that is a slippery slope to chaos.

So I would love to see these marketing strategies discussed, they would need tight policing from a very impartial party - How about the Canadian eh?

I do have to say that Barracks team is good, but not all that good. They are admitting that Search Engine Watch is the source of their online marketing knowledge: http://www.barackaboma.com/

[Marcia]

it is clearly pro Barrack.Yes it is, hence the protest.

they would need tight policing from a very impartial party - How about the Canadian eh?Which Canadian?

[mcanerin]

Well, I don't like the Dems because they want to "renegotiate" NAFTA unilaterally, which is an anti-Canadian act, and I don't like the Reps because they like invading people, dragging Canada into it, then dropping bombs on our troops by accident (for the first 6 months of the Afghanistan war, Americans had killed more Canadians than the Taliban had...).

I guess you could say I'm pretty neutral as a result, but there may be other non-Americans who pay less attention to politics that would be better suited.

But I'll volunteer if no one else steps up. At least I can spell the names of the candidates and know what party they belong to, and in spite of the above I've nothing strongly personal for or against either party or candidate.

Ian