Retired Oregon Supreme Court Justice Edward Fadeley railed against the blogosphere today, calling it “a veritable Wild West of verbal ambushes and shootouts, with very little fear of legal recourse to keep character assassination, defamation and dirty business tricks in check.”
Fadeley went on to say that many legitimate businesses have been harmed by the irresponsibility or outright viciousness of bloggers, and he alleged that as many as 60% of the attacks on businesses by bloggers were sponsored by competitors.
Fadeley makes a valid point that running afoul of the blogosphere has done great harm to some businesses. But what he doesn’t understand is that these same businesses have the opportunity to emerge victorious from the maelstrom of criticism and backbiting by simply engaging with the bloggers that are attacking them.
That said, it’s no wonder that many corporations still perceive the blogosphere as a problem to be avoided instead of a powerful tool. If very bright people like Judge Fadeley hold this perception, it’s not hard to imagine that corporate executives and other powerful individuals would feel the same way.
At our upcoming conference, we’ll talk about how different businesses are using the blogosphere in unique ways that fit the culture, business model, and goals that they value. And we’ll help our corporate attendees on their way to determining the optimal strategy for working with the blogosphere to benefit themselves and their customers.
Via The Blog Herald.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
vaspers the grate 08.10.06 at 8:37 pm
No, I’m sorry but I believe the real reason business avoids blogging is elsewhere.
Business people are not wimpy little sissies who fear flamers and harsh, abusive comments, or competitor attacks.
I again assert: if a business acts dumb or hostile to blogging, it’s because they are the Old Economy Command and Control freaks. They are not Cluetrain. They are not willing to engage in candid conversations with customers.
They just want to broadcast a univocal message of “Buy My Product” and all they want to hear is “Love Your Product”.
I assert this all over the bloatosphere and I posit it again here. I think the “I’m scared and nervous” BS is a lie.
Teresa Valdez Klein 08.15.06 at 9:56 am
It’s possible that both factors are at work here Vaspers. You don’t have to be a “sissy” to be afraid of change.