Calling out fuckers

Okay, since I post my contact information (email address and IM names) on my blog, I get some interesting emails and IMs. I have met some great people through the blog as friends, colleagues, networking opportunities ... even new business.

And, I know I have teens that look at my blog, because I have had some very nice emails from high school and middle school students - and I always try to respond, and help them out. It's the same reason I'm a War Eagle - you know, for the kids (yes, Hudsucker Proxy reference).

So, I thought I got another one of those, but an unhappy one. Here it is, verbatim.

Subject: Are you the real jeremy pepper
From: Monica Salvitti (monica@revolutions.com.au)

We don't think so
Fucker

Okay, I laughed. I thought a 12-year-old got upset that I had the same name as a friend, so called me a "fucker" - it's immature, but hey, who can't remember the first time we realized we were not the only "Jeremy Pepper" or your own name? Come on, I was heart broken, and then totally weirded out. So, yah, the "we" would be Monica and her friend Jeremy Pepper.

But, wait, it is not a child or tween. It is an adult, a publicist in Australia that started a publicity firm, Revolutions Per Minute, in Australia. Maybe the "We" is her and Nicole Hart, her business partner. You think Sony Australia would train its people better than to attack randomly...

Why I am a fucker is beyond me - hell, I don't know anyone in Australia beyond other PR bloggers, and I am pretty sure that Paull Young, Trevor Cook and Lee Hopkins like me - or, at least tolerate me. :)

But, it makes me wonder. We are at a crossroad in PR - heck, I am speaking about this such thing at Web 2.0 Expo - and the fact is that the world is shrinking (not getting flat, sorry people). But, with Google and search and blogs - what you write and what you send electronically to people can be read by many if a person decides to blog it.

That is the best counsel you can give a client now - there is no such thing as a quiet launch, geography has disappeared, news has become worldwide. And, watch what you say or email.

Maybe you'll be the "fucker" on the other side of that email.

Photo by Chris Heuer - is that the face of a "fucker"?!?

Tags: public relations, PR, marketing communications, marcom, marketing, publicity, publicists, Jeremy Pepper, fuckers