So, what the fuck is happening at Agency Spy? I happen to know the guys over there personally, and I love their site, after mine, that is... And having got shitfaced with them a couple of times. Plus, we trade references and links all the time. But as of yesterday, they have yet again, transmogrified AgencySpy to another MediaBistro uber-fucking site which requires you to register, then log in every time you post... OK, I know you have to do this to satisfy the somewhat depressing, fucking money lyposuctioning, business model of MediaBistro, which requires you to give up all your personal and credit card information, then send it to the First National Bank of fucking Lagos in Nigeria... But listen guys... I tried it earlier, I even registered and all that shit, 'cos I'm a good guy... Made a quickie comment... And then discovered that you can't link back to AdScam, the world's greatest Ad Blog... He said modestly... Guys, guys, understand this, it's a business model that's counter productive. Even Steve Hall over at AdRants, the world's best read AdBlog, (you owe me for this Steve) doesn't require you to jump through these kinds of hoops. As I have said repeatedly... Anyone can pour piss and vinegar over what I say on AdScam, I will not monitor comments, I will provide link backs to comments... I don't fucking care if they accuse me of being a blog murderer... But then again, AdScam is not part of a festering money making blog conglomerate. When you decide to descend the deep, dark, rancid pit of "Monetization" you eventually end up losing the audience you attracted in the first place... People move on... That's the good and bad bits of the blogosphere... Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Believe me, there's nothing nasty intended here guys... Just a friendly word of advice!
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Damn... That shit used to come outta my ass every day!
Well, thanks for the kind words, George:-) That is one thing I hate. Having to register for comments. I make it optional and have really, really REALLY good comment spam filters to keep all the crap out so I don't have to deal with registration.
Anytime a site changes, it sucks. You get used to it and then BAM....it's all new.
Hopefully when Adrants gets redesigned (in mere months, I promise!) it'll still maintain it's "world's best" position in your eyes!
Posted by: Steve Hall | April 23, 2008 at 03:37 PM
This is absolutely ridiculous; and definitely a "bad bit" of the so called blogosphere. Crazy. They really should know that you can't make money with blogs, and moving from wordpress to some other thingy won't do them any good. Stupid.
Steve, let me know if you need a new logotype for adrants! :-)
Posted by: The Cartoonist | April 23, 2008 at 03:43 PM
I wonder if the new comment registration was legally mandated by Mediabistro or its attorneys. In addition to being a pain in the ass, it will likely dissuade visitors from commenting. Without the freedom typically associated with comments, Agency Spy will lose a great deal of its appeal, and a great deal of traffic. Mediabistro is among the shittiest entities online.
Posted by: Mediabitchstro | April 23, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Mediabitchstro...
You are dead right there... In fact, I'm going to do a post on it pronto... Stand by...
Cheers/George
Posted by: George Parker | April 23, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Even my shoes are following me:
Politicians and corporations hate blogs because they can't control and spin the dialog. Mark my words that every effort is being made to stifle this type of venue. Once money is involved, its all over. The former captives become the captors. They will make up some malarky about "security", "privacy" and the like. Eventually there will be one big BDA called Omnipitorbic and Rupert Murdoch will own every newspaper on earth. And they STILL can go fuck themselves.
(0) Comments:
I liked Agency Spy, found the switch too much of a hassle, and will refrain from participating there again.
Posted by: Studio Maven | April 24, 2008 at 01:03 PM
agree. don't they understand they are a gossip blog and the fun is reading the anonymous venomous comments? and that nobody wants to register for ANYTHING ever, much less a silly ad blog.
Oy!
Posted by: veedub | April 25, 2008 at 05:25 AM
Agree with the agreements. In many respects, the most compelling and readable writing at Agency Spy happens in the comments. Any attempt to regulate or impede the discussions is not good. It’s also ironic that the blog run by anonymous characters would ask visitors to register—even if there’s always the option of registering under false names. Agency Spy is always quick to rip the stupid moves made by agencies. Yet this Mediabistro move feels like typical BDA maneuvering.
Posted by: Mediabitchstro | April 26, 2008 at 01:02 PM
agree with your agreement mediabitchstro.
i just went over there and it's tumbleweeds and crickets. no comments on anything. at all. wtf is mediabistro anyway? not the savviest bunch apparently.
Posted by: veedub | April 26, 2008 at 07:37 PM