More Disney Fun with Social Media (pics included!)

[flynnibus]

Ah, flynnibus, you do like to pick wings off of flies.

Me? You're the one who just skipped the meat of the post. What Tom puts on his personal site is parallel to the complaints people are bringing up here, not intersecting. What Tom does on his website does not change the points raised here about THIS website (the tumblr) and how Disney set it up.. so in short.. 'big whoop'

 

[devoy1701]

I had never heard the word Photog until this morning.

 

[dreamfinder]

Look at some other examples...
http://tmagazine.tumblr.com/
http://life.tumblr.com/
http://today.tumblr.com/

Compare the examples I listed above and see if your same concerns of ownership apply there as well...

life.tumblr.com - Clearly states that it provides an additional outlet for Life.com editors, above the fold if you will, along with an easy to identify contact point/editor
tmagazine.tumblr.com - Clearly states its affiliation with the Time Style Magazine as the first thing you see, and also provides obvious links at top and bottom
today.tumblr.com - Eeh, kinda in the air about this one, but they do clarly have the Today masthead, along with an obvious link to today.com directly below it

Tumblr is just the location/host - you don't assume Tumblr owns all the content in all the feeds do you simply because it's at tumblr.com instead of dreamfinder.com do you? Do you question a blog because it uses wordpress instead of something homegrown? Or how about company pages on Facebook? Or Twitter? See a trend here? The format/location is a compromise participating companies accept - they don't get to pull the full experience/benefit of that format/location into their corporate domain.

Except there is no trend here. Since you explicitly mentioned facebook and twitter, check out the facebook.com/DisneyPhotoPass and twitter.com/disneyphotopass. Both clearly state "Official page for Disney's Photopass Service". Ditto for facebook.com/vinylmation, "Offical vinylmation facebook page". And check out twitter.com/disneypixar, facebook.com/disneyland, facebook.com/waltdisneyworld, facebook.com/carsland, facebook.com/duffythedisneybear, etc. See a trend here? They all say Official Whatever for Whatever.

And as you said, when you read the content from the site, you assumed the content was approved by the site curator. That's exactly what's happening here and why addition 'clarification' is not only unwarranted, but over the top in expectations.

I don' assume Tumblr owns the content at all. But in almost every commercial Tumblr site, the owner is clearly shown. All 3 of the sites you listed, clearly show ownership smack dab in the top of the masthead. Others, such as boston.tumblr.com and latenightjimmy.tumblr.com, clearly state the source of the content, and in the case of Jimmy Fallon's site, even states that it is the official site of LTwJF. The Disney one? Has a Disney Parks logo on the bottom, and if you click the about, mentions Disney Parks. Thats all.

I happen to have 15-20 other Disney related tumblrs kicking around in my favorites, even one or two that appear to use a very similar theme and layout as this official one. They all have "disney", "disneyland", "waltdisneyworld" or similar somewhere in the title, and often contain their title in WaltFont (or whatever we call the Disney script now).

Much the same way that the UK courts smacked Apple's hand for not properly displaying their apology letter to Samsung instead burying it out of sight, get it somewhere obvious that the site is owned/curated/edited/whatevered by an official Disney mouthpiece somewhere instead of forcing the user to click on a link to see it.

That is where the biggest issue with companies trying to co-opt social media and even guerrilla marketing. At some point, you need to own the product. Claim ownership loud and proud, or the entire campaign is worthless. Stick a comment on the template next to the Disney Parks image/link that says "Curated by:" Voila. Ownership claimed, and easily identified. Not looking for an overhaul of the minimalist design, (which I am a proponent of) but a simply easily viewed ownership claim, falling in line with the other externally hosted Disney properties I referenced above.

Better yet? Take a page from the Official Disney Pixar Tumblr seen here -> http://disneypixar.tumblr.com/ Scrolling down to the bottom, it does provide links to the official disney.go.com Privcay Policy, Terms of Service as well as a Copyright Disney 2012. They can do it, and normally do follow these practices, but for whatever reason have chosen to ignore them for this one site.

 

[The Mom]

Me? You're the one who just skipped the meat of the post. What Tom puts on his personal site is parallel to the complaints people are bringing up here, not intersecting. What Tom does on his website does not change the points raised here about THIS website and how Disney set it up.. so in short.. 'big whoop'

Disney did not set up this website. I cannot, and will not, speak about others.

 

[flynnibus]

They should also disclose whether they would pay with their own money for the products or services they are getting for free or discounted. If you are eating a $40 a la carte theme park steak then you should state whether you've done so with your own money and whether you would again

An important distinction here... even the pros aren't paying with their own money. They are paying with their COMPANY's money. And the Disney sites out there today are big enough to have 'business expensed' meals too. The distinction is not - 'their own money' but rather if they are getting treatment (disc, products, services, etc) beyond what a normal customer could expect to receive - and that is what must be disclosed. You're creating a standard that does not exist.

But again.. what does blogger disclosure have to do with Disney creating a microblog with photographer submissions or commissions?

Are you as equally miffed when you watch a TV commercial and see 'actual customer' testimonial and you don't get a full disclosure on if the person was compensated or not for their appearance?

 

[Atomicmickey]

I'm just not gonna get into a site by site review, many of which I am not even familiar with. And in many cases it would be against the rules here and my posts would disappear. If you read what I say and do some research, you'll find plenty of info out there ... there's a wonderful 1200 post thread from LaughingPlace.com from summer 2011 that ought to be a great starting point.

Fair enough. I'm wading through that thread now. Wish someone would have
just pointed me there a lot earlier . . .

So, curious. Back at the beginning of that thread, in May 2011, you and others
seem to have notified Burbank of what's going on. Here we are a year and a
half later, and it seems that nothing has been done. What should we conclude
from that?

I know it feels like I've been adversarial, but mostly I've just been wanting clarification.
In large measure I agree with your main points regarding the use of social media in
this way. At this time, it seems as though the company feels it's working. Do you see
any change at all since you've first brought this up?

 

[flynnibus]

Disney did not set up this website. I cannot, and will not, speak about others.

'this' in context is referring to the tumblr website - not WDWMagic. Context....

 

[The Mom]

'this' in context is referring to the tumblr website - not WDWMagic. Context....

OK, thank you - I wasn't sure about which "this" you meant - the 'this' in the general discussion, or the 'this' as in location.

 

[flynnibus]

life.tumblr.com - Clearly states that it provides an additional outlet for Life.com editors, above the fold if you will, along with an easy to identify contact point/editor
tmagazine.tumblr.com - Clearly states its affiliation with the Time Style Magazine as the first thing you see, and also provides obvious links at top and bottom
today.tumblr.com - Eeh, kinda in the air about this one, but they do clarly have the Today masthead, along with an obvious link to today.com directly below it

The Life blurb is no more clarifying then the Disney one. The Times associates itself only via logo.. as does the Today Show. They all provide presence that is not confirmed via additional requirements you were trying to chastise Disney over (TOS, privacy, links, etc).

Except there is no trend here. Since you explicitly mentioned facebook and twitter, check out the facebook.com/DisneyPhotoPass and twitter.com/disneyphotopass. Both clearly state "Official page for Disney's Photopass Service". Ditto for facebook.com/vinylmation, "Offical vinylmation facebook page". And check out twitter.com/disneypixar, facebook.com/disneyland, facebook.com/waltdisneyworld, facebook.com/carsland, facebook.com/duffythedisneybear, etc. See a trend here? They all say Official Whatever for Whatever.

Because this is not the be-all-end-all, single location for Disney Parks on tumblr. It by its own introduction, a side-view. 'Official' would infer the root base - that's not what this is intended to be. You're splitting hairs now.

I don' assume Tumblr owns the content at all. But in almost every commercial Tumblr site, the owner is clearly shown. All 3 of the sites you listed, clearly show ownership smack dab in the top of the masthead

And Disney did as well - just in a side bar layout instead of letterhead layout. Additionally, Disney is providing links to it, as well as authorative claims about it, right on their 'official' blog. You're trying to create some standard they must meet to satisify you that really has no community or industry basis. The very use of the term 'project' in its title also conveys the idea of 'side project'.. non-mainstream.. smaller scale.. You're using these made up standards to justify a claim elsewhere... and it's like standing on jello.

Others, such as boston.tumblr.com and latenightjimmy.tumblr.com, clearly state the source of the content, and in the case of Jimmy Fallon's site, even states that it is the official site of LTwJF

JF's site is reposting tumblr content - the looking glass one isn't. Apples and Oranges. The JF's site is Fallon's home on tumblr.. the Disney one isn't. Again.. Apples and Oranges.

Better yet? Take a page from the Official Disney Pixar Tumblr seen here -> http://disneypixar.tumblr.com/ Scrolling down to the bottom, it does provide links to the official disney.go.com Privcay Policy, Terms of Service as well as a Copyright Disney 2012. They can do it, and normally do follow these practices, but for whatever reason have chosen to ignore them for this one site.

Or simply chosen to leave them out because it's not a site under the official Corporate Marketing umbrella in the organization and ran by another group. Or many other possible reasons. I don't get why people are all of sudden wanting to play over paranoia over everything.. you might as well be telling Disney 'dont bother engaging, all it will do is create more headaches for you. Lock up tight and stick to old media'.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Coward.

And I don't wish to speak for Tom, but I think he is between a rock and a hard (Disney) place.

Hey, play nice.

I'm not getting involved because I really don't know much about the topic, and frankly don't have too strong an opinion on it, personally. I'm "off the grid" when it comes to social media. That way when Skynet becomes "aware" and starts hunting all you people down, I'll be able to live under a bridge and go undetected, a la John Connor.

As an outsider looking in on the topic in general... All this social media hoo-haw feels like the Wild West. Not many rules and regulations, and whatever happens, happens. Admittedly, that's an uninformed observation... But that's what it looks like to me.

Maybe that's why I steer clear.

With regard to Tom/Ricky/Lou... Not sure what I think of Disney paying folks "like us". To a point, it feels a bit to me like "buyer beware". The problem is... People are sheep. Largely, they listen to who's in front of them and often don't care or think about the motives of the person. Is it wrong for big business to exploit that for their gain? I dunno. The capitalist in me (Captain Jack) says no. But the ethical side of me (maybe Fozzy after a couple drinks?) isn't so sure.

Damn you '74!! You pulled me in.

 

[RSoxNo1]

You're on the list!

I guess you're not. 'Cause you seem to be the sort of guy that would have
brought everyone who posts here on a Disney Cruise if you had truly
sold out.

I feel like I'm in the movie "The Thing", where you don't know who has
been absorbed by the thing. Is there some sort of blood test that will
cause the true sell-outs to explode in a grotesque multi-headed amalgam of Mickey,
Ursula, Duffy, and Malefecent?

'Cause that would be cool.

Nah, we don't give much away. We gave away t-shirts for a while, but then we realized that they cost money.

To put it in perspective, we have requested a single media credential for the What's Next presentation, and I'm not optimistic that we will receieve it.

 

[StageFrenzy]

I had never heard the word Photog until this morning.

Evidently you don't hang out with the hipsters and people in the know enough.

 

[CBOMB]

Ain't got any worries there, my friend, do ya?

Shoot anything lately? Skin anything lately? Got the still working? (Mrs. Lee could use your help on that one!)

Got a opossum last night. The price you get for their pelts has gone down, but they still taste good. I finally got my new camouflage netting up that I had to order after the last one went up in flames when the still overheated. Man was that some explosion. It charred the side of the outhouse too. Tell Mrs. Lee that what ever she does don't use an old truck radiator for her distilling coil.

 

[AndyS2992]

I have no idea what is going on here.. just lots of people arguing

 

[ScoutN]

Ain't got any worries there, my friend, do ya?

Shoot anything lately? Skin anything lately? Got the still working? (Mrs. Lee could use your help on that one!)

I have I have! Two does and an right pointer!!! Good jerky in the process of being made.

Before people start calling "photog" a derogatory term it has been around for years and widely used in the auto community. Heck, crApple even has it in it dictionary for devices.

 

[WDW1974]

I will repeat it one more time. I do not want other websites and their webmasters/moderators being "bad-mouthed" here because I wouldn't appreciate the same being done to this website/me elsewhere. Does it happen? Of course, but, as my mother would say, "My house, my rules, and I don't think that behavior is very nice. What other mothers (moderators) allow is up to them."

Well, I would just suggest that discussing other websites doesn't necessarily equate with bad-mouthing. I am a lover, not a hater, though ...

So, please keep the accusations in PMs. Take anything you read on the net with a grain of salt.

That's good, salt of the earth, dare I say ... motherly advice that should be taken anywhere until you gain the perspective to respect (or not) the source of what you are reading.

I will also state that I receive no compensation from anyone for what I do, EXCEPT, that I no longer pay a subscription for access to the PML. In case anyone thinks I'm a Disney "plant."

The only plant, I'd ever call you would be a beautiful red rose ... lovely, but be careful of the thorns!
I do wonder, though, (seriously) what exactly is the PML? I've seen those on a few sites and usually they tend to be locations for some members to spew vitriol toward others or talk things like politics that aren't allowed in the main site.

 

[WDW1974]

Me? You're the one who just skipped the meat of the post. What Tom puts on his personal site is parallel to the complaints people are bringing up here, not intersecting. What Tom does on his website does not change the points raised here about THIS website (the tumblr) and how Disney set it up.. so in short.. 'big whoop'

And nothing you've said has answered or helped explain to me the whole purpose of this ... as opposed to one friend who works for the Mouse in O-Town (but not Celebration Place) said ''it's just another excuse for the cubicle dwellers to justify their paychecks''.

I was about to say something borderline smarmy myself, but for some reason I just seem to be a good mood today so I'll refrain ...

 

[WDW1974]

Hey, play nice.

You know who plays nice? People who like to lose. ... My own Spirited mother calls me 'a winner' and I take that as a high compliment!

I'm not getting involved because I really don't know much about the topic, and frankly don't have too strong an opinion on it, personally. I'm "off the grid" when it comes to social media. That way when Skynet becomes "aware" and starts hunting all you people down, I'll be able to live under a bridge and go undetected, a la John Connor.

As an outsider looking in on the topic in general... All this social media hoo-haw feels like the Wild West. Not many rules and regulations, and whatever happens, happens. Admittedly, that's an uninformed observation... But that's what it looks like to me.

That point I bolded above is pretty much at the heart of my discussion about how Disney is using/abusing Social Media. It was assuredly is in a Wild West/anything goes until we get burned stage.

Maybe that's why I steer clear.

With regard to Tom/Ricky/Lou... Not sure what I think of Disney paying folks "like us". To a point, it feels a bit to me like "buyer beware". The problem is... People are sheep. Largely, they listen to who's in front of them and often don't care or think about the motives of the person. Is it wrong for big business to exploit that for their gain? I dunno. The capitalist in me (Captain Jack) says no. But the ethical side of me (maybe Fozzy after a couple drinks?) isn't so sure.

Damn you '74!! You pulled me in.

I don't know about you, but Disney certainly doesn't pay me (although I am available for the right price). And there's nothing wrong with capitalism. I'm rather fond of it until it goes all Turbo like was allowed until the economy almost fell into an abyss in 2008.

I just wish they so much of Disney didn't make me feel so ... dirty.

 

[WDW1974]

Got a opossum last night. The price you get for their pelts has gone down, but they still taste good. I finally got my new camouflage netting up that I had to order after the last one went up in flames when the still overheated. Man was that some explosion. It charred the side of the outhouse too. Tell Mrs. Lee that what ever she does don't use an old truck radiator for her distilling coil.

I often wonder what the difference is between an opossum and just a plain possum (had one living in my backyard until I had to remove some shrubs ... actually felt guilty cause it was like I was BoA and he was a squatter that had lost his job in 2009 and stopped paying his mortgage so he could buy food, but those things were making a mess of the backyard).

I don't think Mr. Lee wants me giving Mrs. Lee any still advice ... the woman when sober still wants to off him and run off with me ... and, really, who could blame her?

 

[WDW1974]

I have no idea what is going on here.. just lots of people arguing

Yeah, that added a whole lot of value.

What I call a 'keeper post' ...