Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
I'll let your past posts in this thread speak for themself.
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Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV
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I'll let your past posts in this thread speak for themself.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
We've spent the last several pages debating what qualifies as media or a journalist.
Clearly, people use words without knowing what they mean.
misterID
Well-Known Member
You're absolutely right. It is a form of bribery for good press and surpressing any negative comment, or views, or whatever said group deems "negative."
There's a rock band with a huge online presence, with many online fansites. The band doesn't have a good reputation, so the management reached out to all the sites, offering free passes and VIP treatment, and a visit by the band's lead singer on their forum if the said site banned certain users, deleted all negative comments and basically ran a filter through them.
You would be shocked how a mind can warp once it gets, not just access to free stuff, but acknowledgement from these people or groups. It's actually pretty scary to see how quickly someone can turn.
misterID
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't say media is dying, print media, yes, but there is defintiely something to be said about intergrity and it's easy to pick up on when someone is just a shell for whatever company they're pimping out for. If you have an unflinching devotion and love for said product, you will read pro-positive views of whatever it is you're devoted to, and don't want to hear anything else. BUT... There are limits. Ask Microsoft, the devoted fanbase can only take you so far in allowing you to spin things, especially through social media. And it had nothing to do with traditional media being upset, it was more about consumers not going for the snowjob, and calling those people out and ridiculing them until they crawled back into ther caves.
And I would use another company as an example that isn't Apple, who's corporate reputation is eroding with the arrogant crap they're pulling, which started under Jobs and is only getting worse.
Was I just judged by an adult (assumed) with a cartoon avatar?
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Again, we are talking about an entertainment venue here. We are not talking about people that might be influenced to trash the constitution and rewrite it to their personal specifications.
Disney blogging, interesting and possibly true, sure! Scary? Doesn't take much to scare people these days does it. OMG, they were convinced that they might have a good time if they go to a Disney park...how awful. The fact of the matter is that once you add the words blogging or things like Mommy Bloggers, they pretty much have stated their status. They are right up front about it by the title. Nothing deceptive about it. Of course they are biased. What else would they be. Is everyone that posts on these boards willing to state their agenda openly? Regardless of which side one's opinion falls, it is biased from beginning to end. That is what opinion is really. Biased thought!
xdan0920
Think for yourselfer
To take it a step further, what's worse? Disney Bloggers? Folks obsessed with Bloggers? or Folks obsessed with folks obsessed with bloggers? Or to turn it on myself, add in, folks obsessed with folks obsessed with folks obsessed with Bloggers?
You see what I mean? This is all weird, but it's also interesting.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
asianway
Well-Known Member
Ill probably tick some people off on both sides here...but Ill assume you are legit until proven otherwise. If so, I have to say kudos for stepping in the WDWmagic sandbox. That does take some measure of courage.
I dont think anyone would disagree with the fact that Ricky is an uber-fan and knows his stuff. But getting beyond the argument of blogger vs journalist, lets forget that for a moment. WDW has serious issues with infrastructure, SQSs, CM training, and allocation of resources. They are falling behind every other business unit in the WDPR empire in all of these things and Ricky is one of the leading bloggers who covers this. He is someone who could effect and lead positive change if he were to "turn heel" as it were. Given Kevin Yee's lack of credentialed insider status(and I believe Kevin isnt critical enough on many things, bordering on moderate), we all know what that would mean for Ricky.
So the perception here is that you are putting your own best interests above what many fans would consider the best interests of the parks in general. True or not, this is the perception. I could also argue that given the quality of guests at WDW they get what they deserve, but I digress...
Once upon a time, Ricky said he didnt want to be negative and only focused on the positive. I have noticed recently that even he has been more critical, so he seems to be moving in a more balanced direction-but I admit I dont pay that close attention.
Skip
Well-Known Member
The bloggers blindly praise Disney (or Universal, or this rock band, or whatever) regardless of the actual quality of what's being put out - declining standards of quality are ignored, and those who point out these cuts are either aggressively bashed for being "too negative" or are outright punished, either through banning or through more-or-less isolation from the rest of the community being hand-fed by the respective group/company.
Sorry, that's not okay. The issue isn't whether or not Disney is fun. It's the lack of accountability in what Disney provides for the price they charge. If something is in terrible condition, we should criticize Disney for it! If Disney increases prices on something and in turn offers less or fewer options, we should criticize them for it! If an attraction in no way lives up to the hype or promises Disney made, we hsould criticize them for it! This just doesn't go for Disney - it goes for Universal, too, and really anything else you can think of. Criticism is absolutely necessary in order to keep the company on its toes, doing their best to please the consumer. Turning the "press" into an echo chamber obsessed with freebies is not the way to do that.
I'm extremely concerned that Universal is going down the same route, at least within their Halloween Horror Nights sector of business, which has been slammed with (justified) criticism for watered down content, hand me down attractions, ridiculously skyrocketing prices, and further efforts to nickel & dime the fans. In turn, we've basically been told that if we don't complain (regardless of what's cut), we can meet the "masters" and be given freebies. It's nauseating, especially because some of these people actually think they're "friends" with these guys, when it's so obviously marketing cleverly (seriously, I'll give them that) pulling the strings to make the fanbase forget about how far HHN has fallen from just a few years ago.
DougK
Well-Known Member
And if you add back all of the posts the mods have had to delete from this thread we would be at about 700 pages now!
misterID
Well-Known Member
You're really taking this too personal, which is the problem. NO one is saying people shouldn't look for sites on how to enjoy Disney, that's just silly. I've visited The Disney Food Blog on many occasions, and they tell you when something tastes lousy...
The problem is when they tell you something tastes wonderful, when they know it's lousy, and are only saying it because of the perks they're getting while at the same time drowning out anyone who might say said food tastes lousy, specifically to seperate you from your money on behalf of Disney. The whole reason people visit unofficial sites is because you're going to get, or supposed to get, unbiased opinions/tips for your trip. You can be bias, and still be honest. A lot of people aren't when they're being paid off. There's a HUGE difference there. Like this forum, it's biased for Disney, and it shows you can love Disney and still criticize it. The problem would be if Steve started deleting these threads and supressing news that didn't walk the company line, or they didn't want you to know. Knowledge and free thinking is a good thing. The problem is when those things are stifled and slanted. WDWMAGIC is the mold I wish MORE sites would follow.
You're falling into that category of only wanting to hear positivity, at all costs.
Please...I hire that out.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
It's free food and booze, at a "NEW!" thing on Disney World property. That's manna from heaven for these bloggers, so of course it's going to be popular. Get out your good polo shirt boys, we're goin' to an event!
Even if you aren't a superfan blogger with a neck beard who obsesses over new bathrooms in a theme park, it's still free food and booze at a good restaurant, and what else are you going to do on a weeknight in Orlando?
Why even have these events aimed at people who would otherwise never set foot in the place? Just invite local media from the Sentinel and regional magazines and established restaurant critics from the Southeast, and then let Yelp and TripAdvisor and the real Social Media by real consumers take it from there?
The answer to that, I'm afraid, is because like most bloated companies TDO has "Social Media Team" cubicle drones whose job it is to create these faux events and puff up their own annual performance reviews and careers with wasteful excuses for work like this last event at the California Grill. Somewhere in a Celebration office park, there's an late-middle aged executive who is trying desperately to be hip who thinks this is somehow mandatory for the 2010's and thus keeps giving the Social Media cubicle drones money and company influence.
It's a silly cycle that only proves how wasteful and inept companies can be about how to get their product to impact the marketplace. Why not just let the product speak for itself with real consumers?
Although it wouldn't be as fun to watch that way, so I guess at least we have TDO to thank for that. That video of the event was comedy gold.
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lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Yes, a DISNEY message board. We don't take kindly to folk who enjoy the products of other entertainment conglomerates, much less Warner Bros.
flynnibus
Premium Member
How about exclusive interviews no one else gets?
How about review units that others do not get?
For people that actually do this for a living... things like the above are far more valuable than a $50 gift card. The reality is you can't buy influence with people at that level with trivial swag - they are hunger for what will actually drive their 'product' and reputation.
To tie back to the Apple example... Walt Mossberg. Everyone knows he's in Apple's chosen one.. but he's the WSJ and a national figure. Apple didn't 'buy' him by giving him a free iPod. They helped make him into that advocate through influence and access.
That's what the real world is about...
This hysteria over Social Media relations is trite and trivial in the scheme of things. Disney is building brand advocates in this amauter level of media outreach. The tools and methods used for that type of group ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT - because what they need and value are different.
Other companies do the same types of things with different tools. Things like 'partner conferences', 'User Groups', all kinds of conferences/events aimed at not just informing partners and customers of new products.. but to try to build them into brand champions and advocates.
And if anyone thinks media people aren't wined and dined and schmoozed... you're freaking delusional.
The stereotypes around Marketing swag, drinking, and elaborate budgets are not figments of people's imaginations.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
My issue isn't what it's why. These people are fans who are already hooked on the product and will gush about it freely online, they don't need Disney's help to do so. They have little reach outside of the existing fan group which is more or less preaching to the choir. With this logic, why not give free DVDs and Blu-rays to make gifs and caps with to some tumblr personality with 60K+ followers?
What @TP2000 suggested about whom to invite makes much more sense.
So they're not real journalists, or real company employees, but they live off the company and are given special treatment and various payments. You can tell me all about why this is standard in business, but I don't think in the case of Disney theme park coverage it's really effective.
Soarin' Over Pgh
Well-Known Member
Choose your weapon.
I'm really enjoying this discussion on what classifies a person/entity/group/website/etc. as a professional or not. Thus, popcorn. But the talk of Universals HHN is... well.. errr...hence the aspirin.
Soarin' Over Pgh
Well-Known Member
Kinda sorta almost related. I have a friend vacationing at WDW right now who just texted me "what the hell is fastpass plus and why can't I get a card for it like this other one?" -presumably meaning FP machines. It's her first WDW vacation as an adult and so far is having a great time... except for the FP+ signs and lack of information on what it is.
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