Why Michael Arrington is a Moron

Just in case you are curious about the source of this post, go at your own risk to: http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/13/the-pr-roadblock-on-the-road-to-blissful-blogging/

Every time I think I have read the dumbest argument conceivable on the subject of why public relations professionals should just go quietly into the night, I come across a new one that is so void of any factual or meaningful data that I want to throw up.

So, please allow me to heave.

This most recent attack on PR, courtesy of Michael Arrington is like so many others of its kind, completely unsubstantiated, but hey, why let the facts get in your way? Instead it is full of generalizations, innuendos, suppositions, guesses and idiotic anecdotal data.

So, Michael Arrington, here are a couple questions to consider (excuse the vomit chunks):

1. Throughout your post you refer to "public relations" and "PR" when in fact you are talking about publicity. Do you even understand what you are talking about?

2. You "agree that PR as a profession is broken." That is very generous of you, but who are you agreeing with? Are you accusing Steve Rubel of saying that? Are you just making stuff up as you go along?

3. You state that "they [I guess you mean them PR goons] are trying to apply the same rules used when the number of journalists covering their companies was a manageable, chummy lot." Wow, so, do you not realize that there are literally tens of thousands of journalists out there? Do you think that PR people are all chummy with all of them? Are you also implying that these journalists are in on it with the PR people or that they are being duped or bribed? Do you actually think before you begin writing (sorry, blogging)?

4. You say that "most PR people don't read blogs and certainly don't understand them." I must admit that I missed this survey; can you give me a link to the study that provided these amazing results?

5. You are advising startups not to hire PR help until it is absolutely necessary. And this advice is based on what tangible expertise? Do you also suggest that they avoid accountants and attorneys (no, not attorneys, you are an attorney)?

6. You refer to the "web of politics and intrigue that guides the relationships between PR firms and the press." Dude, are you stoned? Really, lay off the reefer for a few nights; it's killing off too many brain cells.

7. Finally, in total contradiction to all common sense, you say this: "And there are a lot of good PR people out there that really understand what’s going on with the profession today." Statistically, what is "a lot?" Is that more than the "many" idiot PR people you refer to earlier? Do you actually think you can excuse all the bad things you say about PR by simply summing up that there are a lot of good PR people out there?

Thank you for contributing nothing valuable to the conversation of how we can all work together to help companies succeed in the marketplace.