I don’t want to talk with you
Today I read something that made my eyes bleed. The phrase “fail, but fail forwards” stabbed me in the face. It ranks alongside such philosophical advice as “take a dip in Lake You” in utter inanity.
The offending phrase came about during a conversation about, well, conversations. It must have been one of those days because only hours earlier I’d read several blogs all orbiting around the same topic. Maybe it’s like suddenly being attuned to adverts for baby products just hours after “an accident”.
Who knows.
All talk of “conversations” in marketing makes me look to my wallet. Like being doorstepped, it is a term thrown about far too easily and attempts to convert us all to the cause of “social marketing”.
The “conversation” people have a cause. A social cause.
They believe that marketing MUST change. That it MUST turn away from the old pagan ways and embrace the conversation.
Some issues certainly require such conversations; political parties would be well advised to start a few with voters – and actually be interested in the other side of said conversation. Toilet paper manufacturers however, well, I’d rather you didn’t talk. Just pass it through the door please. All I need to know is are you selling tracing paper or will your product do what I need it to.
The proposition is simple: I have a product that I think you’d like. Please buy it.
Answers on the back of the cheque.