Wednesday, January 14, 2009

RB: Mary, Jan 14, 11:20am

















The Handmaiden of Passive Aggression posted an interesting note this morning defending her promotion of the Yummy Tummie. Everything about the post reveals how little the NS trio know about actual journalism. But here's what really pisses us off:

Surely you know when magazines suggest products they only do so for the advertising dollars. Do you write angry notes to them when you purchase their “recommendations?”


Surely we don't, Mary. Some of us are REAL journalists who have REAL integrity. What we'd like to know is what expertise or qualifications allows you to make such comments--and, for that matter, on anything you talk about? Nutrition? Ish, please. Fashion? Don't even get us started. The idea that Mary is qualified as a stylist or "style expert" is a big joke.

Read on for the whole post:



MY ANTACID FOR YOUR YUMMIE TUMMIE GRUMBLINGS

As you know, we taped a TMI episode where I suggested Yummie Tummie as a method to smooth out your curves. Some of you purchased the $72 product, some of you didn’t.

Those of you who did buy the tank and are unhappy with its effects seem to be pretty upset with me. Hmmmm….

I should have explained this a while ago, so let me tell you now how my product endorsement works:

1. I buy something new or PR reps send me their products/clothes for free.
2. I try them. Sometimes I have my friends test them too.
3. I tell you what I honestly think in a blog post or mention it on TMI if relevant to my topic.
4. At no point does money exchange hands (If it does, I’ll let you know. Look out for the word “sponsor”).

I cannot pay rent or any sort of bills with these reviews. They are just a resource for you.

We are all different sizes and shapes with different chemical make ups so products that work for me, might not be the best for you. All I can offer is a genuine opinion about my experience, how I think it would add value to your life, and any issues I might have with it.

Surely you know when magazines suggest products they only do so for the advertising dollars. Do you write angry notes to them when you purchase their “recommendations?”

Because I have bags full of products, I usually only write about things I LOVE or HATE. Middle of the road stuff I only take the time to talk about if I feel like people use it and maybe shouldn’t.

A quick note on SPONSORS: NonSociety doesn’t team up with sponsors we don’t genuinely like. We would look like assholes if we shilled products that suck. You can’t think we really do that? There are too many things we love to promote stuff we don’t believe in.

AND FINALLY, if you have a problem with Yummie Tummie, tell them. They are really nice people, and I’m sure will let you send back the product. I can’t make a promise, but if you’re upset enough to post on QOD, then I believe it’s worth the 10 minutes to let them know your grievance.

I hope this clarifies some issues for you. Should you have any other questions, you know where to find me.

6 comments:

  1. Mary couldn't clarify an issue if she had intergalactic strainers at her disposal, poor bunny.

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  2. Oh, but BUSY Mary, I thought you three had NO TIME to read QOD. Looks like someone got caught in a lie and was flustered enough to write about it, albeit in your usual condescending, bitchy and passive aggressive manner.

    And yes, genius, we all know how magazines and endorsements work. But you are not a magazine, as much as you try to think you are. Magazines (and successful websites) have built up audiences over time and the ones that survive have done so because of the trust their readers place in them. If you had actually done your research, you would know that thousands of magazines (and websites) are born or die each year and they die because they can't find an audience that wants what they're offering (sound familiar?)

    This post once again illustrates why you are really in this business: to get free stuff to supplement your lifestyle due to lack of actual income. You're utterly unemployable at any mainstream magazines/style web sites so you had to create your own and it's not very good. Readers are starting to notice and aren't really "biting" at your style and beauty recommendations. In fact, they're mostly turned off. Perhaps the free stuff has started to dry up because the PR reps you work with have noticed the vitriol from your audience (remember Blue Print?) and aren't working with you any more? Maybe it's time to find a new line of work. I hear gyms need the extra staff this time of year.

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  3. And, Mary dear, as someone who has spent years writing for national magazines that would never dream of publishing the solipsistic drivel put forth by you & JA, let me give you a quick hint: any publication that puts the ad dollars before actual, real service to readers--that ultimately translates to subscription renewals and loyalty over the long haul--is doomed to failure. That's just how it works, bunny.

    The fact that you refer to your pix and inane chatter about trendy restaurants as "reviews" merely serves to underline your ignorance about things journalistic. Don't be holding your breath for the restaurant ad dollars to pour in, especially while you are concurrently touting the anorexi- and bulimi-philic lifestyle of you and your co-bunnys.

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  4. Many these bitches are the the motherfucking DEFENSE right now.

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  5. OMG MARY! THIS TIME YOU REALLY SCREWED UP, im sure this is next to be deleted.

    you just lost all cred.

    We would look like assholes if we shilled products that suck.

    well, you got one thing right.

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  6. It's pretty obvious Mary posted this after she probably got an angry email from a Yummie Tummie PR rep when they saw readers trashing the product on their own site. Her attempt at full disclosure and spin control (no pun intended) ended up doing more harm than good. She fully exposes herself as shilling for products but fails to understand that her audience must trust and respect her opinion first, which they obviously don't, and - like her hair - it's too late to repair the damage.

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