Given Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery …
September 29, 2006, 9:39 am
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Comment So as of Monday, I am going to be away for bloody weeks, so there’s going to be a sever lack of updates on this site …. however don’t despair [ahem!] because I leave you with one great big entry for you to enjoy.
[In the unlikely even you need to get hold of me, I’m still on email – unfortunately my trip is almost exclusively for work! Damn.]
A casual acquaintance’s of mine and the wonderful Russell Davies, said he thought we shared a number of common traits …
Both are from ‘the Midlands’
Both get paid for thinking
Both spend time helping people get in [or out] of the industry
Both love Nottingham Forest Football Club
Both could do with ‘losing a few pounds’ [Though I think you look very lovely as you are Russell]
And while I don’t think five similarities exactly represents ‘a lot in common’, when I gave it some more thought, I realised we have so much in common … we could be [sort-of] twins!Look at the facts …
Both are men
Both have names beginning with the letter ‘R’
Both have a love of music
Both have blogs [multiples of]
Both have started their own companies
Both have blogs with photos of shoes on it [Mine / Russell’s]
Both have facial hair
Both have been to Graceland [though he also went to Dollywood]
I mean that’s another 8 similarities I came up with in only 27 hours of thinking!!!
OK, so I am sure Russell is rather disgusted at being mentioned in the same breath as me – let alone being told he has similar ‘traits’ to someone like me – but as he’s a lovely chap, I’m sure he won’t say anything about it PLUS we’re hoping to get him/OIA involved in some projects of ours, so he’s not going to blow it by telling me to piss off, hahaha!
Anyway, because we have sooooooooooooooooo much in common, I thought I might as well go one step further and try and sort out a regular ‘Coffee Morning’ just like he does – except mine is going to be called SPEAK E A S Y because …
1. Russell’s is called ‘Coffee Morning’ and I need to start creating my own identity.
2. cynic is starting a research company by that name so it’s early publicity, hahaha
3. I’m going to invite ‘guests’ from all sorts of industries so we can chat, meet and see what happens. [It also means that if I’m away travelling, these things can still go on]
4. Eventually it could form some weird ‘training’ course [‘borrowing’ from Russell again!]
5. You can ask absolutely anything without fear of ridicule
6. It has abit of an illegal spirit about it – well, it does in Singapore – which I appreciate has no relevance to you lot in the UK, US and Oz.
Alright … alright … so there is a ‘selfish’ reason for me suggesting we do this.
Thing is, as much as I absolutely love meeting up /talking with a bunch of you, it’s getting to the stage where I am running out of time for the odd bit of work I have to do … so by arranging a weekly/monthly meeting, we can meet up and chat whilst also stopping my colleagues bitching about me not ‘pulling my weight’.
Now I appreciate this makes me look a bit of a cock – and I am sorry about that – but I really do want to help out, soooooooooooooooo how about I pencil in some dates and if anyof you are around [or interested], you can pop in and say hello.
[Of course, to make sure I don’t look a complete Billy-No-Mates [if no one turns up] I’ve covered myself by arranging the majority of the below sessions with guys who already do this sort of thing on a regular basis, ha!]
SYDNEY: Tuesday 3rd October @ Canteen Cafe [Balmain] from 12pm – 2pm
NYC: Friday 20th October @ Hampers Cafe [Soho] from 12pm – 2pm [This will be with Andy’s ‘Be Better’ sessions]
SHANGHAI: Wednesday 27th October @ Westin Hotel Bar [CBD] from 12pm – 2pm [This will be with Aimee Chan’s ‘FEEDback’ sessions]
SINGAPORE: Thursday 15th November @ Venue TBC from 12pm – 2 pm [This will probably be with students of SMU]
And if any of you in Singapore want to see the man himself … yes Mr Davies … get yourself along to this conference, it’s bound to be brilliant and far more interesting and entertaining than the rubbish I do.
Now I have checked with our lawyer and apparently I am still safe of being labelled a ‘stalker’ so Russell need not worry – or call the Police.
[Russell, I do hope you take this in the manner it is meant, and I promise not to start a company called IOA – though I should maybe start one called IOU!]
Freedom Of Speech vs Justice Of Wrong
September 28, 2006, 8:34 am
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Comment 
This is abit old actually, but over at Ad-Pit … Rob Mortimer raises an interesting point …
Apparently a TV ad for breakfast serial ‘Frosties’ is so annoying, the child actor appearing in it is getting death threats.
Now I’m sure most people will agree that as much as certain commercials may drive you to the edge of despair … making an actual death threat is going way too far. [Imagine how the poor little kid must be feeling!]
However Rob’s point is this …
Could/should creatives or the agencies, be responsible for all aspects of communication produced on their clients behalf? In this case, is the agency behind the Frosties ad liable for the distress this poor kid has experienced?
Sure, there are many ways to look at it … many people you could blame [from the client who approved it, to the network who showed it, to the parent who let their child appear in it] … however I believe that this is ultimately an argument about creativity and the freedom of expression/speech.
Of course sense, decency and consumer understanding should prevail [otherwise you’re just as bad as the M&C India idiots I talked about] … but my ultimate view is that whilst communication/media has the power to influence negative individual actions, ultimately the responsibility HAS TO be with the person undertaking the acts otherwise life will stop.
As my Father argued – if Musicians and Video Game Producers are to be held responsible for all acts of violence [by individuals who claim their ‘inspiration’ came from other peoples ‘creativity’] then the bible should also be banned.
He said that not only did it feature incredible acts of violence throughout the book … but given the human mind is so powerful, words could be imagined in far more outlandish, violent, detailed ways, than any video game or song could achieve.
In essence, he believed words had a far greater ability to inspire ‘wrong-doing’ than audio/visual creativity [because the brain has zero limits on its imagination] and so if we were solely blame the ‘creator’, then it would lead to the destruction of creativity.
Beautiful Nightmare!
September 27, 2006, 9:40 pm
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Comment 
My Mum sent me this article from London’s ‘Daily Telegraph’ Newspaper and I have to say I love it.
My favourite bit is when the little kid wakes up and tells his parent’s, “I’ve bought a car!”
It reminds me of a great story of when George [cynic] found his super-expensive, new mobile phone at the bottom of his daughters fish tank.
After going stark, raving mad … and with his eyes still bulging … he demanded an explanation.
His beautiful daughter looked up at him and replied that having just seen ‘Finding Nemo’, she was concerned her pet fishes might also be missing their parents – so she dropped the phone into the tank so they could call their parents and let them know they were safe.
Poor George … he so wanted to be angry … but by pulling out the best excuse ever, his daughter managed to change him from psychopath into blubbering mess in a matter of seconds.
And some companies still doubt the power of the emotional ‘sell’!
Filed under: Comment
So as of Monday, I am going to be away for bloody weeks, so there’s going to be a sever lack of updates on this site …. however don’t despair [ahem!] because I leave you with one great big entry for you to enjoy.
[In the unlikely even you need to get hold of me, I’m still on email – unfortunately my trip is almost exclusively for work! Damn.]
A casual acquaintance’s of mine and the wonderful Russell Davies, said he thought we shared a number of common traits …
Both are from ‘the Midlands’
Both get paid for thinking
Both spend time helping people get in [or out] of the industry
Both love Nottingham Forest Football Club
Both could do with ‘losing a few pounds’ [Though I think you look very lovely as you are Russell]
And while I don’t think five similarities exactly represents ‘a lot in common’, when I gave it some more thought, I realised we have so much in common … we could be [sort-of] twins!Look at the facts …
Both are men
Both have names beginning with the letter ‘R’
Both have a love of music
Both have blogs [multiples of]
Both have started their own companies
Both have blogs with photos of shoes on it [Mine / Russell’s]
Both have facial hair
Both have been to Graceland [though he also went to Dollywood]
I mean that’s another 8 similarities I came up with in only 27 hours of thinking!!!
OK, so I am sure Russell is rather disgusted at being mentioned in the same breath as me – let alone being told he has similar ‘traits’ to someone like me – but as he’s a lovely chap, I’m sure he won’t say anything about it PLUS we’re hoping to get him/OIA involved in some projects of ours, so he’s not going to blow it by telling me to piss off, hahaha!
Anyway, because we have sooooooooooooooooo much in common, I thought I might as well go one step further and try and sort out a regular ‘Coffee Morning’ just like he does – except mine is going to be called SPEAK E A S Y because …
1. Russell’s is called ‘Coffee Morning’ and I need to start creating my own identity.
2. cynic is starting a research company by that name so it’s early publicity, hahaha
3. I’m going to invite ‘guests’ from all sorts of industries so we can chat, meet and see what happens. [It also means that if I’m away travelling, these things can still go on]
4. Eventually it could form some weird ‘training’ course [‘borrowing’ from Russell again!]
5. You can ask absolutely anything without fear of ridicule
6. It has abit of an illegal spirit about it – well, it does in Singapore – which I appreciate has no relevance to you lot in the UK, US and Oz.
Alright … alright … so there is a ‘selfish’ reason for me suggesting we do this.
Thing is, as much as I absolutely love meeting up /talking with a bunch of you, it’s getting to the stage where I am running out of time for the odd bit of work I have to do … so by arranging a weekly/monthly meeting, we can meet up and chat whilst also stopping my colleagues bitching about me not ‘pulling my weight’.
Now I appreciate this makes me look a bit of a cock – and I am sorry about that – but I really do want to help out, soooooooooooooooo how about I pencil in some dates and if anyof you are around [or interested], you can pop in and say hello.
[Of course, to make sure I don’t look a complete Billy-No-Mates [if no one turns up] I’ve covered myself by arranging the majority of the below sessions with guys who already do this sort of thing on a regular basis, ha!]
SYDNEY: Tuesday 3rd October @ Canteen Cafe [Balmain] from 12pm – 2pm
NYC: Friday 20th October @ Hampers Cafe [Soho] from 12pm – 2pm [This will be with Andy’s ‘Be Better’ sessions]
SHANGHAI: Wednesday 27th October @ Westin Hotel Bar [CBD] from 12pm – 2pm [This will be with Aimee Chan’s ‘FEEDback’ sessions]
SINGAPORE: Thursday 15th November @ Venue TBC from 12pm – 2 pm [This will probably be with students of SMU]
And if any of you in Singapore want to see the man himself … yes Mr Davies … get yourself along to this conference, it’s bound to be brilliant and far more interesting and entertaining than the rubbish I do.
Now I have checked with our lawyer and apparently I am still safe of being labelled a ‘stalker’ so Russell need not worry – or call the Police.
[Russell, I do hope you take this in the manner it is meant, and I promise not to start a company called IOA – though I should maybe start one called IOU!]