I spoke at a conference recently where, as I came off the stage, a journalist greeted me with the words,
“If it isn’t the always controversial Robert Campbell”
Now even though I have a reputation as being a bit of a grumpy bastard – the reality is I’m actually quite laid-back, however that greeting really fucked me off.
Maybe it’s my definition of the word, but as far as I am concerned, I am NOT controversial and I hope I never will be.
Controversial means going against popular opinion for the sake of it.
It’s got little to do with intelligence or opinion and all to do with ego and being the centre of attention.
Now I know I sometimes can have views that are contrary to accepted points-of-view, however it’s never for the sake of being controversial … it’s because I believe there’s a valid counter argument/trend that, at the very least, deserves discussion/exploration … and that’s what pisses me off about adland at the moment, because if you disagree with the majority, you’re instantly labelled as ‘controversial’ which not only is untrue, but undermines the validity of your perspective.
However there’s an even more dangerous implication to this condescending attitude …
If people who have alternative views are constantly ‘shut down’, then unless they’re arrogant/egotistical/bullish/resilient bastards like errrrrrm me, then eventually they’ll decide keeping their thoughts to themselves is the easier option and yet if ever there was an industry that needs to embrace multiple views and opinions, it’s adland.
Of course just because you have a different point of view doesn’t mean you’re automatically right … there’s a whole host of criteria that it would need to be judged against … however if you say something and can provide fair and balanced reasoning for that view, then I don’t think it’s right to be immediately labelled as some sort of crack-pot – especially given some of the fuckwit decisions that have been made by the supposed ‘elite’ of adland in the last 20 years.
Enfatico anyone?
Media separation anyone?
Grey’s Eye On Asia anyone?
Look, I’m clever … and I’m often proved wrong … but the reality is that in our industry there’s rarely a fundamentally ‘wrong’ way to do something so if we only promote and celebrate ‘single-approaches/processes/attitudes’ … we’re not just screwing up our industries relevance, we’re ultimately undermining the whole premise and value of creativity.
So next time you think something someone has said is wrong … don’t keep it in your head … sit up straight, take a deep breath and let it out.