"All publicity is good publicity" It may have been true at some point, but it certainly is not true today. Nor will it be true forever more.
Instead, the motto has changed to "All Publicity is Abused Publicity"
The reality is that in todays ultra competitive chase to get your attention , if something you say or do is seen by more than 100 people, someone is going to attempt to re-purpose it to their own benefit or amusement.
In essence, the internet has put us all under a form of digital arrest.
"Everything we say or do, can and will be used for or against you on a website somewhere at some time, from now and ever-more"
There will be someone there with a camera phone to memorialize the mustard that dripped on your shirt from your hotdog and some website will use it to explain how the stress of "fill in the blank" is getting to you.
Someone will keep a picture from your 5th birthday party when your sister dressed you up as a Spice Girl. Your local newspaper will write an article saying how cute it was. Then some website or tv show, produced by someone who doesn't like you, will use it to try to convince their readers that you are gender confused and here is proof that it started at an early age
Silly examples for sure, but real.
The one thing the internet lacks that will forever change us all is Context. There is no way to retain context when you cut and paste. No matter the original intent of the words or pictures, anything on the net probably will find its way into situations for which they were never intended
Publicity, in fact all information used to have a shelf life. Newspapers were relegated to the hassles of microfiche. TV became a box or tape on a shelf somewhere. You could find it, but the cost in dollars and time were significant. Which of course reduced its use.
Thats no longer the case. Between the internet archives and search engines Everything is Everywhere. Forever.
The Net is a beautiful, wonderful utility but it certainly not an innocent medium.
The internet has put us in interesting times.
All Publicity Isn't As Good As It Used To Be.
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Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Mark, I don't know if your comments were inspired by an interesting bit of fiction Cory Doctorow wrote recently: http://www.radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2007/09/google_fiction_evil_dangerous_surveillance_control_1.php.
If you haven't read it, you might want to take a look; it fits right in with your thesis.
At least I *think* it's fiction....
-- Steve
Posted at 4:10PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Steven Levy
4. This is certainly true. Is there anything in particular that sparked this post?
Posted at 4:44PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Walter Mathis
5. Aside from the volume of information, I'm not sure it's worse than it has been with 'big media'. Reporters take peoples' quotes, photos and videos out of context all the time and use it to support their premise.
At least the Internet provides an opportunity for those taken out of context to fight back and fight back. I think it's an incredibly equalizing force and I appreciate its existence.
Posted at 4:47PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Douglas Karr
6. And, of course, there's always the flip side...
TRUE STORY: Was living in the southwest during a recent election season and a local candidate for Congress (I think it was) used prime slogan space on his campaign posters & advertisements to implore voters to "Google him." Seriously.
And though I would never accuse anyone's campaign masterminds of manipulating or manufacturing favorable search results, gotta figure those folks must've been awfully confident in the "information" that Google would return for their candidate...
Interesting times, indeed, Mark--perhaps the understatement of this new millennium. And we're definitely livin' in them.
DS
Posted at 5:06PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Dixon
7. Case in point - I have a blog on the latest events in Digital 3D for Hollywood and it is really starting to heat up. My post today deals with backstabbing individuals who are not keeping their word for what seems to be PR to drive up stock prices. Alleged backstabbing of coruse. But ther it is. Read more: http://marketsaw.blogspot.com
8. I dont' know what you are talking about Mark. Err Mock Mark. You always get great publicity on your private journals found here: http://mockmark.blogspot.com and I will continue to serve you uhhh me well. Now back to the Net to find something else to chat about... :-)
9. I definitely agree with you. I'm seeing this all the time... Things taken wildly out of context and then made fun of or whatever... People are just so apt to lap it up too. People don't even question things they see even when ... so much of what we see is false.
Posted at 6:51PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Weird Dude
11. Look on the bright side. You'll never, ever have to call tech support again (see previous post).
Posted at 9:15PM on Sep 18th 2007 by bill lee
12. MC,
What are your thoughts on this whole situation at the University of Florida. As a protector of free speech and a promoter of non-traditional media I'm sure you have commentary on not only the tasering/arrest of the student, but also of the web coverage of the incident.
-McBill
Posted at 9:31PM on Sep 18th 2007 by McBill
13. if you buy the Cubs will you still serve Old Style?
Posted at 9:42PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Don Lewis
14. Hey Mark, Im surprised you picked out the internet as the only place to get misinformation. How about FOX,or ABC which if Im correct is owned by Disney, and all the shot callers there are friends with Pennsylvania Ave. So you rarely see something that isn't laundered when it comes to informing people about whats going on there. The fact is, its all RIGGED. With the exception of a few news networks that still want to at least try to get the TRUTH to the american public. Its just a matter of who is writing about who and what they want to include. I wish I had a dime for everytime I heard " I was taken out of context" I would have your kind of money. The media anymore is so full of half truths that if you take it as something more then hearsay, your not only naive but playing right into the next swindle. It's about entertaining Joe Workingstiff and getting him to buy things when the commercial comes on and then hopefully buying some of the misinformation when the so called "News" comes back on or is read. Thanks for the thoughts and as my mom always said, " Believe nothing you hear and only half that you see."
Posted at 9:49PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Frankie from Lawnside
15. It is a shame that anyone who is remotely a celebrity has to live in a world where every single word they say is is monitored then interpreted for every little bit that a person can find in it. The internet is arguably one of the better advances to technology, it's just a shame how easily a person can be slandered using it.
Posted at 11:10PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Scott S
16. Dear Mr. Cuban recently a friend of mine did something and it was taken out of context he's now paying the price. OK Sir not a friend i care about him alot. His name is Terrence Daniels and he is so passionate about basketball just like myself its basketball 24/7. I need your help i want him to know i truly care about him cause he doesnt have a clue. But like myself it has to involve basketball it has to be grand i dont just want to get his attention i want to knock him off his feet. So heres the problem him and i come from two different income groups he has money and well im a poor single mom. This is why im writing you HELP what can i do can you help me i dont want money i just want to do something that he will never forget that he will cherish for the rest of his life and to kind of distract him from the problems he is going through right now. So i guess im asking you to help me show someone i deeply care for that i do care that im here no matter what happens but somehow turn it into something having to do with basketball and to bring a smile to his face. So for basketball for love please help. Oh this is gonna sound crazy i havent met him face to face yet, i met him on myspace him and i are alot alike. If you could do something for him it would mean alot to me and then hint to him someone cares alot about him and then drop my name that would give me a starting chance to approach him and get me in good with him. Right about now your thinking who is this crazy person but im not crazy i just want to bring happiness even if it only lasts an hour but leaves a lifetime of memories. Am i asking to much? IF you cant do anything its ok just a crazy idea that i might be able to somehow get a guy to notice me. I want what you and alot of people have a marriage i never married had my two kids on my own and im now 39 and still not married i know there are know guarantees that he will end up liking me but i gotta try. Please HELP we both live in El Paso Texas less than 15 miles apart His name is Terrence Daniels 9860 Goby Street ELP TX 79924 (915)759-9158 and im Elizabeth Theodore 6412 Edgemere Blvd. E-9 ELP TX 79925 (915) 781-0791. If you cant do anything its cool man if you at least read my letter i would be grateful. Sincerely, Elizabeth
P.S. GO MAVERICKS
Posted at 12:45AM on Sep 19th 2007 by Elizabeth Theodore
17. I definitely agree, Mark. In the information age - it seems as though nothing is ever completely forgotten. People hold on to grudges longer because they can always remind themselves of what it is you may have done years ago.
However, on a positive note - you'll always have your good publicity that now has a better staying power than it ever did before. I'm sure you can still find a video of you volunteering at Dairy Queen or something along those lines. Your "Dancing with the Stars" performances are sure to be a hit!
While bad publicity is held over for a longer period of time than ever before - so is good publicity.
By the way Mark - if you're able to do a Mavericks season-preview for my site, I'm sure it would be great publicity for the both of us (...is that convincing enough??? probably not, but it was worth a plug).
Cheers,
-Chad
19. First off - Elizabeth in post 17, you're a nutjob. If I found out you posted my personal information online (and the blog you chose to post it on too, priceless) - I'd think you were crazy and never talk to you again.
Anyways, good read Mark, and thanks to the poster Steven Levy, that was a good read too. Hopefully people will just get bored sticking their noses in others' business and worry about themselves.
Posted at 10:01AM on Sep 19th 2007 by okie
20. Mark,
I agree with what you say - it is sad that people with any sort of "fame" have to deal with this! From my point of view - what is even more sad is the fact that the reason newspapers, websites and the such do this is because the "general public" is looking for this. They, the general public, want the gossip, the "twisted" truth or a portion of the truth. I think that people are so unhappy with their current lives and what they have going on that they are looking for anything to take their minds off from their own lives. It is like you said in a previous blog - I am paraphrasing here - why can't we all just wake up and be thankful for what you do have instead of what we do not have? Who really cares who was the best/worst dressed at some Hollywood gathering? Who really cares about some late night pictures of people partying? Honestly I think that we all have had moments/certain situations where if people would've taken snapshots we would be embarrassed if they got out. For everyone with "fame" I do feel sorry for the life you have to live!!
James
1. I must agree that it is scary the way information is stored digitally now and how it can be used against you. I also think that privacy laws will change drastically in the near future.
Posted at 3:44PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Barrera