8995: Anonymous Amusement.

Advertising Age published a story on “Internet Commentators” allegedly blasting industry players with anonymous negativity and nastiness. Ironically, the trade journal already covered the topic last April via anonymous columnist Creative X. And MultiCultClassics weighed in on the phenomenon way back in 2007.

The situation is nothing new. Yet the commentary from the offended continues to reveal agency leaders’ ignorance about the Internet and our industry. Here are some unedited comments in response to the Ad Age piece:

• Madison Avenue still doesn’t get the Internet. Otherwise, they’d realize that trolls are not unique to our industry. Additionally, it goes beyond ad blogs and even the World Wide Web. The global issue involves a coarsening of the culture as exemplified by the rise of tabloids, reality TV, FOX News and amateur critics.

• Madison Avenue has always been driven by anonymity. That is, adpeople do not sign their names to campaigns, as we are fabricating voices and messages for our clients. This is cool, except when clients take the heat for bungled, insensitive and offensive bullshit often rooted in agencies’ cultural cluelessness. Why don’t agencies step forward and identify themselves in these scenarios? Um, because they are cowards.

• Madison Avenue has always been fueled by gossip and backstabbing. Stroll through any BDA and you’ll see endless examples of politics, corruption, scheming, discrimination, adultery, sexual misconduct and more—usually in pursuit of increased billings or personal gain. There’s a reason why adpeople routinely rate alongside used car salesman and assorted social fiends on trustworthiness and credibility surveys.

• Madison Avenue honchos who call for banning anonymous comments are assholes. The guys staunchly defending the First Amendment rights of Big Tobacco, pharmaceutical companies, fast feeders targeting kids with junk food and other questionable advertisers now want to shut down name-callers on blogs? Please.

• Advertising Age monitors threads, deleting naughty naysayers and spam. Adweek has abandoned its scrutiny. Agency Spy has abandoned its humanity. On the flip side, George Parker, Jim Edwards and Lewis Lazare openly deliver stinging criticism. Hell, AdFreak and AdRants don’t hesitate to zing idiots. So the notion that anonymity is the problem doesn’t hold up.

• Crispin Porter + Bogusky prohibits staffers from engaging in dialogue on sites? Wish they would stop the troops from littering the Web with culturally clueless crapola too. Just a thought.

• Advertising Age suggested the “best remedy may be to ignore them.” Perhaps. But the victims of vitriol might also check the mirror to honestly examine the true inspiration for the complaints.

8149: Adrants’ Diversity Ads…?

Adrants has always satisfied its audience by sprinkling a few advertising-related news items between the soft porn content. Now the site is offering connections to Latina hotties.

6364: Diversity Job Fair Is Cool. Sponsor Is Not.

Adrants, New York University and Business Development Institute are presenting the Advertising Industry Diversity Job Fair and Leadership Conference in New York City on Wednesday, February 11, 2009. The trio should be commended for their continued commitment to the cause.

However, it’s interesting to note the Recruiters & Sponsors include Merkley + Partners, the agency that scored a big fat zero after its first year of signing a diversity pact with the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Here’s the agency’s blurb:

Merkley + Partners has been built by senior advertising executives who have all worked at large agencies on large brands. We focus our collective experience and expertise on solving clients’ problems in diverse and rapidly changing markets. In this way we’re large enough to be entrusted with some of the world’s most well regarded brands, while small enough to focus senior talent on every client’s business. Our mission: to make connections. Making connections. For our clients. For ourselves. We are in the business of connecting people to brands. We make connections that stick. For our clients, we create a bond that connects a brand and a consumer. We create a connection between words and images that changes people’s behavior. Internally, we connect with each other... We connect by being very people-friendly. We connect within our own halls. We connect by spreading thoughts and ideas, one person to another.

Um, so why can’t these fools connect with any minorities? Seems like their opening line tells the story. The place was “built by senior advertising executives who have all worked at large agencies on large brands.” In other words, M+P is an exclusive club where only big agency refugees with big agency experience gain entry. Are these guys supporting the Advertising Industry Diversity Job Fair and Leadership Conference for legitimate reasons—or are they just seeking to avoid the wrath of the New York City Commission on Human Rights and Cyrus Mehri? M+P claims to “connect by being very people-friendly.” What “people” are they talking about? The agency should invest $297 and connect with Carmen Van Kerckhove.

6310: The Madison Avenue Project.

Steve Hall at Adrants reported Cyrus Mehri is making a move, and he’s even bringing the NAACP along for the ride. According to Adrants, Mehri will introduce the Madison Avenue Project on January 8 at 11am, starting with the unveiling of a new study on racial disparities in the advertising industry. Bet on adding the document to the list of studies revealing the obvious. Plus, look for the Madison Avenue Project to generate bigger explosions than the Manhattan Project. Wonder if any agency honchos will bother to show up. They’ll probably just send their Diversity Chiefs, Inclusion Commanders, Rainbow Committees and Multicultural Moguls as representatives. Or the mailroom staffers.

5733: Ads By Google Are So Gay.

Here’s another peculiar example of Ads by Google. Adrants posted a dismissal of Bob Garfield’s rant on Omnicom’s homophobic commercials—alongside a banner ad to meet a gay jock.

5115: Plenty Of Job Fairs. Plenty Of Jobs?

Seems like Madison Avenue is suddenly falling over itself to bring diversity to the industry. As previously announced, Adrants and the Business Development Institute are holding the Second Annual Advertising and Marketing Industry Job Fair on February 27 in New York. Two months later, on April 24 in New York, Shomex will present its second Diversity in Advertising/PR Career Day. Of course, we’re all still waiting to hear from New York City’s Commission on Human Rights regarding the progress on Mad Ave.

5087: Deep-Dish Pizza And Diversity.

Adrants and Business Development Institute are teaming up with AdEx Chicago to hold a Diversity Job Fair in The Windy City during March 10-14. Learn more here and here.

5046: 2nd Annual Job Fairs, 1st Class Efforts.

Adrants and the Business Development Institute are continuing their Diversity in Advertising efforts with two upcoming job fairs in San Francisco and New York. Learn more about the events here.