Friday night, instead of gallivanting all over Chicago, I sat in front of my laptop, obsessively refreshing Twitter in hopes that someone would post some fabulous pictures to make me jealous for me to enjoy.
No one posted any pictures. But I did see a curious hashtag: #Nikonhatesbabies
I found that a little hard to believe. Since I’d bet more than half the photos taken with Nikon cameras are of babies, how could a camera maker hate so many adorable subjects?
Eventually, as it happens with these sensational hashtags, the story came out: assumptions were made, a misunderstanding occurred, a joke was cracked, and the mommygangs sprang into action.
From what I’ve seen, both Nikon and their PR firm and the blogger who cracked the joke have handled the aftermath beautifully, and lots of bloggers have weighed in with their thoughts on right and wrong. It’s made for a good discussion, not just about what other companies might do differently in the future, but also about how we as fellow bloggers comport ourselves, especially in the heat of the moment.
I’ve been part of these brouhahas myself. At the time of Camp Baby, I wasn’t yet on Twitter, but based on the reaction in comments to my (mild and objective) description of being uninvited to the event, I can only imagine what transpired on Twitter. Months later, at Guy Kawasaki’s house, he remembered me as the blogger at the center of the Camp Baby debacle.
Not exactly how I’d prefer to be known, but who cares – Guy Kawasaki remembered me!
Other kerfuffles have arisen since then – Motrin Moms and Fishful Thinking, to name the biggies – and as with Camp Baby, we took full advantage of the tweeting and posting (and video spoofing) potential. In some cases (like Johnson & Johnson’s Camp Baby), the companies and their PR firms rose to the occasion, meaningful dialogue took place, and mutually beneficial working relationships have been established. In other cases (like Pepperidge Farm and Fishful Thinking), it didn’t turn out nearly so well.
While I agree that our community vigorously defends its members (and sometimes leaps to conclusions, leading us to eat our words – or #hashtags – later on), I’ll argue that we do it not because we wield our power carelessly or with malicious intent, but because we value each other. My friends and readers didn’t leave comments on my Camp Baby post out of dislike for Johnson & Johnson – as a brand or as a corporation – but because they supported me. The bloggers who tagged their tweets last Friday night with #Nikonhatesbabies did it as a show of solidarity.
It’s true that the behavior of some members of our community at BlogHer was downright shameful; I didn’t have to be present to believe the nastiness that took place – in fact, some have reported what they themselves perpetrated, not even realizing how awful they look (and how they’ve made the rest of us look by extension).
But it’s the strength of community that has led so many bloggers to sign the Blog With Integrity pledge. Check the list of pledges: it’s not just a select few who are on board, but over 600 (and counting) bloggers. While the majority so far are parenting bloggers, we’re encouraging bloggers of all genres to join us.
Because really, we’re not a mommygang. We’re a community – every last one of us.
Nikon or Canon?
I actually own a Canon, so…
I echo many other folks who have said that it’s amazing what the power of the linked word can do. Let’s hope we can use this power (and gusto) into changing something that really needs changing. The list is long.
Canon, since that is what I have used all of my life. I’m just afraid of change.
The power to effect change, with the brands, or in the world as a whole, is the part of this community that I find invigorating. I was raised to be a social activist, but I’ve never felt comfortable with it until now. The online community is the first place I’ve felt that I could make a difference.
Ah, you must have missed my post about Momcentral UNinviting me to their little shindig over the weekend – the night just before the event. Now, THAT’S rude, no? At least in Nikon’s case, it was the venue and not Nikon itself. Nowhere have I seen anyone rending their garments over The Chicago’s Flatwater club, the restaurant who appears to be hating on the babies. Heh.
To answer the question, Canon, but that is only because that is what I already have. I am hoping to upgrade my camera this year and truthfully, this kerfuffle did NOT affect my opinion of Nikon. Good grief – it was a silly cocktail party. If it turns out they have a camera I prefer, then I will buy that instead.
Actually I did see it, and I nearly cited it here, except Mom Central isn’t a corporate brand (yet?). That said, I thought it was shameful, and I applaud you for standing by your decision.
I went from a Nikon to a Canon. Oooh, switch hitter!
I love Kristen’s phrase “the power of the linked word.” Amen to using it for good instead of evil (or snark or misinformation).
well put. i saw the tweet when it first came up and assumed it was a joke, i couldn’t believe the backlash that ensued. glad to see/read that all is cleared up now.
p.s. sony. but i’d gladly take a nikon or canon
Sony.
There. I admit it. I use a Sony dSLR. I loved Minolta, so it makes sense.
I watched all of this from the comfort of my office/recliner/couch/bed (gotta love the work at home lifestyle) and was amazed at the anger, support, and confusion this generated.
Aw, poor Olympus. Always left out of these discussions.
I think your assessment (and defense?) that the gangs spring up because we support one another is super astute. I hadn’t quite put it into those words, and it really does sum up the situation. The issue though is that in an effort to support one another, we don’t always think of the consequences. Oh God, I can’t believe I’m bringing this up, but I think of some of Reverend Sharpton’s missteps (ahem Tawana Brawley) and how sometimes we’re better off getting all the facts first. Especially if we’re going to call for resignations and try and deem minor missteps, epic fails.
This is a really fantastic post!
I already wrote about the PR debacle as you know, but as far as cameras, i am a Canon girl but used to be a Nikon girl and they both make GREAT equipment. So I will consider myself bi.
Great post. I have a Canon myself.
I don’t even know what brand of camera I have but let’s just say it sucks ass and is already dying after only a few months. I need a camera that can take being dropped-kicked across a room without breaking. Oh, and that doesn’t cost more than a car payment.
Otherwise, great, thoughtful post.
I just signed the pledge…i didnt attend BlogHer but hope to in the future…and I admit reading everything I have read has scared me…until I read the keynotes then I remembered what it was all about,the focus,the reason…
I’m just some d-list blogger that wants to learn…i dont do reviews-not that i wouldnt that just hasnt been a focus for me yet,i dont have a clue what SEO is…what is it? I am a ‘mom’ blogger my childrens dont call me mommy anymore,I dont even own a cannon OR a nikkon…
I am me, carving out my own lil corner in the big world of the internet…who hopes to one day meet some of the wonderful women i read online…
Perfectly wonderful. “We’re not a mommygang”. I love this community. I love that what you put in comes back ten fold. I love that there are REAL PEOPLE being the ASCII code.
I couldn’t have said it better.
I think it can be called a ‘community’ when the group is support-based, but more like a ‘gang’ when everyone decides to hate/ignore/blast whoever it was that wronged the original blogger. I read through some of the posts on the Camp Baby – some were just sympathetic, but others spewed hatred at J&J on behalf of you. think that latter bit is definitely a mommygang thing.
I just signed the pledge too. I am just a plain old Mommy blogger, who does some reviews and giveaways, and is looking to meet a lot of interesting people along the way! I hope to make my blog known one day, but in the meantime, I love reading others wonderful blogs. I don’t own a canon or a nikkon, heck, I don’t even own my own car! Love your blog and will be back!
Kim
I killed my Canon this week. Hoping your comments will help me with my next purchase… : )
Canon owner here
But you’re so right – teasing out motivations and intentions in all of these issues is the trickiest thing. Are we supporting each other, or ganging up? Are we ganging up, or standing up for ourselves? Are we too zealous sometimes in standing up for ourselves? Are we sometimes not zealous enough?
End of the day, integrity is the only thing that we can cling to. If we can look at ourselves in the mirror and tell ourselves that we’re doing the right thing, we should be good. I think.