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March 30, 2005
Quixtar Is Deceiving You
By QBlog in
Quixtar is promoting something called the "Real Quixtar Blog." It's run by an anonymous Quixtar employee known only as "Kia." The problem with "Real Quixtar Blog," as I've previously indicated, is that it's not a blog. It sort of looks like a blog to the uninitiated and the ignorant, but it's absolutely, positively not a blog. Quixtar and Kia may call it a blog, but that doesn't make it so.
What Is A Blog?
Blogs are many things and what defines them can vary greatly but there are some fundamental characteristics that distinguish blogs from other Web sites.
All blogs share these characteristics:
- Chronologically arranged posts
- Posts are automatically time-stamped
- Auto-generated archives
Most blogs share these characteristics:
- Permalinks
- RSS or some sort of syndication feed
- Ping a directory service after each post
Many blogs share these characteristics:
- Comments
- Trackbacks
- Updated frequently
(Reference: Harvard Definition, Answers.com Definition and Wikipedia)
Of the nine characteristics listed above, how many apply to the "Real Quixtar Blog?" Just one. The site does seem to arrange its posts chronologically which gives it that "blog" look but it's definitely not a blog. And the time-stamp you see isn't really a time-stamp. It's merely a line of text, in bold, manually inserted into the title line (which is why the post for Easter Weekend has no date, just the words "Easter Weekend").
In fact, it looks like the site is powered by Microsoft Visual Studio just like the company that hosts it. That's significant because Microsoft Visual Studio is not a native blog tool and lacks many of the features that define blogs.
Deceiving?
But is Quixtar really "deceiving" anyone? If Kia wants to call his site a blog, and if it sort of looks like a blog, then there's no harm done... right? Wrong!
The "Real Quixtar Blog" may be the only exposure many IBOs have to the "world of blogging." Their entire perception of "blogs" could easily be shaped by a site that is a blog in name only. If that's not deceiving, it's at least misleading. And why would Quixtar knowingly mislead IBOs about blogs? Ignorance? Negligence? Something else?
Mountains and Molehills
"You're making a big deal about nothing you idiot." Possibly. However, what statement is being made by a corporation that can't even run a proper blog? Today they promote a non-blog as a blog. What will they promote tomorrow in a similar fashion?
Comments
Awww, RMM - you stole my line.....LOL!
Qblog, I'm a fan...I really am, but come on. This one was a stretch. I'm talkin' Mr. Fantastic.
Quixtar Is Deceiving You. Surprise!
What I don't understand is how hard it is to blog? Use blogger.com as a tool and use ur own webspace, URL and all. Cats and Dogs have real blogs and real Quixtar Blog is not a blog? C'mon quixtar, u have linked that blog from your main page.
What a shock! Newsflash: a company using a hot new trend to create PR!
I'm in my forties, and I clearly remember as a kid when corporate America would grab onto the latest "cool" thing and bastardize it into their latest advertising. Usually, by the time Madison Avenue got ahold of whatever it was, it just wasn't cool anymore. What it looked like, if you were cool, was a cynical attempt to use "coolness" to market their product- and for the target market, it was always received with derision.
30 years later, and nothing changes, except maybe the reaction time.
I wish that Quixtar would publish an actual, honest-to-God blog, with a free exchange of ideas and points-of-view. But a true blog, for them, is probably out of the question.
Too dangerous and uncontrollable.
Well, Mr. Fantastic could never stretch as much as Plastic Man. Now that guy was stretchy!
Keith Sr.,
I couldn't have said it better myself. Why would a comapny not want a free exchange of ideas.
If you take any REAL company and see how they do research on how to (gasp!) move more product, you will find that they rely heavily on outside opinion.
With Amway/Quixtar, they really don't want people to be able to publicly provide their own opinion, despite that it may help them become a better company. Why would that be?
QBlog, do you see The Real Quixtar Blog as something that could be used to throw off the odd prospect when doing a search?
I think Plastic Man was more elastic, but Mr. Fantastic had a greater tensile strength...but I digress...
This isn't a stretch at all--most of the AmQuix blogs are just distractions to deter those looking for the truth on the company.
It IS a distraction, but it ISN't a real blog!
But what of the elasticity of Professor Richard Impossible? A deranged criminal intent on the destruction of Dr. Venture, but stretchy, nonetheless.
I hope NBC Dateline is building a Quixtar update segment. It would most interesting!
Keep watching dude, there are recent signs that Quixtar is in big trouble. They are backing up from their "Buy for urself is ok, legal and dandy and Orrin is right" and for the link, well go to the forum.
And don't think government doesn’t know. Government knows all. It's just that they take action when they want. Maybe when it becomes too much or maybe when they start biting government a bit more. (Fake tax benefits any one?)
Lets see!
Hey! Realquixtarblog responded! It only took a week, but KIA was in SF after all. Check this out:
"All of that said, there have been comments about "how blogging is supposed to be done." That's like saying there's a formula to how a novel should be written, or a standard format for what makes a good Web site. There are as many ways to create a Web site -- including blogs -- as there are people creating them. This one, for instance, was created to share my views. It does not provide the opportunity for visitors to post their comments, but it does provide the opportunity to email Kia so that he can respond directly to comments in email or on these pages."
I love it! Honestly, qblog, I can't believe how closely the corp watches this site. Cracks me up.
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Next thing you know they'll be calling Quixtar a "business opportunity."
Posted by: RMM | March 30, 2005 3:46 PM