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August 27, 2005
Outing Kia
By QBlog in Web Initiative
Last summer Quixtar launched a massive, online reputation initiative. Dubbed the "Web Reputation Task Force," the initiative employed a variety of tactics designed to improve the visibility of websites favorable to Quixtar while diminishing the visibility of so-called "Quixtar-hating Internet zealot" websites (read Companies subvert search results to squelch criticism - OJR).
One aspect of Quixtar's reputation initiative involved operating several blogs run anonymously by employees. The cleverly titled "Real Quixtar Blog" (not to be confused with the parody site, Fake Quixtar Blog) has persisted as an enigmatic participant in that anonymous blogging effort. I say "enigmatic participant" because it's not really a blog and I've never been able to figure out the name of the author — until today.
What's Kia's Name?
The "Real Quixtar Blog" is run by a man using the pseudonym Kia. I recently discovered one of Kia's personal photo sites which includes pictures of Quixtar, vacation spots and of course, Kia! To determine Kia's true identity I simply need some helpful individual to attach a name to the handsome face featured in this post. Can you help?
Why?
In the past I've been critical of Quixtar's decision to blog anonymously and feel that blogs, like David Ellyatt's, benefit from being identified with a specific employee (Ellyatt is Quixtar's Web Marketing Manager). I believe that such disclosure lends some much-needed credibility to the blog and allows the author to speak more candidly as a representative of Quixtar.
I'm not suggesting that anonymous blogs have no credibility, just that blogs run by a corporation, for a corporation and with the tacit approval of that corporation, suffer when run anonymously. It's bad Public Relations and we all know how important PR is to Quixtar.
A Summer Outing
But, I must make it clear that I'm not really "outing" Kia, he "outed" himself. His photo is posted on a public site along with lots of other photos that link him to Quixtar and to the "Real Quixtar Blog." Apparently he wants to be identified and I won't disappoint.
UPDATE - Clues & Guesses
Scott Larsen sent me the following email:
I'd guess it is Robin Luymes.
Anyone else want to chime in?
Comments
That guy definitely reeks of the 1980s goody-two-shoes corporate style.
Does everyone who works at the Q headquarters have that constipated look?
Just sayin'...
The Mayor hopes that frequent QBlog contributor Tony won't add his profanity-laden coronary-induced two cents into this discussion.
I'm still steaming about my lost 2 and a half hours in the doughnut shop. Your "who is this guy?" question brings up another question and one I doubt I'll ever have a satisfactory answer for.
-r
PS:
The guy who approached me about his "business opportunity" (see my own blog), is apparently typical of quixtar IBOs, however:
Does he believe this sht himself, or is he a self-aware charletan?
In case it helps anyone who may want to try to answer the burning question "are they retarded cultists, or are they knowingly trying to rip people off?" ... I'll include this piece of human filth's name:
Dominick Chiricosta of Lake Oroville, California
-=-
That is Quixtar manager of public relations Robin Luymes.
Ah, according to QFHD, it's the navel gazing retard :D
I think that guys sells used cars in Battle Creek, MI.
If he doesn't, then he should!
He definately "looks the part" !!!
Looks like he is in public relations department. The picture has "PRSA" http://www.prsa.org/
Posted by: scott Larsen | August 27, 2005 4:31 PM