Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Slept reasonably well last night, glad to see Richie get up so could ask for thc which promptly got me back to glorious sleep right away.
Had a couple of extremely flattering emails recently, telling me I was an inspirational leader of my community, and right at the end of the mail, could they use my blog to advertise their products.
My response each time is no I will not have my blog used by drug companies or other companies selling products to the sick and handicapped.
Do not like the idea of being used by these companies for their marketing and gaining access to an unlimited database of bloggers email addresses and other details.
Data bases they can sell on for big profit, that is why I will not be accepting the Pharma companies pieces of silver, no matter how friendly and flattering they are.
They are clever at telling us what we want to hear and each of us can be bought, I nearly was by Wellsphere, until I realised that the blogs were small potatoes, for them, they wanted to get subscribers and information for their databases.
I have advocated the Motomed, as it is brilliant for keeping legs and arms exercised; it stimulates blood circulation and prevents osteoporosis.
I have no relationship whatsoever with the company, apart from buying the Viva 2 in 2007 and using it everyday and telling people how good it is for me.
I value the freedom to express myself as I want here on my blog, without having a paternalistic relationship with a ‘friendly’ Pharma company.
By their very nature these companies are not the peoples friend, the only MS Research I support is via the MS Society, research for advancement of knowledge of this horrible disease not for profit.
These are my feelings which I do not seek to impose on others, nor do I wish to criticise those who have different views.
15 comments:
Hi Herrad - Your stance is certainly understandable. It is not always easy to discover a corporation's true intentions when they come bearing gifts and claim no strings attached. Transparency is the key, and transparency can only be reasonably assured through independent audits of the "community" you are being asked to join.
Blogger, for example, has the following in their Terms of Service:
By submitting, posting or displaying Content on or through Google services which are intended to be available to the members of the public, you grant Google a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish and distribute such Content on Google services for the purpose of displaying and distributing Google services.
One of Google's services is AdWords, and Google has the right to use your posts as part of the AdWords service. Google retains their license to your content even after you terminate your account.
I agree with you Herrad...it's all about numbers. They think they can lay on the sweet talk and ka-ching! Cash in on your blog. I remember when my idiot ex-bosses tried to sell their company, i.e. their client base; I was told not to process any cancellations because they wanted to keep the numbers higher, isn't that horrible? Internet hits = advertising revenues...I hate it all!!!
:-)
I was out all day Herrad, the dreaded shopping day, but it's all over and done with now so I can relax tonight! Hope you had a great day! 9 days to go!!!
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the information about Blogger.
You are right that it is not always easy to find out a corporations intentions.
Hi Rain,
It is all about numbers, and names and addresses for databases so that they can be sold on.
Databases are big business now.
Thanks for coming by and leaving comments.
What I do not like is having to sign in with my name and email to read blogs, feels like subscribtion is just there to fill databases, which get sold on.
Seems to be quite a can of worms, there is always more that you do not see at first glance.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Have a good day tomorrow.
Love,
Herrad
Oh yes! Nothing is free, you can believe that!
Hi Rain,
I did not think so, but am realising that even things that are not free are more expensive than I thought.
Lov,
Herrad
Very prolific!! The expense? Our souls....lol!!!
Hi Rain,
Our whole lives.
In debt to debt, like the idea of being born with sin.
Now babies are born to a lifetime of debt.
Love,
Herrad
Dear Herrad,
hope everything is fine with you.
It was in fact of great surprise to read about companies getting in contact with you, asking to 'use' your site - still remains a bit difficult for me to understand.
A wonderful Wednesday for you all. p.s.: And if it wouldn't be again middle of the night I would have put the volume up - for now it is them asleep, tomorrow, thank you very much for the music.
Hi Robert,
Lovely to see your comment just before I turn off my laptop.
Have a good Wednesday.
Love,
Herrad
Hi Herrad, Great post!
Have a good Wednesday!
I'm proud of you for not falling for their carrot, Herrad. I refused to respond to the "selection" process from Wellsphere people when they said they thought my Blog "was one of the best." My first impression was "Who are these people" followed closely by "What crap!" and did moved on - so that's why you don't see my pretty picture on their featured icon on my sidebar.
I too have been getting the flattering emails... I too must say no to the drug companies and advertisers. This is my sacred place and no one gets to mess with it.
Yes I agree about the ads but do not know how to avoid them everywhere. Good for you. Like your stance.
kim
Wellsphere is a topic which I don't discuss much at all. When they first came calling back in April 2008, I ignored them and posted about them with a warning tone. Especially since all they seemed to have on site at the time was fitness-related stuff.
The company I freelance for now owns Wellsphere. The President of HealthCentral once asked me my opinion and interest on Wellsphere. What I could say is that I chose not to participate and do not know what is offered behind the sign-in screen.
Hi Stephany,
Thanks, hope your Wednesday was good.
Hi Webster,
They all tell you that you are the best blogger, have heard it a few times now.
Wellsphere are just one company handing out gold stars.
Hi Nadja,
There are quite alot of flatterers out there, we MSers are a big market for these companies.
Hi Kim,
Advertising is difficult to avoid, but what is worse is being targeted by companies.
Hi Lisa,
From the little I could see of Wellsphere it seemed to be a big marketing set up selling life style fitness products.
Thanks for coming by everyone, think that there are a few things that concern me about getting involved with Pharma companies.
One is having to give them personal details, when blogs are only accessible by subscription which results in them having your demographics that they and their associates can use to target you.
However friendly and seemingly supportive some pharma companies may be, their goal is to maximise profits.
Always good I find to ask myself in whose interests it is.
Have a good day tomorrow.
Love,
Herrad
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