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Paul Graham on PR
ralejs writes "Paul Graham takes on PR. From the article:'Why do the media keep running stories saying suits are back? Because PR firms tell them to. One of the most surprising things I discovered during my brief business career was the existence of the PR industry, lurking like a huge, quiet submarine beneath the news. Of the stories you read in traditional media that aren't about politics, crimes, or disasters, more than half probably come from PR firms.'
As always, it's an interesting, surprising and slightly provoking read."
http://www.idlewords.com/2005/04/dabblers_and_blow hards.htm
This stuff should not be a surprise.
PR firms and advertisers and sales folks have spent billions over the last half-century (?) or so rigorously testing and figuring precisely how to influence the average - and even non-average - schmo. Its a science and they are 21st century, computer-enhanced masters at it, and the media are their lapdogs. And I'm not talking "america" or "surburbia". I'm talking world wide. Note - I'm not trolling - I actually admire their single-mindedness and stunning success at it. I just hate being on the receiving end of it.
Today, if you don't want to be influenced, then you'll have to cut off all your sensory input.
Cloned foods give the statement "We had that last week!" a whole new meaning.
Business suits. As in, "the wearing of".
For those of you asking - that's precisely the sort of thing these PR firms do. Issue a few press releases saying "In hard economic times, more formal dress is returning to the workplace as a means of repudiating the excesses that led to the dot-com crash", and bolster it with a parallel "Metrosexuality is cool" spin, and all of a sudden, people are convinced that buying a suit and ceasing to observe casual Fridays in anything less than a sport coat, will get them promoted, laid, or both.
From the article:
An amusing take on one of his other essays, not strictly relevant but i'd just read it when this was posted.
Dabblers and Blowhards
As someone who actually has a degree in Public Relations (actually, Mass Communications with an emphasis in PR), I'd say Graham is fairy on target.
I find it very telling that one of the classes I had as an undergrad (actually in the psychology department) was Persuasion or, as the instructor said, "How to get people to do things that they don't want to do."
What I don't like about the article, however, is that it infers that Marketing and Public Relations are actually the same. They are definitely not. Marketing is really a two-way sales method (consider it a closed feedback loop) while Public Relations (excepting the occasional survey) is typically one-way. This, however, doesn't mean that PR is inherently insidious.
What gives PR a really bad name is when its techniques are used as propaganda, with prepared stories being shown as news pieces. When that happens then you can't be sure what really is true.
Successfully condensing fact from the vapor of nuance since 1998.
I would never work a suit-and-tie-everyday job, but I have no problem with wearing one to a job interview.
To some extent wearing a suit is a show of respect to the people you're meeting with. It also is an easy answer to the question of what to wear to the interview.
I couldn't agree more.
Whatever job you do, there are a certain number of people who do the same thing as you, but better.
The only thing I can add is: one reason to consider "dressing it up" a bit at work (which is the reason I choose to do so, obviously) has to do with being noticed. Keep in mind, as parent said, that there are a hundred others who can do what you do. If you want to move up, get the raise, be the "top dog" or whatever -- do something to set yourself apart from the others doing the same job. It doesn't have to have anything to do with appearance; you could get your MBA, broaden your vocabulary, etc ... just happens that changing the way you dress is about the easiest way to break out of that group of 100 ...
The best way for appearance to work in your favor at a job interview is to look like you already work there.
Tech Public Policy stuff
here is the link to where and when about ties
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/tie1.html
if you see me, smile and say hello.