08 January 2007

Murphy's Law...

For reasons best known to himself, Andrew B. Smith over at Object Towers has decided to give Ian "I keep my lunch in my beard" Murphy a platform for a typical moan (typical, that is, of IT hacks in general and Murphy specifically).

The post has me giggling though, as it seems to be the blog equivalent of a telephone call with Murphy. Smith gets in with 28 words at the start and then Murphy chips in with 904 of his own! Murphy even describes a couple of typical examples of phone calls between himself and flacks, one of which ending with, "And on it goes"...

Yes it does, Ian. Yes it does.
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18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know, and it's not even as though he's picked up on the REALLY annoying things that IT PR people do.

Like all being called Nick or Katie so we can't tell you apart on the phone. Or being in such a bloody good mood even though it's January, we're all skint and the central heating in the office is buggered.

Oh, and TWL, sorry to be pedantic, but why the apostrophe in reason's?

2:23 pm
....the world's leading.... said...

Crikey, you're right...I have no idea how that got there. I shall correct it immediately.

3:30 pm
Anonymous said...

>"Like all being called Nick or Katie"<

There are far more PR people call 'Dan' than there are called 'Nick'. Its a scientific fact...

3:44 pm
figgis said...

What a lovely mood everyone is in eh? That's a magnificent rant from young Murphy and I certainly think he'll help get his message across by referring to people as Airheads. That sort of thing does no end of good when you are arguing how you shouldn't be tagged 'difficult'. Personally I would just go for intolerant.

I seem to remember once upon a time Mr M used his lovely style to send a hilarious email to a client of mine shouting about how he wasn't included on the press list. Well Mr Murphy - perhaps you should have called us on our non-premium rate number to let us know your interest. We would have phoned you but didn't want you to think us airheads...

4:12 pm
Anonymous said...

Its just as well for Ian that the PR industry isn't compiling a list of all the infantile, time-wasting, self-important, pointless and above all, bearded, things he has done over the years. His time, it seems, must not be wasted but if you are a PR person listening to him wibble on about the 49th router he has bought that year for 40 minutes, its another kettle of fish entirely.

I don't defend any of the things he lists, but it is strange how the sorts of journos who come out with this sort of whinge are always the ones who have never been particularly influential and don't like the fact that PR people sometimes have to prioritise journalists who are.

"Don't they know who I am?".

Sadly for you Ian, we know exactly who you are.

And a happy new year to you all too! Bah humbug!

4:33 pm
Anonymous said...

the cultural difference is staring us all in the face - literally. Lots of hacks have beards and most PRs - including many of the women - don't.

If more PR people had beards, we would all get on better...

5:24 pm
Anonymous said...

Tentative hand in the air

9:59 pm
Anonymous said...

Let's have a top 10 of bearded tech hacks...

1.) At one its Guy "is it Goma" Kewney

2.) Ian "premium rate number" Murphy

3.) Bryan "Viking Warrior" Betts

4.) Chris "Belt-Buckle" Green - on a I can't be bothered to shave day

But men with beards, can you trust them?

Further bearded nominations on a postcard please

9:02 am
Anonymous said...

...everyone has missed the most worrying part of that entry...Ian Murphy also writes about toys...!?!? Surely alarm bells should be ringing here...

9:34 am
Anonymous said...

or, we ban beards...

(Bagsy I don't have to shave Ian)

10:16 am
Anonymous said...

Drat - and to think I shaved this morning as well.

10:37 am
Anonymous said...

>"Let's have a top 10 of bearded tech hacks..."<

ah, but what about a 'top 10' of bearded PR people..??

...actually I can't think of any...I rest my case... ;)

11:45 am
Anonymous said...

Ban all beards and phone conversations over 10 minutes. Should stop most journos and PR bunnies in their tracks and leave phone lines open for more important things.

12:17 pm
figgis said...

>ah, but what about a 'top 10' of bearded PR people..??<

didn't matt wood of 4 have a beard?

1:29 pm
Anonymous said...

New Year Resolutions:

1. Remember to comb beard more often or eat less messy food.

2. Buy less routers. Can't remember ever buying 49 routers in a year but old age may be clouding my judgement.

"Mr M used his lovely style to send a hilarious email to a client of mine shouting about how he wasn't included on the press list"
Was that the Citrix email that I then sent to Borland? Not my finest moment by a long chalk.

Only thing I'd take issue with is that I really can't believe I used the "don't you know who I am phrase".

2:19 pm
Anonymous said...

As a founder member of the PR Beard Liberation Front, I'd like to stick up for Ian. Half hour rants when we've called up about a feature that add colour to our lives. If our days were filled with smooth-faced hacks telling us to email over press releases then our jobs would be much duller.

2:35 pm
Anonymous said...

Naming no names (I'll leave that to others), in fairness I think some of the young tech hacks today's bunnies face are much easier on the eye than the hairy trolls I was confronted with.

The beards are a dying breed mercifully.

10:53 pm
Anonymous said...

likewise fresh faced flacks are better than bearded ones. No offence Patrick ;-)

1:34 pm

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