A(nother) recent flare-up in AOL's blogging community .....  

A member questioned why she was not notified that her blog was linked from a feature page (in which she was not active --) and the response (a rather condescending explanation on the history of cybersphere linkage patterns) from a different feature editor fueled another round of there-you-go-using-my-creativity-to-promote-your-advertising-again jibberish.   

Problem #1:  Middle-management whiz-kids need supervision and/or training (intellectual restraint? a crash course in leadership?  demographics? hysteria management? human nature?  common courtesy?  how about common sense?) in communicating with an expanding group of (angry, confrontational, critical, older, savvy, less gullible and less dependent users -- capable of evolving into doting cross-dotting mob mentality -- ever vigilant to tear-someone-a-new-one) resentful vendees.  

Upper management may also need refresher courses.  

Couching a complaint/question as "old school" invites flame-and blame responses and unscabs old boo-boos.  Some  characterizations are just better suited for "member-managed" discussion boards and NOT as <hint hint> "editorial" explanation.   

And since I'm on the topic ....  

It may be acceptable (in some circles, that is) to use profanity in a youth-directed feature page headline (such as AIM.aol.com), but it really pissed this old-schooler off to see "certain" words on a public page that my teenage niece might surf.  I curse for effect on a personal blog.  Using a 4-letter word on a public, professional page, however, is unacceptable, IMO.  Seeing that particular word actually annoyed me more than being "talked down" to.  Dammit.

It just ain't good marketing strategy to offend folks aesthetically, morally, literally, conceptually, visually, philosophically or personally.  And I'm relatively confident you won't find offensive practices listed under "effective leadership qualities."

Problem #2: AOL's razzle-dazzle new business plan (my interpretation: less supportive and/or family-oriented and more do-your-own-thing with focus on in-your-face-grab-that-youth-market mentality) has left its spoon-fed, mostly older, co-dependent constituents sitting at lonely bus stops along the information highway. 

Shame on you, AOL.   On one hand, I don't blame you.  But as an "old schooler" who has another hand that's been "with you" since the mid-90's, you disappoint me.    

Oh, I'll survive -- I've worked on the Internet too long not to understand the game.  My point, ding-dang-it, is that you've either fired or run off most of those who understood the concept of "community," you've sold your souls to the green-eyed monster, appear to have bartered consumer-respect for a bigger piece of the pie, and now you've gone and hired whiz-kids who have little demonstrated regard for such critical marketing components as ownership and consumer-identity.

So what you gonna do when that fickle youth market moves to another venue?  Ahhhh, yes -- sell and buy ..... buy and sell.   I almost forget  about that business plan. 

Note, please:  the previous reference to "those who 'understood' the concept of 'community'" does not necessarily include the corps of former volunteers who lead/monitored designated "community" chats and boards under the direction of paid staff.  Apples and oranges.  Apples and oranges.

And yes, I digress.  This is my duly assigned space to do it in.  And this smaller print is used intentionally -- in case someone who reads this forgets that for all the "given's" in life, fine print is one of them. 

Problem #3:  The majority of the AOL bloggers who threatened to leave the service as a protest against ads being placed on their blogs -- didn't.   

They're slowly but surely reappearing on blog boards to announce their "return under ongoing protest."  (Haven't we all been watching and waiting? And who among us didn't already expect the drama queenies & weenies to be the first to return?) 

****There is something to be said about addictive and co-dependent personalities, eh?****

The threatened "exodus" did not have the effect protesters intended.   

Why?    

Three reasons.  

One I'll hold for awhile. 

No offense to individual protesters (many of whom I respect personally and professionally), but, IMO, things could have "gone" more effectively and could have garnered more support.  While some may shout "but it ain't over" or "we're still protesting ...." in reality -- it's over, folks.  Those who fail to accept it as over are not winning too many points by launching attacks on staff members who have/had absolutely nothing to do with the decision, anyway!  'Tis not wise to shoot messengers -- even if they are new school whiz-kids.

If any future progress is to be made regarding what AOL bloggers want (i.e., remove those ads, or else--) as opposed to what AOL will give (i.e., nothing--), new/different agendas and strategies will be needed.  

Which is/was one initial point in this regard --  

Blogging is not a primary feature on AOL and (lest we forget) their business plan is based on advertising.  Like market-driven toward the youth dollar.  

And until blogging becomes an AOL feature (which it may in the not-so-distant future), don't expect anything to change until some whiz-kid marketing genius :::: eye roll ::::: suggests that AOL either offers to sell ad-free blog space or "rolls" its blogging interests over to another/new subsidiary!   Some of us refer to that as spending-money-to-make-money.

At best (and they sure as hell are neither asking nor listening to me), AOL should consider re-structuring and communicating (in easy-to-understand black and white, every-day English-speak) its fee plan so members know exactly WHAT we now pay for and exactly what everyone gets FREE!   

The harsh reality (i.e., where AOL continues to have most of us over the barrel) is that AOL STILL offers the most reliable dial-up service.   

Until DSL or some other reliable ISP becomes available to everyone (including me), protesters (even light-handed ones like me) best get used to having ads-on-blogs.    

Another dose of reality:  AOL management doesn't care where or whether you/I blog.  They suggest (and provide space) that we blog to promote personal interests or for the fun of it.  Because they have a sincere and generous regard for our well-being?  Think again.  AOL goes to the bank because of us -- not for us.

Like all Internet businesses, AOL cares that their advertisers have exposure and that user-services are accessible to users who choose to use them!  It is neither an accident or anything "new" that every member-user is perceived as a potential buyer. It was the same in the "old school" days as well. 

Except THEN we didn't mind so much because we truly believed that the full-range of benefits we received (which those a-hole snerts from the internet now get for free) were perceived as unique and well-worth the price we paid. 

And they were. 

And the greatest of those benefits was a "caring" environment -- a safe harbor, a portal, a thermal-pane window through which we could peer into the mysterious world wide web.

How much effort would it have taken IF the powers-that-be had sent members a blue letter to explain that the old "familiar" AOL was about to undergo a re-direction?  THAT act alone would have been a stroke of marketing genius.   and it's still not too late ....

Problem #4:  Re-read your member contract.  (There aren't any loopholes, btw.  Why do you think AOL employs the largest legal team on the Internet??!!)   

AOL members don't "own" space.  Members are "provided" space as a provision of membership; similar space is also "provided" to free AIM users.  AOL's terms of service (to this user's memory) never "gave" users their "own" space and such terms have always been subject to change at the discretion of the owner.  AOL is THE owner of its space.   Period.   

By virtue of paying membership fees, you/we also agree to allow AOL to link to/promote your/my creative property -- even on THEIR feature pages!

(The courtesy of a notification for this promotion, however, be damned -- as in "old school" be damned.  New school leaders obviously don't think in old school terms.)   For now, anyway.

But back to that contract members signed.

Still wanna bitch about AOL's "intrusion" into your "personal" space?   Geeeeze -- GET OVER IT already.  AOL is not listening.  Either you live in a very small world where your every demand is delivered on a silver platter OR you actually ENJOY paying for misery! 

(And since when has anyone been forced to use "free" AOL?   Hey -- if you don't like cactus, stay the heck outta the desert!) 

Still wanna fight it?  Hire a lawyer.  Expect to lose that retainer, though.

Better still -- why not invest your money this way:  

For approximately $100 a year, you can buy (rent) your own space.   That is, purchase your own domain (name) and subscribe to a hosting service to accommodate it.  It's easy.  Subscribers "own" designated space (for a domain) RENTED from a hosting service.  Hell --- ask one of these young whiz-kid whipper-snappers -- you can even buy your own server and host your own space for a few hundred dollars more! 

You'll still have to pay for Internet access, however.  

Problem #5: You think AOL marketing strategists didn't know all of this from the git-go?   

You STILL have a complaint about AOL's business plan?  They don't care!    When you gonna learn to pick your battles, Buster?

For now, their plan appears to be working.  What part of makemoney don't you understand?  

Don't like AOL's new internet-accessible formats?  Then find another  service that offers what you want!   Surfing the net is easy.  Google it.  And good luck finding it.  

A customer service rep doesn't understand your issue?  Ask to speak to a supervisor.  Call back later and get another rep!  Send an email!  (Note:  effective service reps are trained to "hear your pain," to read the prompts, to let you vent, to be empathic without condescension, to promise nothing -- and still make you feel as if you've just set the Internet/AOL on the right course and/or its ear!) 

They're paid to do this.  They get promoted if they do it well, by the way.   Some are even fired for not doing it well. 

You don't want to leave your AOL "family" and friends?  Then invite them to go with you .... or use AIM and meet them in an "accessible" group feature.  Better yet ---- start your own public/private AOL community via groups and blogs and chat, etc.  

And if you still can't cut-the-string-you-love-to-hate, go private with your bitch sessions and let those who both understand and accept the service as it is (warts and all, btw) enjoy it!