The BlogMob Should Give Scoble a Break

You gotta give Scoble credit.  Last weekend he was the mole in whack-a-mole when he accused prominent bloggers of not linking to others -- most especially to him and his PodTech videos. 

Not content with the bashing he took then from Jason Calacanis and others, he posted pure Bash Bait to his blog under the headline "PayPerSpeech Disclosure."  In hit, he revealed that he will soon speak at a conference where his expenses are to be reimbursed by the blogosphere's current favorite Public Enemy #1, PayPerPost.  But it would not merely be expenses the company planned to pay, but also an honorarium to be paid to Scoble's employer, PodTech, as reimbursement for his time.

Predictably, the Blog Mob erupted into a firestorm.  "Scoble Sells Out." "Scoble Pimping PayPerPost." "Scoble announces that he's become a paid shill for PayPerPost." "Robert Scoble got sucked into the PayPerPost machine." And it's still Saturday when the much of the blogosphere is quiet!

Even Shel Israel, the co-author of Naked Conversations with Scoble, added his two cents, saying "This will not help your reputation."

Ultimately, PodTech's CEO decided to reject the honorarium. 

Now maybe Scoble just was looking for links to his blog, but I doubt it.  Though I don't know him personally and have exchanged just a few emails over the years with him, my impression is that he's a straight shooter.  While the tone of much, though not all, of the attacks are somewhat muted in comparison to other recent attacks of the Blog Mob, it still has the cumulative effect of hysteria, especially when reviewing the comments on Scoble's blog.

Honoraria are nothing new.  Paying expenses for speakers is nothing new.  The fact that Scoble disclosed it is admirable.  Frankly, I'm not even sure it was necessary.  Speaking at any organization's invitation, with or without financial reimbursement, could conceivably bias a person anyway, so the mere act itself was probably sufficient. 

But to me, the most troubling thing I take from this episode is the Blog Mob will even engage in self-righteous hysteria targeted at one of the more well-known and (generally) respected members of the blogosphere.  We all need to remember that we can still agree to disagree.  Despite what many bloggers seem to think, for most issues there is no right or wrong answer, simply two (or more) individual's opinions.

So let's all give Scoble a break. 

Technorati tags: PayPerPost, Scoble, BlogMob

Comments

[Duncan]

I would note, as someone linked, that I'm not condemning Scoble at all nor taking part in a "blog mob" but noting *exactly how* the mob will lynch Scoble as part of the pogrom against PayPerPost, and I'd note my use of the word pogrom...look it up, it's not flattering to the many others going after the PayPerPost.

[Chip Griffin]

Duncan, you make a fair point. Though I would argue that I disagree with your statement that Scoble is a shill for PayPerPost. Merely speaking at their event does not make him a shill (and that, too, is a word with a highly negative connotation).

Apart from that, however, I believe you and I are substantially in agreement as to what we see happening.

[Guy Pelletier]

It would appear that Robert is looking to stir things up, however I believe that Scoble is being Scoble, all he wants to do is converse using the blogoshere, and because of the numbers he has acummulated, he is the target of several people that want to show their ability to disagree.
In the end the Scobilizer will continue to write about whatever he wants to and will continue to lead the pack of the blogoshere.

Guy

[Chris Saad]

I too would like to clarify (as one of the blogs linked) - My headline was actually sarcastic - if you read the body I stand up for Robert's actions :)

[Chip Griffin]

Chris- Looks like I'm getting on the wrong side of the Aussies today! I confess that in your case the headline and a quick skim misled me. In reviewing your post in its entirety, you do indeed defend Scoble.

[shel israel]

I agree with Guy's comments above. Scoble is not really capable of doing evil. I maintain that his judgment in this case it is indeed hurting his reputation. In fact, Chip, I'm surprised that the blogosphere has not reacted more strongly than it has and you are wrong. By Monday, it will have moved on to some entirely new issue.

[Chip Griffin]

Shel- It does seem that the reaction has been more muted than I had anticipated when I wrote this entry yesterday. And I tend to agree with you that this is hurting Scoble's reputation, though I also believe he did nothing wrong.

My broader concern is that in most cases like these -- especially when it isn't a popular figure like Scoble -- the instinct of to villify is too strong in the blogosphere. Essentially a "shoot first, ask questions later" approach based on the notion that there is but one set of appropriate values.

I just want to see more room for reasoned and reasonable debate. Most of us want to see more corporate participation online, not less, but a schoolyard "I'm right, you're wrong" approach will only scare off companies from joining the online conversation.