The Signifier

If people don't like it, just press the remote!

I'm somewhat flabbergasted with the news today that one very good advert has been pulled due to 200 complaints. I considered Dubai to be a harsh space when it comes to censoring what people should or shouldn't see, I'm surprised (perhaps in a biased way) as to this latest news in the UK.

The latest DeliMayo ad from Heinz was a fun one. The scene is set, a family kitchen with a Italian American deli chef at the helm (well in charge of the kitchen). Very quickly the dialog of various members of the family takes us into this world where the deli chef is the 'Mum'. In the final throes of the ad, the Father of the family comes in, gets his lunch, freshly prepared and as he walks away, chef/Mum reminds him he's forgotten his goodbye kiss...to which he is deftly rewarded.

In a world where we're no longer chastised for discussing or making aware that our World is made up of something EMAAR would describe as "single family units", I'd expect a bit more acceptance...oh well.

It's official! The Internet has been BANNED!

Much to my suprise yesterday morning, I wandered into the regular Second Cup coffee shop to pick up my perk up and spotted the headline in the 7Days newspaper (it's like the Dubai version of Metro).

Considering I'd come over here with an expertise in Interactive, I was somewhat flummoxed by the fact that the powers that be at Du (the country's second internet service provider) had decided to follow the suit of Etisalat and ban a whole series of social networking sites.

Of course, there are the obvious sexually related sites I'd expect to go (and if Im honest, not being able to see them online actually doesnt bother me) but successes such as Facebook and Flickr being banned made me stop in my tracks and question what on earth I was doing here...and what on earth I could be doing in my job without such prime examples of how social networking has removed the power from Brands into the hands of the content-greedy/generous consumer!

Not withstanding the idea to just "put up and shut up" I was contemplating how on earth I check in to see if my old Army client is pummeling me at Scrabulous or see how many new comments had gone into my flickr gallery...anyone want to tell me?

Vive La Revolution!

Eros is poised, the florists are going to make a mint!

We're just over the Christmas craze, and now it's time for the next one...
Wandering around London today, I noticed a higher-than-normal number loitering around Piccadilly. I think the subliminal (or perhaps blatant) "Happy Valentines Day" advertising has finally gotten to people. I can see the florists all rubbing their hands together, adding a "0" on their current price list and still getting the punters to leave with bouquets and roses in their hands!

So there he is, arrow poised, masses moving around him...who is he going to strike...perhaps the question is 'where' is he going to strike, it's not going to be the heart....it'll be the wallet!

Cook Cook Cook...Cookability, that's the beauty of GAS!

Working in the world of CRM, I sometimes have to bite my lip!
A large proportion of my job is to 'understand' the consumer, put myself in their shoes and then develop a communications strategy from Brand to Consumer. Ordinarily a big enough challenge in itself, predominantly because what the Brand wants and talks about sometimes is dis-engaged from the reality of what the consumer is really looking for.

Today, I finally managed to get an appointment with British Gas Homecare, the part of the business that offers a service of 'looking after my gas appliances with no worry'. In my head, it verges into the world of insurance, i.e. paying out money for a service that you tend to only need when things go wrong (never an easy proposition to get over as a message). Now this is a World, that as a consumer, has been sold to me with the message of 'no worries' and 'no nasty surprise repair bills'. "Excellent!" I hear you cry. And with more gasps of amazement, I then go on to tell you not only am I paying for my central heating to be managed, but they'll also look after my pipes and my electrical wiring too! "ooooohhhhhHHHHH!"

However, as with everything in this World, things are never quite as easy as they seem when being sold (and BOY! do they 'sell' this to you at every customer touchpoint!).

So here I am, working from home, hearing the "tuts" and the "chin rubbing"....

GAS:"Did you know your feeder pipe is leaking?"
ME:"I dont know what that is...could you explain?"

GAS:"It's the pipe that connects from the mains into your boiler"
ME:"AH! I see, so is that part of the boiler?"
GAS:"No, it's part of your plumbing system"
ME:"OH! So it needs to be replace then?"
GAS:"Yes, in fact I cant approve your boiler until this is repaired as it's making the boiler 'faulty'"
ME:"That's fine, Im with British Gas plumbing too, so I can arrange for it to be repaired and then you can certify my boiler."
GAS:"Hmmmmm It's not that simple. Your boiler failing means your policy for Homecare is not active"
ME:"But I've been paying for the last 14 months, now you're saying I'm NOT covered?"
GAS:"No you're not."
ME:"I think I'll need to call your customer services..."
GAS:"Well I'm sure they'll tell you the same thing."

TBC....

Keep me hanging on the telephone....

If there is one thing that bugs me, it's terrible utilization of the phone, especially the mobile phone!

One would have thought these days that we'd be used to the advancement in mobile technology. Years ago, only the city slickers had mobile phones, but these were the size of bricks and the same weight too! Back in the 80's many of my generation looked on with envy at those cool dudes with fast cars and their portable phones. If I knew what I do now back then, I think the shade of green I'd have would be much paler.

It's funny how with new technologies and new means of communication, we ultimately go through a Darwinian evolution in 'the best ways to use a new technology'. For the mobile phone, I think we've developed a bad habit of using it to excuse ourselves from situations we'd (without the mobile) ordinarily have to participate in. How many of us have sent that text to say "I can't come into work today" or "I'm running late"? Can you recount the last time you called someone only to say "Sorry, I can't talk long..."? With the luxury of our mobile-excuse-maker, we're now able to relinquish responsibility of attendance or participation back onto the handset.

Add to this the assumption that just because others have mobiles it means they will automatically drop what they're doing and listen to you? This more so with the Satan of Phones the Blackberry!

So lets step back a moment and revise some basics on phone etiquette....

• Don't use the handset to excuse the fact you agreed to something and then can't be bothered to follow through.
• Remember, when you call someone, they may not be able to, at the drop of a hat, answer your quandry or be in a space to assist.
• Do leave a voicemail if they don't answer!
• THINK before you DIAL before you SPEAK.
• Avoid at all costs hanging up!
• Remember, BT did once say "It's good to talk!"

*hangs up* (politely)