Oh yeah, that was a good idea . . .
The whole Wal-Mart/Facebook thing really doesn’t seem to be working out too well. From Wal-Mart Watch:
Most of the members of the group seem like they joined just to discuss their opposition to the company’s practices. Messages on the group’s discussion board run from “Wal Mart is killing America! Save this beautiful country, don’t shop at Wal-Mart!†to the sarcastic “Small business was hurting our economy for too long! I only wish I could super-size the trade deficit along with my fries! No Job? De-valued dollar can’t cover my rising interest rates? At least I saved a nickel on a picture frame!â€
The pictures that have been uploaded are also squarely on the anti-Wal-Mart side – pictures of protests outside stores, for example. Wal-Mart’s marketing department will no doubt find and erase these pictures soon, but until they do, it’s an ironic reminder that Wal-Mart still has a lot to learn about being cool – or as they might say, “Far out!â€
This kind of thing is exactly why I love being a college professor. They certainly keep you on your toes.
PS Wal-Mart Watch’s entire take down is very good so be sure to read the whole post.
Update: Reuters covers the hilarity, and the Wal-Flack of the moment offers a response:
“We recognize that we are facilitating a live conversation, and we know that in any conversation, especially one happening online, there will be both supporters and detractors,†spokeswoman Jami Arms said in an email message to Reuters.
No, there are plenty of companies that wouldn’t attract this level of vitriol. Wal-Mart is special for a reason. They deserve it.
I have this image of Lyndon Johnson only speaking at Army bases because his war in Vietnam was so unpopular. Wal-Mart is LBJ and the Internet is America. To get on the Internet, Wal-Mart has to find places where conversations can’t happen. Otherwise it will blow up in their Facebook.
[...] Nobody at the Wake-Up Wal-Mart told their members to flood MSNBC.com with angry and disappointed comments. Nobody at Wal-Mart Watch told the college students of America to attack Wal-Mart on the company’s own Facebook site. [...]
[...] I made this analogy a few weeks ago: I have this image of Lyndon Johnson only speaking at Army bases because his war in Vietnam was so unpopular. Wal-Mart is LBJ and the Internet is America. To get on the Internet, Wal-Mart has to find places where conversations can’t happen. Otherwise it will blow up in their Facebook. [...]