Normally flipping out is a bad thing from a PR perspective. However, we are in difficult times and people are getting sick and tired of 'talking points'. As such you are begining to see people 'flip out' and go off on rants.
Now rants have always been a trait of the far right in America, but rarely are they associated with the left or the indepedents. Over the past week or so there have been three notable 'flip outs' coming from the left/center. They were:
Jack Cafferty of CNN wrote a pretty scathing piece in which he says...
Pretty strong words, calling for the president and all of congress to be kicked out of office. Jack has always been opinionated, but he has obviously turned it up a notch to official 'flip out' status.
Al Gore Flips Out Over Psuedo-scientists
Al Gore flips out in a talk he was giving at the Aspen Institute. Now, I'm not a huge fan of Gore (mostly because I'm not a fan of his wife Tipper - or did they get divorce, I think they are divorced). Either way, Gore always came across as a stiff board to me.
Having said that I think his rant was great from a PR perspective. Remaining calm and collected all the time, especially when the right is ranting and raving, can de-emphasize just how serious what you are saying is. After a while there comes a time when going on a rant like Gore did is a good thing, it emphasizes that you aren't screwing around.
As for the profanity, I don't see the big deal (swearing is so common place in today's society that while it may be impolite, it won't hurt your brand much). To be honest, used sparingly, it lends authenticity.
This clearly wasn't a calculated PR move but rather simply the result of a guy who is fed up trying to convince people to do the right thing. As such, because it wasn't a planned PR move (if it had been I don't think he would have swore as much as he did), it makes it a great PR move.
Dylan Ratigan Flips Out on MSNBC
I like Dylan Ratigan. I use to watch him back in his days on CNBC's Fast Money. He was always a bit of a hot head, but he took it to a whole new level this week and wins the 'flip out' of the week award for sure.
I take his flip out with a grain of salt though. Part of me wonders if it was a calculated 'flip out' versus a truly spontaneous one. Either way I don't think his flip out hurt him, if anything it will up his ratings.
So there you have it, people who are center and left on the political spectrum are clearly reaching the end of their rope and are now throwing caution to the wind in their commentary.
From a PR perspective, pulling off a rant is tricky. It's really easy to simply come off as a buffoon. And if the public isn't feeling what you are feeling, then a flip-out can end your career.
Moreover, you sure don't want to 'flip out' and then a few weeks later find out that your opinions that motivated your flip out turned out to be misinformed - this will typically result in you hurting your reputation.
The only way to 'flip out' and actually benefit from it is if you really believe in the things you are saying. So flip out on things that you know you aren't going to change your views on six months down the road. This way, even if you do take a hit, it won't be so bad such that you have to re-think your brand or position among the talking heads of the world. You can take the hit and simply keep marching on.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember with a flip out is that you only get ONE shot at it. Flub it the first time and you don't to give it another shot down the road without looking like you are merely 'flipping out' as a strategy to draw attention to yourself.
As the markets head lower, the world continues to sink in to greater turmoil, I expect the 'flip out' meter will rise as talking heads begin to reflect the anger and frustration they are sensing in the general public.
What's surprising in all this though is that the left and center are usually talking heads that are calling for 'cooler heads to prevail'. It seems however that many of them have had enough of not being heard though and as such are turning up the decibels.
It will be interesting to see who flips out next. Come on Wolf Blitzer you can do it!
Now rants have always been a trait of the far right in America, but rarely are they associated with the left or the indepedents. Over the past week or so there have been three notable 'flip outs' coming from the left/center. They were:
Jack Cafferty of CNN wrote a pretty scathing piece in which he says...
Meanwhile, the rest of the world is in shock. Markets around the world are selling off as trillions of dollars in valuation are being wiped out. Our stock market is headed straight south, and our citizens are watching as their savings and retirement plans are becoming worth less and less by the hour; a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice disappearing before their eyes. And the president parties and Congress is on vacation.
No one deserves a government that treats its people this way. And none of these people who voted for this deserves to be re-elected. None of them.
And that's the real problem. The country is being destroyed, and we continue to send the destroyers back to Washington.
Pretty strong words, calling for the president and all of congress to be kicked out of office. Jack has always been opinionated, but he has obviously turned it up a notch to official 'flip out' status.
Al Gore Flips Out Over Psuedo-scientists
Al Gore flips out in a talk he was giving at the Aspen Institute. Now, I'm not a huge fan of Gore (mostly because I'm not a fan of his wife Tipper - or did they get divorce, I think they are divorced). Either way, Gore always came across as a stiff board to me.
Having said that I think his rant was great from a PR perspective. Remaining calm and collected all the time, especially when the right is ranting and raving, can de-emphasize just how serious what you are saying is. After a while there comes a time when going on a rant like Gore did is a good thing, it emphasizes that you aren't screwing around.
As for the profanity, I don't see the big deal (swearing is so common place in today's society that while it may be impolite, it won't hurt your brand much). To be honest, used sparingly, it lends authenticity.
This clearly wasn't a calculated PR move but rather simply the result of a guy who is fed up trying to convince people to do the right thing. As such, because it wasn't a planned PR move (if it had been I don't think he would have swore as much as he did), it makes it a great PR move.
Dylan Ratigan Flips Out on MSNBC
I like Dylan Ratigan. I use to watch him back in his days on CNBC's Fast Money. He was always a bit of a hot head, but he took it to a whole new level this week and wins the 'flip out' of the week award for sure.
I take his flip out with a grain of salt though. Part of me wonders if it was a calculated 'flip out' versus a truly spontaneous one. Either way I don't think his flip out hurt him, if anything it will up his ratings.
So there you have it, people who are center and left on the political spectrum are clearly reaching the end of their rope and are now throwing caution to the wind in their commentary.
From a PR perspective, pulling off a rant is tricky. It's really easy to simply come off as a buffoon. And if the public isn't feeling what you are feeling, then a flip-out can end your career.
Moreover, you sure don't want to 'flip out' and then a few weeks later find out that your opinions that motivated your flip out turned out to be misinformed - this will typically result in you hurting your reputation.
The only way to 'flip out' and actually benefit from it is if you really believe in the things you are saying. So flip out on things that you know you aren't going to change your views on six months down the road. This way, even if you do take a hit, it won't be so bad such that you have to re-think your brand or position among the talking heads of the world. You can take the hit and simply keep marching on.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember with a flip out is that you only get ONE shot at it. Flub it the first time and you don't to give it another shot down the road without looking like you are merely 'flipping out' as a strategy to draw attention to yourself.
As the markets head lower, the world continues to sink in to greater turmoil, I expect the 'flip out' meter will rise as talking heads begin to reflect the anger and frustration they are sensing in the general public.
What's surprising in all this though is that the left and center are usually talking heads that are calling for 'cooler heads to prevail'. It seems however that many of them have had enough of not being heard though and as such are turning up the decibels.
It will be interesting to see who flips out next. Come on Wolf Blitzer you can do it!
Comments
Post a Comment