combatdavey x micro.blog - admarcom

🔗🔗🔗 I used to write an email newsletter called DMail. I’m thinking about rebooting it. This blog post is similar to what a DMail issue looked and felt like so have at it or whatever: combatdavey.bearblog.dev/links-post-2

→ 11:16 AM, May 23

I’ve been building a little site over at Bear. It’s still a work in progress (and I still need to map combatdavey dot com to it) but I’d be grateful it if you took a look and read a few things: combatdavey.bearblog.dev

→ 10:25 AM, May 20

To paraphrase a LinkedIn post I wrote, it’s tough to be a creative taking part in the group therapy session on LinkedIn. It’s lame that they think AI + whatever else negates the need human creatives, bc contemporary professional life needs it’s humanity and creativity more than ever.

→ 10:35 AM, May 16
Also on Bluesky

“Future-proof your skills” rubs me the wrong way. I think selling this idea is disingenuous within the context of this moment. (Yes, I’m an old ND copywriter — and those kids better get off my lawn.)

→ 9:33 AM, May 14

→ 11:55 AM, May 9

Mississippi 13

A text conversation I just had lightly edited for brevity and clarity:

Me: It has become clear to me that I have to get a Pro account with ChatGPT or Claude.ai. AI is coming for all of us, so I figure I can extend my career a few years if I get good at working with these machines. From what I’ve read, prompt engineering is a bit of an art as well as a science. I hate all this shit but I can’t pretend it doesn’t exist. The people who work themselves to the bone to prove they’re JuSt As GoOd As MaChiNes are the ones who are going to hurt the most, I think. Still, it’s annoying how this tech is being sold to people as “hey, now stupid people can seem smart” (Apple Intelligence ad) or “you can forget your spouse’s birthday and not get caught” (Apple Intelligence ad).

Him: I was not aware of those Apple AI ads. How incredibly sad. I’m still on Facebook and hate how it offers you the chance to thoughtlessly post, with just one click, birthday greetings for your friends complete with emojis. I know I’ll get a bunch of those on [date redacted]. For the first 20+ years of my career I made a living through my writing and vocal skills, and now so many of the voices I hear doing ads and narrating YouTube videos are automated. I amuse myself listening for the flaws, like in a “read-aloud” NYT article that referred to the Salvadoran gang MS-13 as “Mississippi 13.” Sheesh.

Me: You can be stupid: youtu.be/3m0MoYKwV… and thoughtless: youtu.be/A0BXZhdDq… but it’s okay.

Him: That was even sadder than I imagined. It’s a selling point that Apple Intelligence can help even the stupidest and laziest among us get ahead???

Me: They felt really off brand, didn’t they.

Him: Steve Jobs never would have allowed those. Not smart or dignified.

Me: Tim Cook isn’t a product guy, but Steve Jobs was also a tyrant.

→ 1:54 PM, May 6

It’s a huge bummer when the comment section below a good LinkedIn post starts with a “buy my service/product/course” comment by the OP. I get why they (have to) do it, but I hate how much professional life is just selling oneself + steering every conversation towards a consumer acquisition beartrap.

→ 12:39 PM, May 6
Also on Bluesky

I don’t work in advertising anymore, but I still pull this out from time to time because David Ogilvy was a G.

→ 9:04 AM, May 2
Also on Bluesky

I’ve been working on a LinkedIn post for the last half hour but all I really want to write is “your aDaPt Or DiE posts are lame af and I hope someone drops a piano on you.”

→ 5:15 PM, Apr 30

Iconic stuff from Sam Adams x Derrick White 🏀🍺

→ 12:13 PM, Apr 28
Also on Bluesky

Currently doing a massive rewrite on something I was pleased with last Friday. TL;DR I see the holes and weaknesses now. Frustrated, but undaunted. On y va!

→ 10:43 AM, Apr 24
Also on Bluesky

I get why they do it, but I don’t think using fear as a motivator is the best way to get people to use this kind of service.

→ 8:43 AM, Apr 8

I’m wondering if the When Harry Met Sally Super Bowl ad (Hellmann’s) will resonate. I like the nostalgia hit, but given the state of cultural literacy and the changed attitudes and politics in re: sex and sexuality I’m not sure it does enough, or much at all.

→ 3:13 PM, Jan 29

Everything feted as original in advertising has been done before and that’s okay. Ads don’t need to reinvent the game to be good or effective. There are only a handful of story archetypes and yet we still watch and read. Knowing the tropes of dystopian sci-fi doesn’t make me not want to watch Silo.

→ 4:13 PM, Jan 17
Also on Bluesky