Wednesday, July 3, 2013

The Marketing Tool's New Frontier: What's off the Table?

Scott and Tessa have either created a credibility gap for the marketing of every other figure skater that comes along, or they've created fabulous opportunity by opening up the field for marketing initiatives in areas where athletes may have previously believed they were required to tell the truth.

If there's one thing Scott and Tessa have shown in their shamming, it's a lack of respect for boundaries. They don't half lie. They don't shade the truth. They get up in our face, claim the truth is lies, rumors, silliness, fantasy and delusion, and they push fabrications on us as reality. Not just in social media, but in the mainstream media with this rift shit. Their concept of marketing is broad-spectrum. It's not simply denying what may be true. It's proactively building a lie and then proactively marketing that lie. Denial is so early 00s. Totally making shit up - that's the new wave.

I think the only boundary they respect might be death. If someone in the family died - or either one of them died - they might not lie about it, or use it. But we can't be sure. Who knows what the hell they respect? They're innovators.

Let's look at some of what is now possible in figure skating public relations.thanks to Scott and Tessa:
  • Future Joanne Rochettes: it might be okay to question if their mother actually died during the Olympics, or if it's a fabrication shoved under the umbrella of marketing. The public mistakenly believed nice people wouldn't lie their asses off and use innocent babies to sell it, so maybe we're delusional to think death is out of bounds. 
  • A skater who has no child can pretend to have a child to get some media sympathy and stand out from the crowd in the press. Is that wrong or is that just marketing? Why couldn't a girl in the ladies division tell the media and social media that her niece or cousin was her actual child? It's just a marketing tool.*
  • Someone like Patrick could be rolling in money while going around to media outlets complaining about how Canada doesn't support their figure skaters and it will be okay because it's marketing.
  • Future Megan Duhamels can be trust fund babies but tell the media how their parents worked two jobs just to get by and her dad stayed up 48 hours once so he could drive hundreds of miles just to have breakfast with her because she was homesick.
  • Did Paul Moir and Sherri Moir really find skates for that low-ranked ice-dance girl, or did everyone get together and decide that story would be a great marketing tool for the Ilderton Skating Club as well as for an obscure skating team? 
This new frontier will unfortunately throw shade on genuine events and people's real experience, but the upside is it opens things up creatively, public relations-wise. Particularly two areas: boundaries, and specificity.

Scott and Tessa have also demonstrated that if a person or group or category is powerless and/or voiceless, then they can be lied about at your convenience.

Well, it's not even a lie. Scott and Tessa also believe that it's only a lie if they're speaking to someone they know personally (know, not "have met"). Otherwise, it's a marketing tool.

What's off the table, per the standards Scott and Tessa have set and per the people who've enabled them?

I've also been thinking about how Jacquie White "liked" that facebook snark that said D/W won 4CCs without having to stop in the middle.

Setting aside the shit the Moirs like to sling, would that type of shade have been thrown at the Shibs or any other figure skating team who stopped?

Was it prompted by the potshots the Moirs had taken at D/W in previous seasons?

Was it prompted by the fact that there seems to be more on the line in Sochi than there was in Vancouver (in Sochi, D/W partisans feel they could/will/may actually win gold) and so in some passive aggressive way there are people inside skating willing to slam VM because they know VM are lying liars who lie?

 I have trouble believing that if, for example, Moore-Towers/Moscovitch had had to stop and restart, that people would be anything but sympathetic. Has it gotten so that real, sincere things that VM do are used as a stick to beat them for the insincere, shady stuff they do?

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*They can have sham mom and dads, sham siblings, sham grandmas, too.

39 comments:

  1. whatever the moirs have done to the whites in the past its not as bad as what jacqui did/said. V/M don't deserve this. ofc they've made bad mistakes in the past but they paid their dues, they've done their sentence and yet the fandom still gives them shit. IMO jacqui officially crossed the line. also if you don't have a problem with the shibs/ that french junior team who stopped @ the middle of the program then you should stfu about v/m. saying that its different because V/M are OGM is not a good excuse because V/M are still humans who get injured. and if people inside skating hate V/M its because they've dared to question their scores, they've dared to challenge the judges, the sport. and the judges hate that because they're a bunch of conceited fucks who think they are ~always right~ i hope V/M win in sochi because they deserve it 100%. they've worked too hard, harder than D/W (because rly, reusing lifts, elements etc. without a valid excuse such as injury, missing the gp season etc. just makes you look lazy and uncreative.)

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    1. I think they're just being opportunistic. The Moirs were pretty low life in their comments on DW after Worlds 2011, particularly Meryl. And most of all, Scott and Tessa did stop their program at the 4CCs 2011 and they weren't on the up and up.

      Neither time was the goal to give them an advantage in winning. They withdrew in 2011 and of course in 2013 it hurt their scoring (the scoring was utter shit at that competition), so the snarking from DW connections doesn't really make sense.

      However, it seems to me that DW's connections are killing themselves marketing DW off the ice in hopes it will help keep the inflated scoring going on the ice. Scott and Tessa's actual status as married parents is well known inside figure skating, and I think, without being self-aggrandizing, that the blog has made some of these people aware in ways they weren't before of just how far Scott and Tessa take their deception.

      So, I think that bitch biting about things like "Stopping in the middle" or "taking a break in the middle" is actually not about that specific competition, but a back door way to ding VM for being shady without confronting the actual shadiness. But to play on whatever suspicions are out there.

      That said, of course when I read something like that on facebook I want to say to Jacquie et al something like VM skated more in half a program than your people did in their entire program, and your righteous snarking would carry more weight if your kids actually skated that program instead of posing, hopping, two-footing, clutching, and bullshitting. I wouldn't be bragging on that if I were you, not until my team could actually skate.

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    2. "I want to say to Jacquie et al something like VM skated more in half a program than your people did in their entire program, and your righteous snarking would carry more weight if your kids actually skated that program instead of posing, hopping, two-footing, clutching, and bullshitting. I wouldn't be bragging on that if I were you, not until my team could actually skate."

      whoomp there it is.

      also i don't remember the moirs saying anything about meryl? in addition, IIRC their tone was much more lighter than jacqui & co. which made it seem like they were joking. imo tone matters alot. looking back @ this picture the moirs seem more friendlier than jacqui & co. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TVWLlTHufjI/TcH8VCd395I/AAAAAAAAMjA/cS3eOvijukM/s640/carol%2527s+wall.jpg

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    3. They called Meryl "10" and it always seems to be her that they're aiming their snark towards.

      I just think Jacquie White should count her lucky freaking stars the scoring is as corrupt as it is and not tempt fate as if her kids are entitled to beat the best team in the world. They've been getting away with murder.

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    4. 10 as in she looks 10 years old? I don't even get that...

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    5. "10" as in a 10 they got in the scores.

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    6. @ oycanada really? i thought you were talking about something else - something that i missed. that comment obviously wasnt about meryl.

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  2. "Such a contrast to '10's FD. They can dance any style!"

    It is pretty obvious that the person is referring to the 2010 free dance, as in Mahler, as in radically different from the Samba FD...

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    1. I think you're right. In that light, what the Moirs said was not Meryl directed or as bitchy as the remark about stopping in the middle, however, their comments about speed, and skating each other's programs, still disparages their own kids' training mates, not to mention, IMO, concedes a point to DW that doesn't need to be conceded (speed) - especially considering their turgid 2011 fd.

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    2. well alma does have a point. V/M could do D/W's programs anyday. cant say the same for D/W. charlie would probably fall attempting to cover that much ice and speed as v/m do when they twizzle. if v/m got giselle this season it would be 100x more charming and refined (given that tessa was a ballerina) than d/w's contrived attempt at ballet. IMO D/W truly did look like two kids at ballet class for the first time.

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    3. The point isn't whether it's true. The point is it's jaw-droppingly unclassy. Period. For both mothers.

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    4. Exactly. They're engaging in sour grapes and poor sportsmanship. I have to say, though, that I thought the poor sportsmanship all around when VM LOST 4CCs 2013 was egregious. They fucking lost. Why the pot shots?

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    5. "They fucking lost. Why the pot shots?"

      Ikr. Is it just me or do the DW ubers come across very insecure in their nastiness. To me it looks like they suspect VM are the better skaters so they work hard at putting them down. For anything, whether it's skating or personal things against Scott.

      Anon 9:17 - You as a fan can say those things. The families of the skaters cannot.

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    6. It's actually smart for them to make such a big deal even though VM lost. Conveniently ignore that VM were first in the SD and the stop dropped them to second place. That implies that VM would have won otherwise. The narrative for DW is they are better, and VM would have lost anyway a la GPF. VM can never be penalized enough, because they shouldn't even be that close to DW at all. They were not sufficiently humiliated by being dropped behind Chock/Bates further demonstrating DW's superiority when both teams are "clean." They don't want to acknowledge that VM's PCS dropped because of the stop, as it says in the rulebook. They want that PCS gap to be the normal PCS gap DW have over VM, so they get all indignant and pretend that VM were not penalized at all.

      Brilliant.

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    7. and people think scott has poor sportmanship. nope d/w and co. are much worst when it comes to sportmanship. i remember someone complaining on tumblr about scotts comments @ WTT saying that "d/w didnt complain @ worlds when they lost" yeah thats why charlie was so pressed last year saying shit like he didnt understand why they lost, they had the best skate and that they deserved a PB etc. (conceited much? btw while searching for the article where he said that i found this hilarious blog http://caltventertainment.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/judging-scandal-already-virtue-and-moir-take-gold-medal-in-ice-dance-at-the-world-figure-skating-championships-2012/) and they still were fucking pressed about it coming into worlds this year (as told by the Reuters article. because unlike tessa and scott they have to pay someone to complain for them.) d/w are such a bunch of liars. they want you to believe they are good sportmanships but when they're actually not. they're just really good at hiding it. like they're really good at hiding their lack of SS/ vulnerabilities.

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    8. I think 8:40 nailed it.

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  3. 8:15 - exactly they are threatened by v/m. hence the immature comments such as #publicunnilingus. they know how difficult that lift is but they want to put them down because they want their favs to win.

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  4. What sort of protection do VM have against all of this coming back to bite them in the ass when they least want it to? Isn't it a bit dangerous to have all these people know their true status and just expect that they won't use it against them?

    I get why the skaters themselves would keep it quiet but what's to stop Jacqui White from strongly hinting at something? She's already shown that she isn't afraid to stoop low to boost her son and his partner up. There may have been mutual respect in the past but this is the Olympics and DW want that gold medal baaaad.

    Depending on how the story gets out, it could be a nightmare for them. They need to be the ones to tell it, otherwise it could turn into a scandal. VM have spent too long thinking just in the present and not thinking in the future. Their actions have consequences.

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  5. What's to stop the american DW PR machine to publicize this story? if so many insiders know the truth, it shouldn't be too hard to prove. In fact even if they don't have the proof, it would be damaging to air it even in the "rumour" version just prior to the olympics. We've all read hateful articles vs VM, so why haven't any of these writers jumped on the bandwagon yet?

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    1. Anon at 10:12 am - if DW's PR machine even touches this story - then you also implicate that Zoueva and Shpilband knew...then indirectly you discredit them...then you open yourselves to actual criticism of DW's skating. If DW were actually better skaters than VM - there would be no issue. In addition, just in terms of sport, V/M haven't actually cheated (ie. use of steroids) - so the story that would come out would just be on a personal level. No huge deal. The USFSA would even look more petty than it has during the last 2 years...

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    2. Well, you'd have to assume publicizing this story would work against VM instead of against DW's interests. That's getting past the issue of - DW aren't going to rat VM out. Don't forget they have contributed to helping VM sham from time to time. Don't forget Meryl's occasional instagrams with Fedor or Jeremy Abbott.

      VM aren't the only ones with "secrets" - or rather, with aspects of their lives that they haven't publicized or that they deny on the record. Nobody wants to be the one others can't trust. It would reveal DW's interests as untrustworthy and open the gate for anything they'd like to keep private to be put out there.

      I'm not implying anything sordid. The only sordid thing about VM is everything they've done to conceal their actual relationship. It doesn't have to be a "stop the presses!" piece of info for someone to basically want to keep their private business their private business. There's a reason most athletes save the dirty laundry and the telling tales on each other for long after retirement.

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    3. I do understand why DW themselves or the Igor/Marina camp don't say anything while still competing... I still struggle with the fact that nobody has tried to say something on DW's behalf, even if they're misguided. DW's families and people in their circle know about the child. And I can so picture someone thinking it would be a good idea to drop this bomb against VM "they are lying liars who lie! DW are working so hard - they're the last ones to leave the rink every night, you know - and these other guys have stagnated in their skating because she had a baby and they're too busy hiding it. They're just not the same innocent kids from Mahler anymore."

      Is that an incredibly stupid statement? Of course, but this would be coming from the same people who think VM should get lower PCS cause Tessa is white bread and Meryl is so exotic, that passiondramanewfoundconnection exist in DW's programs and are supposed to give you points, that the only thing differentiating Carmen from Notre Dame was groping, that Mahler and Carmen are programs of comparable difficulty...

      This blog is well known to DW's fans. It has been discussed here that living in relative obscurity affords VM the opportunity to walk around with the child and have no one care. So it's hard for me believe that none of these braintrusts ever had the bright idea to hang around the rink (or London) and the local places with their camera, or getting into a semi-private rink event and snapping photos with their cell.

      I wonder if that caused a lot of stress during Worlds.

      Another thing that trips me up is the Russian media. They're very frank about these things, and don't care about making anyone lose face. I can even imagine some foreign skater unwittingly saying something about the kid. Like that Belarussian couple "oh, the Moirs were so sweet lending us those skates. They're a close knit family, and Tessa and Scott have the most beautiful child." How do we know they follow the English speaking media enough to know VM are supposed to be platonic when they present as married parents to colleagues? Do they have to explain that every time they meet someone? I'm curious how it all works.

      I'm not saying this to malign the blog. I believe that this is a fact. I didn't at first, but after opening my mind, Tessa was clearly pregnant in those photos and videos. So... there's a kid. And not one person has ever come forward to confirm it. None of their enemies, no one accidentally... that's the part that's more unbelievable than anything. And yes, I do worry that someone plans to leak it right before Sochi. Because when you're desperate for the OGM (whether that's DW, PB, or BS), who cares if you have your own secrets? I'd think they - or their federations - would gladly let them be revealed after the event if it meant rattling VM's cage, say, the night before the FD.

      VM really need to come out with it, on a Friday afternoon in July when no one cares, then go to Thornhill or Finlandia and get people talking about their skating again.

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    4. @3:27, you've highlighted all the reasons why I'm still incredulous about the whole thing. I mean, yes, it's fairly obvious that Tessa was pregnant and if she has a kid, then Scott has to be the father. But, why is this the only place that claims this is true? No one has ever seen this child and is willing to speak up about it?

      I totally agree about just coming out with it and the sooner, the better. Of course, VM have shown that, for whatever, they don't care. They're more than likely just going to bury themselves even deeper by the time this summer is over.

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  6. Me again at 10:59 am - I would also like to add - look at Miki Ando's pregnancy and announcement of a birth...after a couple of days..no big deal...then you have to laugh at Johnny Weir's tweet saying basically that he has known about Miki's pregnancy for awhile..oh Johnny - you couldn't leave well enough alone...hahaha..I also think that it shows that the news cycle is very short..as a society- we are basically are ADD (attention deficit disorder)...and for news to be shockworthy to the public - it has to cross the line *100...

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  7. I have to say that's the one thing that confuses me too, how no one has said anything, even those that would try to use it in a negative way against them. Tessa and Scott are pretty darn lucky nobody seems to be willing to air this publicly and because of that they've become emboldened in the stunts they pull for the sham. I wish somebody would reveal it publicly.

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    1. "they've become emboldened in the stunts they pull for the sham."

      Looking back at the stunts they pulled with Jessica, I'm not sure it's possible to say they've become more emboldened. From the beginning they were crass and bold.

      I think it's more accurate to say they've become more stupid and irresponsible. To aggressively continue the sham after having a child and also after they know a growing number of fans are aware of the truth is incomprehensible in its stupidity.

      It's been said elsewhere on this blog how at this point there's no rational or logical reason except they think they're in a pissing match with the blog and with the fans who don't buy Scott's social media dating antics.

      They're not acting like responsible adults but like spoiled children. Stupid and irresponsible.

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    2. The other aspect is I don't believe they think they have much to lose. Other skaters nurture their connections in the so-called skating community and in the public, because they have an eye towards their post-career roles in the sport. Or they have ambitions - commentating, coaching, or other high profile experts. They don't want real jobs. They want to stay in. The more publicity, the more titles, the more public good will, the better.

      Virtue and Moir don't have these considerations. They have a whole lot more freedom of choice than other skaters. They don't have to worry about the consequences - even potential consequences in terms of public good will. Their future financial security isn't dependent on the choices they make now.

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    3. One reason is it's a can of worms. Would VM's story, if someone leaked it, be the biggest news in the fandom? Yes. Does that mean the other skaters want to create an open sesame situation for their business to get put out there? I don't think so. Yes, VM are a unique situation due to how they've gone out to the public to basically forcefeed lies and market them. They also get off on setting people up and baiting them. But to call them out on that, whoever did it would have to reveal Virtue and Moir's actual status.

      Just think about it. Do we know all of the family dynamics among all of the skaters? Do we know all the squabbles, resentments, points of contention, tensions, fallings out? Do we know the rumors about family politics and agendas? Do we know which skaters kind of wish the parents would back off a bit - or which skaters have resentful siblings or a resentful one or other parent?

      Do we know who all is dating who? Who is Meryl dating? Who was Charlie dating prior to 2009? Think of everything we don't know about these people and then ask - does the fact that we don't know mean nothing is happening in their family life or romantic life?

      Of course not.

      If they start rummaging around in Virtue Moir's business and leaking it, a Virtue Moir partisan -not even at their instruction, just a partisan - could start leaking stuff about other skaters that they'd like to keep in-house or in-familia. They wouldn't have to leak it to the public, just get a low buzz going enough to embarrass people.

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  8. This is lovely, NOT: https://www.facebook.com/notes/peter-murray/isu-circular-letter-no-612-interruption-of-skating-programs-urgent-need-to-amend/10151523504576186

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    1. And what a lovely vote of support from teammate Meagan Duhamel! With friends like that...

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    2. what did she say?

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    3. Yay, some common sense on this issue. What happened with Virtue and Moir at the Four Continents was an embarrassment we cannot afford to have at the Olympics and I'm happy the ISU is doing something about it.

      meagan duhamel likes this comment

      so she thinks her teamates are an embarassment? what a biatch.

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  9. I do not know where the post went that I replied to but I'm 10:20 and I was replying to this link https://www.facebook.com/notes/peter-murray/isu-circular-letter-no-612-interruption-of-skating-programs-urgent-need-to-amend/10151523504576186

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    1. ?? Did Meaghan comment on it and then delete it?

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    2. Meagan didn't say anything but she liked the comment about VM being an embarrassment.

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    3. Oh I see now....wait, didn't Meagan win a grand prix medal with a stop??....Yes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Troph%C3%A9e_Eric_Bompard....What a hypocrite!! I think all this has to be partly about 2011, the bottom line is that people aren't giving the "injury" part of it any credibility with V/M. Even with all they've done...considering her injuries, that's pretty damn cold people.

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    4. Well jealousy does have an ugly head...don't get me wrong if Meagan is not a V/M fan for whatever reason that's fine - it's her choice but to actually like a comment that V/M are an embarrassment to the sport from a "outside" blogger - well that's just stupid and personal.

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    5. And I see that even a formerly quite vocal, so-called VM "fan" has decided to like the comment? I certainly that was just the result of a lack of reading comprehension.

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    6. 7:28am - indeed, i suppose... :(

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