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Long live lambasted character blog

Posted by: Stephen Baker on November 23

An Inc. story tells the tale of GourmetStation, a blog that was lambasted by many bloggers for introducing a fictional narrator, T. Alexander.(thanks Steve Rubel)

I don’t see what’s the big deal. Our competitor, Fortune, has a terrific character columnist with the pen name of Stanley Bing, and I don’t think any the less of them for it. I look at the blog world as a big laboratory, a place for people and companies to try all sorts of crazy things. Sure, if a blog behaves despicably or unfairly, lay into it. But a fictional character named T. Alexander? That’s pretty tame. And of course the site’s traffic rocketed, the article notes, when the critics began linking to it. Maybe that was the idea all along.

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Reader Comments

erin

November 23, 2005 04:41 PM

I agree what is wron with a little anonymity. It is always great to have a name that can roll off your tongue like a sports caster call a name after a big play. Who will ever forget hearing the name Michael Jordan or Arnold Palmer in that context. Anyways.

By the way I'm putting in a plug for a podcast that I heard the other day called Gas Radio @ www.gasradio.com. This guy was right on the money out here in San Jose. What do you think Stephen?

Erin

Donna Lynes-Miller

November 24, 2005 05:49 PM

Thank you for this post, Mr. Baker. T. Alexander was invented several years ago to act as a website host making comments from time to time about different cuisine. Since GourmetStation offers food gifts from four international menus, we were about to expand Alexander's role to include romancing the various regions with food & culture trivia. Then blogging came along. We could not resist this dynamic, interactive platform. We did not expect all the controversary and media attention that followed the Spring 2005 launch of Delicious Destinations, but we are enjoying the increased brand awareness.

We are especially enjoying the development of what we call "passion niches." Through the perspective of guest writers we are focusing on cuisine & culture from regions such as Tuscany. Writers who might not have the time to develop their own blog can communicate their passion through Delicious Destinations. Our plans are to develop passion niches around Japanese, French & Cajun cuisine - to align with our offerings. It is a fun & enjoyable way to create community and expand our brand.

Donna Lynes-Miller
Founder & President
GourmetStation

HolisticHealth

March 30, 2007 02:43 AM

There is nothing wrong with a fictional character.Is there ?

Every heard of a poet called "Anonymous" ?

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In Blogspotting Senior Writer Stephen Baker and Associate Editor Heather Green take a look at how cutting-edge technologies are changing business and society. Whether its blogs or wikis, data crunching or data targeting, technology’s advances are reshaping the world that we live in.

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