---
title: "People Ready"
date: 2007-06-23
author: "Richard MacManus"
categories:
  - name: "ReadWriteWeb"
    url: "/category/readwriteweb.md"
tags:
  - name: "2007"
    url: "/tag/2007.md"
---

# People Ready

I’m bemused by the latest [blogging ‘controversy’](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103201407/http://www.techmeme.com/070622/p97#a070622p97) to dominate Techmeme. Normally I don’t blog about these things, but this one has me as a central character – although I wasn’t mentioned in [the Valleywag piece](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103201407/http://valleywag.com/tech/federated-media/microsoft-pays-star-writers-to-recite-slogan-271485.php) that started it all. The Silicon Valley gossip blog has a headline reading ‘Microsoft pays star writers to recite slogan’, referring to [this FM campaign](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103201407/http://www.peoplereadybusiness.federatedmedia.net/?WT.mc_id=FED).

![](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103201407im_/http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1096/593801597_8eedac8165.jpg?v=0)Pic: [Dave Winer](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103201407/http://www.scripting.com/stories/2007/06/22/didMicrosoftPayStarWriters.html)

I had noticed the Valleywag piece when it first sneaked onto Techmeme, as one of the links near the bottom of the page. At that time I shrugged it off, thinking it was a bit of a non-issue – a) because these ads have been running for months (so what’s new?); b) because FM’s ‘star writers’ were not paid to endorse Microsoft products, just to write something with the phrase “people ready” in it. So I went about my Saturday business, then went out for dinner and watched Ocean’s 13. When I got back, I discovered an even more theatric drama was being played out on Techmeme and in my inbox amongst the FM team and authors.

Om Malik seems to have [taken this to heart](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103201407/http://gigaom.com/2007/06/22/on-the-microsoft-ad-campaign/) and requested the ads be pulled, but Mike Arrington (who along with John Battelle has been a regular target of Valleywag) gives [a scathing response](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103201407/http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=409). As for me – not a Valley insider worthy of gossip, but nevertheless one of the ‘star writers’ in question – I think it’s a storm in a teacup. And I’m disappointed the ads have been pulled!

Anyway, judge for yourself. Here is [my ‘People Ready’ text](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103201407/http://www.peoplereadybusiness.federatedmedia.net/archives/70). What do you think about all this?

*Originally published on ReadWriteWeb ([archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20020204040018/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/people_ready.php))*