With news of Enron’s Kenneth Lay’s death, “Ding, dong the witch is dead” was probably not the phrase that many were singing from their rooftops last week. Those who lost their entire retirement savings because of Lay’s exploits probably feel cheated that this man will never face prison for his crimes of conspiracy and fraud, leaving justice unserved. But is that really an excuse for the wild theories about his death that have been flying around the Internet?
According to a USAToday article, bloggers flooded the Web with their own versions of conspiracies of Lay’s death within an hour of the news. While news events have always had a flair for sparking conspiracy theories, blogs sped up this phenomenon. Enron victims and web enthusiasts alike began to develop their own conclusions about Lay’s death and proceeded to post them online for the world to see, no matter how ridiculously fantastical. Reports ranged from minor myths, saying that Lay used his stolen wealth to pay a mortician to fake his death, to extreme absurdity, declaring that Lay went so far as to kill a look-alike and then assumed his identity.
Oh come on! Why don’t you just say that Lay was snatched up by aliens and they left a mold of his body so the world wouldn’t suspect the coming invasion of the little green men? This is an example of what happens when blogs get out of hand. While these posts were not likely circulated on reputable sites, this event shows the need for effective communication and accurate information on company blogs. Managers should supervise and approve blog posts so misinformation and rumors do not spread.
Blogs are valuable modern assets. They should be used to promote and circulate ideas that enhance thought and knowledge, not as a breeding pool for gossip. When used properly in business, blogs can help open minds, expand viewpoints, and share successful new strategies.
Share the wealth of your own successful blog strategies on S&MM SoundOff, then read Good, Better, Best Practices on S&MM to see how one manager boosted company performance after guiding his employees to effective blogging.
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