SCAQ blog gets offered $80 to create a post about Michael Phelps playing poker! - SCAQ Blogger declines and posts their emails!

As I write this, The Atlantic magazine online, just got spanked HARD after being outed for accepting paid content from the Church of Scientology and then moderating the comments of the article.

The page went down in flames but a quasi-apology has been put in it's place. [Link]

Subsequently I decided to publish an email exchange of a request I got today requesting me to strategically do a post on Michael Phelps that includes the word Olympian and the subject of poker within the post as well.

I get offers for free stuff and/or cash in exchange for posts all the time and I decline them

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On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 3:39 AM,"Name deleted" wrote: 

Hi there,

My name is "Name deleted" of "deleted-interactive.com" - an online marketing agency. I would like to know if you are still open to advertising proposal related to news about Michael Phelps. I would like to discuss with you my idea if you'd be interested. Please let me know.

Have a great day!

Best,

"Name deleted"

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On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 7:12 AM, Tony Austin wrote: 

Hi "Name Deleted",

I will consider it.

Tony

[I was never open to advertising - I claimed I was because I wanted to know what the Michael Phelps story was all about.]

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On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 10:12 PM,"Name deleted" wrote:

Hi Tony,

It's great to hear that! Actually this won't take too much of your time cause I am not referring to a major advertising campaign that involves banners, images and stuff. Our client prefer it to be simple and informative at the same time. One of our reputable clients has an article that talk about the latest news about the olympian Michael Phelps. You can read the whole story here on www.pokerlistings.com/olympian-michael-phelps-plays-10k-poker-tournament-photos-51245

I would like to know if it's possible to include my keyword "Olympian Michael Phelps" linking to my client's article on your future post. A one time payment of 80USD will be sent via paypal if you consider my idea. Let me know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

"Name Deleted"


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On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 11:25 PM, Tony Austin wrote:

Hello "Name Deleted,"

I thank you for the offer but I will decline. For me to accept payment for strategically wording this post and including it on my blog would place me in a situation both ethically and legally to disclose the details of that payment with my readers per Federal Trade Commission laws: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm

Consequently I would be selling my credibility for $80.00 which would not only disappoint my thousands of readers but would summarily erase all the good will they have shared with me.

Thank you for the offer, go try SwimSwam.com

Tony

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Final word: Ironically I would have posted his content for free if I bumped into it on my own. I am glad I did not do such a thing.

We live in a digital world where people we trust are paid to manipulate us. I just deleted 638-trackers using a browser plugin called "Ghostery." Four trackers which were installed in my browser after going to the Speedo.com website. I virtually see no banners or receive website trackers when I surf the web now.

Julian Assange once called Facebook the greatest spy machine ever produced; he is 100% correct. Did you know that many professional organizations on Facebook can buy "friends" wholesale by the thousands so as to make their organization look more credible?

We now live in a world where our friends and trusted sources of news and commentary are paid to manipulate us. It won't happen here.