One rotten apple spoils the whole blog.

Ok, readers, tell me what YOU think.

I received an angry email today disguised as a compliment. So now, sadly, I have removed my email address from my blog as a result. It's a pity, but some people ruin it for everybody. You can still post your comments though, so read on:

The email I received said, "Why in the world would you waste your time being a PR & Marketing Communications Specialist. Public relations and marketing -- selling stuff -- is such a waste of your natural abilities. If this offends you, it is not at all my intention - but if it does, so be it. It is meant as a high compliment, though. I simply get frustrated seeing good people with the gift of reaching out and touching and helping others waste their capacities in some useless bullshit job instead."

The email went on to list a few worthy Vancouver outreach and charitable organizations, which being from Vancouver ALSO, I am quite aware of (and might even have worked for). Wink. They added, "... and surely there are many other such organizations in the Vancouver area. Go there. Knock on their doors. Literally. That is your proper place - far more than is marketing for some superfluous product or other."

Wow. I have just been told my "proper place" and how to conduct my own job search, by someone who clearly doesn't understand the scope of PR and Marketing. It has been assumed that I am not approaching non-profit organizations. Who said I was a product marketer? Not I! Was I offended? Yes indeed. Here's what I wrote back in response:

"I appreciate your passion, but whoa! Causes, charities and benevolent, non-profit societies and organizations hire full-time PR & Marketing Specialists. Today's 24H Vancouver newspaper is running a full page ad for The Salvation Army, informing locals about their presence in Haiti since 1950, and asking people to give all they can to help. Know who wrote that? Their PR & Marketing Specialist. You made some MAJOR assumptions about my career and marketing focus, without even knowing the facts.

Besides approaching non-profit organizations, and thanks for your suggestions, I'm also writing a novel - which is my dream and true passion. I suppose that's not altruistic enough for you either. Sheesh. Here I am, trying to promote resources for low income families in my spare time, and that was your "highest compliment?" You should know that words can be very powerful. Use them cautiously and responsibly."

C'mon, this is who your anger is directed at: I'm unemployed right now. I'm broke to the point that I made this month's rent payment by the skin of my teeth (and now next month's rent is looking "iffy"). RA makes my hands hurt like they've been assaulted by battering rams. I can't walk for more than 20 minutes because my feet are permanently damaged from arthritis. I'm getting fat from the prednisone (steroids) and/or the hydroxyquine the doctor prescribed (believe me, it's not from calories, I'm eating like a mouse on food bank donations). My hair is falling out in handfuls from the methotrexate (the third one of my RA medications), which also gives me severe migraines (so bad, I had to be hospitalized) every Monday when I take my weekly dose. I'm blogging about being terrified given all of the above, plus trying to be of service to the community and provide listings of free food and resources for other broke locals, while urging people to donate to the food bank. I'm tweeting out my support of poverty charities, homelessness solutions and related causes every day. My blog subject matter is so soft and fuzzy, it's not even remotely conducive to heated debate and opposing opinions ...

... and some guy picks on me because I had my "career" listed on my profile as PR & Marketing Communications. And one last thing: the "career choices" stem from a limited drop down menu, so it's not even ACCURATE. For the love of GOD!

Opinions?

ADDENDUM: Tuesday night at 10:15 PM: I just received a really nice email from the person who wrote the original email to me, and perspective has been clarified. Ideas have been shared and all misunderstanding is now understanding. I'm going to keep the original post though, because my feelings were/are my feelings, and I don't discard them or discount myself when they shift.