Thanks for the good comments Joshua (and thanks for the info on Zillo and Trulia).  I didn't realize they had discussion areas.

An interesting rhetorical question.  You didn't use it on Trulia, did you?  :)

No, but seriously, good post.  I had a discussion with a Realtor here recently who to my way of thinking just didn't get it, asking me to critique her me-me-me web site.  Needless to say that didn't go well.

The thing is, we've been around trying to get business this way for many, many years.  As a profession, we used to be big link spammers.  Now we're big question spammers.

The people who take the high road seem to do well in any environment. 

Maybe you should looking into getting your ePRO designation or suggesting that the agents in your office get it.

Goodness.  It's bad enough to have the media painting real estate practitioners with a broad brush of greed.  We have the government accusing us of criminal intent with our MLS practices. 

We don't really need real estate practitioners painting us with broad brushes of dishonesty and incompetence. 

I know some very good real estate practitioners who don't rely on the Internet.  Most of us are not rude.  Most of us participate on Active Rain in a spirit of friendliness, sharing and self expression, with a bit of self promotion added.

Joshua - Being kind of brutal aren't you? While there are some who fit your description I believe most, actually more than most, Realtors on AR do not fit your broad categorization.

Hey, don't hold back...... tell us how you really feel about it! Just kidding, great post. I think the agents and blogging are in the growing pain phase and we will see it develop into a better environment as we go along.

Realtors are the most ill mannered group of "professional" people.  I think one of the reasons for this is they to sell real estate in most states you do not need a college degree, and unlike other finance companies like insurance and stock brokers most real estate brokers will hire anyone that can fog a mirror.  Better these losers clog up the Internet than the face to face market place.  Even dumb people can recognize spam before they recognize incompetence face to face.

Dan,

I agree that all agents should have at least a college degree.  Seriously, go work at a stock brokerage and then tell me real estate agents are the most ill mannered.