Ok, I admit - i was originally inspired to write about Vlad's unfolding trials (literally) with ePerks because Mary McKnight was offering a free RSSPieces blog

I have been following the story, sort of half paying attention for some time....not sure how i ran into it, but it struck me as disturbing in a way that i haven't read a lot of comment on - so here I go with my own .02 rant on the situation.

Reputation management is an important part of our responsibility as bloggers.  Blogging has become a very real and vital part of Web 2.0, RE 2.0 and i'm sure to a completely new level of transparency, ease of use and interaction through all of the "point o's" to come.

The ability for us as individuals, business owners and regular 'ole people to have the ability to engage in open converstation and exchange with the world simply by being interesting and capturing peoples attention is an amazing phenomenon.  Hat's off to Vlad for earning that reputation so that this entire exposure is even possible.

The exposure I speak of is the vulnerability of Businesses wishing to compete in a 2.0 world.  In this case, ePerks invited it's client base to solicit "word from the street" feedback on it's services.  Ok, here's where i feel my blood pressure rising and I get that little white "v" between my eyes from my involentarily furrowed brow.

Is ePerk's entire premise for thier law suit here that they only wanted people to say "good things" about thier services?!  Can anyone be so naieve to think that 100% of thier clients will be 100% satisfied?  Thier reaction to the feedback they received could be taught in Harvard business school as exactly what NOT to do when given the opportunity to get completely legitimate and valuable feedback on your products and services from your customers.

This is what is blowing my mind.  Imagine any company worth it's salt attacking it's customers because they are not satisfied with the products and services it offers!  Let me get this straight.....as an American I can go to the top of the highest building or on the busiest site on the web and rant and rave about how the leader of the free world, our President, is a bumbling fool and has done nothing but screw up since accepting charge of the helm...(for analogous purposes only - this does not reflect my political views :) - But if write a blog about the fact that McDonalds hamburgers taste like cardboard....they are going to sue me if enough people agree with me?

ePerk's is doing a great job and a great justice to all of us right now.  I'm totally serious here.  It takes a lot of guts and an incredible amount of ego to stand in the face of the ludicrous with index fingers firmly embedded in each ear and scream about how the big bad bully called them a name.

Forget about the fact that Vlad NEVER once made any negative comments about ePerks, this came about from comments he recieved from ePerk's unsatisfied masses (or few) that had a differing opinion from him on his original complementary input about thier offerings per thier request.

Ok..that was a drift...back to my point.  ePerks is doing all of us in the blogging community and everyone in the Web 2.0 world a great justice here by being such cry baby's.  Let's make this very, very simple in case an ePerks suit happens to keyword subpeona every blog ever written about this case as evidence in support of thier argument that they are being "hurt" by all this attention. 

Are you ready?  Here it its......You have been given a gift wrapped opportunity to improve your products and services.  This attention is a GIFT vital to your survival IF you take the feedback seriously and use it to improve your product.   

ePerks made one mistake and one mistake only....they made thier report card public.  They thought that because they were good at sports that they would recieve straight A's even though they never did thier homework.  Ok, i hear you, it sucks when your girlfriend says you're lousy in bed in the middle of a party...i get it.  It's just that you can't walk up to her and punch her in the mouth!  This is what happens....everyone at the party thinks you're an A**Hole (i apologize for the implied profanity...i'm a little riled up) and they talk about it to everyone they know.

Reputation management a huge reality for business in the web 2.0 world and ePerks is a blazing example of how it can all go horribly wrong.  I think that more important than bringing attention to Vlad's fight is bringing even more attention to the outcome of this battle.  If, and I can not possibly see it going any other way, Vlad comes out of this as the victor, ePerks will have set legal precedent for bloggers everywhere.  I believe they have brought upon themselves a crippling blow to thier ability to survive as a company through thier immature handling of this situation.

Do you think that Zillow has not recieved criticism about it's products and services?  What would David Gibbons do?  He would thank you for your input and use it to improve thier products and services or engage in a converstaion with you better understand the root of your critisism so as to better provide a valuable service to all.

Vlad needs our help.  There's no question.  Greg Swann has set up a legal fund for Vlad to help with the legal expenses of defending himself against ePerks in court.  Please continue to read about this case and understand it.  This is an important opportunity for us to show the strength of our "Community".