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Politically Incorrect Spam - Merry Freaking Christmas

As some of you know, our company now offers full service offset printing, where orders can be placed online 24/7, files uploaded, and your nifty new shiny pieces of marketing collateral show up at your door within a week or so. We invested quite a bit of time, money and soul into this addition to our suite of services, and are feeling pretty darn good about the whole thing.

Yesterday, we got the bright idea of sharing this bit of news with real estate and related industry professionals in Florida via a cute little email we drafted. Let me backtrack here for a sec - my fault, I drafted it, the hubby just made it look all pretty. We dropped it into a broadcast service, clicked send, and off it went - to a scarily large number of email addresses.

Shortly thereafter, we get a VERY irate email from one Florida Realtor, who shall remain unnamed SCREAMING AT US IN ALL CAPS, and I quote: "WELL IM SURE NOT THE HELL FILLED WITH OPTIMISM ABOUT A NEW MUSLIM PRESIDENT THAT WENT TO A HATE FILLED CHURCH FOR 20 YEARS! YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE - AND YOU SHOULD LEARN THE NUMBER ONE RULE IN BUSINESS - DO NOT TALK POLITICS OR RELIGION!! FOR THAT REASON I WOULD NEVER USE OR RECOMMEND YOUR COMPANY. TAKE ME OFF YOUR LIST."

In the interest of full disclosure, here are a few paragraphs from the message she received:

"Season's Greetings from all of us at HaMediaShop.com.

There is something to be said for magic that is the Holiday Season in Florida. Warm enough to wear shorts, golf or fish and still have the twinkling lights of Christmas gracing our palm trees and evergreens.

For some, this Christmas Season is the toughest ever financially, but still most people are filled with the spirit of optimism and impatience for the New Year. The promise of a fresh start, the new President, the new business plan - we all resolve to do better, to try harder.

With the warmest wishes this Season to all of our Florida Realtors, here are a few tips that should help you make 2009 a great year, and of course, a holiday gift from all of us at hamediashop.com"

The rest of the message included some free suggestions on keeping in touch with clients and prospects and a discount offer on postcards from our store.

So I went back and read and re-read the message, and then it hit me: this person honestly and truly got this angry over two words: President, and Christmas. So here is my little message to the disgruntled person who would like to teach me a lesson by not doing business with me:

I am not religious, but have always referred to the little lights that make the universe a magical place every December as Christmas lights - nothing else would do! I say Merry Christmas to people I know and love this time of year - not to the exclusion of anything else, but because it is to me more an issue of tradition, one that has emotional and historical value. The email did include a few Happy Holidays references in addition to the one or two politically incorrect uses of "Christmas".

The fake evergreen in my living room is also called a Christmas Tree, and it has Christmas ornaments all over it, you know, the ones with Santa, and Angels, and Ginger Houses.

As for my reference to the New President - anyone coming in after a two term presidency would be a New President, last I checked, and I was by no means making a political statement of any kind with addressing that fact.

So to anyone who may get this email from us and chooses to be offended, by all means Do Not Use our services. Our first rule of business is to provide the best possible service for our clients. Our second rule of business is to remain human. If that means being politically incorrect and losing some business because of it, I can live with that.

Merry Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah to all and Happy Festivus for the rest of us.

Copyright (C) 2008, inna hardison. please, don't steal from the starving artists, it's illegal and well, just plain freakin' wrong!
:-)

For AR only discounts on printing with hamediashop, see this blog, and save big bucks. Postcards, Business Cards, Flyers and more at awesome prices. Print, Design, Layout. www.hamediashop.com
See our design portfolio at www.teamhardison.com

cause i rock...

Posted by Inna Hardison-ha media group Design, Printing, Web on 12/18/2008 11:28 AM

Comments (61)

merry freakin christmas, politically incorrect, i am who i am and i like it

This post has been included in Florida Information
Post is included in group: We are pissed off and not going to take it anymore!
Post is included in group: Silent Majority
Post is included in group: 'JACKED!!!!!
Post is included in group: Dissent
Post is included in group: All Things Florida

61 Comments on Politically Incorrect Spam - Merry Freaking Christmas

DEC

Inna, Merry Christmas to you! There will always be Grinches and Scrooges in this world!

Inna, sometimes you just catch people in a bad moment and they need to vent, or touch a nerve. I saw a clerk in a retail store take a huge tongue-lashing for doing her job yesterday (verifying that both pieces of a 2-piece clothing item being returned were in the bag). The customer freaked out. She began to rant and asked for the manager. Turns out the manager was acting as a clerk. Frankly, from the position behind her, I saw nothing wrong. So when I first stepped forward as it was my turn in line, I said "Happy Holidays. I promise to be kind, courteous and easy to deal with". I am positive the manager appreciated it.

lolol....there was no need for an apology to this obiviously disterbed person! But it was fun to read...I needed a good laugh today...Hugs...and...Merry Christmas...Shawn

i love you and the man and the boys dearly..............now tell the truth and flip the order of your rules. you and the crew are human which enables you to offer the best possible service for your clients.

i am such a stickler for propriety.

and you thought i was just another pretty face.

to that

i say

ha........or marketing

ciao

There are many who are still opposed to the new president's character and background. I'd leave it off any mailings I was going to do. Your note can be read as if you are anxious for the old president to be gone.

Merry Christmas to you! and bah humbug to the screaming Emailer! (some one must have Pee'd in her cherios that morning!)

Silvia - thank you!!! Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones as well:-)

Happy Festivus for the rest of us! That Florida Realtor must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS :)

Vicky - what a cool story!!! I worked as a waitress through some of my college years and learned an invaluable lesson: you can tell so much by the way people treat those who are serving them...

Your smile and warm words probably made this person's week!!!:-) Thank you for commenting.

Shawn - I didn't actually respond to this person via email, or any other means, less this post. If they traverse the Rain, they may just stumble upon it. Hugs and Merry Christmas to you too!! Thank you!

J-Mac - I absolutely adore you!!! Thank you, my friend. Hugs:-) (human first!!! ought to be our new slogan, warts and all.) MWA

This was funny and sad at the same time.

Funny story, sad that the person is so unhappy that she had to take her frustrations out on you.

Heath - I am not aware of any other alternative in this country than for the President who served two terms to be gone after 8 years... I have been known to make plenty political statements in my blogs, posts and editorials that I have written, but i assure you it woouln't not even occur to me to do that in a format of a greeting card.:-) Thank you for your comment.

Robert - your comment cracked me up... Of course, it had to be cheerios...:-) humbug indeed...

Gene - so that makes two of us who get the Festivus thing, huh?! Merry Christmas to you too, and thank you!:-)

Karen - I agree, it is both sad and funny... I am actually marginally mad at myself for allowing this to put a damper in my mood yesterday, but now that i ranted publically, I fee SOOOOO much better.

Best wishes to you!!! :-)

Dont let anyone steal your joy...:) Merry Christmas....

Tana - I won't. Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you too!!! :-)

Bravo, Inna.

Incoming President Obama did not receive my vote - but the election is over. On January 20 Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States and I wish him well. In a couple of years I will choose sides for the next election - but I will judge the sitting President by his record and his policies at that time - not now. For now, he is my President and all of the Country is in need of leadership. I would not expect to agree with everything he does but I didn't agree with everything the last one did either. Some of his plans will not turn out the way he intends - but that was true of the last one too.

Christmas is an idea. It is a celebration of significant events that have stood the test of time for 2000 years. I also am not a member of an organized religion - but I believe the celebration of Christmas has importance for all peoples. It has been an official US holiday since President U S Grant realized that the post Civil War America could benefit by something that the North and South could agree on. The concept is still worthy today. It is not an effort to impose Christianity upon others but a recognition that Christmas values of Peace on Earth to men of good will have value to all. And if we can, even briefly, agree on that then the world is a better place.

Merry Christmas, Inna, and have a safe holiday.

Inna, it's all for the better, you don't want the business from a jackass like this any way. And jackasses associate with other jackasses, so be thankful you won't be getting any referrals from him. The fact is that you do exquisite work and your clients and colleagues should feel fortunate to be able to take advantage of your services.

Happy Festivus!

Holy Cow - TED BAKER agrees with me!!!

In all seriousness, Ted, you voiced what I would have liked to, had I the possession of as cool a head as yours. I really appreciate it.:-) Merry Christmas to you!!!

Mike - I am a pragmatist, to an extent, or at least I try to be. The beauty of giving people the ability to deal with their printing needs online is in that it cuts down on human interaction, hence, there are no disappointment, unless we are doing design for them as well. Of course the downside to that is that I miss out on getting to know the ones that I would Like to associate with... :-)

Thank you for being sweet, and the Happiest of Festivus to you, my friend.

Inna, the joy of having your own business is the authority to cut these people loose. We were at a portrait studio over the weekend. I'm sure you can imagine what kind of scene it was - millions of kids, chaos, etc. This crazy woman started screaming at the cashier about a non-existant problem with her pictures. She ended it with "I'll never come here again."

Good. You're a crazy person. Seeee 'ya!

You could see it on the cashiers face...but you...you get to SAY it ;)

Heather, dahlin' I am much too polite to say that... :-) Nice to be able to think it though...

Hmmmmm...are you too polite to say, "Don't let the door hit you in the ASS on the way out?"

I know how you love the word ASS.

Heather - thanks for making me laugh. If I ever figure out how to work that word into a business solicitation, or an SOI campaign, you'll be the first to know:-)

Who has time to be that pissed off? Thank you for keeping your business from me and Merry F'n Christmas! Love Festivus, by the way. : )

Hi Chris - Yippy, another Festivus Fan:-) As for time, I guess some do... I mean really, I was pissed off enough about it to write this here blog post...(LOL)

Well Inna, that is true, but you are cute and entertaining when you're pissed off. This Realtor, obviously, is not. : )

Well thank you, dahling! :-)

Inna,

Someone just had a terrible day, terrible month and not a great year. Happens to many. you can't please everyone, nor should you.

I am not religious, bu I feel it the same way, I cherish it as tradition, and have no problem saying "Merry Christmas" and do not see in it insult to other people religious feelings.

It is simply re-addressed reaction. She is angry with the world, and at this moment you represented this world.

Forgive her.

As for the business part, my mom in these situations used to say that they bought a ticket, but willing to punish the conductor, did not board the tram, and are walking on foot.

The lady had a ticket and could get great service and great deals... but decided not to have it. Whom is she hurting?

Jon - you are so right... Thank you! As for her not boarding my train - it'll simply move faster and smoother without a few eay to anger passengers on it:-)

Merry Christmas!!!

So you can't please all of the people all of the time....that's life. Move on. You're probably better off without that person's business anyway. Imagine choosing this most blessed of seasons to be a butt-head. How does it go --- "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything nice at all"?

Enjoy your holiday season, and have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Are you kidding me? Is this members only? Can I say dumb ass? :)

oops...not members only. Oh well. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Pacita - You are right... I don't plan on pleasing all the people all the time, but it would be nice though, if it were possible. I am sure the message just set her off - I guess some people will take longer to get over the sense of loss or whatever they feel with the election:-(

Thank you for stopping by, and Merry Christmas to you too!!!

My Lisa - of course it's not Members Only... What do I have to hide? I am all for that whole transparency thing!!! And on my blog, by all means you can say anything you want, even dumb ASS!!!

Merry Christmas, sweetie!!!

Inna, I certainly didnt read anything political in that email (BTW I'm in FL and I didn't get one of your emails )-: Seems some people are so defensive these days regarding the so called war on Christmas beaten to death by Bill O'Reilly. She sounded ready to defend her position on "the war." Merry Christmas to you Inna, love reading your blogs.

Terry - I just forwarded you a copy...

:-)

Thank you sweetie. I can always count on my crazy lib friends to defend my vocabulary choices...

Merry Christmas!!!! and hugs-

Inna,

I am so happy, i knew if I waited long enough you would right something that I could agree with 100%.

Merry CHRISTmas to you and your family.

Hi Hugh - Merry merry Christmas to you as well, and to all whom you hold dear.

Glad we agree on something 100%:-) Best,

DEC

Inna -- At least she didn't throw her shoes at you!

Happy Holidays!

Erik - thank you so very much!!! Happy Holidays to you as well:-)

BTW: I love shoes!!!

Hi Inna,

Merry Christmas or is it Merry Freaking Christmas? I recommended you not talk politics way back in September... looky here. Happy Holidays!

Dick Beals

LOL!! Ted's a good guy.....he's on the conservative side of the aisle but people like him are good to know regardless of what their stance or your own is.

As for the response you got, I'm laughing!! Which is worse? No one recognizing Obama for being the first non-Christian elected to President? Or that this individual actually thinks he's Muslim. I'm probably more Muslim than he is and I haven't stepped in a mosque in nearly 30 years. No wait, I sung choir in a mosque in Jakarta in 1986. Oops, 22 years.

Dick - hello. Long time no see.:-) Thanks for pointing me to your post - for some reason my google alerts didn't catch it...

As for politics - I tried, I swear, I really did:-) Happy Holidays to your and your lovely wife!

Tchaka - you gottal love Ted, even if we disagree:-) He is just one of those lovable rarities!

22 years is not a long enough time for you to 'absolve' yourself from the liability for all things weird sounding and muslim, even if it was just singing. :-) I am pretty sure the new mandate calls for a few centuries of separation of us versus them to be accepted into the Uber Cool repub club.

Oh. Hmm....I guess I'll try for membership in 2208. :-D

DEC

Tchaka, if you sing real nice-like, they might let you in earlier! Depends on the song, of course...:-)

I was leaning towards 'Born In The USA' but I'm guessing 'We Shall Overcome' will fast become the Republican anthem. LOL! I better learn both.

Tchaka, if the RNC convention was any indication, I am pretty sure it'll be some Country Song with lots of Jesus in it:-)

You better learn a whole new genre...

I am, GLAD I was NOT the person who did the e-mailing...screaming at you in capital letters, Ina.....

I would honestly take your e-mail, read it...and then think about doing business with you....

BTW...I STILL have not gotten the "package" you said I was supposed to get many weeks ago.....

Silly...

=-)

Inna, sorry you experienced this rant. Obviously whoever it was - was having a "moment." ;-)

Happy Festivus to you too, Inna!

I'm thinking somebody is extremely bitter about he outcome of the election and was just looking for a Christmas tree to piss on. Yours just happen to light up his/her path.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday and the new year brings you everything you wish for!

Cheers!

Robin

DEC

Alex - that's only because you are sweet, and you've met me:-) Thank you buddy! As for your "package", it's supposed to be a present, silly, and you will have it on Christmas in your Inbox. I promise.

Mesa - I got this here blog out of it, so I suppose nothing is ever truly wasted on us, creative types:)

Thank you for dropping by and Merry Christmas!

Robin - I am drawing visuals of the person pissing on my tree, and it ain't pretty:-)

Thank you for the warm wishes, and hugs to you and the ones you love!!! Happy Festivus, dear.:-)

DEC

Ina.........

I did not know the package was supposed to be a Christmas present...... Ok, I can wait...I'll be a good little boy....

LOLOLololool

Hi Inna. That person really stuck their foot in their mouth......I wonder if people like that ever regret acting like a twit. Hmmm...... :)

Hope you are well sweetie!!

Pamela, if this person had an AR account, she'd have been regretting it for a few days now, but alas, she does not.:-)

Hugs-

Send her a webkin terd for Christmas.

Love ya, Inna! Merry Christmas!

My dear Mandy! That sounds like a perfect gift! Don't know what I would do without you!!!

LOVE YOU TOO!!!

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