Ed,
perfect call, couldnt agree more. Their ethical choice aside, they've been curiously inept at handling this from a PR point of view since the onset. You'd think a corp. this size would be more savvy...

I'd agree that supporting the show was not thought through... I comend Lowes for pulling the support and explaining it. I would disagree with "when faced with what seems to have been a fairly limited pressure campaign by the professionally outraged."
You obvious negative referance and lack of research here is interesting. Any corperation should be able to support any cause or campiagn they see fit. If it hurts business, then they'll take the hit. I think just because you didn't hear the outrage from the big 3 media outlets you think it was small. There is a group of very patriotic citizens who do not agree with the media push to muslimise the US. It seems we've forgotten 911 or More than than 4000 people from police and teachers to monks and children have been killed in the past 7 years by Muslims in southern Thailand, but hardly a word in the mainstream media....

The post is about a company using social media, and the possibility that commenters will be taken as the voice of a brand.

For a blog about the business use of technology, that's a key issue -- and one that can be abstracted from any particular example, or a given argument.

That said: I don't think anyone has forgotten about 9/11, nor do I think the people who protested a series that shows mainstream alternatives to extremism are more patriotic than anyone else.

Edward Cone
editor
Baselinemag.com

This seems like two opportunities to differentiate themselves (in a good way) wasted. The initial decision, as a statement that they want to support and provide to ALL Americans, was a risk, even if that is their belief. Some up-front thought should have prepared them for a negative response, and they should have had talking points at the ready.
That said, their idea of "going social" to handle it could have been a great opportunity for honest dialog, or at least getting those talking points into the public, even if they did need to retreat from them. It appears they underestimated their audience. I doubt deleting dissenting posts would have worked, and may have backfired as "censorship." Rather, strong responses along their talking points / principles would have set them above the noise of the less tolerant, if well-meaning, visitors. Probably a lesson there to be learned, by many of us.

@Hank
One evangelical conservative group known for their anti-muslim agenda raised unfounded concerns and Lowe's fell over. That was indeed a fairly limited pressure campaign that caused the mindless decision by Lowe's.
It is now that the usual folks come out and continue bashing people of other faiths. And yes, unfortunately there are many of those who have zero tolerance to people with other believes and opinions.

In this age of being Politically correct there is no safe stance for any company, you are darned if you do and darned if you don't (yes, I toned it down, not from being PC but from not needing to be crude to make my point). No matter what is said or done one group or another will take umbrage and go on the attack. I once did a paper on number of souls that will enter heaven and came up with the answer of zero based on each and every religion canceling out another religions views on reaching heaven. Sadly people are drawn to small group almost tribal views by our very nature and that makes tolerance difficult as one group will be the "haves" and the other the "have nots" causing distrust and tension. Strife and conflict occur, religion is often claimed but ultimately it is about power and control as slighted elders in one group take advantage of the young and inexperienced to consolidate the elders powers, enabling control the of the general population. Experience, knowledge and tolerance are the antithesis and bane of these radical groups no matter the groups origins or views. A knowledgeable thoughtful person is harder to control then those who like sheep are used to being led around without having to think and take responsibility for their own actions.

I think those involved in commerece will always anger someone when they support controversial
issues. While I recognize it introduces another level of bureaucracy, I suggest in the future unless Lowe's or any other commercial group has found the "Hill on which they are willing to die" they support organizations whose charter is to provide unbiased information that helps the public to understand controversial issues. These types of organizations are used to both supporters and detractors commenting on the information they provide and any publicity for them will likely have a positive effect.

@Ed:
I disagree with you wholeheartedly Ed. I think a majority of Americans have forgotten 911. We have a Muslim coddling president that was elected. How much more forgetting could be done than to slap the faces of the victim's friends and relatives by electing a president that is extremely symphathetic to Muslims and ignores issues like Iran's nuclear weapons while blaming Israel for the problems with the Palestinians who was housing the very terrorist that master minded 911.
Read the real Kuran, not the watered down, cover text that claims that Islamists are not violent. Read the original intent of Muhammad for the "infidel" not the liberal media based interpretation. Read about Sharif law and how it treats human beings especially women. The Muslim Brotherhood are not idiots. They are very carefully taking over and setting the stage for a massive shift to Sharif law.