Yesterday, I got this email… The names have been changed to protect the guilty.
Dear Nevada Jack,
My name is Sxyz from Article Writing Services. We have a client who would like to pay you for the opportunity to post some of their content on your website. All of the content is professionally produced and you can select from pieces relevant to your audience.
The result is you get some free, interesting content for your readers while getting paid.
In return our client is asking for one link that they specify at the bottom of the content (no porn or gambling). Feel free to contact me with any concerns or clarifications you may have.
If you would like to see some examples of our content, please email me at sxyz@123.org so we can begin.
Sincerely,
Sxyz
I was aghast. How do I respond? Here is my first draft:
Dear Sxyz,
I’m writing on behalf of Nevada Jack, my little stuffed friend. What makes you think that he would want to pimp out my blog for a few shekels of silvers? Who are these folks who want to write for my blog? And why would my readers want to read them? I know I have been busy lately, but my readers want to read what I write (whenever I get around to it) and not what your writers might want to sell. At least I hope they want to read what I write. By the way, going around my back and trying to get the approval of my Teddy Bear in order to post on my blog is not only deceitful, it’s down-right tacky.
Sincerely,
Sage
Dear Nevada Jack,
My name is Sxyz from Article Writing Services. We have a client who would like to pay you for the opportunity to post some of their content on your website. All of the content is professionally produced and you can select from pieces relevant to your audience.
The result is you get some free, interesting content for your readers while getting paid.
In return our client is asking for one link that they specify at the bottom of the content (no porn or gambling). Feel free to contact me with any concerns or clarifications you may have.
If you would like to see some examples of our content, please email me at sxyz@123.org so we can begin.
Sincerely,
Sxyz
I was aghast. How do I respond? Here is my first draft:
Dear Sxyz,
I’m writing on behalf of Nevada Jack, my little stuffed friend. What makes you think that he would want to pimp out my blog for a few shekels of silvers? Who are these folks who want to write for my blog? And why would my readers want to read them? I know I have been busy lately, but my readers want to read what I write (whenever I get around to it) and not what your writers might want to sell. At least I hope they want to read what I write. By the way, going around my back and trying to get the approval of my Teddy Bear in order to post on my blog is not only deceitful, it’s down-right tacky.
Sincerely,
Sage
 |
| Nevada Jack |
Now, for those of you who don’t know Nevada Jack, maybe I should properly introduce him. When I first moved west in 1988, some friends gave me this teddy bear to take with me. I started to call him Yukon Jack, after that sweet Canadian whiskey, but as I was working at a camp and using the bear in a children’s program, I decided that name wasn’t appropriate. So I came up with Nevada Jack, as I was going to be spending a year in Nevada. A few years later, I was living in Utah and for a short while I wrote some columns for an underground newspaper. The paper was an attempt to provide an alternative voice and as my satires often poked fun at the dominate culture and religion in the state that has been known for being less than tolerate toward dissent, I started writing under the name “Nevada Jack.” When I started the blog, I decided that sometimes I need a different voice for my satirical posts (which are nearly as frequent as they once were) so I resurrected Nevada Jack. He’s been a good friend. He doesn’t get mad and doesn’t talk back…. What more can I ask?
You can't ask for any more than someone who doesn't get mad or talk back. :) lol!
ReplyDeleteI like having another voice for posts and your Nevada Jack was the inspiration behind my Desert Rat. Like Jack, Rat doesn't come out as often as he used too.
ReplyDeleteBig grin here. I have this whole bear collection that has come my way over the years, plus one or two I've been unable to resist buying myself. There are also two seals, a koala, a yak, and some kind of simian. Don't ask what a grown man is doing with this stuffed menagerie, but it's reassuring I am not alone...
ReplyDeleteASK--if he would mind EXTRA CASH!!! LOL--Great approach o wise one!
ReplyDeleteJ
Those emails really anger me. I tell myself to feel flattered as I'm so the opposite of popular but....
ReplyDeleteNever knew Nevada Jack's history. Nice to know it after all these years
Fun history behind your Nevada Jack and an amusing reply to the faux offer. Thanks for the smiles.
ReplyDeleteAt least you wrote back. All I did was hit delete when I got the same offer. LOL
ReplyDeleteLynn, I sometimes think I need a few more friends like that!
ReplyDeleteEd, been wondering when Desert Rat might pop in again...
Ron, I should write about my bears more often--I've never brought a bear, but have been given tons of them by old girlfriend and little old ladies... A few years ago, I gave away most of them, keeping only 12 of them (plus a moose)
John, I asked and he just gave me one of those stares!
Pia, I should also introduce everyone to James Brown Bear!
Hilary, you have such a nice smile!
Kenju, you mean I wasn't special, that the offer wasn't just for me? :( I didn't send it, but it's interesting that they addressed it to Nevada Jack.
You can't ask for anything more special and grand than that. By the way does he have a brother? He is the cutest of all little bears, no matter what name you give him! Have a grrrrreat weekend!
ReplyDeleteI have a lil friend lana brought to me, a black puppy with a rose in his mouth. I call him Lobo and he assists me in cheering on football.
ReplyDeleteand now he can make you money...nah...have yet to hear a pitch that will make me do it yet...
ReplyDeleteI get these emails as well but delete them. I think your reply is just hilarious. It made my day. Your teddy is a very handsome chap. Would love to give him a cuddle :)
ReplyDeleteSo THAT'S the story behind Nevada Jack. I remember reading one of his posts a while back and liking it but wondering what happened to Sage (?). lol
ReplyDeleteStrange e-mail...but I love your reply. I'd love to hear the response to that one! :)
Sage: It seems these offers are cropping up here and there. I agree with your response!
ReplyDeleteWhaaaat? you turned away money and you wouldn't even have to write??? Ah, I didn't that offer otherwise you would be reading some pretty weird stuff on my blog (maybe you already are)
ReplyDeleteI wonder what is it that they get from that? it is obviously spam, but what do they get?
There is a new one popping up here where an e-mail arrives proporting to be from the bank. And very official looking they are too. But what's very odd about them is they seem to know exactly which bank is your bank.
ReplyDeleteBest to ignore all those type of communications. Hmmm I do wonder what google does with the mails that are flagged as spam.