BP’s losing PR battle on the net

“Do Not Leave Pumps Unattended. You Are Responsible for Spills,” reads the sign spotted at a BP station in Ohio. The photograph has been making the rounds of the internet and prompting much mockery at BP’s expense. Despite its attempts to buy up search phrases and “manage” the results on search engines like Google and Yahoo and a budget of over 50 million dollars dedicated to T.V advertising, the giant energy company is losing the PR battle.

And much of it is because of social media. BPGlobalPR (http://twitter.com/bpglobalpr) is run by pranksters. But its following on twitter was closing in on 144,000 at the time of writing. Placed on nearly 4,000 twitter lists, the spoof account is pure satire. “Celebrating 50 days of the spill w/ hotel conference room, catered lunch, funny speeches and a lot of back patting. #bpcares,” reads one tweet. Another goes: “Proud to announce we’ve partnered with Google to turn the Information Superhighway into a Corporate Bus Route. #bpcares” A personal favourite: “We’ve created something that will affect your children’s children. Can YOU say the same about YOUR life?”

The official twitter account, BP_America (http://twitter.com/bp_america) offers considerably less entertaining fare.”Update: From 12am-12pm on 6/8, approx 7,850 barrels of oil were collected & 15.2mil cubic ft of natural gas was flared. Operations stable,” read one. It’s a wonder they found 12,500 people to follow them. Twitter is guerrilla warfare for the internet, and each 140 character grenade finds its mark.

Facebook users have joined the fray, with vengeful pages that demand: Make British Petroleum (BP) PAY for the Gulf Coast Oil Spill and STOP THE OIL SPILL IN THE GULF BP! The group Boycott BP is supported by 476,910 people, and advocates that BP stations and BP brands which include Castrol, Arco, Aral, am/pm, Amoco, Wild Bean Cafe and Safeway gas be made to feel the community’s wrath.
Cartoonists haven’t spared the company or President Obama – there’s one where the eagle on the emblem, soaked in oil and gasping, presents a piteous sight. Popular webcomics like XKCD (http://xkcd.com/748/) and Penny Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com/) take their own pot shots. Blogs on the myspace cry: Boycott BP oil and impeach Obama. Several videos that explain and criticise the company’s response have gone viral, eliciting thousands upon thousands of angry comments.

In the meantime, there’s plenty for the inquisitive. You can track the oil spill in real time on Google Earth (http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/oilspill/) and, just for kicks, compare the size of the spill to metropolitan cities and gasp. A new containment cap might have succeeded in putting a lid on the leak, but the damage to the gulf is going to take years to undo. It’s enough to make anyone want to cry...but the twitter pranksters are sceptical when it’s BP wailing in woe: “Surprised ourselves by getting emotional on the coast today. Turns out the wind blew dispersant in our eyes. #BPrebrand

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100613/Magazine/sundaytimesmirror_05.html

Yay for the net.

It only has an effect on the other rich people who are funding philanthropic activities.

BP has also funded Olympic games, both the Chicago push and the 2012 London games, but does that really change public opinion?

Amway has funded and named an arena out in Orlando, but does anyone think Amway is anything other than a ponzi scheme?

I was inspired by AshleyMadison.com bid to buy the naming rights to NY Jets stadium for 25 million over 5 years.

no basis to expect to be let off the hook.

they're finished

2. pelican just ate my cell phone and flew away. I will get my revenge. #bpcares #ICPmiracle about 5 hours ago via TweetDeck
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Looks like the guys are enjoying Bonnaroo despite the devastating Smash Mouth cancellation. http://twitpic.com/1wa935 about 8 hours ago via web
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Just to be clear, we're not just blaming Britain, we're also blaming photographers, reporters and fishermen. #bpcares about 8 hours ago via web
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Prank the nerds at the NRDC! Send a note to your senator saying BP Rules, Gulf of Mexico drools! http://ow.ly/1XDjM about 9 hours ago via web
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England vs. USA recap: "Football": England 1 - USA 1 : "Crapping in the other's Gulf": England 54 - USA 0 ^Tony about 11 hours ago via web
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GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #lol about 12 hours ago via web
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If we can't sell these free $25 dollar "bpcares" t-shirts we are throwing them in the ocean. www.streetgiant.bigcartel.com. about 24 hours ago via TweetDeck
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Having a conscience was definitely not in the job description when I took the position. ^Tony 9:27 PM Jun 11th via TweetDeck
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Terry managed to clear out the office after what he thought was a great tryout for our S.C.A.T. Team. #hepooped @bpterry 5:28 PM Jun 11th via TweetDeck
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Seems like everyone has agreed to hate us. What if we bring up Gay Marriage? Abortion? Come on, argue people! #bphurts 4:33 PM Jun 11th via web
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Tar balls in Florida? BP's very own paid "reporters" aren't so sure they exist. Stay informed people! http://ow.ly/1Xs9C 3:42 PM Jun 11th via web
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We're on a seafood diet- When we see food, we eat it! Unless that food is seafood from the Gulf. Yuck to that. #bpdiet 2:58 PM Jun 11th via web
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Millions of people live in the gulf. If each one donated just a few thousand dollars, we'd have enough $ to fix this mess. #bpcares 2:11 PM Jun 11th via web
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We can't thank the MMS Ethics Office enough. Maybe you can call them and do it for us! http://ow.ly/1XnvD #bpcares 1:14 PM Jun 11th via web
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MMS approved 13 new BP deepwater wells! We'll be sending a really nice cocaine and whores gift basket. http://ow.ly/1Xn8Q 12:06 PM Jun 11th via web
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Terry just brought "milkshakes" for the office. Clearly cups of oil. He quickly forgot and drank one. #prankwars @bpTerry 11:55 AM Jun 11th via web
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Follow Friday again? Here are our favs - @DickCheneysButt @HellonEarth @SatansTit @Arbys @SkullnBones @Boobs and @bpTerry 9:24 AM Jun 11th via web
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