The Measurement Standard: Blog Edition

Social Media Humor from The Onion

Social media overload is funny as hell: "Police Slog Through 40,000 Insipid Party Pics To Find Cause Of Dorm Fire." 

Public Relations Measurement Humor of the Day: Dilbert

Public relations research humor of the day: Dilbert http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2008-05-08/

Thanks, Katie! --WTP

The Personal Massager and Seven Other Bizarre Tales from the Consulting Frontline

Jenny Schade's
Making It Count

 

Strange But True Tales
"The Personal Massager" and seven other bizarre adventures from the consulting frontline.

Colleagues often tease me that I have more than my share of Strange But True adventures. I'm not sure if I actually attract more of these situations than other people, but I do acknowledge that I'm more open to finding the humor in unusual workplace events. I think you'll enjoy the following seven bizarrely humorous real-life adventures. (And a big "Thanks!" to my friends who contributed; you know who you are.)

1. The Personal Massager
...or, How to Generate Good Vibes in a Focus Group

One of the most memorable research studies that I have ever observed involved a female moderator, an all-male focus group and a "personal massager." The client had requested focus groups to explore perceptions of its line of sports massage products. At the end of the groups, the client wanted the moderator to casually and discretely display a "personal massager" to see how people compared it to its sports massage product.

At the end of the first group, the moderator walked over to the table with this product, tripped, and the "personal massager" shot out of its box, turned on and began loudly buzzing its way across the table toward the men in the group. They exploded in laughter, and one of them said, "Well, you certainly know how to operate one of those!"

This initial focus group project became an inside joke with our client for years to come, but it also served as an "ice-breaker" when we all laughed at the faux pas. It's a good example of how humor can relieve stress, help forge relationships and generally create a more positive atmosphere in which to conduct good business.