More on Branson Visit: Dialog with a Reader About Our 'Tips on Fitting In'

We hear howls about our Facebook page. And those are among the polite ones.

The most detailed, impassioned response — also polite — comes from Alison Chevalier, a MSU graduate who works in Detroit and New York City on online marketing, business development and event planning. The self-described “change agent” lets us share her Facebook post, which has 38 likes by 1 p.m. Her reaction, presented in full, is followed by the author’s response (originally posted as a comment under Chevalier’s post).

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Alison Chevalier: “That ‘article’ was an embarrassment to Detroiters and a slap in the face to someone who just did something very good for our city.”

‘An embarrassment to Detroiters’

When I’m indignant, I tend to write run-on sentences so let me apologize in advance for doing that. But I have to express my outrage for this type of pointless snark. It stems from an underlying attitude of scarcity and that mentality holds Detroit back when we need to move forward.

Alan Stamm, I’m disappointed in you. Richard Branson and Virgin Atlantic filled a plane with representatives from all the major UK media outlets, along with reps from select marketing agencies and a few hand-picked young entrepreneurs (Paria Bikes for one) and flew it to Detroit, shuttling several different groups in buses all around the city — each bus taking its respective passengers to different areas of Detroit — to showcase all the positive energy and momentum that comes with the new wave of entrepreneurship that Detroit is experiencing.

I joined in one such group at Shinola and had conversations with several participants who were fascinated by Detroit’s evolution, where it’s been and where it’s going.

Branson was not on every bus so that exercise wasn’t all about photo ops featuring his internationally recognized face. It was about intentionally moving the story that’s being told about Detroit from that of being The Capital of Blight to that of being a city full of amazing people doing amazing things. This is the story Branson wants to get out to the rest of the world — along with the story about Virgin Atlantic’s new Detroit connection, we’re not kidding ourselves here. But guess what? Virgin Atlantic has announced new city connections over the years and those announcements have not all involved throwing a major media event to announce the addition.

Branson and Virgin Atlantic brought GLOBAL attention to Detroit and showed it in the best light possible, and you write a story for Deadline Detroit criticizing Branson for fist-bumping Mike Duggan and members of the visiting group for using the words “thang” and “chillaxing” in their tweets? I’m sorry. I like Deadline Detroit and you’re a good writer, Alan, but that “article” was an embarrassment to Detroiters and a slap in the face to someone who just did something very good for our city.

They only used mustard on the hotdog images used in their VIP signage and not full coney toppings? Bad, BAD Richard Branson and Virgin Atlantic for missing THAT opportunity. Forget that Branson and his team created a huge opportunity that will impact Detroit in countless positive ways for years to come.

Are you kidding me?

Can we get over ourselves, Detroit?

And let me just add that Branson personally gifted the four groups of entrepreneurs who were pitching during the Ain’t Too Proud To Pitch event with the services of his marketing teams, his distribution channels, transportation partners and more — even giving one young woman who is a rising star and aspiring fashion entrepreneur at Merit a round trip ticket to London. These four businesses will grow and thrive because of this very special relationship with Branson and that alone impacts Detroit in numerous ways.

— Alison Chevalier

UK visitors and local invitees partied downtown Friday night after a full day of city tours and pitch opportunities for entrepreneurs at the College for Creative Studies.

Reply: ‘Pointless snark’ was intended as lighthearted snark

Whoa and wow, Alison. We never knew there’s so much room between our lines for those who choose to read between them.

Your detailed comments are welcome, as are all responses to our content, because engaging with readers ranks right up there with fairness, accuracy, readability and transparency as core values. Like all news sites, we also try to enlighten and entertain.

Making readers indignant and outraged is obviously not desired, though we know point-of-view commentaries such as this can run that risk.

That said, a few responses to what seems like a selective reading and interpretation of what’s intended as a playful, good-natured, respectful chain-yank.

1.) Our “slap in the face to someone who just did something very good for our city” begins: “We’re glad you came, Sir Richard Branson. We appreciate the new London-Detroit flights, the Hustles Harder shirt and the nice things you say about our city.”

2.) It closes “on an upbeat note” with praise for his “dandy phrase at Friday afternoon’s Ain’t Too Proud to Pitch event. . . . You share what could be a mantra for the city that hustles harder.”

3.) Those three of our 17 paragraphs frame the tone and, on balance, appreciation for all the good stuff we join you in embracing. Between them are what we see as lighthearted snark, though calling it “pointless snark” is as valid as any matter of taste.

4.) Similarly, our view is that fist bumps by white guys of a certain age are uncool (naff in British slang — which may show equal uncoolness, I acknowledge). You see that observation as a criticism of Mr. Branson; I meant it as a laugh line to accompany what seems like an amusing photo.

5.) We agree that Virgin Atlantic and its founder create potentially huge economic, tourism, business and image opportunities for Metro Detroit and Michigan, which far outweigh our poke (whimsy again) at not using a coney dog as a “missed opportunity.”

Two of the three MSU grads who formed Original Stix, a Brush Street startup, on stage Friday with Richard Branson (far right). [Bamboo Detroit photo]

To answer a question above: Yes, we *are* trying to kid you, other readers and #hellodetroit visitors . . .
. . . while making a point about not sounding clueless, callous or foolish by dropping “chillaxin"” and “shake their thang” inappropriately.

If the tone fails, our bad. We shouldn’t need an emoticon to convey mirthfulness, but smiles and winks in an online commentary may be as hard to detect as those in misinterpreted email and social posts.

A more frustrating limit of our website design and CMS is an inability to visually distinguish a column or commentary from news articles. Tone should distinguish one from the other, but I’d rather have a label.

You’re a good writer too, Alison, though a 497-word critique of a 409-word post may be an over-reaction. (Or not.)

I regret your “indignant . . . outrage.” What seems like “pointless snark” is supposed to be lighthearted snark, but reasonable people can differ over which label fits.

Thanks for engaging thoughtfully.

— Alan Stamm

More on Branson Visit: Dialog with a Reader About Our "Tips on Fitting In"