DOM's: Defenders of Mediocrity

[steven132]

THis is a quote from Al Lutz's article at www.miceage.com about how Disney employees use posts from forums like this to back up keeping things as cheap as possible which ends up hurting the consumer. A good example could be the Peter Pan dvd which most were disappointed in and compare the improvements in the Jungle Book.

"DoMs: Bad for the Brand"

"They pop up for all businesses, big or small, industrial or entertainment. They claim to love the product so much that they feel they have to blindly support it no matter how reasoned or legitimate any criticism of it may be. Like busy bees, they flit from forum to forum online making life unpleasant for those that even begin to offer an opinion different from their unquestioning "must be positive" view, and Lord help those who feel it can be done better.

These are the Defenders of Mediocrity, or DoMs for short. And they are the single most damaging thing that can happen to the Disney brand.

You've seen their postings: Light Magic? They loved it, it was the best show they never saw because they only heard the MP3 or saw it on YouTube. Rocket Rods? What a great ride, not everything needs to be themed, the red light bulbs were wonderful! Deteriorating Attractions? Walt Disney was wrong about keeping up the exterior, the peeling paint and broken ride elements fit right into the Haunted Mansion theme. DCA? Isn't it swell it's so uncrowded and it has one good ride? Epcot's 25th? Wow, the fans got a slapped together ceremony, and they should be thankful for it and the two boxes of merchandise they offered! etc... etc... etc...


The hat from the Orlando studios park seems apt for this group.

It's well known the Disney company keeps an close eye online, and more than a few times the immediate and unsparingly honest feedback for their latest offerings has resulted in refinements, reworkings and even the rare shutdown of a show or ride. But the gushing DoM fan postings supporting a product that is of a lower quality than what Disney should offer get monitored too - and more than a few times they have been used to try to convince the higher-ups that customers don't care or notice.

The people who care about quality at Disney are very encouraged by the sea change in management at the company, from Iger on down. Unlike the latter of the two decades under Eisner, or the 10 years with Pressler there is a lot being done right nowadays. But there are still those DoM postings that get printed out by those more concerned about budgets or cutbacks that worry some of the folks spearheading the renaissance going on right now. Walt Disney World in particular suffers from the incredible amount of damage these DoMs can inflict - those little salvos praising the poorest quality shows or attractions can hold back those who want to improve the offerings out there.

How can those who care be helped? All they ask is that if you see a DoM posting making excuses for a botched product or service, that you take a few moments to respond to it. Take a minute to post how important the higher standards Disney is usually known for justify their premium pricing, and that the best quality product is important to you. It doesn't need in any way to be a putdown, it just needs to be honest about what can be done better.

It can give those who care a weapon (in the form of a counterpoint) in their quest to up the quality of what the Mouse offers. And even DoMs will ultimately benefit by getting a better product that they can gush even more about."

[2099net]

Well, 'Bod's single-handedly obliterated any posts that could be considered "DoM"s regarding the Princess DTV line of DVDs. His bile could cause any Disney forum monitor to choke over his keyboard.

Seriously, I don't see much of an issue. Forums are for opinons, and this forum seems to have a balanced set. Some people like stuff that isn't quite perfect. Some people even like it because it isn't quite perfect. Who are we, or anyone else to say that they're wrong?

[reyquila]

All I can say is: I'm buying!!!

[ichabod]

All I can say is: I'm buying!!!

I guess we all know who king of the DOMs is.

There are also plenty of DOMs on screen partner and co bungalow inhabitants around too. DICKs.

(The above is a joke I doubt anyone living outside the UK will get)

[Disney Duster]

Well, 'Bod's single-handedly obliterated any posts that could be considered "DoM"s regarding the Princess DTV line of DVDs. His bile could cause any Disney forum monitor to choke over his keyboard.

I was going to mention him, and say basically what you said! But in actuality, those DVDs were a step UP from the even worse Princess DVDs with recycled animation or very (VERY) limited "animation". So the new DVDs actually had some good things going for it that Ichabod didn't care to notice, and it was obvious they tried with those DVDs, not to mention it's hard to animate humans.

Anyway, I also agree with Netty that there is a balance here, but I think everyone except Reyquila (Come on reyquila, not everything Disney makes is good!) can realize when they could get something better. Most people seem to agree on what the best and worst Platinum Editions are, because they have Snow White and Aladdin to compare to the rest.

[Barbossa]

All I can say is: I'm buying!!!

lol

[Jules]

All I can say is: I'm buying!!!

lol

It's not so funny actually. It should give you the creeps.

Incidentally, I couldn't help thinking that ichabod's Disney Debates thread about redubbing Snow White might give Disney ideas. That is off-topic, I know - but I thought I should mention it in this context. You never know ... ichabod may be mistaken for a DOM. [/b]

[reyquila]

lol

It's not so funny actually. It should give you the creeps.

Incidentally, I couldn't help thinking that ichabod's Disney Debates thread about redubbing Snow White might give Disney ideas. That is off-topic, I know - but I thought I should mention it in this context. You never know ... ichabod may be mistaken for a DOM. [/b]

Definition of DOM: adj. Someone who goes to the Disney Park once a year and buys Disney movies and merchandise. Opposite of IWDSAGTTPBICNDITIAE

Definition of IWDSAGTTPBICNDITIAE: I Want Disney Stuff And Go To The Parks But I Can Not Do It, Thus I Am Envious!!

[Jules]

reyquila! You bad, bad boy! Are you calling me a IWDSAGTTPBICNDITIAE!?

Do you seriously think a person's values can be measured by how many times they visit DisneyLand? No, I've never been to a Disney theme park. For that matter I've never been to any theme park. But then, who knows what the future may hold?

No more Portrait Series avatars for you, that's for sure.

Now if you act nice, I might reconsider your punishment.

[Escapay]

who knows what the future may hold?

Bubble transportation, insta-buildings, and meatball cannons. I finally saw Meet the Robinsons! Gotta love when Mom 'n' Pop video stores stocks titles two weeks pre-release date!

Anyway, I'm not a DOM, nor am I a IWDSAGTTPBICNDITIAE. I'm an ESCAPAY: Extremely Silly Commentator Always Preferring Apples, Yum!

I'm also a bit of an ICHABOD: Indefatigable Critic Hugely Annoyed By mediOcre* Disney.

Scaps
*This was the best way to say mediocre. I originally wanted to use "Offensively Mediocre", but there's no such thing as an ICHABOMD.

[Flanger-Hanger]

Well escapy, I'm Flanger-Hanger, that means F:Fuzzy L:Like a N:New G:green E:eel R:robot, dash, H:happy A:and N: new G:green E:eel R:robot.

Getting back on topic, Al Lutz has some good points, but they lost in his rants most of the time. Theme Parks in the US have been putting out a bad thing for every good thing in my opinion and compared to the Tokyo parks, the really are allot lower in quality. Having said that i still have allot fun at WDW (more than he ever will) and it is getting out of it's downward spiral (revamping old atractions, changing stale old shows), but very slowly I might add.