As important as it is to us to receive a steady stream of supportive comments (always HUGELY appreciated), it's also fun and interesting to get roasted from time to time by people who think we are wasting huge amounts of time and resources on being Hollywood gadflies. Just so everyone knows, regardless of what you think of the celebrity-packed Ocean Symphony PSA, the fact is it aired over 15,000 times around the country and generated over 2000 requests for SB Action Kits from the Ocean Conservancy which was pretty stunningly successful. We have our own sets of complaints about having to exploit celebrities for the mass communications, but there is no denying they are a huge help, are very generous to assist us for free, and are genuinely concerned about the issue.
SB CRITIC #1 (from South Carolina)
I understand your electing to go to Hollywood to get spokespersons, however, I personally view most of the Hollywood types as extreme liberals looking for another activist bandwagon to jump on. I personally refuse to watch any movie with Geena Davis, Susan Serandon, Alex Baldwin, Bette Midler, and several others as actors/ actresses.
I am a diver, recreational fisherman, a US Coast Guard Certified Captain, and own a construction company that as one of its venues is Marine construction. I am aware of the problems that you are trying to bring to our attention. But, I think more people like me would pay more attention to you if you used real people that are involved with the resource. Like fishermen, divers, charter boat captains, Dive vessel crew and captains, etc.
Take Tred Barta, a contributing writer to Sportfishing magazine. Most people love or hate him, not many in the middle. But no one can refute his experience- 20 plus years as a charter boat Captain. If he tells you something, and it has to do with the normal life of a Charter boat Captain, believe it.
I have no knowledge of any of the persons in your PSA video actually WORKING in the marine field. I would guess many of them own a boat, likely a large one, but not many actually run it themselves. They probably know very little about the ocean other than what you have told them.
Charter Captains and divers know the surface as well as the sea floor. I dove just this past Saturday on a wreck off the East Coast with a school of bait fish that was so dense that it blocked out the sun. How neat.
Anyway, get your message out, but staying away from Hollywood might be
a better way to do it.
SB CRITIC #2 (from Arizona)
Liked your concept of educating the public about the eroding Pacific coastline. I found your website a bit "too Hollywood" with the group photos of stars.
Less emphasis on the Hollwood types who are involved with the project and more emphasis on the scientists involved and why they think the project is important would help. Outside of the LA area the rest of the country is not obsessed with celebrities. We want good scientific information; that is what makes a website useful and educational.