The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity ~ Andre Gide
{image credit: Rudy Bachraty}
I read this post over at the Animal Farm blog and had to laugh. Here’s a fellow who regularly accuses the NAR of being a criminal organization and hopes NAR’s new Social Media Director, Todd Carpenter, “will discover he has made a terrible mistake and quit this job with dispatch”.
This advice comes from a paper tiger mafioso hitman who brandishes the NAR’s powerful trademark to consumers, and pushes his assorted alphabet soup of NAR designations to strong arm clients into paying, for their own protection, a card carrying graduate of the Realtor Institute, criminality and conspiracy notwithstanding. Holy crap in a hand basket.
Look, man, if you believe this is a criminal organization, why are you pushing their dope to the public. Perhaps you ought quit with dispatch. And don’t give me that two wrongs don’t make a right turn hooey.
This seems like a good place to rerun the following post from 2007, originally titled NAR Bashing or Some Hot Air Bloweth: (I have embellished where the whim moved me).
I am not a member of NAR. But I’ve noticed one of the hounderati bashing them big time, wanting to replace their logo with anything from a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval to a People’s Choice Award. This anarchist- objectivist even wants to abolish state licensing; he says it’s a criminal conspiracy by the government. Oh, brother!
I certainly stand up for this rabid rouser’s right to complain and advocate change. Heck, there may some basis for his gripes (except for the conspiracy theory. That’s either Oliver Stone hype or naivete.) But what’s a morally principled, yet disgruntled, real estate agent to do about it?
I say he should honorably and loudly quit the NAR gang. Why not? (I hear they gave up stomping folks when they passed the Code of Ethics). He claims he does not need the vendors or the NAR– that the Brave New Web 2.0 World has unchained him to do business without the Boojum. Oh really? Methinks your foam runneth over. In other words, I call “bullshit”.
Truth is — besides cashing in on the NAR brand and designations, he does need the NAR for the MLS access and will pay the Man his dues to get it, like a good little pup who wants to be fed. It’s completely understandable and easy enough to rationalize.
BUT there is one thing I don’t get.
If this fellow advocates NAR’s overthrow (via supplantation), why does he promote the NAR brand on his website and advertise his NAR affiliate designations? Why does he call himself a Realtor (in listing presentations? signs) instead of just a licensed real estate broker? Why promote the criminal brand you bash?
Could money have something to do with it? Surely you are capable of earning a living without having to pimp the NAR brand. Perhaps one should compromise his principles for a buck and a bone. Principles ought not get in the way of pay checks — if the criminals give you a living, you might as well take it. So bark the good bark and feel better, Sir Windbag. But we’ll expect to see you again on the street corners flashing the mark of the harlot.
It’s a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham. (Fielding Mellish, Bananas)
As an outsider, it looks like you are peddling the NAR brand, Mr. Swann to get listings and clients. Some might call that a tad hypocritical. Hey, I don’t care, I have no stake in the NAR. It’s your choice to use the NAR trademark to hustle business.
You joined the club. But, unlike a motorcycle gang member, you DON’T have to wear the NAR colors. That’s YOUR choice. You are not required to admit your membership in the shady club. You publicly call NAR a blood sucker. Might you be the one sucking in clients, using the NAR brand as bait? It’s easy to bash NAR when you use them to pay your bills.
A Moral Imperative: Drop the NAR trademark
Lest you think me harsh in my opinion of your moral hypocrisy, I offer you a principled solution— which makes this post, in the end, one of constructive criticism.
If you are indeed serious about your beliefs and want to convince others you are serious — then truly take more than a stand— take action. Talk is cheap. Put your money where your dog chow is.
Big bark, no bite.
Take the NAR logo off your site and don’t use it, or its designations, in your advertising or listing presentations. If you don’t believe in the value of the brand, don’t push it to dupe consumers. If you think NAR is a cartel, divorce yourself from it, in spirit, mind and body. For your good works, wearing the NAR colors, only serve to build the NAR brand in the eyes of your clients.
If the designations are bogus, don’t bullshit the consumer by flashing them. Don’t accept the blood money the vampire (your term) takes from the unsuspecting public (your terms). Stop cashing in on the Realtor cachet. That would get my attention. Not only that, it would also bring attention to your cause. You’d probably make the evening news. Then maybe you could effectuate real change (instead of chump change). Otherwise, it’s all just hot air. And I have no problem with that either. You can’t float your balloon without it.
NAR may be broken, but as a card carrying member, you might also consider taking an active leadership role to create change from within. Unless, of course, you believe you can do more from the comfort of your air-conditioned blog soapbox.
Related Post:
Licensing of Real Estate Agents is No Laughing Matter.
More Sellsius rants here.
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