The following is an open-letter to PR blogging consultant, B.L. Ochman. It also goes out to anyone else we may have similarly offended in the last year.

Now, to our boldly unapologetic fans, as you know, apologies are all the rage presently. We momentarily succumb; bear with us. Steve Rubel just demonstrated their effectiveness with the PC Magazine incident. For what it's worth, a simple gesture got him outta trouble, likely saved his job, and resulted in a whole lotta traffic to his website. We were subsequently inspired.

Anyway, with Rubel's selfless sincerity in mind, here goes:

Dear Ms. Ochman,

Six months ago, in a private conversation, I was not very patient with you. As you recall, in a moment of frustration, I responded to you in kind and was totally insensitive to matters of propriety and decorum. As you recently reminded me (in a quasi-related discussion re: Rubel's loose lips), I had called you a vulgarism synonymous with the vaginal orifice. Regrettably, I then characterized that innocent body part as being... well... stupid. Underscoring that poor word choice, you ironically then posted our private conversation to your blog.

That taught me a valuable lesson. Post too fast without providing context can elicit an unintended response. While my comment was accurate technically, it absolutely does not reflect my complete devotion to and respect for... genitalia.

B.L., for the record, I am a big fan of yours, as well. Your book "What Could Your Company Do with a Blog?" has been a huge inspiration to me personally. As you are well aware, we've dedicated countless hours also telling companies where they can stick blogs.

Our admiration doesn't just stop there. Nothing compares to our awe with regard to your work on Just for Men Hair Color and Miracle-Gro Plant Food, both of which are now widely recognized for having forever changed the PR business. And if that's not enough, Oprah three times for Rent-a-Kvetch? C’mon. Not to mention your tireless dedication to Benny the Labradoodle. Frankly, your reputation sits and speaks for itself.

That said, let me assure you, I absolutely recognize your public relations "expertise" as much as anyone... maybe more.

More importantly, please understand that while my occasional off-color opinions might reflect the majority here, we are independent thinkers each and every anonymous one of us.

Lastly, as vacuous blog consulting is oddly thriving; do know that the audiences that you and yours reach are very important to us. Without you, there would be no Strumpette.

BL, I feel bad that you continue to harbor ill will as a result of my offhanded remark. Please accept this apology. Let's move forward.

Sincerely,

Amanda Chapel
Managing Editor
Strumpette