I don’t really see a problem with that. I wouldn’t do it myself–I have my own agenda and products to push with my weblog–but if it’s clearly labeled, what’s the big deal?

I apparently need to get over this cold before I do any more thinking, or posting, about this.

To me, this sounds like #3.

The fact is, we don’t know exactly what he’s planning:

1. A personal blog that acts like honest opinion but is really paid to say certain things? (evil.)

2. A company sponsored PR blog about the company with an independent voice? (not evil. It’s what Scoble does, right?)

3. A personal blog with occasional advertorials? (not evil, if they’re labeled as such)

Frankly, maybe I’m dim, but I didn’t understand which (if any) of these Marc is planning. So maybe we should wait until it actually appears before we attack it.

My opinion is simply this: if we know it’s an advertisement, it’s OK, whether it’s an occasional thing or an entire weblog of nonstop advertisement. If an advertisement tries to masquerade as something else–journalism, or personal opinion, or potato salad–it’s ethically questionable, and more importantly, it won’t work. Just ask all of the companies that have started fake blogs to create “buzz” and have been called on it.

There are a few others in that search (about 20, but you and I are in there as well so subtract a couple from your current total).