I’m on the HARO listserv, but I skip his self-serving intro paragraphs. They’re not even very good ads. Plus, I’ve noticed (since he sold out to Vocus), that the quality of the queries have gotten steadily worse.

Even on his blog, if you constructively criticize something he says, there are hundreds of people willing to jump on the sword to protect him. I just don’t get it.

He may know a lot about social media and promoting oneself and one’s brand, but he comes across as a giant jerk.

He HATES criticism and makes veiled and not so veiled threats.

He’ll ban you from HARO from criticism.

He’ll wise-guy you, like the above (which is completely inappropriate).

Try to start a competitor to HARO. The nasty e-mails, threats etc only get worse.

This guy is a fraud, pure and simple. He puts this “happy, smiley, Karma” crap up front, but is a complete jerk behind the scenes.

There are MANY people with stories just like these, and I’m glad a brave few are willing to speak up. Plain and simple, Peter abuses his power and has such a stranglehold over the industry that 99.99999% of people are scared to speak ANY criticism against him.

As noted, he’ll call his “henchman” and friends (some on payroll) to bombard critics with nasty and unprofessional e-mails and comments.

This guy has his head up his ass and a lot of lips stuck to his butt cheeks.

And yes I’m bitter and pissed, but ONLY because I know the charade he puts on, and am angry that other people don’t know (the above excluded and a few other brave few).

Great piece, Jim.

“…and then he called you a pompous twitter and a pasty-faced weasel. That’s right, a pasty-faced weasel. Those were Jon’s exact words. What? Right, I meant Jim, the Moorethink guy, whatever. Another cocktail?”