After yesterday's post on how the best analogy for software design is gene splicing, Michelle pointed me to perhaps one of the saddest marketing ideas ever... The Lotus Notes "But Bull Duck", brought to you by the kind folks at IBM.

I am NOT making this up.

For some reason that I can only attribute to a prolonged lack of fiber, the Lotus folks at IBM decided to put together an online ad campaign about how wonderful Lotus Notes 8 is... Hosted at createsimplicity.com, it allows you to design your own unholy cross-breeds of different animals, and save them to your desktop... each has a different name when you download it. My favorite? The "But Bull Duck".

Apparently the new motto is unify and simplify.

Ummmm... I'm all for unification and simplicity... and I do appreciate the idea that the best analogy for software design is gene splicing... but comparing Lotus Notes to the "But Bull Duck" might not be the best way to get new customers... nor is it the best way to demonstrate to your existing customer base that its time to upgrade. In all likelihood, the "But Bull Duck" will make them think your software is awkward and bizarre.

Viral marketing, or truth in advertising? You choose.