The ultimate conspiracy theory

Did storage giant EMC intercept the e-mail correspondence of a professor whose research found a link between sexual arousal in men and a willingness to take financial risk? And was that information the basis for the reported practice of EMC salespeople taking clients to strip clubs? No, of course not. The very suggestion is absurd. But you name it, and somebody will suggest it.

In this case, the somebody is William Corcoran, an MIS director in Pennsylvania. Here's the full (lightly edited) text of a letter I received from Mr. Corcoran last Sunday:

Dear Mr. Tennant:

I wrote you in November whereby I felt an article you wrote cast EMC Corp. in an artificially good light. I was concerned about its treatment of women. You were kind enough to publish my letter in your December 17, 2007, issue of Computerworld. I made reference to a Wall Street Journal article that said some women at EMC were forced to attend strip clubs with their clients. At the time there was not a whole lot of banter about why EMC was bringing EMC clients with any EMC employees (male or female) to strip clubs in the first place. We all kind of just skipped over that part (wink, wink).

However, could it be that there was actually a method to EMC's madness? Not too unlike the cigarette companies using science to sell their products, was EMC simply using science in a similar manner? I am referring to an AP article published today on CNN.com. In summary, it says if you show men erotic pictures, they become less concerned about finances and risk-taking. Could it be that EMC knew that taking high-level corporate decision makers to strip clubs would lower their clients' defenses in order to obtain a wet signature on a multi-million dollar EMC sales and support contract?

The ultimate conspiracy theorist must also ask: Where did EMC gain this knowledge and understanding about this aspect of men's behavior? Was EMC tapping into private e-mails sent by the professor that developed this study? Is there a large e-mail provider that is using EMC products and services? Would EMC scan private customer data in order to obtain a competitive advantage?

Interesting. Very interesting. It would be even more interesting if this e-mail somehow does not make its way to your inbox.

Truly,

William L. Corcoran

It would also be interesting if the Apollo lunar landings never really happened because they were staged in a studio in New Mexico, or if Elvis were alive and living in a retirement community in Ft. Lauderdale. But there's plenty that's interesting within the realm of reality. I suggest we stay there.