Can we please get a shill check?

[Pulsar]

I don't mean to be overly paranoid, but can we get a shill check on the three posters with the default avatar and low (5, 1 and 1) post counts?

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2313163&enterthread=y

It seems just a little odd to me that one is the CEO, another links to the site itself, etc. The posts were quite a ways a part, but the last thing anyone needs are shills recommending their own product...

 

[DrPizza]

A shill is someone who pretends not to be associated with a particular company and promotes that company while on that company's payroll. It's possible that this description fits the first two; especially the 2nd one. However, the third of that trio doesn't fit the definition of a shill. He claims he's from the company and seems to legitimately be answering a couple questions/points. I think it's beneficial for members here when company representatives come here & answer questions for posters, providing they're providing honest answers.

Hopefully one of the other moderators with more experience in that area can look into it further; but the first 2 of those posters haven't returned. I'm not sure if a lot of companies really understand one point though: if those first two were shills for the company (and even if they weren't), that company needs to realize that things like that make them look bad. There are a lot of websites that are attempting to do search engine optimizations by posting legitimate looking replies in threads here. When that happens, not only is the poster banned, but often, the website names end up on the censored list here. I had searched for one yesterday to verify that it was just spam; I searched by the username. That particular URL had been removed from many forums where it had been spammed - people are getting smarter about these things. I just hope google is able to adjust the system by which it ranks websites - I'm tired of the first 30 hits being crap.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I just hope google is able to adjust the system by which it ranks websites - I'm tired of the first 30 hits being crap.

Amen :thumbsup:

 

[Pulsar]

I second the feeling regarding google's post count.

I mod on another site, and I figured a quick IP address check would tell the tale as to whether they were the same poster or not. Thanks Pizza!

 

[DrPizza]

That was the first thing I did - IP checks. Not the same IP. (That doesn't mean it's not the same person.)

 

[thepd7]

seems pretty genuine, I agree the first and second posters are fishy but I don't know why the third would reveal himself if the company was looking to shill. At the very least they didn't start the thread and a rep came in and is answering questions, seems pretty beneficial overall.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
That was the first thing I did - IP checks. Not the same IP. (That doesn't mean it's not the same person.)

What do the IPs resolve too....

 

[JEDIYoda]

actually IP checks are all well and good.
But if you figure in public libraries and inbternet cafes what with various companies that provide internet access I would be more concerned when the IP traces back to...
Thus establishing at least a known geographic area.

Just my 2 cents worth!