I wonder . . ..

[Schadenfreude]

From Penny Arcade;

I actually hired a company called Hype Council (http://www.hypecouncil.com). These guys do a TON of gaming related stuff -- I actually wouldn't be surprised if it's the company referred to in your news post. Their technique is quite insidious. Let's say they were hired to pump up PA (not like you need the buzz, but whatever...). Using one of the hundreds of shill accounts they have across the net, they post a new thread that says something like "hey guys, I've been looking for some new web comics to read. Anybody have any recommendations?" This is non-threatening, and gets the community engaged. They then wait a couple days and post again, this time with "Well, I asked some friends and they suggested I check out Penny Arcade <insert link>. I thought it was pretty funny, although I didn't like all the cuss words. What do you guys think?" Again, seeking engagement, they now have stealthily inserted the client's link, thereby encouraging trial. It's all very measurable and very effective. You should see the monthly reports you get from these guys: everything is detailed. Spooky.
It's all very insidious and, I'm sure, widespread. So much so that I don't trust anything I read. Unless it's a board where I "know" the posters, I always assume everyone on the board is a shill.

So you think there's a few plants on ATOT? I don't mean the blatant black-guy usericon spam, but you think someone set up a user account, posts a few times, and in reality is a plant?

 

[Phoenix15]

Careful, you may already know too much!

 

[Agnostos Insania]

This has been mentioned before, even stickied in some of the forums here. I am absolutely certain a popular site such as AT would have these shills.

 

[pyonir]

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: Jehovah
From Penny Arcade;

I actually hired a company called Hype Council (http://www.hypecouncil.com). These guys do a TON of gaming related stuff -- I actually wouldn't be surprised if it's the company referred to in your news post. Their technique is quite insidious. Let's say they were hired to pump up PA (not like you need the buzz, but whatever...). Using one of the hundreds of shill accounts they have across the net, they post a new thread that says something like "hey guys, I've been looking for some new web comics to read. Anybody have any recommendations?" This is non-threatening, and gets the community engaged. They then wait a couple days and post again, this time with "Well, I asked some friends and they suggested I check out Penny Arcade <insert link>. I thought it was pretty funny, although I didn't like all the cuss words. What do you guys think?" Again, seeking engagement, they now have stealthily inserted the client's link, thereby encouraging trial. It's all very measurable and very effective. You should see the monthly reports you get from these guys: everything is detailed. Spooky.
It's all very insidious and, I'm sure, widespread. So much so that I don't trust anything I read. Unless it's a board where I "know" the posters, I always assume everyone on the board is a shill.

So you think there's a few plants on ATOT? I don't mean the blatant black-guy usericon spam, but you think someone set up a user account, posts a few times, and in reality is a plant?

:shocked:

You're a plant!

 

[HN]

shills, viral marketing, grass roots marketing

all very widely used and you just have to be smart enough to weed out the crap.

 

[Nikamichi]

Originally posted by: Agnostos Insania
This has been mentioned before, even stickied in some of the forums here. I am absolutely certain a popular site such as AT would have these shills.

Oh yeah, a certain Video forum rings a bell.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Nikamichi

Originally posted by: Agnostos Insania
This has been mentioned before, even stickied in some of the forums here. I am absolutely certain a popular site such as AT would have these shills.

Oh yeah, a certain Video forum rings a bell.

Fair and Balanced my ass.

 

[musicman87]

I saw a forum with marthastewart.com in a post. you should check it out...

 

[myusername]

Ultimately I'm not sure it matters with the instantaniety (word?) of the internet. A shill with a couple thousand posts is unlikely, but even so, if the link is to someplace that sucks, everyone who clicks through and sees this will never click there again. If it's actually a useful site/product, well then who cares how you found out about it? Any regulars of a forum would be able to find a "forum consensus" if they were around long enough or searched deep enough.

For example, I don't even have an AV loaded on my computer, but I can tell you: Norton sucks, Mcaffee sucks less, AVG is free and adequate, F-secure and Kapersky are the shiznit, NOD is a good dark horse ...

If someone with 2000 posts comes in and says to someone asking about AV, "Hey, check out StevezViruzScanner.com it's the best!" I know that despite 2000 posts the user is either a complete idiot or a shill. Or since it's OT, maybe he's just trying to ****** with the OP. I know this, despite having no actual knowledge about virii, scanners, or having any trade reviews, simply because I have absorbed this information from this forum over time.

Anyway

 

[badmouse]

Oh, who cares. Considering that a lot of people on ATOT are faking it, or making up stories, or whatever - heck, that's what i come here to enjoy! - somebody deliberately shilling would be right at home here.

A more important question is, do you actually trust recommendations from the average poster here? I take them with a grain or 2 of salt. Unless they're funny, in which case I say Bring It On.