You know companies have their PR people troll websites and support them right?

[franzia99]

There are companies that pay people to troll websites like internet message boards and pretend to be regular folk supporting their cause. I saw this exposed on another website, so just wanted to bring it to everyone's attention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing

Astroturfing is a form of propaganda whose techniques usually consist of a few people attempting to give the impression that mass numbers of enthusiasts advocate some specific cause. In the UK this technique is better known as "rent-a-crowd" after the successful "rent-a-crate" business.

Lifestyle Lift was charged a $300,000 penalty by the State of New York for anonymous positive reviews about the company in Internet message boards and other Web sites<73>

In 2010 the organization "BalancedCopyright for Canada" made use of blogs, Facebook and Twitter in an Astroturfing effort to influence the adoption of Bill C-32, Canada's "Digital Economy Strategy" by making it appear the bill had widespread public appeal.<79>

In 2011 it was revealed that HBGary Federal was contracted by the U.S. government to develop astroturfing software to manipulate and sway public opinion on controversial issues. This software could also scan for people with points of view the powers-that-be didn't like and then have the "fake" profiles attempt to discredit those "real" people.<80>

[avaistheone1]

1. Unfortunately even our own government does it.

I think that should be illegal.

[Bluebear]

2. Politicians do too!

[woo me with science]

3. LOL. You don't say. nf

[OffWithTheirHeads]

4. sadly, this sort of crap has been going on for ages by both sides

I remember a protest we had against the Vietnam War at Deloris Park in San Francisco. The protest promoters kept telling us that the Greatful Dead were comming. Well, the Greatful Dead probably never heard of us and were definatly NOT comming but there you were.

Sorry, you have to use your brain to filter out the bullshit.

[dreamnightwind]

18. Sounds like you don't understand the point of the OP

since I see nothing similar in your anecdote, and the false equivalence thing really irks.

The astro-turfing efforts of corporations and their minions is not balanced by an equal and similar army of phony anti-corporatist post-bots imposing their socialist agenda on everyone. So I don't get the "both sides do it" thing here at all.

Also, it's Grateful Dead, maybe you've heard of them, at least spell their name right, geez.

[dreamnightwind]

19. Too late to edit, but sarcasm?

edited to add:
Oh man, did I miss an implied sarcasm tag in your post (OffWithYourHead)? If so I apologize, still not sure though.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

22. Yeah, that's the problem with this type of communication.

A simple thought can be interpreted so many ways when you can't hear the voice inflections or see the facial expressions.
Peace

[dreamnightwind]

27. OK

I've seen posts more ridiculous than this that weren't sarcasm, so some way to distinguish the two would be nice. No worries though, I'll try to remember you handle to avoid the mistake, should be easy enough.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

29. That would be "your handle" not you handle. Just sayin

Typing on an i-pad is a bitch.

So,
We are at peace?
Bud

[dreamnightwind]

30. Absolutely! nt

[OffWithTheirHeads]

21. My, aren't you the little scold.

[Iggo]

5. You mean all those folks weren't just real happy with their Toyotas?

;-)

[999998th word]

7. And A.L.E.C. +AFP +++have a staff of PR hired specifically to scrub Wiki..

for what its worth.Clean up the Koch bros rep.,skew references re: left wing issues etc...

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[upi402]

8. Ah yep

Sure seems that way to me too

[wickerwoman]

9. Apple© would never do such a thing.

Apple© only wants you to be happy.

Now watch the angry birdie...

[fascisthunter]

15. Microsoft too

just go to one of their forums

[Countdown_3_2_1]

10. Drink a Pepsi. Relax. Its not as bad as you think.

[Kurovski]

25. Drink a Coke.

Nazis and child molesters prefer Pepsi.

[Ohio Joe]

26. Real Americans drink RC Cola

Nonoe of that commie stuff :P

[Kurovski]

28. Scientists have shown that RC Cola results in 30% more spelling errors by those who drink it.

That, and the testicle withering in male consumers.

[canetoad]

11. Imagine a world

where people were not so desperate for approval, belonging, identification, that they refused to sign up for any of this shit.

You'd pick the trolls because they would be the only ones spending their onlife life shilling....

[hootinholler]

12. Funny that Name Removed would post on this thread. n/t

:rofl:

[raccoon]

13. K&R. nt

[fascisthunter]

14. oh yeah.... you can usually tell who they are

the smart ones try to blend in.

[spanone]

16. the nuclear industry had several people here on d.u. defending all thing nuclear

right after fukishima....then they all magically disappeared

[Zorra]

17. Yes. Unfortunately, it's a suckers market and some people buy into their conservative crap. nt

[Curmudgeoness]

20. The PR trolls don't last long here at DU from what I see.

They get called on it all the time. And good for us.

[yawnmaster]

23. And, importantly, it gives us someone to blame for an opinion we don't agree with! eom

[Odin2005]

24. I bet there are several here defending Obama's corporatist policies.