Originally posted by Starpower

Common place wasn't used. I belive it was "many"

For something I once got warned for (just mentioning the word 'shill').

Can I get my warning retracted (redacted?) ya'll?

I don't think there is much that can be done about it to be honest.

I'm guessing some of the mmorpg writers have various incentives at any given time.  Just look at Poklkets history, especially in regards to Star Wars.

Originally posted by Drakynn

I doubt however that most of the popel who get calle dor thought of a shills here actually are.I think the shills would be more subtle than the fanatical posters that evangicalize games tend to be,.In this case it doesn't defy occam's razor that there are shills but it does defy it that everyone that doesn't agree with you is a shill.

Occam's would be that "paid conpirist" is a more complicated explanation that "just another fanboy".

You don't need to believe in faerie magic for technology to work.

Originally posted by bcbully

Looking back on this past year on mmorpg.com, I can't help but think some of our former members (maybe current) were infact "shills". 

 

This is a quick google search on paid paid forum posters. They seem to be in high demand. 

 

The University of Chicago estimates 1/3 of reviews have some sort of financial incentive. 

 

Here is an actual add form a company looking for posters

We'd like posters who'll be able to make at least 20 posts a day; the more the better. 

Skills required: 
1. Have excellent written English skills and can interact with the users of the forum you are asked to post on. 
2. Have excellent research skills as you’ll have to research about a particular thread topic before you post a reply to it. 
3. Ability to read and understand something and write about it in their own words. 
Payment will be on Net-30 basis and we'll pay based on performance. 

 

My questions are do you think this is going on within our community? If so, how do we spot them?

What do we do when we spot them? 

Is it possible to prove that they are "shills"? 

Can our forum sites do anything about them?

 

Lastly, and most important, how has this affected the mmorpg industry?

What a laugh. You honestly think a third of all posters are paid? If you go by what Universities say, well, I'd say you really need to wake up. How often do they change what they say? How often is what they say not 100%? I'm sure you can answer these questions yourself. We'll leave it at that :)

Originally posted by Razperil

What a laugh. You honestly think a third of all posters are paid? If you go by what Universities say, well, I'd say you really need to wake up. How often do they change what they say? How often is what they say not 100%? I'm sure you can answer these questions yourself. We'll leave it at that :)

 

Well the U.S.A. Today ranks the University of Chicago as the 4th best college in the country..., but I'm sure you don't "go by what they say" either huh?

 Those are fake google listings too, right? I will go with the researchers on this one. Thank for you thoughts though.

Honestly, I don't see it as much of a problem for the industry.  All they are doing is injecting advertising into a media channel, and media channels in general are already packed with ads.  Of course the practice hurts companies that sell advertising, but that's not on topic.

If I'm not likely to buy a game, I honestly doubt a shill poster would influence my decision.  I already don't believe the advertising because I worked in commercial broadcasting and know how bogus it can be.  Even a perfect pitch from a shill means nothing to me if the pitch obviously contradicts reality, and they usually do.

Originally posted by grimal

OP - Weren't you on Funcom's payroll during TSW launch?

I'm just kidding. 

I've noticed some suspicious poster(s) this past year.  I don't think we can do anything about it.

 FTC got a law passed a few years ago that applies to these types of situations.  If someone is endorsing a game and getting any kind of compensation they must state it.

Originally posted by waynejr2

Originally posted by grimal

OP - Weren't you on Funcom's payroll during TSW launch?

I'm just kidding. 

I've noticed some suspicious poster(s) this past year.  I don't think we can do anything about it.

 FTC got a law passed a few years ago that applies to these types of situations.  If someone is endorsing a game and getting any kind of compensation they must state it.

Really? So this is illegal?

Originally posted by NBlitz

Originally posted by apocoluster
(...) Job is a job yall.  (...)

Hear, hear.

This was a common view expressed during the Nuremberg trials, as well.  I wouldn't put being a forum shill on the same level, of course. Same principle, though.

Originally posted by Drakynn

Originally posted by Icewhite

Originally posted by Starpower

It has been confirmed by the mods.. End of discussion

That they exist?  Or that they are commonplace?

I believe this is in reference to

Originally posted by Amana
We do have a rule against advertising on these forums and we find and ban shills frequently. If you guys want to continue this discussion, please do not discuss current or past posters on this site. And definitely not by name. Thanks.

Which does seem to be confrimation.

I doubt however that most of the popel who get calle dor thought of a shills here actually are.I think the shills would be more subtle than the fanatical posters that evangicalize games tend to be,.In this case it doesn't defy occam's razor that there are shills but it does defy it that everyone that doesn't agree with you is a shill.

The "logical" conclusion to paranoid reasoning. ^^^^^^^^^

Sooner or later the game that is being talked about on the thread will speak for itself. I always suspect shills, especially on sites like amazon etc where you see glowing reviews and then you check the reviewer's other posts and find out he or she is 5 starring the same company's products.  

also, i notice in here, when the first responder comments in a certain way, the rest tend to follow the thinking of that first comment -- i guess because they want to feel like they are 'included'.  I always enjoy seeing somebody taking their own stand, regardless of the previous posts.  And that is one way that we can all fight the shills --- use your OWN opinion and don't glom off of other's ideas. 

Originally posted by XAPGames

All they are doing is injecting advertising into a media channel, and media channels in general are already packed with ads.  Of course the practice hurts companies that sell advertising, but that's not on topic.

That is a genuinely interesting point.  Sites like this one that are trying to make money by selling advertisements need for marketers to put their money into buying ads from sites like this one rather than putting it into paying shills.  I don't know how that plays out in what they'll do in the real world about it, but they certainly have stronger incentives to hate paid shills than random gamers do.

Originally posted by PWN_FACE

Originally posted by NBlitz

Originally posted by apocoluster
(...) Job is a job yall.  (...)

Hear, hear.

This was a common view expressed during the Nuremberg trials, as well.  I wouldn't put being a forum shill on the same level, of course. Same principle, though.

Too far, sir, too far.

Originally posted by allendale5

Sooner or later the game that is being talked about on the thread will speak for itself. I always suspect shills, especially on sites like amazon etc where you see glowing reviews and then you check the reviewer's other posts and find out he or she is 5 starring the same company's products.  

Generally I think shills only have a minor influence anyway. As above, sooner or later the game will start talking. But lol, I like these "Reds Under the Beds"  threads. Propaganda is usually too narrow to be interesting anyway.

If you suspect another user is shilling on our forums (and its not blatantly obvious), please e-mail me at mikeb AT mmorpg DOT com with any evidence you have and I'll look into it. If it's extremely obvious, just report it and our moderators will take care of it.

Thanks!