A new warning for those who would post shill reviews
Posted By Mike Orren in Square Pegs on July 15, 2009
Longtime readers know that a crusade near and dear to our hearts is illuminating, if not eliminating "shill" reviews where it is clear that a business (often a restaurant) is posting multiple reviews from the same computer in order to make their place sound better than it (usually) is. We've even brought in special video guests to help make the point.
Maybe this will finally help stem the tide: A fake review shill for a plastic surgeon in New York just settled a case with the state for $300,000.
(And in the "even I am not up on all the latest terminology" file, the practice is called "astroturfing.")
Travis Bush says:
Special Guest video not available, Mike...
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4 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jason Rice says:
Astroturfing is broad - usually trying to fake "grassroots"....
like say you formed a "task force" to rename a wheelbarrow after a marginally known billiards hustler from Tuscon-- or some other Arizona town... and then propped it up with huge dollars from say a large multinational political machine --- with all licenses, domain names and copyright held by your Aunt Myrna from Ft. Lauderdale -- with a sudden temporary apartment in the neighborhood being railroaded.
Yeah - pisses me off when that happens
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4 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Rawlins Gilliland says:
I thought 'Astroturfing' was when you're making out on miniature golf courses.
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4 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren says:
Yeah, Travis-- It looks like the shortened version has been killed, but if you click on the YouTube link, you can watch it.
Staff
4 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Chris Kidd says:
Now, if we can quit posting every tom, dick, and harrys press releases, it'll be good times for all...
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4 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jason Rice says:
When "Reviewers" leave out details like .... partial ownership or cohabitation status with the "geniuses" they are reviewing, what's the best way to expose that? (Yeah, a very recent one pops to mind, but decorum forbids...)
We tend to devolve pretty quickly into catfights. What's the best policy, Miko?
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ch0 says:
Ah, those Yosts are at it again, are they? We'll fix em, but good!
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4 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jason Rice says:
Well, sure we could take exception to them.... but they ARE as cool as they tell us they are.
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Travis Bush says:
And NOT from PLANO..
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Mike Orren says:
Jason, best to send us an email at customerservice@pegasusnews.com alerting us to the situation. I can assure you that we're not willfully running reviews that lack transparency on issues like that.
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4 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal