Has MR been infiltrated?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-30-2010, 05:33 PM

In one of those wonderful cross-posting frenzies that MR and TeleRead frequently enjoy, a poll on MR led to a comment on TR, bringing up an alarming possibility. Sara, in commenting on the TR article about the MR poll (How has your spending been, post-Agency?), has suggested that there are Amazon spies hidden among our members, spreading feel-good corporate PR about their platform, bookseller or device of their choice.

Quote:

for several years marketers have infiltrated the net, secretly posting favorable commentary under the guise of unremunerated fandom. i think some of the sharp, quick, sustained replies to anti-publisher postings might be coming from publisher-hired guns.

Now, I ask you: Have you ever heard of such an outlandish thing in your life?

Bilbo1967 · 04-30-2010, 05:44 PM

Who are these Amazon spies?

Trust nobody!

Dusty Bottoms · 04-30-2010, 05:51 PM

Only one thing for it; we must take a sample of blood from each member of MR. We then apply heated metal to the samples. If the blood reacts violenty then we'll know....wait...that's the test for alien 'things'.

Oh and yes, I have heard of these types of people. They're used by all kinds of companies (spit) who want things to go 'viral' or gain some 'buzz'. They act like actual members of a community, but all they want to do is hype up products. Me, I place these kind of people a notch below literary agents, publshers and child molesters.

*Dusty Bottoms does not want to sell you anything. All opinions of Dusty Bottoms are the opinions of Moejoe, sort of, except it's Moejoe wearing a Sombrero.

LazyScot · 04-30-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Quote:

for several years marketers have infiltrated the net, secretly posting favorable commentary under the guise of unremunerated fandom. i think some of the sharp, quick, sustained replies to anti-publisher postings might be coming from publisher-hired guns.

Now, I ask you: Have you ever heard of such an outlandish thing in your life?

Never. I mean, come on. Publishers. Hiring someone?

Next they'll be saying we've got authors on the site hyping up their books...

Dusty Bottoms · 04-30-2010, 05:58 PM

We must immediately set up a Mcarthy type witch-hunt to roust these dirty-pinko-commie-witches from their hiding places. I've got dibs on being J. Edgar Hoover, because I look rather fetching in a dress.

poohbear_nc · 04-30-2010, 05:59 PM

Black list everyone who can't prove they look just like their avatar!!

Dusty Bottoms · 04-30-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Black list everyone who can't prove they look just like their avatar!!

Poohbear obviously works for Amazon!! I have proof. See, the mention of Avatar in the message? Avatar is available to buy in both DVD and Blu-Ray formats on Amazon...at low, incredibly low prices. What's more, with Amazon prime you can aggregate the costs of shipping across the year. Here at Amazon we reward customer loyalty. And if you want it fast? Well with Amazon, we can give it to you next day on thousands of our items. Amazon, where good price and.....oh crap! I've given myself away!

poohbear_nc · 04-30-2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty Bottoms

Poohbear obviously works for Amazon!! I have proof. See, the mention of Avatar in the message? Avatar is available to buy in both DVD and Blu-Ray formats on Amazon...at low, incredibly low prices. What's more, with Amazon prime you can aggregate the costs of shipping across the year. Here at Amazon we reward customer loyalty. And if you want it fast? Well with Amazon, we can give it to you next day on thousands of our items. Amazon, where good price and.....oh crap! I've given myself away!

You mean there's two of us???????????

You think anyone else noticed?

Dusty Bottoms · 04-30-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

You mean there's two of us???????????

You think anyone else noticed?

Shhhh...there's only fifty or sixty thousand members around here. I reckon we can get away with this. Meet me on the docks at midnight. 'Jeff' will also be there -- nudge nudge,

poohbear_nc · 04-30-2010, 06:08 PM

I'll be wearing the red carnation carrying Jeff's reading device (you can never say its name out loud!)

Dusty Bottoms · 04-30-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I'll be wearing the red carnation carrying Jeff's reading device (you can never say its name out loud!)

Well I'll be wearing a fancy Sombrero and carrying a guitar. Ole!

EDIT: On a more serious note, now that I look at some of the threads in news and general discussion, I see a pattern emerging. Damn you paranoia!!!

poohbear_nc · 04-30-2010, 06:15 PM

Not to worry! [Can you lean forward a little and speak clearly into my carnation?] I'm sure you're exaggerating!

rock · 04-30-2010, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Who are these Amazon spies?

Trust nobody!

For some reason as soon as I read this I thought of X-Files.

Deepthroat: "Trust no one"

ardeegee · 04-30-2010, 06:22 PM

Obvious balderdash.

poohbear_nc · 04-30-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Obvious balderdash.

Could you please repeat that into my carnation? Along with your full name, social security number, political affiliation, and number of shoes in your closet?

04-30-2010, 05:51 PM	#3
Dusty Bottoms Banned Posts: 187 Karma: 8178 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: None	Only one thing for it; we must take a sample of blood from each member of MR. We then apply heated metal to the samples. If the blood reacts violenty then we'll know....wait...that's the test for alien 'things'. Oh and yes, I have heard of these types of people. They're used by all kinds of companies (spit) who want things to go 'viral' or gain some 'buzz'. They act like actual members of a community, but all they want to do is hype up products. Me, I place these kind of people a notch below literary agents, publshers and child molesters. Dusty Bottoms does not want to sell you anything. All opinions of Dusty Bottoms are the opinions of Moejoe, sort of, except it's Moejoe wearing a Sombrero. Last edited by Dusty Bottoms; 04-30-2010 at 05:55 PM.*

04-30-2010, 05:44 PM	#2
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	Who are these Amazon spies? Trust nobody!

04-30-2010, 05:58 PM	#5
Dusty Bottoms Banned Posts: 187 Karma: 8178 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: None	We must immediately set up a Mcarthy type witch-hunt to roust these dirty-pinko-commie-witches from their hiding places. I've got dibs on being J. Edgar Hoover, because I look rather fetching in a dress.

04-30-2010, 05:59 PM	#6
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,907 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Black list everyone who can't prove they look just like their avatar!!

04-30-2010, 06:08 PM	#10
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,907 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	I'll be wearing the red carnation carrying Jeff's reading device (you can never say its name out loud!)

04-30-2010, 06:15 PM	#12
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,907 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Not to worry! [Can you lean forward a little and speak clearly into my carnation?] I'm sure you're exaggerating!

04-30-2010, 06:22 PM	#14
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	Obvious balderdash.

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