A shill, also called a plant or a stooge, is a person who publicly helps a person or organization without disclosing that they have a close relationship with the person or organization. Shill typically refers to someone who purposely gives onlookers the impression that they are an enthusiastic independent customer of a seller (or marketer of ideas) for whom they are secretly working. The person or group who hires the shill is using crowd psychology to encourage other onlookers or audience members to purchase the goods or services (or accept the ideas being marketed). Shills are often employed by professional marketing campaigns. “Plant” and “stooge” more commonly refer to any person who is secretly in league with another person or organization while pretending to be neutral or actually a part of the organization he is planted in, such as a magician’s audience, a political party, or an intelligence organization (see double agent).citation needed*]
Shilling is illegal in many circumstances and in many jurisdictions
When I see “Big Pines” next to someones name here I subjectively take what they say with a grain of salt depending on what they are talking about.
Of course I also do that with “Dawson Saddle” but I know they are part of the community and not trying to sell me something. I might not agree with them but respect their opinion/information.
As I enjoy yet another CLIF bar, I read your post and hope you’re incorrect. Shills pushing products makes me want to gag on my delicious and nutritious CLIF bar. I’m shocked I tell you. But I’m just lucky my awesome CLIF bar is here to comfort me.
(all in jest - I have nothing to do with CLIF bar except eat their awesome products).
Our posts have gone back to the earliest ST site and yes to all 3 options; paid Ad’s, service and business. Endurance SPORTS are a business…
Curious as to what you are trying to achieve with this? Hoping to stir outrage so the shill gets outed?
If this is a really big deal, I would think, as a business, you would go to ST management first and not post like a run-of-the-mill ST conspiracy theorist.
But, if you feel you must use this kind of childish tactic, at least be brave enough to fully spell out your accusation.
Using the broom to scatter the spiders before the RAID.
Whatever.
If it’s a big deal, if it affecting your business, get serious and follow the proper channels. Otherwise, this sort of behavior makes you look petty and amateurish. Certainly doesn’t cast a good light on whatever races you put on.
I can only think of 2 blatant shills that I’ve seen on here recently.
Both were for “companies” that really just re-badged Chinese wheels and resold them. Both hid behind the impression that they did more, but in the end this probably isn’t the right forum for them to try and get away with that. They were also dealt with mercilessly, which was pretty fun.
Well now you have my conspiracy theory radar going. Maybe this explains why Specialized tends to get so much crap. Must be a Cervelo plot to gain market share.
A shill, also called a plant or a stooge, is a person who publicly helps a person or organization without disclosing that they have a close relationship with the person or organization. Shill typically refers to someone who purposely gives onlookers the impression that they are an enthusiastic independent customer of a seller (or marketer of ideas) for whom they are secretly working. The person or group who hires the shill is using crowd psychology to encourage other onlookers or audience members to purchase the goods or services (or accept the ideas being marketed). Shills are often employed by professional marketing campaigns. “Plant” and “stooge” more commonly refer to any person who is secretly in league with another person or organization while pretending to be neutral or actually a part of the organization he is planted in, such as a magician’s audience, a political party, or an intelligence organization (see double agent).citation needed*]
Shilling is illegal in many circumstances and in many jurisdictions
You mean …people who post here have ties to companies in the industry?
When I see “Big Pines” next to someones name here I subjectively take what they say with a grain of salt depending on what they are talking about.
Of course I also do that with “Dawson Saddle” but I know they are part of the community and not trying to sell me something. I might not agree with them but respect their opinion/information.
jaretj
what do those things mean??? i’ve seen it forever but never bothered to ask.
