Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[hogasm]

I joined another "non motorcycle related" forum and there are a couple of the sites sponsors, that what appears to me, are just there to push their product.

When a legitimate question is posted, the response is....you need my product to fix that situation....

Is this acceptable or what some call Trolling

[grc]

I joined another "non motorcycle related" forum and there are a couple of the sites sponsors, that what appears to me, are just there to push their product.

When a legitimate question is posted, the response is....you need my product to fix that situation....

Is this acceptable or what some call Trolling

Are you talking about official sponsors of the site, or vendors that just happen to be members of the forum?  I would think that if they are officially part of the ownership or real sponsors of the site and disclose that, anyone who reads their stuff should be aware it's more of an advertising site than a true discussion group/forum.  If you mean these folks are just vendors who joined the forum to push their wares, then yes, it's what some call trolling.  This is one good reason for requiring commercial interests to identify themselves as such, and it is most likely why Neal has started the process to do so on this site.  We have some folks here who have been very upfront about being here to both promote and support their products and services, and actually use their company names.  Then we have some who try to fly under the radar by using screen names that do not identify them as a commercial entity.  Folks need to try to figure out who is giving legitimate information and opinions, and who is giving out slanted information to drum up business, and unfortunately many do not have the technical background necessary to make that determination.  With the anonymous internet, anyone can pretty much jump onto any forum and spout unsubstantiated crap, so anyone looking for real answers needs to check more than one source before buying into what they read on the 'net.  All the technological advances in instant communication are not necessarily good things, since there is no editor to insist on fact checking before publication.  Of course, now that I think about it there isn't too much of that anymore in the old print media either.  Facts tend to be viewed as those inconvenient items that get in the way of a good story or sales pitch.  Let the Buyer or Reader Beware!


Jerry

[porthole]

Shilling, as one who is a shill, A shill, plant or stooge is a person who helps a person or organization without disclosing that he or she has a close relationship with that person or organization.

Trolling, the whole point of trolling is to make illogical statements so people will argue with and flame him.

But, as Jerry said, as long as they are up front, then we know going in.

[Twolanerider]

If they are truly commercial sponsors (i.e., paying for the privilege to be there and do what they do) than they've bought the privilege.  Just like any other commercial.  No matter how annoying, redundant, obvious or unwanted.  If they're vendors masquerading as members who to appear to be "just one of the guys" and hock their wares in services in the process that's a different thing.  A thing that is also often annoying, redundnat, obvious (whether they think so or not) and unwanted. 

It goes by cycles.  And has been better lately.  Often one vendor starts something that lights a fire under the others as they feel they must compete for attention.  But even on this site at times I've felt like there must be a new URL for the place that is something like www.cvoharleywatchmydumasscommercials.com because of all the bullchit a few of the vendors feel they must so often spew.