Motives of Some Posters?

[photografy101]

After perusing the forums here for a while I am wondering if some people on here and other forums are paid to keep threads/interest alive or maybe even push a product or manufacturer. After all... forums advertise and people must frequent forums for advertisers to pay for their advertisements. A forum that doesn't generate traffic doesn't have advertisers!

I also am wondering if someone wants to be a moderator ($?) How do you get the job? Maybe you have to post a lot, help create a camaraderie
atmosphere etc... at least most times!

I have also noticed that a few posters follow each other around and back each other up. Not always but a little too much for my liking.

Has anybody else wondered the motives of some of the people that post on these forums?

[T.D.]

Your post left me wondering what your motive was in posting this.

[photografy101]

Your post left me wondering what your motive was in posting this.


lol... i have no motive! I did a search and it appears people can be paid to post. I'm only wondering how prevalent it is and when I seek advice am I really getting an honest opinion from some people.

[Moppie]

Yes, its true.
Peka pays us $1 per letter and $0.50 for punctuation, but spelling mistakes are deducted at $1 per word.

There is a bonus scheme as well, for mentioning Canon, L glass and 1D, but the numbers on that are commercially sensitive, the idea is to pay us more to post here rather than on other forums.

[Bill Roberts]

...
Has anybody else wondered the motives of some of the people that post on these forums?

I've sometimes wondered about their sanity... rarely about their motives ;)

But seriously, It's probably the best and most open forum I've found so far.

[_aravena]

A simple education is Sociology 101 (a.k.a. living amongst homo sapiens) would cure this abstract thought of people just being friendly to each other, forming a friendship (if you will), and acting no different than if they were in person just looking for something to fill spare time with.

How's it any different than going down tot he coffee house discussing if the president is doing a good job or not some defending each other, as ya'll move on, there seems to be that one person that can't get off the subject?

Sorry, I have a thing for common sense lately.

[T.D.]

Yes, its true.
Peka pays us $1 per letter and $0.50 for punctuation, but spelling mistakes are deducted at $1 per word.

There is a bonus scheme as well, for mentioning Canon, L glass and 1D, but the numbers on that are commercially sensitive, the idea is to pay us more to post here rather than on other forums.

What's it cost you when you mis-spell his name? :D:p

[Radtech1]

I also am wondering if someone wants to be a moderator ($?) How do you get the job? Maybe you have to post a lot, help create a camaraderie atmosphere etc... at least most times!


Well, I can tell you it has nothing to do with how long someone has been a member! I should have been made a mod YEARS ago, then I could have one of those really cool big avatars!

:razz:


Rad

[photografy101]

I've sometimes wondered about their sanity... rarely about their motives ;)

But seriously, It's probably the best and most open forum I've found so far.


I do agree that most people on here are honest and are only expressing their opinions and I have gained some substantial information...but do you think paid posting for companies or forums exists? And if so is this forum exempt?

[Bill Roberts]

I honestly don't know if it exists or not. Realistically if it does then I doubt that this forum would be exempt. But I haven't seen any evidence of it.

[Bill Roberts]

^^^ That just proves my sanity point... not the paid posting :p

:lol:

cheers

[Moppie]

What's it cost you when you mis-spell his name? :D:p


:o:oops::o There goes the christmass bonus.

Sorry Pekka.





Paid posting does exist, it is called spam.
Spammers are people paid by usually less than reputable marketing organisations, or websites, to post on forums, blogs, anywhere they can, in an attempt to direct people to another website that is selling or promoting products and services.
These people usually get paid a few cents per post, and since they are taking advantage of free, not for profit web space, they are removed as soon as they are spotted.

If you want to know how bad it is, next time you see a spam message here, report it, then copy the contents of the post, or the thread title, and run it through your favorite search engine.

[photografy101]

I honestly don't know if it exists or not. Realistically if it does then I doubt that this forum would be exempt. But I haven't seen any evidence of it.

Thanks Bill for the fair reply. You seem to be the only one so far that appears to understand my question. Some people seem to think it's impossible and only want to joke or insult me.

[cdifoto]

Thanks Bill for the fair reply. You seem to be the only one so far that appears to understand my question. Some people seem to think it's impossible and only want to joke or insult me.
Don't take it personal. Some of us joke and insult everyone. It pays better than spam.

[_aravena]

No, I was actually quite serious proving that your lack of understanding is why most joke and can't take this seriously. :D

EDIT: I guess that could be directed to you too CDI :p

[prcrstn8]

I have a thing for common sense lately.
Found any?

[photografy101]

No, I was actually quite serious proving that your lack of understanding is why most joke and can't take this seriously. :D

EDIT: I guess that could be directed to you too CDI :p

Sorry but you didn't prove anything. I think you have a lack of understanding! I raised a question about people being paid to promote a forum or company or product! It can be done very subtlety!! Not so obvious as to be SPAM.

[Moppie]

After perusing the forums here for a while I am wondering if some people on here and other forums are paid to keep threads/interest alive or maybe even push a product or manufacturer. After all... forums advertise and people must frequent forums for advertisers to pay for their advertisements. A forum that doesn't generate traffic doesn't have advertisers!

I also am wondering if someone wants to be a moderator ($?) How do you get the job? Maybe you have to post a lot, help create a camaraderie
atmosphere etc... at least most times!

I have also noticed that a few posters follow each other around and back each other up. Not always but a little too much for my liking.

Has anybody else wondered the motives of some of the people that post on these forums?


I am curious as to why you would think people are getting paid to post here?
It does happen on other forums, many companies with a heavy online presence often use forums to attract new customers and maintain loyalty in existing ones. These of course have paid admin staff and moderators.

But POTN is not associated with Canon, and receives no funding from Canon.
It is like most forums on the internet, simply a place for people with a common interest to come and share ideas and express opinions.
That involves a certain amount of social interaction, and so friendships form, and the social interaction between members increases.
In a short period the forum develops it's own identity.


Moderators on forums are chosen for a whole host of different reasons.
I have no idea why I was chosen to be a mod on POTN, but I am one, and I assure you neither myself, nor anyone else gets paid for it.

[Moppie]

It can be done very subtlety!! Not so obvious as to be SPAM.



Yes, you can be very subtle, but it still doesn't work.
There are a whole host of tools available to mods, and a whole host of ways of finding spammers, no matter how subtle they might be.

Regardless of that, there is no point.
Why pay someone to be a fan of Canon products on a forum filled with members who are here because they already use Canon products, and a large number of them already have enough brand loyalty that they will promote Canon products on the forum above others, with out needing to get paid for it.

[Belmondo]

Here's my attempt at a serious answer:

There are lots of members here. Actualy, there are probably tens of thousands of people who participate here---some frequently, others hardly ever.

I imagine your question concerns those who, like me, post frequently and inanely. The best answer I can think of is that we enjoy the camaraderie. If you are at all familiar with forums in general, you have to recognize that this is a very friendly group of people with a much lower-than-typical number of disruptive people. In short, we enjoy each other's company. We also share an interest in Canon digital photography, and that is the glue that holds this all together.

If anyone were found to have been paid for posting here, that would be considered spam, and they would be dealt with accordingly. We are very careful about allowing any activities which might be construed as advertising for third parties.

Moderators are selected based on a history of constructive participation, maturity, helpfulness, and ability to work with other members. Post count has nothing to do with it. The only compensation we get for our efforts is a somewhat larger avatar, a larger mailbox, and Pekka's secret Quiche Lorraine recipe.

[photografy101]

[quote=Moppie;5855924]Yes, you can be very subtle, but it still doesn't work.
There are a whole host of tools available to mods, and a whole host of ways of finding spammers, no matter how subtle they might be.

Regardless of that, there is no point.
Why pay someone to be a fan of Canon products on a forum filled with members who are here because they already use Canon products, and a large number of them already have enough brand loyalty that they will promote Canon products on the forum above others, with out needing to get paid for it.[/quote

My comment was not about paying people to promote Canon products. I see many many people recommending third party products or complaining about Canon quality control etc.. I was wondering about keeping threads or forums alive/traffic. Maybe Sigma and other companies pay people also. Is this so far fetched?

you are entitled to your opinion just like I am to mine,

[Belmondo]

Well, as interesting as your theory might be, there is no evidence to support the contention that people are paid to post here. If they try, it generally becomes evident fairly soon, and we stop it.

There are members who, for whatever reasons, are consistently for or against certain non-Canon products. They are allowed to post, and their arguments stand or fall on their merits.

Anytime you feel you've found an example of someone posting for pay by third parties, feel free to report it to the moderators by clicking the little red triangle to the left.
<=========

[photografy101]

Well, as interesting as your theory might be, there is no evidence to support the contention that people are paid to post here. If they try, it generally becomes evident fairly soon, and we stop it.

There are members who, for whatever reasons, are consistently for or against certain non-Canon products. They are allowed to post, and their arguments stand or fall on their merits.

Anytime you feel you've found an example of someone posting for pay by third parties, feel free to report it to the moderators by clicking the little red triangle to the left.
<=========

Thank you ....I do appreciate your rational! I am not sure about motives of some people and that is was why I asking if anyone else had any hunches or suspicions. But after a couple of hours it appears that my suspicions were unfounded.

Once again thanks belmondo and moppie for your non emotional reply.

[Moppie]

you are entitled to your opinion just like I am to mine,


I am going to break down your original question with some answers, as I think it has been mis-interpreted, and hopefully this will answer your above questions.




After perusing the forums here for a while I am wondering if some people on here and other forums are paid to keep threads/interest alive or maybe even push a product or manufacturer. After all... forums advertise and people must frequent forums for advertisers to pay for their advertisements. A forum that doesn't generate traffic doesn't have advertisers!

Not all forums advertise, and when forums first started to become popular in the late 90s, there was no advertising and a very strong resistance to it.
I have yet to meet an admin who likes having to have advertising on their site.
But the simple fact is hosting costs keep going up, and as forums become more popular increase traffic volumes drive those costs up further.
Advertising in the forum helps off set those costs.
Forums are not profitable, nor are they intended to be.
Think of them as examples of online philanthropy.

Note, that on POTN the adds go away once you reach a set number of posts, I can remember what it is though.


I also am wondering if someone wants to be a moderator ($?) How do you get the job? Maybe you have to post a lot, help create a camaraderie
atmosphere etc... at least most times!

Belmondo answered that better than I can.


I have also noticed that a few posters follow each other around and back each other up. Not always but a little too much for my liking.

Of course members will often post in the same threads, and of course lots of us get to know each other,the odd personal, or in-joke gets mentioned. Of course members will support others if share the same opinion, or have facts to back them up.

It is no different to behavior that can observed in the work place, at clubs, in schools, anywhere humans congregate.

There is nothing wrong with.


Has anybody else wondered the motives of some of the people that post on these forums?

It is this line, and your last line in your last sentence that I think has caused the confusion, and a perhaps defensive response.

There is nothing wrong with the posting habbits of POTN members, they are some of the nicest and most mature posters I have ever seen, and display a level of openness not often found on forums.



Maybe Sigma and other companies pay people also. Is this so far fetched?


As I said, it does happen, and I have seen it, but not on this forum.
Large scale online retailers of automotive performance parts have spent years trying different ways of infiltrating forums to promote their websites and brands.
I have spent the last 8 years banning them from automotive forums.
As clever as they can try and be, the very nature of forums means they never get away with it.
I have never seen it here on POTN, nor any other photography forums, we seem to only get the regular spammers who are easy to spot doe to thier mass spamming techniques.

The photography industry is very different, and operates on a different scale, and as such plays by different rules and ethics, and has different needs from its marketing.

As I said before the brand loyalty is such that there is no need to pay people, when regular consumers do plenty of promotion for free.
That goes for all the brands, from Sony to Sigma.

[Radtech1]

???

[Belmondo]

???

Click on it. See what happens.:p

[photografy101]

I am going to break down your original question with some answers, as I think it has been mis-interpreted, and hopefully this will answer your above questions.






Not all forums advertise, and when forums first started to become popular in the late 90s, there was no advertising and a very strong resistance to it.
I have yet to meet an admin who likes having to have advertising on their site.
But the simple fact is hosting costs keep going up, and as forums become more popular increase traffic volumes drive those costs up further.
Advertising in the forum helps off set those costs.
Forums are not profitable, nor are they intended to be.
Think of them as examples of online philanthropy.

Note, that on POTN the adds go away once you reach a set number of posts, I can remember what it is though.



Belmondo answered that better than I can.



Of course members will often post in the same threads, and of course lots of us get to know each other,the odd personal, or in-joke gets mentioned. Of course members will support others if share the same opinion, or have facts to back them up.

It is no different to behavior that can observed in the work place, at clubs, in schools, anywhere humans congregate.

There is nothing wrong with.



It is this line, and your last line in your last sentence that I think has caused the confusion, and a perhaps defensive response.

There is nothing wrong with the posting habbits of POTN members, they are some of the nicest and most mature posters I have ever seen, and display a level of openness not often found on forums.






As I said, it does happen, and I have seen it, but not on this forum.
Large scale online retailers of automotive performance parts have spent years trying different ways of infiltrating forums to promote their websites and brands.
I have spent the last 8 years banning them from automotive forums.
As clever as they can try and be, the very nature of forums means they never get away with it.
I have never seen it here on POTN, nor any other photography forums, we seem to only get the regular spammers who are easy to spot doe to thier mass spamming techniques.

The photography industry is very different, and operates on a different scale, and as such plays by different rules and ethics, and has different needs from its marketing.

As I said before the brand loyalty is such that there is no need to pay people, when regular consumers do plenty of promotion for free.
That goes for all the brands, from Sony to Sigma.


I think you answered my question better than I was expecting. Very precise and to the point! I wish all members replied with such composure.



Thank you.

[Woolburr]

Sorry but you didn't prove anything. I think you have a lack of understanding! I raised a question about people being paid to promote a forum or company or product! It can be done very subtlety!! Not so obvious as to be SPAM.

I probably promote this forum and the products that I use and know work as much as or more than anyone...I have never been paid to do so, nor do I believe that anyone on POTN is a paid shill....everyone knows Ken Rockhead is a paid shill...but he is the only one I know of. Do some of us back each other up? Of course we do, when you know a person is speaking the truth in the face of a BS artist...you owe it to those folks with less experience to attempt to steer them to the truth.

We frequently deal with trolls here...they don't last long.

[dispatchermike21]

Is this a job search?

[photografy101]

I probably promote this forum and the products that I use and know work as much as or more than anyone...I have never been paid to do so, nor do I believe that anyone on POTN is a paid shill....everyone knows Ken Rockhead is a paid shill...but he is the only one I know of. Do some of us back each other up? Of course we do, when you know a person is speaking the truth in the face of a BS artist...you owe it to those folks with less experience to attempt to steer them to the truth.

We frequently deal with trolls here...they don't last long.


"Truth is rarely pure and never simple.” Oscar Wilde

[dispatchermike21]

"Truth is rarely pure and never simple.” Oscar Wilde

did he use Canon gear? or that other stuff?

[Woolburr]

did he use Canon gear? or that other stuff?

Clearly a Noinker!

[Radtech1]

Clearly a Noinker!

HMMM...most likely a paid basher!

[Woolburr]

HMMM...most likely a paid basher!

I just want to know where to pick up my check. For the right price...I'll be a shill for almost any product. The key word being almost!

[SlowBlink]

As far as following people around: I like a few peoples work on here and pay attention to their posts. You'll probably see me posting in their threads more than others. That might give the impression you mentioned.

The rest for me is camaraderie and my attempt at reasoned debate.

[photografy101]

As far as following people around: I like a few peoples work on here and pay attention to their posts. You'll probably see me posting in their threads more than others. That might give the impression you mentioned.

The rest for me is camaraderie and my attempt at reasoned debate.

Ahhhh reasoned debate... Nothing wrong with that. In fact there can be much learned from this kind of mental exercise. (sometimes anyway).

[CyberDyneSystems]

O-kay. mental exercise is over now.
This is a photography forum, lets get back to that.