Is it ok for parks to infiltrate this web site with paid, untruthful msg posters?

I and many others have come to the conclusion that HersheyPark has created accounts on this website and many other similar coaster information portals in order to spread false rumors and generate excitement about its impending 2008 attraction announcement. In light of this revelation and with the knowledge that other companies (certainly not just in the amusement industry) have also started making a business practice of creating unrevealed self sponsored websites and fake forum posts in attempt to increase their sales and to fake customer satisfaction do you feel website administrators should allow and in turn encourage such deception. My thought is that if a website operator endorses a corporation spreading bad information on their website they are also advocating and permitting ALL posters to spread whatever lies they see fit. I feel the website owner is sacraficing their sites reputation in an attempt to "spice up" the sites forums, to possibly generate more site viewership and income and to establish "you scatch my back I'll scratch yours" industry connections (with possible interviews to follow.) What say you?

$10 says your one of them....

If this has anything to do with the paychecks I receive from SF to champion the Q-bot system on enthusiast sites...then no comment!

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Here's the winky face -------------------> ;)

I didn't know you could write a whole post in bold.

Sure you can.

It's annoying as hell though.

It's suppose to indicate that the post is *extra* important! ;)

The Don and Mike Show is actually a syndicated radio show.

Don and Mike had a much stronger affiliate list when they were on Westwood One. (I noticed a lot of upper AM frequencies and no New York City clears.)

Don and Mike have long peaked. (They are basically humorless O&A, Stern and Imus wannabees). *** Edited 9/9/2007 5:38:39 AM UTC by Richie Reflux***

Hmm....this reminds me of people saying this sort of thing happens about upcoming movies on imdb.com as well. People claiming to have seen a movie and do a super positive review on it, or posting on the boards hyping up the movie.

Fancy misdirection there, Gonch, with that winky face. Now NO ONE will ever suspect...

I believe HP is capable, as any big business, to do such a thing. "Follow the money."

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I feel the website owner is sacraficing their sites reputation in an attempt to "spice up" the sites forums, to possibly generate more site viewership and income

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Call me crazy (And some here do), but I have already noticed that that could very well be a possibility, and I have brought it up before with much ridicule. I'm not saying it is true, but it is possible.

Geeze people, since when is the truth or morality actually worth anything when theres any sort of currency involved? Money talks louder then the truth. It sucks alot, but there's nothing that can really be done, how things are. Btw, all bold posts are annoying, we can read just fine.

*** Edited 9/9/2007 7:47:59 AM UTC by P18***

Some quotes and specific names and other specifities would go a long way in making any of this sound credible.

Frankly though if any of this is true it's the job of the reader to think critically and take everything with a grain of salt. Understand who is posting what information, in the context of what others have said and done in the past. This isn't really a matter of credibility on the part of Jeff, it's a matter of not being a sucker and taking everything you read as truth without using your brain.

Well, its not working cause I haven't looked at that Hershey thread since it started...

thedonandmikeshow, how did you come to this conclusion after only posting four times? Or is this a fake account for you? LOL, the site admins can see IP addresses and know the other accounts if they are all posting from the same office.

Jeff in the past has booted people for weak PR attempts by parks, I trust the same would happen here.

Makes me wonder if Don and Mike paid you to pick that username....

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matt. said:
Some quotes and specific names and other specifities would go a long way in making any of this sound credible.

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Thank you, I couldn't have said it better myself. If anyone has specific reason to believe specific posts are really paid promotions, bring them to our attention. Hell, I'll punt the poster myself, if there's sufficient evidence.

(And before anyone asks, there's a big difference between a park representative who identifies themselves as such answering questions and posting information, versus a viral marketing campaign using forums to secretly spread promotions in the guise of consumers...)
*** Edited 9/9/2007 1:10:44 PM UTC by GregLeg***

Coasterguts - - - > I would venture to guess that the initial poster was an intern or producer type...though a typical college student wouldn't end his/her post with "What say you."

I don't think this thread is going to last much longer. *** Edited 9/9/2007 2:19:56 PM UTC by Richie Reflux***

"What say you?" was made popular by Bill O'Riley on FOX News.

The supposed viral campaign hasn't worked for me either because I don't 100% trust rumors and am patient enough to wait until an official announcement. Another words, "What Hershey Park Thread?"

And very well said, Matt. It is very easy to think for yourself and it becomes second nature after one does it just a few times. I question everything I read.

Yawn.

We've outed lame attempts to do this several times. Don't make four posts and talk smack about me and my credibility in a quasi-anonymous cowardly way. If you're going to accuse me of something, come right out and say it.

So...John Fetterman and Paula Werne and Barry Kumpf can come here and post about their respective parks and it's OK? LOL!

I'll just quote Greg, since he said it SO well...

GregLeg said:

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(And before anyone asks, there's a big difference between a park representative who identifies themselves as such answering questions and posting information, versus a viral marketing campaign using forums to secretly spread promotions in the guise of consumers...)

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Huge difference, usually quite obvious...the mods here seem to do a stellar job of promoting the former and punting the latter.

IMO... ;)

On another board, there's someone in the Hershey thread whom many people are guessing is a plant due to the timing of her appearance and the fact that she does say she works at the park (in a position where she shouldn't have inside information on the new attraction). I don't see anyone on this board I would accuse of such, and TheDonAndMikeShow is the only one making a giant stink about it on the other board.

Park plants are nothing new, Marcie from MouseInfo anyone?

http://www.mouseinfo.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-82429.html

She was a Disney plant back in the day who said DCA was just wonderful and awesome, Pressler was god, etc.

Don't put it past a marketing/PR to pull something this stupid...