Still don't believe there a sock puppets on DU?

[Atman]

[font size="+2"']Fox News Reportedly Used Fake Commenter Accounts To Rebut Critical Blog Posts[/font]
[font size="+1"']New Book Details An Extensive Campaign By The Networks' PR Staffers[/font]



NPR media reporter David Folkenflik writes in his forthcoming book Murdoch's World that Fox News' public relations staffers used an elaborate series of dummy accounts to fill the comments sections of critical blog posts with pro-Fox arguments.

In a chapter focusing on how Fox utilized its notoriously ruthless public relations department in the mid-to-late 00's, Folkenflik reports that Fox's PR staffers would "post pro-Fox rants" in the comments sections of "negative and even neutral" blog posts written about the network. According to Folkenflik, the staffers used various tactics to cover their tracks, including setting up wireless broadband connections that "could not be traced back" to the network.

A former staffer told Folkenflik that they had personally used "one hundred" fake accounts to plant Fox-friendly commentary:

On the blogs, the fight was particularly fierce. Fox PR staffers were expected to counter not just negative and even neutral blog postings but the anti-Fox comments beneath them. One former staffer recalled using twenty different aliases to post pro-Fox rants. Another had one hundred. Several employees had to acquire a cell phone thumb drive to provide a wireless broadband connection that could not be traced back to a Fox News or News Corp account. Another used an AOL dial-up connection, even in the age of widespread broadband access, on the rationale it would be harder to pinpoint its origins. Old laptops were distributed for these cyber operations. Even blogs with minor followings were reviewed to ensure no claim went unchecked. [font size="-1"]- Murdoch's World, pg. 67[/font]

In the book's endnotes, Folkenflik explains that "four former Fox News employees told me of these practices." It's unclear whether these tactics are ongoing.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/10/20/fox-news-reportedly-used-fake-commenter-account/196509

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Anyone paying attention knows that sock puppets are epidemic.

Just not here on DU, or so I am told.

[murielm99]

3. It seems like I can't even go to

Amazon for a book or music review without some right-wing fool commenting on how the item in question is "liberal."

I don't go there for that crap. But I have told some of them that if it is liberal, I will make sure to buy it and to tell all my friends to do the same.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. Well worse, reviewers are paid shills. Sock puppet isn't the right term.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Ummm... I don't know who you're addressing this to, because I'm pretty sure

everyone agrees there are sockpuppets on DU.

[Atman]

7. Plenty of poster over the years have insisted you're just paranoid and self-important...

...if you really believe anyone cares enough to "infiltrate" a place like DU. You don't have to care, Meemie...I just found it to be an interesting read and thought I'd share.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. I have never seen a post that states there are no sockpuppets on DU.

I have seen people claim others are paid posters, zombies, etal, depending upon where one lies on the political spectrum. Ignore them and they go away.

This is not something that should be surprising to anybody who hangs out on the Internet.

[Atman]

14. Good for you. I'm happy for you.

I'll keep that in mind next time I read a post from an obvious sock puppet -- "ScreamingMeemie has never seen anyone say there are no sock puppets on DU." Well, that certainly clears that up! Nothing to see here, everybody. Meemie says move along!

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. I am happy for me too.

Meemie isn't saying that. Meemie is saying it's obvious there are sockpuppets and everyone here knows that--it's just who one thinks is a sockpuppet.

But feel free to use that line because it's kind of cool.

[truedelphi]

63. so just what did your banter with Atman accomplish? n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

64. Why don't you tell me?

Of course there are sock puppets on DU. And no one has ever claimed there are not.

I hope that's clearer.

[GoneFishin]

76. Agreed. WTF was that? nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

91. WTF that was is no one has ever in the 11

years I have been here, claimed there weren't sock puppets on DU.

[Sheepshank]

100. There is no point in pointing out sarcasm, or wry humor etc to some

they are the proverbial wet blanket when it comes to appreciting humor.

As to what was accomplished? increasing post counts.

[Skittles]

93. yup

you get it Atman, and so do I!!!

[truedelphi]

105. Hi there, skittles.

A small Tuesday afternoon to those applauding Atman.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. I think there are definitely some folks with a combination of profound personality disorders and a

lack of other hobbies.

[reddread]

16. I think there are paid contractors, foreign and domestic

and it isnt their hobby.

[Warren DeMontague]

23. All of the above.

[quinnox]

4. meh, I don't care about that stuff

never understood why anyone would use a "sock-puppet", but they must be pretty pathetic individuals. But it is not something I even think about really, it is unimportant.

[Warren DeMontague]

25. Some of the shit I've witnessed over the years has been mind-boggling, to say the least.

Like, seriously.

Creating these elaborate fake people to grind some weird personal axe.... I to visualize what's actually sitting at home behind all the hydra heads.

[ScreamingMeemie]

35. Yes, yes... this I will agree with.

And, the sad thing is, I know what a couple of those socks look like in real life. You would never guess.

[Warren DeMontague]

40. The people who spend all day at it, really, they oughta get in touch with these pay-to-post outfits

if they actually exist.

[quinnox]

45. I hear you, they probably look something like this...

[Warren DeMontague]

51. I think Senator Vitter's done something different with his hair, hasn't he?

[quinnox]

54. lol, indeed!

[Lex]

5. Who *doesn't* think there are sockpuppets on DU

or most discussion boards?

[polichick]

38. Yes, why wouldn't there be?

[dipsydoodle]

6. Not Sooty and Sweep surely ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sooty

[loli phabay]

13. lol, or sue either.. mayby zippy and bungle.

[pipi_k]

49. The original

sockpuppet.

Way ahead of his time.

And the source of all Sockpuppet evil...

[Wounded Bear]

90. Hey, you leave Lambchop out of this....

She's sacred.

[Squinch]

104. So cute, it's chilling! Eek!

[RobertEarl]

8. Like what?

Like the "This Town needs an enema" types?

How about "Radiation is no more dangerous than bananas".

Or: "Spying looks good on you"

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

83. .

[Hassin Bin Sober]

86. Those are trolls.

[SidDithers]

92. Hey RobertEarl...

you never did explain why you started your RobertEarl account on Dec 14, 2011, but didn't abandon your BeFree account until Feb 11, 2012.

RobertEarl: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=279013
BeFree: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=111322


You posted using both account for 8 weeks, a couple hundred posts in total, between Dec 14 and Feb 11.

That's kind of the very definition of "sockpuppet", isn't it? Lots of posters know that both accounts are you. You're not going to deny it, are you?

It's cute to see you accusing others of being sockpuppets, though.

Sid

[NCTraveler]

102. Or the "don't eat the tuna that has been scientifically proven to be safe"

types?

[pinboy3niner]

10. Not just sock puppets

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3921843

[TeeYiYi]

22. Oh, you mean...

... Mr. Balls?


TYY

[pinboy3niner]

28. Someone in that thread made an admission about creating a sack puppet...

scheming daemons
71. Señor Testiculo is a great username for my next account

[steve2470]

30. that photo just scratches my itch to see my urologist :p nt

[pinboy3niner]

32. Scrotally! Senhor Testiculo also looks like he's seriously overdue, lol! nt

[steve2470]

34. indeed, needs an anti-inflammatory med in the worst way :p nt

[pinboy3niner]

37. Urethra for men's health checkups or against them. There's no in-between. nt

[steve2470]

39. Prost(r)ate before my doc's expertise :p nt

[Warren DeMontague]

41. Urine trouble

kidney stop with the excessive puns

[pinboy3niner]

46. Early detection can make a vas deferens

What--too much?

[Warren DeMontague]

47. Now here's someone who should be paid for their work

urea funny guy.

[steve2470]

58. he's got his stream down just right.... :p nt

[TeeYiYi]

66. What the hell?.....

After two references in this thread to "vas deferens", I had to look it up. (Not my area of expertise.)
See what you can learn at DU?

TYY

[pinboy3niner]

67. DUers are a virtual fountain of knowledge

Whether you need it or not.

[tavalon]

89. Especially when not

As a nurse, I know the terms but the puns still hurt.

[WinkyDink]

81. Urethra? Is she still singing?

[pinboy3niner]

82. Hey--show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

84. ...

[Eleanors38]

99. Gettin' pretty frothy around here.

[pipi_k]

56. Mr Testy-whatever

looks like he's got the mange...

[Spitfire of ATJ]

69. That would be a neat Piñata.

[pinboy3niner]

70. The guy wearing it doesn't think so

[TeeYiYi]

74. I suppose. :/ ...

What could possibly go wrong?



TYY

[nadinbrzezinski]

53. I definitely deferens to your expertise here.

Trying hard for more duzy

[pinboy3niner]

57. Advance planning is key. I'm always thinking a head.

[steve2470]

11. and....

[Behind the Aegis]

17. much more common IMO...

...guess your few days on MIRT have been eye-opening. Have you already re-shelved a certain zombie "book?"

[steve2470]

19. yes many times, sigh, wish that book would get permanently loaned out lol nt

[Cerridwen]

18. Any political activist knows infiltrators are common

in any group. If they haven't experienced it first hand, their mentors will surely have told them and also told them what to watch for.

[Scurrilous]

24. Welcome back!

[cui bono]

36. You can bid them adieu now.

They had a short stay.

[bettyellen]

29. I know right? we shld all stay home and never vote, LOL!!

indeed.

[sibelian]

26. They're incredibly easy to spot.

Let 'em waste their money...

[Coyotl]

52. They're incredibly easy to bait.

If fishing was that easy, I'd be eating trout and salmon tonight.

[Warren DeMontague]

42. A lot of us will debunk that anti-vax woo for free.

Especially while it's causing illnesses that are fully preventable.

[proverbialwisdom]

71. Please carefully check out the Mumper study in post #2, noting the source.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023557943

No matter that, "Private equity has invested billions of dollars in the pharmaceutical industry," according to an article yesterday I decline to cite at http://www.commondreams.org

More:

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0305645/Global-Vaccine-Market-Forecast-to.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130514-918807.html
http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2013/07/welcome-ernest-hancock-listeners.html

[Squinch]

33. Like moths to a flame. One even flared out in this very thread!

[Warren DeMontague]

43. I agree!

[Warren DeMontague]

44. And so do I!

[Skittles]

94. hilarious when they deny

best they don't that, yes?

[el_bryanto]

48. I just assume anybody who disagrees with me is conservative shill

Makes my life so much easier.

Bryant

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. Huge revelation

It is up there in news with the, there are cyberstalkers in the interwebs.

[MADem]

55. They're everywhere, and some of them are pretty frigging stupid, too!

I notice it when people who have been here a day and a half are skilled at making a multi-colored, fancy-font sig line, perhaps referencing a repeated, near-and-dear issue here, know what's shaking in even the most obscure forums, have a sense of the personalities of DUers, and can reference arguments that cropped up here years ago...that's often a clue that there's a bit of static cling in the air!

[pinboy3niner]

59. Great--give them survival tips, why don't you?

[MADem]

60. They're so hubris laden they just can't help themselves!

They gotta let us know that they're smarter than the average bear!

[pinboy3niner]

61. They have so many 'tells' that the MIRT members who dispatch them feel overpaid

[steve2470]

62. lol it is pretty easy from what I can see already nt

[Warren DeMontague]

65. You'd be good on MIRT.

Seriously.

[MADem]

79. One of these days I will give it a shot.

I don't like to do something poorly--if I commit, I will give it my all for the time that I am assigned.

I've had a lot of "stuff" happening lately--I've been doing a bit of travelling for this-n-that, and I have a few distractions lately!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

68. #1 thing that annoys them?

Tell them they're lousy at it.

[truedelphi]

85. How very true. n/t

[DeSwiss]

72. It's true! It's true!

''I was going to tell but they
pulled my eyes out!!!!


- What's worse is Fox News sock puppets are made in China......

[demwing]

73. Your title is a mislead

the article has nada to do with DU

[A Simple Game]

75. There probably are sock puppets on DU.

Tell me why I should waste any of my time, other than this post, caring?
How can a sock puppet affect me in any way?

[cantbeserious]

77. Kick And Recommend

eom

[woo me with science]

78. The corporate propaganda state should be a major news story.

It has reached a level of pervasiveness and interactivity that is creepy as hell, and it is shrouded in darkness when it comes to who is paying for it and how.

We now live in a corporate surveillance state that is purchasing and intimidating investigative journalism (our primary check against government abuse of power) out of existence..

In its place they are growing a malignant propaganda machine.

[sibelian]

95. We need a new "non-participatory" culture.

If we can figure out a way of allowing them to carry on wasting time and attention on propaganda that doesn't work...

[woo me with science]

98. I suspect we end up paying for much of it.

I would love for some intrepid journalists to expose every last one of them.

[WinkyDink]

80. If it was good enough for Samsung,.....

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-10-24/news/43366174_1_opentide-samsung-products-afp

[D23MIURG23]

87. Personally I'm surprised that this is real.

I always assumed that these companies would have better things to pay their shills to do than post on internet forums. If they are going to come out and brag about it though, then I don't see much reason for skepticism.

100 different aliases?

Seriously?!

[tavalon]

88. Oh, I know there are sock puppets

I did have to laugh when I found out some people thought I was one. But even though I'm real flesh and blood and attempting to get to work late tonight, does not mean that I believe that others aren't sock puppets.

[spanone]

96. the word 'news' should never appear in the same sentence as 'fox'

[Berlum]

97. Occult Republicon hirelings skulking about doing EVIL

Free Reminder for Republicons: "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness"

Note: this is not from the Koran or the Bhagavad Gita.
Where do you suppose Republicons imagine it comes from?

[Hutzpa]

101. Which is why I view anyone on DU posting links to Fox News

as an individual with an agenda.

[CoffeeCat]

103. This is why Republicans don't win Presidential elections!

Bottom line is...there aren't enough people who believe their insane, extremist bullshit! They have to pay employees at big PR firms to write commentary in the comment sections--to give the APPEARANCE that their crazy viewpoints are more popular than they actually are.

I'm guessing that 10-25 percent of the population adheres to a Fox News mentality. There will always be crazies.

But they conflate their perceived presence with PR tricks like this. This is why they don't win elections. Because, when it comes down to the numbers--the vast majority reject their insanity. This is also why they engage in rampant voter suppression and voter fraud. The only way they can win a Presidential election is by decreasing our numbers, because as they well know---they really don't have the numbers to win.

Such losers!!

I've noticed that planted comments are rampant on MSM news sites, such as ABC/CBS/NBC/CNN. This is where they really hit it hard. It's important for liberals to speak up and chime in on these comments sections. Appearances and perceptions really do matter. We have to speak out and speak the truth and challenge these fake-account personas. Otherwise, persuadable people are fooled into believing that extremist positions are normal and more popular than they really are.

Share your liberal views! It makes a difference!