Bonum Certa Men Certa

Latest Reality Check for Slashdot et al: Who Runs the Show?

Several days ago we explored this mysterious phenomenon of OOXML fans working anonymously in various Web sites to promote the format. A reader whom we were in touch with had more insights to share, particularly with respect to the increased activity ahead of the BRM in Geneva [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

"You mention hA1," he said. He proceeded to arguing that "this username, maybe the same person, has been causing problems at Wikipedia regarding MOOX and ODF. It was whittling away at the ODF articles: dilute, remove redundant parts, repeat until small, request delete or merge."

Even though we may have identified the person in question, our reader suggests that it won't do much. "However, without getting to the real names, just going after the handles will cause them to get better at hiding," he says. But here comes the more interesting bit about disruptive activities at Slashdot. Some friends believe that it ceased to properly focus on topics that it originally used to cover (the same goes for Digg.com).

Here is what our reader tells us about a phenomenon which we already know exists (with plenty of hard proof): AstroTurfing. Here is what he told us:




“I see that in the deluge of slashvertisements (aka gratuitous Microsoft articles) as well as that I have been getting modded down into oblivion like never, ever before.”This week, the astroturfers seem to have returned to Slashdot or at least become highly active again after biding their time. I see that in the deluge of slashvertisements (aka gratuitous Microsoft articles) as well as that I have been getting modded down into oblivion like never, ever before.

The deluges often distract from something. The timing suggests it could be the ISO BRM and/or the replacement of the Yahoo board.

Things that I observe from my posts and from other people's posts is the following things really drive the astroturfers nuts:






All the above were merely thoughts from a reader, which you may or may not consider sensitive points that someone is trying hard to hide.

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