Microsoft Caught Rigging ZD Net Poll

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Microsoft Caught Rigging ZD Net Poll

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Wednesday January 9, 2002 @05:20AM from the now-thats-funny-stuff dept.

Dj writes "Microsoft have been found to be rigging a ZDNet poll". Apparently they didn't dig on the idea of .NET losing. Of course as anyone knows, never trust an online poll because this sort of stuff is obviosly happening all the time. I just wonder how many comments posted around the net are posted with the same goals in mind.

23 of 768 comments (clear)

So... by Magus311X · 2002-01-09 05:23 · Score: 5, Funny

This is what their marketing department does all day ...

Figures.

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1. Re:So... by wulfhere · 2002-01-09 05:28 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  No, this is obviously what their QA department does all day. ;-)
  
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  -- Sent from a computer.
2. Re:So... by dadith · 2002-01-09 05:53 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  MS got a QA department?
Look who's talking by jxqvg · 2002-01-09 05:25 · Score: 3, Funny

I see CowboyNeal getting way fewer votes than I think he should in /. polls.
Meanwhile... by swingkid · 2002-01-09 05:25 · Score: 5, Funny

Many addled Microsoft employees mistakenly voted for Pat Buchanan
This is a switch! by louzerr · 2002-01-09 05:26 · Score: 5, Funny

Wow, M$ must be really hurting for cash! They usually just buy a good rating!

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"The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away" -- "Step Right Up", Tom Waits
Damn. by Byteme · 2002-01-09 05:26 · Score: 4, Funny

If I had known that MS would win I would not have voted for Cowboy Neal. (This is the last time I am voting for the Green Party).

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pronoblem
Funny... by nam37 · 2002-01-09 05:29 · Score: 3, Funny

We'll I guess I can assume that I am the only one that finds this funny... Companies do this stuff ALL the time.. and just because some over vealous programmer or marketing rat thought to send all his buddies over to vote, doesnt mean that this is further evidence of some kinda pro-monopolistic attitude... its just people who like their products... ...not that i dont think they ARE a monopoly (I think that has been effectively proven) but....

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1) Never tell them everything you know.
Next thing you know by wiredog · 2002-01-09 05:30 · Score: 4, Funny

They'll be trolling slashdot and having dead people send letters to their congresscritters.

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Best Slashdot Co
Re:While hardly new... by andyt · 2002-01-09 05:32 · Score: 3, Funny

Grimlock.

:-)
Press Release from Redmond: by 0xA · 2002-01-09 05:36 · Score: 5, Funny

Microsoft anounces new "Hailstorm Zeigiest"
As show recently on the website www.ZDnet.com online polling is often subject to massive fraud and inapropriate uses. Microsoft has again chosen to lead the way in this expanding market with an extention to the Hailstorm initative called "Zeitgiest".
"Hailstorm.Zeitgeist.net will allow content creators new abilities to track online poll submitions and ensure acurate results", says Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. "With this technology available our marketing departments will finaly be able to track down those whiny little.. Oh, wrong one." *FUMBLE* *FUMBLE* "This technology will will allow webmasters to do neat stuff with authentication", continued Gates.
When asked for his input CEO Steve Balmer added "DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS!"
In possibly related news 1337 script kiddy Dr3am!D3m0n on the IRC channel #hax0r5 commented, "Oh cool. That dwarf thing was funny but I guarantee RMS is gonna be on People's 25 Sexiest Celebrities this year."
Re:Did Microsoft bother... by Tackhead · 2002-01-09 05:40 · Score: 5, Funny

> Most of the votes came from an internal Microsoft email titled "STOP AND VOTE FOR .NET" though.
When I asked "What do you get if you cross the Cult of $cientology with Steve Ballmer?", I was being rhetorical! I didn't want to find out!
Re:So why didn't ZDnet pull the poll? by OWJones · 2002-01-09 05:41 · Score: 5, Funny

The poll is still available here. It carries no warnings or disclaimers that the poll has been massively rigged by Microsoft

Sounds like it's time to put the Slashdot 31337 h@x0r sk1llz to use and swing the poll back the correct way. I mean, are we really going to let some MS-scripting-language-based ballot stuffer beat out a good ol' PERL ballot stuffer??

I think not. :) Let's get to work.

-jdm
Cowboy Neal caught rigging Slahdot Poll! by DeadBugs · 2002-01-09 05:54 · Score: 4, Funny

He has to be, he's getting way too many votes

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Overhead in Redmond by ptrourke · 2002-01-09 06:04 · Score: 5, Funny

Bill: Damnit, blocked again.

Steve: Bill, if it didn't work the other 226 times you tried to reclick, what makes you think it will work the 227th?

There is a very high incidence of people attempting to cast multiple votes, even though the poll script blocked out most attempts at multiple voting. The one that wins the prize made 228 attempts to vote. This person was from within the microsoft.com domain.
No need to worry by seismic · 2002-01-09 06:06 · Score: 5, Funny

There will soon be a poll on the Microsoft web site where 90% will indicate that Microsoft did nothing wrong and the allegation is completely unfounded.
Re:Interesing 'privacy' note... by bughunter · 2002-01-09 06:08 · Score: 4, Funny

I found it highly amusing that yet another Microsoft "feature" recklessly ignoring users' privacy and security has turned around and bit them in the ass.
Har! 'Bout time!

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I can see the fnords!
Microsoft are bastards.... by kingosric · 2002-01-09 06:12 · Score: 5, Funny

But at least they are *incompetent* bastards....
Re:Did Microsoft bother... by Andrewkov · 2002-01-09 06:21 · Score: 5, Funny

I always vote for a competitor because I find it detestible that my employer would do this.
Your competitors are probably doing the same thing, so don't bother.
I Can See It Now by istartedi · 2002-01-09 06:28 · Score: 5, Funny

I can see it now:

PHB: We have to use Java for our next project.

Dilbert: Why?

PHB: According to this ZDNet poll, 99% of IT Professionals say it's the best choice.

Dilbert: Ummm... 1,234,243,324,234 votes for Java vs. 98,234,242,123 for .Net. Doesn't that tell you something?

PHB: Don't bother me with the technical details, just get to work. We have a client in London with a trillion customers who need it by next Tuesday.

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For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
1. Re:I Can See It Now by Alsee · 2002-01-09 09:46 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  1,234,243,324,234 votes for Java vs. 98,234,242,123 for .Net
  
  I think you should check the floor around your keyboard. Your 5670 keys seem to have escaped.
  
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  - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
Re:While hardly new... by jafac · 2002-01-09 06:52 · Score: 3, Funny

I think that most serious IT managers will listen to the analysts like Gartner, etc.

Who we *know* are 100% honest, trustworthy, and unbiased. Completely uninfluenced by vendor lobbyists or other sources of information.

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Re:probably just overzealous employees by Tackhead · 2002-01-09 08:16 · Score: 3, Funny

> [the original poster] may be right -- maybe Steve Ballmer loped up and down the corridors, jumping like a monkey and screaming "PLEASE STOP AND VOTE FOR .NET OR LOSE YOUR JOBS!"
>
>I may be right -- maybe some employees read the "PLEASE STOP AND VOTE FOR .NET" e-mail, and, having nothing better to do, went a little overboard.
But if the original poster was right, for God's sake, show us the video!