PR Firm Fakes Online Posters to Stunt Research

revmuddswife writes: "I always suspected that some of the soapbox lunatics I was arguing with online weren't what they made themselves out to be, but now British columnist George Monbiot has raised the issue about how Internet discussions may be undermined by Invented PR People *cue scary organ music*. The article relates to a biotech paper written by two University of Calif., Berkeley scientists, Quist and Chapela, that was retracted in Nature last month, partially on the basis of allegations on a listserver and online discussion. Monbiot looks into the identities of some of the individuals leading the criticism, and finds out that what we all know is true: nobody could be what they seem online. In fact, they might even be slimier than we suspect."

Comments

Now Now there is nothing to be concerned about.

[yasth]

I have no ties to the industry, but see nothing wrong with this. Indeed the author is obviously just anti-capitalist. I want to know how much he is paid by the radical anti-advertising coalition. Really Slashdot should retract this article.

Ian Knott Verity.

Cmdr Taco Pre-empts Threat!

[4of12]

[Quoting from the story]
Perhaps the greatest advantage of viral marketing is that your message is placed into a context where it is more likely to be considered seriously.

Fortunately, here at Slashdot no one is likely to make the mistake of considering posters seriously. I read Slashot and I read the headlines of the Weekly World News, too!