Newsgroup Shill FAQ
The purpose of this FAQ is to educate the public about a practice on the internet engaged in by various "newsgroup mafia" factions. Internet newsgroups are a key gateway to e-commerce, and the product or service referrals which can come from a newsgroup's "word of mouth" have become large enough in dollar amount to justify criminal behavior in an attempt to monopolize this revenue.
The anti-spam nature of the internet is such that spam which is disguised as friendly, helpful advice is considered much more strongly than that of overt advertising. Companies who participate in newsgroup-mafia behavior gain evenue from their activities which is then used to further fund its illegal operations.
The following Q&A will outline exactly how the practice works.
1. What is a "Newsgroup Mafia?"
A newsgroup mafia is a collection of individuals with a common purpose: to control the flow of information in a newsgroup, gaining popularity for the leader(s) of the newsgroup mafia, and then to direct business to the leaders. The other main purpose of a newsgroup mafia is to cover up an expose of illegal behavior or other corruption involving key individuals or businesses which
participate in or relate to the group.
2. What is the purpose of a Newsgroup Mafia?
As stated above, the end purpose is to generate revenue for the leader(s) of the mafia in the form of word-of-mouth referrals. To accomplish this, the leaders' business interests are promoted and spoken favorably of by the mafia rank-and-file, while rival businesses to that of the leaders are attacked or otherwise disrupted in any way that helps the leader businesses.
3. How can I tell if a newsgroup has been infested by a mafia?
Usually you will find extensive flamewars on the group, usually relating to a key product or idea in the group, and the products which either support or oppose that idea. Most telling will be how the flamers or ostensibly neutral parties put themselves in positions of pseudo-authority, "welcoming" newcomers
to the group under the pretext of being sociable, when in fact their purpose is to scout the newcomer to see which side s/he is on, and to attempt to sway them to the mafia's side and against the side of its rivals.
4. How does a newsgroup mafia operate?
The mafia will go to great lengths to establish its ideas and products as dominant, while the mafia members will insist that they are not connected to or on the payroll of the leader businesses, and that they are acting out of altruism, a desire to help others with what they have learned, and to provide information to interested newcomers. The internet makes it impossible to verify that these people are truly independent.
5. But wait! I know my internet friends wouldn't do this!
If they are paid to become your internet friend, they most definitely would. A simple referral can net a newsgroup mafia member a commission as high as 20-30 percent of each sale, which can add up to a nice living over time. Some newsgroup mafiosi make very good livings off of their work. A strong newsgroup mafia can take a previously unknown product, service, business, or individual and create the necessary "buzz" for them to break through to the public
consciousness, at which point their name-recognition and revenue begin to escalate to the point where they no longer need the mafia.
6. How can I trust word-of-mouth about anything online if all of this is true?
That's just it: you can't. Information is not like a manufactured product, which can be tested empircally. Judgements about the value of information are subjective, and public opinion is easy to manipulate with lies and distortions.
What appears to be a benign recommendation for a product or service is often part of a carefully crafted strategy to win you over. Usually, mafia members will employ several different tactics to secure business: one member will hard-sell the product and create a buzz and maybe even some suspicion that they are shills, but that is just a distraction so the soft-sellers who appear objective can then sprinkle their commentary with a mild recommendation to convince the more skeptical, while fake newbies then appear on the scene for the purpose of being "won over" and then telling the group that it's logical to buy the mafia product or service.
7. How can I tell if I'm being manipulated?
A newsgroup mafia will do everything within its power to engender good feelings about its leaders and products or services, and bad feelings about its rivals. An alarm bell should go off anytime you find yourself feeling good about spending your money on someone or something on the basis of what you hear on the internet about it; chances are there is money behind that good feeling. Also be wary of people who try to turn you against others, because you're just a pawn in their game. Be especially concerned if you see people breaking laws against others while trying to act nice to you. They do this to scare you in a way by implying that if you don't play along they might do the same thing to you, and they will.
8. How should I buy products and services on the internet if I can't trust anyone?
I know this is difficult, but you're going to have to learn to THINK FOR YOURSELF. Even your trusted friends online rarely are; most are just paid to shill for the products which "happen" to be mentioned in the course of your discussions. Many of the worst shills will go out of their way to provide "free" websites with hidden advertising. Look at the OUTCOME of these sites and recommendations and ask yourself if anyone is profiting either directly or indirectly. We like to think that people act out of the goodness of their hearts, but rarely is this the case.
Keep in mind that every time you fall for these tricks, you are funding organized-crime. If these tactics didn't work, businesses wouldn't engage in them, and if you suspect any businesses of doing this, just don't give them your money. Instead, do your own research and draw your own conclusions while keeping a watchful eye for the presence of a newsgroup mafia. Until you can peek into everyone's computers, you'll never know who is in bed with who.
