Shill Posters.

[jujigatame]

Of course on the political sites it is not to create revenue.

Considering donation dollars for parties and/or candidates can be made or lost depending on stances related to a single issue, I think revenue is most definitely at stake in those sites.

I think it's good to contact the companies and let them have a chance to give their take on it. Those who care that it can be taken as a negative may do something about it. Those who think it's not an issue, especially if it is done from company computers, deserve to be identified so the membership can know who is doing what.

[primal]

How could a company know exactly what their employees are doing 100% of the time? Should they hire an IT person to sift through corporate emails one-by-one to find any potential wrong-doing? Or should you put a certain amount of trust in your people? I know I have better ways of spending my time than looking over the shoulders of my employees all the time.

First...

YESSSSS! I'm fully connected once more. Muwuahahahahaha!

Ahem! Now that I got that out...

There's no need to take sides on the issue regarding what employees do on company property/time, and whether or not an employer is and/or should be aware of it.

Just Google the term "vicarious liability". That definition should pretty much give any/all employers the motivation to want to keep better tabs on what their employees are doing on company property/time. It can make or break a company.

[primal]

...While I do not know if this is the case it could certainly be just an employee not in seeing how it could appear from this end as I have seen a bunch of odd things.

It does not mean we don't have a shill problem as we do. Usually we see this with smaller companies and it is quite often the owner doing it or someone in charge of marketing. Like I said I don't know for sure at this point but the explanations I have gotten are plausible. Some others are not so plausible.
...
I reacted to this one as it was one of the larger companies I have seen that looked to be doing this. Some of it looks awkward but is possibly innocent as Tom has mentioned.

It is good of you to give the benefit of the doubt in this situation.

Forum marketing can be a very effective tool. It's just unfortunate when it's more aggressively/deceptively applied.

I appreciate the positive note regarding Leatherman. I've purchased many items from them over the years, especially during the Holidays. It's good to know my money's been going to a good place.

Thanks for all the feedback, Jon.

[sjmack]

I'm glad to see you handled it so well, Jon. I don't think you could have done a better job. No need to call the company out right away without working with them to figure out whats up. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of these cases end up being employees acting on their own, just because they are excited about their company and products.

I'm not trying to protect anyone here, just trying to give people the benefit of the doubt. How could a company know exactly what their employees are doing 100% of the time? Should they hire an IT person to sift through corporate emails one-by-one to find any potential wrong-doing? Or should you put a certain amount of trust in your people? I know I have better ways of spending my time than looking over the shoulders of my employees all the time.

Again, I'm not taking sides here, I'm just sayin...

I agree one hundred percent, and that's why Jon handled it the way he did. One of the reasons I stay on this forum is because Jon is so level headed and keeps this place civil and respectful.