Hier einmal zur Information für alle, sorry, dass der Text in Englisch ist, aber die USA sind das Mutterland der Basher und auch, wie man durch Gotham merkt, deutlich besser darin, mit Schlamm zu werfen als wir hier in Deutschland.
How to IDENTIFY a Basher and HOW THEY ARE PAID.
A while back I read an excellent post that I cant find again, so I will try to work from memory and tell you how I understood it. When I read this, suddenly the universe began to make sense.... Especially THIS Microsoft message board. I hope this helps you as much as it clarified a few things for me.
The way I understand it BASHERS get paid on he basis of how many people they can engage in a debate.
When you REPLY to a basher you give them an opportunity to make their money.
They get paid by the reply.
There are certain tactics or tricks that they use. (I cant remember each bullet but I do remember the gist):
TACTICS:
A paid basher will win your confidence by using facts and data that make them seem knowledgeable about their subject.
They earn your trust with credible posts, will sometimes agree with your message, but never diverge from their task: to depress the price of the stock.
They search out the board leaders and engage them in debate; the rest usually follow.
They earn trust on a board and will even engage themselves in a debate by using a series of aliases in order to give their position authenticity or fuel a particular rumor.
They offer personal information about themselves to gain credibility. After all, they are real people; they are your friend, your neighbor, they care about you and are only on here to help.
These people get paid by the reply. Each time you respond to them they earn money. So if you respond to them you are paying them.
Ask yourself: why would a person who doesn't own a stock put in the time and effort to bash it? Why would a person who supposedly has a job spend all day posting to bash your investment? I mean what on earth would they have to gain? If they have no job (but have the time to post all day just for free they are a total loser who shouldn't be listened to, anyway.) If they can spend all day bashing a stock and engaging you in a stupid debate in a stock they don't even own what on earth is in it for them? Money, that's what.
TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT: (partially taken from a post I read about this and did copy but it wasn't as good as the original post that I read):
The service agreement they enter into with their employer states their messages will be monitored for content, profanity, lies, etc. but MM's and the like don't have the time to check all their bashers' messages. They usually do only spot checks regarding the stocks the pro basher signs up for that week. They mainly read the headlines to see if a basher is replying to other posters by name.
That tells them the basher isn't just 'posting blindly' or repeating the same message over and over since they won't pay for that. A basher will milk three to five replies to a post at $1-2.00 each.
Sera, again: If anyone actually owns a stock they spend all day bashing they must be a mental case. I mean really, let's use some common sense here. What motivates people who spend all day-during working hours- on a message board? (It's a rhetorical question really, they're either total losers or they're making money off of you- same difference.)
Take this information for what it's worth. On The Motley Fool they have to work harder, much harder, than on Yahoo. That's why we have less of them but boy do we have some suckers on this board: Those who consistently engage certain posters in debates that go nowhere; posters who inject themselves into every single thread no matter how off topic their response is from the original subject (ever notice how it always gets back to bashing MSFT? Example: Thread: I ate an egg sandwich today. Basher: Did you know that Bill gates owns every chicken on the planet? I mean Duh.) and finally, those who generate tons of off topic comments within posts just to keep the negativity going. I mean really what is their motive? (Again, rhetorical question.)
HOW TO STOP THEM:
The best way to handle these people is to SEND A PENALTY BOX TO TMF WITH THE WORDS STOCK BASHER IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. Then put them permanently on IGNORE. Don't engage them no matter how tempting.
Others will inadvertently post their comments and respond, so you'll still see their comments at times even if they are on ignore. But DON'T ENGAGE THEM, just warn the person/people who did.
On this board it is far more difficult to come back with many aliases so they are easier to identify, control and get rid of. I say, drive them off. Be diligent about quality control and don't be afraid to go after them. There is enough information on MSFT that is negative that we will always be well informed. There are enough legitimate posters who own this stock or know the company who can and do come on here and discuss the many issues this company faces. Bashers are not here to inform you, they are here to manipulate you. That's their job.
Like all parasites they need to be taught a lesson. Don't engage them. It pays them. Do your part. I know of two that are on this board, so do you.
One last comment: Even if you want to disbelieve the Paid Basher thesis that's fine but still, ask yourself: Why would anyone spend all day on a board bashing a stock they do not own? And, if they own it, why would they bash it?
And finally, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck.
boards.fool.com/...and-the-fools-who-engage-them-12055262.aspx