I am okay with self-identified employees rather than astroturfing. Nicks themselves have mentioned how Reddit attention helped them stay afloat, and how much of

I am okay with self-identified employees rather than astroturfing. Nicks themselves have mentioned how Reddit attention helped them stay afloat, and how much of a boon it has been for PNW bootmakers. IMO this is a far better outcome than that industry dying, the manufacturing parcelled to China/SE Asia and a storied bootmaker ultimately resurrected as a Frankenstein fast fashion brand. Wesco, for example is doing great because of online attention. However, even before Reddit, StyleForum was great, and their original darling was Viberg.