4 ms·

There are some bizarre comments in this thread. Does China have PR people that are paid to just comment on random news articles about them with praises in brok

There are some bizarre comments in this thread. Does China have PR people that are paid to just comment on random news articles about them with praises in broken english?

joshAg 14y ago
Almost certainly. Companies can afford to do exactly this on sites like reddit and amazon. The US military has admitted to having a program to do exactly this. Part of the reason is because posting comments on certain web pages is not a highly sophisticated task, so wages can be low for the commenters.
- ihsw 14y ago
  It was: * in 2011 * contracted out to a corporation called Ntrepid, see more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntrepid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntrepid * worth $2.76M * targeted non-US websites to counter-act extremist propaganda That is hardly representative of the US military rather than pet project, let's stop the fear mongering.
  - joshAg 14y ago
    How is that at odds with what I said? While you provided more details than I did, it doesn't disagree that the US military has hired people to post comments on sites to further its PR goals. However, the project is probably didn't end in 2011 as you have implied, but is still ongoing since there has been no news that it has been shut down. Also, this is only what the US government has admitted, and only as a response to the information that was leaked as part of the HB Gary hacking. These types of programs are usually not publicized. It is entirely possible that the program is larger than reported or has grown since 2011, especially in light of the NSA whistle-blower's report about data collection of US citizens.
    - ihsw 14y ago
      Much of what you have said now is pure speculation. Furthermore the TLAs (Three Letter Agencies) are known to engage in both foreign and domestic clandestine operations while it would be scandalous for the US Military to operate domestically, so I highly doubt they're operating domestically.
      - joshAg 14y ago
        Fine, let me change my response so it is less speculative. what evidence do you have that the program ended in 2011? Since most information about these classified programs comes from documents that are unclassified well after the program has ended, all that's available right now are piecemeal reports from hackings, like anonymous's attack on HB Gary, or whistleblowers, like William Binney. While, it's possible that the reports we have outline the entire program, it's just as likely that they have only revealed part of a larger program.
        ihsw 14y ago
        Personally I subscribe to the Occam's razor theory: the one with the fewest assumptions is the best. The function of a military is a large tool, it feels neither love nor hatred but a sense of duty; however the same cannot be said about the TLAs as they operate with impunity.
jtl09 14y ago
Try to let ppl feel inferior of the their secondary language is a not bad idea. but it is just somehow off the topic. it has nothing related to the topic here and makes your arguments bland. Second, it disappointed you again that nobody here was paid by any company. it is just because they pity you to show you waht is right ,which is like your teachers told you in your kindergarten age. Last, enjoy your foolish.
- lemma 14y ago
  Well, this is entertaining.
nodata 14y ago
wtf is going on with the other replies to the op's comment?
mikeash 14y ago
You're not kidding. Although I don't doubt there are propaganda teams on many sides that patrol the internet, I have a hard time imagining that these come from one, except possibly as part of a weird bluff. They're so bad that there's no way they'd actually cause positive feelings toward China. My bet is that some small group of regular Chinese internet users found this comment thread and are going to town. Their language is much like any typical jigoistic crap you'll find scattered all over the internet from many different countries.
seanmcdirmid 14y ago
Are you familiar with the wu mao dang (五毛党 or 50 cent party)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Mao_Dang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Mao_Dang Anyways, just one of the strange things about living in China, but they are mostly harmless and uninfluential on English boards (now on Chinese boards...).
- fossuser 14y ago
  Weird I had no idea about that. How are they worse on the Chinese boards?
  - seanmcdirmid 14y ago
    They are more effective at subverting a discussion, they don't come off as obvious trolls like they do on English boards.
    - vivaforever 14y ago
      Look sean, if you're really the guy who posts a lot about Scala, I do respect you and would like to read your writings, I've been a Scala fan since 2009. What you've said here is fucking ridiculous, as a Chinese, I live and grown up in China, never really saw anyone who does shit you said. The term "Wu Mao" we do use humorously to refer someone who'd root for the government without any reason. Can you fucking believe that, somebody who can speak both Chinese and English doesn't have job, but posting shits online for 50 cents? Can you fucking believe that anyone has the ability to successfully manage such kind of organization? You guys are too stupid to insult. I came across this news when I browsing this website today, and saw ridiculous comments. I tried to say what I saw and believed, now you idiots are thinking I am hired by government for 50 cents. I love my country even if it's running by single party, even it has many problems, that doesn't stop me from loving my country. You idiots just don't believe a Chinese love his own country.
- jtl09 14y ago
  well, I heard this before but just read this wiki page today. good redirection.

There are some bizarre comments in this thread. Does China have PR people that are paid to just comment on random news articles about them with praises in broken english?

joshAg 14y ago

Almost certainly. Companies can afford to do exactly this on sites like reddit and amazon. The US military has admitted to having a program to do exactly this. Part of the reason is because posting comments on certain web pages is not a highly sophisticated task, so wages can be low for the commenters.

ihsw 14y ago
It was: * in 2011 * contracted out to a corporation called Ntrepid, see more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntrepid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntrepid * worth $2.76M * targeted non-US websites to counter-act extremist propaganda That is hardly representative of the US military rather than pet project, let's stop the fear mongering.
- joshAg 14y ago
  How is that at odds with what I said? While you provided more details than I did, it doesn't disagree that the US military has hired people to post comments on sites to further its PR goals. However, the project is probably didn't end in 2011 as you have implied, but is still ongoing since there has been no news that it has been shut down. Also, this is only what the US government has admitted, and only as a response to the information that was leaked as part of the HB Gary hacking. These types of programs are usually not publicized. It is entirely possible that the program is larger than reported or has grown since 2011, especially in light of the NSA whistle-blower's report about data collection of US citizens.
  - ihsw 14y ago
    Much of what you have said now is pure speculation. Furthermore the TLAs (Three Letter Agencies) are known to engage in both foreign and domestic clandestine operations while it would be scandalous for the US Military to operate domestically, so I highly doubt they're operating domestically.
    - joshAg 14y ago
      Fine, let me change my response so it is less speculative. what evidence do you have that the program ended in 2011? Since most information about these classified programs comes from documents that are unclassified well after the program has ended, all that's available right now are piecemeal reports from hackings, like anonymous's attack on HB Gary, or whistleblowers, like William Binney. While, it's possible that the reports we have outline the entire program, it's just as likely that they have only revealed part of a larger program.
      - ihsw 14y ago
        Personally I subscribe to the Occam's razor theory: the one with the fewest assumptions is the best. The function of a military is a large tool, it feels neither love nor hatred but a sense of duty; however the same cannot be said about the TLAs as they operate with impunity.

jtl09 14y ago

Try to let ppl feel inferior of the their secondary language is a not bad idea. but it is just somehow off the topic. it has nothing related to the topic here and makes your arguments bland. Second, it disappointed you again that nobody here was paid by any company. it is just because they pity you to show you waht is right ,which is like your teachers told you in your kindergarten age. Last, enjoy your foolish.

lemma 14y ago
Well, this is entertaining.

nodata 14y ago

wtf is going on with the other replies to the op's comment?

mikeash 14y ago

You're not kidding. Although I don't doubt there are propaganda teams on many sides that patrol the internet, I have a hard time imagining that these come from one, except possibly as part of a weird bluff. They're so bad that there's no way they'd actually cause positive feelings toward China. My bet is that some small group of regular Chinese internet users found this comment thread and are going to town. Their language is much like any typical jigoistic crap you'll find scattered all over the internet from many different countries.

seanmcdirmid 14y ago

Are you familiar with the wu mao dang (五毛党 or 50 cent party)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Mao_Dang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Mao_Dang Anyways, just one of the strange things about living in China, but they are mostly harmless and uninfluential on English boards (now on Chinese boards...).

fossuser 14y ago
Weird I had no idea about that. How are they worse on the Chinese boards?
- seanmcdirmid 14y ago
  They are more effective at subverting a discussion, they don't come off as obvious trolls like they do on English boards.
  - vivaforever 14y ago
    Look sean, if you're really the guy who posts a lot about Scala, I do respect you and would like to read your writings, I've been a Scala fan since 2009. What you've said here is fucking ridiculous, as a Chinese, I live and grown up in China, never really saw anyone who does shit you said. The term "Wu Mao" we do use humorously to refer someone who'd root for the government without any reason. Can you fucking believe that, somebody who can speak both Chinese and English doesn't have job, but posting shits online for 50 cents? Can you fucking believe that anyone has the ability to successfully manage such kind of organization? You guys are too stupid to insult. I came across this news when I browsing this website today, and saw ridiculous comments. I tried to say what I saw and believed, now you idiots are thinking I am hired by government for 50 cents. I love my country even if it's running by single party, even it has many problems, that doesn't stop me from loving my country. You idiots just don't believe a Chinese love his own country.
jtl09 14y ago
well, I heard this before but just read this wiki page today. good redirection.