That's the apologist vibe I'm getting from reading this thread. It's all ok. Am I wrong?
So, is everyone ok with me changing my name and not have any sig? That's the apologist vibe I'm getting from reading this thread. It's all ok. Am I wrong?
Also, correct me if I got this timeline wrong, but didn't AMD blacklist Apoppin right when he visited here at Anandtech and was descended upon by a drove of AMD fans? Isn't that when Apoppin stated that the AMD viral shills at Anandtech reported back to AMD and then AMD blacklisted ABT?
I just want to make sure I don't have this incorrect. Because I think the "campaign" to have AMD enforce their social media rules began after the blacklisting, unless anyone can show otherwise?
Jaydip and Bofox, you seem to rave about facts that Apoppin posted, but I don't see them really as evidence for this forum as a safe heaven for AMD shills. Can you both clarify this to me? Maybe I am missing something.
I'll just say I get huge laughs every time I read anything on that forum, although i've been shying away from it lately to avoid giving them revenue from hits. He's accused me of being a shill (and no I don't work for AMD ) and just about everyone that has said something negative about nvidia of being a shill without having an ounce of proof - so he supposedly wants AMD to enforce their rules but he has no idea that anyone works for them, he's just on a witch hunt to accuse anyone that says anything potentially positive about AMD and/or say anything bad about nvidia.
IMO, we all know the tone took a drastic turn around December and they've been hellbent on throwing out wild accusations without any proof, and there's also the max OC benchmarks that wildly contradict similar benchmarks in specific games. So witchhunt, manipulating reviews, sorry thats just the way I see it.
Let the witch hunt continue, personally I just get huge laughs when I read the sensationalist accusations spewn across his website. Also, since we're disclosing who's what, are nvidia employees disclosing their affiliation? Just curious.
If i am not mistaken i believe NV employees are barred from participating in tech forums.
Before we get into issues with the source, Id like to state that this is a subject that is interesting to me and got approval to post for discussion.
http://alienbabeltech.com/main/?p=29278
http://alienbabeltech.com/abt/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24650
I find this subject interesting because of the accusations being implied by the author, and source site, with out any real evidence. Its getting to the point where they are promoting unwarranted implications that any AMD/ATI fan should be considered a compensated employee of AMD or their marketing affiliates. As an AMD/ATI fan (note: I only use Radeons) I find this approach rather insulting.
If youve read the article youll see how only one specific company is really examined even though they have their own policy on social networking. The author goes on to stretch accusations of this site and staff of being involved in this marketing agenda. One specific quote from IDC is used to support their claims, yet if they did any real investigation theyd come across the other quotes from IDC that clarified on his original post.
After waiting for months for this article to surface I find myself with the same opinion I did during the investigative parts and the Q&A which is there is still absolutely no evidence that proves any of the claims.
tl;dr
How do you guys feel about these viral shill accusations for simply supporting a product you prefer? Its amazing that openly supporting a product/brand and being an otherwise fanboy/girl is now being misconstrued as being someone who is compensated to do so. Is that the next level of forum posting?
Well thats good to know. If he's doing such journalism I welcome it, but he should get some real substance and real information, otherwise he's just going to get attacked for circumstantial evidence. Other than that I used to really enjoy some of the old articles before December, the driver comparisons were always useful info. Anyway -- If you look at every major hardware reviewing website thats popular you don't see their managing editors post about bullcrap and their personal vices about hardware companies. Keep it professional and if you have an investigative piece get some real evidence.
I also still find it utterly ridiculous that the readers of a forum could possibly be swayed by such nonsense. Readers here are not unintelligent, and I also find it ridiculous that AMD would put effort into staffing a forum 24/7 with shills. Come on man.
I find some extraordinary forum posters in ATF, RS,Ben Skywalker,Tatalmir to name them a few.But when we talk about NV vs AMD products the situation takes an ugly turn.Both camps accuse others of being a shill.This is detrimental to forum growth IMHO.I already said i prefer NV products but that doesn't mean i dislike AMD fans.We need supporters from both camps to make a good forum.I just want to see transparency.I just ask AMD to formulate a focus group just like NV did.If keys can post here while being identified why can't they?
So, are you saying that you think AMD has paid shills here like he says? Do you also believe they are known to AT staff and are sheltered?
Come on! He's PO'd he didn't get a 7970. He threatened to do this same expose' when he was refused RMA for a 6970 (I believe that was the card?). AMD told him it was a mobo incompatibility and he went ballistic. Then later on, he found out that's exactly what it was.
Even if it wasn't, AMD supplied that card as a "review sample". It had served it's purpose for AMD. He apparently believes that it's AMD's responsibility to give him free hardware because it suits him not them. At the very least he doesn't understand business. At the worse, he's lost touch with reality. I'm leaning towards the latter.
So, are you saying that you think AMD has paid shills here like he says? Do you also believe they are known to AT staff and are sheltered?
Actually, he said this: "Its beyond silly to think that there are no amd emploees among us and i ask them just to identify themselves.Thats it."
Come on! He's PO'd he didn't get a 7970. He threatened to do this same expose' when he was refused RMA for a 6970 (I believe that was the card?). AMD told him it was a mobo incompatibility and he went ballistic. Then later on, he found out that's exactly what it was.
Actually, he was blacklisted shortly after a massive arguments with AMD fans here on Anandtech. Before the 7970 launched (paper or real). And the card you're referring to was a 6990. Also, Apoppin refused to benchmark a card with the bios switch in the UBER position because AMD fibbed about any warranty initially or changed their warranty policy after people bought the cards.
Even if it wasn't, AMD supplied that card as a "review sample". It had served it's purpose for AMD. He apparently believes that it's AMD's responsibility to give him free hardware because it suits him not them. At the very least he doesn't understand business. At the worse, he's lost touch with reality. I'm leaning towards the latter.
Dude, i have read the thread, you suggested he brought out the viral shills as way to hit back at AMD for spurning his site for review units.....
Well, I don't personally think Mark would risk his web site on unfounded accusations. He obviously thinks he has enough proof to publish...It will be interesting to see what the outcome is!
So, is everyone ok with me changing my name and not have any sig? That's the apologist vibe I'm getting from reading this thread. It's all ok. Am I wrong?
Also, correct me if I got this timeline wrong, but didn't AMD blacklist Apoppin right when he visited here at Anandtech and was descended upon by a drove of AMD fans? Isn't that when Apoppin stated that the AMD viral shills at Anandtech reported back to AMD and then AMD blacklisted ABT?
I just want to make sure I don't have this incorrect. Because I think the "campaign" to have AMD enforce their social media rules began after the blacklisting, unless anyone can show otherwise?
JFAMD didn't get off easy compared to Rollo. Those 2 are not really comparable.
Rollo was a troll and he was very smart in going about it - which JFAMD is not. Rollo got people banned by baiting them - JFAMD did not do that. Rollo generated volumes of garbage - JFAMD did not do that. Rollo was inexplicably allowed back and then got perma banned again- and shortly after he might have something to do with the AT server crashing - JFAMD is not crazy enough to do that. After all that some posters still had 'bring back Rollo' in their sigs. So who got off easy?
HardOCP is one of those sites, to me at least, that you either agree with or disagree with in terms of their settings used. I like that they attempt to show best settings they can use, but their goal of 30 FPS seems to low for me and I'd often sacrifice something to get higher. Overall, I don't really make any buying decisions on their methods, but I'm glad they are around.
There was a time when HardOCP was accused of being a shill site too. Haha.
Here is an open question to the forum posters, and it ties into this whole ordeal:
Do you honestly think ALL EMPLOYEES of a company disclose their identities/affiliations as stated in their Social Policies?
I never once denied that AMD employees (shill or not) are active here. I also won't deny the same to any other company regardless of what Social Media Policies their employers execute. It is the job of the employer to ensure they are followed - not forum posters.
What I'm getting at, with how this ordeal is happening (remember there is still not a single link of evidence except one correlation, I'll get to that) that proves anything. One can assume, using the same logic, other company employees are engaging in such practices.
Now, here is the only evidence, though circumstantional, that I"ve seen - Edelman. The rational that Edelman has done it in the past with Wal-Mart can easily be discredited, or supported, by making a comparison to nVidia themselves.
Apoppin argued that Edelman did it in the past with Wal-Mart, so of course they are doing it again with AMD. nVidia had stealth members in the past, well, who is to say they aren't doing it again? See how this works. With no actual evidence I can't prove anything, but I have enough information to plant a seed.
I'm still asking for solid evidence, it's all I've asked for, and yet all those involved can't provide a single piece out side of opinion and personal bias.
Please don't defend a position that AMD employees do not post here undercover or anonomously. We've already seen more than enough circumstantial evidence that shows this is the case.
If they can influence other's purchasing decision then yes they should disclose themselves or they should refrain from getting into this kind of discussion.I ask for transparency from all the companies regardless of their color.I never accused anyone being a shill and i hope never to do it in the future.We have moderators to do that job.
Which VC&G posters are AMD viral marketers? Please, we'd love to know.
Please don't defend a position that AMD employees do not post here undercover or anonomously. We've already seen more than enough circumstantial evidence that shows this is the case.
Theres a key difference here you arent going around and shilling products and/or services that your company provides. Staying anonymous is one thing, being a shill is something entirely different. Being a shill is actually illegal in some situations.
If there really are AMD shills among us then they need step forward and reveal themselves. The nVidia focus group did, now lets see if you can.