Posted By Kyle Ritter on May 26th, 2007 1:31 pm

Should I Call Out Every Local Bar That Spams Reviews?

I've caught a few more local establishments spamming reviews on BarFly. The dead give away is always a generic name. The second give away are reviews from the same IP address, usually one with a generic male name and the second with a generic female name. The third? You've read the reviews, you know how they are written. It's a tired subject, I know, but it's a real thorn in my side.

I have no qualms with calling out the undesirable locations, I have a hell of a lot of fun doing it. However, lately, even decent places are pulling these shenanighans. Now, should I worry about calling them out for fear of losing advertising dollars? Or does it even matter, considering I've spent more trying to sell advertising than I have ever made back.

My hangovers come at great cost, both financially and physically, and so far, I haven't seen any return. While this was never supposed to be a get rich venture for me, . I think it's in bad taste to for bars to (a) ask me to hook them up, (b) spam reviews, then (c) decline to pay for advertising.

I'm looking to get some opinions from you BarFlies with a free BarF Profile (if you don't have one, get one here!). You guys contribute the most to this site and I value your opinions more than anyone elses. So, whatcha think? Should I publish my master list of every bar that has attempted to take advantage of this website? 

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Bathroom Graffiti

ShanRock
May 26th, 2007
4:45 pm

I don't see why you shouldn't post a list. It'll be funny to see the guilty establishments blacken their own names. Even convenience stores have the hilarious "don't accept checks from these people" wall of shame. Also, the public call-out gives establishments a chance to defend themselves on the off chance that they are not guilty of the transgressions at hand. To the pillories, I say!

Kyle Ritter
May 26th, 2007
5:00 pm

Brandon St. Pony was on a checks list. Don't tell him I told you.

Edella
May 27th, 2007
10:02 pm

Well that is up to you. I don't even dare vote on that other than to say I wouldn't call out anyone you are not 100% certain about. But those who piss you off should be sent to The Pirates Tavern for 30 days and 30 nights :)

Aitch
May 28th, 2007
5:11 pm

Since reviews from shills add nothing to the site except lameness and "noise", I'd like to just not see them AT ALL by you deleting them as they're found. And while there may be a modicum of ethics over at BarF in terms of the editorial/advertising split, I don't think it'll do you folks any additional good to publish a list of suspected violators. Why _actively_ humiliate/piss off active and potential advertisers (even when they aren't paying their bills)? ...Though I can think of exceptions, and I'm sure you can, too.

Kyle Ritter
May 28th, 2007
6:59 pm

Thanks Aitch, I try to delete most of the crap ones, some slip by through laziness. I don't think it would do me much good either, but it gives me an immense sense of smug self-satisfaction.

notoriouskelly
May 28th, 2007
11:19 pm

Call em out!

Why should I be the only one censored/banned/blacklisted for speaking truth?

Do it smugly and we'll all enjoy it.

Lord Aaron Reichenberger of the Makey Make
May 29th, 2007
12:41 pm

Clams?

EvilBill
May 29th, 2007
1:48 pm

A few suggestions off the top of my head, all which require lots of coding in all your free time.

1) Follow some other sites' MO and allow for a specially flagged "Owner Written" review of the bar. Then s/he can shamelessly plug their business. (I would take it one step further if possible, have the owners get an account and then once a month or three send out a "Please verify the happy hour specials" or even let them edit the happy hour specials them selves.)

2) Moderated reviews. People with accounts are allowed to rate reviews, perhaps also allow users to flag reviews as "Looks like a shill". It is one thing to piss just you off, it is another to have a group of people giving negative feedback. Then it also frees you from having to directly be the bad guy.

3) Rather than posting a list, flag the page for the bar with a speical symbol or put text on that page that says "This bar likes to astroturf."

I need more coffee...

ShanRock
May 31st, 2007
3:16 am

But Kyle LIKES to be the bad guy. Kyle IS the bad guy. He's a wolf in jackal's clothing.

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