Ask OZ: How Does OZ Know That " [I Am] Affiliated with The Store and Are Not Allowed to Vote on The Deal."

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  Moderatorneil on 03/08/2017 - 19:43

  We manually (yes 1 by 1 or ranges) map IP addresses to companies. Usually it's obvious as it resolves to the domain but other times we just match up reps or declared employees with the IP address.

  Anyone associated with the company (e.g. employees, friend, family of owner etc.) shouldn't be voting for their own deals and this is one of the mechanisms to remind and/or block users from doing so. Sockpuppeting

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    cryinoutloud on 03/08/2017 - 20:24

    Wow, that's fairly sophisticated. If I comment in the post that's related to that specific big 4 bank, will I get the "Associated" flag next to my username?

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      spackbace on 03/08/2017 - 22:07

      +5

      More to the point, you should be ticking the box that says "I am associated". Shouldn't need the system to do that for you…

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        cryinoutloud on 04/08/2017 - 05:26

        Technically I should but in the bank's vastness I am no more associated than any other customer. A shareholder should be declaring themselves associated if it's about transparency in gains.

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        Cwong14u on 04/08/2017 - 06:50

        +1

        You should be doing that every time you shamelessly pitch (however subtle) a Toyota in this forum.

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        Moderatorneil on 04/08/2017 - 10:42

        Assuming you are talking about this. If spackbace posts a Toyota deal, then he should hit the associated button. In discussions, it should be mentioned that he works at Toyota (no way of marking associated in forums) if giving a recommendation just like scottyheist should declare when discussing products from the Big 4 banks. We can set it so it shows employee tag. We'd rather people be upfront about it and then let the users decide.

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        spackbace on 04/08/2017 - 10:46

        @neil:

        In discussions, it should be mentioned that he works at Toyota 

        So I list 4 different cars, 1 being Toyota, and I should list what I do? That's a hell of a stretch neil.

        I could understand if it's 1 single car recommendation (of which I have declared my relationship previously), but not when it's 4 different options, for an OP who is in a different state, and they're looking at used cars (when I sell new).

        By rights I also listed competitors cars, which shouldn't be allowed.

        ---

        Side note, really appreciate leaving the troll comments up when they've been reported over 3 occasions now. Really good to see the whole 'positivity' thing getting thrown in the bin.

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        Moderatorneil on 04/08/2017 - 10:54

        @Spackbace:

        When people are looking for advice for buying decisions, there should be transparency (in life & OzBargain). In this case, as you say, it isn't about promoting to get sales but there is a bias on recommending a product if you work for the company. And same goes with scottyheist's example.

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        spackbace on 04/08/2017 - 10:55

        @neil:

        I listed 4 cars, where's the bias? 3/4 of my recommendations are the competition.

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        Moderatorneil on 04/08/2017 - 11:08

        @Spackbace:

        Bias may not be intentional and it's part of why experiments are done double blind.

        If I'm reading a Choice review and the reviewer list their top 4 cars but I find out the reviewer also works full time for one of the cars manufacturer, I might be more sceptical of the review. However, if the reviewer is well known to not bullshit around with their reviews, I would also take that into account. But knowing both of these pieces of information allows the reader to come to their own conclusions.

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        gimli on 08/08/2017 - 19:04

        @Spackbace: you were the one getting on your high horse about how the op should have clicked associated…

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        spackbace on 08/08/2017 - 19:14

        @Gimli:

        Yes, when he works for the company that the deal is posted for!

        If I comment in the post that's related to that specific big 4 bank

        You really can't see the difference between the 2 scenarios?

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  jimbobaus on 04/08/2017 - 01:59

  They also got it very wrong.
  They have associated people who have nothing to do with a company and when you contact the mods about it they act like they never get anything wrong.

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    Moderatorneil on 04/08/2017 - 10:15

    We won't get into your specific case. IP matches in itself don't always mean there is a connection however we have other mechanisms at confirming a user works at certain company.

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  tranter on 04/08/2017 - 11:12

  +1

  Wow, big brother has come to OzBargain.

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    neil on 04/08/2017 - 11:23

    +2

    

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      tranter on 04/08/2017 - 11:56

      Must be why VPN deals are so popular here :)

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  gimli on 08/08/2017 - 19:05

  hey does that mean that ozbargain know that Gimli son of Gloin's full time job is not mining mithrel in the mines of Moria??