ot- interesting
some people claim that posts on message boards are irrelevant. nothing more than useless banter by people trying to make their case, but making no difference in sentiment or God forbid, the price of a stock
other people claim that the message board of a company, especially the one with the most activity, the most useful information, surely does show the sentiment of or towards the stock - anyone looking at say, the OSTK Y!MB will see that "someone" (maybe the naked shorters maybe who knows) spends a HUGE amount of time, trying to sway opinion of the readers of said message board - and that it does matter
this dude was pumping the stock, and trashing his competition, but doing it completely anonymously (from the external first glance look I've had) so did his posting make any difference?
It certainly would (well, maybe "might have" would be better verbiage) have been different if he had posted "Hi I'm the CEO of this company and I've got some things to say, wild oats sucks and we rock" would that have been better?
If CEO's increasingly use their own message boards as a sounding board, is it that we need them to be publicly accountable? Do they need to state their name rank and serial number? Cramer admits to having used message boards in the early days to make his case, Cuban uses his blog to pump his own comanies, agendas, sports teams etc, and there's a strong opinion that Pat Byrne (above mentioned OSTK CEO posts to Y!MB on occasion, and he certainly admitted to using the Motley Fool message boards frequently for a while there.
So is it that message boards are a waste of time? DO they matter? if no, then why does it matter (except to discerning shareholders wanting accountability of a CEO's every waking moment) if he anonymously (with the usually low credibility of a message board pumper) starts taking trash?
Which is it? credibility on a message board instantly no matter what your title?
Why does the SEC, the FED care about this at all?
Did he, as an anonymous poster somehow damage OATS? Did he personally, lower the aquiring price of the company?
OT INTERESTING QUESTIONS!
I personally am of the opinion that if a CEO wants to post on YMB he's welcome, just don't let me know he's doing it on my time.
Did the message board make a difference in the company's (OATS) value? If so, it's slippery slope for all posters and the FED who now gives themselves the HUGE responsibility for policing the entire content of the internet for accuracy, and identity.
Big job and the Govt has much better ways to spend my money!
all IMO and big brother if you're watching I'm not the CEO of any public company, I swear!
