Here's what Analyt Group has to say about Internet Bashing:
Weekly Thoughts: "Bashing" Business is Booming (Part II)
Who bashers prey upon? Consider the elderly that are investing for
retirement, they find their way to the message boards for validation only
to see false posts about "SEC Violations" and "Class action suits"... or
the head of a "typical growing family", with children to put through
college, who is monitoring a message board only to read posts by a "pack
of 15 to 20 Bashers" (probably 5 or 6 under various alias's) posting
continuous disinformation... what do you think these new investors will
do? It's safer to not buy or even sell the stock, put the money back in
the bank than to deal with all this wind of "unsupported" negative stuff.
There are some rules you may want to consider to avoid making any
emotional decision on an stock investment
Rule 1: Remember, BASHERS NEVER Bash A BAD STOCK.
Check the boards for stocks with no potential. There are never any
bashers. Because those who hire bashers know a bad stock is always bad.
Further bashing will create more audience in the investment community.
Bashers only go after stocks that are moving up or have excellent
potential to do so. Bashers work to bring the price down to either
increase their position at the expense of others or help a short make
their bones.
Rule 2: BASHERS ALWAYS BRING UP OLD NEWS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD MANY TIMES.
Any startup companies always have a few bits of bad news. The basher will
post this over and over again. Unsophisticated Bashers will try to freshen
up old news with a new date or by-line in an attempt to fool you.
Rule 3: BASHERS POST MANY TIMES A DAY.
They try to wear you out. They comment on everything, every other post,
and can answer every question. THEY KNOW IT ALL! There is no positive
comment they won't bash. They try to control the board. True longs may
have to confront bashers or they will appear to newbies as being the
people with all the information. This is best accomplished by posting
positive, well researched data on the company, repetitively, while trying
hard not to engage bashers in direct repartee. This is how basher earns
their bonus.
Rule 4: BASHERS WILL LIE TO YOUR FACE.
Never trust a basher. This is a very important note. The truth on startup
companies is that they make mistakes. Which startup hasn't? The basher
will compare your issue to another company, financials - deals -
management, etc., trying to lure you into making an Apples to Oranges
comparison. Remember each company is unique and while it is prudent to
seek out established indicators, do so with care and don't take someone
else's word for it. Strive to come up with at least a "six-pack" of
indicators so your vision of the state of a company is not tied to a
single barometer. Not doing so is tantamount to going to a Race Track and
betting on the "Pretty Brown Horsey".
BASHERS WANT TO WHISPER IN YOUR EAR - PLANT A SEED OF DOUBT, AND HOPE THAT
YOU ARE NOT SAVVY ENOUGH TO RESEARCH THE TRUTH ON YOUR OWN.
This is your investment... work for it, protect it and don't panic on the
words of very shadowy figure that "has your best interest in their heart".
Consider that one factor: Someone you have never met, is not a member of
your family, is now, out of the goodness of their hearts - GIVING YOU FREE
ADVICE (that you didn't ask for). It's a no brainer. They have motives.
Something would have to be mentally wrong, albeit it is true in this case,
with someone to continue to waste valuable time posting negative comment
after negative comment about any company. They have some sort of stake,
and if not we challenge them to come up with a better reason why they're
here. They don't have one except monetary reasons. If the SEC were to open
the files on their accounts we are sure some interesting woo would creep
out.
Rule 5: Bashers know YOU CAN'T VERIFY THEIR STATEMENTS
Ask them to give you a viable link to this information and phone numbers
to further your DD. That's why they make the vague statements they do.
They rely on you being lazy to research their droppings other than to scan
the board for others opinions. This is particularly dangerous when you
consider that bashers work in packs and often validate and back up each
other nonsense with what appears to be "innocuous and unsolicited"
verification by comrade Bashers. Let's face it, we are all conditioned to
"believe" everything we see in writing. If others by virtue of their
"posts" also confirm this belief, then we are subconsciously doomed to
swallow the hook, line and sinker...
Rule 6: Bashers PLAY ON YOUR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
They can lie about information and you won't know the difference (unless
you have done your own DD on the company and know the truth and facts).
Rule 7: Bashers play on your lack of patience.
You have held a stock for a while. You knew it will be a big stock
someday, but the BASHER CAN GET TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE TIRED OF WAITING
FOR YOUR GAIN. That's when the Basher is best. You are tired. You have
forgotten the goal for the stock was to hold it for one year. The Basher
is bothersome, so you dump it on a bad day. Some others also dump. Then
you get mad for your loss and return to let everyone know how mad you are.
Then you turn into a semi-Basher as well. THE BASHER HAS WON, AND GAINED A
NEW ALLY - YOU!
Rule 8: BRING THE PRICE DOWN.
That is basher's job. The truth is not important. Lies are normal. Post
continuously on the board every day. They are trying to scare the newbies
that are just investigating a stock. They are trying to wear down the
faithful longs on the board and gain free reign and control.
