The Levitra Couches
July 8, 2007 4:34 PM Subscribe
I wonder how much of the labeling was done by people who had come across the website...
Weird.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 4:57 PM on July 8, 2007
Weird.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 4:57 PM on July 8, 2007
IMO, loq just got hooked by web meme marketers. This is as fake as anything we've ever seen.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:01 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by five fresh fish at 5:01 PM on July 8, 2007
I've corresponded with Rob Cockerham. He seems to be a nice guy, and he has used his website as a platform for educating people about how bad pyramid schemes like Herbalife are, many times in the past. I would be incredibly surprised if this was the work of web meme marketers--at least, if it is, he is being duped as well.
It is true that this link is positively ancient in internet years, however. I was hoping that there had been some resolution to the mystery.
posted by Kwine at 5:09 PM on July 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
It is true that this link is positively ancient in internet years, however. I was hoping that there had been some resolution to the mystery.
posted by Kwine at 5:09 PM on July 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
FFF, cockeyed.com has a long history of pro-consumer articles, and an equal history of whim-driven investigative journalism (blogerism?) like the link. No conspiracy here.
posted by lekvar at 5:15 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by lekvar at 5:15 PM on July 8, 2007
Obviously it could be marketing, but not by Rob Cockerham. Rob Cockerham is THE MAN.
posted by DU at 5:21 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by DU at 5:21 PM on July 8, 2007
The truth is a bit uglier. The recipients of Levitra prescriptions, after coitus, often find themselves compelled to write the name of the drug on anything within reach. Most are small, hastily scrawled markings. Others, like these couches, render the object in question unusable and fit only for the dump. The makers of this drug have created the manufacturer's dream. A product that brainwashes it's users into mindlessly advertising itself. Like Apple.
posted by IronLizard at 5:30 PM on July 8, 2007 [8 favorites]
posted by IronLizard at 5:30 PM on July 8, 2007 [8 favorites]
The thing I've always loved about Levitra is it's marketing. Their logo, the flame, is so great on both an obvious and a subliminal level. I mean, it's a flame but it's also got a very O'Keefe vibe to it, if you get my drift.*
And then there's the commercial. Pure genius.
*Psst. It's a va-jay-jay!
posted by Brittanie at 5:37 PM on July 8, 2007
And then there's the commercial. Pure genius.
*Psst. It's a va-jay-jay!
posted by Brittanie at 5:37 PM on July 8, 2007
I doubt it's marketing by Cokerham, he's a riot.
It does feel like a joke someone is pulling though. Like a prank by the Something Awful goons, or maybe some other forum orchestrating it.
posted by inthe80s at 5:37 PM on July 8, 2007
It does feel like a joke someone is pulling though. Like a prank by the Something Awful goons, or maybe some other forum orchestrating it.
posted by inthe80s at 5:37 PM on July 8, 2007
I wonder how much of the labeling was done by people who had come across the website...
Maybe the first two were random, but I think most of the people doing the tagging now are tagging, then taking a picture and sending it in.
It's all conspiracy to drive up adsense revenue by being able to put "levitra" ads on the site. There's one Levitra ad on the sidebar right now. (okay I meant that tongue in cheek but it ended up sounding rather serious)
posted by delmoi at 5:44 PM on July 8, 2007
Maybe the first two were random, but I think most of the people doing the tagging now are tagging, then taking a picture and sending it in.
It's all conspiracy to drive up adsense revenue by being able to put "levitra" ads on the site. There's one Levitra ad on the sidebar right now. (okay I meant that tongue in cheek but it ended up sounding rather serious)
posted by delmoi at 5:44 PM on July 8, 2007
This is the kind of thing that I dread Xeni Jardin finding out about.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:53 PM on July 8, 2007 [15 favorites]
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:53 PM on July 8, 2007 [15 favorites]
1. Spray 'Levitra' on sofa, post on popular website, wait for copy-cats.
2.??? Add Levitra adverts to footer of each page.
3. Profit.
posted by jack_mo at 5:54 PM on July 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
2.
3. Profit.
posted by jack_mo at 5:54 PM on July 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
delmoi nails the shit out of this one!
Rob Cockerham is no stranger to Adsense chicanery -- many of his articles are framed around other hot keywords, and heavily paginated to show you as many ads as possible.
How many ways can you spell V1/\9R@? $pyramid-scheme sucks a lot? It's only one step removed from blogging about Mesothelioma.
The guy also had a big hand in that whole zug.com / Prince Halftime at the Superbowl non-prank.
Face it, Rob sold out years ago.
posted by blasdelf at 6:01 PM on July 8, 2007
Rob Cockerham is no stranger to Adsense chicanery -- many of his articles are framed around other hot keywords, and heavily paginated to show you as many ads as possible.
How many ways can you spell V1/\9R@? $pyramid-scheme sucks a lot? It's only one step removed from blogging about Mesothelioma.
The guy also had a big hand in that whole zug.com / Prince Halftime at the Superbowl non-prank.
Face it, Rob sold out years ago.
posted by blasdelf at 6:01 PM on July 8, 2007
It's a joke. Cockerham's site is almost all jokes -- most are pretty funny, too. Been reading and enjoying for years. Check out some of his pranks.
posted by Mid at 6:18 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by Mid at 6:18 PM on July 8, 2007
Blasdelf - my impression is that Cockerham isn't exactly rolling in cash. I don't blame the guy for trying to make a little money off his website. God forbid that someone stoop so low as to use adsense!
posted by Mid at 6:28 PM on July 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Mid at 6:28 PM on July 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
I wonder if there are any couches with "Viral" sprayed on them?
posted by signal at 6:28 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by signal at 6:28 PM on July 8, 2007
When I saw the title of this FPP I immediately thought it was regarding some middle aged man equivalent of The Vagina Monologues.
posted by fleetmouse at 6:28 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by fleetmouse at 6:28 PM on July 8, 2007
It's a prank.
posted by The White Hat at 7:00 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by The White Hat at 7:00 PM on July 8, 2007
Cockerham is a MeFi member, so maybe he'll let us know if it's a joke/scam/ad or not.
For myself, I remember seeing this a couple years ago, and I'm also surprised that there's no resolution, and there's still levitra couches turning up. I have never seen one myself, but if I did, I would certainly take a picture of it and send it to Rob (so maybe it IS a self-perpetuating meme); but on the other hand, I have never spray-painted a couch with "LEVITRA" and sent it to Rob (so maybe it isn't) - but, who knows?
posted by yhbc at 7:02 PM on July 8, 2007
For myself, I remember seeing this a couple years ago, and I'm also surprised that there's no resolution, and there's still levitra couches turning up. I have never seen one myself, but if I did, I would certainly take a picture of it and send it to Rob (so maybe it IS a self-perpetuating meme); but on the other hand, I have never spray-painted a couch with "LEVITRA" and sent it to Rob (so maybe it isn't) - but, who knows?
posted by yhbc at 7:02 PM on July 8, 2007
If someone were going around spraying "Schadenfreude" or "Kill the Wabbit" or "23 Skiddoo" on couches, I might buy that it's some sort of hep phenomenon or movement. But impotence pills? Come on.
Now, if these were the Levitra La-Z-Boys [titter], that'd be something. Are we meant to think this is some sort of post-pomo commentary on the commodification of sexuality or the disposable nature of virility or . . . oh fuck it.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:15 PM on July 8, 2007
Now, if these were the Levitra La-Z-Boys [titter], that'd be something. Are we meant to think this is some sort of post-pomo commentary on the commodification of sexuality or the disposable nature of virility or . . . oh fuck it.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:15 PM on July 8, 2007
Hmm. I tried to send Mr. Cockerham an email alerting him to this thread, but the contact email address on his website isn't funtional, and I can't find his MeFi account page to see if there's another address there. Sorry.
posted by yhbc at 7:25 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by yhbc at 7:25 PM on July 8, 2007
Ever tried shlepping an old couch up to a 2nd floor apartment? At some point you realize you're just never going to get it up... and that's when you abandon the fucker and spray-paint Levitra on it.
posted by selfmedicating at 7:40 PM on July 8, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by selfmedicating at 7:40 PM on July 8, 2007 [3 favorites]
Everybody missed the obvious... they were just misspelling Levitz.
posted by wendell at 7:48 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by wendell at 7:48 PM on July 8, 2007
I have a levitra pen. It folds in on itself, and if you press a small button on the side, it flips out again. There is a small, slight bend at the base...
(video here)
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:51 PM on July 8, 2007
(video here)
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:51 PM on July 8, 2007
I don't care. Nobody with a mental age of more than 6 cares. This is "humor" for ninnies.
What the couches SHOULD say is "Free crabs & bedbugs!" 'Cuz, y'know, that's what they're full of. Now I only scarf up non-upholstered furniture I can carefully sterilize.
posted by davy at 7:51 PM on July 8, 2007
What the couches SHOULD say is "Free crabs & bedbugs!" 'Cuz, y'know, that's what they're full of. Now I only scarf up non-upholstered furniture I can carefully sterilize.
posted by davy at 7:51 PM on July 8, 2007
How cute Pope Guilty, a switchblade pen. Fonzie had a switchblade COMB -- in 1975.
posted by davy at 7:55 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by davy at 7:55 PM on July 8, 2007
It's just some way to get ad revenue. Did you know you can get real Levitra from netdr.com? Only $99!
posted by puke & cry at 7:55 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by puke & cry at 7:55 PM on July 8, 2007
If it was real marketing for Levitra, shouldn't the sofas be hard to find?
They should also say somewhere on them: " in the event that this sofa is here for more than four hours, consult your physician....."
posted by Benny Andajetz at 8:10 PM on July 8, 2007
They should also say somewhere on them: " in the event that this sofa is here for more than four hours, consult your physician....."
posted by Benny Andajetz at 8:10 PM on July 8, 2007
Yeah, when the first thing you see on the page is a Levitra ad, I'm pretty sure this is about ads. But if I know Rob (and I don't, but I like to pretend I do), I don't think he would do it unless it's going to come to some sort of awesome conclusion.
posted by SassHat at 8:12 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by SassHat at 8:12 PM on July 8, 2007
The real question here should be: which came first, the Levitra couches or the guys in the ottoman humping YouTube video?
posted by Iosephus at 8:59 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by Iosephus at 8:59 PM on July 8, 2007
Right, so we're agreed, we've been trolled by a marketing web meme. And a piss-poor one at that.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:00 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by five fresh fish at 10:00 PM on July 8, 2007
Right, so we're agreed, we've been trolled by a marketing web meme. And a piss-poor one at that.
Waiter? This fish? It is not so fresh. Send it back.
posted by loquacious at 10:16 PM on July 8, 2007
Waiter? This fish? It is not so fresh. Send it back.
posted by loquacious at 10:16 PM on July 8, 2007
Besides everyone knows Cialis is hardcore gansta compared to lavitra. I mean who would want to fuck Mike Ditka.
posted by delmoi at 10:37 PM on July 8, 2007
posted by delmoi at 10:37 PM on July 8, 2007
blasdelf: "Face it, Rob sold out years ago."
Wow, the bar for selling out must be lower than I was previously aware.
posted by Plutor at 5:29 AM on July 9, 2007
Wow, the bar for selling out must be lower than I was previously aware.
posted by Plutor at 5:29 AM on July 9, 2007
What the couches SHOULD say is "Free crabs & bedbugs!" 'Cuz, y'know, that's what they're full of. Now I only scarf up non-upholstered furniture I can carefully sterilize.
A month or two back I saw a couch in an alley on which someone who apparently agrees with you had spraypainted "PLAGUE" along with a skull and crossbones.
posted by enn at 6:12 AM on July 9, 2007
A month or two back I saw a couch in an alley on which someone who apparently agrees with you had spraypainted "PLAGUE" along with a skull and crossbones.
posted by enn at 6:12 AM on July 9, 2007
If even one person wonders why there's a boner pill named after that word that people spraypaint on discarded couches, all of this hard work will have paid off.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:30 AM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:30 AM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
This is the kind of thing that I dread Xeni Jardin finding out about.
That is the funniest thing I've read all hour.
posted by ImJustRick at 8:26 AM on July 9, 2007
That is the funniest thing I've read all hour.
posted by ImJustRick at 8:26 AM on July 9, 2007
Look at the datestamp:
January 13th, 2005. Terms and Conditions Copyright 2005 Cockeyed.com
Why oh why has this not been resolved?!!?
posted by dash_slot- at 10:22 AM on July 9, 2007
January 13th, 2005. Terms and Conditions Copyright 2005 Cockeyed.com
Why oh why has this not been resolved?!!?
posted by dash_slot- at 10:22 AM on July 9, 2007
on the last page, Rob invites email at a different address than the pacbell email shown on the contacts page: "Rob at Cockeyed.com"
posted by mwhybark at 10:44 AM on July 9, 2007
posted by mwhybark at 10:44 AM on July 9, 2007
Levitar, verb. present tense, el, ella, Ud. levita . At least 1 of the couches says Levita. Could it mean pick up, as in rubbish?
posted by theora55 at 1:08 PM on July 9, 2007
posted by theora55 at 1:08 PM on July 9, 2007
YES, as many have guessed, this was faked. The vast majority of the couches were painted in Sacramento by me personally, set up as an "unfolding" story. I think I started posting when I had pictures of 15 couches ready to go, and I continuously came across new couches to spray paint.
I regret being deceitful to my own audience, and (although it is still tempting) I resolve to stay away from this sort of thing in the future. It certainly undermines the perception of the rest of my site. (Which is why a reporter from the New York Times asked me to personally verify the accuracy of the "torn up credit card" story).
SO, for the record, there are two articles which have been faked on Cockeyed.com, one was the first "how much is inside" episode, (Shaving Cream) which I revealed as fake in 2005, and the Levitra Couches story was the second.
There aren't any more, although there are some which I consider to be obvious satire, such as "celebrity comment sections" and the "Ultraherbal - You will not believe the incredible list of magical miracles which herbs can do for you" story.
Sorry. I value my readers, and I hope that this lapse is offset by the rest of my efforts.
Rob Cockerham
Sacramento
posted by cockeyed at 1:09 PM on July 9, 2007 [13 favorites]
I regret being deceitful to my own audience, and (although it is still tempting) I resolve to stay away from this sort of thing in the future. It certainly undermines the perception of the rest of my site. (Which is why a reporter from the New York Times asked me to personally verify the accuracy of the "torn up credit card" story).
SO, for the record, there are two articles which have been faked on Cockeyed.com, one was the first "how much is inside" episode, (Shaving Cream) which I revealed as fake in 2005, and the Levitra Couches story was the second.
There aren't any more, although there are some which I consider to be obvious satire, such as "celebrity comment sections" and the "Ultraherbal - You will not believe the incredible list of magical miracles which herbs can do for you" story.
Sorry. I value my readers, and I hope that this lapse is offset by the rest of my efforts.
Rob Cockerham
Sacramento
posted by cockeyed at 1:09 PM on July 9, 2007 [13 favorites]
Damn your black hide.
Well, should I remove the "meta" from my tags? That leaves me with simply "couch".
posted by loquacious at 2:52 PM on July 9, 2007
Well, should I remove the "meta" from my tags? That leaves me with simply "couch".
posted by loquacious at 2:52 PM on July 9, 2007
So. They've bought your silence too. I hope that pile of ill gotten money comforts you in the last hours, when the earth is overrun by mindlessly marketing zombies sporting permanent erections.
posted by IronLizard at 3:02 PM on July 9, 2007
posted by IronLizard at 3:02 PM on July 9, 2007
I continuously came across new couches to spray paint.
Is an oddity of our fair Midtown or does any good town with alleyways adjacent to loads of rental properties have this kind of thing going on?
posted by Ogre Lawless at 3:13 PM on July 9, 2007
Is an oddity of our fair Midtown or does any good town with alleyways adjacent to loads of rental properties have this kind of thing going on?
posted by Ogre Lawless at 3:13 PM on July 9, 2007
b-b-but my girlfriends couch! I.... uh.... *puts down spray paint*
posted by Baby_Balrog at 3:15 PM on July 9, 2007
posted by Baby_Balrog at 3:15 PM on July 9, 2007
I'm extremely disappointed in you, Rob. I'm not sure that I'll be a regular Cockeyed reader any longer.
posted by Kwine at 3:23 PM on July 9, 2007
posted by Kwine at 3:23 PM on July 9, 2007
I'm a little disappointed too, but my disappointment is offset by your having come clean on this one.
Rob, you have a great site, a wicked sense of humor and an engaging personality, which shows in your presentation and writing style. DO continue to stay away from "this sort of thing" in the future, and I believe you will have continued success and readership.
posted by yhbc at 7:11 PM on July 9, 2007
Rob, you have a great site, a wicked sense of humor and an engaging personality, which shows in your presentation and writing style. DO continue to stay away from "this sort of thing" in the future, and I believe you will have continued success and readership.
posted by yhbc at 7:11 PM on July 9, 2007
Rob, thanks for coming clean. I love your work and this story rang as weird compared to the rest of your site and I figured maybe it really was a prank for some competing ad revenue or something. Glad to hear there are only two fakes on the whole thing and I hope you don't digress in the future.
posted by mathowie at 7:16 PM on July 9, 2007
posted by mathowie at 7:16 PM on July 9, 2007
people are allowed to screw up. you've done tons of good stuff, and you spilled the beans on here without waiting for someone to dig up the dirt on you on their own.
man, i'd never noticed the flame in the levitra logo before, though.
posted by anildash at 7:20 PM on July 9, 2007
man, i'd never noticed the flame in the levitra logo before, though.
posted by anildash at 7:20 PM on July 9, 2007
This is Comedy Gold for so many reasons and I wouldn't have seen it if not for the sidebar - I do wish I had read the comments before clicking the link, though.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:47 PM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:47 PM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
Hey--WHO THE FUCK SPRAY PAINTED MY PORCH COUCH!!
posted by LarryC at 8:25 PM on July 9, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by LarryC at 8:25 PM on July 9, 2007 [2 favorites]
Twenty Hail Marys & all is forgotten
posted by growabrain at 8:50 PM on July 9, 2007
posted by growabrain at 8:50 PM on July 9, 2007
Ain't that a pisser. I've never been obsessed with Cockeyed, but it's given me plenty of fond internet memories, with its traditional pissant Yippie-ish spirit.
That spirit's crushed. Good luck with Cockeyed in the future, Rob. I know I'm just one random surfer that clicked through quite a bit on your site, but I'll forever question anything else you do again. I doubt I'll be alone.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:06 PM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
That spirit's crushed. Good luck with Cockeyed in the future, Rob. I know I'm just one random surfer that clicked through quite a bit on your site, but I'll forever question anything else you do again. I doubt I'll be alone.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:06 PM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
OH NO WE GOT LIED TO
hahahahaha
my first response on seeing this article for the first time, quite a while ago, was that it was something done by Rob or one of his buddies. jesters are funny until you get suckered in by the joke, is that how this works?
posted by jtron at 10:16 PM on July 9, 2007
hahahahaha
my first response on seeing this article for the first time, quite a while ago, was that it was something done by Rob or one of his buddies. jesters are funny until you get suckered in by the joke, is that how this works?
posted by jtron at 10:16 PM on July 9, 2007
Oh Noews! We've been Kaycee Nicole'd!
posted by five fresh fish at 11:16 PM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by five fresh fish at 11:16 PM on July 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
Er ... is it OK that I'm not all grumpy and disappointed and stuff? And that I'm not going to boycott Cockeyed, or even look cross-eyed at it?
No? Okay, I'm furious. Glad we got that sorted.
Joe, did the Super Bowl bit bring in the same sort of 'I will nevar trust teh intarnets agian' response? 'Cause I mean, dude.
posted by eritain at 1:01 AM on July 10, 2007
No? Okay, I'm furious. Glad we got that sorted.
Joe, did the Super Bowl bit bring in the same sort of 'I will nevar trust teh intarnets agian' response? 'Cause I mean, dude.
posted by eritain at 1:01 AM on July 10, 2007
Wow. I'm pretty surprised that anyone with such an (apparently) good reputation would do something like this for pharma cash (and if it was just high spirited pranksterism, why all the Levitra ads?). Doesn't seem worth it.
posted by taz at 1:26 AM on July 10, 2007
posted by taz at 1:26 AM on July 10, 2007
Um, after about page 5, wasn't it obvious it was a prank? I mean, COME ON folks.
posted by rikschell at 5:08 AM on July 10, 2007
posted by rikschell at 5:08 AM on July 10, 2007
1., I read this as LeVITRA couches.
2., Now that that's cleared up and I know what this is about I just want to chime in and say I'm shocked! Shocked! that someone on the internet was not one hundred percent truthful about something as serious as a potentially new (in 1995 mind you) meme! Did I mention Shocked!
posted by From Bklyn at 5:37 AM on July 10, 2007
2., Now that that's cleared up and I know what this is about I just want to chime in and say I'm shocked! Shocked! that someone on the internet was not one hundred percent truthful about something as serious as a potentially new (in 1995 mind you) meme! Did I mention Shocked!
posted by From Bklyn at 5:37 AM on July 10, 2007
cockeyed: "YES, as many have guessed, this was faked."
*sob*
I'm loyal, Rob. Good luck with the light sharpener, I'm on the edge of my seat.
posted by Plutor at 5:52 AM on July 10, 2007
*sob*
I'm loyal, Rob. Good luck with the light sharpener, I'm on the edge of my seat.
posted by Plutor at 5:52 AM on July 10, 2007
I am shocked, SHOCKED, that you would pull a stunt like this. I have always valued your journalistic integrity. How can you continue to call yourself a News Site???
posted by theora55 at 6:22 AM on July 10, 2007
posted by theora55 at 6:22 AM on July 10, 2007
I too feel personally betrayed by Rob. I relied on him for honest and accurate reporting. He was my only source of unbiased news regarding graffiti on abandoned upholstered furniture in the greater Sacremento area. Now, when Rob writes about homemade springy shoes, or how many packages of gummi bears will fit into a 1987 El Camino, I will always question his underlying journalistic integrity.
A nation weeps.
Wahh! The internet lied to me!
posted by Mid at 6:24 AM on July 10, 2007 [2 favorites]
A nation weeps.
Wahh! The internet lied to me!
posted by Mid at 6:24 AM on July 10, 2007 [2 favorites]
One of the big values of cockeyed, to me, was that Rob was a regular guy who just happen to have fun goofing off with science. He stood with people against consumerism and corporate greed.
Imagine if mathowie turned out to work for an Apple Computer astroturfing team. How would we view his iPhone video (or his MacBook motion sensor lightsaber video) in that context? I imagine large sections of the Metafilter userbase would be angry and upset.
This is like that. There's a big difference between pranks played on the public, that one lets one's readership in on, and "pranks" played on the readership on the site, that also "happen" to sell ad space for one of the objects of the prank. When you have a reputation as a crusader against companies that use no-good sales techniques like lying to their sales force/customers, and then you drive traffic to Levitra spam websites by lying to your reader base, you've just irrevocably lost your credibility.
Of course the internet often lies to us. Thanks for the tip. Of course, we don't keep going back to the same place to get lied to, do we?
posted by Kwine at 6:46 AM on July 10, 2007 [2 favorites]
Imagine if mathowie turned out to work for an Apple Computer astroturfing team. How would we view his iPhone video (or his MacBook motion sensor lightsaber video) in that context? I imagine large sections of the Metafilter userbase would be angry and upset.
This is like that. There's a big difference between pranks played on the public, that one lets one's readership in on, and "pranks" played on the readership on the site, that also "happen" to sell ad space for one of the objects of the prank. When you have a reputation as a crusader against companies that use no-good sales techniques like lying to their sales force/customers, and then you drive traffic to Levitra spam websites by lying to your reader base, you've just irrevocably lost your credibility.
Of course the internet often lies to us. Thanks for the tip. Of course, we don't keep going back to the same place to get lied to, do we?
posted by Kwine at 6:46 AM on July 10, 2007 [2 favorites]
...Of course the internet often lies to us. Thanks for the tip.
Dude, you just found that out? I've known for, like, weeks.
I am not so familiar with Cockeyed that I would take this whole thing as you say. I only know it as a breezy, low-key humorous bunch of observations and experiments all of which I have enjoyed. If I knew it as you do, I probably would feel the same kind of - uh - betrayal of the contract between a writer and his readers. (I don't mean to undermine it, this time, I just can't put in better). Which I understand.
Of course, we don't keep going back to the same place to get lied to, do we?
But, seriously, dude, did you hear about that Steorn business? I hear they've almost got the kinks worked outand then it's like, "Look out all you oil tycoons! Woo Hoo!"
posted by From Bklyn at 7:22 AM on July 10, 2007
Dude, you just found that out? I've known for, like, weeks.
I am not so familiar with Cockeyed that I would take this whole thing as you say. I only know it as a breezy, low-key humorous bunch of observations and experiments all of which I have enjoyed. If I knew it as you do, I probably would feel the same kind of - uh - betrayal of the contract between a writer and his readers. (I don't mean to undermine it, this time, I just can't put in better). Which I understand.
Of course, we don't keep going back to the same place to get lied to, do we?
But, seriously, dude, did you hear about that Steorn business? I hear they've almost got the kinks worked outand then it's like, "Look out all you oil tycoons! Woo Hoo!"
posted by From Bklyn at 7:22 AM on July 10, 2007
Imagine if mathowie turned out to work for an Apple Computer astroturfing team.
This is nothing like that -- there's no astroturfing. There's no advertising pitch for the drug or any claim that would make someone want to go out and buy the drug -- just a dumb idea that someone painted the name of the drug on abandoned furniture. If anything, I'm sure the folks in the Levitra marketing department would be unhappy about Rob's joke/meme -- it hurts the brand by associating it with weird graffiti in alleys, not what you generally want from a medical product.
Granted, the click-thru ads are a little tacky. But still, it's not like he's pitching the drug, just cashing in on people who happen to land on his site looking for some place to buy Levitra. A harmless semi-blunder on an otherwise great site.
posted by Mid at 7:49 AM on July 10, 2007
This is nothing like that -- there's no astroturfing. There's no advertising pitch for the drug or any claim that would make someone want to go out and buy the drug -- just a dumb idea that someone painted the name of the drug on abandoned furniture. If anything, I'm sure the folks in the Levitra marketing department would be unhappy about Rob's joke/meme -- it hurts the brand by associating it with weird graffiti in alleys, not what you generally want from a medical product.
Granted, the click-thru ads are a little tacky. But still, it's not like he's pitching the drug, just cashing in on people who happen to land on his site looking for some place to buy Levitra. A harmless semi-blunder on an otherwise great site.
posted by Mid at 7:49 AM on July 10, 2007
Cockeyed.com: As intelligent as astroturfing gets on the web
posted by acro at 8:04 AM on July 10, 2007
posted by acro at 8:04 AM on July 10, 2007
It's so interesting how MeFi's values shift with our idolation of the web-famous.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:19 AM on July 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by five fresh fish at 10:19 AM on July 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
Mid: "If anything, I'm sure the folks in the Levitra marketing department would be unhappy about Rob's joke/meme -- it hurts the brand by associating it with weird graffiti in alleys"
Yeah, instead of just old guys with boners. That's a big step down.
posted by Plutor at 10:21 AM on July 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
Yeah, instead of just old guys with boners. That's a big step down.
posted by Plutor at 10:21 AM on July 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
Put me in the "not outraged but don't do this thing again" group.
Also, was that superbowl "prank" faked or what...
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:29 AM on July 10, 2007
Also, was that superbowl "prank" faked or what...
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:29 AM on July 10, 2007
I'm gonna see if I can get paid to spray-paint "Maxiderm" instead.
posted by hypersloth at 10:32 AM on July 10, 2007
posted by hypersloth at 10:32 AM on July 10, 2007
Rob, did you hit that one on the porch or not? Cause that guy's fixing to kick your ass if you did.
posted by Nabubrush at 2:15 PM on July 10, 2007
posted by Nabubrush at 2:15 PM on July 10, 2007
I stand by my orignal flag.
posted by BeerFilter at 6:12 PM on July 10, 2007
posted by BeerFilter at 6:12 PM on July 10, 2007
I saw it years ago and assumed not only that it was a fake but that everything else on cockeyed was too.
I found it all quite entertaining, though.
posted by mmoncur at 5:03 AM on July 11, 2007
I found it all quite entertaining, though.
posted by mmoncur at 5:03 AM on July 11, 2007
It's so interesting how MeFi's values shift with our idolation of the web-famous.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:19 PM on July 10
As it has always been. There are so many "it's okay if you're an A-lister" incidents on MeFi over the years I don't keep up anymore.
I think it would be interesting for a site to leverage their userbase and "create" revenue for the site off of purposefully manufactured memes. But the community has to be "in on it".
Imagine if mathowie turned out to work for an Apple Computer astroturfing team.
That's preposterous. Everyone knows Matt is in the backpocket of the powerful recumbent bike industry.
posted by Ynoxas at 10:08 AM on July 11, 2007
posted by five fresh fish at 12:19 PM on July 10
As it has always been. There are so many "it's okay if you're an A-lister" incidents on MeFi over the years I don't keep up anymore.
I think it would be interesting for a site to leverage their userbase and "create" revenue for the site off of purposefully manufactured memes. But the community has to be "in on it".
Imagine if mathowie turned out to work for an Apple Computer astroturfing team.
That's preposterous. Everyone knows Matt is in the backpocket of the powerful recumbent bike industry.
posted by Ynoxas at 10:08 AM on July 11, 2007
I imagine large sections of the Metafilter userbase would be angry and upset.
What happens when I pretend reality is real?
BRB
....
OHMYGOD!!1 that was awesome. I think.
posted by srboisvert at 11:10 AM on July 11, 2007
What happens when I pretend reality is real?
BRB
....
OHMYGOD!!1 that was awesome. I think.
posted by srboisvert at 11:10 AM on July 11, 2007
(I didn't actually pretend reality was real nor was it awesome. I also don't think. I don't want to betray my readers.)
posted by srboisvert at 11:12 AM on July 11, 2007
posted by srboisvert at 11:12 AM on July 11, 2007
never visited cockeyed.com before this confessional post. Probably won't be going back, but not because of the Levitra Couches (what a great name for a series of monologs by a group of Guys with ED), but because it just.was.not.interesting.
posted by beelzbubba at 12:25 PM on July 11, 2007
posted by beelzbubba at 12:25 PM on July 11, 2007
@beelzbubba... check out the travel section (imo) the best part of the site;)
posted by acro at 7:36 PM on July 11, 2007
posted by acro at 7:36 PM on July 11, 2007
So this is what a prank is these days? Give me a break. Dropping $1000 in small bills onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and watching the traders climb all over each other trying to grab as much as they could is a prank. Levitra couches not so much.
posted by Sailormom at 10:49 AM on July 12, 2007
posted by Sailormom at 10:49 AM on July 12, 2007
@beelzbubba... check out the travel section (imo) the best part of the site;)
posted by acro at 7:36 PM on July 11 [+] [!]
OK, I did, and read the story about the lads' trip to London. In a small coincidence, I travelled to London for the first time just a few months after them. My experiences were +/- about as amusing as theirs. Other than telling you this now, I have not thought it very interesting to blog about. Still don't. Sorry. If this is what passes for amusing, c'mon over anytime, I'll keep you in stitches.
posted by beelzbubba at 11:11 AM on July 12, 2007
posted by acro at 7:36 PM on July 11 [+] [!]
OK, I did, and read the story about the lads' trip to London. In a small coincidence, I travelled to London for the first time just a few months after them. My experiences were +/- about as amusing as theirs. Other than telling you this now, I have not thought it very interesting to blog about. Still don't. Sorry. If this is what passes for amusing, c'mon over anytime, I'll keep you in stitches.
posted by beelzbubba at 11:11 AM on July 12, 2007
Ynoxas, fwiw, there are so many "it's okay unless you're perceived as an A-lister" incidents on MeFi over the years I don't keep up anymore.
posted by anildash at 10:04 AM on July 16, 2007
posted by anildash at 10:04 AM on July 16, 2007
anildash: I agree that occurs as well, but don't you think the first greatly outnumbers the second?
Being held to a higher standard because of your "status" seems somewhat reasonable to me, or at the least intuitive. A healthy dose of "he should know better", no?
posted by Ynoxas at 7:33 AM on July 17, 2007
Being held to a higher standard because of your "status" seems somewhat reasonable to me, or at the least intuitive. A healthy dose of "he should know better", no?
posted by Ynoxas at 7:33 AM on July 17, 2007
I wouldn't disagree with you, if there were some criteria for having the "status", but it seems somewhat arbitrary. Anyway, happy to move the chatfilter to IM or email, ping me there. :)
posted by anildash at 8:52 AM on July 19, 2007
posted by anildash at 8:52 AM on July 19, 2007
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posted by fish tick at 4:52 PM on July 8, 2007