I see a lot of people posting here that look like astroturfers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing

Think about it, what better time for Nokia's rivals to send in some hired thugs to try to sow FUD among the less experienced users. They cal them "Technology Evangelists".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_evangelist

Just as an example, Microsoft has a group dedicated to this type of activity.

http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/27/...ka-te-secrets/

This is a document revealed during a Microsoft antitrust hearing:

http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowa...00/PX03096.pdf

These type of thugs activity increases at critical times, such as when a new product is launched by the company that hires them. This is done in the hopes of calling attention to their competing product. Another time when this type of activity increases is when a rival company releases a new product or seems to be making too much head way.

Most people who have been around the industry a while know this. But, I just wanted to make others aware of this because I have a feeling that some of this people are running rampant around here.

I am not saying that every one that expresses a concern should be automatically labeled an astroturfer. All I am saying is to beware of the possibility. Sometimes they are very subtle. Give people the benefit of the doubt as much as you can, but take what people say with a grain of salt.