[Steely Tom]

There are Viral Marketing firms that have been hired in large cities to have people go to book stores and coffee shops and just chat, slowly turning the conversation to some anti-Bush rhetoric.

Man, that is truly bizarre.

I don't know what to make of it. It sounds like an absolute desperation play, based on a misreading of human nature.

I can't wait to see how it plays out.

Why doesn't Proctor and Gamble market Crest toothpaste this way? Why doesn't Budweiser? I don't know... maybe they do!

(steely)

[mnehring]

Actually they do..
There was a segment on Dateline or 20/20 (cannot remember which) about six months ago about a couple of these firms. They marketed everything from Vodka in a bar to movies in bookstores and on the net. They even hired kids to post positive messages on the net about some anime movie. I will try to find a link to this.

[mewper]

I just read Molly Ivin this morning and can't believe she is spewing the same unfounded lines that you read in DU in her column. But, of course, to people who are in the middle and do not spend much time looking for details from both sides this can be seen as truth.

It's the first time I've heard of the term Viral Marketing. Isn't this simply grassroots propaganda? Are they now putting a trademark on this approach?