Reddit Sleuths In Action: Highlight How Obama Answered A 'Planted' Question

techdirt ^

[Gomez]

We were a bit disappointed in how President Obama handled his recent Reddit AMA, giving mostly canned politician's answers to a community that tends to expect a bit more human emotion. It was no Woody Harrelson debacle, but it did seem like a missed opportunity. And, now, some Redditors are suggesting that parts of it were actually stage. Some internet sleuthing pointed out that among the only 10 questions that Obama chose to answer (out of hundreds that were asked almost immediately) was one from someone who appears to have been planted by the administration. The evidence:

• Profile created mere hours before minutes after the AMA was announced, and literally six seconds before asking a well written, paragraph long question (approximate typing speed assuming it was typed after creating the account? 1570 wpm)
• Created a profile 5 minutes 39 seconds after the AMA going live, when servers were having a fit.
• Asked question explicitly requesting ways to recruit the youth that Obama relied on last election (many of whom are disillusioned with him, for all the reasons she presents herself as being subject to)
• Is literally only 1 of 10 questions answered.
• asked by one hmlee who (according to some internet detective work):
  • has only one comment in her history, total
  • Posted a blog entry supporting Obama
  • lists herself as working/having worked as an intern at the Department of Justice

So, is it possible that she heard about it on her own, created an account, and typed up an eloquent question that is a PR man's wet dream all within less than 6 minutes? Yes, it's possible. It's just not particularly likely.

It isn't that surprising that the administration would plant questions, though it is a bit surprising that they thought they'd get away with such a blatantly obvious planting. Why not find a supporter who was an actual Redditor and have them ask the question? Either way, we've pointed out that the key to a good Reddit AMA tends to be showing off your human side. Responding to planted questions with politicians' answers doesn't seem to qualify.

[Nateman]

What a bunch of morons! They can’t even cheat right!

[TigerClaws]

Also had an error in the post. “...a asteroid...”

Gave a grammarian the opportunity to correct the President. Of course, Obama wrote none of the canned answers. Publicity stunt.

[Tallguy]

People assume that the president’s team is somehow more clever than the rest of us. Based on their clumsy forgeries I’d say that’s clearly no the case. They merely benefit from a MSM that is willing to carry their water for them.

Plus, there are a lot more of ‘us’ and some of us are bound to be tough to fool.

[newzjunkey]

I think the tech world calls this “astroturfing” and it’s most certainly looked down upon in that culture.

[Tanniker Smith]

Nancy Pelosi used that word also, to describe the Tea Party’s grassroots, figuring that something that big had to be as fake as her own events.