The Escapist has an interesting interview with an OGM, "online guerilla marketer," one of those people who are paid to insinuate themselves into on-line communities and then manipulate the members into buying their masters' products.

It's a perfect example of why I tend to rail against the insidious influence of the marketing-industrial complex. Gradually marketing — particularly this odious sort — erodes trust among communities, and discourages the honest and open exchange of information. It simply lowers everyone's quality of life.

Incidentally — and for the sake of my friends in the field — I make a distinction between advertising and marketing. The former is the process of letting people know that you offer high-quality goods or services, while the latter uses psychology to convince you that you will be mocked by your peers and your life will not be complete unless you bankrupt yourself purchasing those goods and services. It's the difference between a whore on 79th Street advertising her services wearing a gold lamé halter top, black leather mini-skirt, and fuck-me pumps; and a wanna-be trophy wife.