Whole Foods Exec Makes Fake Posts on Yahoo Boards
The Wall Street Journal revealed last night that Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey had been using a pseudonym to rave about his company while sometimes blasting rival Wild Oats Market:
For about eight years until last August, the company confirms, Mr. Mackey posted numerous messages on Yahoo Finance stock forums as Rahodeb. It's an anagram of Deborah, Mr. Mackey's wife's name. Rahodeb cheered Whole Foods' financial results, trumpeted his gains on the stock and bashed Wild Oats. Rahodeb even defended Mr. Mackey's haircut when another user poked fun at a photo in the annual report. "I like Mackey's haircut," Rahodeb said. "I think he looks cute!"
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7 Comments:
I'm sure this goes on alot. If I were in his shoes, I'd be naturally curious about what gets said about my business on such forums. Then, I'd likely feel compelled to chime in to add to/correct/sway, as necessary. How bad have people become at keeping these things secret, though? Is it so difficult? Tip: how 'bout a username with NO RELATIONSHIP WHATSOEVER to your spouse's name?
Sandro at 11:46AM on 07/12/07
If you're curious about what people are saying and want to address it, why not just post as yourself? If you're not trying to sway the stock prices of your rival or rave about your own haircut, then it seems like you wouldn't have to hide behind a pseudonym.
Adam Kuban at 12:00PM on 07/12/07
Regarding anonymity on food blogs and food forums, I got broiled for taking the high road on this topic:
http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2007/06/26/im-with-mario/
jperlow at 12:33PM on 07/12/07
thats REALLY hilarious thanks for the post
stumbler02 at 2:10PM on 07/12/07
I think there's a chilling effect on other posters that he'd want to avoid if he were to post as himself. I could be wrong. The whole lure is that using an alias let's him dip in and get pure, unadulterated comment, and allows him to say what he's really thinking without having to wear his CEO hat all the time. Yeah, some of it is unseemly and borders on unethical, but it's hardly "To Catch a Predator"-type stuff. Just hide it better, guy.
Sandro at 4:14PM on 07/12/07
Yeah. I suppose if I were to do something like that, I'd make up a name like John Connor and tie it to a throwaway web-based email account.
Adam Kuban at 4:22PM on 07/12/07
i feel like he tried to write "deborah" backwards, and sadly, failed.
altosaxchica at 9:54AM on 07/13/07