Gizmodo
Boing Boing has collected a batch of links and proof showing Comcast paid people to attend a net neutrality hearing and cheer for them, which displaced reporters and other generally sane people who would have booed and hissed.
It is reported that the henchmen were identifiable by the yellow highlighters they wore. Are there denials? No! Comcast is admitting that they paid people to hold seats for local employees who wanted to attend the hearing. And although it is reported that this tactic is not uncommon at congressional hearings, I don't care. If you needed proof that Cable is up to no good, here it is. Absolutely Comcastarded. [BB]
Comments
wow..... Sad.
That's FUCKING sick!
That's really fucked up.
Hey, I recognize that guy. Red eyes, blank stare, let me think....Oh yeh, now I remember...S_A_T_A_N
They should've staged a fake terrorist takeover and have one of the Comcast execs take him down. At least that would've been amusing.
@VNSROCK: Satan wouldn't waste his time being a worthless tool of Comcast. He'd be busy building Everex Cloudbooks and possessing Steve Ballmer during every keynote.
What idiots. . .
And to Comcast i leave... a boot to the head.
Ok so basically their intention was to deceive about the public perception of net neutrality to those who are making decisions about its future.
This in itself shows that companies cannot be *trusted* when it comes to the public interest. This action was self serving and corrupt and I hope Comcast pays a heavy price.
Talk about smart management.
I love america
Punish them in the markets or they will continue with plans for interweb fascism.
What's even sadder is that this will be forgotten. It's our tendency to dismiss what is ultimately trivial yesterday's news that will allow this sort of crap to happen tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. I wish there was a Milton in that place that would burn the building down and disappear in the islands, complaining about the salt in his drink.
This is fairly common. $20 an hour per head.
@SeraSera: Not a bad deal for "head".
@AJ_Syrinx: Let me add, if they were chicks. Phew!!
I applaud Comcast for their ingenuity. They're very clever and everyone should buy their services. *Cha-ching*
Now where's my 20 bucks?
Those bastards!
God, I hate Comcast. Be careful, if you use too much bandwidth they threaten you. And what is worse, if you happen to win the argument on the phone, they throttle your bandwidth hardcore. So you endup paying money for a naked DSL server.
Stay away from Comcast, alternatives:
TV - DirectTV
Phone - Anyone but Comcast.
Internet - SpeakEasy or some other competing service.
Again, stay away from Comcast.
holy shit, this is a common practice?
@graffiksguru: Apparently, in political arenas.
sigh.. I never thought I'd be hoping and wishing to switch from crapcast to verizon.. Oh FIOS where are you?!!?!?
Two things that are so messed up that they should never be mixed; Politics and cable companies.
@VNSROCK: There's 3 of em out there in that picture. Will the real SATAN please stand-up?
What's wrong with you people? We want net neutrality.
Oops, sorry. Comcast are the assholes that throttle bandwidth.
Please tell me that there's some kind of lawsuit /public outcry/ planned terrorist attack against Comcast LOL ;) Kidding (but just barely).
Although this is hardly surprising if you've seen The Corporation, an excellent documentary about just how much we're getting screwed, how it happened, and what we can do about it. Please download it off of Bittorrent (its legal since its a "shareware" version of the film), watch it and spread the world.
Also, vote Nader. votenader.org
After seeing this article I'm glad to have moved to a new house as I am never going to have to pay Comcast another penny. Go Cox! :D
Pick an internet provider who does not throttle your encrypted bandwidth, etc. As was said above, punish them in the market and tell your friends and family to do the same.
Use the argument that they are not getting the service they pay for, its like buying a gallon of gas, and the pump only putting half a gallon in there without telling you. Most people should understand that one.
It's Comcastic!
I have few choices at the moment, although they pulled fiber through my neighborhood last year.
Wow... That's pretty sad. I mean, it's like the people that hire folks to cry at their funerals.
I have never been to a meeting like this that is not more than just a formality. These meeting don't change or decide anything. They are shows for the public and media.
@NotJonGreco:
No Noo, I got a better one: comcastrated
I've always known that Comcast was deceptive... but that's just evil!
What internet companies are NOT evil? I need to know!
@egonpax: FCC and NY Attorney General 'Bout to Stomp on Comcast for BitTorrent Throttling
[gizmodo.com]
HAHA!
@egonpax: FCC and NY Attorney General 'Bout to Stomp on Comcast for BitTorrent Throttling
[gizmodo.com]
As far as I know, AT&T/Bellsouth is not AS evil, unless you guys can tell me differently.
Maybe gizmodo could alert us when another such meeting is scheduled and we could attend and boo Comcast. I'd be up for it if it was reasonably nearby.
I seriously thought that was a picture of matt damon and ben affleck for a few minutes.
Democracy at work.
+ Watch video
Comcastipated.
This is also like lobbyists sitting in on congressional hearings. They aren't paid to attend that specific hearing but it's almost a requirement that they attend and play the "cheerleader" role.
Random thought; if I ever were to open a gym, I would pay hot chicks to constantly work out in skimpy outfits. Membership levels would skyrocket. On the nights that we have the Bucs, Storm and Lightning cheerleaders practice, it's ridiculously packed.
Oh yea, glad I don't have to deal with Comcast.
Well lets see... the choices in my new neighborhood are...
Comcast - P2P throttling, incompetent, fluctuating price, shared bandwidth.
AT&T - VDSL is capped at 6mb, violates my privacy, bundle packages forced upon me to get low prices.
Is there an option #3?!?!?!
nope...
The ideal thing would be only a dozen of people cheering for that shit, all the crowd turning eyes on them with that "WTF is wrong with you morons?" face.
Then they eventually admit they got payed to do that.
THAT my friends, would be awesome.
Unfortunately, that's not how things usually happen.
@martini1179: lol please dont vote for nader, what a waste
the telecomumunications companies really are getting out of hand. and as we continue further into the future they are only going to get more powerful, and more dastardly
Too. Much. Douchebaggery. Ben Afflec wannabe hurts my eyes.
@tuanye:
As a fellow Tampa bay area resident, I must ask - WHICH GYM!!
Thats why I'm on DSL...chuggy DSL.
Now I just wanna' beat up people with yellow highlighters! Ruined another fine invention for us. Thanks a lot comcast!
I hate the fact that Comcast is the only ISP provider in my area. I don't want a phone line for DSL since I already have a cell phone. Please, FIOS, come to Alabama (yeah, right).
@GC736
They practice at Lifestyles.
During football season, the Swashbucklers practiced at the Lifestyles in Old Hyde Park Village. Practices were on Tuesday nights from 7-9 if I remember correctly.
Both of the Lightning and Storm cheerleaders now practice at the new Lifestyles in Citrus Park. The Lightning girls on Monday's from 8-10 and the Storm girls on Wednesday's from 8-10. The Lightning girls are eh but the Storm girls are hot.
Most work out before and after their practice in the same dance shorts and workout bra's. It's the perfect sales pitch for any dude to get a membership at Lifestyles.