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GOSSIPWEB

Laurence Simon calls our attention to Word of Mouth, a bizarre site where people can anonymously spread gossip about others:

The mission of this website is to help our users to research the people they know and meet toward learning something about their background and character. If you have had experience with and/or have opinions about someone then please take the time to submit a “Word-of-Mouth Report” at this website. Users will then be able to search for, find, and review this “Word-of-Mouth Report” and then contact you through our Anonymous Email System to learn the experiences that you have had and/or opinions you have regarding the report subject. Report authors are totally and completely anonymous. By submitting “Word-of-Mouth Reports”, you will help others to make informed decisions about people they meet and know.

Lovely. I wonder if John Ashcroft is behind this? It sounds a lot like the T.I.P.S. program, except without any of the redeeming qualities.

Update (1318) Kevin says this appears to be a scam.

Update (1435) Terry Oglesby points out Snopes was on this one weeks ago.

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About James Joyner
James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. Follow James on Twitter.

Comments

  1. Steven says:

    Yup–this sounds like a great idea.

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  2. Liz says:

    These people e-mail me tirelessly with the news that other people are leaving information about me on this website. If someone has time to leave a post about me on some gimmicky website, I frankly am surprised they do not have more of a life. Come on, sell your belongings on E-Bay, take a walk, lay in bed and eat bon-bons. While I am wildly popular and important in my own house, anyone else who think I am intriguing enough to gossip about needs a reality check.

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  3. ML says:

    Yes, this site sucks…it’s real creepy if you ask me. I hope they arrest the dude(s) who are in on this. Shame on them!!!

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  4. binoculars says:

    Binoculars

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  5. Wizbang says:

    Word Of Mouth – SCAM!
    Laurence Simon is curious about the attention he is receiving at site called Word of Mouth. A few quick searches confirm that many big name bloggers are listed, by e-mail address. The concept is really pathetic, and it seems to…

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  6. Word-of-Mouth Scam
    There’s quite a bit of chatter going on regarding word-of-mouth.org. This is a site that allows people to post information on individuals. Kevin at Wizbang thinks he smells trolling and James Joyner thinks it sounds like the proposed TIPS program….

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  7. Still You Wonder
    “Who’s cheating who, who’s being true, who don’t even care anymore, it makes you wonder who’s doing right, by someone tonight, and who’s car is parked next door.” Given the recent real world rumors flying about yours truly since being…

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