The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Exciting Benchmark Reviews update!

Posted on July 22, 2010 by

Wow. I got home from a poker game in the early hours of this morning, and idly wondered if busted shill/"executive editor" Olin Coles might have replied to my polite request for his side of the story with regard to his hopelessly dishonest excuse for a website. What I found was that Mr Coles had instead chosen to post on the Benchmark Reviews forum, in a thread entitled "Forever banned: Hall of Shame". The thread describes itself thus:

"Like any writer, our work comes under fire from time to time. Most of the criticism is taken to heart and used to improve future work, but occasionally the critic can go overboard and begin making personal threats and accusations. This thread is intended to show our visitors that their accusations and threats do not remain anonymous."

I had of course made no threats whatsoever, made an enquiry rather than an accusation, and had invited them to offer an explanation using my real name, not anonymously. Benchmark Reviews' response to being caught red-handed printing press releases under the guise of a review, however, was to not only ban me from their site, but to publish my name, address, email address and phone number, implicitly inviting people to harass me or worse.

It's hard to imagine a guiltier response, or a more cowardly one. I think we can safely assume  from this deranged outburst  of panic that we've caught Benchmark Reviews with their grubby little hands right in the cookie jar.

0 to “Exciting Benchmark Reviews update!”

  1. Gabe says:

    Of course, publishing 'your' details is only punishment for you *if* that site had thousands of fans, outraged at your activity, and baying for blood.
    Alas, I fear that the community in question is as numerous/motivated as the South Hobart scarf knitters forum.

    Reply
  2. Damian says:

    … Darius Burst?

    Reply
  3. Cook says:

    Very scummy and childish move by BS Reviews. I don't see how they thought this tantrum would do anything other than make them look more guilty.
     
    I'll be sure to remember just what kind of people are behind that site and warn others.

    Reply
  4. The Nixon Administration says:

    Ironically, I'd never even heard of Benchmark Reviews before this farce, but Olin Coles is clearly a prize crapweed.
    I did a very cursory Google search of his name to see if there was more corking material out there, and (apart from a Facebook user photo that tells you pretty much everything you need to know), it transpires he's on LinkedIn – turns out he's ex-military (having "left" the Marines in unexplained circumstances in 2002).  Explains an awful lot, including the repeated use of terminology like "dishonourable discharge" to describe banning someone from a forum that discusses reviews of computer equipment and chairs.

    Reply
  5. Lenny says:

    Isn't publishing somebody's name, address and other contact details a breach of the Data Protection Act?

    Reply
  6. Rev. Stuart Campbell says:

    Almost certainly. His webhosts (VPSlink.com) have a totally broken contact page, sadly.

    Reply
  7. Irish Al says:

    Vpslink.com is registered by enom.com
     
    link to enom.com

     

    Reply


Comment - please read this page for comment rules. HTML tags like <i> and <b> are permitted. Use paragraph breaks in long comments. DO NOT SIGN YOUR COMMENTS, either with a name or a slogan. If your comment does not appear immediately, DO NOT REPOST IT. Ignore these rules and I WILL KILL YOU WITH HAMMERS.


  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a (mainly) Scottish political media digest and monitor, which also offers its own commentary. (More)

    Stats: 6,750 Posts, 1,217,201 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • SilentMajority on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “The Sturgeon revisionist bio will certainly be a hoot…hopefully straight into the recycle waste via the ‘bargain bin’.May 6, 14:39
    • Andrew scott on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “She/it/they is/are a HORRIBLE HARRIDANMay 6, 14:30
    • Michael Laing on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “An interesting account, albeit the Germans didn’t have four-engined bombers. Unless I’m mistaken, all their bombers were twin-engined.May 6, 14:10
    • Marie on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “And no apology to women and girls. Sturgeon is arrogant deluded and dangerous.May 6, 13:07
    • Michael Laing on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “The lives of unemployed and ill and disabled people are ‘almost unliveable’. Indeed, many have been forced to live on…May 6, 13:01
    • Stuart MacKay on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Meanwhile in various hot places not so near to here, the establishment, of which Sturgeon is a fully paid up…May 6, 12:59
    • Dave Hansell on The Takeover: “Well, Hatey. I would debate the issue with you – and have tried to on several occasions over the past…May 6, 12:43
    • Vivian O’Blivion on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Speaking to reporters in the Scottish Parliament Sturgeon told reporters : “… in my mind that we are at risk…May 6, 12:17
    • Jay on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “In a few years reading Wings, i have not seen such an ignorant attempt at criticising Rev Campbell as that…May 6, 12:16
    • Hatey McHateface on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “@William G Walker He sometimes asks people on here if they are heterosexual or homosexual. Read into that what you…May 6, 12:14
    • Hatey McHateface on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Hands up everyone who absolutely loves, LOVES! I tell you, the proud, patriotic, nationalist, blue-arsed Scots, who don’t know the…May 6, 12:08
    • Jay on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Agree with WG Walker, hating that female anatomy suggests some of the worst aspects of the trans movement, therefore a…May 6, 12:06
    • Oneliner on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “AGREED. But I doubt your viewpoint will gain much traction with the people of Grangemouth. Whilst the Rev is right…May 6, 10:54
    • William G Walker on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “How I AGREE with twathater’s comments on how much the SNP has changed over the last ten years or so…May 6, 10:44
    • diabloandco on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Twathater ,round of applause from me!May 6, 09:08
    • Chas on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “That rant is a hate crime. I am unsure why Stu gives you a platform for your bigoted racist posts…May 6, 08:21
    • Anthem on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Well said! ?May 6, 08:21
    • twathater on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “@ Andy Storrie YOU sound like a snp diehard and apologist can you then tell me what has the snp…May 6, 02:30
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “HOME GUARD by Stuart McKinlay. At eighteen years of age, I was a member of the Home Guard, then known…May 5, 23:46
    • Bilbo on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “https://archive.is/iUF0F “The ORP Piorun was docked at the John Brown Shipyard for repairs on March 13, 1941, when the town…May 5, 22:44
    • Andy Storrie on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Wit ye gawny dae wae yersel noo, Campbell. That’s yer favourite talking point fucked, son. I dunno who has been…May 5, 22:32
    • Bilbo on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Also to note as well, there is talk in the MSN of right-wing misogyny affecting on social media like Andrew…May 5, 22:30
    • Bilbo on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “As others have mentioned, these concepts of left, right and centre are meaningless in today’s climate. I’d like to pick…May 5, 22:19
    • Oneliner on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “And yet all Scottish based squadrons were commanded to remain on the ground. Scotland’s ‘Coventry’May 5, 22:07
    • Anthem on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Yes.May 5, 20:50
    • sarah on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Now that the beginning of the end of the gender war has been won, I hope that the 12 month…May 5, 19:35
    • agent x on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: ““The Blitz on the industrial town of Clydebank, seven miles from the centre of Glasgow, was one of the most…May 5, 18:43
    • twathater on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “Confused you have certainly annoyed captain caveman he has resorted to the usual standby of “The guy’s likely a Buckfast-addled…May 5, 18:11
    • Captain Caveman on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “The guy’s likely a Buckfast-addled park bench dweller.May 5, 16:21
    • Dunx on Let’s Make Jen Safe Again: “A dig at Reform followed by a racist rant worthy of any card carrying fascist. Confused indeed.May 5, 15:41
  • A tall tale



↑ Top