I'll second that. The irony is that when it comes to penny stocks, A LOT of investors get their information on message boards. That is part of the problem. Of those folks, enough are gullible enough to be manipulated.

That is why the bashers do what they do...it is effective (at least in the short term). They often come off as idiots but are often more sly than they seem. Some coordinate with each other. Others know how to form a team on the fly. Some simply click a "How to get rich shorting stocks" link and get robbed by Sykes etc...

That said, a level headed bear can be good to have around to make sure you don't drink too much punch. Unfortunately, I've never seen one. From my understanding they look like horses; except they have a single horn that grows from their forehead.