About users with hidden agendas

my question is, how can i become a paid shill

No experience personally but I suspect like most things you just have to be good at it and want to do it. I was a salesman early on....Lafayette Radio, TEch Hifi, Radio Shack. We were trained when someone walked in the store, your job was to find out what their problem was that brought them in and solve it for them. Worked well!! No shilling needed.  Tweaks like wires were always needed and very high profit so we were trained to always make sure those were sold if people needed them.  That was simple zip cord, etc.  in those days.   THings have gotten a bit out of hand there over time as is often the case when there are big profits to be made.

@mapman i am in sales myself. nothing fun like hifi though...yet...

Be careful what you say. The mods have their faves.

The key to "shill" longevity here and in most cases I reckon is to be a "mensch":

Definition of mensch

: a person of integrity and honor

Seen those here and those not so much. You can often predict how it is going to end based on the mensch factor alone pretty much.

more seriously, i do personally suspect that the problem of shilling and this type of thing is a little overstated in general - in so many forums i see 'subjectivists' and measurements freaks alike losing their composure, more or less constantly, because they see "hidden agendas" everywhere they look. in my view the overwhelming majority of people who frequent these types of forums are basically normal, reasonable people who share a fun hobby. that's not to say you don't have bad actors from time to time, but seems like they're relatively few and far between. just my .02