Now, that's a pro attitude. Thanks for sorting it out. I think bidbots had different patterns, of course you could pay to promote your post more than 15 minutes after it was posted. Some of them had requirements - posts older than 15 minutes. And some just knew when to step in to not hurt the pool, I guess. The ethical bots, trying to follow Asimov's rules of robotics?
The media was once required (more like self-conscious about it - image and all) to do clarifying posts like this one but I don't see it happening much nowadays. (This sentence is not backed by any actual data. My bad being a bad, bad, opinion thrower.)
I believe in old-school journalism ethics. If you're wrong, admit it. Then make it right. That's what I try to do.