Definition: slashdot effect

The condition in which a website is overloaded with traffic because of a positive news article or review published at another website. The term comes from Slashdot.com, the "News for Nerds" site that posts articles on technical subjects submitted by users. The term has evolved to mean any electronic onslaught. For example, to "slashdot a vote" means to bombard congressmen by email before a critical vote.