Friday, March 21, 2008

My Response to Rick Schwartz's Blog Going Dark

Rick's blog is going dark; In his post "What's Your Excuse Now?" Rick Schwartz laments the apparent apathy of the average domainer. I posted the following response on his blog (I don't know if my comment will be approved or just dismissed into cyberspace. Update: the post has been approved. Thanks, Rick):

I am a relatively new domainer (since May 2007), and I recognized early that this business was filled with self-serving people and organizations who just took care of #1 and didn't give two hoots about the questionable practices going on. (TM squatting, typo-squatting, hinky aftermarket auctions, to name a few).

As a new domainer, I tried to help other newbies by posting my experiences and the pitfalls I have experienced. For my efforts, I was called a name on my own blog, probably from someone who has forgotten what it's like being a green domainer.

Whenever I posted about practices that concerned me, I got nothing but a code of silence (with a few exceptions).

Now, all of sudden, these selfish people want me to join their organization so that they can save their expensive domains; these are the same people who ignored my questions or blew me off just because I was a silly newbie who dared to question the industry or even ask a silly question.

Well, I'm not buying into it. Those whiners can twist in the wind, for all I care.

Had anyone in a so-called power position paid a little heed to the newbie population, even those of us who dared to question, I think the ICA would have had support from more of us.

More importantly, had efforts been made to clean up this industry BEFORE the Snowe bill became a threat, ICA would have had better support. Last summer, I would have lined up to join an organization that promised to clean up the domaining mess. But now, the ICA comes across as being totally self-serving and concerned only because the status quo is threatened, not because there are some very real ethical gaps industry wide that need to be addressed and solved.

My question, then: why should I (and others like me) help people who were mostly unhelpful as I was learning the industry? Where were ICA members last summer when I posed my "dumb" questions, questions that were serious from a newbie point of view?

Maybe, Rick, this is why most domainers are apathetic toward ICA and the Snowe bill threat.

We know that if the bill is rewritten to be friendlier toward big money domainers, it will again be business as usual: the small domainer forgotten and slimy business practices continued
.

Ms Domainer

5 comments:

  1. Have you read the Snowe legislation? With all due respect, I feel like you either don't understand it or don't have domain names worth defending. I am sorry if this sounds rude, but I believe my small portfolio of good generic names will be harmed - even though I am developing them. I make less than 1/10th of a % of my revenue from parking. I am not a big time domainer, and I am more than happy to share advice with others on my blog, so your argument holds no water with me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I wont be joining the ICA. Years ago I heard of an organization (in another field) that I felt I could and should support. Their ideals appeared to be in line with mine. They talked a good talk.

    I sat at my desk and looked over their mailing. Started filling in the form. Got to the donation and membership section. The suggested donations started way too high for my pocketbook at that time. there was no place to write in a smaller amount. And actual "membership" was almost two weeks pay.

    I called and asked if they'd accept a smaller amount as a donation. They suggested I lacked commitment to the "cause" and to comeback when I grow up. I've grown some since then and my income is much better. But, I feel the ICA has that same elitist attitude and probably looks at me in the same light.

    I wont be joining the ICA.

    ReplyDelete
  3. As to Rick's blog going dark? I'm going to miss his posts but there's a wealth of good info there already. I'm hoping I'll be able to digest all of it within the next year or so.

    And Rick will still be around.

    ReplyDelete
  4. please have your great blog listed at domaining.com for us to go you , thanks

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you, Elliot and Spambait, for your comments.

    2w,

    From the looks of it, Domaining.com chooses the blogs it wishes to feature.

    It looks as though MsDomainer.com is persona non grata.

    ;=)

    But thanks for tip, anyway.

    Ms Domainer

    ReplyDelete

Word verification has been enabled to circumvent spammers, not to censor bona fide posts. ;=)

I welcome your comments!

Ms Domainer

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

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