Again, We Are Not All On The Same Team

By: RH

Seems like there is a lot of heat in the cottage industry of domaining lately. Personally I can see both sides of the coin. I understand where Toronto Domainer and TLD.org are coming from and I can see where Acro is coming from in his rebuttal.

Make no mistake that both sides have many supporters, a lot of times they fall along socio-economic lines and years spent in the business.

There are divides in this business between large domainers and small domainers, I remember Michael Berkens talking about the ICA and why the small domainer needed to join. I did a poll on Namepros where some said they would not join if it was FREE. They did not believe the ICA stood for the small domainer.

The very first post on this blog was "We are all on the same team, Yeah Right." There are those that believe that someone who has registered many domains like they have, shares a common bond. There are others that think those below their income level or sales volume are undesirable.  Maybe they think their opinion resonates stronger.

This is a business of a lot of intrigue and mystery. For the most part someone coming to domaining fresh can read about Rick Schwartz or Frank Schilling and see the success they have had. They can check the whois and see who owns what.

But then there are the forums and blog comments where people espouse opinions that never say what they have accomplished in domain sales, website development or ecommerce. It is hard to make conclusions about the expertise of these people. Of course some will post that they have done a lot but its all under NDA. Most have little respect for that and believe without some documented sales that the line is nonsense. In other fields you have a lot more to go on, someone could be lying but it usually comes out and they are at least known by their real name. 

Jealousy is another factor that cannot be ignored when consuming opinions in the domain space. There are people I know who think they are anonymous, I have had others tell me they were so enraged by these people that they spent as much time as it took to track them down and find out their real name.

There are some who come onto domain forums and ridicule others but own a similar portfolio of those they are criticizing. They have no success in the domaining industry and this is how they self medicate.

There are those where it seems like it is their job to go into sections of a forum where they have no interest, just to ridicule others invested in that extension.

I think when looking at certain issues you have to try to understand all sides. The issue that Toronto Domainer raised about Internet Traffic and their $100 payout is one that will always be debated from all sides. TD makes a compelling arguement, but IT was an exclusive club 240 members. Someone making $20 a month which I will not scoff at because it is a big world and everyone has different living standards. I also think those who got in should have some level of gratitude and realize what they received.

There are those on the other side who do not like that Frank opened the platform and they have suspicion that if someone has reg fee domains with little to no traffic, how are they generating clicks ?

This is a private business, Frank can do what he likes. Its the same when it comes to forums, Namepros and DNF are different in a lot of ways and DomainBoardroom is a forum that is private and not just anyone can get in because they sign up for the forum.

At the end of the day there are many issues that will never be resovled, like everything else in the world, there are people in domaining that just plain don't like one another. Do what you can to be successful, do what you can to help others, but know there is always going to be someone or many individuals that are not wishing you luck and want to see you fail.

Domaining is not a team sport, sure everyone will rally together to be against a Verising price increase or Go Daddy supporting SOPA but that is coming from personal interest. I remember talking to two guys I know who got out of domaining about the Verisign contract and that they could not raise prices. Neither cared.

Best of luck to everyone.

Comments

[deano]

Anyone being allowed to use internet traffic owes Schilling a great deal.

[Roger]

good article,the main point is no one is owed anything. I can appreciate $20 being a lot of money but what does that mean to Schilling ? How about the real costs running the service ?

[Say What ?]

I can't believe I am saying this but Theo is right. Forums have deals everyday. If you cannot spot them then maybe you are just not looking hard enough or have enough time to go over them every day.

Ninja domains and I don't know the guy, but runs great prices on his names on namepros. there are many more like that if you have to work to get the deals and its not for everyone.

[OOOO]

At the end of the day I believe almost everyone in this industry thinks Acro is an idiot and a prick after over 10 years of the same shit from him. He's the most unlikable guy in the business. Just ask almost anyone.

Nothing new from a guy everyone wishes did not exist. Id like to see him swim out to sea and disappear.

[Say What ?]

Whoa 0000 I can see not liking the dude but don't wish he get swept out to sea.

[RH]

Please let's keep it somewhat civil, no one wishing or threatening anyone harm. I know you did not threaten anything 0000 but let's just keep some civility.

[i]

where is theo wrong ? there are deals done on domain forums, and internet traffic should be a high minimum, should all these "reg fee domainers" be allowed to dine at the Rainbow Room or Spago without the wallet to afford it ?

[Hello]

domain industry is very elitist. Places like dnforum charge too much to join, domain board room is only for snobs. little guy needs money too

[Thadeus]

I agree that its always been an industry filled with jealousy. you left out all that nonsense about lists and who has the best and who invented them. Seems like grade school.

[WhaCha]

domain lists started on domain forums Thadeus not blogs, don't get it twisted, if you don't know you better ask somebody.

[JakeHenning]

Acro is annoying on a good day, his articles are that of a grade school immature child.

[Adam]

"domain industry is very elitist. Places like dnforum charge too much to join, domain board room is only for snobs. little guy needs money too"

Many of the "elite" don't even use or visit forums . If you need money, work your ass off. . . . domaining might not be the best way for you.

[Johnmuke]

Nice article.