Frustrated beyond belief with domain squatters
The subject of this post is not mine; it’s the title of a thread about domain names, over at popular Web Hosting Talk forum.
WHT as it’s known for short, is usually frequented by members of the web hosting industry to discuss related subjects, resolve issues and promote their services.
It also has sub-forums discussing domain names and it was one such thread that caught my attention.
The person who started the discussion vents off his frustration over the fact that his .TV domain – a developed two worder – is in danger of losing traffic from the .com which is “squatted” upon. According to him, the .com owner attempted to “blackmail” him by asking for $45,000 – an exuberant amount of money per the buyer.
A lot of others chimed in, offering such “brilliant” advice as to complain to ICANN, allege trademark violations, or sue the seller for “blackmail” and “extortion”.
I’m amazed at the amount of ignorance among the members of WHT, who as techies should have a better idea about what is the domain industry and how things work with regards to owning, selling, buying or challenging the status of a domain.
If an industry as closely related to domaining as the web hosting industry is so much misinformed, what can be said about the general public out there?
No wonder that the term “cybersquatter” is still tossed around with no real substance, but rather as an attempt to assault the domain investors at any given opportunity.
The real challenge of those that preach domain leadership is educating the key players of the outsiders and the general masses about domaining. Until then, domaining will continue to be an industry that relies on inter-marriage with few external relationships.
May 8th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Ditto what you just wrote. About two years ago, I bent over backwards to educate several anonymous moderators at Wikipedia who were allowing the terms “Domainer” and “Domaining” to be directed to Cybersquatting (thus intentionally misinforming the general online world).
In a sincere attempt to educate these folks on the distinction between legit domain investing and “cybersquatting”, I was met with a surprising juvenile attitude and downright defiance. The more logical & irrefutable my argument, the more irrational the moderators’ comments and behaviors became.
This is a terrible aspect of human nature. And was a peek behind the curtain at Wikipedia. If people only knew.
May 9th, 2011 at 1:12 am
MM – It’s very difficult to push forth facts to a group of people that already maintain “authority” over matters that you wish to update. I’m aware of the little “dictatorship” that is Wikipedia, let alone its lack of accuracy. Nowadays, sensationalism seems to matter more than facts.
May 9th, 2011 at 4:10 am
Funny thing. I guarantee 99% of the WHT posers are “squatting” right now on at minimum 10 domains. Be interesting to take an informal poll on there some time but not gear it toward that discussion. Just a “how many domains” type of poll.
May 9th, 2011 at 6:21 am
The very same is true in property.
I went out to the Hamptons and saw all these empty homes, I contacted the owners and they tried to blackmail me into paying millions for their property.
I mean the few thousand bucks I offered is surely better than an empty house. Go figure!
May 9th, 2011 at 7:33 am
I’m a WHT member like Acro and just posted there. Webhosting is only one more out of many areas where domain value is not yet fully perceived, and many misconceptions (and jealousy) still rule.
May 9th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Sarcasm:
And all that empty land on premium spots all over the world, surely it should be sold to me for a low amount so that I can build a shack there… what value does all those terrains have without any house already there?