Acro.net – Technology Rants & Raves by Acroplex®

When Rick Schwartz writes a blog post it’s usually some time in the early morning. His unique, direct style is what makes the readers of his blog going back for more.

At Rick’s blog there’s a lot of motivational information, dished with what I’d like to call ‘domainer tough love‘. Not everyone likes that approach; still, it worked wonders for many of us. The drill sergeant in the army did it for me, so did my teachers at school.

I’m not sure what would take for Rick Schwartz to become irritated but perhaps a hefty serving of bullshit would do it. After reading several comments that were attacking Rick’s intentions and overall sentiment in the domain industry, I was left with the impression that Rick is once again about to start telling it like it is.

And that is good.

TRAFFIC has faded as an institution in the eyes of many newcomers and outsiders to the domain industry. Not because of any lack of organization; both times that I attended the event was nothing short of superb.

The main problem appears to be the open door policy of the conference. For several years since it started, TRAFFIC was by invitation only. It was the type of VIP event that required a virtual tuxedo and a certain attitude; it was an initiation, if you must, to the domain brotherhood.

The comments at Rick’s latest post indicate that the amount of disrespect towards the organizers of TRAFFIC and Rick in person is increasing. It’s unfortunate that this is happening and I’m sure that Rick will be cracking the whip pretty soon.

It’s time for TRAFFIC to be by invitation only, once again.

I’ll end this post with a little story for entertainment purposes.

The potato was introduced to Greece in the late 1820′s by its newly elected governor, John Kapodistrias. Having ordered a shipment of potatoes, at first he ordered that they be offered to anyone interested. However the potatoes were met with indifference by the population and the whole scheme seemed to be failing. Therefore Kapodistrias, aware of the contemporary Greek attitude, ordered that the whole shipment of potatoes be unloaded in public display on the docks and placed severe-looking guards guarding it. Soon, rumors circulated that for the potatoes to be so well guarded they had to be of great importance. People would gather to look at the so-important potatoes and soon some tried to steal them. The guards had been ordered in advance to turn a blind eye to such behavior and soon the potatoes had all been “stolen” and Kapodistrias’ plan to introduce them to Greece had succeeded.

What is the moral of this story?

Can you feel the electricity in the air?

There’s a revolution brewing. It’s the lingering smell of ozone, right before a powerful storm erupts.

It’s about time to bring the end-users to the domain conferences.

It’s about time to change the rules of the game by altering the long-standing paradigm. Domainers sipping margaritas with other domainers at domainer conferences is not what takes this industry to the next level. It actually puts it into a deep sleep.

The domaining industry needs its own aggressive marketing campaign, its very own technocrats that don’t rest forever on their laurels of past engagements. Instead, these individuals would forge new marketing paths by hammering into shape alliances beyond the domaining realm, past the sleepy “circle of trust” that has been regurgitating the same old fairy tales for years now.

It’s time for a change.

Eighty percent of the general public that uses the Internet has no clue about the value, specifics, functions and mechanisms of the domain industry. They are ripe ground for seeding with education. They are waiting, money in their wallets to learn how they can best invest it.

So put down the margaritas and assorted shrimp-on-a-toothpick and seek the right connections that will open up the coveted gates of the general public – directly to the entrance of your own business.