When PAUSE is actually REWIND

A well-known domain blogger apparently faced a family situation of serious proportions yesterday and he made an announcement of “Pausing” his posts.

Despite having encountered some recent and unnecessary friction with the guy, I emailed him with my sympathy and condolences. Also, out of respect for his family situation I removed a recent post that although it was not directly addressed to him, it somehow involved him further into the argument.

Now, it’s unfortunate that despite that apparent family situation, the same blogger continues his attempts to badmouth, belittle, discredit and misrepresent the role and function of my two blogs, through his not-naming names but insinuating posts that “may or may not be” about me etc.

It’s a silly game, if you ask me and thus I follow his own footsteps with this post. I have already spoken on the phone with the guy and I am quite disappointed by the current line of exchanges and attitude towards me and my companies.

Acro.net is my personal and professional blog where I openly discuss my views, opinions, personal experiences and engage in conversations with others, including the use of objective or constructive criticism of technological and social events and happenings. I have a name and a registered corporate entity and even though I am known as “Acro” due to my domain forum activity, I don’t believe I am that popular as e.g. big Rick to be known as “Theo”. So most domainers call me “Acro”.

My second blog, is not a secret that it’s operated by me, again in the form of a corporate entity.

DomainGang started a year ago as an outlet of personal thoughts, jokes, parodies and sometimes outrageous stories that stretch domaining reality beyond its usual shape. While some fail to either understand or appreciate its function and role, many others praise it and appreciate its existence. It has taken on the role of being the Onion of domaining for some, although I prefer MAD Magazine as a more precise definition.

When established domainers such as David Castello openly praise the DomainGang role and its value in the domain industry, one must realize that something is done right. When corporate sponsors include DomainTools, the .CO Registry, Latona’s Auctions, DNForum, DNCruise etc. then these companies appreciate the role of DomainGang also.

I don’t mind criticism but apparently the guy who “paused” was actually “rewinding”.

I will only say that freedom of speech is an established right and the expression of opinions through dialogue or analysis is also protected; particularly when I am a qualified developer both by degree, profession and experience – an industry expert, if you must, in what constitutes development and domaining.

Parody is also protected speech, especially when it utilizes humor to both exaggerate circumstances in order to describe their flaws or overall features. It’s the same way that a caricature artist paints not an accurate portrait but one that is out of proportions to emphasize or bring to light its intricate functions and appeal.

Therefore, no-one is writing under a “guise” or hides their identity. If I wanted to play the game of being anonymous I would never openly cross-post between my two blogs and I wouldn’t have taken the podium at TRAFFIC Las Vegas 2010 to announce and describe what is DomainGang and what it stands for!

Back then, I also gave an interview to Morgan Linton, if you are interested to watch here’s the link.

Most importantly, I never have and never will resort to the lowly behavior of impersonating someone else in order to say what I have to say via comments on someone else’s forum or blog. Just like Rick Schwartz or Mike Mann, I sign my comments with my signature – but I will pause this post right now.