There have been a couple discussions this week about whether or not there is a “good old boys club” in domaining.
Shane Cultra discussed his personal experience in the preamble to his daily picks post on Wednesday, I think Shane did a good job of articulating his feelings and early experiences in the business.
There was a thread on Namepros that sprung up after Shane’s post that delved into the boys club.
Truth of the matter there are many clubs in the industry. This industry in my opinion has become very cliquey. I ended up running one for a long time, it was not by design but it happened organically.
When I started the Dot Tv sub forum on Namepros back in 2005, there were a lot of regular participants where this was there first foray into domaining. A lot of regulars did not have great .coms and were branching out into .tv, this was their education, this is where the majority of their money was being spent.
Since this was the first forum of it’s kind, dedicated to one extension, there was some resentment and some hostility from some other members.
There were people who wanted to troll, people like Namepros original number 2 Jeff, and Snoopy was another provocateur. These sparring sessions in the Dot Tv sub forum really galvanized the members. There were people who would private message me that said thanks for giving us this place and I am not a Nper, I am a TVer. It became for some, not all, “us vs them.”
Where I looked out for the section and tried to keep everything on topic, and created venting posts for those that did not like .tv, I was getting concerned that for some it was very personal. The extension was becoming like religion.
So it became a club, but if someone wanted in and wanted to learn, they were welcomed. There were members who started out with no discipline, criticizing everything, who changed gears. They took the time to learn, they read everything and asked questions. Over time they started to have success.
A couple people way back when expressed the same intimidation that Shane mentioned in his post. They felt like there was this group of 10 members who lived on the Dot TV sub forum and posted at one another all day long. I always said just start posting, be respectful and you will be in too.
One of the most commonly referenced old boys clubs was created by a lady. DomainBoardroom.com was founded by Donna Mahony and she has worked her rear end off making it a place where members feel comfortable. Some of the members of DBR do not post on Namepros or DNF, that’s their choice, some people believe this is excluding people, but whether there was a DBR or not, these people were never posting in a public forum. So no one lost out.
The other forums have been like clubs as well, there was a group that posted on Domain State that were never posting on Namepros.
Namepros has really grown it’s membership and changed it’s overall feel. Back in the day a lot of people considered it newbie central, the site was totally free and RJ was offering domain registrations for NP$.
There were people who belonged to Namepros that took pride in never giving DNF a dollar, it was us against them. Hell you could not write Namepros on DNF and you couldn’t write DNForum on Namepros.
I would say there are brandable domainer clubs, there are the pro BrandBucket vs the anti – BrandBucket for one example.
There are new gtld investors that talk to one another a lot and don’t want to hear from people who just bash new gtlds.
People who try to make everyone feel welcome
People like Richard Lau and his team made NamesCon a place where anyone could come join in the festivities, it was not a private party where you needed the secret password.
Eric Lyon is someone who I believe has tried to be open and accommodating to all kinds of domainers.
The fact remains that people like to find places where they feel safe, where privacy is valued and where you can trust each member’s word. I would say if you are open to both give and take, understand that you don’t know everything, and have a friendly disposition you can get into just about any club. I came to domaining not knowing a soul, I have belonged to any community or club that I wanted without being rich or a superstar. I have tried to help people along the way and work with anyone who was a decent human being.
The last thing I will say is this, domaining can be very lonely, because it’s still tennis vs a team sport like football. You are out there by yourself. This is not an easy business to be consistent in. Anyone can sell a domain or two, but to sell domains and be profitable year and year out is hard.
You have a couple conferences but for the most part you have to find a way to earn each year on your own. You may get advice and tips from people along the way, but at the end of the day it will be you that defines your success.
Rich says
Wasn’t shane kicked out of DBR for talking about whatever they talk about behind their closed doors, quilting domains? I don’t know why all the secrets, but who cares.
There are so many tools out there now, you can go criminally insane with them, everything is front, and center, best offer takes it, who cares about everyone else, as long as everything is legal, and no schills are going on I could care less.
Joseph Peterson says
Lots of people kicked out of DBR for the flimsiest of reasons. I was. Donna Mahoney is definitely not somebody I respect.
Camping out says
You sound bitter, Donna is certainly not a bad person.
Joseph Peterson says
@Camping out,
My experiences with her were few, and she acted reprehensibly. Simple as that.
Shane says
Not that it means anything but that thread was started by Aaron Strong.
Aaron Strong says
Thanks for your insights Raymond. Yes, as mentioned above, I started the thread. It was not meant as an attack on the domain community or anyone personally. It was meant to have an open and honest conversation, in that sense it has worked. Posts like this helps many of us who don’t know the inner workings of the industry to understand it better. With better understanding, everyone benefits. Most conflicts are caused by miscommunication, the information you shared helps in this regard. Thanks again!
Joseph Peterson says
“Cliquey” is the right way to sum it up.
Some people declare that it’s the “establishment” versus the little guys. Not true. Just a bunch of tiny cliques.
Some people pretend that it’s all open-armed welcome and that anybody who feels shut out has only himself to blame. Not true either. Cliques don’t like strangers. And frequently these very domainers work hard to sabotage outsiders. To get into a clique, if you want in, you have to curry favor by paying money or praising the insiders.
The domain industry isn’t a conspiracy. It’s cliquey and adolescent like the 8th grade. No point denying it. No point blaming it either. Eventually the industry will grow up, and the cliques themselves will be marginalized.
Mark Thorpe says
Cliquey Industry, you got that right!
The Industry does need to grow up and earn trust back from end-users. IMO
A few domain hustlers and bullies gave the domain Industry a bad name in 2016. Here’s hoping 2017 is much more honest and transparent in the domain Industry.
Garth says
Eagles fly alone.
Join Domains says
Here in Melbourne, Australia we have a meetup group where once every couple of months we get together and chat about lots of stuff, including domains and the local industry. I suggest starting a meetup group in your city. It really is a handy way to network in person!
~
Oh, by the way BoysClub.Domains is available but don’t ya hate those expensive renewals !
Rich says
I think one of the issues with the good ol boys clubs in the ranks of such things as police officers, senior group of employees etc… is the fact they know everything, and have a some sort of right over you based on seniority, sort of what I say goes, I know it all.
I liken this to a blogger using his clout to attempt to get newbies to invest in .ws domains, did they really think they were going to take the world by storm, and do newbies a favor.
They got paid by the registry, and probably got a handful of free domains, but try to question .ws as an investment, and you get ganged up by these pump and dumpers.
You just got to be smart, and listen to yourself.
All these guys who say we are here to help you, this, and that, come have a free sandwich with me, are just attempting you to befriend you to get you to click on their links, so they don’t have to shovel shit for the rest of their life.
I know it’s harsh, but it’s the truth, and if it hurts, I am not sorry.
christopher brennan says
to someone who is trying to make a living from domains everyone who comes into their world is seen as a resource. it is about making money anyway anyhow.
thinking someone offering free advice online has your interest at heart is like a fish looking at a worm dangling on a hook.
you might think you have found dinner but you are it.
Jon Schultz says
Very thoughtful post. Thanks!