I have crossed the line - or maybe not!

[Bill Roy]

Earlier today I finally got an offer on a domain that I previously thought would fly away as soon as it was listed here, it didn't raise a sausage of interest amoung domainers. Yes, it is a 'hacked domain name', this might have reduced the amount of interest, but surely not to Americans and especially patriotic Americans. But no interest from them at all.

So today when this offer came in from Sedo I accepted and chucked it through to auction, after all as it stands it will only double my investment. Then tonight I had a few friends come round and we were talking about domains and I mentioned this domain. An hour later we were still talking about it, the general consensus was that I had identified the wrong target audience for the domain, rather than pitch it to patriotic Americans the biggest and surest market would be anti-Americans.

Another hour passed whilst a marketing 'plan' was hatched. Less than 7 days to bring off the coup, the first thing to do was let possible anti-American parties know about the sale, to this end the first contact has been with Al Jazeera TV, this is being followed up with contacts to many other known parties and organizations.

Now the questions are:

1) 'Have I crossed the line between decency in business and pure commercialism?' :greenconfused: Remember that the domain was offered to all previously with no takers!
2)I do realise that the domain will be used almost certainly as a truly vitriolic attack on the US, but if the Americans are not willing to buy the domain name why should I be held responsible to defend it from being used almost certainly for anti-American propoganda? :greenconfused:

The dilemma of morals, ethics, and pragmatism for the domainer!:sigh2:

 

[Rockefeller]

Domainers + Morals = Oxymoron

Just kidding..I think that if you have pitched the domain name to everyone and no one was interested you shouldn't feel bad.

 

[maroulis]

Domainers + Morals = Oxymoron

Just kidding..I think that if you have pitched the domain name to everyone and no one was interested you shouldn't feel bad.

I don't agree.. Values are values...and to be more specific, I would have never done that not even for $1M (and this no BS)..

 

[Duckinla]

Get as much money as you can for the domain. Who cares what the buyer is using it for. It's not plutonium. I can't imagine that you have something so unique that someone couldn't replicate it in some way if they were so inclined.

 

[DNjet]

are you not commited to sell to the highest bidder since its at auction on Sedo?

 

[Duckinla]

are you not commited to sell to the highest bidder since its at auction on Sedo?

He is talking about recruiting alternative bidders.

 

[domain newbie]

sell to whoever pays most, business is business

 

[dadster]

Well Bill,

Quite a dilemma. I think it would depend on how incendary the domain name is. It is a position I haven't been in and hope I never am.

Good luck either way.

Frank (dadster)

 

[mgstudent]

Billbo what has happened to you?
disappointed: ahem: http://www.dnforum.com/showthread.php?t=168816)

Sorry I'm not stalking you, I just remembered reading the thread above after that nutter 'iggy' was busting your balls the other day....

Personally, I'd take whatever money I could get by selling any domain to anyone.... :worried: ... and if my conscience was bugging me I'd reinvest 50% back into doing 'good' in the world... Or maybe I'd just keep all the money, and inform the government, about who bought my domain for anti-US or anti-UK purposes... the site might be down in a couple of days


.... That's just me though :undecided: I think.

(ps. what's a 'hacked domain name' ? :greenconfused: )

 

[Bill Roy]

This is a quandry. Throughout history 'business' has carried on through wars, and quite often with intermediaries doing business between the two sides.

I think it is a case of maturing as a domainer (at 48 nice to know I am still maturing at something). I tried doing the 'right thing' and nobody was interested, now I put it on the real open market and as it is not illegal anybody can buy it and utilize it. But that is not and cannot actually be my concern.

I am glad the majority who have answered see it the same way I am now seeing it. I did not intend for this to happen but the prospective buyer has every right to purchase the domain and do what ever he wants with it. Perhaps this has shown me something though, Americans are not as patriotic as they wish us to believe! This in itself is a shame, but once again as a domainer I live and learn.

Maroulis, I respect your ideals, but please understand I am not American, I registered and paid for this domain in an attempt to make money, I did offer it to several organisations in the US, only one even bothered to reply, and ypu and your compatriots here were not interested at all. I therefore feel I have no moral or ethical considerations in regards selling the domain to an anti-American group. That is what is called 'Business'.

The rest of you I would like to thank for your support.

Hi MGStudent,

Your post just beat mine, so I am adding this as an edit.

A 'hacked domain name' is one where the suffix letters are used as part of the descriptive form of the domain, i.e. 'li.st', people see that as 'list' and remember it as such instead of remembering 'li-dot-st' as domainers read it.

Two things have changed. Firstly, I am no longer using that Domain Brokerage company and not paying for press releases (and by the way selling a heck of a lot more names and saving a damn lot of money). Secondly, I have started to mature as a domainer, selling names is a business and not a saintly vocational occupation. I still have very strong views on certain subjects (ask people I have bored to death), but business is business, and by selling this domain to someone who will use it in a way I do not approve is not and cannot be classed as my responsibility if it does not break the law.

I guess you could say I have become pragmatic in my outlook. I am neither the devil or a saint, I am just a domainer.

Hell, what a horrible epitaph!

 

[whitebark]

Hacked domain - bla.st or lookat.us etc

 

[domain newbie]

BTW, what morals are you talking about here, if its hacked domain in the first place :greensleep:

 

[maroulis]

Maroulis, I respect your ideals, but please understand I am not American, I registered and paid for this domain in an attempt to make money, I did offer it to several organisations in the US, only one even bothered to reply, and ypu and your compatriots here were not interested at all. I therefore feel I have no moral or ethical considerations in regards selling the domain to an anti-American group. That is what is called 'Business'.

The rest of you I would like to thank for your support.

I'm not American either, in fact I'm from the same country as the beloved Acroplex It's nothing to do with americans vs anti-americans.. I happen to reside now in US, I was in London for 10 years.. It's to do with morals Would you be happy if some extreme islamist group used that domain in UK (where I believe you currently reside?)

 

[mgstudent]

Billbo your last post did make me smile, very dramatic.... But I agree, they had their chance, and they could have stopped this (the domain getiing into the wrong hands) from happening... but they simply didn't care

Americans are strange creatures. My girlfriend is one and I spend half the year in NY at the moment.... I've always found them to be soooo patriotic here. Flags everywhere... Hang a flag outside your house in England and you'll be labeled a racist - it's a shame really...

Hacked domain - bla.st or lookat.us etc

Thanks whitebark... I remember that term now.

 

[Duckinla]

Americans are not as patriotic as they wish us to believe! This in itself is a shame, but once again as a domainer I live and learn.

I don't think it's about patriotism. I just can't imagine the scenario where you would be giving someone the exact specific unique tools to do something they couldn't do another way. It's pragmatism.

What's the domain? Maybe I will feel differently.

 

[dadster]

Bill,

I am truly hoping you don't take this the wrong way but.....

I am trying to understand your logic here. You are domainer like many of us. You buy and sell domains. When a buyer is interested if he meets your expectations pricewise then you sell.

So, what do you mean by trying to do the right thing? I am an American - I have no idea what your domain is. Are you saying that since I, an American did not snap it up - I and all other Americans are not patriotic? I do not understand your argument here. Almost like you procured something for the good of the United States and since we were too callous or unpatriotic to take advantage of your noble gesture you offered it to however wanted it.

When you acquired the domain name I would think your primary goal was to make money. So, say so. Nothing wrong with that. No one is saying you are immoral or unethical but please do not paint us Americans as unpatriotic or anything else because we didn't snap up your domain.

Good luck with your sale.

All the best,

Frank

 

[Duckinla]

On second thought, I guess what you are really wrestling with is approaching some group like al-jazeera and putting an idea in their head. Yeah, that's a problem. I was looking at it wrong. I wouldn't do that or condone it.

 

[maroulis]

Billbo your last post did make me smile, very dramatic.... But I agree, they had their chance, and they could have stopped this (the domain getiing into the wrong hands) from happening... but they simply didn't care

Americans are strange creatures. My girlfriend is one and I spend half the year in NY at the moment.... I've always found them to be soooo patriotic here. Flags everywhere... Hang a flag outside your house in England and you'll be labeled a racist - it's a shame really...



Thanks whitebark... I remember that term now.

You're joking now right? Union Flags in UK are everywhere and the only reason you are labeled as a racist is because the country at large has severe issues w/minorities....

On second thought, I guess what you are really wrestling with is approaching some group like al-jazeera and putting an idea in their head. Yeah, that's a problem. I was looking at it wrong. I wouldn't do that or condone it.

Glad you saw this duck... the difference is "premeditated"..

Somebody buying the domain and ending up misused (unwillingly in the first place) is one thing and yes it's making money

Actively promoting the domain to known terrorist links (Al Jazeera and the likes) is the same as dealing with terrorist.

 

[dadster]

I think some of the comments regarding we Americans, are uncalled for. I haven't seen anyone post anything disparaging regarding the English in this post. Or am I missing something here?

You guys are crossing another line as you write.

All the best,

Frank

 

[Deleted member 5660]

aren't most of the anti-american people you are discussing also going to be anti-uk as well? Do they care about domain names? Does anyone care about those hacked domain except to say "how cute"?