If this was not clear enough by now let me clear it up once and for all: We’re not in a popularity contest. Not one person on earth made it to the top by not being laughed at. The more you laugh the more assurance I have we’re doing the right thing. While you, whoever you are, have the time and need to laugh at us behind our back we’re busy actually doing, creating, investing, inventing, building.
Back stabbing in the domain space isn’t something new really. Back in the days on Rick’s board (when I was active there) there were few groups who behind the scenes were united against others. Today while not on the board there, the same groups, and new ones, exist as well. I have no desire nor interest to name names. If it makes you happy to bad-mouth one another so be it. I’m actually too busy doing, building, then to pay an extra second to this nonsense.
This industry is just like any other industry. There’s the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good are your close friends who have been there for years, people who genuinely care about you, share information with you, likely know your family, and in general are there when you need, if not with money then with invaluable advice. The bad? Where do I start? domain hijackers, thieves, and manipulators of all sorts. And the ugly? Bad-mouthing is the norm, backstabbing? why not. They are busy criticizing, mainly because of jealousy, personal insecurities, inability to create on their own, grow.
Rick Schwartz, the one person who did more for the domain industry then any single individual in the space, knows what I’m talking about quite well. Constant attacks, blog and forum posts, videos, and lately even physical threats. Where are we going with it? My suggestion, if this happens to you, keep the eyes on the ball, ignore the noise because all those are nothing but noise, voices in their own darkness screaming for attention, and the moment you give them that attention you give them a reason for their existence.
Not now, not ever.
Source: Posted on TheConceptualist by Sahar Sahid -- Reprinted with permission -- May 27, 2008