Sometime during the backend of last week the private domain forum operated by Rick Schwartz suddenly went off air.
Since then there has been some speculation as to the whys, wherefores and events leading to it’s demise. In fact, a few of my readers (im assuming who are/were members) have since mailed me giving their insight.
TargetedTrafficForum was a private board. It made no money from advertising, wasn’t indexable by spiders and membership was on a ’strictly by invitation only’ basis. Aside from the advantage Rick obviously had through having most of the heavy-hitting domainers in his “front room” (enabling him to promote the T.R.A.F.F.I.C conferences – it could be argued), there was no other obvious benefit in him providing this free service. Im realiably informed that TTF was a solid place to do deals, to trade with other like minded individuals and to make valuable and mutually beneficial connections.
So why take it down?
Some of my readers may remember that some time ago I posted a comment on this blog which Rick had originally posted on his private board. The result of which was an extremely courteous mail from Rick asking for me to remove it because his comments had been made in private and were not for public distribution. Although his comments were simply an affirmation of my original blog post and were in no-way controversial, on reflection, I had to agree with him, it was a mistake to print them, so I removed them. The crux being the hypothetical dilemma that I too wouldn’t want any comments made by me in private (however mild) to then appear on the web without my permission.
There, of course, is the argument that industry figures become public property and thus do not command the same privacy rights as the rest of us.. A debate im not going to comment on here but, sufficed to say, I removed his comments on request which may lead you learn how I personally stand on this issue.
Which leads me on to why the board is now “off air”.
What transpired is that an ex-member of the targeted traffic forum and well known industry figure (who shall remain nameless) wrote to Rick and asked if they could return as member. A request to which Rick denied citing that if he allowed their return he wouldn’t “feel free to discuss things” and would have to “stop posting [himself]“. The applicant then advised Rick that they “already have access to read the board” and simply wanted to “post under their real name”.
Rick’s reaction to this admission was swift, succinct and nothing short of indomitable. His comments to me were that he had no choice but to immediate close the board because of this security hole and in an open statement because;
——-
Whatever people’s thoughts are on Rick Schwartz, be they informed or otherwise, he is undoubtably one of the most prominent “domainers” known even by those from outside of the industry and there is strong argument that he does more for the promotion of the industry as a whole than any other person. Despite this blog making fun of his BLOCK CAPS writing style from time to time, I have nothing but respect for the work he does for the average domainer, how he seems determined to single handedly drag the industry up by its bootstraps and how he has formed and initiated well intended organisations like the ICA. A view of which im sure is supported by folk on either side of the Rick Schwartz fence.
The internet is a remarkable and unprecendented feature of humanity as a whole and we are privileged that its arrival has coincideded with our generation. One facet of this new digital network economy is that it has the ability to thrust regular folk into a global limelight for which some never asked or even seeked. Together with any notoriety comes additional responsibilities that again are not always welcome and, no matter how hard you try at something, you can at times come to your wits end where the perceived gain is just not worth all the hassle. Im sure Rick’s board gave him great pleasure when times were good but, when the fun is superceded by a continued annoyance, sometimes you have nowhere to go but to just shut it down.
Its a real shame to see the board closed – Rick has done the correct thing and I think most of us know who is behind why the board closed.
I hope Rick can start a new private board that shall be invite only again with the people he trusts.
Regards,
Robbie
Sometime around 200-2001, Rick had a public board. His advise then was to get .COM, nothing else. No matter how he was bamboozeled on the fact that all the so-called good .COM names were already registered, he kept resiiently to that one single thought
I think this was the best single advise I got in the many years that came after. Publicly or privately, ‘thank god fo fools’. Rick shared his fundamental principles and abborant ego unselfishly in public
For that, who cares if he closes his private board. Domainers the world over have learnt from him despite that.
Rick is a drama king as much as he is a domain king. Look back at all his blog posts, interviews and action. He thrives on chaos, conflict and drama. I can’t wait too see what he does next.
@ Ronny
too true, how many times has Rick had a tantrum and closed his board.
But never fear, it will come back – the need for the ego to be stroked will be too strong for him to resist.
NEXT!
Julia,
I have been a member of Rick’s board since 2004. The quotes in the attached section of your blog post is taken from Rick’s private board. You should not be publishing this, as it is a violation of the privacy of the member’s there. Please pull this information from your blog.
For example, I belong to another private board related to domain names, and the text you are quoting for all the world to see is not even talked about there. Some of us saw it, some of us didn’t, but we respect Rick’s privacy and HIS right to announce the reason the board is closing. Just cause you can cut and paste doesn’t mean you have the legal right to.
And yes, I’m sure some “highly respected” domain owner sent you the text, but that doesn’t make it right for you to post it publicly.
Regards,
John Holland
Ah, now you too have fallen prey to the king becoming yet another of the many pawns which he controls and moves around to serve his will.
In the first scene you make noncontroversial post which he politely asks to be removed and you oblige, and now he uses your blog as a soapbox to disseminate his flawed logic, stilted idealism and bogus messages…
“wouldn’t feel free to discuss things”
“would have to stop posting”
“too many here can no longer be trusted and I am not smart enough to figure out which ones”
So which is it. Does he crave privacy or public sympathy? Why is it that when the posts in question ARE controversial and when it serves HIS needs Rick has no problem providing you with quotes from his PRIVATE board to disseminate publicly. This is exactly the kind of duplicity which defines Rick Schwartz.
Ricks board was little more than a haven for pornographers, cybersquatters, typosquatters, arbitragers, spyware planters and just about every seedy figure the domain world ever had the displeasure of knowing. A review of the last few years udrp decisions reads like a whos-who of the membership at targetedtrafficforum. These are the flagbearers of an industry?
While there WERE once some “heavy hitters” there, they left long ago realizing that what was being said on Ricks board had little or no chance of actually staying on Ricks board. To protect their privacy and what was left of their reputations the hitters hit the road. Those that remained were noobies, wannabes and yes men who cared more about belonging to something than working alone as domainers. Ricks board reached its best before date years ago.
To suggest that Rick sponored the board without benefit to himself is an assumption which does not hold up under scrutinty. Rick charged his vassels a 5% commission on every domain name sold on his forum alone amounting to a tidy sum over time. He was constantly scrounging money from members for wacky ideas and causes such as the AirKatrina.com fiasco, the domain name defence fund, the world association of domain name developers and many other half baked projects from which ZERO positive results were ever achieved and no accounting ever provided to contributors. The notion of Rick asking for money to “FIGHT” some worthy cause became a running joke amounst members who formed pools to see if they could guess what the next cause might be and how much it would cost this time!
While it is true that inspite of himself he did somehow wangle his way to the forefront of an industry sadly he commands little respect and has made many enemys within it. His pompous language and pious attitudes are not worthy of someone who acknowledges that he is “not smart enough” to figure out just who the good guys and who the bad guys are. Who was it that opened the door for the bad guys and allowed them in? Rick has no one to blame but himself for the predicaments he finds himself in.
History will show what kind of person Rick really was and the contents of his board if and when they are released will dispell any questions people now have about the quality and the caliber of the those hiding behind the transparent curtains hanging in Ricks front room.
In the end the the question which begs to be asked is, is it me or is everyone else stupid for actually believing that anything they say on the Internet even if in a private forum is actually going to remain private?
Life goes on… (for us) but for Rick, TTF is what drove him. The guy was up at the crack of dawn sharing ideas and insight with all of us. He could think out loud. He was FREE inside his board. People, for some reason fail to get that.
His ALL CAPS will be DEARLY MISSED. TTF was a special place, and that trust got gang raped.
EXERCITUS SINE DUCE CORPUS EST SINE SPIRITU
TuFaces, you sound like a sore loser for not being allowed into Rick’s board. I am (was) a member there and you are dead wrong about the people there. Rick doesn’t allowed BS to go in his board and the actions which you described would get someone kicked off. I was a member there for over a year and I never seen any pornography, cybersquatting, typosquatting or any of that going on.
Rick’s board was just like any other forum, except without the bullshit. It was with people that had similar focus, similar drive and I’ll damn sure miss it.
IKnowWhatsGoingOn – “Rick’s board was just like any other forum, except without the bullshit.”
LMFAO ……
I “Was” a member as well … and There was plenty of Bullshit !
If you didn’t agree with ‘Lord’ Rick’s Opinion – NEXT !.
If you were honest enough to point out his Short comings to his face – Next ! (He prefers backstabbers to people with balls).
Stop being a Owen drone chief and get your nose out of Rick’s Ass ……
As far as there being a Spy , Rick should have thought about that before allowing Everyone in the forum just because they paid for and Attended T.R.A.F.F.I.C. at some time. Any liar or thief can attend a Conference and shake Ricks hand … It doesn’t mean they are trustworthy.
tufaces: “Ricks board was little more than a haven for pornographers, cybersquatters, typosquatters, arbitragers, spyware planters and just about every seedy figure the domain world ever had the displeasure of knowing.”
I don’t mind going on record as being one these “seedy figures”.
It’s funny to read statements of fact from someone who has no idea what they are talking about.
I can’t understand why Rick would close the board, a simple google search would turned up a way to spend an hour closing certain accounts that show different IP addresses. Especially if he was using Vbulletin!
Oh well, it’s a shame to see such a resource go to waste for a few fools.
So, Rick had a temper tantrum and closed his board? What a shock!! NOT. LOL!
Well this is news to me and I am sure it’s also news to many others. Knowing that Rick Astley has (or previously had) a private forum where people have been discussing internet domain names and ways to “dupe” the system frankly shocks me, and I am sure others will also be shocked. I suppose I should no longer be surprised, then, with the likes of this: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
Say what you will about the guy and his public persona – but in my view he has been a visionary with an uncanny ability to “get it right”, a willingness to share his ideas, and a mentor for many of us in navigating these uncharted waters. Thanks, Rick.
I’ve been a recurring member of the boards since 2000 and I remember there would always be individuals who seemed to take what has proved to be very sound advice and somehow become angry, like a child with cross-linkage issues. More power to those with creative ideas but if one is able accept facts, .COM is the one people seek out.
It seems a lot of arguments sprang from people whose angst was caused by statements that some idea on which they might be gambling, such as buying tons of the newer, obscure TLD’s wouldn’t necessarily bring tons of interested buyers.
I remember people would behave childishly and disrespectfully instead of learning what I’ve come to call ‘The Formula’ which is so simple, it can be summed up in a few sentences and it’s terribly easy to miss. Despite any antagonism, I’ve nothing but thanks for being able to not only sit sideline, but actually participate in things.