On the Internet, Nobody Knows You’re a Dog
December 17, 2008 by Rick Latona
Peter Steiner created this famous cartoon on July 5th, 1993 for an issue of The New Yorker. Considering that the first graphical web browser (Mosaic) was launched on April 22nd, 1993, it’s really quite amazing how quickly Mr Steiner “got it”.
It’s not that nobody knows you’re are a dog. It’s actually obvious to everyone when you act like one. It’s that most people think that no one notices their dog like behavior. Therein lies the brilliance of this cartoon which has been published countless times since.
The amount of rude comments I get is astounding. Today, I had someone submit 25 domains all about Christianity but they weren’t good names. They had other keywords in them that I didn’t like and none of the names had any real business opportunity. So, I denied the application the way I usually do by sending a quick reply “Thanks for thinking of me but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be interested in representing these names”. What does this Christian do? He replies with “There isn’t anything wrong with any of the names I submitted. Certainly they are comparable to some of the ‘quality names’ I’ve seen ‘represented’ on your site…so I guess I should just assume you are prejudiced against Christians / Christianity in general or maybe you’re just into porno. Maybe I should get RickLatonaHatesChristians.com”
Here’s one of my personal favorites. Someone submits bestofbabiesworld.com and wants me to list it in the mid x,xxx range. I politely decline. So he replies with “How about these? rickisnowaprimadonna.com, rickthinksheisnowanexpert.com, rickisfullofhimselfandotherthingstoo.com, rickyknowsbest.com, youcancallmedickforshort.com, iamsofullofmyselfthereisnoroomforyou.com and finally gofuckyourselfyouoverblownasshole.com”.
Now was that really necessary? The fact is that I have no obligation to accept any names. I’m running my business the way I think it needs to be run. I’m picky about which names I list and I try to make sure all of the pricing is reasonable. Do I make mistakes? Sure I do. I make them everyday! However, I think I’ve proven that I know a thing or two about a thing or two. Why would these people want to be my enemy?
One thing that I have noticed to be absolutely true is that on the Internet Everyone Knows Who You Are! I’m constantly finding myself doing business with people that I haven’t done business with in 10 years or more. You never know when you will need to talk to someone again about something new. Don’t be a dog because people will remember your actions.
I’ve deleted so many other good ones but I think I’ll add to this post as new ones come in.
*Added July 22nd 2009:
Today I received a real gem. It’s from someone who owns such quality names like australiabot.com and moneyward.com. He’s got Alimonies.com (a word I”m not sure you can pluralize) for the low price of $50,000. He’s been denied on 3 occassions for his auction submissions. Here’s his latest classy reply:
“Let me know when those names you like will be considered, auctioned and delivered. Since that is a fairy tale, so is mine getting the overpiced aeiou services that I can get by easily. Rick Latona sucks at selling “other people’s names”, he likes the taste of his own . When there is a fair playing field, let me know.”
How was ACDC?
Don’t mind these jerks… they obviously have nothing better to do. The fact is you have done a lot both for the industry and yourself. You are a smart guy who bring value when selling domains and these guys know it or else they wouldn’t have asked you in the first place. There is always bums like this…
Keep up the good work Rick! There are many ’silent’ ones out here really enjoying and appreciating your work!
They probably submit names in hope a positive reply will mean that your success will rub off on them in some perverted way. Well at least maybe subliminally that’s what they feel.
I just think of these as part of my spam folder in my own line of business.
Gary, it was great but I feel like a dog today. lol
Shocking!
I read on another blog earlier today,
quote:
“everyone has a different IQ, a different level of intelligence and different way of speaking, expressing themselves and seeing things..”
but what you get in your emails shocks me! I’m sorry to hear you have to put up with these.
Take it this way, the mere fact that they approached you in the first instance, tells everything about the good work you may be doing .
my best,
R.
PS: thumbs up for always replying to all your emails
Good to see Joel thinks the same!
This business is full of twits. I get some insultingly low offers on my names, then when i politely decline their bid the odd person responds with profanity.
Just the way it is i’m afraid.
Haha Rick when you get comments like that you should laugh it off. But you’re right most people act way different on the internet than they would in real life.
I know I send my share of names to you but I would never stoop to that level.I respect your view.Keep doing what your doing.Hell if it was easy everybody would be doing it.Keep Rockin Rick.Kevin
Rick,
Just because someone has a bunch of 4th class Christian domains does not make them a Christian, just like a bunch of porn names will not make a domainer Hue Hefner.
It is a pity you get replies like that. You should expect it but honestly I did not know it could be that bad. Just think about it this way, “The rose that gets picked first is usually the prettiest, and the one in full bloom” so if people are picking on you, it is because this is your moment Rick, you are in full bloom and the whole domain world is looking at you whether you like it or not. However unlike the Rose, you can choose how this story goes, you can bloom as long as you want by ignoring them or you can react to this insults and somehow derail your full impact in this business.
So as difficult as it maybe, see those insults as compliments in disguise.
my personal favorite: gofuckyourselfyouoverblownasshole.com
i agree that people act differently behind the curtain of anonymity but it’s better than a 50/50 bet that these people are also very large aholes/morons in person.
I am really not astonished as I have a strong experience on this:
Imagine when people submit their names in your service and expect you tell them if their domains are premium (when statistically this happens for less than 5% of names even if you have put the minimum level very low).
As a result you get 95% of people potentially frustrated… and a huge percentage that react like Rick is talking.
We valuated the domains of +60,000 persons.
Its’ thousands of mails like these we received…
Wow. Shrug it off and consider it new material for a blog post. I’m 100% sure you don’t really care, and we all know that you know what is best for your image in representing domain names.
You know your doing a great job when you get criticized on bull shit business practices. Can’t win them all. Personal opinions will always be apart of doing business.
Many are extremely grateful(To include me) for the platforms and services you have launched this year for the domain industry.
Leaders lead from the front and your team has evolved the domain industry single handily this year. (Domainer of the year title says it all)
I would recommend you listing your prerequisites for domain submissions on the blog, to deter mass emails. An explanation of what you expect will help people come to the unbearable conclusion that their domains do not fit your business plan. Provide education along with it as well to assist them in future purchases/broker opportunities for your team.
The key to success with this is not to be abrasive with your prerequisites and list them from a business standpoint, rather than a personal one IMO. Being abrasive obviously does not do anything but single you out and prevents new clients buyers and sellers from doing business with your team.
Keep up the great work. I know your team will continue to make waves in 2009.
lol,
i remember sending in a domain name (actually 2) to Rick for feedback and he basically wrote back saying they have no value.
Now one of the names i had bought for a little less than 500, about a month after i sold if for 1000
Rick you are a very successful person ,and i admire you , it is natural to see envy from looser toward successful person .
You helped many domainers in selling their domains for fair commission (i am on of them of course), we have no right to force you to represent a good domain , it is your own decision , then how when it is a junk names !
I don’t think these silly messages will affect you , you have enough space in your trash folder
I LOVE these emails. I really do! When I’m having a bad day I go to ebay and search “Premium Domain” and just laugh it off.
The only bad part about being in this business is that everyone can get into it with as little as $.99 (dot info @ godaddy) and automatically thinks they have a ruby in their hands.
WOW, talking about how not to respond to a rejection. That was funny.
Hi Rick,
Long time no speak mate.
In Oz we call that the “Tall poppy syndrome” when someone like yourself sticks their head up from the crowd and is successful they get attacked by all the “sheep” who are afraid they are getting left behind.
I look at these type of people not as the “Thorns that deflate me” but as the “Pricks who spur me on”
Keep up the great job mate!
Regards
Ed Keay-Smith
OzDomainer
I can’t believe people get that way, but they do and it definitely comes back to haunt them in a lot of other ways. I also agree that you never know who might need to do business with later, so whether an opportunity is meant to be now shouldn’t send a person into a meltdown. I thought only 2 year olds have meltdowns! lol! Keep up the good work. I also appreciate that you answer all of your emails considering the volume you receive must be off the scale.
You never know who you are dealing with on the net , someone should start a new super hiway and shut down the old super hideaway system.
Now imagine the emails you’d get if you did paid appraisals on domains.
Hi Rick,
I cant believe people treat you like this!
I have had a few comments sent to me about myself in the past and just shrugged them off but for these people to personally attack you because you dont want to do anything with there domains.
Most people believe there domains are worth millions when they are lucky to be worth $$$
I would Forget all about them and work with the people you know and trust.
Have A Great Christmas Holiday & I wish you the best for 2009!
Regards,
Robbie
Too funny! That actually gave me a pretty good laugh! I think that you sell some great names for very fair prices. Between that and your aeiou.com development service it’s no wonder you won ‘Domainer of the Year’ at TRAFFIC! Well deserved!
F the weenies that just don’t have a clue. Even the hardest hard ass gets their feelings hurt sometimes by personal attacks - but don’t worry Rick - you’re so above that level it’s stupid!
Looking forward to scooping up a couple of nuggets through your brokering in the coming year…. love the ones that I bought last year!
lol, that was v. entertaining. these folks are daft.
I’ve submitted so many names that have been declined; it’s only a big deal if you’re a sore loser, I suppose. I for one, am gratified to see you playing a larger role in the domain space. I am eager to see how you assemble the Amsterdam show. You did buy rickinamsterdam.com, yes? Good luck to you, and we’ll be submitting names again when we get their values up.
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