A Non-Domainers Take On The New gTLD’s: “There Pointless”

2009 March 26
by MHB

In a article appearing in  Popular  Science, discussing Al Gore proposed .eco extension, the author takes a non-domainers look at the new gTLD extension and concludes:

“”"For domain names not associated with a trademark, who really cares about anything except “.com”?”"”

“”"I think there’s this general sense that whoever lays claim to the “.com” version of a domain is the legit owner and everything else is suspect or secondary.”"”

“”"How else can you explain all of those cutesy Web 2.0 misspellings of words like “Flicker”? I always kind of figured a company would rather misspell for the sake of a “.com” address than get stuck with the indignity of a “.biz” or “.info.”"”"”

“”"There’s also the “.name” domain. Ever seen one of those? I hadn’t until two weeks ago, but it’s apparently been around since January 2002.”"

“”"The point being: there is no point. These extraneous TLDs, the proposed “.eco” domain included, succeed only in confusing users and bilking Web site owners out of an additional $30-$50 each”"”

“”"If approved…I don’t think “.eco” will amount to much. Some companies will purchase it just to park it. Others will redirect it to their homepages. Some companies will use it in the hopes of drumming up publicity. A few individual green bloggers may choose to brand their sites with it. A handful of environmental organizations will purchase it, but will stick with “.org” as their primary URLs. Instead of buying “.eco” to showcase environmental policies and initiatives, Website owners should simply employ one of the two URL naming conventions the public is already conditioned to recognize: the backslash and subdomain. Why pay money for “yoursite.eco” when you’ve already got “eco.yoursite.com” and “yoursite.com/eco” for free.”"”

Interesting to see how the new gTLD’s are being viewed outside of the domaining community.

  • Share/Bookmark
4 Responses leave one →
  1. 2009 March 26

    A logical perspective and a perfect example that, whatever domainers think, the public is a different story. One has to realize that AM radio ruled for decades even though the vastly superior FM was available because AM was what the public (and corporate America) originally associated with the radio revolution. And once the public associates one thing with another, it takes years to get them to think differently

    In Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV, Part 1, Glendower and Hotspur are debating over how to persuade others to follow their lead. Glendower brags, “I can call spirits from the deep,” to which Hotspur responds, “Why yes, so can I and so can any man, but when you call them, will they come?”

  2. 2009 March 26

    Yo, that the main reason why I read thedomains.com- it always make my day!!

    who needs the comics?

  3. 2009 March 26
    Spell Check permalink

    “There Pointless” <–?

    I believe you meant “They’re”

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Comment Period For ICANN Closing On Monday: Why You Need To Comment & Here’s Our’s

Leave a Reply

Note: You can use basic XHTML in your comments. Your email address will never be published.

Subscribe to this comment feed via RSS

Please copy the string kkDZ81 to the field below: