AirFranceCrash.com - Why? Why? Why?

[Robbie]

I have been away on business for the past few days and have had limited access to the web, usual check my emails etc but thats about it.

So today upon my return on a flight home after hearing about all of this tragic news about the Air France Crash I instantly did a whois and Im not surprised to see someone has snapped up.

Airfrancecrash.com - Air France Crash

AirFranceCrash.com, .net, .org & .info through GD.

I dont know if the guy is a domainer or who he is but the question I have to ask is why?

What makes you want to own this type of domain?

What can you do with it?

Would Air France shut you down?

Is it morally correct to own or operate these names?

At present the names are sitting in GD parking but I just dont get why someone would register this?

Anyone got any thoughts?

Regards,

Rob

 

[ARonald]

Its just an attempt to make quick bucks from a tragic event.It shows that people are willing to stoop to any levels to make money.

 

[athletec64]

Well, it appears that the registrant is Xenophon Strategies, who lists themselves as a "Strategic communications firm specializing in crisis communications, media relations and public affairs with offices in Washington, DC and San Francisco". Perhaps they're trying to keep it away from squatters

 

[floatingworld]

Headlining news items on the internet is a variation on headlining news items on a newspaper. Tragic news sells newspapers and the idea of the domain name is maybe to generate traffic. In this type of example I think most people will go the BBC or similar to find out event details, but since the price of domains is relatively low, opportunists will calculate that there is little to lose...and of course, it gives some the added frisson of getting on their high horse.

 

[zoogo]

Its just an attempt to make quick bucks from a tragic event.It shows that people are willing to stoop to any levels to make money.

THE whole business of domaining is taking things you don't need so those who do will have to pay premium prices for them.

Don't kid yourself, most people in this field will do anything to make a buck.

 

[john_karr]

Whoever reg this is a Sick individual!

 

[enlytend]

In this case, it's NOT some sick domainer ...

Xenaphon is a legit crisis communications PR firm (they also handled the flight 587 crash which happened right after 9/11) so they probably DID register it to keep it from squatters.

BUT, they might want to point those nameservers somewhere other than Godaddy parking !

 

[FreshAvails.com]

Let's reserve judgement until we see what they do with the name. I have no issue with the name itself.

 

[webcom]

That's just sick. I could not sleep at night owning a domain like that...

 

[snoop]

I dont know if the guy is a domainer or who he is but the question I have to ask is why?

What makes you want to own this type of domain?

What can you do with it?

Would Air France shut you down?

Is it morally correct to own or operate these names?

At present the names are sitting in GD parking but I just dont get why someone would register this?

Anyone got any thoughts?

Regards,

Rob

I would say it is registered either to make money off traffic or for resale.

Did you see on the news all the reporters sticking cameras in the faces of relatives arriving at the airport and firing questions at people who were crying?

Trust me those reporters were not there for goodwill, it is just an opportunity to make money. The newspapers and media exist for the same reason, they'll pay those reporters and tell them what a good job they did, then they'll hype it up and take a bunch of advertising to monetize it all.

If you go to airfrance's website you'll see an emergency line for relatives to get information it also includes this line "NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for relatives and close friends.". You can get a good idea what usually happens in this situation, I'll bet some still call it even with that notice.

So here is a question: Is the guy who registered that name any worse than the newspapers and reporters who will do just about anything to make money from this tragedy?

 

[CrazyJoker]

Thats just sick..

 

[snoop]

In this case, it's NOT some sick domainer ...

Xenaphon is a legit crisis communications PR firm (they also handled the flight 587 crash right after 9/11) so they probably DID register it to keep it from squatters.

BUT, they might want to point those nameservers somewhere other than Godaddy parking !

Thanks for the post, so obviously not a speculator,

This is the first thing is states on their website,

"Public engagement and communications during a crisis protects an organization’s reputation and brand. Xenophon has one of the nation’s best known crisis communications practices that handles the toughest assignments, such as representing the airline industry following 9/11"

You can see what this company is about, damage control for Air France.

 

[Robbie]

Thanks everyone for there thoughts, It does sound like they might have regged for the correct reasons if they are a media business looking to protect the domain but as long as there not profiting from it then I wouldnt have an issue.

 

[Kate]

Xenaphon is a legit crisis communications PR firm (they also handled the flight 587 crash which happened right after 9/11)[/B] so they probably DID register it to keep it from squatters.
...

They also registered af447 in several extensions.

 

[BiddersUp]

Purchase

I suppose they purchased it for the VERY SAME reason you did a WHOIS search.

This company knows that there are people out there who may want specific information pertaining to this tragedy. Perhaps, there is more to the story than what we currently know or are being told. This site can deliver that information directly and unfiltered to those who are interested.

We do not say that the editor of the obituary section of a news paper is sick for reporting deaths and funerals. They are providing a public service. In the same manner, if the people who purchased this domain use it in a very ethical way, they are providing a public service.

 

[corgi]

Don't act so high and mighty - c'mon.
Sure it's a tradegy, but it's also a business opportunity.

This is fair game, in this capitalistic world we live in. 8^X



Just the thought and fact that you checked it out to see if the domain was registered turns your soul darker too in the name of greed and what not.


But on a side note: it's not that great of an opportunity. I had registered some tradegy domains in the past, while it was hot news...and the CPC revenue didn't even surpass the domain reg. cost.

and their were no takers for the domain.

 

[hawkeye]

THE whole business of domaining is taking things you don't need so those who do will have to pay premium prices for them.

Don't kid yourself, most people in this field will do anything to make a buck.

??? With your tag line in your sig - "I buy, sell, develop, and promote good domain names.", what business are you in? I'd say it's the domaining business where - "most people in this field will do anything to make a buck." Just because you say you deal with 'good' domains doesn't exclude you from the 'domaining business' any moreso than anyone else. good grief.

 

[footodors]

How many of us buy typos?
That's evil.

 

[enlytend]

(stepping carefully past the flames starting to fly in this thread ...:D )

This company knows that there are people out there who may want specific information pertaining to this tragedy. Perhaps, there is more to the story than what we currently know or are being told. This site can deliver that information directly and unfiltered to those who are interested.

I'd be VERY surprised if they put up any kind of public website on any of those domains. Their business is about reputation management for their client (Air France) - they need to be sure that information about the incident widely available on the internet sticks to known facts and approved statements, is not damaging to their client, and is sensitive to the victims' families. This was a defensive move on their part.

 

[dtagr]

Thanks everyone for there thoughts, It does sound like they might have regged for the correct reasons if they are a media business looking to protect the domain but as long as there not profiting from it then I wouldnt have an issue.

Xenophon is obviously making a profit from the websites. It's clear they have a contract in place with Air France to to do PR and Media control following this tragedy. Their business strategy is clearly to monetize tragedy. There is nothing inherently immoral about this practice. Whether they use the websites or not they are providing a service.

How many websites exist solely to monetize tragedies from everything from swine flu to the holocaust?

This is essentially no different than the NY Times,Globe & Mail,London Free Press running "AIR FRANCE TRAGEDY" as a headline, knowing they will sell more copies and increase their monetization through ad sales.

Capitalism is exploitation of resource, period. The resource may be a human tragedy, a physical resource, specialized knowledge, specialized skillsets,etc ad infinitum. Domaining is squarely in the Capitalism business.

Profit in any prescribed legal manner is morally justified.

If you squint just right this turkey looks like a "flame" retardant hat. _\|/_