Reg'd ismailax.com - VA Tech related

[texasgamer]

I was watching tv this morning about the Virgina Tech massacre.
They mentioned a ranting note left by the killer that was signed ismailax.
Also the word ismailax was supposedly tattoed or inscribed in red on the killers arm.
Rightly or wrongly, I registered the name ismailax.com . Don't ask me why. I just instinctively regd it.
Within hours I started receiving phone calls from reporters asking me why I registered the name and if I know what it means. I even got a call from as far away as England (and I am in Texas).
I told them I have no clue what the name means - and that I own hundreds of domain names. One of the reporters even told me that the name had something to do with the Muslim faith. Supposedly Ibrahim, after recieving the truth from Allah, entered a temple in Babylon with an ax and destroyed the stone and wooden idols worshipped by people or something to that effect.
I had no clue when I registered this name that it would cause so much attention.....

 

[circa1850]

Okay, I'm not against you buying the domain or anything, as it clearly was a great grab, but you guys need to think. People like this killer do these things for a reason. The reason is they want attention, so they do things like this. how many of you know the names of the 33 victims?I'm guessing almost no one knows, but how many of you know the name of the killer?I'm guessing quite a bit of you dop, so, in the end, he has succeeded in what he was trying to do. Everyone now knows who he is, and he got the attention that he wanted. When people do things like this, we should not address them with their proper name, but with something such as "the killr" or "the gunman" but don't say his name, as in the end, he is getting what he was trying to get, and that is attention, he succeeded in what he wanted to get.

No, I want to keep the domain, I will use it for a memorial/informational site that is not a legitimate non-profit tax entitity, and if someone wants to write a book or do a movie called Ismail Ax they can't have it, I won't sell it, I will not profit from it.

Sorry, instead of redirecting those 550,000 hits the first day to a legitimate site that VT has set up, I decided to redirect them to a parked page that had no information regarding the topic whatsoever but did offer student loans and scholarship money.

And, golly, any money I make will be put to good use as I am sure it will cost me a boatload of money to pay for a $9.95 per month web host that no one would want to provide me and maybe $100 for a flash template that no one would donate.

And my 15 minutes of fame just continues as the offers to interview just keep pouring in. Besides, it is kind of like a car accident...just the curious onlookers. I can not imagine any of the sites that are now appearing on my parked page would not be legitimate donations sites. All of their intentions must be good, just like mine or else I would not permit them to appear. Like the site advertising the official VT love beads with 100% of the proceeds donated going to charity. I personally screened each one myself and when I asked them are you good people they said "uh huh, yesh?"

Wow, I am getting about 10,000 hits an hour. Sorry VT. It may have been your tragedy but it is my domain name.

-------------------------------------

I will be more than happy to remove this post. But for now, I don't see any need to. The registrant wants to stand firm. That is his choice. Nothing personal, but this is personal to me.

 

[mkylut]

Well put Circa

 

[Dotplanners]

memorial ---

As expected my current server hosting would not handle this onslaught of traffic. I am now getting 10's of thousands of hits per hour. I simply can not afford this kind of bandwidth. The name is now parked and any ppc income generated, will be used to pay for server hosting and the building of a informational/memorial website for the victims of this terrible tradgey.
Ray

I don't want to sound preachy, but I saw the Chic Trib article too, and was hoping you would do the right thing, but then I saw it was on a PPC landing page and was disappointed.

Be a HERO. Point it here: http://www.vt.edu/tragedy/memorial_fund.php

Why don't you do the right thing and just point the domain name to VT's own victim's fund so that they get all the traffic? Do it as a matter of morals and ethics, and making a good name for domainers worldwide, if your servers won't handle it, park it on the VT's servers. Heck, they may even give you a mention on a plaque somewhere for "doing the right thing." You may even get MORE positive interviews from the media, and your business will get worldwide coverage, if you look like a hero.

You aren't a beginner domainer, that's obvious, so what you do with this domain name traffic and potential revenue can speak volumes for the domain industry, and yourself. Saying you're going to use any income from it and buy a server hosting and set up a victim memorial website will do what? You're using the money to "build a memorial site?" Pay for hosting? You don't HAVE to do that, because the traffic will be better served pointing it to the official VT fund site, and you KNOW THIS.

I'll personally give you $50 for your efforts to just point the domain -- send the traffic to where it should go... I'm sure others will donate something to you to "encourage" you, although they shouldn't have to, you should do it.

By the way, the domain points to a blank page in the Pac Norwest area. Set it up with whoever you need to talk to in order to get it done.. point it here.
http://www.vt.edu/tragedy/memorial_fund.php

 

[AzN]

Stephen is right, forward to the VT Funds would be very good. But it's YOUR domain, do what YOU feel is right.

As to bandwidth, you can redirect from Godaddy or use everyDNS.net

 

[commes]

No, I want to keep the domain, I will use it for a memorial/informational site that is not a legitimate non-profit tax entitity, and if someone wants to write a book or do a movie called Ismail Ax they can't have it, I won't sell it, I will not profit from it.

Sorry, instead of redirecting those 550,000 hits the first day to a legitimate site that VT has set up, I decided to redirect them to a parked page that had no information regarding the topic whatsoever but did offer student loans and scholarship money.

And, golly, any money I make will be put to good use as I am sure it will cost me a boatload of money to pay for a $9.95 per month web host that no one would want to provide me and maybe $100 for a flash template that no one would donate.

And my 15 minutes of fame just continues as the offers to interview just keep pouring in. Besides, it is kind of like a car accident...just the curious onlookers. I can not imagine any of the sites that are now appearing on my parked page would not be legitimate donations sites. All of their intentions must be good, just like mine or else I would not permit them to appear. Like the site advertising the official VT love beads with 100% of the proceeds donated going to charity. I personally screened each one myself and when I asked them are you good people they said "uh huh, yesh?"

Wow, I am getting about 10,000 hits an hour. Sorry VT. It may have been your tragedy but it is my domain name.

-------------------------------------

I will be more than happy to remove this post. But for now, I don't see any need to. The registrant wants to stand firm. That is his choice. Nothing personal, but this is personal to me.

okay jsut a question, since you quoted what io said, are you against what i said or agreeing with it???

 

[circa1850]

Okay, I'm not against you buying the domain or anything, as it clearly was a great grab, but you guys need to think.

I am against buying it, regging it, and calling it a 'great grab' to me adds to the hype and attention (very, very negative...by the way) it has brought the domain industry. These are some some I have seen within the last hour or so:

http://www.wired.com/culture/education/news/2007/04/vt_domainname
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18203281/site/newsweek/
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9710857-7.html
http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=2664&dshield=1a8790d78e0198fd034a76ead9026c93
http://isc.sans.org/domaincheck.html?type=ascii

So now rather than reporting effectively on other news, time is spent of the public disdain and condemnation of the efforts of thousands of people to rush the keyboard. It has gotten to the point that a security research center is posting pleas for help to identify the sites being regged because it can not keep up with them fast enough.

Such is the environment we live in where the real winner, in many people's mind, is the one who gets to it first. Granted, this will only be in the news until the next sensational story brakes. Britany, Anna Nicole...yesterday's headlines. 160 Iraqi's killed in 4 seperate yet related bombings. What day was this reported? Hard to even find those headlines. No thanks...I rather not be known as a winner in this case.

It is easy or easier to not become attached (emotionally or personally) to a news story if there is distance between you and that event. Physical distance and "wired" distance.

Rewind: The internet has been in existence since 1960. Would texasgamer have rushed to the keyboard in 1962 to register KENNEDYASSASINATED.COM? Perhaps not. Too close to home. Shock and horror. Dallas. FAST FORWARD: 1966. Does texasgamer rush to the keyboard to register UTTOWERSNIPER.COM, KillerCharlesWhitman.com. Probably not, too close to home, shock and horror. Austin. FAST FORWARD: 2003. Would texasgamer rush to the keyboard to reg SHUTTLEBURNS.COM. Doubtful. Whole state of Texas affected by this disaster. Shock and horror.

The point I am trying to make is if it affects us on a personal level or those around us, we don't glamorize and sensationalize the event...we are in shock over the horror.

The registrant in this case (seriously, no personal attack towards him but the event is taken personally) has no attachment to the event. Being the first to reg this was indeed a golden opportunity. Meanwhile, those watching the event so close by and following the news were not and are not interested in the domain name.

We are heaping additional attention not only on the event but the killer and the domain industry in general. Why? Because some of us have sensationalized it and profited from it. And some argue that it is our job, if I didn't do it someone else would, the news media does it so why can't I. It is not our job, someone else will, and it is the news media's job to report the news. And we have become part of the news.

Lets do some more interviews. Lets shed some more light on the parking industry, the registrars, the forums, the domain business in general. Too bad that it is not in a glowing form of light. Now we have to deal with it.

Perhaps Cho wanted attention. He made choices. He got attention. Doubtful the registrant wanted attention. He got some. Does not matter what form or shape or media that attention came in. But he sure got some. Good or bad...gotta take it all.

As I pointed out, when I did a search I landed on a NameDrive parked page. Not one thing relevant to provide information on the term used. Got my information from another domainer.

Okay, so the registrant has no ill intent. But he undoubtedly became an unknowining and unwilling participant in fraudulent scams. Virginia Tech Love Beads? Proceeds donated to charity? I too have a charity. It's called LeftPocketRightPocketHipPocketWallet.com. Let's fill it up.

Unquestionably, there are thousands who will take advantage of this opportunity. Knowing what keyword to use, how much do you think the bidding is up to on Google? If I think I can make a few million on a scam, I'll spend a few hundred K to become first ranked. Sure, I'll tell you any thing you want to hear, make you feel good about giving. Make me feel better about getting.

Here are some more domains for your consideration:
http://www.DNF/showthread.php?t=223264

Look at this sorrowful pitiful humbling sales pitch:

I was thinking about developing these names but wanted to see if anyone might be interested first.

ChoSeung-HuiCase.com
ChoSeung-HuiDeaths.com
ChoSeung-HuiMurders.com
ChoSeung-HuiRampage.com
ChoSeung-HuiTapes.com
ChoSeung-HuiVideo.com
ChoSeung-HuiVideos.com
Seung-HuiMassacre.com
Seung-HuiMurders.com
Seung-HuiShootings.com

Thanks!

Now, copy and paste any of those in your browser.

There is presently only one site officially set up to take donations. That site and entity was not appearing on the landing page of NameDrive nor was it appearing on the landing page of Sedo. What was appearing were potentially fraudulent sites already set up to run a scam and to part you and your money. Texasgamer might have become an unwilling participant in helping to forward that illegal cause. God forbid, but that would be a consequence I nor most would want to be in. And you can damn well better believe after hearing about 550,000 hits almost immediately and 10,000 hits per hour...hell yes, that is EXACTLY where I want to be. Thanks for that public information, I'll get my buddies together, we'll go as high as $15.00 per click to be ranked first by Google. Don't forget, we are appearing on all kinds of sites now. Anything that has to do with that search term.

Here, meester, by me beads, pleese.

By now, we have diverted millions of people away from a legitimate opportunity to potentially donate. Over three days, if we are talking 3 million people, and only 1% of that 3,000,000 gave one dollar, that is $30,000.00. Sure it is speculation.

But it is also pure speculation that any thing good will ever come of this domain. There is no speculation on my part and perhaps the part of law enforcement authorities that this domain has already been involved in questionable and unlawful activity. Sedo can not hand pick what falls on the lander. texasgamer can not hand select which ads can and can not appear. google can not willingly know the intent of their advertiser. Doubtful anyone really cares as long as the money is good and everyone gets paid. That is how the game is played. Matching up advertisers with publishers and landing pages. And they are a crafty bunch. Do you know where most of the searches for Columbine went while that event was unfolding? The reports say porn sites.

Seriously, there may be unforeseen consequences to this. That in its very form and media attention may be why it has been pulled off the internet by so many...the site became a vehicle (as it is called in the advertising business) to carry a message of deception and fraud. Don't think for a moment the FBI is not already on this as they are in charge of the VT case. This was reported shortly after the incident but I am sure nobody regged that domain. Add to this the unquestionable and undeniable criminal element worldwide who will stoop to now lowly low to prey on the caring. Add to this the FTC complaints and several other watch dog groups and there may be some more unwelcomed and uninvited interviews in the registrants very near future.

Media coverage ain't always a good thing.

I am sure I may have some explaining to do after registering 51 domain names and pointing them to VT's site.

But if anyone questions the impact that this has on those that are personally affected by the events, this is my closing:

http://www.namepros.com/1897145-post54.html

 

[texasgamer]

After consulting friends, family, and co-workers, and after reading countless blogs and forum posts, I have decided to make a change. The domain ismailax.com will be pointed to the official Virginia Tech website memorial fund page:
http://www.vt.edu/tragedy/memorial_fund.php
The word ismailax is bad. It is dark, ugly and forboding. I do not relish being remembered or associated with this evil name but unfortunately, I have become part of the bigger story. I wish I wasn't. But maybe I can help by shining a small beacon of light and hope upon this tragic event. By forwarding this domain, to a good and decent cause, I will have stood up and done my part for a better world. This is how I would rather be remembered. Please forgive me if I have offended anyone. I wish no harm, only peace and dignity to the victims and their families.
Please allow 24-48 hours as the DNS server need time to resolve to the Virginia Tech site.

 

[peaches017]

After consulting friends, family, and co-workers, and after reading countless blogs and forum posts, I have decided to make a change. The domain ismailax.com will be pointed to the official Virginia Tech website memorial fund page:
http://www.vt.edu/tragedy/memorial_fund.php
The word ismailax is bad. It is dark, ugly and forboding. I do not relish being remembered or associated with this evil name but unfortunately, I have become part of the bigger story. I wish I wasn't. But maybe I can help by shining a small beacon of light and hope upon this tragic event. By forwarding this domain, to a good and decent cause, I will have stood up and done my part for a better world. This is how I would rather be remembered. Please forgive me if I have offended anyone. I wish no harm, only peace and dignity to the victims and their families.
Please allow 24-48 hours as the DNS server need time to resolve to the Virginia Tech site.

I think you made the best decision in the end. How much did your time @ ND / Sedo raise for the victims? (If you don't mind telling).

 

[companyone]

TG,

You know you did the right thing...I bet its a big relief.

It was 100% the best move and 100% the only move.

Peace,
Dan

 

[circa1850]

Honorable and just.

Honorable and just.

Gerry

 

[Dotplanners]

Kudos to Texasgamer

After consulting friends, family, and co-workers, and after reading countless blogs and forum posts, I have decided to make a change. The domain ismailax.com will be pointed to the official Virginia Tech website memorial fund page:
http://www.vt.edu/tragedy/memorial_fund.php
The word ismailax is bad. It is dark, ugly and forboding. I do not relish being remembered or associated with this evil name but unfortunately, I have become part of the bigger story. I wish I wasn't. But maybe I can help by shining a small beacon of light and hope upon this tragic event. By forwarding this domain, to a good and decent cause, I will have stood up and done my part for a better world. This is how I would rather be remembered. Please forgive me if I have offended anyone. I wish no harm, only peace and dignity to the victims and their families.
Please allow 24-48 hours as the DNS server need time to resolve to the Virginia Tech site.

At least one domainer has done the right thing, and maybe we all can point to him when we hear from the press or anyone lambasting the domain industry as lowlife opportunists. Thanks for making the right decision, Texasgamer. You probably feel like million dollars, which is better than having a million dollars and not feeling like it.

good job.

 

[Source]

Thank you TexasGamer. You did the right thing.