What's going on with Epik and Rob Monster?

[MapleDots]

I'm catching the tail end of this, seems to be some kind of controversy...

https://domaingang.com/domain-news/rob-monster-off-twitter-after-christchurch-massacre-controversy/

Must be something odd to evoke this type of a response from one of our members.

 

[Internet.Domains]

It was more noticing people who see free speech as more than a business opportunity, people who really believe in it, making those comments.

Rob is very responsive, makes changes etc, those are good things.

Problem is he can’t get the other stuff right. It’s kind of like people having hope trump will act more decent, presidential, it’s just not who he is.

I see Epik as a registrar for the right and that’s because of Robs comments in this forum. He gets excited by page views like trump gets excited about crowd size. Those views aren’t because of business, it’s side show, circus stuff which I feel isn’t good for Epik.

I noticed him the other day calling someone who disagreed with him a communist, today using terms like intolerant left, SJW etc. there are plenty of other registrars out there.

Based on my dealings with Rob, he is very tolerant. However, those that disagree with his views seem to be intolerant, while claiming themselves to be tolerant.

tol·er·ant
/ˈtäl(ə)rənt/
adjective

1. 1.
   showing willingness to allow the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
   "we must be tolerant of others"

 

[Rob Monster]

It was more noticing people who see free speech as more than a business opportunity, people who really believe in it, making those comments.

Rob is very responsive, makes changes etc, those are good things.

Problem is he can’t get the other stuff right. It’s kind of like people having hope trump will act more decent, presidential, it’s just not who he is.

I see Epik as a registrar for the right and that’s because of Robs comments in this forum. He gets excited by page views like trump gets excited about crowd size. Those views aren’t because of business, it’s side show, circus stuff which I feel isn’t good for Epik.

I noticed him the other day calling someone who disagreed with him a communist, today using terms like intolerant left, SJW etc. there are plenty of other registrars out there.

I am not sure if this is a TCK Sock Puppet account proxy or if you are actually a domain investor. I believe the former, but will engage with you regardless since your hive mind works similarly as the others from the intolerant SJW crowd.

In short:

- We welcome everyone. Some are more oppressed than others and so some come here because they feel they are going to be at risk elsewhere. This includes a significant number of mainline Christian properties.

- Our business is fine -- record revenue and record customer growth. The NamePros community is a tremendous source of insight and product feedback. Some may choose other suppliers for philosophical reasons even though Epik has product superiority.

- Most folks know my beliefs is one of tolerance, intellectual curiosity and non-violence. There is an attempt to caricature me as something else but fortunately domainers are independent thinkers so the hive mind thing does not work well here.

All that said, I am always happy to do live phone calls with anyone who wants to talk facts and not sling indiscriminate ad hominem. Ghodeus is supposed to call me this weekend.

 

[DapperJane]

I am not sure if this is a TCK Sock Puppet account proxy or if you are actually a domain investor. I believe the former, but will engage with you regardless since your hive mind works similarly as the others from the intolerant SJW crowd.

In short:

- We welcome everyone. Some are more oppressed than others and so some come here because they feel they are going to be at risk elsewhere. This includes a significant number of mainline Christian properties.

- Our business is fine -- record revenue and record customer growth. The NamePros community is a tremendous source of insight and product feedback. Some may choose other suppliers for philosophical reasons even though Epik has product superiority.

- Most folks know my beliefs is one of tolerance, intellectual curiosity and non-violence. There is an attempt to caricature me as something else but fortunately domainers are independent thinkers so the hive mind thing does not work well here.

All that said, I am always happy to do live phone calls with anyone who wants to talk facts and not sling indiscriminate ad hominem. Ghodeus is supposed to call me this weekend.

Thanks for proving my point. I literally quoted you, then you respond as if you didn’t say those things, while saying the same things again:

Sock puppet
Hive mind x 2
Intolerant SJW again
Ad hominem

I think you would do better if you just stuck with business instead of calling people names that disagree with you.

 

[Rob Monster]

Thanks for proving my point. I literally quoted you, then you respond as if you didn’t say those things, while saying the same things again:

Sock puppet
Hive mind x 2
Intolerant SJW again
Ad hominem

I think you would do better if you just stuck with business instead of calling people names that disagree with you.

Run along now.

 

[TCK]

I think you would do better if you just stuck with business instead of calling people names that disagree with you.

When Rob can't use logical reasoning to express his positions and/or beliefs, he resorts to name calling and labels. And when that doesn't work, he hopes to shoo people away.

Run along now.

Most folks know my beliefs is one of tolerance, intellectual curiosity and non-violence. There is an attempt to caricature me as something else but fortunately domainers are independent thinkers so the hive mind thing does not work well here.

 

[Rob Monster]

When Rob can't use logical reasoning to express his positions and/or beliefs, he resorts to name calling and labels. And when that doesn't work, he hopes to shoo people away.

Dapper Jane and TCK even talk the same. Case closed.

The weak attempt at a brigade of manufactured consensus has failed. More people are now inoculated against the infantile tactic of the intolerant, paranoid and anxiety-stricken left that have sadly allowed themselves to become governed by fear.

The sock puppets are welcome to comment, but please bring new material.

 

[TCK]

Dapper Jane and TCK even talk the same. Case closed.

LOL.

manufactured consensus

infantile tactic

sock puppets

You really are creative at name calling. I'll give you that.

 

[offthehandle]

I actually do think we are having a lot of fun.

Several of the top threads on NP this month are Epik-related. That's cool. This thread with more than 66,000 unique views is the most popular thread on NP in .

You say you need more fodder, I challenge you to call out all the corruption in this dinky industry like Rick Schwartz does. I see you attended his meet up. Instead of politics and religion, why not talk about how crooked some people are? They are your competitors, and bringing transparency to this would be nice.

Sure, It might be a top thread, but it would be nice if you shed some light on all the fake stuff and real scandals in this industry. I think you might have mentioned whose blog and comments started this thread. So whats your take on domaining school, the how-to-buy domain video series, the greater fool theory, the fake sales announcements, the passing around names from one registrant to another for price discovery and fake publicity for the pricing database, etc.

https://www.namepros.com/threads/bidding-on-your-own-names-at-namejet.1030874/

https://www.namepros.com/threads/go...yees-were-indeed-bidding-on-auctions.1129963/

https://www.namepros.com/threads/nd...g-new-chart-but-its-a-big-win-for-kb.1126860/

https://www.namepros.com/threads/message-for-offthehandle.1050936/page-2#post-6445464

https://www.namepros.com/threads/another-bidding-on-your-own-names.1050978/#post-6443870

 

[wwwweb]

You say you need more fodder, I challenge you to call out all the corruption in this dinky industry like Rick Schwartz does. I see you attended his meet up. Instead of politics and religion, why not talk about how crooked some people are? They are your competitors, and bringing transparency to this would be nice.

Sure, It might be a top thread, but it would be nice if you shed some light on all the fake stuff and real scandals in this industry. I think you might have mentioned whose blog and comments started this thread. So whats your take on domaining school, the how-to-buy domain video series, the greater fool theory, the fake sales announcements, the passing around names from one registrant to another for price discovery and fake publicity for the pricing database, etc.

https://www.namepros.com/threads/bidding-on-your-own-names-at-namejet.1030874/

https://www.namepros.com/threads/go...yees-were-indeed-bidding-on-auctions.1129963/

https://www.namepros.com/threads/nd...g-new-chart-but-its-a-big-win-for-kb.1126860/

https://www.namepros.com/threads/message-for-offthehandle.1050936/page-2#post-6445464

https://www.namepros.com/threads/another-bidding-on-your-own-names.1050978/#post-6443870

If you want a story, let's out bidder 91932 at Godaddy, and the total of their cumlative bids, and what is their incentive, what would make a great story.

 

[Rob Monster]

If you want a story, let's out bidder 91932 at Godaddy, and the total of their cumlative bids, and what is their incentive, what would make a great story.

Guys,

think your topic deserves its own thread. I have had some encounters with folks in India buying domains with bad credit cards lately, but other than that have had relatively little direct exposure to outright fraud on any discernible scale. Assertions of shill bidding and sham transactions have been around for a while.

I don't mind getting involved in ombudsman work on behalf of specific individuals that appeal for help. I also don't mind campaigning for transparency and professionalism in the industry. However, I would be careful to not call out specific folks whose legacy has been mostly positive.

Specific to Rick Schwartz, who indeed pulls no punches, and is set to leave an important and positive legacy, I like the guy and honored him way back in 2010:

When it comes to policing industry naughtiness, I will assist, but I am not going to take on the role of Sheriff if that was your idea. The best we can do is encourage, lead by example, and invite people to clean up their messes quickly.

 

[offthehandle]

but please bring new material.

I am not a sock puppet, sjw or your enemy. I like what you stand for as a free and open internet. Product development and recognizing the Silicon valley attempt at hijacking all of news and media.

This entire thread has been irrelevant mostly to real issues that face domainers. So you requested those others you argue with to bring new material, I will instead. I don’t have any argument with most of your beliefs other than the neuronootropic thing.

Being only 3 years in this particular industry but decades in business, I am truly astonished how messed up some of these things are. There are serious issues that as a CEO who is active here like yourself that has no axe to grind about these specific things I bring up, perhaps you might study these past threads and comment as to how t make things better.

The partners one on your board.
https://www.namepros.com/threads/wh...between-a-domain-blogger-and-a-troll.1049964/

Or pick a topic from my post sometime back. It seemed to receive some reception.
https://www.namepros.com/threads/wh...out-the-domain-industry.1099960/#post-6892918

 

[BrandEntrance.com]

read this
and then quote me again


https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+21&version=NIV

You know there ain't a lot of good books that ever came out of the middle east back in the days.

 

[Rob Monster]

I am not a sock puppet, sjw or your enemy. I like what you stand for as a free and open internet. Product development and recognizing the Silicon valley attempt at hijacking all of news and media.

This entire thread has been irrelevant mostly to real issues that face domainers. So you requested those others you argue with to bring new material, I will instead. I don’t have any argument with most of your beliefs other than the neuronootropic thing.

Being only 3 years in this particular industry but decades in business, I am truly astonished how messed up some of these things are. There are serious issues that as a CEO who is active here like yourself that has no axe to grind about these specific things I bring up, perhaps you might study these past threads and comment as to how t make things better.

The partners one on your board.
https://www.namepros.com/threads/wh...between-a-domain-blogger-and-a-troll.1049964/

Or pick a topic from my post sometime back. It seemed to receive some reception.
https://www.namepros.com/threads/wh...out-the-domain-industry.1099960/#post-6892918

I followed your 2 threads and will give them a read and a watch.

I very much appreciate those who are even-handed in helping the industry to mature. However, as a protocol, I strongly encourage folks to give a private admonition before public rebuke. This has been my method and I think it is more effective. It is less likely to result in a wrongful outing of someone who was misunderstood or mischaracterized. I see this now and then, and sometimes the industry loses someone capable as a result.

As for Neuronootropic, I am not dogmatic about online pharmacies. For myself, I frankly don't care if they exist since I consume essentially zero of it. However, I do have an issue with due process when it comes to domain seizure. That is what that thread was about if you ready premise of the post. I attempted to get Name.com to demonstrate due process, and they simply did not. I thought that was weak. It was almost certainly the result of intimidation tactics from Not-exactly-"Legit"-Script. The thread is here.

Agree or disagree on specific decisions or viewpoints, I do appreciate you and believe that NamePros and the domain industry is better off for your engagement and stewardship. The industry needs its (elder) statesmen who are wiling to dispense wisdom, acknowledge goodness, course-correct bad choices, and broker compromise, in the interest of elevating domain names and digital brands into a viable asset class.

 

[offthehandle]

The best we can do is encourage, lead by example, and invite people to clean up their messes quickly.

Lets start with one simple one. Chocolate. Supposedly sold for 7 figures. Months go by and it still points to the Brokers page. I comment on it about nameservers changes and one got erased immediately after my post here. I commented several more times, now its finally moved and now parked on the same IP as with football, basketball and some other ordinary domains, probably a vps. So question is since it is under privacy, is it the same registrant as the sports domain? SecurityDetails shows the brokers favicon right now. Lol. So, something seems strange. Was the NDA story given to said publisher duped for price discovery games? Or did the sale fall through? Or was it complete B.S? This sort of thing happens frequently.

There is a weekly journal that publishes information about sales on thursdays here. Lots of rah, rah and cheering like an old sitcom from some. I have dug deeper and became very skeptical and question some of these big sales after they are parked and or find things that are seemingly untrue, or failed sales. No problem, sales do fall through. Except some people especially new people believe it as gospel. Most do not look deeper than the headlines.

 

[Internet.Domains]

This sort of thing happens frequently.

Yes, agreed. Unfortunately, this "industry" is riddled with it. It is in plain sight for some of us, but most folks turn a blind eye to it because of the depths in which it enters.

 

[Rob Monster]

Lets start with one simple one. Chocolate. Supposedly sold for 7 figures. Months go by and it still points to the Brokers page. I comment on it about nameservers changes and one got erased immediately after my post here. I commented several more times, now its finally moved and now parked on the same IP as with football, basketball and some other ordinary domains, probably a vps. So question is since it is under privacy, is it the same registrant as the sports domain? SecurityDetails shows the brokers favicon right now. Lol. So, something seems strange. Was the NDA story given to said publisher duped for price discovery games? Or did the sale fall through? Or was it complete B.S? This sort of thing happens frequently.

There is a weekly journal that publishes information about sales on thursdays here. Lots of rah, rah and cheering like an old sitcom from some. I have dug deeper and became very skeptical and question some of these big sales after they are parked and or find things that are seemingly untrue, or failed sales. No problem, sales do fall through. Except some people especially new people believe it as gospel. Most do not look deeper than the headlines.

FWIW, I was a $1 million investor in Internet Real Estate Group back in the day, and am still a LLC member. I did talk to Andy Miller about that exit shortly after it happened. The transaction was under NDA so I don't have much to say. I can say I have yet to see any ROI from that investment and have limited confidence that there will be return of capital, let alone return on capital. I did get an education. However, again, not sure this thread would be the place to go deep dive on the legitimacy of specific transactions.

 

[offthehandle]

domain industry is better off for your engagement and stewardship.

I have no self interest whatsoever. I don’t wholesale with others, I don’t have a blog, or advertisers to please in this industry, don’t attend conferences nor plan to attend, and have zero ties really by design nor do I sell domains here or want any attention or publicity. I am just tired of some people who lack integrity, and not afraid to be a pundit to the B.S.

The Fake sales data might be great and self serving for a few short term, but long term its truly bad. These automated appraisals are the same, they dupe people into believing some fake value.

This industry thrives on duping newcomers it seems, the MLM sort of false hope model.

So if No newbies, nobody to sell information, schooling, or auction their junk domains to.

As a company who is a registrar, you need to grow so I get it. You mention “Market makers” before which to me is bothersome, maybe I misunderstand you. The true market is the end user, the consumer. Not domainer to domainer sales.

The consumer sees domain investors as squatters, another problem that seems little is addressed PR wise in my studying.

 

[offthehandle]

FWIW, I was a $1 million investor in Internet Real Estate Group back in the day, and am still a LLC member. I did talk to Andy Miller about that exit shortly after it happened. The transaction was under NDA so I don't have much to say. I can say I have yet to see any ROI from that investment and have limited confidence that there will be return of capital, let alone return on capital. I did get an education. However, again, not sure this thread would be the place to go deep dive on the legitimacy of specific transactions.

Gibraltar based bearer share corporation?

https://www.namepros.com/threads/bidding-on-your-own-names-at-namejet.1030874/page-32#post-6268222

 

[Rob Monster]

I have no self interest whatsoever. I don’t wholesale with others, I don’t have a blog, or advertisers to please in this industry, don’t attend conferences nor plan to attend, and have zero ties really by design nor do I sell domains here or want any attention or publicity. I am just tired of some people who lack integrity, and not afraid to be a pundit to the B.S.

The Fake sales data might be great and self serving for a few short term, but long term its truly bad. These automated appraisals are the same, they dupe people into believing some fake value.

This industry thrives on duping newcomers it seems, the MLM sort of false hope model.

So if No newbies, nobody to sell information, schooling, or auction their junk domains to.

As a company who is a registrar, you need to grow so I get it. You mention “Market makers” before which to me is bothersome, maybe I misunderstand you. The true market is the end user, the consumer. Not domainer to domainer sales.

The consumer sees domain investors as squatters, another problem that seems little is addressed PR wise in my studying.

I believe the sustainable wins come mainly from help domain investors sell domains to end-users who need them for some venture or idea. That is the use-case we are focused on which is why at Epik:

1. We feature and promote TLDs that we think have viable after-markets, and sell them at/below cost on a regular basis through promos and NamePros pricing.

2. We provide free, fast, SEO-friendly SSL landers that reveal full contact details of the incoming inquiries.

3. We actively help folks close sales and lease deals through full-service escrow, fairness opinions, appraisals and vetting of inbound inquiries for those customers who are not available to look at them.

4. We lend money interest-free against domains that we think are worth keeping, and don't foreclose on anyone who is working in good faith to settle up eventually.

Of course in the spirit of free will, you can still buy most TLDs at Epik but if a customer will engage us, we'll certainly try to help them succeed. The folks who have worked with us for any length of time will surely to attest to it.

This can be a tough business, but for the folks who do crack the code on selling to motivated end-users it is fantastically lucrative and offers great quality of life. I do know this first-hand and not just from the lucky old-timers who hand-regged in 1994!

 

[Ghodeous]

You say you need more fodder, I challenge you to call out all the corruption in this dinky industry like Rick Schwartz does. I see you attended his meet up. Instead of politics and religion, why not talk about how crooked some people are? They are your competitors, and bringing transparency to this would be nice.

Sure, It might be a top thread, but it would be nice if you shed some light on all the fake stuff and real scandals in this industry. I think you might have mentioned whose blog and comments started this thread. So whats your take on domaining school, the how-to-buy domain video series, the greater fool theory, the fake sales announcements, the passing around names from one registrant to another for price discovery and fake publicity for the pricing database, etc.



Whay not create a new discussion raising your issue? Confuses what we are talking about.