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jayeff · 03-01-2007, 01:19 PM

For me, the core issue with .XXX is that it may lead to the ghettoization of online porn. I'm not saying there is a 1% chance or a 10% chance, whether it will happen in 5 years or in 20 years, only that it would be ludicrous to ignore the possibility. As such, I really do not have a choice except to buy the .XXX versions of (at least) my key domains.

It's dangerous to assume I will even be able to do so. So okay, legal action might fix that, but at what cost? Even if I meet no such obstacles, at best I shall be paying around $75 per domain per year (based on a wholesale price of $60). And for what?

The money is not the issue for me, although for those with many domains, some serious $$$ will be involved. The point is that the only difference pre-XXX and post-XXX is that I am slightly poorer and someone who is offering me absolutely nothing in return, has some of my money. To all practical intents and purposes, that is no different than a tax. Except that if the US government - for example - threatened an internet tax, thousands would be angry about it, whereas with XXX, between lethargy and short-sighted greed, the number willing to spend the time to write a single email has been pitifully small.

There are also two wider and longer-term concerns. The first is that while on day one I may be able to buy my domains and (since I don't use either dubious content or business methods) run them as normal, who is to say for how long that will be true? ICANN is considering giving a monopoly to someone who has the declared intent of imposing certain standards. Monopolies are anti-competitive by definition, but putting aside that debate, I'm still forced to take on trust that the fees and conditions will remain no more unpalatable than they are now. That seems naive, given that ICM have cynically manipulated the process thus far and it would be equally naive to imagine that if getting this issue dismissed has been tough, it will be easier to influence ICM's conduct in future if they get their way now.

My final concern is even more abstract but concerns me most of all. It is that every time a vulture comes along to prey on this industry, the vast majority sit back and do nothing. A sizeable minority are willing to help the vulture. It takes time and effort to neutralize or minimize the impact of such activities, so once again, money is going out of my pocket without producing any benefit for me.

Our unwillingness to protect our earnings from thieves is bad enough of itself. But far worse is the message we keep sending that here is an industry which will not defend itself and is therefore a perfect target.

03-01-2007, 01:19 PM
jayeff Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 2,944	For me, the core issue with .XXX is that it may lead to the ghettoization of online porn. I'm not saying there is a 1% chance or a 10% chance, whether it will happen in 5 years or in 20 years, only that it would be ludicrous to ignore the possibility. As such, I really do not have a choice except to buy the .XXX versions of (at least) my key domains. It's dangerous to assume I will even be able to do so. So okay, legal action might fix that, but at what cost? Even if I meet no such obstacles, at best I shall be paying around $75 per domain per year (based on a wholesale price of $60). And for what? The money is not the issue for me, although for those with many domains, some serious $$$ will be involved. The point is that the only difference pre-XXX and post-XXX is that I am slightly poorer and someone who is offering me absolutely nothing in return, has some of my money. To all practical intents and purposes, that is no different than a tax. Except that if the US government - for example - threatened an internet tax, thousands would be angry about it, whereas with XXX, between lethargy and short-sighted greed, the number willing to spend the time to write a single email has been pitifully small. There are also two wider and longer-term concerns. The first is that while on day one I may be able to buy my domains and (since I don't use either dubious content or business methods) run them as normal, who is to say for how long that will be true? ICANN is considering giving a monopoly to someone who has the declared intent of imposing certain standards. Monopolies are anti-competitive by definition, but putting aside that debate, I'm still forced to take on trust that the fees and conditions will remain no more unpalatable than they are now. That seems naive, given that ICM have cynically manipulated the process thus far and it would be equally naive to imagine that if getting this issue dismissed has been tough, it will be easier to influence ICM's conduct in future if they get their way now. My final concern is even more abstract but concerns me most of all. It is that every time a vulture comes along to prey on this industry, the vast majority sit back and do nothing. A sizeable minority are willing to help the vulture. It takes time and effort to neutralize or minimize the impact of such activities, so once again, money is going out of my pocket without producing any benefit for me. Our unwillingness to protect our earnings from thieves is bad enough of itself. But far worse is the message we keep sending that here is an industry which will not defend itself and is therefore a perfect target. Last edited by jayeff; 03-01-2007 at 01:20 PM..