Second Class Citizens?

As domainers or domain investors, we are effectively second-class citizens in the domain world. That’s the sad reality.

The definition of a second-class citizen (according to Wikipedia) is as follows:

A second-class citizen is a person who is systematically discriminated against within a state or other political jurisdiction, despite their nominal status as a citizen or legal resident there.

In terms of policy and the future of .au, our views are generally politely acknowledged and then ignored (by some); or we are castigated from on high. We are no more than an irritant.

And not a week goes past when we don’t get emails from some people expecting us to part with a domain name for peanuts. When we politely decline (and explain why), we are then accused of being cyber squatters or worse.

You know those surveys that some market research companies publish each year on the most trusted / regarded professions? The Roy Morgan survey was featured in Business Insider Australia. Generally, Nurses and other health care professionals top the list. Looking at the bottom of the scale you get car salesmen – not far behind are advertising people and real estate agents. So if there were categories for “domainers”, or web designers; or SEO practitioners; or Social Media Experts, I wonder where they would rank?

By the way, that was a rhetorical question – I already know the answer!

The Flip Side

I have made some good friends and contacts in the business of buying, selling and developing domains. And not just in Australia either – all over the world.

There are some fantastic people in our business, and I’m privileged to have met lots of them.

As for people who have bought domains from me (and there are many), I’ve also stayed in touch with many of them. New friendships have developed from a sale of a domain name. Some of them have been kind enough to give me recommendations on LinkedIn as well. I take a great interest in what they do with domains they have purchased from me, and nothing gives me a greater thrill when I see their successes. Truly.

Domainers and domain investors are an integral and important part of the domain economy / food chain.

In my humble opinion as always. 🙂