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ALICE IN DOMAINERLAND – WHO IS THE WALRUS?

March 17th, 2008 Posted in General Domain News

There’s been a lot of talk around the industry of late regarding the changes in Google and Yahoo ad syndication. The changes don’t seem to be favorable to domainers, or to the future of adlink pay-per-click (PPC) monetization. I personally don’t have inside contacts to know the intent of those who provide the “non-transparent” revenue for domainers’ landing pages, nor to state which direction they’ll eventually go.

However, I do have an idea (a pretty good one), that wherever the big money goes, the big money players who control it will ultimately squeeze out the smaller players. Anytime you have a deal with someone, when that someone controls the money and you don’t, the entity that controls the money can try and eliminate you, your efforts, your income, your future. They can even avoid paying you what is rightfully due you and make it hard for you to collect.

The point of this blog is that we need to control our own destinies. I know there are new monetization methods that will be available in the near future, and these methods will most likely prove significantly more valuable that the current landing page methods. However, what do we do in the meantime? Keep your eyes open, and the answers will come.

I found it humorous to find that this current business worry for domainers has been a continuing problem for businessmen for thousands of years, and even played out in the poem “The Walrus and the Carpenter”, featured in 1871’s “Through the Looking Glass”, a follow-up to the popular children’s book, “Alice In Wonderland”. If you read the poem several times, and pay attention, you can see how the characters can easily be similar to players in the domain industry, including domainers as a whole.

So sit back, grab yourself a concoction of your choice, and figure out just “who is who” in a bizarre poem that just might be talking about your business. Over 40 years ago, John Lennon said “I am the Walrus” then later recanted, saying “I think I chose the wrong one”.

The Walrus and The Carpenter
by Lewis Carroll (1871)

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright–
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done–
“It’s very rude of him,” she said,
“To come and spoil the fun!”

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead–
There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
“If this were only cleared away,”
They said, “it would be grand!”

“If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose,” the Walrus said,
“That they could get it clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

“Oh Oysters, come and walk with us!”
The Walrus did beseech.
“A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.”

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head–
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat–
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn’t any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more–
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.

“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax–
Of cabbages–and kings–
And why the sea is boiling hot–
And whether pigs have wings.”

“But wait a bit,” the Oysters cried,
“Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!”

“No hurry!” said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
“A loaf of bread,” the Walrus said,
“Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed–
Now if you’re ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.”

“But not on us!” the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
“After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!”
“The night is fine,” the Walrus said.
“Do you admire the view?

“It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!”
The Carpenter said nothing but
“Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf–
I’ve had to ask you twice!”

“It seems a shame,” the Walrus said,
“To play them such a trick,
After we’ve brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!”
The Carpenter said nothing but
“The butter’s spread too thick!”

“I weep for you,” the Walrus said:
“I deeply sympathize.”
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

“Oh Oysters,” said the Carpenter,
“You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?’
But answer came there none–
And this was scarcely odd, because
They’d eaten every one.