Rick Schwartz and The Unbearable Silencing Power of Money - DNForum - Domain Sales, Domain Forum, Domain Appraisals, Domain Registrars

**DnPowerful** · 09-03-2002, 01:21 PM

I have no problem with Rick Schwartz personally (I haven't actually MET him, something many of you who so quickly attack seem to forget). But his PERSONA, that of the friendly, outsized helper of the little man, has always struck me as a little true and a lot false.

I think he means to help people, and I know people genuinely helped by him.

But I have often spoken up to let people know that his help is very convenient to the nature of his business. The more people he brings to his propaganda machine (aka Chatboard), the more people he lines up to

1) Sell him adult domains (cheap!) before anyone else.

and

2) To feed his seemingly limitless ego and increase his legend.

The fact that he pretends it's about anything else is just so silly. Not an offence of the worst order, certainly, but pretty tedious after a while.

Rick has always said that money is the only way to keep score, but day after day, usually after someone says something unlikeable about him, Rick uses the benefit of his private fiefdom to post cute little homilies like "The Lemonade Stand" to prove to everyone that his real purpose is to help people and that money is secondary to all that. If only people would stop being MORONS, he says, and start being...well, like him, things would work out, and soon they too would enjoy Pornographic Riches.

The fact that 1996 has come and gone, and so too 1998, 1999 and a few years since, and that decent adult names are almost IMPOSSIBLE to come by without spending vast sums of money, seems to be, well, inconvenient to the Grand Sage's copious shtick (and it *is* a shtick, make no mistake).

Still, the defenders line up in public to protect The Illusion, excited as they are to be collecting their $30 conversion cheques for a 3 day trial--over and over again. Anyone who dares question the endless low-level work, and the Formula, is immediately cast as a LOSER, MORON, ANGRY!!!

Puffery is the worst sin of all to me, and when I came to DnForum, I registered 'DnPowerful' as a kind of ironic joke, a tribute to Rick's puffery. Not surprisingly, given the lack of context, people took it eminently seriously, even while I didn't, and people even started saying "Is it you King in disguise?!!"

This is all a backdrop to a few days ago when I bought a name (free****picture.com) from someone here on DnForum in a hurried fit, because a long-distance buyer requested I do so. I explained patiently that the Overture numbers were for the plural name, but he insisted. He's a good buyer, and I bought it, a mere $75.

Of course, he changed his mind.

So, I decided to dump it on Rick's Board.

Simultaneously, I posted a domains wanted ad:

"Reprinted from DnForum.com:

Adult Domain Owners: 2-5 years revenue UPFRONT

After actually doing some deals off these forums out of the 10,000 junk names sent my way, I am relaunching my wanted ad:

Looking ONLY for generic adult .com's or 'net's (NO OTHER EXTENSION--PERIOD!) with type-ins and/or high Overture numbers.

If you have revenue and/or stats, include them, because I pay more for that, and will offer more off the bat.

There are only about five high end adult buyers on the planet. I am the probably the biggest. I pay as much as five years revenue depending on the name and situation. Normally I pay two years verified revenue as a minimum.

I almost never have people report being ripped off by me or having regrets, because I am usually more optimistic about a domain's potential than anyone else and will pay more.

The person I'm looking for is someone that really doesn't have any interest in selling their name because it's making them money, but figure 2-5 years revenue might be nice up front.

All conversations, including any revenue figures or any competitive business information is kept in strictest confidence. Contact me at dnpowerful at mailbolt.com"

--

Well, it turned out that the collision between the ugly free****picture.com and the All Powerful DnPowerful was too much to bear for Rick's attack dogs. The usual suspects turned out in their Sunday best: FAKER!, MORON!, ANGRY!, JEALOUS!.

Through a number of private and anonymous emails sent my way, people shouted their displeasure at me using the name "Dan Norman" and the fact that THEY, the inner circle, didn't know who I was, and how dare I front in such a fashion. Meanwhile, on the commerce side, my mailbox filled up with hotmail addresses begging for money for adult names, but "shhh" keep it quiet, please.

It's as if the massive adult business, with its billions of dollars in illicit revenue, and $250k deals done with digital disguises in full effect, were as tiny as Rick's humility gene, and that if a deal wasn't done in his little circle, then, like a tree falling in the forest, it didn't happen--at all!

Over the last few months of buying big ticket adult names, quietly, with perhaps a dozen identities mixed over a similar amount of IP's, I have been truly amazed at how many people I have come across (probably 20%) who ultimately do come from the Big Board, and who use separate identities as masks to slip on and off wherever it suits them. Their separate id's also give them a chance to vent, occasionally at Rick for his bellicose nonsense, and at someone or another in the circle.

To those really deep in this game, the reasons for multiple id's are obvious, and have nothing to do with integrity, but more mundane reasons, such as obscenity laws, privacy, and competitive advantage. The less people know about your activity, the faster and smoother is your ride.

Unless of course, you're Rick Schwartz, and you like the notoriety, and the names it brings in the door. Hey, whatever works. This is a business, first and foremost, not a Gentleman's Club, for God's sake.

But what kills me, again and again, is that in this business, where no one really is who they say they are, even if they post their name, phone number and Social Security Number, there are those who continue to attack those who are smart enough not to give away themselves in the process, while maintaining a decent level of integrity.

The people on Rick's Board scream about integrity, integrity, integrity, but it turns out integrity is only a really nice thing until someone offers you more money, and then the fake id's ramp up, and they drop Rick and his infomercial nonsense like a tired, old sweater.

I'm all for integrity, and have made many posts on this very forum to that effect, but so many of the Big Boarders must blush when they raise their fist for Rick (yea Rick!), but sell out through the back door using their other hand. Integrity is what keeps this business going and handshake deals pumping, but it's money that derails all certainties, and all pieties, and all the Big Board Fascism is getting pretty damned tired to me.

Long live the King. Just save all the propaganda for Beer Hall. Smarter people see the Emporer Without His Clothes.

**Brujah** · 09-03-2002, 01:41 PM

Do you feel special now ? Why bother flaming someone unprovoked ? Is this forum now an avenue for flames about people who aren't here ?

**mole** · 09-03-2002, 01:41 PM

Great post, powerful.

If anything, you have shared in just this one post the feelings many have but could not articulate as well as you have done.

To each his own. Judgement day comes but once. Be happy.

**Brujah** · 09-03-2002, 01:44 PM

You might not like the person being ridiculed mole, but that doesn't excuse the fact that it just doesn't belong here. This is afterall, a domain name forum and not a flame forum isn't it ? Would it be appropriate for us to initiate new threads about anyone we disagree with and ridicule them at length ? What about the "moderation" you spoke in favor of on another thread ?

**mole** · 09-03-2002, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brujah
Do you feel special now ? Why bother flaming someone unprovoked ? Is this forum now an avenue for flames about people who aren't here ?

Simple Bruj (aka BB member), DNF was mentioned, and members here insinuated.

**mole** · 09-03-2002, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brujah
You might not like the person being ridiculed mole, but that doesn't excuse the fact that it just doesn't belong here. This is afterall, a domain name forum and not a flame forum isn't it ? Would it be appropriate for us to initiate new threads about anyone we disagree with and ridicule them at length ? What about the "moderation" you spoke in favor of on another thread ?

Read the above. Keep it level.

**Brujah** · 09-03-2002, 01:50 PM

A member here (so?) was mentioned elsewhere rightly so. Anonymously making grandiose claims. I'd advise anyone to be skeptical about someone like that, until he gives them a reason to believe anything otherwise.

Your response seems to be biased and tained with sour grapes about Rick for whatever reason.

**mole** · 09-03-2002, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brujah
A member here (so?) was mentioned elsewhere rightly so. Anonymously making grandiose claims. I'd advise anyone to be skeptical about someone like that, until he gives them a reason to believe anything otherwise.

Your response seems to be biased and tained with sour grapes about Rick for whatever reason.

You honestly think so, Bruj?

**Brujah** · 09-03-2002, 02:07 PM

I don't know the history or conflict between you and Rick, sorry. I'm only going on the comments you made above.

**mole** · 09-03-2002, 02:13 PM

Well Bruj, peace.

**GeorgeK** · 09-03-2002, 02:36 PM

I think it's more professional to use one's real name at all times in one's internet dealings. You might not be able to "fool" some people that way, but you also get a reputation that helps close other deals.

I think the easiest way to make sure who you're dealing with is to insist on a phone call, for the more valuable transactions. That'll keep pretenders at bay.

**mole** · 09-03-2002, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeK
I think it's more professional to use one's real name at all times in one's internet dealings. You might not be able to "fool" some people that way, but you also get a reputation that helps close other deals.

I think the easiest way to make sure who you're dealing with is to insist on a phone call, for the more valuable transactions. That'll keep pretenders at bay.

Agreed George. But it opens you up wide open to hacks and misfits. That's a tradeoff you need to decide yourself whatever suits your business needs.

**DnPowerful** · 09-04-2002, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mole

Agreed George. But it opens you up wide open to hacks and misfits. That's a tradeoff you need to decide yourself whatever suits your business needs.

Hack, misfits and angered Kings.

NameBox · 09-04-2002, 04:34 PM

Being a car enthusiast, I was just wondering what type of car is fit for a DOMAIN KING. I thought maybe a nice sedan, like a Mercedes S600, BMW 750iL, Bentley Arnage or Continental, or a Lexus LS430? Or maybe something "sporty" like a Porsche or Ferrari. An SUV like an Cadillac Escalade?

What would the self proclaimed "Domain King" dream of driving?

Quote:

" Although not extravagant with his new-found riches (he did buy a handmade 1977 Stutz Blackhawk automobile he fell in love with 20 years ago back in California), Schwartz savors every minute of his American Dream come true. "

If you really DREAM about something ... (like a STUTZ), it could be YOURS!

"It's just another proof that you can have anything you really want on this planet if you really want it, and everything else is b.s.," he said."

Enough, foreplay.com, here it is, a charriot fit for a KING ....

(BTW, this was also Elvis Presley's favorite! .Get it ... THE KING meets the Domain King!)

http://members.fortunecity.com/stutz.../ebh77king.htm

**GeorgeK** · 09-04-2002, 04:36 PM

DNP: Are you CameronJ from Afternic?

**DnPowerful** · 09-04-2002, 06:07 PM

As the late, great Andy Warhol once said,

"I'm anyone you want me to be."

**DnPowerful** · 09-04-2002, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NameBox
Being a car enthusiast, I was just wondering what type of car is fit for a DOMAIN KING. I thought maybe a nice sedan, like a Mercedes S600, BMW 750iL, Bentley Arnage or Continental, or a Lexus LS430? Or maybe something "sporty" like a Porsche or Ferrari. An SUV like an Cadillac Escalade?

What would the self proclaimed "Domain King" dream of driving?

Quote:

" Although not extravagant with his new-found riches (he did buy a handmade 1977 Stutz Blackhawk automobile he fell in love with 20 years ago back in California), Schwartz savors every minute of his American Dream come true. "

If you really DREAM about something ... (like a STUTZ), it could be YOURS!

"It's just another proof that you can have anything you really want on this planet if you really want it, and everything else is b.s.," he said."

Enough, foreplay.com, here it is, a charriot fit for a KING ....

(BTW, this was also Elvis Presley's favorite! .Get it ... THE KING meets the Domain King!)

http://members.fortunecity.com/stutz.../ebh77king.htm

Okay, it's all making sense now. Just LOOK at that car.

They say taste and money often travel divergent paths...

09-04-2002, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DnPowerful

"I'm anyone you want me to be."

[/B]

Hey DnP.
Any chance you being me for a few days and pay my bills.

Matt

**DnPowerful** · 09-04-2002, 11:20 PM

Matty, according to DK and GeorgeK, I'm a fraud and a fake, and can't pay my rent, never mind your phone bill.

Let me have a look at my Platinum Card.

Ooops, over limit, George is right!!

Er, let's meet at the Food Bank. My credit's good there

**ShaunP** · 09-04-2002, 11:27 PM

DNPowerful ... is it a big deal that people know that you are Cameron Johnson (Maitland) or whatever?

Does it really matter? I mean is it a dark secret why you don't want them to know who you are?

... makes ya go ... hmmmmm....

09-03-2002, 01:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
DnPowerful Platinum Lifetime Member Last Online: 08-11-2003 06:31 PM iTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 353 DNF$: 107	Rick Schwartz and The Unbearable Silencing Power of Money I have no problem with Rick Schwartz personally (I haven't actually MET him, something many of you who so quickly attack seem to forget). But his PERSONA, that of the friendly, outsized helper of the little man, has always struck me as a little true and a lot false. I think he means to help people, and I know people genuinely helped by him. But I have often spoken up to let people know that his help is very convenient to the nature of his business. The more people he brings to his propaganda machine (aka Chatboard), the more people he lines up to 1) Sell him adult domains (cheap!) before anyone else. and 2) To feed his seemingly limitless ego and increase his legend. The fact that he pretends it's about anything else is just so silly. Not an offence of the worst order, certainly, but pretty tedious after a while. Rick has always said that money is the only way to keep score, but day after day, usually after someone says something unlikeable about him, Rick uses the benefit of his private fiefdom to post cute little homilies like "The Lemonade Stand" to prove to everyone that his real purpose is to help people and that money is secondary to all that. If only people would stop being MORONS, he says, and start being...well, like him, things would work out, and soon they too would enjoy Pornographic Riches. The fact that 1996 has come and gone, and so too 1998, 1999 and a few years since, and that decent adult names are almost IMPOSSIBLE to come by without spending vast sums of money, seems to be, well, inconvenient to the Grand Sage's copious shtick (and it is a shtick, make no mistake). Still, the defenders line up in public to protect The Illusion, excited as they are to be collecting their $30 conversion cheques for a 3 day trial--over and over again. Anyone who dares question the endless low-level work, and the Formula, is immediately cast as a LOSER, MORON, ANGRY!!! Puffery is the worst sin of all to me, and when I came to DnForum, I registered 'DnPowerful' as a kind of ironic joke, a tribute to Rick's puffery. Not surprisingly, given the lack of context, people took it eminently seriously, even while I didn't, and people even started saying "Is it you King in disguise?!!" This is all a backdrop to a few days ago when I bought a name (free**picture.com) from someone here on DnForum in a hurried fit, because a long-distance buyer requested I do so. I explained patiently that the Overture numbers were for the plural name, but he insisted. He's a good buyer, and I bought it, a mere $75. Of course, he changed his mind. So, I decided to dump it on Rick's Board. Simultaneously, I posted a domains wanted ad: "Reprinted from DnForum.com: Adult Domain Owners: 2-5 years revenue UPFRONT After actually doing some deals off these forums out of the 10,000 junk names sent my way, I am relaunching my wanted ad: Looking ONLY for generic adult .com's or 'net's (NO OTHER EXTENSION--PERIOD!) with type-ins and/or high Overture numbers. If you have revenue and/or stats, include them, because I pay more for that, and will offer more off the bat. There are only about five high end adult buyers on the planet. I am the probably the biggest. I pay as much as five years revenue depending on the name and situation. Normally I pay two years verified revenue as a minimum. I almost never have people report being ripped off by me or having regrets, because I am usually more optimistic about a domain's potential than anyone else and will pay more. The person I'm looking for is someone that really doesn't have any interest in selling their name because it's making them money, but figure 2-5 years revenue might be nice up front. All conversations, including any revenue figures or any competitive business information is kept in strictest confidence. Contact me at dnpowerful at mailbolt.com" -- Well, it turned out that the collision between the ugly free**picture.com and the All Powerful DnPowerful was too much to bear for Rick's attack dogs. The usual suspects turned out in their Sunday best: FAKER!, MORON!, ANGRY!, JEALOUS!. Through a number of private and anonymous emails sent my way, people shouted their displeasure at me using the name "Dan Norman" and the fact that THEY, the inner circle, didn't know who I was, and how dare I front in such a fashion. Meanwhile, on the commerce side, my mailbox filled up with hotmail addresses begging for money for adult names, but "shhh" keep it quiet, please. It's as if the massive adult business, with its billions of dollars in illicit revenue, and $250k deals done with digital disguises in full effect, were as tiny as Rick's humility gene, and that if a deal wasn't done in his little circle, then, like a tree falling in the forest, it didn't happen--at all! Over the last few months of buying big ticket adult names, quietly, with perhaps a dozen identities mixed over a similar amount of IP's, I have been truly amazed at how many people I have come across (probably 20%) who ultimately do come from the Big Board, and who use separate identities as masks to slip on and off wherever it suits them. Their separate id's also give them a chance to vent, occasionally at Rick for his bellicose nonsense, and at someone or another in the circle. To those really deep in this game, the reasons for multiple id's are obvious, and have nothing to do with integrity, but more mundane reasons, such as obscenity laws, privacy, and competitive advantage. The less people know about your activity, the faster and smoother is your ride. Unless of course, you're Rick Schwartz, and you like the notoriety, and the names it brings in the door. Hey, whatever works. This is a business, first and foremost, not a Gentleman's Club, for God's sake. But what kills me, again and again, is that in this business, where no one really is who they say they are, even if they post their name, phone number and Social Security Number, there are those who continue to attack those who are smart enough not to give away themselves in the process, while maintaining a decent level of integrity. The people on Rick's Board scream about integrity, integrity, integrity, but it turns out integrity is only a really nice thing until someone offers you more money, and then the fake id's ramp up, and they drop Rick and his infomercial nonsense like a tired, old sweater. I'm all for integrity, and have made many posts on this very forum to that effect, but so many of the Big Boarders must blush when they raise their fist for Rick (yea Rick!), but sell out through the back door using their other hand. Integrity is what keeps this business going and handshake deals pumping, but it's money that derails all certainties, and all pieties, and all the Big Board Fascism is getting pretty damned tired to me. Long live the King. Just save all the propaganda for Beer Hall. Smarter people see the Emporer Without His Clothes. __________________ DnPowerful.com: I buy your key-in domains!

09-03-2002, 01:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brujah DNF Member Last Online: 11-22-2009 02:24 PM iTrader: (10) Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 442 DNF$: 4,528	Do you feel special now ? Why bother flaming someone unprovoked ? Is this forum now an avenue for flames about people who aren't here ? __________________ Premium Domain Names *Offers made by me are good for 24 hours unless otherwise specified.

09-03-2002, 01:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
mole DNF Addict Last Online: 03-03-2009 10:05 AM iTrader: (1) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,721 DNF$: 978 Location: Tonga Country:	Great post, powerful. If anything, you have shared in just this one post the feelings many have but could not articulate as well as you have done. To each his own. Judgement day comes but once. Be happy. __________________ If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. Sir Francis Bacon

09-03-2002, 01:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Brujah DNF Member Last Online: 11-22-2009 02:24 PM iTrader: (10) Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 442 DNF$: 4,528	You might not like the person being ridiculed mole, but that doesn't excuse the fact that it just doesn't belong here. This is afterall, a domain name forum and not a flame forum isn't it ? Would it be appropriate for us to initiate new threads about anyone we disagree with and ridicule them at length ? What about the "moderation" you spoke in favor of on another thread ? __________________ Premium Domain Names *Offers made by me are good for 24 hours unless otherwise specified.

09-03-2002, 01:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Brujah DNF Member Last Online: 11-22-2009 02:24 PM iTrader: (10) Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 442 DNF$: 4,528	A member here (so?) was mentioned elsewhere rightly so. Anonymously making grandiose claims. I'd advise anyone to be skeptical about someone like that, until he gives them a reason to believe anything otherwise. Your response seems to be biased and tained with sour grapes about Rick for whatever reason. __________________ Premium Domain Names *Offers made by me are good for 24 hours unless otherwise specified.

09-03-2002, 02:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
Brujah DNF Member Last Online: 11-22-2009 02:24 PM iTrader: (10) Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 442 DNF$: 4,528	I don't know the history or conflict between you and Rick, sorry. I'm only going on the comments you made above. __________________ Premium Domain Names *Offers made by me are good for 24 hours unless otherwise specified.

09-03-2002, 02:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
mole DNF Addict Last Online: 03-03-2009 10:05 AM iTrader: (1) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,721 DNF$: 978 Location: Tonga Country:	Well Bruj, peace. __________________ If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. Sir Francis Bacon

09-03-2002, 02:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
GeorgeK TheBest.com Name: George Kirikos Last Online: Yesterday 11:02 PM iTrader: (2) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,206 DNF$: 866 Location: Toronto, Canada Country:	I think it's more professional to use one's real name at all times in one's internet dealings. You might not be able to "fool" some people that way, but you also get a reputation that helps close other deals. I think the easiest way to make sure who you're dealing with is to insist on a phone call, for the more valuable transactions. That'll keep pretenders at bay. __________________ George Kirikos Home Page

09-04-2002, 04:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
NameBox Registered User - Must Upgrade To Post Last Online: 11-09-2004 07:20 PM iTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 336 DNF$: 108	The King's Carriage ... What a Steed! Being a car enthusiast, I was just wondering what type of car is fit for a DOMAIN KING. I thought maybe a nice sedan, like a Mercedes S600, BMW 750iL, Bentley Arnage or Continental, or a Lexus LS430? Or maybe something "sporty" like a Porsche or Ferrari. An SUV like an Cadillac Escalade? What would the self proclaimed "Domain King" dream of driving? Quote: " Although not extravagant with his new-found riches (he did buy a handmade 1977 Stutz Blackhawk automobile he fell in love with 20 years ago back in California), Schwartz savors every minute of his American Dream come true. " If you really DREAM about something ... (like a STUTZ), it could be YOURS! "It's just another proof that you can have anything you really want on this planet if you really want it, and everything else is b.s.," he said." Enough, foreplay.com, here it is, a charriot fit for a KING .... (BTW, this was also Elvis Presley's favorite! .Get it ... THE KING meets the Domain King!) http://members.fortunecity.com/stutz.../ebh77king.htm Last edited by NameBox; 09-04-2002 at 05:48 PM..

09-04-2002, 04:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
GeorgeK TheBest.com Name: George Kirikos Last Online: Yesterday 11:02 PM iTrader: (2) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,206 DNF$: 866 Location: Toronto, Canada Country:	DNP: Are you CameronJ from Afternic? __________________ George Kirikos Home Page

09-04-2002, 06:07 PM	#16 (permalink)
DnPowerful Platinum Lifetime Member Last Online: 08-11-2003 06:31 PM iTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 353 DNF$: 107	Curious George As the late, great Andy Warhol once said, "I'm anyone you want me to be." __________________ DnPowerful.com: I buy your key-in domains!

09-04-2002, 11:20 PM	#19 (permalink)
DnPowerful Platinum Lifetime Member Last Online: 08-11-2003 06:31 PM iTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 353 DNF$: 107	Well Matty, according to DK and GeorgeK, I'm a fraud and a fake, and can't pay my rent, never mind your phone bill. Let me have a look at my Platinum Card. Ooops, over limit, George is right!! Er, let's meet at the Food Bank. My credit's good there __________________ DnPowerful.com: I buy your key-in domains!

09-04-2002, 11:27 PM	#20 (permalink)
ShaunP DNF Regular Last Online: 11-21-2009 04:10 AM iTrader: (8) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 800 DNF$: 690 Location: BC Country:	DNPowerful ... is it a big deal that people know that you are Cameron Johnson (Maitland) or whatever? Does it really matter? I mean is it a dark secret why you don't want them to know who you are? ... makes ya go ... hmmmmm.... __________________ kelowna.com

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