Nearly 11,000 Michael Jackson-related domain names were registered on GoDaddy.com of as Thursday morning, reflecting a national phenomenon that seems to follow major deaths and global events.
bizjournals.tld /albuquerque/stories/2009/06/29/daily56.html[/url]
Bob Parsons said that 1,500 were registered today (day of the memorial).
What do these numbers mean?
[edited by: Webwork at 8:35 pm (utc) on Nov. 28, 2009]
In part it's because we live in a world where people are a bit lost. Lost for meaning. Lost for purpose and mission. Lost for what to do with their available time, so they invest or lavish the most valuable stuff of their life - their time and their attention - on matters that some folks, such as those who struggle to feed or provide for their basic needs, would be unable to understand.
It's probably one part natural reaction of some well-intentioned and some misguided individuals, all intending to use the domain to say or offer up something personal about MJ, . . and a great deal of other people simply looking to profit off MJ's untimely death.
I wouldn't be surprised if there are individuals who went a bit mad registering MJ domains, thinking that if they didn't reg the domain "right now" someone else would - so they kept groping for the best/right domains and had a hard time stopping themselves. Maybe they only stopped when their credit card company questioned all the charges.
If Mr. Parsons company is pointing the newly registered domains to a system that delivers MJ related ads then it would mean his company is profiting from a great number of dubious domain registrations. Dubious in the sense that simply because someone is deceased doesn't mean that person's name is suddenly fair game for profit making enterprises.
Of course there's room for tribute sites, which may not infringe on the trademark rights and interests of MJ's estate, though such "fan/tribute sites" are often more than willing to run ads and otherwise profit - which, in most instances, would open the site operator to legal claims.
Every day there are vast tragedies unfolding on this planet, often ones that humankind, with a little focus, effort and contribution, might greatly reduce or avoid. Unfortunately, "the market" for those tragedies simply cannot hold up to the competing markets where we invest our attention, time and money.
What does it all mean? How about this.
Instead of registering a MJ domain, to pay respects to MJ, why not honor him by sending a check for $8-$10 to any agency that does bona fide long term relief work, or sustainable self-sufficiency work, in Africa or elsewhere?
Or send a check to an agency that supports artists that are in dire need. Or send a check to an agency that helps children.
That might be a better tribute, one worthy of being described as "honoring MJ".
[edited by: Webwork at 5:13 pm (utc) on July 8, 2009]
