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spitvenom · Jan 22, 2008, 01:43 PM

I was just reading in the members discussions the post about free speech. I find it hilarious that people really have no idea of what "Free Speech" is. But that is not the point of this post. As I read further and further I came across ScottGems post who always gives good advice and he said this site is privately owned and operated and I started to wonder who does own and operate this site? Just wondering.

catherinetodd · Mar 10, 2008, 10:27 AM

I have seen certain comments about “free speech” and was wondering the same thing. Who owns the site? Is there a registry of website owners where we can look this information up?

NeedKarma · Mar 10, 2008, 10:44 AM

admin is the top guy here: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/members/admin.html

catherinetodd · Mar 10, 2008, 11:03 AM

Thanks. Do you know if there's an internet registry where we can find contact information for this and other sites?

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

admin is the top guy here: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/members/admin.html

NeedKarma · Mar 10, 2008, 11:19 AM

Whois.net

ScottGem · Mar 10, 2008, 11:32 AM

I'm curious as to why either of you want to know this information? Can you elaborate?

catherinetodd · Mar 10, 2008, 11:36 AM

Thanks, NeedKarma, although I couldn't find any real contact / owner info for this site, just who it is registered with.

Registered through: Cheap-DomainRegistration.com

NeedKarma · Mar 10, 2008, 11:39 AM

You'll get nowhere with them if you're planning to complain about something. They won't care, it's not their job. Jus' saying.

ScottGem · Mar 10, 2008, 11:46 AM

You can try the whois function at WHOIS Search provides domain registration information from Network Solutions

I wouldn't say you'll get "nowhere" with a complaint, but they are unlikely to overturn any decisions made by the moderators. That's part of why they set up moderators in the first place.

As I've said before, this is a privately owned site. The rule on such sites is you play by my rules or you don't play at all. See the thread titles Suspended in Member Discussions. This is not atypical of sites like this. There are very few discussion or Q&A sites that are run by public entitites. The vast majority are privately owned. I've heard of people being banned from a site just because the owner didn't like what they had to say.

Everyone needs to remember that.

Alty · Mar 10, 2008, 11:56 AM

Yikes, I hope I haven't ticked off any of the higher ups.

ScottGem · Mar 10, 2008, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Yikes, I hope I haven't ticked off any of the higher ups.

Now what could a cute little bunny do to tick off people? :D

Alty · Mar 10, 2008, 12:00 PM

Scott - Apparently it's easier than I thought. I wish people wouldn't get mad at the bunny, but at times I do manage to stick my foot deep into the poo. Maybe I should buy some rubber boots.:p

NeedKarma · Mar 10, 2008, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by ScottGem

I wouldn't say you'll get "nowhere" with a complaint

I was referring to complaining to Cheap-DomainRegistration.com, guess I didn't make that clear sorry. I pretty sure a domain registrar doesn't give two poops about a little discussion board tif. :)

ScottGem · Mar 10, 2008, 12:02 PM

Those rabbit's feet are unlucky? Even when still attached to the rabbit?

Always wondered why people think rabbit's feet are lucky charms, sure didn't provide good luck to the rabbit they were attached to!!

ScottGem · Mar 10, 2008, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

I was referring to complaining to Cheap-DomainRegistration.com, guess I didn't make that clear sorry. I pretty sure a domain registrar doesn't give two poops about a little discussion board tif. :)

Ahhh yes this is true. They would probably circular file it, not even forward it the actual site owner.

catherinetodd · Mar 10, 2008, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Yikes, I hope I haven't ticked off any of the higher ups.

Amen - LOL! Thanks for a big smile today! I'm still "just curious" like the person (spitvenom) who posted this question.:)

spitvenom · Mar 10, 2008, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by ScottGem

I'm curious as to why either of you want to know this information? Can you elaborate?

I most definitley do not have a complaint or anything like I think this site is cool. I just like to know who owns what and who is watching us.

It was a while ago when I asked this and I believe I asked because A post I made about both Scientology and Christianity got deleted. It was a post asking what Scientology was all about and I said what I learned about Scientology and said if you think about it their story isn't any crazier then the story of Christianity and that post got deleted. So in my crazy mind this site must be owned the Church Scientology or the Catholic Church.

ScottGem · Mar 10, 2008, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by catherinetodd

Amen - LOL!! Thanks for a big smile today! I'm still "just curious" like the person (spitvenom) who posted this question.:)

At one point in time, during the late 90s, there was a similar site called AskMe.com. AskMe was setup by some former Redmondians who developed the software to sell to corporations for knowledge management. They setup a public Q&A site as a demonstration of their software. The public site was wildly successful. Much beyond their expectations. At the time there really wasn't very much like it. There were some focused sites, but nothing really as broad. But once the people behind it didn't need the public site for demo purposes anymore, they decided to shut it down.

When that happened the people who had enjoyed using AskMe were left with a void to fill. Other sites that had cropped up to try an compete stepped in like AllExperts and Wondir. Other new sites like here and Answerway opened up to take up the slack. In fact, this site capitalized on the AskMe name and used a home page copied from AskMe to try and grab the AskMe orphans. For various reasons this site has risen to the top of the genre. One of those reasons is a dedicated and conscientious group of moderators who care about the rules setup for use of this site (ouch! Patting oneself on the back hurts ;) ) . Another is an equally dedicated and conscientious group of people who supply help to those in need.

I suspect that the operators of this site spend enough time and money on maintaining the site, that they don't want their privacy invaded.

NeedKarma · Mar 10, 2008, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by spitvenom

So in my crazy mind this site must be owned the Church Scientology or the Catholic Church.

CoS sues everyone and everything in sight should it find anything negative about it. It's scary.

catherinetodd · Mar 10, 2008, 12:26 PM

spitvenom, I don't think you are "crazy" at all. I think you posted a very important question. I have had many people ask me the same thing.

NeedKarma... I didn't know CoS sues over anything negative. I've seen people become extremely abusive when they read anything negative or even "not in 100% agreement" with themselves, and resort to extremely domineering behavior, but I had no idea that some people / organizations would go as far as "actually suing." It is scary to be assaulted verbally or physically or legally just because you have a difference of opinion. These kind of people - or organizations - are definitely "Little Hitlers" waiting in the wings...

I'd still like to know who the owner of this site.