It's interesting to read how some people define a "domainer."

Judging by the some of the definitions I've come across, some view domainers and domain parking as the ultimate evil.

This is obviously not an accurate statement as not all domainers park their domains (and even if they did, as long as they are not cybersquatting or infringing on a TM, why does it upset people?). Also, many domainers turn their domains into fully functioning websites. Others produce mini-sites etc. There's more than one way a domainer can monetize a website.

Well according to this definition, domainers produce no content but just displays ads via domain parking. This is clearly another assumption that domainers only ever set up parked pages.

Now this definition sounds a bit more accurate:

So many times, I've read articles that discuss domainers in the same sentence as cybersquatters, infringers etc. As mentioned here, we need to work hard to separate professional domainers from cybersquatters, and clean up the image of the domain industry. Perhaps we'll then find more positive definitions of a domainer?

What's your definition of a domainer?

the last definition sums it all up..

well almost....

This is my point of view: domainer is a “virtual real estate owner” – we own virtual addresses, similar like owning a house or an apartment in a real life. And because we buy legally these addresses, there is no way to feel guilty about this kind of business (unless you are cyber squatting!). Everyone can become a domain owner, now a days if you own a $10 can you can become a “virtual estate owner”. Of course it is a difference if you own a house in Beverly Hills or in Brooklyn – and the same goes for the virtual world. And it is only your business how do you use your property (as long you use it for legal activities). So, who cares!!??

I AM A DOMAINER. Same like many landlords are monthly collecting their rents, I am collecting incomes from my sites. No matter where your property is - in virtual world or in a real life, it needs maintenance – and this is work. Even the best house needs maintenance. So, I do work.

Yes, I AM A DOMAINER – a virtual estate owner.

Definition: Well put
Characteristic: Well said

I just read on Domain Name Wire that Wikipedia is currently redirecting its "domainer" and "domain" pages to their "cybersquatting" page.

*UPDATE*: The redirect to the "cybersquatting" page has stopped (source: DNJournal).

we can try to edit that i guess

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Heh, except that would violate their "conflict of interest" guidelines...

Domains are not property, virtual or otherwise. If you must use the real estate analogy - each domain you own is the same as a property lease. You are required to pay an annual fee else the lease expires and the domain reverts to the registry.

There are a lot of types of domainers ( The Different Types of Domainers | mwzd.com ), none of which are understood by the general public tbh.

To explain this to the average joe I'd written this post - Domaining is not cybersquatting! | mwzd.com

I'll quote a couple of people who definitely know a lot more than I do about domaining:

Sahar Sarid - "We always hear the comparison of domains to real estate however the other comparison I heard many years ago from a fellow domainer is that domains are like collectibles. If one can collect cards or memorabilia one should be able to collect domains. Is it any wonder that many in the domain space are people with prior collectible interests? In Rick’s house, in the living room, there’s a jar full of hotel keys from his salesmanship/tradeshows days. Another highly successful domainer started first collecting sports cards, and yet another started collecting watches. Why not collect domains for their rarity/scarcity value? And if this is acceptable (as it should) then it is essentially a bona fide use of a domain and should hold against trademark owners. If the world was as it should be."

Yun Ye - "People collect Pokemon cards, and they don’t call them Pokemon squatters."

mwzd, I like the article you wrote about the different types of domainers.

Hey, my son is somewhat of a collector... I wonder if he'll grow up to be a domainer.

Interesting to know the thoughts of netstar, especially his mention that domain names are like "virtual" real estate.

As mentioned by mwzd, the expiry of lease leading to return of domain to the registry is what gives domain names a distinct attribute. That, in my opinion is the key difference.

Just to share, I am into Philately and Numismatics and own more than 3000 stamps of more than 100 countries and about 100 rare coins, 2 of them more than 100 years old and 1 which was minted during the 1st half of the 19th century!

The blessing is, I can just keep my stamps and coins in a safe place within my home (a place for everything and everything in its place) and forget it even for a decade or more (which actually happened, till I moved recently) and yet what I own will always be my own. But the same can't hold good with domain names you and I "own" - as of now. Come expiry date, it is pay your "lease fee" time, else....!!

The article on "The Different Types of Domainers" truly caught my attention. I for one 'am curious to know, mwzd, about the other 'Types'. Just like how each one of us are unique, probably, each one of us could occupy our own space in the world of domaining.

I have heard of something about some people having a "method to the madness". Similary, there is something called "Allergy to Ambiguity". Hope those into domaining won't become 'Allergic' to the 'Ambiguity' that prevails in the 'definition' of a "Domainer" .

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