One person catching a lot...

[atlas]

I'm certain many here agree a level playing field is better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron

 

[PoshTiger]

I agree Dave...

On another note - I'm not sure Nominet would want a single catcher to be catching all the good names.

It calls into question the integrity of their processes and the systems that they have in place.

 

[SF]

Reading most of the thread as its very long does come across a bit sour grapes - why arnt you lot working on your systems, lol then again why i am not working on mine lol

 

[grantw]

I agree Dave...

On another note - I'm not sure Nominet would want a single catcher to be catching all the good names.

It calls into question the integrity of their processes and the systems that they have in place.

This is the way it works and always has, if you're just loading your domains and pressing go you'll get left behind.

Should Nominet be telling everyone where to host their script, how to optimise the basics, the best way to send the epp request etc etc etc? Nothing is level and never has been. The only way it's ever going to be level is if Nominet supply and host the script, you load your names and it runs at a set speed for everyone - great if you can't be bothered researching or don't like a challenge but sounds pretty boring to me!

Grant

 

[DaveP]

Should Nominet be telling everyone where to host their script, how to optimise the basics, the best way to send the epp request etc etc etc? Nothing is level and never has been. The only way it's ever going to be level is if Nominet supply and host the script, you load your names and it runs at a set speed for everyone - great if you can't be bothered researching or don't like a challenge but sounds pretty boring to me!

I understand where you're coming from and I'm all for research and having a challenge but when there is clearly something obscure happening that isn't documented anywhere that's when the playing field becomes unfair.

For some of us here domaining is part-time so tell me why should we have to spend countless hours outside of our main jobs trying to figure out something for which the information isn't even accessible, it's like trying to paint something you can't see. I'm all for putting the hours in to work with available information but not for something obscure where the time frame is completely unknown and I can't plan for.

 

[PoshTiger]

Not sour grapes at all...

I work full time, can spend around 10 minutes a day on this and have mainly made a loss on my domaining efforts but still like it as it's good fun - not knowing if you'll land a biggie that day.

I'm kind of dormant at the moment anyway and will probably remain so until the landscape changes.

If I pack it in totally tomorrow, I'd be financially better off - but bored.

 

[AssetDomains]

Given Nominet may end dropcatching in the next month or so how much time do expect people to put in.

 

[DaveP]

All I'm saying is there is some undocumented behaviour and I just wanted to spark a discussion about it. We have all paid for access to the system and all I'm asking for is we have all information readily available to each of us, which I don't think it is. It's the same with anything you pay money for, you expect to get 100%. If enough concerns are raised by others I'm hoping it will prompt Nominet to investigate further as something is amiss.

No sour grapes. No moaning. No business is unfair crap. No need for me to alter my expectations. No need for me to quit my day job.

 

[grantw]

I understand where you're coming from and I'm all for research and having a challenge but when there is clearly something obscure happening that isn't documented anywhere that's when the playing field becomes unfair.

For some of us here domaining is part-time so tell me why should we have to spend countless hours outside of our main jobs trying to figure out something for which the information isn't even accessible, it's like trying to paint something you can't see. I'm all for putting the hours in to work with available information but not for something obscure where the time frame is completely unknown and I can't plan for.

Even basic script optimisation is full of obscure things that aren't documented, the nice tip I gave you a while back should have indicated that!

We've been through a period where the playing field has been more level than at any time I can remember, it's not usually like that. Usually someone comes out on top then everyone else scrambles to catch up. Then someone else finds a new technique/bug/exploit and the cycle goes on and on.......You don't have to spend hours trying to figure it out, but that's the nature of the game you've chosen to be involved in.

As Invincible says, everyone has access to the same system documentation from Nominet, what you do with that information and the time you spend doing indepth testing and research is up to you.

If someone reads Nominets instructions, does no further research, writes a very basic script and hosts it in China would they be getting any sympathy for not catching anything from the people who are complaining about the current situation?

Grant

 

[DaveP]

Grant and Invincible I do agree with you on many points, I'm not saying that. Business is all about staying ahead of the game. I just feel the current way of getting ahead seems so much like a bug being exploited as opposed to having the best setup that's why I felt the need to raise a discussion about it. If Deny's really has discovered the holy grail and that it's not a bug then perhaps I need to admit defeat for now and come bouncing back.

Perhaps I've been too open raising a discussion about this here and perhaps I've been too critical of Nominet and if in doing so has caused any offence then I do apologise.

 

[grantw]

Grant and Invincible I do agree with you on many points, I'm not saying that. Business is all about staying ahead of the game. I just feel the current way of getting ahead seems so much like a bug being exploited as opposed to having the best setup that's why I felt the need to raise a discussion about it. If Deny's really has discovered the holy grail and that it's not a bug then perhaps I need to admit defeat for now and come bouncing back.

Perhaps I've been too open raising a discussion about this here and perhaps I've been too critical of Nominet and if in doing so has caused any offence then I do apologise.

No offence taken by me, am just a bit surprised by some in this thread that are so quick to put this down to a bug and flinging wild theories/accusations around without doing any research into it.

Those sitting back claiming bug better hope that it is and gets fixed, because if it's not I can guarantee there's 50 or so catchers currently trying to work out how he's doing it and you may well find yourselves way behind the pack.

Grant

 

[Retired_Member42]

If anyone figures it will you post it here or keep it to yourselves?

 

[Retired_Member39]

I'm not sure i agree that being able to pick up decent domains is only open to a select few who can program or have had jobs in programming.

 

[monaghan]

If anyone figures it will you post it here or keep it to yourselves?

Very few people will give away their hard work for no reward!

As mentioned a few posts back, we all have the same documentation, it's how you choose to read them and implement them. Take a look at Formula 1, all the teams have the same regulations, some build a car that's at the top, others struggle down at the back of the grid.

 

[Retired_Member38]

I'm not sure i agree that being able to pick up decent domains is only open to a select few who can program or have had jobs in programming.

Completely agree.

I'm also not really comfortable with doctors having to have medical degrees, thats not very fair is it. And I don't see why people fitting boilers should need to have a gas safety certificate?

 

[Edwin]

I'm not sure i agree that being able to pick up decent domains is only open to a select few who can program or have had jobs in programming.

It's interesting to restate this in terms of other "sophisticated" pursuits, for example: "I'm not sure I agree that being able to do brain surgery is only open to a select few who've completed 7 years of medical school plus years of on the job training."

Instantly highlights the implausibility of talk of level playing fields...

It has been frequently said that to truly become expert in something takes 10,000 hours of hard work (for which there are few if any shortcuts or substitutes).

It is therefore totally unsurprising that those who have put in the effort to become expert drop catchers reap the rewards. At the moment that's Denys; historically there have been many others who have held pole position, some albeit very briefly.

If it's system optimisations, then put in your 10,000 hours and find those optimisations. If it's bugs, then put in your 10,000 hours and find those bugs. But there is no substitute for hard work, and nobody "owes" anyone anything, least of all a playing field so level that full time experts and casual part timers see equal results.

 

[Retired_Member39]

It's interesting to restate this in terms of other "sophisticated" pursuits, for example: "I'm not sure I agree that being able to do brain surgery is only open to a select few who've completed 7 years of medical school plus years of on the job training."

Instantly highlights the implausibility of talk of level playing fields...

It has been frequently said that to truly become expert in something takes 10,000 hours of hard work (for which there are few if any shortcuts or substitutes).

It is therefore totally unsurprising that those who have put in the effort to become expert drop catchers reap the rewards. At the moment that's Denys; historically there have been many others who have held pole position, some albeit very briefly.

If it's system optimisations, then put in your 10,000 hours and find those optimisations. If it's bugs, then put in your 10,000 hours and find those bugs. But there is no substitute for hard work, and nobody "owes" anyone anything, least of all a playing field so level that full time experts and casual part timers see equal results.

I understand what your saying, my point was that many people put in just as much hard work into domains as those that can program. There are many people here who have worked just as hard learning skills in other professions or building business's. Just my opinion ofc and i could be wrong i just don't think your programming skills should be a 100% deciding factor in who can get premium domains.

 

[Murray]

Those sitting back claiming bug better hope that it is and gets fixed, because if it's not I can guarantee there's 50 or so catchers currently trying to work out how he's doing it and you may well find yourselves way behind the pack.

Grant

To the point I made earlier in the thread..

If you found such a superior method of catching, wouldn't you try and hide it somewhat?

By catching everything you're showing everyone that you have found something new/or you're doing something new and you're forcing people to heavily research to try and match you.

If he had kept his cards close to his chest, only caught the cherries on top and left some of the cake then I don't think as many people would be working as hard to work it out.

By going after everything I think it shows either 3 things.

It's a bug that will get fixed soon
It's something he thinks people will pick up on sooner or later
or he is so good he doesn't fix anyone can match him anyway

And it also shows it isn't something dodgy because he wouldn't be so brazen with it.

 

[Retired_Member38]

There's always an option to suggest to Nominet that all expired domain names automatically go to an auction, first before dropping normally if nobody bids, where the losing registrar receives a percentage of the winning bid, capped at an amount, and the rest goes to something else such as the Nominet trust. Prefer that?

I would prefer that. At least that way if end users are aware they could then buy them at market value, or close to it.

I think its better that than domainers snatching the good ones and listing them at unrealistic prices and they never come back into any 'real' use.

 

[anthony]

Amid all the doom & gloom talk about .uk, it's actually good to see this as a welcome distraction. The 'good' names would have gone to a select band of people anyway, it looks as if Denys has actually created the best alternative thread without a single post from him.