...And with the issue at hand, I thought that it sounded like it was something that I wanted to stay out of.
However, in realizing that this is an issue with SB and not Dan Berg, I've had a change of heart.
I am the webmaster for DeepSouthDivers.org, the Deep South Divers "personal website" that is related to the Deep South Divers NDI chapter here on this board. I believe I was the one who started this tradition of donating the domain name to SB... Let me attempt to explain why I thought this would work (and it has):
Scubaboard has become a place of tremendous traffic... It's a place that many divers from around the world visit and virtually "hang out" on a regular basis. This is due, in part, to several things... Here's the top two as I see them:
1. Scubaboard places high in the search engines.
2. Scubaboard's management team has exercised both political correctness and reduced censorship. The system's not perfect, and if you've ever had your thread "kicked" or "censored," you may feel differently - but the bottom line is that they've done an excellent job at keeping everyone happy. Flame wars are minimal, but everyone is still free to express their opinion. It's a tough compromise for them to achieve this, and like I said, it's not perfect... But it's very good, and it's kept the board running. Spam is almost nonexistent, and most topics are scuba-related, unless specified otherwise. It's a very good board, and I know of none as popular and none that have done a better job at balancing free speech and baloney.
Now, let me put it this way... This reputation - and the traffic that's bloomed as a result - is a huge accomplishment for any group, especially one so diverse as scuba divers. And if the group of divers in a certain NDL charter is going to represent themselves with a certain name... And that name is going to be adopted by a certain website... Well... Simply stated, that new website is a reflection of Scubaboard. If the name of the website and the name of the NDI charter are different, then it may not be a direct reflection... But if they're the same, then it is.
So... Here's the bottom line: Your website is a direct reflection on Scubaboard.
Fine, right? Not so fast, there, Speedy...
Let's say a group of us... Wreck Valley, Deep South Divers, Freshwater Freaks, and the Florida Conch Divers, for example, all have our own sites... We respect each other, get along, and generally serve as a good, healthy representation of Scubaboard. Everything goes great until one day a new NDI charter is created... I dunno... Say it's Arizona. Hawaii. Alaska. New York. I don't care... Just say it's a newcomer, and he creates a new NDI charter and grabs the domain name and has a separate website, away from SB, like we do. Let's say 50 people join. Fine, right?
Well... Let's say that his idea of what's appropriate on his site is different than ours. Let's say he's got a particular hatred towards a certain ethnic group or he allows profanity on "his" website or questionable content of any sort... Maybe he just gets in an argument with a moderator and decides to use "his" site for personal revenge. Do you see the problem here? Guess what? His actions affect you and me and our websites. People's opinions of NDI, Scubaboard, and even the other chapters of NDI may be adversely affected.
In short, if we all begin to build separate chapter websites, then we're all dependent on each other to uphold the same ethical standards that Scubaboard has. That can be a real problem; after all, none of us really know each other that well, or have any idea of what each other's ethical values really are.
...So in the face of being told that either I had to change my website's domain name or that the NDI charter needed to change it's name... I thought of a unique solution: Donate the name to Scubaboard.
Here's how that works: Scubaboard now has control over where the domain name points. For example, DeepSouthDivers.org points to the IP address of 205.240.35.88; my server. I put the site on my server, and when people type in "DeepSouthDivers.org," it takes them there. Simple.
Well, if I don't maintain the same ethical values and principles as Scubaboard, then guess what? Scubaboard can make a change... And suddenly, I lose all of my traffic. My site is still there, but unless people type in the IP address, they go wherever Scubaboard sends them.
...So what does this mean? Well... It means that there's a system of checks and balances. *I* alone can't ruin a good thing... If I were to reflect poorly on Scubaboard, then Scubaboard has a defense... They redirect traffic. Simple.
Obviously, this requires a tremendous amount of trust on my part: I trust that Scubaboard would only do this in a very extreme case... I trust that if an issue began to arise, they'd contact me first and allow me the chance to resolve the issue before it came to such extreme measures. But in light of how much they're trusting me to represent them on another site, I feel that my trust in them is only reciprocal.
The relationship has worked out well. It keeps me in check, and thus far, there's never been a disparity between us. They are ensured that I'm going to represent the group well, and in return, I get to be a part of it and enjoy the massive traffic flow.
...So this was my idea... And I certainly can understand your reluctance to adopt the policy. But I ask that you please adopt it. After all, don't YOU want to be protected from ME doing something stupid on "my" website? I can assure you that *I* want that assurance about you.
Please consider the possibility of donating the domain name - and supporting this policy. It's worked out great for DeepSouthDivers so far, and I believe it would work out well for you too.
Oh, and welcome to the club.
