Cho Seung-Hui .Com Names

by Garry Conn

39 comments

1 /pd { 04.17.07 at 3:12 pm }

I think that register’s should park these domains and ‘gift’ them out to their victims family.. !!

2 Bill Hartzer { 04.17.07 at 3:59 pm }

Yes, I totally agree–the registrars should have taken the lead in this and park the domains and give all the money to the families of the victims.

Looks like at least one is being redirected to the vt.edu site, though, so at least there’s someone doing something decent.

3 Garry Conn { 04.17.07 at 5:49 pm }

This happens every time something tragic or breaking news happens. People go out there and buy these domains and then strong arm the victims who already got the sh## end of the stick. It’s brutal man… brutal.

I was actually considering getting some of these domain names just to protect these people. But honestly, I can’t afford it.

4 aj { 04.17.07 at 7:51 pm }

That one that directs to theetrader.com had listed the varying domain names associated to the virginia tech tragedy and the cho fellow, but I see they have changed that. One of the domain names they were asking for a million dollars and others for 500 thousand. Do people rarely get sucessful offers or do they just expire? I guess no change will be done until ICANN adds some regulations regarding domain names relating to tragedy.

5 Garry Conn { 04.17.07 at 8:19 pm }

AJ,

This has been going on for years. A few years ago this even happened to my domain name. It was registered and subject to ransom. It was my fault really, I was stupid and forgot to re-new my domain name: GarryConn.com and let it expire. Quickly someone registered it and held it for two years. During that time period I contacted the guy that owned it, and he wanted $1000 dollars for the domain name. I told him to shove it, and I also told him it would be a matter of time before I get my domain name back. I put a back order on the domain name for $20 dollars. And sure enough, he forgot about the domain name and it expired. I had first grabs on the name and after a two year period I finally got my domain name back! And while I was writing this comment I decided to re-new my domain name again. If anyone wants GarryConn.com you will have to wait until Dec, 17th of 2016 for even a remote chance of getting it!

To Whom It Concerns: Your namesake and family’s namesakes are important and there is no amount of money value that can be placed to them. You never know what will happen to you tomorrow, but there is one thing you can know that will happen today. You can register your name’s domain name and keep it safe. Even if you don’t plan on using it… it can be registered and safely under your control. Domain names are typically less than $10/year to maintain. They are very cheap and prevent idiots from stealing from you and attempting to make money at your name’s expense.

6 msdanielle { 04.17.07 at 9:56 pm }

it makes me sick to my stomach. some people have no conscience whatsoever. making money off of death has to be the lowest of the low.

7 Mourning the Loss of Life: Virginia Tech University » msdanielle - just another ego blog site » Blog Archive { 04.17.07 at 10:25 pm }

[...] domain squatters are purchasing the domain names of the VTU victims and making money off of them! Read Garry’s post about what this means. You can also visit the Virginia Tech Tragedy page for additional information, and help raise the [...]

8 Garry Conn { 04.17.07 at 10:41 pm }

I am hoping that maybe the domain names can get put into the right hands. I haven’t investigated all yet but I will.

Thanks for the mention in your post.

9 Vivienne Quek { 04.17.07 at 10:54 pm }

Business is about adding values to others and thereby enriching yourself in the process. Money made from unscrupulous means, even it was done legally, is sickening. The fact that these people can do so shamelessly simply demonstrated that they have no compassion, no empathy,no conscience. Basically, heartless. I doubt they will donate the money made to the bereaved families, or return the names. Perhaps only through a public outcry or people’s power through community like this, that a redress can be sought.

10 Garry Conn { 04.17.07 at 11:39 pm }

Vivienne Quek,

I couldn’t agree more. Making money is one thing… doing it online is another… and buying and selling domain names is a great business… but there is a right way and a wrong way at doing everything in life.

And taking advantage of a family who has suffered a loss of a loved one is uncalled for.

Over the years, I have registered domain names to everyone that is important to me. I personally own over 100 domain names, and I would say about 25 of these names are personal to me and would NEVER be sold. The other domain names are names that would never hurt anyone. They are names of ideas and businesses that could be created or launched if I had the ability to clone myself.

11 AAA Copywriter { 04.18.07 at 1:53 am }

People like Germany based SEDO are specialized in making money from unused sites. They “park” sites (thousands of them) with pay-per-click ads on it, and just raise the dosh…

Alex

12 Matt Jones { 04.18.07 at 2:19 am }

That is sick that the first thing those people thought is ‘how can I prohphit from this’.

13 Danny Dang { 04.18.07 at 2:36 am }

Thanks for making me aware of this Garry. That is just plain sick!

14 Mourning the loss at Virginia Tech University : dannydang.com { 04.18.07 at 3:13 am }

[...] Excerpt from Garry Conn’s post on the domain registering. [...]

15 Brian { 04.18.07 at 4:09 am }

Hi Gary

Thanks for pointing this out. Its legal but its immoral.

16 James Nardell { 04.18.07 at 5:02 am }

Awful. We saw exactly the same thing after the New Orleans disaster i.e. people profiting off other peoples misery.

There’s no doubt that ChoSeungHui.com will get some serious traffic over the forthcoming weeks. I guess the world being what it is, someone was always going to snag it…

17 TechSupport { 04.18.07 at 6:15 am }

Our heartfelt sorrow and condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims from this tragedy.

To know that someone may be profiting at the pain and expense of others is nothing short of immoral and unethical. However, there is some comfort in knowing that eventually these profiteers will get what’s due…”what goes around comes around”.

18 Joost { 04.18.07 at 6:32 am }

Yeah, that’s the dark side of “Making Money Online”.

19 George { 04.18.07 at 7:22 am }

First I heard that all the news agencies were buying ppc traffic for this tragedy, which seemed a little disrepectful, but not too unexpected.

This on the other hand, is horrible! As much as I don’t believe in legislating everything, I almost think that there should be a law against this.

20 thor Schrock { 04.18.07 at 8:04 am }

Great breaking news Story Garry! I gave you some diggs, as well as a post on my blog about it. This is insaine.

21 Despicable Squatters Reserve the Domain Names of those Killed in VA Tech Shootings | Thor Schrock's Technology Blog { 04.18.07 at 8:10 am }

[...] Garry Conn reported on his blog this morning that domain cybersquatters are reserving the names of the people killed in the Virginia Tech shooting incident, as well as the names of their family members. The squatters then plaster ads all over the pages and offer to sell them back to the family members at exhorbanent prices. [...]

22 Vijay { 04.18.07 at 10:44 am }

Well researched article I must say, a darn bit shocking as well

23 Josh the Aspie’s Blog » Blog Archive » Virginia Tech Exploitation { 04.18.07 at 11:41 am }

[...] found out about this through Thor Schrock’s Technology Blog, and Thor found out about it from Garry Conn, a blogger who talks about ways to make money [...]

24 Paul Butler { 04.18.07 at 5:32 pm }

Hi, I think it is sick that people do this and I commend you on calling them out, but I think posting personal information on some of the legitimate owners is irresponsible.

Particularly, Jamie Bishop and Ryan Clark did nothing to deserve to have their phone numbers and home addresses shown publicly alongside people who are trying to profit from tragedy. With the exception of Joseph Parker, all the personal information you posted is of innocent people and domain privacy firms.

I know whois data is public, but unlike this article, it is not spidered and it is not posted in the context of evil greedy people who profit on tragedy.

I also think asking them to give up their domains is unfair. Many people do not renew their personal domain names until the time comes around each year. Seeing as both domains have been around for over 6 years (an eternity in domain names), I highly doubt ether Ryan or Jamie intend to let the domain expire.

For the sake of these innocent people, I hope you remove the information posted on them.

25 Garry Conn { 04.18.07 at 5:56 pm }

Paul, you are right and have removed the info.

I also think asking them to give up their domains is unfair.

I don’t think it is ever unfair to ask for something if it is felt to be deserved.

If Garry Conn dot Com wasn’t being used the way it was now, and it was just sitting around doing nothing for years on end… and had a half naked picture of me in the water, and my home page looked almost like a porn site, and if someone had the same identical name as me and died in a tragic accident, and if the parents or family member’s of this victim who has the same name as me, asked me if I would donate the domain name to them… would I say NO?

Absolutely not… if I wasn’t doing anything with my domain name I would transfer it in a New York minute.

So no, I don’t think it is unfair to ask.

- Garry

26 Jennifer { 04.18.07 at 6:11 pm }

This is just crazy. I like all the research and quotes you did in researching this article. It is very good and very informative about a very sad event.

Thanks for the information.

27 Paul Butler { 04.18.07 at 6:42 pm }

I do agree that it would be a nice gesture to give up the domains, but I wouldn’t hold it against them if they didn’t (when I re-read that portion of the article, I realize your thoughts on this seem to be the same)… I think the first guy is using the site to promote some sort of business .

I’m glad you saw my concern on the whois info.

28 Garry Conn { 04.18.07 at 7:00 pm }

@ Jennifer,

Thanks for the comments. I still can’t believe that this all happened and then it just made me so mad to learn about domain names of all the victims. I can’t remember the last time I was this upset. Totally tasteless.

@ Paul,

I would never hold it against them. It is their choice. I don’t judge people. I think it would be commendable to do it, but not expected.

@ Everyone,

I have been meaning to post this but haven’t had a chance to, so in the mean time I might as well make a comment about it:

My good blogger buddy, Kyle, has posted information about April 30th being the official day the Blogosphere pays their respects and mourns. He didn’t get any comments about the post and I would appreciate you sending him some kind words for helping spread the word about this.

29 Jack { 04.18.07 at 9:15 pm }

this definitely should be digged! spread the evil effects of “making money online”.
thanks garry for the hard work collecting all that information.

30 Garry Conn { 04.18.07 at 9:24 pm }

Money I guess they say is the root to all evils.

But you know… there is nothing wrong with making money, its just how you go about doing it.

31 John { 04.18.07 at 9:34 pm }

so who will be the next shooter to make history an kill 40 or more. sure their must be allot of wanna-bees. put Cho Seung-Hui in the hall of fame with the rest of the school shooters. so how many wanna_bees want be be a hero. It,s easy to kill an to die. Is this the next generation of leaders those who feel lifes cheap. dont take a stand an you die anyway.

32 Garry Conn { 04.18.07 at 10:02 pm }

John,

Are you concerned that this might start to become a trend?

33 James { 04.18.07 at 10:47 pm }

The university did not register these names in an attempt to make money. It is so no one tries to create a website honoring him or anything of that nature. He was an individual who had serious mental problems which should have been dealt with and also had many misconceptions regarding what is right and wrong and about society.

34 Garry Conn { 04.18.07 at 11:42 pm }

The university from what I can tell (I haven’t check every name of every victim) has only registered the name of the shooter. All the victims names have been registered and are being used to make money or being used for re-sell thru sedo.com

It would have been great if all the names were registered by the university, but unfortunately that is not the case with the names I have checked so far.

35 Leroy Brown { 04.19.07 at 6:38 am }

I’m all for making money. I’m all for being creative about doing it – heck creativity is what makes you the big bucks. And I’m not above going into a “gray area” – many profitable businesses operate here day in and day out.

But there has to come a time when you value your morals and general decency over a buck or two. Or two thousand. When you sell out like that, I think that you’ve pretty much assured yourself a place in Hell. Hope these folks enjoy the money they may get from these sites.

36 Garry Conn { 04.19.07 at 10:02 am }

In other words, enjoy the money while it lasts… because the devil has basically bought their expensive ticket down to hell! LOL!!

Leroy you are right. Thanks for the comment.

37 Matthew Jabs { 04.19.07 at 3:00 pm }

This kid was a nightmare.

I’m starting to loathe the media on this already because they’re looking to place blame on someone else (of course). I tell who we’re going to blame…the douchebag who shot everyone, that’s who!

What ever happened to being responsible for your own actions. I keep hearing about how so & so could have done this or that to prevent this…well guess what…if we could predict who, where, & when on shootings like this…they would never happen!

The families of the departed will be in my prayers.

38 Garry Conn { 04.19.07 at 3:22 pm }

well guess what…if we could predict who, where, & when on shootings like this…they would never happen!

Wasn’t there a movie about that staring Tom Cruise?

… and yes, I couldn’t agree more. People are responsible for their own actions.

39 Richard Harris { 04.21.07 at 7:29 am }

The university themselves did not register any of these domain names.

choseunghui.com for example which is being redirected to vt.edu’s tragedy page was registered by a private party and is simply being redirected to vt.edu.

Nice to see somebody doing something selfless with these domains.

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