An Update from Exile
Feb. 20, 2021
Hi, friends.
As many of you know, I was kicked out of the BrandBucket Slack on Feb. 2, the same day a group I created, Branders Union, published a report concerning the BrandBucket search.
This report stirred up a great deal of controversy in the BB community. Many sellers in the BB Slack have expressed opinions about it. Some have seen merit in the report. Others have ignored its results. Some have disparaged or attacked me and Branders Union for publishing it.
Most everyone has an opinion on this report, but the one person the BB community hasn't heard from is the person who assembled it -- me.
I think this is wrong.
This 40-page BrandBucket Search Evaluation is respectful and well thought-out. It is not an attack on BrandBucket as BB seems to perceive it to be. In fact, the report calls BrandBucket a "treasured institution in the domain community" and doesn't claim any malicious intent from BB. It presents real and serious concerns of the seller community in a careful and methodical way, and it respectfully asks BrandBucket to address these concerns.
The concerns in the report are not the ravings of one disgruntled seller. It wasn't even my idea to create it. The report represents the concerns of many BB sellers. The BU community discussed this report for months and many there helped to shape it every step of the way. The report had several contributors, not just one.
So the fact that I've been singled out and banned from the BB Slack for it has been very disappointing.
BB has said I wasn't tossed out of the Slack for writing the report. This is hard to believe. Last year, BB and I came to an agreement, based on my personal circumstances, that ensured my account would remain in good standing after removing some domains. By removing me from the Slack now, a year later, immediately after publishing the report, BB broke its agreement with me. As a result, my good standing is damaged beyond recovery.
There are two ways to handle constructive criticism. You can take it seriously, listen to it carefully, and use it to help make you better. Or, you can deny it. Attack the source. And try to bury it.
By pushing me out of the BB slack, kicking my account into bad standing, and not allowing me to discuss the report with the BB community, I think BB has made the wrong choice. It has sent a message to the seller community that our concerns will be punished, not heard.
The BB Slack, as I understand it, is now largely an echo chamber, filled with the empty praises of loyal fans. BB might be satisfied with this, but in my view it's tragic when any organization bans critics and tolerates only praise. The inability to admit imperfection, to listen to criticism, and to improve from it is -- in my view -- the surest and fastest way to ruin.
Branders Union has been professional, respectful, and truthful throughout this controversy. We have not resorted to personal attacks. We have not misrepresented facts. We continue to stand for truth and fairness, and we are here to advocate for all sellers in the brandable space.
It is not too late for BrandBucket to do the right thing and allow me back into the BB Slack.
Until then, I'll drop in here and update everyone on my status once in a while.
Best to all of you.