I’ve never wanted the job of having to police the Internet.
I feel like one of the single greatest benefits of the Internet is being able to create a voice that can be heard anywhere in the world.
That’s what originally got me building websites in the first place:
I was amazed that content I created in my bedroom in Beckley, West Virginia could be read by people around the globe with the click of a mouse.
However, in light of recent events here in the United States, companies are being questioned for taking down hate websites.
GoDaddy was applauded by many for taking down a a neo-Nazi site while some considered it a big deal.
Cloudflare’s CEO Matthew Prince also questioned his decision to pull down a similar neo-Nazi forum.
While from a moral standpoint, both companies decision sound right, but where do we begin crossing the line between our first amendment here in the United States of freedom of speech?
Where do we set the boundary?
When I started Name Hero, I said I was drawing the line with a zero tolerance adult content policy.
Given my experience with affiliate marketing, most companies are in direct violation of United States laws and don’t even realize it. Even if you’re just an affiliate marketer, you’re required to keep proper records on adult images published in your possession. I don’t want that monkey on my back.
From a moral standpoint, I also don’t agree with the “business model” behind adult websites. The majority of monetization methods are blatant scams.
But what about hate websites?
Hate makes me sick.
Seriously it makes me want to vomit.
It’s 2017 – why are we still having this?
I could type a blog post with my reasons, but I don’t want this to get political.
We’re not in this for money
We run an honorable business here at Name Hero. I’ve said many times, I’m not in this business for the money. I actually have taken very little of a paycheck since our inception. Rather, I invest in our customers and our Superhero Support Team.
Therefore if you want to create a hate-centered website (or pornographic website for that matter) you can take your business somewhere else.
My late grandfather, also an Entrepreneur, used to call money from these type of sources “dirty money.” He was quoted many times saying “dirty money will do you no good.” The older I get, the clearer I see this.
Freedom of speech is very important. But in my opinion the first amendment wasn’t create to help spread hate.
Can’t we all just get along? It’s much easier to be nice :).
Ryan Gray is the founder and CEO of NameHero, one of the fastest growing independent web hosts in the United States. Ryan has been working online since 1998 and has over two-decades experience in Internet Entrepreneurship.
Ryan,
I disagree w with your stance on this.
I totally support your stand against adult content I think this is a very good think and am proud of you for it. This is cut and dry.
View points are too easily labeled as hate speach in our current political atmosphere. And by cherry picking what you do not want to host is going to be InflueNced by you and your staff’s politics.
I think we need to take the good with bad.
Trey
It’s not necessarily view points we’re concerned with. It’s hate groups such as Neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan we will not host / have any part of. Something considered blatant hate wouldn’t be accepted by our order review team :).
This was it. This was the post that put me over the edge. My business is proudly going to use NameHero as its host. Thank you for showing some scruples. Was tempted with your awesome setup, staying because you’ve shown some class.
Thanks man, appreciate it!