I find it extremely strange when iNet, which is obviously developing into a very large holder of sites, in promoting WHT, can come up with no original idea except to do a take off of a much smaller board, hosthideout. Let's look at some numbers-WHT has 58,000 members and nearly 2 million posts. HHO has 3,000 members and 48,000 posts.

I am not offended on Chicken's behalf because, frankly, I think it is great for WHT to provide him such free promotion. However, I have just never seen this strategy used in this situation. Normally, it is the smaller company attempting to play off the giant. Not the other way around. Normally, it is the underdog using this strategy.

Although I am not a big t-shirt wearer nor a purchaser of fancy mouse pads, I, personally, would never wear the shirt nor use the mouse pad making fun of another board and its owner, who I respect very much. I guess iNet thinks their slogan is cute. I think it shows a lack of maturity and class. I would suggest next time they get some professionals to help rather than solicit slogans here and trying to think of one themselves.

The only argument against this is the fact that it was created by a WHT user. iNET didn't come up with the idea, they only laughed and used it when it was submitted.

While this is obviously a sign of support, I don't think the release of the tshirt/mouse pad was intended to happen like this.

Originally posted by nickn
The only argument against this is the fact that it was created by a WHT user. iNET didn't come up with the idea, they only laughed and used it when it was submitted.

Yeah, I think iNet might have just gone with the flow on this one, possibly with some advice from WHT'ers or from reading the posts where feedback/reviews/opinions were given, and knew little about Hosthideout at all at the time it was chosen as the design to go with.

They could have probably paid one of their ad people to knock something up in half an hour, but they'd get even worse feedback then?

Gary

What actually happened? I havent seen the pad/tshirt yet so dont really know what the fuss is about.... Care to fill me in?

Bruce, I completely agree with you.

Originally posted by UH-Matt
What actually happened? I havent seen the pad/tshirt yet so dont really know what the fuss is about.... Care to fill me in?

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/premium.php

Oh i see ;)

Whoa!! I have to agree Incognito..I havent been around WHT very much lately and it looks like alot of new things have been implemented since then.
:confused:

I think it is great for WHT to provide him such free promotion. I don't see how this is free promotion. In order for there to be any benefit as far as promotion is concerned it would have to drive some traffic there, or provide some recognition I would think. In this case you have to already know about them to know what WHT is poking fun at. This thread does more in the way of promotion than that T-Shirt would IMO...

I am a member of both forums and don't see where anyone is harmed by this. Actually it has caused at least one WHT member to find HHO (who did a search on host and hide).

I choose to view this with the good humor that I think it was intended to represent. So, here is my official, dual-forum "LOL, no offense taken".

Originally posted by UH-Matt
What actually happened? I havent seen the pad/tshirt yet so dont really know what the fuss is about.... Care to fill me in?

.... And I thought Incognito was going to model the t-shirt for us ;)

I think it's a poor, and albeit quite funny (from HHO's perspective), attempt to mimmick what other business have done in basing marketing campaigns that 'play on words' of their competitors.

Originally posted by Watcher_TVI
I think it is great for WHT to provide him such free promotion. I don't see how this is free promotion. In order for there to be any benefit as far as promotion is concerned it would have to drive some traffic there, or provide some recognition I would think. In this case you have to already know about them to know what WHT is poking fun at. This thread does more in the way of promotion than that T-Shirt would IMO...

It's free promotion because discussion on Host Hideout has increased ten-fold since iNet released the t-shirt and mousepad.

OMG!

i really can not believe i just saw that!

whats really even MORE ironic is that is says where the hosts DONT hide out, but isnt the point of premium membership so you CAN have your little hidden forums?

im sorry, but that is in really bad taste. seriously. it isnt even funny. and im saying that not even liking that chicken guy/girl!

whats next, they are going to say they are using cafepress for their product fulfillment! ack! now THAT would be funny!

I think its sad really, it was one of the determining factors in why i decided to stear clear of the premium membership.

ooops, i guess they wont be using cafepress....

even THEY dont take THAT long!

T-Shirts and Mousepads are a one-time benefit of joining. T-Shirts and mousepads will be mailed by iNET Interactive once per quarter, so please allow up to 3 months for delivery.

didnt know WHT's mascot was a chicken, woner how you came up with that... oh, and nice slogan. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by websterworld
didnt know WHT's mascot was a chicken, woner how you came up with that... oh, and nice slogan. :rolleyes:

A WHT member designed them.....

I got mine yesterday but haven't had a chance to look at them yet. Of course I also live about 30-35 miles from INET's offices ;)

Originally posted by Matt
A WHT member designed them.....

I got mine yesterday but haven't had a chance to look at them yet. Of course I also live about 30-35 miles from INET's offices ;)

the logo and especially the slogan seem to be very original.

oh bloody hell just let it drop, stop making such a "great" deal out of something which is in the past, why didn't you make such a great deal a couple of weeks/months ago?

Originally posted by jheslop1
oh bloody hell just let it drop, stop making such a "great" deal out of something which is in the past, why didn't you make such a great deal a couple of weeks/months ago?

I was away at the time :D
I think this is wrong, of course reprinting all of them shirts is out of the Q' and what I think isnt going to effect things much anyway... but I still think its wrong.

/end rant

And do you think it's wrong when Pepsi says they're better than Coke?

isn't coke pepsi?

Originally posted by websterworld
the logo and especially the slogan seem to be very original.

My point was that it was not the intent some are trying to make it out to be. INET has spoken on this issue that they have the utmost respect for the individual referenced in the logos and his contributions to WHT.

I don't think INET nor the designer of the logos meant them to be interpreted in the negative fashion that some have taken them.

Originally posted by SoftWareRevue
And do you think it's wrong when Pepsi says they're better than Coke?

ah yes, at least we are not denying it, thats progress I guess.
but if Pepsi would use the coca-cola font and slogan there would be a huge law suit... anybody can say their better then the other guy, but when you use the other guys slogan and mascot its a different story.

Originally posted by Matt
My point was that it was not the intent some are trying to make it out to be. INET has spoken on this issue that they have the utmost respect for the individual referenced in the logos and his contributions to WHT.

I don't think INET nor the designer of the logos meant them to be interpreted in the negative fashion that some have taken them.

only thing I could see this to be is plain lack of creativity then.
it doesnt matter what iNET or the designer meant it to be interpreted one way or another. its really not a decent thing to do IMHO, even if they meant no harm.

Originally posted by websterworld
I was away at the time
Oh really? It was easier to find your comments at the time here (http://www.hosthideout.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=53003#post53003) than at WHT ;)

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
Oh really? It was easier to find your comments at the time here (http://www.hosthideout.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=53003#post53003) than at WHT ;)

:D

I still stand by that, in my opinion the shirts are outright wrong.

Coke or Pepsi... Same thing to me.

Originally posted by KimmiKat
Coke or Pepsi... Same thing to me.


ever see that movie with adam sandler where his a good devil? "little nicky" he gets in tuch with his evil powers (the dog told him) and makes a cola turn into a pepsi... ~MUHAHAHA :dgrin:

I avew to agree with webster, it is wrong doing this, same thing with all the other promotions in the world. You shouldn't point out what is bad about the competitor but what special features you have that makes you better.

As was posted in the premium member section (which most of you in this thread wouldn't have seen):


The T-Shirt/Mousepad was never meant as a slam on HHO. The designs were actually meant to pick on one of the most famous moderators in WHT's history (Chicken). Chicken knows about the design and has no problems with it. In fact he is getting a T-Shirt and mousepad himself. We actually have a series we plan to release with this being the first one. I think the next one we release will probably highlight on anon-e-mouse with the slogan "I fought the mouse, and the mouse won!".



I am not sure who originally came up with the design and slogan series, but if memory serves it was a group of WHT'ers.

"I fought the mouse, and the mouse one!"


I sure hope it doesn't say that. :rofl:

Why keep talking about the tshirt and the mouse mat??
If the premium memeber don't like it, just put it in your "wardrobe" or you can also send it to me for my birthday! ;)

Ludo

Personally I don't think it matters, it's up to each individual to do what he or she wants with it. I honestly don't think it bothers chicken or we would have heard something about it at this point. It gives me more of a laugh than anything. Even if it was directed towards chicken, competition is competition - I don't really see much below the belt here.

Do I get "Sheep'd by Sheps"? :D

Or

"Herded by Sheps"?

:P

Yawn.... this again...

Same topic, 3 months after the fact.

I personally spoke with Aaron (Chicken) about the design, HostHideout prior to the release of the design to the public. He was not offended, and I assured him we would send him a shirt and mousepad as well. I consider Chicken a friend and I personally admire Aaron for his contributions to the web hosting community- both on WHT and HH.

Again, it is clear that no matter what iNET does, someone will always cry fowl. This is a prime example. The design was submitted by a WHTer. We will hold a contest for the next WHT t-shirt in the coming months, select the winner based on voting on WHT. Then some will complain that 1) we influenced the vote 2) the second shirts will take just as long to get as the first 3) they are offended by something related to that design as well.

Fortunately, it is a very select few that are taking this design as a personal attack on Aaron and/or HH. Everyone else knows that this is not the case and it is all in good humor.

Just my random thoughts.

Originally posted by Gabriel Murphy
Again, it is clear that no matter what iNET does, someone will always cry fowl.
That's fine by the mods, you get the blame for everything now instead of us :D

People will always have something to complain about on any forum, no matter who is running the show. :cartman:

I think the next one we release will probably highlight on anon-e-mouse with the slogan "I fought the mouse, and the mouse won/
Or maybe a spin on the "Who let the dogs out" song.

Who let the mouse out.....squeak...squeak, squeak-squeak!
Who let the mouse out...huh!
:rofl:

Again, it is clear that no matter what iNET does, someone will always cry fowl.

...especially when Chicken's involved. Fowl? Geddit? :D


I'll get me coat...

I didnt know that chicken was ok with it at the time I posted. it also wasnt very clear that there are going to be more diffrent shirts for each mod. so imagine how it looked to me.


anyway, apologies. :o

No need to appologize at all webmasterworld :)

My comments were not directed to you personally/individually.

But thanks, and yes I perhaps should have let the community know about my dealings with Aaaron.

Originally posted by Gen-T
Who let the mouse out.....squeak...squeak, squeak-squeak!
Who let the mouse out...huh!
:rofl:

Please come up with a design to go along with that. You will have my vote. That is so hilarious!! :rofl: :rofl:

[Kims grabs a mouse trap!] :rofl: