Many years ago when I was learning what the web was all about, I found WebmasterWorld. Like everyone else, I found it via the search engines. In fact, once Google was fully operational, I could ask it just about any HTTP question and Google would say “here’s what WebmasterWorld has on that”.
I lurked for years. I had little reason to participate – I needed to learn. And as I recall, it was all knowledge. The past handful of years I participated with a handle. It was fun. And then everybody started to leave.
I ran a BBS back in the 80’s; I knew what a noob was and I knew what a dork was and what a flame war was. I knew what it was like to battle an attack, and recover a bbs from disaster (Mustang was very vulnerable, and SearchLight instilled false confidence with it’s security through obscurity in the beginning). “How about a big cup of STFU” is so funny because it is so true. (boy’s link | girl’s link)
These days I think WebmasterWorld needs to start serving STFU instead of bad hotel coffee. If you don’t have something meaningful to say, why clutter up the thread with your nonsense? Ummm..maybe because it makes for more page views :-)
Mind you snide remarks that make valid points are good content. So are quips like “I doubt it” when they come from people who obviously know the topic. You can learn from these, quickly and efficiently. Just imagine a high quality thread by 4 experts, who have demonstrated their worth already, when they answer a noobie queston about Google:
NewbiewanCanole: I want to put two title tags on my page, to increase my rank in Google. I saw it works. Is this a good idea?
Expert#1: no.
Expert#2: nope.
Expert#3: no.
Expert#4. No, that won’t thelp you.
Now , that same imaginary thread on Today’s WebmasterWorld would look like this:
WordManLuvvaSEO: The secret to rank is two title tags. I rank #1 everywhere, and that’s how I did it.
Expert#1:
SEOSEOSEO_wnanaBEE_SEO: No way. That can’t work. There’s no way, I don’t think. Did you also put h6 tags? Maybe if you also put h6 tags. Did any body try two title tags *and* h6 tags? I could try it, but my site is down right now. AdSense sux. Well, lemme know if you try.
Expert#2:
AsiaForSEOs: I’ve had two title tags for years, by accident, and I am very glad I just noticed and removed it because I am pretty sure it is against the Google TOS and there’s no sense in risking a ban. But I can assure you, it doesn’t work.
Expert#3:
Non-SEO-PhD: In my view, blah blah blah blah blah…
New Jersey SEO: Well, duh you could just try it yourself. Or Google it. Duh.
WordManLuvvaSEO: Well it works for me so I’m sticking with it. That h6 tag sounds great. Can anybody help me with that? Is it 6 h1 tags, or is there an h6 tag? I never used anything beyond h4 tags yet (I am only doing SEO for 2 months).
Expert opinions are not the only things gone from WebmasterWorld. Gone are the days of debate and inquiry. Gone are the dissenting opinions, the challenged authority, and the meaningful content. Of course, that’s just my opinion.
So it’s goodbye WebmasterWorld for me. Time to change the password to some random keyboard leaning and forget about it. Will it oneday become the world’s largest MFA?