GoDaddy sponsors Elephant Killing

H

handsonhosting

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Did I get your attention with the headline?

That, unfortunately is what would be printed in the newspapers if this story makes it to paper. From the backlash of posts on both twitter and on the website itself, there is a very angry GoDaddy Mob!

March 2011, Bob Parsons goes to Zimbabwe and hunts & kills an elephant. The video is graphic, please use your discretion - http://www.video.me/ViewVideo.aspx?vid=380843

Throughout the video, GoDaddy hats & tee-shirts are worn by the villagers. Did someone forget to run this video past the PR Department for clearance?

The video shows Bob killing an Elephant in the name of"protecting Zimbabwe farmers". The claim is that the elephant destroys farmers crops and as a result, each year Bob takes a trip to go kill "problem elephants"

I don't see how snapping trophy pictures, holding a rife and smiling while propped up against a dead elephant is any different than a hunter that kills a bear. While the meat was distributed to the people, I still think this is a trophy kill.

What are your thoughts? Does it change your image of GoDaddy?
 
It's very poor taste and the reasons behind it are pretty weak. I'm all about the food chain, but I do not think that providing less than a day's worth of meat and hats is a way to truly impact and help an community.

GoDaddy, if they really wanted to make a difference, could have considerd more ethical ways to solve the problems in the region.
 
What the hell is that? If he is so concerned about Zimbabweans, then why don't he trying to solve their other issues. I am using very small word here, actually there are major issues in Zimbabwe.

I can only say it's totally a promotional stunt. Perhaps their erotic ads are not working well for them now.
 
Well it happened - the newspapers are picking up on the story!

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/129...ob-parsons-ceo-elephant-kill-africa-video.htm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42356709/ns/business-us_business/

LA Times, San Fransicso and various other papers are now running the story too.

NameCheap has jumped on the bandwaggon and is offering reduced pricing for people transferring their domains from GoDaddy to NameCheap and they're also taking a portion of the sale and donating it to a cause to SAVE THE ELEPHANTS. Sadly, NameCheap didn't upgrade their hosting service to handle the flood of traffic to their blog for the discount codes. Hopefully their blog comes back online soon so people can pick up the discount - http://community.namecheap.com/blog/

It's one thing to go do the humanitarian work that Bob Parsons thought he was doing. It's another thing to video it and then publish the video as a GoDaddy PR Stunt. While this action won't break the company bank, it leaves a very bitter taste to a lot of people.
 
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Yes, definitely a trophy kill. I already received emails from NameCheap.com trying to cash in on this... I personally don't see anything wrong with what he did. I love to go hunting myself, and I would shoot an elephant if I was given the chance as well (sorry!). I will NEVER feel bad for killing something that's going to be eaten anyways, that's how my daddy taught me.. :)

If people really want to help Africa, then help the people in Africa, not the $%@#*& elephants! I'm tired of people like PETA trying to hop on the cash wagon everytime something like this happens, but they neglect to tell the public about the $20,000+ dogs and cats PETA has euthanized every single year... :disagree:

My :twocents: :crash:
 
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I do agree there is a very fine line here.. But, everyone there was very happy to see the elephant killed (very, very happy), and that is what really matters..
 
Nice find on the Leopard Hunt! I wonder why they went with the creepy sounds on both videos!

I have nothing against big game hunting, and nothing against trophy kills. If something needs to be put down because it's a danger to others, then that's not a problem for me either.

I just think from a PR department, this is a political firestorm and one I'm glad I don't have to ever try to justify. If I went on a safair hunt you can pretty much guarantee I'm not going to be plastering my company logo all over it. :)
 
handsonhosting said:
If I went on a safair hunt you can pretty much guarantee I'm not going to be plastering my company logo all over it. :)
Click to expand...

I agree 100% with this as well. But hey.. GoDaddy is known for being bold and "questionable" when it comes to their ads, and it certainly seems to work well for them. ;)

It just upsets me how everyone tries to crucify Bob Parson for this, when there are so many more important things to worry about, and so many other people to worry about, instead. Bob Parson hunting game in Africa is not news.. And yet everyone makes it news and a big deal and want to profit from it, like PETA, NameCheap and the media are doing. :(
 
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Hunting was not the issue. The exploitation of the hunt is what got him in trouble with the general public.

Me putting my dog down is not big news to the general population. Me putting my dog down at the vets office, throwing my company brand around, video taping it, posting the video tape and then holding up my dead dog for the world to see - that would be an issue. The fact that the dog was 17 years old and was in pain doesn't enter the mindset of the people, all the people see is me gloating/boasting about putting my dog down.
 
The thing, which surprised me that when his intent was to help people, then why he had taken a video clip to show off. Actually, we don't have any rights to interfere in his personal business, but it's not fair to kill animals, because humans stealing their lands and animals don't have any place go elsewhere. If animals are the biggest problem in Zimbabwe, then what about their politicians?
 
I am not a fan of any kind of hunting, so by default I was not happy with the video.

Knowing how sensitive the subject is, marketing-wise, I would definitely not have advertised the fact either.
 
Here's my take on them branding this video - anytime you advertise a product or service, your intent is normally to entice your prospect to know, like and trust you, so that when they make that buying decision, it's with you. Compelling calls to action work best if they ease some pain or offer solutions - the more the better. In this case, they're already known and trusted as a registrar, but their "like" has taken a public relations HIT.
 
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