Apparently the CEO of GoDaddy, Bob Parsons, thought it was a great idea to post a graphic video of his noble vacation of killing bull elephants in Zimbabwe on GoDaddy.com. The video is briefly graphic. The CEO, too put it lightly, is incredibly misguided opting for the thrill of the hunt versus supporting alternative conservation efforts. The height of stupidity is when villagers are butchering the elephant wearing orange GoDaddy hats.
I’ve transferred all of my domains from GoDaddy this evening after seeing this. I want nothing to do with supporting a person or company that condones such activities.
I ended up transfering my domains to namecheap.com
They posted the video on their site and offered a transfer discount along with a pledge to donate $1 to savetheelephants.org with each domain transfer.
I’m not sure if they’re extending the discount or the charitable contribution, but it really doesn’t matter. If you feel the same way as I do on the subject it’s time to find an alternative business to register your domains with to avoid channeling any money to Bob Parsons.
Additional Reading:
GoDaddy.com CEO Bob Parsons under fire for Zimbabwe elephant-hunting video – LA Times
[tags]GoDaddy, elephant, killing, Bob Parsons[/tags]
This guy seems more and more like a complete asshole. I’m ready to start moving my domains.
This is despicable to me. I’ll look into transferring my domains as well.
I am not a proponent of any type of hunting, but after reading the article it seems like you did not share the entire story. Yes, trophy hunting is deplorable, but that doesn’t appear to be the case here. The villagers used the elephant for food, and the guy is supposedly invited back every year to hunt rogue elephants who are destroying crops. Do you think that information is false? Or is it that you are opposed to the killing of animals for any reason, including food? I’m just curious, and would like to understand more of your perspective, and where you stand on the subject of meat consumption in general. Clearly the guy made a serious judgement error posting the video glorifying his actions, but the way your blog post is written, you would think the elephant was killed purely for sport.
Well, I’m vegan so everyone knows my views about meat-eating. I also refuse to go to Norway, Iceland and Japan because of their whaling practices. I may be petty but I have to draw the line somewhere.
GoDaddy has just lost my account.
Did you watch the video? Whether he is justifying the killing by calling it a “problem” elephant the tone of the entire thing is of a glorified military mission to stalk and kill. “and when he comes we’ll be ready for him,” he says at one point in the video. Not exactly in the tone of a park ranger doing a hard but necessary population control act, or a humanitarian giving back to a community.
How about using some of his 40 billion+ net worth to donate to long-term food programs in the region, installing deterant fences to protect the crops, or better yet, relocate the animals to sanctuaries where they aren’t in close proximity to the crops of these farmers. All of those seem like more humane and impactful options that were at the disposal of a billionaire if his intention was to do good. He’s in it for the sport alright.
And I don’t begrudge Jim (and thousands of others) for Sharing their passionate conservationist view. Following him to namecheap.com.
The actions of Bob Parsons of GoDaddy is veiled trophy hunting. If this were a purely conservation led effort, which it is not, there would not be a trophy picture taken of the kill. Zimbabwe is a troubled country and the hunger facing the population is 100% politically generated starting with the forced state takeover of farms from white citizens, the catastrophic economic policies that have created hyper-inflation and the tainted presidential elections and resulting power struggle of 2008. Whether I eat meat or not is irrelevant. My reaction is driven strictly by the horrible actions and judgement of Bob Parsons.
Zimbabwe is a country full of desperate people and other African countries handle “troubled” elephants differently, more responsibly and with an eye on conservation.Kenya, Botswana and other countries with animal reserves utilize solar fences, beehive fences and other non-lethal solutions to ward off elephants from farms.
If Bob Parson were truly concerned about the welfare of farmers he’d invest his wealth in longer term aid solutions for the citizens of Zimbabwe, donate to conservation groups, pursue other creative avenues of providing aid or spend his money on wildlife adventures in countries with more established and responsible programs. Instead he’s sought out the most desperate of country lacking in conservation programs in order to pursue the short term thrill of killing “troubled” elephants.
I did watch the video, and I found the replies from you and Jim thoughtful and well-articulated. I completely agree with Jim’s comment that if Parson were truly concerned about the welfare of the famers, he would use some of his wealth to fund longer term solutions and to pursue other avenues of assistance while encouraging conservation efforts. Thank you for sharing more of your perspectives. This blog post has given me a lot to think about this morning, and I’m retweeting it now.
Glad the information was of help Sam.
I’ve never hunted myself, but regulated hunting is okay by me and I will be staying a GoDaddy customer.
I see some shamelessness in the video but I don’t see anything particularly horrible in the video. If he’s posting it online I would guess he had permission from the local government to be hunting rogue or destructive elephants. It appears nothing on the elephant went to waste. I’m sure after the meat was stripped the villagers used the bones to make soups the way I use a whole turkey or chicken. The trophy photos may be distasteful but I would imagine that the thrill of the hunt in a pitch black field would get the best of you. I’ve been told by many a hunter (family and friends) that after a kill your adrenaline is rushing. In this case he’s taken the life of an animal that is a nuisance to the local community, economy and food supply and an animal that could have killed him and his entire team in an instant had anything gone wrong. Poor taste to take the photos: maybe, poor taste to post them in the video: probably.
The GoDaddy hats were a bit shameful, and so was showing the poor locals almost riot around the carcass. Any of my qualms are with the manner in which the adventure was presented. In the US we kill bears that are rogue in neighborhoods as well as moose. Farmers kill rodents and other vermin to protect their crops – what makes an elephant that much different? Cause it’s an elephant?
What about the the ones they didn’t shoot? It’s not that they “got away” but that killing them would have been unnecessary to the task at hand: helping the local farmer. This was a controlled hunt/kill.
I welcome anyone to disagree with my point of view.
Terri thanks for the comment. See my reply to Sam. Bob Parson’s is exploiting a poor state for his personal thrills. The bigger picture is he’s a very wealthy individual making an incredibly small dent with his actions (by your logic) versus utilizing his wealth for the larger benefit of a community.
You make excellent points as well Jim.
I also wonder if this elephant bull had killed a child in the community rather than just crops if people would feel differently about Bob’s actions.
I think it’s also important to note that both Bob as a person and GoDaddy as a company make charitable donations as well http://www.techrockies.com/go-daddy-nearly-3m-to-charity-this-year/s-0034662.html Could they give more? You bet! Could more of us donate more as well? You bet!
I have never really used GoDaddy for other reasons (as a host or even as a domain name source, I’m not impressed with them). But now I have another reason to avoid them…and more importantly: Not recommend them.
Even assuming the hunt met all regulations and was an issue of a “problem” elephant…my real problem with the whole thing – other than Parsons’s clear and somewhat disturbing infatuation with “the hunt” – is that he thought it was a good thing to show to the American public. Clearly we’re a heated society (on both sides of the fence) and there would be some opinions. If he did it for the benefit of the village (even if he had his own personal agenda) than good for him. But he doesn’t need to publicize it so grandly. Keep it to himself. I just can’t see how he thought this would help his business in any way.
Terriann a good view of the other side of the coin. Just for transparency sake are you associated with GoDaddy or an agency they employ? This does not diminish the information you’ve shared I just want to make sure readers of this entry are aware. I’m a firm believer in transparency.
From the press release you linked to it’s noteworthy that no wildlife conservation charities were listed. From my perspective whether crops or a killed child the management of wildlife is the same. In areas where population pressures impact wildlife and migration routes sustainable conservation programs are needed. Killing off an animal indiscriminately here and here isn’t a long term solution and it certainly shouldn’t be glorified.
A+ for thoughtful and open-minded dialogue. A rarity on the web these days. Thanks for the forum Jim.
Thank you! It’s great to read different view points on the subject.
Nope not an employee or affiliated in any way just a vanilla-customer type.
Very fair point – wildlife management is a tricky combination of a lot of factors and I agree, and I cannot think of a circumstance where public glorification of killing an animal is appropriate, no matter the action of the animal. On the other hand a personal or private celebration of the hunt (more so than the kill itself) is completely appropriate, if not a natural reaction.
Thanks for the great discussion Jim!
heres a facebook boycott:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-GoDaddy-and-their-Elephant-Slaughtering-CEO/204117212945444
I’m totally repulsed by Bob Parson killing the elephant. I am transferring my domains from Godaddy to BigRock.com. I’m using the coupon JUMBOSAVE, it makes the cost $4.95 and its valid till 7th April
The desperation and hunger in Zimbabwe is illustrated in Mr Parson’s video, the people are fighting over scraps from the dead elephant!
Hey Terrian
I’m curious why you refer to this as a ‘hunt’ and Parsons as a ‘hunter’? This wasn’t hunting, at all. Nor is it ‘wildlife management’.
Cheers
Carl
Jim,
tnx for the heads-up! I just transferred my 4 domains to namecheap.com too. This world has to get rid of people like him!
Thanks for the heads up Jim– I’ve transferred my domain away from GoDaddy. I’ve wanted to for a while because their service is so bad, but this gave me extra motivation to figure out how to get it changed over.
Jim, I want to commend you for stewarding a polite discussion, and yet passionately furthering your own view on conservation. Thank you.
As you may accurately assume, I am a supporter of responsible hunting, throughout the world. In the US hunting is significantly different than it is in many other parts of the world. My point is that hunting organizations tend to be working in sync with government and private conservation and wildlife management organizations.
However, in trophy-hunting rich regions, this is often not the case. And, as you point out, even within those regions, there are other nations who handle it quite different.
Even as a proponent for responsible gun ownership and hunting, I have always had a questioning response to the common trophy hunting found in places like Africa. I guess it’s just odd to want to fly around the world with an unbelievable over-priced, fairly specific rifle, (used maybe a few times), to hunt a leopard/lion/elephant/etc. Most of the time it’s a local expert who actually does the hunting, and even sets up the shot. Then, you step in, glass and shoot the hunted.
Not really all that sporting.
I’d rather do all the work myself on an elk in the Rockies, after 4 seasons of failure. It just seems like the “hunt” is a bit more respectable when you’ve actually had to work for it.
With that said, I’m not judging the animal they choose. All of those, and more, are animals that in the right circumstances, should be ethically hunted. I don’t have an issue with that.
On the humanitarian aid, and more broad conservation efforts, since the 2008 ban on NGO’s in Zimbabwe, it has gotten better. But it’s not really that great. Outside efforts to actually make a positive impact on the people and economy of Zimbabwe are hampered by the idiots in Harare more than we know.
I’ve been to Zimbabwe. I’ve volunteered in villages. It’s not quite like NPR wants you to think. The corruption is alive and well, and EVERYTHING is taxed in one way or another, by Harare, and the local corrupt “leaders”.
After all that, I don’t want to detract from my original compliment. I appreciate you raising this issue in a respectful way.
Capitalism is alive and well! And choosing to move from GoDaddy, because you do not support the actions of the CEO (or some similar response) is appropriate and I respect it. Spend your hard earned money where you believe it is best.
Well done.
Thanks for the information Jim, it’s very insightful.
I have now moved my domain registration and hosting away from GoDaddy (I have one domain left that is not yet 60 days old so I have to wait a couple of weeks for this final domain) as I certainly don’t want to contribute towards funding a man who clearly takes such delight in the shooting of wild animals (regardless of the reasoning he attempts puts forward). GoDaddy will NEVER have another penny from me.
Everything about the video Bob Parsons posted repulsed me, from the macho choice of music to proudly posing for photographs after the kill and then the video of villagers wearing GoDaddy merchandise while butchering the carcass. It’s the height of tastelessness and an absolutely terrible misjudgement from a PR perspective.
I’m not suggesting that these elephants don’t cause a problem in Zimbabwe, it is not something I claim to know a great deal about BUT as you have already said (much more eloquently than me) there are much more humane conservation efforts that Bob Parsons could use his vast wealth to help with – if he feels as strongly about this cause as he would have us believe.
I’m sure that me taking my handful of domains and moving elsewhere won’t make a blind bit of difference to Bob Parsons but if enough of us that feel strongly about this issue do the same thing then it will have a measurable impact.
Mark
Thanks for the question Carl, but I’m unsure how you wouldn’t consider this hunting? Because they didn’t painstakingly track the animal and it’s patterns and took position in a place the knew the animal habitually came by doesn’t make it any less hunting.
I wish you would articulate why you think this isn’t hunting. I’m very interested in understanding what makes this particular situation different than another hunting expedition.
I have always had an issue with hunting for fun. I can understand subsistence hunting but to hang heads on a wall or for bragging rights is sick to me. Killing another life for thrills is something I do not relate with very well.
Jim,
Just found your website and read your story about the Go Daddy CEO. I immediately phoned to cancel my account and domain name, I don’t care how much pain it will cause me, I don’t want any association with someone who can do this let alone line his pockets with my money. The sad thing is that he has some people supporting him in the comments on his site. Unbelievable.
GoDaddy – BYEBYE – domains will be switched by this weekend. Use your money for the preservation of life, both animal and human, not for destruction. Shameful!
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This is disgusting. I actually just found out about a company called HostPapa where using the coupon code “elephant” they’ll donate $5 dollars to http://www.savetheelephants.org/ . They’ll also give you 3 months free! So I’m switching over all my sites hosted through GoDaddy to them immediately.
Please sign this petition to demand that GoDaddy & other Internet Service Providers boycott all trophy hunting websites!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/203/757/597/demand-that-internet-service-providers-boycott-all-trophy-hunting-websites/