Can the Zooomr Whining Stop?

Here’s some good old Yahoo news. I’m trying to switch it up from the over-coverage of Google and Apple. =)

The Flickr Non-Controversy

Yahoo owns some Internet property called Flickr. It is a very popular photo sharing service (although it is still far from becoming the #1 photo sharing service). Recently, it has been in the news because Yahoo has decided to force three new restrictions on its users:

1. Require a Yahoo email address to be linked to your account – This email address is private to you.
2. Limit the number of contacts a person can have to 3000. Previously it was unlimited.
3. Limit the number of tags you can stick on a photo to 75. Previously it was unlimited.

There’s been tons of press coverage over this supposed apocalyptic move. Obviously this sounds like a whole lot of bitching over nothing. The first point is a no-brainer in that it changes nothing about how the site functions. The second is to help curb “contact spam” much in the same way MySpace has a problem. The third is to limit tag spam where someone tags their photo with every conceivable tag in the dictionary in order to increase their exposure.

All three sound like smart fixes to me.

The Cry Baby Phenomenon

Multiple sources have also reported:

…Much of the criticism is being lead by a prominent user named Thomas Hawk who also happens to be CEO of Zooomr, a direct competitor to Flickr.

Most people may not know who this is or what Zooomr is, so I’ll explain. Zooomr was started a year or two ago by a 16 year old (at the time) programmer named Kristopher Tate. It lets its users tag photos on a (Google) map so that you can geographically map where photos were taken. Many of its early users were from and still user Flickr, including, apparently, the CEO of Zooomr.

So why is Hawk so threatened over this new switch? Why make such a big stink?

1. Publicity.
2. Publicity.
3. Publicity.

He stands to gain a lot from a massive defection from Flickr as many of his site’s users are from Flickr, and Zooomr is a direct competitor. In fact, from day one, everybody has been comparing and switching between Flickr and Zooomr. A few years ago, I recall a similar bitch-fest (note: Tate and Hawk both throw punches, repeatedly, in the comments!) between the two companies over the ability of Flicker users to export their photo and tag information.

Now, I don’t know how the average consumer views the public airing of dirty laundry, but to me, this continues to perpetuate my negative impression that Zooomr is a childish company filled with whiny geeks that want – no, demand – that all other companies expressly allow them to freeload. And if they don’t get their way, they bitch and complain on every blog they can. Amazing. What ever happened to private discussions and common courtesy? It’s like going around bad-mouthing your ex when you got dumped. And then when she still refuses to get back together, you buy newspaper ads condemning her, get on Opera and tell a sob story, and write letters to congress demanding intervention. Well, perhaps I’m over the top, but you get my point.

Modern technology, such as blogs, has allowed business executives to create a candid and direct line of communication with consumers. Unfortunately, a lot of these “executives” are a little too inexperienced to realize that their words should not reflect what they might say at a bar with friends. Openness is good, but burning bridges, even with your competitors, is plain stupid.

I really believe a person on a corporate podium should use his influence in a positive way. Otherwise, other companies in the future, will be hesitant to work with you. I certainly would be afraid of doing a partnership with Zooomr if it means they’ll throw up 45 press releases bashing my company when I terminate the partnership for whatever reason. It’s scary that these people are still in business!

The old adage is true as ever:

If you have nothing nice to say, just shut up.