Re: [uk-netmarketing] RE: fall of the dotcoms?

[salinka]

interestingly enough, we've been having the same discussion here in the

states. lots of press on a daily basis about layoffs, companies closing,

non-existent profits and dot com's being delisted off of NASDAQ. 


when i first came to new york in '97, everyone was jumping on the new

media/Internet bandwagon. every job offered you stock options, foosball in

the corridor, unlimited snacks & a wild atmosphere. all one has to do is

look at pseudo.com as a model of the silliness that abounded here in NYC.

but how long did anyone expect the party to last. sure, i love what i do

and am interested in it. but i got into it because it's work that i wanted

to do. not because of options, foosball or the ability to show up at work

in your pyjamas. 


do i feel bad about the layoffs? sure - when it's a friend and i know they

were actually good at what they did. and as the market is shrinking, it's

harder to find a new job. you can't just walk out & find a new job in a

week anymore. it can takes weeks...maybe months. but overall, i don't feel

bad about the failure of some of the more stupid business models i've seen.

and anyone who joined a company with a short sighted business plan, should

have had a plan B that didn't include IPO stock options. 


what i think is really happening isn't a "failure" of the dot com economy.

it's more of an evolution of the revolution. the stronger companies will

survive the ride and the weaker ones will falter. 


in answer to ashley's remark "this business used to be fun and spontaneous

and no-bullshit. when did we all become our dads..." i don't think this is

the case for everyone. if it is, i'm sorry for you. this industry is still

fun & exciting. there's new stuff coming out every day, new ways to use the

Internet and some of the "rules" (despite what nielsen says) are still

relatively undefined. name any other industry that moves & evolves as

quickly as ours, has so many smart people involved in it and manages to

remain exciting. ok...maybe i'm preaching to the choir here. but i resent

it just as much when blue shirts come in a push on their idea of what the

Internet SHOULD be when they don't understand what it CAN be. 


yes, there is need for a reality check. you can't run a business with a

stupid business model. and i don't care what type of business it is...be it

a dot com or a fish & chip shop. but rather than beat up on one another

about the failure of one dot com over another, we should be thinking about

ways to deflect journalists who still want to turn a mere industry

adjustment into a tabloid story or programme. 


ttfn,


sally krumholz

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

senior producer

mezzina brown interactive

new york