Geebo Challenges Craigslist to Twitter Smackdown

by Warren Riddle on April 23, 2009 at 04:43 PM

Uh-oh, Craigslist! It's on now! After being highly criticized by the likes of the New York Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution over its Erotic Services listings, the online classifieds site now faces a public challenge from a direct competitor. This week, Greg Collier, owner of rival classifieds site Geebo, was the latest to throw down the Craigslist gauntlet.

Through Twitter, Collier targeted Craig Newmark, the owner of Craigslist, and said that scams and prostitution will continue on the site until Newmark "finally waves that white flag." To ensure that his tweets (Twitter messages) would be turned into a roar, Collier forwarded his critical messages to CNN and ZDNet and selflessly assured the media that his actions were solely out concern for public welfare, not just to hype his own site. Sure, bud. That's very honorable of you.

Hopefully, Newmark will respond to Collier's Twitter bravado, giving us a 140-character-or-less throwdown. Let's get ready to tweet, er, rumble! [From: ZD Net]

Tags: classifieds, Craig Newman, CraigNewman, Craigs List, CraigsList, erotic services, EroticServices, Geebo, Greg Collier, GregCollier, sex, top, Twitter

Comments

Greg CollierApr 28th 2009 4:39PM

Neutral

As an avid user of social networking sites, and a firm believer in their powers, I am pumped to challenge Craig, the founder of Craigslist, to a Twitter-off. Now I don’t doubt that a dance-off would have been more entertaining to watch, and laugh at, the message Geebo is looking to spread is definitely more serious than popping and locking.

It is funny to me that Craig has chosen to block me from sending direct messages to his Twitter account, instead of addressing the truthful allegations of Craigislist’s gross, and deadly, practices. Don’t worry though; Craig is still able to read my Twitter messages challenging him and Craigslist to clean up their act. With his decision to block Geebo, he has chosen to spend his time viewing my recent Twittering by searching Twitter directly. The irony is that the amount of time it takes to search for my recent Tweets, is equal to the amount of time it would take to remove the Erotic Listings section on Craigslist. Who would have thought that saving a life could be done in a Tweet? Well…Geebo did.

Unfortunately, Craigslist prefers a don’t ask, don’t tell policy. If people don’t ask for added security and privacy, they don’t tell them that they are risking their property, identity, savings and life. Such a policy is apathetic, dangerous and irresponsible. Posts go live on Craigslist within 15 minutes, leaving zero room for Craigslist management to review and revoke possible illegal or dangerous postings. This oversight, or rather laziness, is largely to blame for gross amounts of child pornography, prostitution, human trafficking, drug sales, stolen merchandise, identity theft, real estate scams and murder taking place across the United States.

Craigslist lacks a system of checks and balances that provides users with the degree of safety they deserve. Flagging, Craigslist’s joke of content monitoring is nothing more than a feel-good tool for the site’s management to claim that they are taking precautionary measures. Obviously, they have failed. More times than not user complaints are answered by an auto-responder, not a staff member. Conversely, those posts truly in need of flagging and removal go undisturbed.

At Geebo we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We pride ourselves in our humor and humility as we build, maintain and enlarge our online classified site. The only time we turn serious, however, is when the safety and security of our users is in jeopardy. In staying true to our goal of positively influencing and impacting the physical communities in which we serve, we have opted not to allow erotic services postings on Geebo. We don’t believe that there is an adequate way to regulate such a category that provides the necessary degree of privacy and security our users, and any users, should be afforded. So we don’t do it. Additionally, Geebo personally reviews each and every post submitted prior to publication. Taking user safety seriously isn’t a point to be mocked…it should be applauded.

If I were MySpace or Facebook friends with Craig I would trust that I would be de-friended shortly. After a Twitter “block” additional social networking embargoes typically follow suit. We aren’t friends on MySpace or Facebook, though I am not too concerned. I don’t need, much less want, friends who put their friends, clients or the public at large in harms way.

Dislike

Report

ladridiMay 20th 2009 6:27PM

Neutral

Wow Greg, you are such an opportunist. I don't even think you believe in what you are saying; you are only saying what you think will gain market share.
I will never use your website ever as you feel that you are the arbiter of what is moral in this world. I don't need some bully telling me what is right and wrong. I can think for myself.
If you are so enraged by all of the prostitution, why haven't you led a brigade against all of the public newspapers that run sections advertising erotic services? Perhaps it is because you don't think that battle will make you any money.
Time will out in this battle, as Craigslist stomps you in the long run. Actually, I suppose they already have. You've been around for ten years and haven't gotten anywhere. You started as a pale imitation and still are. How's it feel to make all this ruckus and still have nobody visiting your site? You are a flea compared to CL and always will be.
You are such a Geebo. Look it up.

Dislike

Report

Greg CollierApr 2nd 2011 9:11PM

Neutral

@ladridi

Update: In the past twelve months Geebo has posted a 300% increase in traffic. During the same period, Craigslist has witnessed a 10% decrease in visitors. Inferring from your malicious attitude, I think you are well aware of this.

They say time is the only constant. Geebo couldn’t agree more, and judging by the shift in consumer use, time is in our favor. Through the collective efforts of Geebo and numerous non-profit groups we have raised awareness as to the human trafficking and child prostitution problems that have unfortunately found an online home. We are not attempting to be anyone’s moral compass, just an advocate for those voices that have been silenced.

We pride ourselves on being socially responsible. It is from that point that our decisions are made and we won’t apologize for standing up for safety, women and children’s rights, consumer protection, and civility. The fact that our socially responsible practices have translated into a successful business is a bonus.

Dislike

Report

ladridiApr 3rd 2011 12:29AM

Neutral

@Greg Collier
Quote" Update: In the past twelve months Geebo has posted a 300% increase in traffic. During the same period, Craigslist has witnessed a 10% decrease in visitors. Inferring from your malicious attitude, I think you are well aware of this. "

I don't need to infer anything. Based on your statement, you are apparently unable to read. I posted my comment on May 20th, 2009. How exactly would I know almost 2 years ago what would happen in these past twelve months?

You still haven't addressed why you don't attack newspapers with the same fervor that you attack Craigslist. Where is your precious "social responsibility" when it doesn't generate headlines?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=geebo

How's it feel to be a joke?

Dislike

Report

Greg CollierApr 4th 2011 11:00AM

Neutral

@ladridi

Per your newspaper comments... have you ever submitted a classified to a print medium? There are multiple directions and requirements that must be met before the classified ad can even be considered publishable. Similar to the Geebo model, not every submitted classified is published because it fails to adhere to the promulgated rules. Whether it be rules related to content or length, a violation of them keeps the ad out. Nothing is a perfect system but the reality of real people reviewing submitted classifieds, print or internet based, is employed efficiently and effectively daily. Geebo feels no need to address an industry that has consistently regulated itself.

Our apologies for the delayed response. As you are aware, we have been fighting the good fight.

Dislike

Report

Add your comments

Your comments:

Remember me

E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.