Parasites

I must say I find it cuh-ree-pea that http://www.cpan.com and http://www.cpan.net both lead to a "search" page which is quite plainly not a search page but a list of paid advertisements dressed up as "search results" in an attempt to make them seem objective, which is either (A) insulting to the intelligence or (B) manipulative, depending on who's reading it.

These two pages are tentacles of the great Kraken of info-mercialism that is http://www.ultsearch.com. To get a flavour, try the "legal" "search". Top item: Facing DUI/DWI? Get instant help with a pending impaired (alcohol or drugs)driving charge in any state. Well, imagine my surprise.

Of course, we're not in Kansas, and never were really. I suppose what I find disgusting (although part of me gets a grin from their chutzpah) is that something which is so <bold>not</bold> about open source (because it's paid for, it's non-see-through, and it's crap) should be parasitic on what they would doubtless call the "brand" built up around Perl. And notice that they spell it PERL.

Still, nobody will fall for it. I mean, look at their "Top sites for PERL [sic]" ... isn't there an obvious omission?

§ George Sherston

Comment on Parasites

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Re: Parasites by cjf (Parson) on Apr 21, 2002 at 22:19 UTC
Not much you can do about this (well there is, but it wouldn't be worth it ;). I did find the whois info interesting though, any place that lists their location as "Central, Central na na na" probably isn't too reputable. As you mention, I think most people will see right through this and aside from a slight annoyance, it doesn't do much harm. Of course it would be a very nice gesture to donate to domains to the real CPAN :).	[reply]

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Re: Parasites
by cjf (Parson) on Apr 21, 2002 at 22:19 UTC

Not much you can do about this (well there is, but it wouldn't be worth it ;). I did find the whois info interesting though, any place that lists their location as "Central, Central na na na" probably isn't too reputable.

As you mention, I think most people will see right through this and aside from a slight annoyance, it doesn't do much harm. Of course it would be a very nice gesture to donate to domains to the real CPAN :).

[reply]