The Autistic Place

One of the challenges in setting up this site was finding an available, and somewhat logical, domain name.

I searched through lots of variations with "autism" or "autistic" in the name. Because I use an iPod touch, I realized quickly that there is a ".com" button to complete Web addresses, but you need to fuss with ".net" or any other domain identifier. Honestly, if it wasn't a ".com" or a ".net" it wasn't going to be worth the fees, anyway -- especially for a non-profit site.

There are nearly 50 "autism" domains for sale, from $500 to $7,500. These sites have no content. They exist only to be bought and sold, making it harder for legitimate site concepts, including professionals providing services to autistic individuals.

Squatters are bottom feeders. I know it is "good business" to own and sell popular domain names. I can understand the value of "books.com" or "cars.com" but the registering domains related to medical conditions seems almost unethical. I can't explain why... but it seems wrong to sell "cancer.net" or "asthma.com" to the highest bidder.

I don't know how people can think such "investing" is honorable.