Comments on: Another Personalized News Site Bites The Dust http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:13:04 -0800 hourly 1 By: The 15 dumbest names for Web 2.0 startups « Daily Technology Tips http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2501454 The 15 dumbest names for Web 2.0 startups « Daily Technology Tips Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:22:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2501454 [...] that gets named after a farting sound deserves to be on this list.  Enough said. Note: Thoof was reportedly deadpooled, but the domain now points to Reddit. I wonder if this was a generous last configuration of the [...] [...] that gets named after a farting sound deserves to be on this list.  Enough said. Note: Thoof was reportedly deadpooled, but the domain now points to Reddit. I wonder if this was a generous last configuration of the [...]

]]> By: The 15 dumbest names for Web 2.0 startups http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2500261 The 15 dumbest names for Web 2.0 startups Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:00:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2500261 [...] that gets named after a farting sound deserves to be on this list.  Enough said. Note: Thoof was reportedly deadpooled, but the domain now points to Reddit. I wonder if this was a generous last configuration of the [...] [...] that gets named after a farting sound deserves to be on this list.  Enough said. Note: Thoof was reportedly deadpooled, but the domain now points to Reddit. I wonder if this was a generous last configuration of the [...]

]]> By: Poof! Thoof Disappears! | A Peculiar Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2448837 Poof! Thoof Disappears! | A Peculiar Blog Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:17:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2448837 [...] some looking around I found “Another Personalized News Site Bites The Dust” on TechCrunch that pretty much qualifies as Thoof’s [...] [...] some looking around I found “Another Personalized News Site Bites The Dust” on TechCrunch that pretty much qualifies as Thoof’s [...]

]]> By: David http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2429438 David Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:51:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2429438 In what way is Freenet a failure? Such a failure that Google recently pumped cash into it, and its got an active and growing userbase? In what way is Freenet a failure? Such a failure that Google recently pumped cash into it, and its got an active and growing userbase?

]]> By: David http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2429430 David Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:48:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2429430 @Nick, the original version (not the video dart spam version) of this video got over 50k views: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytfDp_dPCMk @Nick, the original version (not the video dart spam version) of this video got over 50k views:

http://www.yout...h?v=ytfDp_dPCMk

]]> By: David http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2429426 David Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:46:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2429426 @Brian, Freenet is still very much around, alive, and successful, just a few months ago Google pumped quite a bit of cash into them. Uprizer was sold in 2003. Revver was also sold, although certainly it wasn't a good exit for the founders. Dijjer wasn't a commercial venture, it was open source, and its still around. Typically VCs are more interested in whether someone learned from their past mistakes, than whether they've made mistakes in the past. Startups are a high risk business, less than 1 in 10 succeed. As Fred Brooks said, "Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment". We can't all be fortunate enough to strike gold on our first attempt. @Brian, Freenet is still very much around, alive, and successful, just a few months ago Google pumped quite a bit of cash into them.

Uprizer was sold in 2003.

Revver was also sold, although certainly it wasn’t a good exit for the founders.

Dijjer wasn’t a commercial venture, it was open source, and its still around.

Typically VCs are more interested in whether someone learned from their past mistakes, than whether they’ve made mistakes in the past. Startups are a high risk business, less than 1 in 10 succeed.

As Fred Brooks said, “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment”. We can’t all be fortunate enough to strike gold on our first attempt.

]]> By: nick halstead http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2428749 nick halstead Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:43:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2428749 lol, never seen that before, 9 views... not exactly viral. sent from: <a href="http://fav.or.it" rel="nofollow">fav.or.it</a> [FID988699] lol, never seen that before, 9 views… not exactly viral.

sent from: fav.or.it [FID988699]

]]> By: Justin http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2428659 Justin Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:59:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2428659 No surprise here. Does anyone remember this shameful video making it to the front page of digg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt8c8LCkxew No surprise here. Does anyone remember this shameful video making it to the front page of digg:

http://www.yout...h?v=tt8c8LCkxew

]]> By: Thoof Goes Poof! - GigaOM http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427919 Thoof Goes Poof! - GigaOM Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:41:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427919 [...] Malik, Sunday, August 3, 2008 at 9:41 PM PT Comments (0) This past weekend, Michael Arrington reported, Thoof, an Austin-based social news site took a dirt nap. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to [...] [...] Malik, Sunday, August 3, 2008 at 9:41 PM PT Comments (0) This past weekend, Michael Arrington reported, Thoof, an Austin-based social news site took a dirt nap. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to [...]

]]> By: BlogRush - New Blog Syndication Network http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427544 BlogRush - New Blog Syndication Network Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:52:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427544 [...] Another Personalized News Site Bites The Dust [...] [...] Another Personalized News Site Bites The Dust [...]

]]> By: Ecarder http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427487 Ecarder Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:23:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427487 Funny, just searched digg type of websites to post news about our new startup and found this article. I'm lucky... :) Thoof......... :) Funny, just searched digg type of websites to post news about our new startup and found this article. I’m lucky… :)

Thoof……… :)

]]> By: patricia http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427475 patricia Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:03:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427475 it's too early for this kind of stuff. not surprised to see. it’s too early for this kind of stuff. not surprised to see.

]]> By: Brian Rayal http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427464 Brian Rayal Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:34:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427464 Quick review of founder's track record: - Freenet (bombed) - Uprizer (bombed) - Revver (bombed) - Dijjer (bombed) - Thoof (bombed) Do VC's care about track records? Will this guy get funded again? If he does, maybe that gives us all hope that multiple failures without success isn't the end of the world. Quick review of founder’s track record:
- Freenet (bombed)
- Uprizer (bombed)
- Revver (bombed)
- Dijjer (bombed)
- Thoof (bombed)

Do VC’s care about track records? Will this guy get funded again? If he does, maybe that gives us all hope that multiple failures without success isn’t the end of the world.

]]> By: Mike B http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427451 Mike B Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:33:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427451 Michael, I have to give you the big "huh?" with regards to this quote: "...a lot of people gave it a good chance of success despite the fact that it was entering into the dreaded personalized news space" Look back at the comments posted on your stories about the Thoof launch, and I think you'll find a universal panning of the concept and site even back then. Not sure why you guys at TechCrunch thought it stood a chance. Michael, I have to give you the big “huh?” with regards to this quote:

“…a lot of people gave it a good chance of success despite the fact that it was entering into the dreaded personalized news space”

Look back at the comments posted on your stories about the Thoof launch, and I think you’ll find a universal panning of the concept and site even back then. Not sure why you guys at TechCrunch thought it stood a chance.

]]> By: Dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427443 Dave Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:08:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427443 Wish there was a way to blacklist all sites that use PayPerPost. Can you make it happen Matt??? Thanks in advance :) Wish there was a way to blacklist all sites that use PayPerPost. Can you make it happen Matt??? Thanks in advance :)

]]> By: Dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427442 Dave Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:06:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427442 His first company, Uprizer, bombed even worse. And while we're at it, his free project, Freenet is also a total failure. His first company, Uprizer, bombed even worse. And while we’re at it, his free project, Freenet is also a total failure.

]]> By: Dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427441 Dave Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:05:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427441 That was the crappiest site of them all. Total and complete crap :( That was the crappiest site of them all. Total and complete crap :(

]]> By: Marc http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427412 Marc Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:43:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427412 Come on now. You said people were giving this thing a chance of success. You crazy kids and your funny cigarettes. For starters, they named themselves after what sounds like the sound effect for a Web 2.0 Company hitting the dirt. THOOF!!! HOLY CRASHING START-UPS BATMAN!!! Come on now. You said people were giving this thing a chance of success. You crazy kids and your funny cigarettes. For starters, they named themselves after what sounds like the sound effect for a Web 2.0 Company hitting the dirt.

THOOF!!! HOLY CRASHING START-UPS BATMAN!!!

]]> By: Matt Cutts http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427396 Matt Cutts Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:51:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427396 When Thoof decided to pay people to blog about them via PayPerPost, I never went back after that. When Thoof decided to pay people to blog about them via PayPerPost, I never went back after that.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427376 Andrew Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:16:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427376 personalised news is still the way forward... just because someone hasnt cracked it yet, doesnt make the concept obsolete. personalised news is still the way forward… just because someone hasnt cracked it yet, doesnt make the concept obsolete.

]]> By: Jazzter http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427364 Jazzter Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:45:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427364 Ok, so this guy started revver (bombed), then foof (bombed) but has moved onto another project. For deadpool sake please say which lucky new VC's have been spending on Clarke for this next one. Ok, so this guy started revver (bombed), then foof (bombed) but has moved onto another project. For deadpool sake please say which lucky new VC’s have been spending on Clarke for this next one.

]]> By: insub2 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427309 insub2 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:46:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427309 I used thoof for a few months and really liked the concept of not having to click buttons for the service to know what I liked. (It should be noted somewhere that if you didn't like something you could/would have to click some sort of "Not Good" button to negate the effects of you clicking the link in the first place.) Aside from the poor layout on the site, my biggest problem was that there wasn't any good content submitted. From early on, it was abused by bloggers self promoting their crap. There wasn't really any way to look at only recent stories, so I spent most of my time on it wading through s**t I had already seen and didn't like--it didn't seem to help that I would click "Ignore" and/or "Block tag 'Celebrities'". I used thoof for a few months and really liked the concept of not having to click buttons for the service to know what I liked. (It should be noted somewhere that if you didn’t like something you could/would have to click some sort of “Not Good” button to negate the effects of you clicking the link in the first place.)

Aside from the poor layout on the site, my biggest problem was that there wasn’t any good content submitted. From early on, it was abused by bloggers self promoting their crap. There wasn’t really any way to look at only recent stories, so I spent most of my time on it wading through s**t I had already seen and didn’t like–it didn’t seem to help that I would click “Ignore” and/or “Block tag ‘Celebrities’”.

]]> By: Frank http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427290 Frank Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:36:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427290 And you did not mention rojo.com which is also changing, they recently sent me an email to let me know that I should export my feeds as the page is closing down to change "strategy". And you did not mention rojo.com which is also changing, they recently sent me an email to let me know that I should export my feeds as the page is closing down to change “strategy”.

]]> By: Jord http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427282 Jord Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:21:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427282 Poof! I mean, Thoof! It disappeared! Poof!

I mean, Thoof!

It disappeared!

]]> By: Larry Kless http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/02/another-personalized-news-site-bites-the-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-2427162 Larry Kless Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:13:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=20685#comment-2427162 How about a headline for this one. "Thoof goes poof! Another Personalized News Site Bites The Dust (and nobody notices)" How about a headline for this one. “Thoof goes poof! Another Personalized News Site Bites The Dust (and nobody notices)”

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