Craigslist founder Craig Newmark is in town for the Authentication and Online Trust Alliance Summit, which runs until tomorrow. He's joining law enforcement and leaders in cyber security to discuss how to combat online crime. Newmark started Craigslist as simple e-mail list in 1995 and it's since grown into an online hotspot. Yet he opts to remain a customer service rep for the company. He granted me a quick interview after flying into town yesterday. Here are some segments from our Q&A:Newmark: I just flew in. I sat next to a GI returning from Baquba. He encouraged me to keep pushing the new GI bill, which is about serious educational benefits for veterans. Obama's behind it, McCain's against it, George Bush is against it ... I think he kinda hoped I might get the word out a little bit.
Are you very involved in politics?
The hard thing is I'm not involved in politics as I think about it. What I want to be involved in is government reform. The deal is that Barack is for it and McCain is against it.
Why do you opt to remain in customer service at Craigslist?
Craigslist is like a real company now, although we run as a community service. But as a real company we need serious leadership, budget controls, that kind of stuff, and hiring. And honestly, as a manager, I suck. Jim Buckmaster, who's my gigantic CEO, is really good at it - gigantic meaning I'm 5-7 and he's 6-7. But I am a really good customer service guy. I'm not manager of customer service nor any kind of lead customer service rep. I am a customer service rep.
On net neutrality:
I try to be a little bit active about it, trying to get the word out. The theme is that the internet is supposed to be a level playing field, fair for everyone. The idea of net neutrality means, if you wanna be heard, you can put a server up there or share another sever and that your stuff can be delivered as fast and as reliably as someone who's willing to spend enormous amounts of money on it. The problem is that there are a few people at big ISPs or telecoms who figure they can make a lot of money extending their privileges to customers with lots of money, and the internet uses public property, rights of way or the airwaves. That means that since the telecoms make money using public resources, they shouldn't be allowed to make special profits giving the elite privileges. Net neutrality says let's be fair, let's keep it a level playing field, which is about as American as it can get.
The problem too has been the people on both sides actually are not too far apart in terms of the argument, but there's been some of the more predatory of lobbyists who have seen fit to get into the argument, to exaggerate things, to get people angry with each other. So it's kind of a bigger argument then it should be.
On bad press sometimes associated with Craigslist:
There are bad guys who abuse our site. There are far fewer than some of the articles would suggest. Often they forget to do fact-checking or they have a conflict of interest - we've found that in a number of cases. It is a problem. We're good at dealing with it. We work with cops across the country who would tell us that our response to them is "top notch." We will continue to be operating in a top-notch manner and we'll get even better than that. There's always more to do. The idea is that we're good at helping cops and victims out. We're really good at doing that while respecting the rights of the accused and this whole due process thing.
What has happened on Craigslist that surprised you?
I've been surprised at how a classified sight can be the focus of community ... It's also surprised me people are overwhelmingly trustworthy and good. We do have very little criminality. And the community is very good at dealing with it and helping us locate the bad guys.
Any changes we can expect on the site?
We prefer to be as dull as possible because we're doing something really well right now, we don't want to screw it up. That being said, there will be more cities, more countries, we'll find better ways of dealing with bad guys.
I try to be a little bit active about it, trying to get the word out. The theme is that the internet is supposed to be a level playing field, fair for everyone. The idea of net neutrality means, if you wanna be heard, you can put a server up there or share another sever and that your stuff can be delivered as fast and as reliably as someone who's willing to spend enormous amounts of money on it. The problem is that there are a few people at big ISPs or telecoms who figure they can make a lot of money extending their privileges to customers with lots of money, and the internet uses public property, rights of way or the airwaves. That means that since the telecoms make money using public resources, they shouldn't be allowed to make special profits giving the elite privileges. Net neutrality says let's be fair, let's keep it a level playing field, which is about as American as it can get.
The problem too has been the people on both sides actually are not too far apart in terms of the argument, but there's been some of the more predatory of lobbyists who have seen fit to get into the argument, to exaggerate things, to get people angry with each other. So it's kind of a bigger argument then it should be.
On bad press sometimes associated with Craigslist:
There are bad guys who abuse our site. There are far fewer than some of the articles would suggest. Often they forget to do fact-checking or they have a conflict of interest - we've found that in a number of cases. It is a problem. We're good at dealing with it. We work with cops across the country who would tell us that our response to them is "top notch." We will continue to be operating in a top-notch manner and we'll get even better than that. There's always more to do. The idea is that we're good at helping cops and victims out. We're really good at doing that while respecting the rights of the accused and this whole due process thing.
What has happened on Craigslist that surprised you?
I've been surprised at how a classified sight can be the focus of community ... It's also surprised me people are overwhelmingly trustworthy and good. We do have very little criminality. And the community is very good at dealing with it and helping us locate the bad guys.
Any changes we can expect on the site?
We prefer to be as dull as possible because we're doing something really well right now, we don't want to screw it up. That being said, there will be more cities, more countries, we'll find better ways of dealing with bad guys.
I strictly recommend not to hold back until you earn enough money to order different goods! You can just take the mortgage loans or short term loan and feel comfortable