Whirlpool (website)

Infobox Website
name = Whirlpool.net.au



caption =
url = http://whirlpool.net.au/
type = Community
registration = Free
owner = Simon Wright
author = Simon Wright
launch date = December 1998
current status = Active
revenue = None

Whirlpool is an Australian broadband user web site, started in 1998 by Simon Wright. Since then, it has grown significantly with over 250,000 registered users (as of 5 October 2008) while remaining independent.

History

Whirlpool started as a pun on the name of Telstra BigPond's cable Internet service, however it soon expanded to cover Optus' cable Internet service (now known as OptusNet), ADSL based services, and other forms of broadband in Australia as they became available.

The website undergoes occasional re-designs; the most recent re-design included a new logo and was implemented on 3 April 2008.

2Clix controversy

On 11 September 2007 it was announced that 2Clix Software was commencing legal action against Whirlpool founder, Simon Wright, for posts made by users in the Whirlpool forums that 2Clix claimed were "false and malicious". [cite web|url=http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1753|title=2Clix sues Whirlpool founder|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2007-09-11] [cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22405674-2,00.html|title=Case could smother web chat, says Whirlpool founder|publisher=news.com.au|date=2007-09-12] [cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/whirlpool-fury-at-legal-gag/2007/09/12/1189276778252.html|title=Firm sues forum to silence critics|publisher=smh.com.au|date=2007-09-12] 2Clix claimed it had lost approximately AUD $150,000 income per month between January and July 2007 and sued for this amount plus legal costs. [cite web|url=http://www.itnews.com.au/News/61037,whirlpool-in-a-legal-spin-as-founder-gets-sued.aspx|title=Whirlpool in a legal spin as founder gets sued|publisher=iTNews|date=2007-09-12] [cite web|url=http://www.efa.org.au/2007/09/12/efa-condemns-whirlpool-lawsuit/|title=EFA condemns Whirlpool lawsuit|publisher=www.efa.org.au|date=2007-09-12]

Whirlpool users responded immediately by sending Paypal donations to assist with the site's legal costs, with some users claiming they'd sent donations exceeding AUD $1,000. [cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/2Clix-scores-own-goal-with-Whirlpool-case/0,130061791,339282041,00.htm|title=2Clix scores own goal with Whirlpool case|publisher=www.zdnet.com.au|date=2007-09-13] [cite web|url=http://www.dilanchian.com.au/ip/a-whirlpool-of-legal-risk-2.html|title=A Whirlpool of Legal Risk|publisher=Dilanchian Lawyers & Consultants|date=2007-09-13] The co-founder of PIPE Networks personally pledged a donation of AUD $10,000 towards the cause. [cite web|url=http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=819685&p=2#r25|title=2Clix sues Whirlpool founder (Part 2)|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2007-09-12]

On 19 September 2007 2Clix solicitors stated that they had received instructions to discontinue the case. [cite web|url=http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1755|title=2Clix claims case withdrawal|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2007-09-19] [cite web|url=http://www.efa.org.au/2007/09/19/efa-welcomes-whirlpool-lawsuit-back-down/|title=EFA welcomes Whirlpool lawsuit back-down|publisher=www.efa.org.au|date=2007-09-19] [cite web|url=http://www.itnews.com.au/News/61535,2clix-backtracks-on-whirlpool-lawsuit.aspx|title=2Clix backtracks on Whirlpool lawsuit|publisher=iTNews|date=2007-09-19]

Broadband Choice

A significant part of the site is the "Broadband Choice" facility, the most comprehensive list of options, plans and prices in Australia. Broadband Choice allows a user to quickly find options available to them and to filter these options by features such as price, speed and data allowance. [cite web|url=http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=104170&p=2|title=Setting up broadband internet (archived) - Availability and choice|publisher=Australian Consumers' Association|date=February 2004|accessdate=2008-05-19] Details about Internet service providers (ISPs) and their plans are entered by staff of each ISP, as are any changes to the plans. ISPs who are unaware of this feature or are unwilling to submit their plans are not listed.

Whirlpool forums

The purpose of the forums is to provide a place to discuss broadband and related areas (such as networking). Representatives from many Australian service providers, hardware vendors and merchants use Whirlpool as a strictly non-official support and communication channel.

Some features present on other message boards such as signatures, avatars and in-line images have been excluded by design to keep the site 'clean'. Many of the long term users agree that despite some negative aspects Whirlpool's differences are beneficial to the forum, and set it apart from "pre-written" forum software. [cite web|url=http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=945385|title=What makes Whirlpool Forums So Unique?|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2008-03-28]

Whirlpool uses an "open moderation" policy, so when threads and posts are deleted or moved, placeholders are left allowing users to see the moderation that has taken place. This is different from other forum software, where deleted threads may simply disappear from view, and posts may be edited by moderators unbeknownst to users. As a result, any moderation is more obvious than on most typical internet forums, which use off-the-shelf software like phpBB or vBulletin. [cite web|url=http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=WP_OpTransparency|title=Whirlpool's Operational Transparency|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2006-05-07]

The forum also has very few off-topic areas (known as 'lounges'), which are generally only available to long standing or highly active members of the community. [cite web|url=http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=WP_NormalUsers|title= Normal User Titles and Private Lounge Access|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2008-02-23] Whirlpool at times suffers from server capacity issues - 'TSODs (Teal Screen of Death, a play on the Windows BSOD) have become part of the forum culture.

Whirlpool Wiki

Whirlpool has its own Wiki. [cite web|url=http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=wiki_FAQ_and_Guidelines|title=WIKI FAQs and Guidelines|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2006-04-26] It is an accumulation of information put together by forum users in 'sticky threads' over time, with the hope of cutting down forum clutter while also allowing more collaborative content development. It includes information that is difficult to find aggregated into one place elsewhere, such as the [http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=Australian_Exchange_Guide Australian Exchange Guide] (a guide to the locations of Australian telephone exchanges), a list of Australian PC and Mac shops and a list of Australian VoIP providers.Since the revision of the Whirlpool forums, the wiki is now known as the "Knowledge Base."

The people behind the site

Previously, Whirlpool existed with no revenue stream. Unlike many forums, Whirlpool had no banners nor paid advertising. Recently, the owner has begun testing Google AdSense in pages that result from Google searches, for users who are not logged in. [cite web
title = Forum Feedback - Advertisements
publisher = Whirlpool
date = 2008-10-04
url = http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1063924
accessdate = 2008-10-06 ]

Bandwidth and web hosting are donated by WebCentral [cite web|url=http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=WP_Architecture|title=Whirlpool Architecture|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2007-05-04] , an Australian hosting company, and all site administrative tasks are conducted by a team of unpaid volunteer members who have been given special privileges over time as they have built trust among the online community.

Simon Wright, as founder and main developer, scripted the site in ColdFusion. Phil Sweeney assists by writing news and keeping "Broadband Choice" updated. [cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/next/new-media-hands-power-to-the-people/2005/10/17/1129401172151.html|title=New media hands power to the people|publisher=smh.com.au|date=2005-10-17] [cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking/isp-threat-to-whirlpool-over-posting/2005/08/09/1123353303794.html|title=ISP threat to Whirlpool over posting|publisher=smh.com.au|date=2005-08-09]

Relationship with ISPs

A unique property of Whirlpool is the degree of participation from industry players. A reasonable number of the more progressive ISPs have recognised the potential for Whirlpool.net.au to act as a bi-directional communication channel with their customers. While this very direct communication with their customers presents many challenges, it also allows ISPs to build strong grass-roots support and trust with their customer base. Whirlpool.net.au is rare in that relatively few online forums offer the ability for customers to discuss topics and issues with not only each other on a national basis, but also with the vast majority of large service providers in one spot.

Awards

*"Best Technology Media Website", [http://www.thelizzies.com/ Sun Microsystems MediaConnect IT Journalism Awards]
**Nominated, 2003
**Winner, 2004 [cite web|url=http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1469|title=Whirlpool takes top awards|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2005-04-10]
**Winner, 2005 [cite web|url=http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1621|title=Whirlpool wins again!|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2006-04-30]
**Finalist, 2006
*"Best Technology Title", [http://www.thelizzies.com/ Sun Microsystems MediaConnect IT Journalism Awards]
**Winner, 2004 [cite web|url=http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1469|title=Whirlpool takes top awards|publisher=Whirlpool|date=2005-04-10]
*"Most Popular Website, News and Media - IT Media", Hitwise
**#1, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200204&iCatnum=341 October–December 2002]
**#2, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200301&iCatnum=341 January–March 2003]
**#1, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200302&iCatnum=341 April–June 2003]
**#2, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200303&iCatnum=341 July–September 2003]
**#1, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200304&iCatnum=341 October–December 2003]
**#2, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200401&iCatnum=341 January–March 2004]
**#3, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200402&iCatnum=341 April–June 2004]
**#3, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200403&iCatnum=341 July–September 2004]
**#1, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200404&iCatnum=341 October–December 2004]
**#1, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200501&iCatnum=341 January–March 2005]
**#2, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200502&iCatnum=341 April–June 2005]
**#1, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200503&iCatnum=341 July–September 2005]
**#2, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200504&iCatnum=341 October–December 2005]
**#1, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200601&iCatnum=341 January–March 2006]
**#1, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200602&iCatnum=341 April–June 2006]
**#1, [http://www.hitwise.com.au/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.whirlpool.net.au&iDate=200603&iCatnum=341 July–September 2006]

References

External links

* [http://whirlpool.net.au Whirlpool]
* [http://bc.whirlpool.net.au Broadband Choice]
* [http://forums.whirlpool.net.au Whirlpool Forums]
* [http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki Whirlpool Wiki]