Break ups are never easy. There can be hard feelings or moments of regret that can last well beyond the actual parting of ways. Sometimes, even just getting the gumption to actually go through with it can be the hardest part.
Then again, sometimes circumstances arise that make it very, very easy to walk away.
Image via Lifehacker.com
I received an email about a month or so ago, letting me know that my domain hosting package from Go Daddy was up for renewal in March. I have to be honest, I don’t really think all that much about that kind of stuff. Way back when, I signed up for Go Daddy because I saw some deal (and many other people I knew had recommended the site to me) and that was that.
My site is pretty small potatoes, and it’s simply laid out, so I never really needed much from my host. And, as one tends to do, when you don’t need something, you tend to forget about them.
But then…in the past year or so, I kept seeing Go Daddy’s name in the news, and not for anything positive. Stories about their CEO’s shady background regarding elephants starting leaking, causing me to wonder just why I was staying with them. But despite my intentions to switch hosts, I never got around to it.
I had a list of excuses…I was lazy; I wasn’t sure exactly how to go about doing it; Who would I switch to?
So I chose the path of least resistance.
But then, Go Daddy had to go and make me take the time and effort to drop them. Their consistent use of sexist ads (which they reminded us again this past weekend during the Super Bowl) was the last straw for me.
Miss Representation goes into more detail as to why folks should drop Go Daddy, and Lifehacker has written up a step by step guide on exactly how to do it.
And you know what? I feel pretty darn good about this break up.
I no longer need to stammer through a list of weak excuses when I explain why I’m still being hosted by Go Daddy. I don’t have to have that wave of squick wash over me when I think about their horribly sexist commercials and then ponder just how uncomfortable it is that they keep parading scantily clad (or completely naked) women in their ads while their company has “daddy” in its name.
Instead, I transferred my domain over to Hover. I have yet to see a sexist or insulting commercial for them, and they also happen to oppose SOPA (which not all hosting sites seem to be in agreement over). It may not be much, but not putting anymore of my money in Go Daddy’s pockets feels like a step in the right direction.
So…we’re through, Go Daddy and I. I have to say that this won’t be one of those break ups that tear at me, making me question whether or not I did the right thing. The moment I clicked “accept” for the transfer to Hover, I felt a little bit lighter.
Who knew shaking off some sexism could feel so freeing?
The Mamafesto 
So grateful for this headsup. I live outside the US so I had no idea about those ads. I clicked on your links to them and was horrified! As my Godaddy was only days away from renewal, I, too, kicked them out of my life. Thanks for the help on how to do so, it does indeed feel liberating!
Yay for kicking GoDaddy to the curb! Who did you end up switching to? Glad I could help spread the word 🙂
I switched to Hover, too. I started looking at all the options and it was way too confusing… So far, they’ve been amazing at dealing with queries and sending friendly messages. Great recommendation!
I recently found your blog when searching for feminist opinions that wouldn’t make me feel like a traitor to my cause for being pregnant and engaged at 18. You are encouraging and enlightening.
I felt the need to comment on this story in particular because I went and viewed those sexist commercials. I barely made it through the first one. The second one was worse, and I quit. i’m a bit of an amateur advertising buff, and I gotta say, severe lack of creativity there, same song, another half naked blonde. Anyways, my fiancee and I watch cable tv all the time, and he actually gets pissed off at me for “ruining the mind-numbing experience” when I call out disgustingly sexist ads, or I make a point of changing channels when something negative towards women is on. He usually tells me if the viewer doesn’t see it as sexist or demeaning, then it’s not. The viewer is stupid and doesn’t pay attention to what message they’re being sent.
Yes, this man is the father of my child. He doesn’t understand subliminal messages or the subconscious or marketing schemes or anything that has to do with him getting screwed by being a dutiful consumer and that sexism is alive and well in media, doing it’s best to tear women to bits
so we too mindlessly consume to become “fabulous and ideal”.
I’d like to apologize for such a ranting reply, I just needed somewhere to get it out.