Military.com
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Military.com is the website created by the U.S. company Military Advantage to be a portal for U.S. military members.[1] In early 2004, Military Advantage was purchased by Monster Worldwide (monster.com)[2]. The company's main revenue streams are advertising, military-themed products, and lead generation for military recruiters.
In 2004, Monster called the company "the nation's largest military marketing firm" and wrote: "Military Advantage targets the 30 million Americans with military affinity to offer career services, educational opportunities, VA benefits resources and a host of other advantages earned through military service. The company provides corporate and government clients with efficient access to a market comprising one of the largest in consumer purchasing power."[3]
Military Advantage was founded in 1999 by Christopher P. Michel, a Navy veteran and Harvard MBA alum, and two other co-founders. The Web site went live in 2000.[4]
Military.com, which styles itself the largest military membership organization in the United States, claims more than 8 million members. There is no charge for this membership; it is granted merely by choosing a login name to use the site.
Military.com also owns Fred's Place, Defensetech.org, Milblogging.com, and MilitaryBenefits.com.
[edit] Discussion
Due to Military.com's being aimed at those who have served in the United States military, moderators of its discussion groups (forums) often show little tolerance for criticism of the Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Services — that is, little tolerance for criticism of the President of the United States.
Some Military.com members complain that the site does not live up to its promise of free speech, saying there's a draconian atmosphere in the forums. They say dissent is equated with “sedition” and that participants who express dissent are subject to suspensions and permanent bans from the forums. In addition, they say moderators permit pervasive libel, character assassination, defamation, and threats relative to war dissenters — all contrary to Military.com’s stated Terms of Service. Other members disagree with that assessment.
Sticky posts with titles such as “Newbies: Read and heed” supplement the Terms of Service members agree to abide by. Moderators make clear in those posts the site’s position with regard to the President: The President and the Presidency will be respected at all times; disrespect for a sitting President will not be tolerated. Members are permitted to disagree with the President's actions and policies, but ad hominem attacks on the President are out-of-line.
(Other members have observed that this entire Wikipedia entry is unlikely to meet Wikepedia's criteria for entries because Military.com is a commercial site that is being promoted.)
