Drew Curtis of Fark.com
Credit: Drew Curtis | ©Drew Curtis
Associated Content's Exclusive Interview with Drew Curtis, Founder of Fark.com
Once upon a time, Fark.com was just a picture of a squirrel with massive nuts.
Now, it's one of the most popular websites on the Internet, with a strong community of users behind it--and yeah, they've still got the squirrel.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of Fark, it's pretty simple; users link to news stories that are weird, notable, or just plain stupid with funny headlines. It's addictive, hilarious, and extremely popular--the website has gotten massive attention from the Opie and Anthony Show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and even Newsweek.
As a result, founder Drew Curtis has become something of an Internet celebrity, a typical beer-swilling dude who came up with a fantastic concept and executed it well. I got a chance to interview Drew Curtis (and kiss his ass a little) about his website, his new book, the newly-launched Fark TV, and his plans for the future.
When did you realize that Fark was getting to be so friggin' huge?
Drew Curtis: It was so gradual, we hardly noticed. Although, when we hit 1000 page views a day, we had one hell of a party.
What's up with the picture of the squirrel with the huge nuts that's become a cliche on the site?
DC: The day I registered the Fark.com domain, a friend of mine emailed the picture to me. I figured I'd put that up til I had a better idea for a website. For 18 months if you went to Fark.com, all you got was that picture..
Normally, I'd assume people love the attention of getting a link on Fark. Anyone ever been really pissed off?
DC: Rarely, usually it's folks who run message boards that we link to where the server bursts into flames. MSM submits articles to Fark all the time, they love the traffic because traffic equals revenue, and unlike other sites we don't summarize the article in an attempt to keep people from leaving our site. We're a pure pass-through.
You've got a new pet project, Fark TV. Tell us why we should watch it.
Now, it's one of the most popular websites on the Internet, with a strong community of users behind it--and yeah, they've still got the squirrel.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of Fark, it's pretty simple; users link to news stories that are weird, notable, or just plain stupid with funny headlines. It's addictive, hilarious, and extremely popular--the website has gotten massive attention from the Opie and Anthony Show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and even Newsweek.
As a result, founder Drew Curtis has become something of an Internet celebrity, a typical beer-swilling dude who came up with a fantastic concept and executed it well. I got a chance to interview Drew Curtis (and kiss his ass a little) about his website, his new book, the newly-launched Fark TV, and his plans for the future.
When did you realize that Fark was getting to be so friggin' huge?
Drew Curtis: It was so gradual, we hardly noticed. Although, when we hit 1000 page views a day, we had one hell of a party.
What's up with the picture of the squirrel with the huge nuts that's become a cliche on the site?
DC: The day I registered the Fark.com domain, a friend of mine emailed the picture to me. I figured I'd put that up til I had a better idea for a website. For 18 months if you went to Fark.com, all you got was that picture..
Normally, I'd assume people love the attention of getting a link on Fark. Anyone ever been really pissed off?
DC: Rarely, usually it's folks who run message boards that we link to where the server bursts into flames. MSM submits articles to Fark all the time, they love the traffic because traffic equals revenue, and unlike other sites we don't summarize the article in an attempt to keep people from leaving our site. We're a pure pass-through.
You've got a new pet project, Fark TV. Tell us why we should watch it.
Comments
I know this is an old article, but the AC folks in the comments who had never heard of fark were pretty funny.
Great interview. I will have to check out this site as I had never heard of it.
balibones
(Guest)
(Guest)
02/16/2007
I submitted this story to digg and it's on the front page right now. I'm sure it's getting hit pretty hard. Good interview. And I agree with Everett - PUT ASSOCIATED CONTENT IN THE SOURCE CHOICES ON FARK!
Interesting. I have never heard of this before now either.
Andreas
(Guest)
(Guest)
02/16/2007
Very nice piece. It only takes a god idea. Thanks (www.nueronic.com)
John
(Guest)
(Guest)
02/16/2007
Yeah I had never heard of fark either...I just checked it out and has some good content, but I'm not sure that I'm fond of the purple Myspace look. That's not fair...def not Myspace, but it seems like a few visual upgrades would give the outter appearance a match to content.
John
http://www.monomachines.com
reneemorway
(Guest)
(Guest)
02/15/2007
Excellent choice of interview questions and a very interesting read. I had never heard of Fark until now.
Err, what is fark.com? One of the most popular sites on the net? WTF was I?? I use the net every day. Then again, I never heard of AC before either? What is AC? Who are you people??? GET OFF MY SCREEN!!! Dammit, leave!! Good interview. Now I've got to see what the farkin site's about.
Comments 1 - 8 (of 8)
|
|