Townizen

I recently read the book 1984. It is about a controlling government that tries to eliminte anything that stands in the way of their power. "Big Brother" maintains this control with a constant watch on everyone. They teach youth to turn in anyone who might have opinions different from "the party" and then vaporize the offender. They even go so far as to elimate words from the dictionary and destroy true history so that they are the only source of information.

Although this book is a work of fiction, the parallels of power corruption are real. A few days ago I got this email from "Big Brother."

It has come to the attention of WFR that you are operating a website located at http://www.utahrealestate4sale.com that is not in compliance with the Policies and Procedures of Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. Section 31 (e):

31. Prohibitions.

e. Use of MLS. No subscriber may use the terms “MLS”, “Multiple Listing Service”, or any similar terms,

i.               in any way that is misleading, 

ii.              in any trade name, trademark, domain name, uniform resource locator, email addresses or telephone number, unless the context clearly indicates that the use is not in connection with a multiple listing service or the advertising, marketing, and sale of real estate, and except to identify a multiple listing service as the source of listings being displayed, or the Subscriber as a subscriber to or participant in a multiple listing service,

iii.            to state, suggest, or imply that the Subscriber is or operates a multiple listing service, unless Subscriber in fact operates a multiple listing service,

iv.             to state, suggest, or imply that a multiple listing service provides services to the public, including advertising listings to the public, or that the Subscriber grants access to the public to a multiple listing service, except that Subscriber may (a) refer to the display of IDX Listings www.UtahRealEstate.com, or any replacement website, or similar websites operated by other multiple listing services, (b) state that Subscriber may include listings in a multiple listing service, (c) state that the listing will be available for advertising as an IDX Listing, and (d) otherwise identify the services Subscriber may provide as a result of Subscriber’s participation in a multiple listing service.

Okay, it might just be me, but my understanding of the term MLS is very different from WFR's version of MLS. My definition of MLS is:

"A database of information cooperating real estate agents use to pool their listings together for the benefit of buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals"

MLS is just the generic term, if WFR thinks they have rights to the term, MLS they're crazy. They could probably claim rights to their brand, WFRMLS, but MLS, I don't think so.

Now my definition of MLS Listings is:

"Real Estate listings by all cooperating local brokerages, all properties listed for sale, not just a brokerage, but excluding for sale by owner listings."

Now on my website, the reason big brother is threatening to vaporize me is because it says,

View Utah Real Estate MLS Listings

My reason for having this as the text link to my IDX search page wasn't because I was trying to mislead people into believing that I am the UTAH MLS. I was just trying to say in six words or less, "View Home, Land, and Multi Family, listings of all properties in Utah that are listed by cooperating real estate agents who post their listings on the Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service, not just the listings of Cornerstone Real Estate Professionals, but all the different brokerages, and these listings don't include For Sale by Owner property listings either."

Now I changed the terms on the home page of my Utah Real Estate website because as much as I hate to admit it, I rely on the MLS. And, as the book 1984 ends, you can't beat big brother.

But why does "big brother" care so much? Why does it matter to them that I use the term "MLS Listings" on my website? Does the general public even know or use the word MLS? Do the seceretly covet MLS's and do all they can to get their mouse on one? WFR suggestests I use the term "IDX listings" instead. Regardless of what they call them, aren't they the same properties? It seems to me thats what the what the consumer wants. They just want to see online homes for sale with as much information as possible.

MLS's feel that if we use their precious term, we are diminishing the power of it. By eliminating words from our dictionary, err marketing vocabulary, they have the power.... If they can get us to turn each other in for failing to adhere to the "MLS Policies and Procedures", then they are gaining allies that will help them maintain their iron fisted monopolistic rule.

It's ridiculous, but some groups just feel better about themselves if they have control.