While I appreciate the compliment, that was a sign of the aftermath of the shark jumping, not the shark jump itself. I think the purchase of Skype was a worthwhile moment, as was the adding of "Store-in-Search", which was a huge success that eBay then ended when they saw it would greatly cut listing fees.
I often wonder if eBay would have done incredibly well if they had simply left "Store-in-Search" on the site. They would have received most of their fees from sales commissions, and not from charging them for listing. But now we will never know, because you can't undo the harm done by a Pandora's Box once it has been opened. Bruce On Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 2:19 PM, <twoni...@aol.com> wrote: > *When they let Bruce Hershenson leave to start his own web site. All > down hill from there. The move was letting him move.* > ** > *CJL* > > In a message dated 1/14/2009 1:56:27 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, > brucehershen...@gmail.com writes: > > I think almost all of us can agree that eBay has clearly "jumped the > shark"*. But exactly *WHEN* do you think this happened? When did eBay make > the move that changed it from a company with a bright future, and started it > on its current downhill path? Of course, there is no one "right" answer, but > I have my own opinion, which I will gladly share once some of you voice your > opinions. > > When do *YOU* think was the moment when eBay "jumped the shark"? > > Bruce > > *N.B. According to Wikipedia, the phrase "jump the shark" refers to a scene > in a three-part episode of the American TV series, *Happy > Days<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Days> > *, first broadcast on September 20<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_20>, > 1977 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977>. In the third of the three parts > of the "Hollywood" episode, Fonzie (Henry > Winkler<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Winkler>), > wearing swim trunks and his trademark leather jacket, jumps over a penned-in > shark <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark> while water > skiing<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_skiing>. > > > Even before "jumping the shark" was employed as a pop culture term, the > episode in question was cited many times as an example of what can happen to > otherwise high-quality shows when they stay on the air too long in the face > of waning interest—or when they simply cease to maintain quality standards > for writing or acting, resorting to cheap sensationalism etc. The infamous > scene was seen by many as betraying *Happy Days'* 1950s setting (as well > as reversing its earlier character-developments, as noted above) by cashing > in on the 1970s fads of Evel > Knievel<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evel_Knievel> > [1] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark#cite_note-0> and > *Jaws<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaws_(film)> > *. Producer Garry Marshall <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry_Marshall>later > admitted that he knew the show had lost something as the crew prepared > to shoot the scene. As Marshall pointed out in the reunion special that > aired on February 3 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_3>, > 2005<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005>, > however, *Happy Days* went on to produce approximately 100 more episodes > after the "jumping the shark" episode. During the same special, in response > to an audience member's question, Marshall introduced the notorious clip and > noted how the show had inspired the term. > > The first public > use[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark#cite_note-1>of the > phrase as a direct metaphor is reported to have been on December > 24 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_24>, > 1997<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997>, > when the *jumptheshark.com <http://www.jumptheshark.com/>* website was > launched by Jonathan M. Hein <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Hein>. > According to the site, the phrase was first coined by Hein's college > roommate, Sean J. Connolly, in 1985. The term first appeared in print in the > April 9 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_9>, > 1998<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998>, > *Los Angeles Times <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times>*Calendar > Weekend section. > > The phrase has been used more recently outside the realm of popular > culture, representing anything that has reached its peak and has declined in > quality. If one thinks a stock or a sports team or a subcultural phenomenon > has reached its peak, for example, one can say that it has "jumped the > shark." The phrase can also be specifically, the phrase also refers to a > particular *event* that *demonstrates* this decline beyond all doubt, such > as whenever an entertainment company or business makes a grave mistake, and > therefore rapidly loses ratings or fans, becomes bankrupt or is sold. > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > ___________________________________________________________________ How to > UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: > lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF > MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > > > > > ------------------------------ > *Inauguration '09*: Get complete > coverage<http://news.aol.com/main/politics/inauguration?ncid=emlcntusnews00000003>from > the nation's capital. > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
