# aherk! **URL:** \ **Category:** uncategorized\ **Created:** [December 30, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/aherk/1358 "2011-12-30T20:10:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mirolabs](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/mirolabs/32/2458_2.png) [@mirolabs](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/mirolabs)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/aherk/1358/1 "2011-12-30T20:10:51Z")
Hallo Akratics, just came across [http://aherk.com](http://aherk.com), another site providing a comittment device. Sounds interesting. Here’s a brief description: [http://marker.to/OedJPM](http://marker.to/OedJPM) Alex ---
**Author:** ![dreev](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/dreev/32/4311_2.png) [@dreev](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/dreev)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/aherk/1358/2 "2011-12-30T21:17:32Z")
Love it! I just blackmailed myself (to get the Beeminder API published in January) with a gay (literally) photo of myself. (It’s not NSFW or anything; in fact, my incentives are now actually to cause it to get released, just to see how that part works! I guess it will show up on my facebook page: [Daniel Reeves](http://facebook.com/dreev) ) Here are some other commitment device competitors I know of: - [http://fatbet.net/](http://fatbet.net/) - [http://www.gym-pact.com/](http://www.gym-pact.com/) - [http://www.succeedorelse.com/](http://www.succeedorelse.com/) - [https://loseitorloseit.com/](https://loseitorloseit.com/) - [http://stickk.com](http://stickk.com) - [http://timecarrot.com](http://timecarrot.com) It’s funny how I once thought of it as worrisome to see other startups pursuing our idea. It’s so clearly the opposite of worrisome! The more the merrier! All these startups are helping each other get the public exposed to commitment devices. It’s like my brother who has a sushi restaurant in Peoria, IL – [hapfish.com](http://hapfish.com) – with one primary competitor in town. Since most people in town haven’t even tried sushi, most of the marketing that my brother’s competitor does is just creating new sushi eaters, some of whom will then eat at my brother’s restaurant. That effect dwarfs any actual customer stealing that the competitor may do. With Beeminder and StickK and now Aherk and others, it’s like that but even more so. 99% of the population hasn’t heard of a single one of us! On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 14:10, Alexander Schwarz [miro23@gmail.com](mailto:miro23@gmail.com) wrote: > Hallo Akratics, > > just came across [http://aherk.com](http://aherk.com), another site providing a comittment device. > Sounds interesting. > > Here’s a brief description: [Top 10 Under-Hyped Web Apps, 2011 Edition](http://marker.to/OedJPM) > > Alex – [http://dreev.es](http://dreev.es) – search://“Daniel Reeves” Follow the Yellow Brick Road – [http://beeminder.com](http://beeminder.com) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Reiley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@David\_Reiley](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/David_Reiley)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/aherk/1358/3 "2011-12-30T21:27:40Z")
On Dec 30, 2011, at 1:17 PM, Daniel Reeves wrote: > It’s like my brother who has a sushi restaurant in Peoria, IL – > [hapfish.com](http://hapfish.com) – with one primary competitor in town. Since most people > in town haven’t even tried sushi, most of the marketing that my > brother’s competitor does is just creating new sushi eaters, some of > whom will then eat at my brother’s restaurant. That effect dwarfs any > actual customer stealing that the competitor may do. If you are correct, and if this can be documented convincingly, it would be worthy of an article in one of the best economic journals. It’s worth thinking about how to know whether you’re right or not. For example, maybe there’s just an upward trend in interest in sushi in Peoria, independent of any of the marketing being done. How can we distinguish this from your story? And where could we find data on other such examples to see if we can really find a pattern? Indeed, part of why I joined Yahoo was to gain a better understanding of what advertising really does. Unfortunately, none of our advertisers at Yahoo are small companies, but I’m hoping to change that. An old joke is that law is the only business where competition makes you better off. If there’s only one lawyer in town, then there’s not much business. But once you have a second lawyer, then there’s somebody to litigate against! David – My home page: [http://www.davidreiley.com](http://www.davidreiley.com) ---
**Author:** ![dreev](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/dreev/32/4311_2.png) [@dreev](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/dreev)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/aherk/1358/4 "2011-12-30T23:42:46Z")
Nice! Let’s move the part of this that’s not specific to commitment devices to another forum, namely my quasi-exclusive improvetheworld list. On topic for the akratics list, Kevin Lochner just pointed out that Aherk is differentiating themselves from (I’ll flatter myself and say) Beeminder with “No boring graphics and calculation”. But that means we’re dividing up the demographics nicely. If they’re after facebook users with embarrassing photos who are intimidated by graphs and numbers, we’re pretty much after the complement of that. 🙂 On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 15:27, David Reiley [david@davidreiley.com](mailto:david@davidreiley.com) wrote: > On Dec 30, 2011, at 1:17 PM, Daniel Reeves wrote: > > It’s like my brother who has a sushi restaurant in Peoria, IL – > [hapfish.com](http://hapfish.com) – with one primary competitor in town. Since most people > in town haven’t even tried sushi, most of the marketing that my > brother’s competitor does is just creating new sushi eaters, some of > whom will then eat at my brother’s restaurant. That effect dwarfs any > actual customer stealing that the competitor may do. > > If you are correct, and if this can be documented convincingly, it would be > worthy of an article in one of the best economic journals. It’s worth > thinking about how to know whether you’re right or not. For example, maybe > there’s just an upward trend in interest in sushi in Peoria, independent of > any of the marketing being done. How can we distinguish this from your > story? And where could we find data on other such examples to see if we > can really find a pattern? > > Indeed, part of why I joined Yahoo was to gain a better understanding of > what advertising really does. Unfortunately, none of our advertisers at > Yahoo are small companies, but I’m hoping to change that. > > An old joke is that law is the only business where competition makes you > better off. If there’s only one lawyer in town, then there’s not much > business. But once you have a second lawyer, then there’s somebody to > litigate against! > > David > > – > My home page: [http://www.davidreiley.com](http://www.davidreiley.com) – [http://dreev.es](http://dreev.es) – search://“Daniel Reeves” Follow the Yellow Brick Road – [http://beeminder.com](http://beeminder.com) ---
**Author:** ![Isaac\_Schankler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Isaac\_Schankler](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/Isaac_Schankler)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/aherk/1358/5 "2011-12-31T02:26:25Z")
Well, and Beeminder definitely has the better name. I don’t know about you but “aherk” makes me think of that sound you make when you throw up in your mouth a little bit. On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 3:42 PM, Daniel Reeves [dreeves@beeminder.com](mailto:dreeves@beeminder.com) wrote: > Nice! Let’s move the part of this that’s not specific to commitment > devices to another forum, namely my quasi-exclusive improvetheworld > list. > > On topic for the akratics list, Kevin Lochner just pointed out that > Aherk is differentiating themselves from (I’ll flatter myself and say) > Beeminder with “No boring graphics and calculation”. > > But that means we’re dividing up the demographics nicely. If they’re > after facebook users with embarrassing photos who are intimidated by > graphs and numbers, we’re pretty much after the complement of that. 🙂 > > On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 15:27, David Reiley [david@davidreiley.com](mailto:david@davidreiley.com) wrote: > > > On Dec 30, 2011, at 1:17 PM, Daniel Reeves wrote: > > > > It’s like my brother who has a sushi restaurant in Peoria, IL – > > [hapfish.com](http://hapfish.com) – with one primary competitor in town. Since most people > > in town haven’t even tried sushi, most of the marketing that my > > brother’s competitor does is just creating new sushi eaters, some of > > whom will then eat at my brother’s restaurant. That effect dwarfs any > > actual customer stealing that the competitor may do. > > > > If you are correct, and if this can be documented convincingly, it would be > > worthy of an article in one of the best economic journals. It’s worth > > thinking about how to know whether you’re right or not. For example, maybe > > there’s just an upward trend in interest in sushi in Peoria, independent of > > any of the marketing being done. How can we distinguish this from your > > story? And where could we find data on other such examples to see if we > > can really find a pattern? > > > > Indeed, part of why I joined Yahoo was to gain a better understanding of > > what advertising really does. Unfortunately, none of our advertisers at > > Yahoo are small companies, but I’m hoping to change that. > > > > An old joke is that law is the only business where competition makes you > > better off. If there’s only one lawyer in town, then there’s not much > > business. But once you have a second lawyer, then there’s somebody to > > litigate against! > > > > David > > > > – > > My home page: [http://www.davidreiley.com](http://www.davidreiley.com) > > – > [http://dreev.es](http://dreev.es) – search://“Daniel Reeves” > Follow the Yellow Brick Road – [http://beeminder.com](http://beeminder.com) ---
**Author:** ![irandall52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58956e/32.png) [@irandall52](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/irandall52)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 8:30am UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/aherk/1358/6 "2011-12-31T08:30:30Z")
I agree with Dan - I think the world divides into list/data/graph/diagram lovers and haters - and Beeminder users are defo in the former group. Test is - do you reach for your pencil and note pad to explain or record something? …yes that’s me too. Beeminding into 2012! Irene Randall UK Independent Creative Memories Consultant 07812 141015 www.creative [memories.co.uk](http://memories.co.uk) Sent from my iPad On 31 Dec 2011, at 02:26, Isaac Schankler [eyesack@gmail.com](mailto:eyesack@gmail.com) wrote: > Well, and Beeminder definitely has the better name. I don’t know about > you but “aherk” makes me think of that sound you make when you throw > up in your mouth a little bit. > > On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 3:42 PM, Daniel Reeves [dreeves@beeminder.com](mailto:dreeves@beeminder.com) wrote: > > > Nice! Let’s move the part of this that’s not specific to commitment > > devices to another forum, namely my quasi-exclusive improvetheworld > > list. > > > > On topic for the akratics list, Kevin Lochner just pointed out that > > Aherk is differentiating themselves from (I’ll flatter myself and say) > > Beeminder with “No boring graphics and calculation”. > > > > But that means we’re dividing up the demographics nicely. If they’re > > after facebook users with embarrassing photos who are intimidated by > > graphs and numbers, we’re pretty much after the complement of that. 🙂 > > > > On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 15:27, David Reiley [david@davidreiley.com](mailto:david@davidreiley.com) wrote: > > > > > On Dec 30, 2011, at 1:17 PM, Daniel Reeves wrote: > > > > > > It’s like my brother who has a sushi restaurant in Peoria, IL – > > > [hapfish.com](http://hapfish.com) – with one primary competitor in town. Since most people > > > in town haven’t even tried sushi, most of the marketing that my > > > brother’s competitor does is just creating new sushi eaters, some of > > > whom will then eat at my brother’s restaurant. That effect dwarfs any > > > actual customer stealing that the competitor may do. > > > > > > If you are correct, and if this can be documented convincingly, it would be > > > worthy of an article in one of the best economic journals. It’s worth > > > thinking about how to know whether you’re right or not. For example, maybe > > > there’s just an upward trend in interest in sushi in Peoria, independent of > > > any of the marketing being done. How can we distinguish this from your > > > story? And where could we find data on other such examples to see if we > > > can really find a pattern? > > > > > > Indeed, part of why I joined Yahoo was to gain a better understanding of > > > what advertising really does. Unfortunately, none of our advertisers at > > > Yahoo are small companies, but I’m hoping to change that. > > > > > > An old joke is that law is the only business where competition makes you > > > better off. If there’s only one lawyer in town, then there’s not much > > > business. But once you have a second lawyer, then there’s somebody to > > > litigate against! > > > > > > David > > > > > > – > > > My home page: [http://www.davidreiley.com](http://www.davidreiley.com) > > > > – > > [http://dreev.es](http://dreev.es) – search://“Daniel Reeves” > > Follow the Yellow Brick Road – [http://beeminder.com](http://beeminder.com) ---
**Author:** ![dreev](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/dreev/32/4311_2.png) [@dreev](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/dreev)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/aherk/1358/7 "2012-01-15T02:13:11Z")
Hey Akratics, being akratic we’re now scrambling for our “emergency blog post” due in less than 3 hours. We’re going with, basically, this email thread. Draft: [Aiding and Abetting](http://yootles.com/expost/competitors) And if you’re reading this after midnight NYC time on Saturday night, then head straight to > **[Aiding and Abetting](https://blog.beeminder.com/competitors)** > > \[UPDATE 2023: We’re continuing to keep this list up to date (see the “On the Horizon” section for the very latest). Let us know in the comments if there are any competitors we’ve missed!\] I just blackmailed myself with a silly photo thanks to our... Thanks so much for making this all possible! On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 17:42, Daniel Reeves [dreeves@beeminder.com](mailto:dreeves@beeminder.com) wrote: > Nice! Let’s move the part of this that’s not specific to commitment > devices to another forum, namely my quasi-exclusive improvetheworld > list. > > On topic for the akratics list, Kevin Lochner just pointed out that > Aherk is differentiating themselves from (I’ll flatter myself and say) > Beeminder with “No boring graphics and calculation”. > > But that means we’re dividing up the demographics nicely. If they’re > after facebook users with embarrassing photos who are intimidated by > graphs and numbers, we’re pretty much after the complement of that. 🙂 > > On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 15:27, David Reiley [david@davidreiley.com](mailto:david@davidreiley.com) wrote: > > > On Dec 30, 2011, at 1:17 PM, Daniel Reeves wrote: > > > > It’s like my brother who has a sushi restaurant in Peoria, IL – > > [hapfish.com](http://hapfish.com) – with one primary competitor in town. Since most people > > in town haven’t even tried sushi, most of the marketing that my > > brother’s competitor does is just creating new sushi eaters, some of > > whom will then eat at my brother’s restaurant. That effect dwarfs any > > actual customer stealing that the competitor may do. > > > > If you are correct, and if this can be documented convincingly, it would be > > worthy of an article in one of the best economic journals. It’s worth > > thinking about how to know whether you’re right or not. For example, maybe > > there’s just an upward trend in interest in sushi in Peoria, independent of > > any of the marketing being done. How can we distinguish this from your > > story? And where could we find data on other such examples to see if we > > can really find a pattern? > > > > Indeed, part of why I joined Yahoo was to gain a better understanding of > > what advertising really does. Unfortunately, none of our advertisers at > > Yahoo are small companies, but I’m hoping to change that. > > > > An old joke is that law is the only business where competition makes you > > better off. If there’s only one lawyer in town, then there’s not much > > business. But once you have a second lawyer, then there’s somebody to > > litigate against! > > > > David > > > > – > > My home page: [http://www.davidreiley.com](http://www.davidreiley.com) > > – > [http://dreev.es](http://dreev.es) – search://“Daniel Reeves” > Follow the Yellow Brick Road – [http://beeminder.com](http://beeminder.com) – [http://dreev.es](http://dreev.es) – search://“Daniel Reeves” Follow the Yellow Brick Road – [http://beeminder.com](http://beeminder.com)