What is Digg?249 Comments
- inactive, on 12/31/2008, -7/+165I almost didn't Digg this because someone made a new blog just to keep their identity hidden. Kind of lame if you ask me. However, speaking of the issues discussed in the article and the struggle for Digg power, I think most of the problems would be solved if Digg limited the amount of submissions per user per day. If these "power-users," as they've been deemed, weren't submitting between 15 and 30 stories a day, Digg's front page would experience some much needed diversity. Until Digg quits blacklisting and whitelisting sites though, I could really give a ***** about how it all works. It is neither a democracy or a community controlled by its users, and that is plainly evident. The site is a complete farce.
- doublefelix, on 12/31/2008, -3/+125I'm pretty sure Raisedinhell is a guy unless you also believe that profile photo is authentic and that "she" is in porn.
- badqat, on 12/31/2008, -10/+125Some very valid points in the post, but the most important one is the fact that the "leaders" of the "revolution" are actively engaging in the exact same behavior they accuse "power users" as taking part in - I've even gotten a few of these shouts myself.
They have one goal - to install themselves as so-called "power users."
Worst of all, some of these so-called "leaders" are actually former "power users." Why former? Because they got banned from digg. - shutaro, on 12/31/2008, -3/+77There's only one way to fix Digg... Kill the Batman.
- georgemason01, on 12/31/2008, -3/+73a story about a power user complaining about another power user - submitted by yet another power user.
- clintmaher, on 04/21/2009, -4/+74Digg is worth saving, although let's keep it for the purpose it was made in the first place: Sharing quality content that everyone can see and share.
- ricperry1, on 12/31/2008, -2/+47Okay, enough of the "bookmarking" excuse. Digg staff, please implement a "save for later" button for each story. A story should NOT be promoted to the front page because a few people decided they wanted to save it for a later read. If the summary/description is enticing, but then the article is crap, then the story should die without a trip to the front page. Maybe I am being idealistic or naive.
- tnerd, on 12/31/2008, -19/+57very nicely written...
"there's always that 1% whose main beef isn't that the system can be gamed, but that they haven't mastered it--yet."
There is no such thing as free lunch.. Digg is no different from any other social gathering.. the more time you spend in one place the more friends you make and the more popular you become...
So if you want to be as popular as some of the other so called "Power Users" spend half the time they spend submitting great articles and spread them around.. - StatiK69, on 12/31/2008, -12/+46Before you bury me, I have to agree with some of what's said lately about the dupes. That being said, I think a lot of the whining is from people that just don't understand Digg. Here are my tips...
Don't always copy and paste the title and first paragraph of a story.
Spell check and grammar check.
Shout responsibly, don't spam.
Don't be afraid to befriend people on here.
And get the category right.
That being said, yea, dupes are still going to get submitted by others and make the front page. Digg is a huge site, dupes and spam will always happen, but by revising the dupe process I think Digg is trying to address this concern.
And finally, remember this. You're first submissions probably won't come close to the front page. Don't feel bad, keep trying. Take it from me, I've tried. I've accidentally submitted dupes in the past because the dupe search failed and even some hot topics I submitted stories from didn't make front page. So I keep trying. It was easy to make front page years ago but the site has grown. Even if a story doesn't make front page doesn't mean lots of people don't see it. Front page or not, you're still contributing to the community so make it count. - inactive, on 12/31/2008, -11/+41Wow, the irony of raisedinhell being a poweruser complaining about the abuses of powerusers and 16,000 diggers rallying to his side and calling for revolt against the powerusers.
- Dewhead, on 12/31/2008, -8/+34Well this was very informative. I had not idea that all of this behind the scenes drama was going on and that Digg was a popularity contest. I guess I am just as out of loop as I was in high school.. Oh well....
- Stemnin, on 12/31/2008, -0/+25That's a pic of Adriana Lima.
- inactive, on 12/31/2008, -1/+24it isnt about fame. Many power users get paid by PR firms to get stories to the front page. It is called viral marketing.
- javaroast, on 12/31/2008, -5/+28Yeah you dugg 42,000 times by digging the upcoming section. Blind digging is not the same as being an active participant. And your advice to "GTFO" is simply adding fuel to the fire. You got busted, unfortunately it blew up... now take your lumps like a big boy. Like you said it's social media and the social side of it is now talking to you. Or how about you take a real stand and stop with the blind digging and become a voice against the practice. And for something that is "fake *****" it seems to be getting under your skin quite a bit. Here's a hint for you... it's not fake *****, and it's been growing for quite some time. Digg was a fun game for you, but you don't seem to like it so much when the game swings the opposite direction and isn't stacked in your favor anymore. Welcome to the world of social media. Now you can keep whining about it... or you can take it for the opportunity it really is. I'll give you a hint though... whining will not help your reputation.
- ritubpant, on 12/31/2008, -23/+44I digg actively and submit well may be 3-4 at the most a day. I haven't read the article yet but the title alone gives anyone an idea about what the topic and subject of the article is. I understand that it gets frustrating sometimes not seeing your articles go to the frontpage (trust me I know), but why is it such a big deal? When my subs don't hit the FP sure I get a little low but sh** I have better things to do and then whine and moan and sign a petition. Guys....the whole Digg needs to do this and Digg needs to do that needs to stop. Its theirs let them do whatever the hell they want to do with it. You are here by choice and if anyone has a problem with how it works there are other platforms. Just as in real life things don't always go everyone's way. Ohh and yes u checked my profile now and if u want to label me as a power user and what not go right ahead but I certainly am not talking about the "power users" or other users.....I just don't get why it matters so much. If someone doesn't like what you are seeing on the frontpage, filter and read what you like. When I read a newspaper I want to read all good news but half the time its death and war, shud I go and whine and bitch about it? I mean come on move along guys....Digg can't be that big of a deal in our lives and it certainly shouldn't be something we stress and panic about.
Digg for fun and information but when you start digging for sole power its time to move along. Yes, some do it for power and glory and will keep doing it but don't whine and moan cause you can't get there. When things start going wrong don't blame it on everybody else, sometimes the problem is you not them. By the way, the comment isn't particularly related to this piece or the "petition" one, its related to the whole backlash that we see coming each month on digg.....
Ohh crap!!! I guess i drank too much ;-) Sorry for the rant - Diggopolis, on 12/31/2008, -5/+26Touche and agreed. Anyone not seeing this as a case of "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" is either blind or a part of the take over. :)
- Cl1mh4224rd, on 12/31/2008, -3/+23AmyVernon wrote:
> "It's hard to have multiple IP addresses in your home or business [...]"
Not really. They're called proxies. - AmyVernon, on 12/31/2008, -7/+27It's hard to have multiple IP addresses in your home or business, and Digg doesn't allow multiple accounts from the same IP address.
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/31/2008, -1/+20Just because your front door lock can be picked doesn't meant you shouldn't have a lock on your door.
- OneOfNone, on 12/31/2008, -2/+21A challenge should be relevant and valuable. On Digg, it *should* be to provide quality content: find it first, describe it well, submit, repeat.
As it stands now, the challenge to become a power user is to press "Friend", "Digg" and "Shout" buttons 1000x of times (without being able to look what's under the links). Does this button-pressing have anything in common with providing quality content? - DearSergio, on 12/31/2008, -5/+23I'm only popular on the internet.
- inactive, on 12/31/2008, -6/+23Um, no one wants "to replace old spammers with new ones"...
They're revolting because the power-users have poisoned Digg with an unparalleled arrogance and sense of entitlement that they're allowed to steal whatever articles they choose from whomever they choose.
In violation of Digg's own TOS, no less.
And they're further upset because they see the Digg staff's response as insufficient, insincere, and condescending. - ExRe, on 12/31/2008, -2/+19Some people are good at opening 30 stories from their friends in new tabs, clicking the digg button on each, then immediately closing them.
- inactive, on 12/31/2008, -4/+19Completely agree. We would see a lot less crap submissions if the power-users know they can't just throw everything up against the wall and expect that 30% of them are gonna hit the FP.
And maybe they'd lay off Duping, which is the root of this whole problem.
Keep the shout system, keep the digg/bury system the way it is...just limit submissions. Little guys like you and me are barely submitting 10 articles a month, much less in a single day.
Of course, the power users would never agree to this. It would take away their unfair advantage, which they so arrogantly feel entitled to. - naturalpapa, on 12/31/2008, -16/+30From the anonymously written article:
"Complaint: Power users add a bunch of friends to form Digg circles"
"Complaint: Power users use the shout system to get more votes"
Umm... so we shouldn't add friends or shout? What the hell are they there for?
I have to agree that the front page has way too many stories from a small amount of sites, but Digg also gets mad amounts of spam submissions, like Squidoo pages and ad-filled, poorly written sites.
What to do? Let's let Digg figure it out. - inactive, on 12/31/2008, -2/+16And pinch other people articles and make dosh "pushing" content..
I want a timer on the digg button. that's all. - mille716, on 12/31/2008, -1/+14"If for ONE day all the so called "power users" stop submitting and digging stories from the upcoming section there won't be any new stories in the digg front page."'
This is where you're wrong. More diggers than just you "power users" submit good content but its only you "power users" that make it to the front page. That rightfully bothers a lot of digg users. You're essentially saying in your statement that we need all you guys. I've submitted good content but haven't shouted anyone to get it to FP only to see it show up days later from a "power user". Digg users are not submitting because of they don't want to work the system necessary to get a story to FP. That's not what the spirit of digg is about.
Now to defend you. If rainsinhell and you both got the same pic from reddit, then he needs to chill out. There's a big difference between stealing (resubmitting) someone's submission from the upcoming section and unknowingly (I'll even give you the benefit of the doubt here) resubmitting the same material found off reddit. - justaddwater, on 12/31/2008, -5/+18just browse the upcoming sections instead if this stuff bothers you. all the interesting stories are there, waiting for normal people to digg them up :)
- techguru2006, on 12/31/2008, -9/+22Some people are just better at submitting and some people are just better at commenting and some people are just better at digging the right stories.
- Bloodburn, on 12/31/2008, -1/+13PUT THE ***** LOTION IN THE BASKET
- WNW3, on 12/31/2008, -0/+12The idea that a story shouldn't be submitted to Digg because it's in Reddit is pretty silly. I'm not sure why that gets people all wigged out.
- benologist, on 12/31/2008, -4/+15Limit how much they can digg too, that's as if not more important. Letting someone submit 1000 stories a day doesn't matter when their friends can only digg 50.
- synapzgap, on 12/31/2008, -0/+11You could ban the Top 100 or 1000 and there'd be another 100 or 1000 in their places within a few weeks. The only way to change the content diversity here is to change the ranking mentality and the only way to change the ranking mentality is to prevent it with technology. Human nature is what it is, and everything from junior high politics to this user-driven news site is about popularity. Popularity gets you elected, promoted, noticed or "respected". However, I have to wonder, what IS IT, that Top 100 or more get out of being highly ranked here? Do they get satisfaction or gratification for a job well done? Do they get an ego boost? Do they get kickbacks from Digg? What IS IT, they get out of it, because I know I can't be the only one that wonders what motivates some top users to game such a seemingly democratic news system. Is it even a gaming, or just the way all things in life are? So, even though it's important for Digg to tweak the system for it's "less popular" users, it's just as important to me to know what is driving some of the top users to game or abuse the system. I suspect I'd never get full disclosure about such motivations though, nor would I get even the slightest hint of admission of said gaming or abuse. So, on that note...two things. 1.) Fix it Digg, for despite the apparent addiction that some of us have for this site, we're losing faith and will eventually just leave, especially those that attempt to submit stories (which I don't because I've always known it was about friends and I don't make them easily, especially ones I don't actually know). ...and 2.) What's in it for you Top Diggers that makes the friends/shout/ranking system so appealing?
Oh..and BTW...buried because your a "power-user". - inactive, on 12/31/2008, -5/+16The problem is they can just make multiple accounts.
- KDX200rider, on 12/31/2008, -3/+13I agree, dump the "friend" and "shouts" system, go with straight diggs.
- 11oops, on 12/31/2008, -0/+10You've proven that at least one is.
- bigstinky, on 12/31/2008, -0/+10It's easy to say, "get a life." I don't know what people expect from that. I have a life. I work 50 hours a week. I have a family. We do stuff. I would imagine that most on digg do have lives. That's why digg was so cool. You could have others surf the web for you. I'd log in, read, comment, cripes I'd even submit. It was fun. Digg was the first site I stopped in to check out daily..
A lot of folks took pride in what the site was becoming, while others scorned the move away from tech stories to photo's and cartoons. I for one have gotten to the point where I will bury all power users posts. And that's kind of a shame because my new mindset takes away from this just being a cool site.
I would post tech stories from a certain site that would never get the front page. Along comes a certain power user, he starts posting them and every one hits. Now you say, get a life for caring. The thing is, people want to be part of this site. It's fun. We can choose to not care, or we can choose to be offended. I think that by the majority of articles dealing with this, and the amount of comments it's received, people do care and obviously want their digg back.
. I miss the old digg. - ansatsu29, on 12/31/2008, -10/+20Oh man, I gonna have a headache over this commotion on Digg.
Basically, I am a fast reader...I tend to read articles quite fast than the average person. So I know in just a few minutes which articles to shout, articles to bury and articles to digg. I may not have submitted more than the others and yeah, I know its hard to get your submission pass over the front page but doesnt matter with me that much. If it gets to the FP, its ok. But if not, well, I am sport over that and still it is ok.
Whenever I received shouts, I respond to them to the best way I can, make a few comments and go ahead digging and burying them. I am not here on Digg because of the popularity game - just to get popular over the internet. I just want to read news, learn information, spread knowledge to other people and express my views in my digg comments.
And yes, I believe that Digg is a community worth saving. :) - greeniemeani, on 12/31/2008, -5/+15MKLOPEZ IS THE KIND OF POWER USER WE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT. If this stupid little blog post was submitted by anyone else who isn't a power digger, it would never make the front-page.
- inactive, on 12/31/2008, -1/+10I'm not.
- purzzzell, on 12/31/2008, -1/+1016 submitted, 0 made popular in a year and a half - no one has much problem with your digg habits.
- Bukowsky, on 12/31/2008, -10/+19jesus christ... people take digg waaaay too seriously!
- ansatsu29, on 12/31/2008, -3/+12And even if my friends are power users, I still have the power to either bury or digg their submissions.
If it's crap, go bury it. If its worth sharing and digging, go ahead, share it to the rest of the community.
I hope Kevin and the rest of the team will be able to fix the dupe checking system to help solve this commotion. - danielrh9, on 12/31/2008, -1/+9I was a bit surprised the other night to find that a comment of mine made it into the petition story that had over ten thousand diggs. It's a bit humbling to know that so many at least read what you have to say.
I'll reiterate and expand upon my earlier point. This is in no way a popularity contest to me. I don't care who is or isn't a "power user" in regards to usernames being displayed on the front page. I think the bickering over that point is mostly immature and irrelevant. The problem however, is that those who do have an unproportional level of power in submissions are in effect acting as the moderators and, yes, editors of this site. It's true that many are NOT submitting because they feel it pointless, and it's true that we're NOT seeing the type of fresh and diverse material on the front page that we would be seeing were it not for the choke hold that the MrBabyMans of digg have on it.
I quipped that digg is an oiligarchy instead of a democracy. Which is at least true when it matters. As long as the basic rules (NOT the algorithm) is the same, the same problems will consist and a select few will have power over the many. The staff will likely apply a band-aid fix for now in an attempt to shut us up, and this problem will yet again come up down the road. Thankfully, digg is still a democracy in the sense that us "common folk" who don't have exuberant front page editing power can speak our concerns in cases like this. It's empowering in that sense, seeing that the concerns of the many have obviously been brought up in the past 24 hours.
On a separate yet related note, I also find it troubling that Kevin Rose responded to this in an "aw shucks" way by using the old "it's just the internet" response. As many pointed out to him, it's also just the internet that made him a celebrity and gave him the option to cash in for an insane amount any time he'd like. That funny little internet effectively made him a multimillionaire overnight. To me, his response signifies that he's either careless about his phrasing or the site itself. I suspect and hope its the phrasing. - inactive, on 12/31/2008, -2/+10You dont think that they are just using what tools are available to promote the revolt?
- DuffyDirect, on 12/31/2008, -2/+10This blog is posted on MrBabyMan's twitter shortly after it was posted, I'm 99% sure it is him who made it.
- DirtyVicar, on 12/31/2008, -0/+8True... this article is a sensationalistic red herring. Diggers just want a level playing field and a little enforcement of the TOS, not a coup.
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