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98 Comments
- frekio, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Why can't we just have peace and harmony? I read Slashdot for insightful comments (yes, buried among all the crap ones there are smart people too), and I check Digg for cool links. Digg has bad comments, Slashdot is slow and less democratic. Both are good, for different things. Too many stupid fanboys everywhere...
http://www.slashdigg.com/index.php
heh - sundancekid503, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Slashdots interface is in need of some serious remodeling. That said, I tend to like the community on slashdot a little better. I prefer the threaded discussions, and there tend to be fewer vigilante mobs on Slashdot.
- Timinator, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Very well written article. And I agree that /. and Digg are two different venues that can coexist on the web. Why everyone feels compelled to argue as to which is the greatest is beyond me. I personally feel that both /. and Digg will be around for years to come. So, if someone doesn't want to "convert" from /. then why force the issue. I take the time to read both on a daily basis. I personally don't care for some of the derogatory icons that Digg permits its users to display but hey that's just me. I vote for both Digg and Slashdot.
- dhakbar, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7"It has a total lack of journalism, ethics, and interest in improving itself (seen in both action and word).
go digg :)"
What journalism is going on at digg? I don't see it, if there is any... - nmoog, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Okay, this has been said a zillion times already, but digg is great for stories, but crap for community - there is no discussion on digg, just a whole series of random comments. On slashdot the commentary really helps to nut out the details of the story. There is far more depth to each story.
I come here to see whats new, and go to Slashdot to talk tech... - dykesat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I like Slashdot's moderation system. Especially the MetaMod. Makes it easier to see the good comments and ignore the " OMG!1, like that is totally gayz0rs!"
- tallguy14, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5It's probably just me but how many digg vs slashdot articles do we really need?
- henrysmith1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Aside from all the already-redundant comments on comment systems and interfaces, the basic fact is that with digg's "Respond now HURRY" box, it produces a majority of "lol that's cool" comments in most stories. Slashdot's strict karma system, the requirement of several clicks before posting, and the fact that they ban IPs that get modded into oblivion consistently, get you to think before you post. Slashdot's interface is what it is - functional and minimal. It's not meant to appeal to you new-age web users who like small fonts and lots of gradient backgrounds, like what you have here with digg.
As you can tell, I'm a long time slashdotter. I check digg for links among other sites, because slashdot is a community site before it's news site. Digg's strong point is that amongst the Top 50 Ipod Tricks and Cool CSS Toolbars, it catches industry rumours too. Apart from that, it's a pile of crap. For one, it's not even open source, meaning nobody can check what happens to your passwords and email addresses. Nobody uses the moderation system, because it feels throwaway just like the comment box. As I have already said: "lol thats cool". The worst part is, it was a waste of time for me to create this account just now to post my two cents because here on digg this topic will be gone within a few hours, and from what I've seen, once a topic leaves the top area of the page where it's visible on loading, almost no new comments are added. Also, you morons keep "digging" stories that link to blogs, then complaining about it in the comments. For *****'s sake, this brushed close to happening on slashdot a while back with some ***** spammer, and there was a ***** uproar, and it stopped. Since I started checking digg for links, I've read more "blog" posts than I had in total in the rest of my life beforehand. Another point is that digg self-consciously desires buzz words such as "to digg". I despise when people try to alter language as a marketing tactic (see also blogs, surfing, podcast etc). To some up this massive flame (by means of a metaphor), digg from my perspective seems to be slashdot for the world-weary 15 year-old who tried linux but couldn't hack it, reinstalled windows, and wrote a lengthy blog post about how "linux isn't ready for the desktop", for the fashionably disaffected inactivist, who thinks anyone who believes in anything is a fanboy (this one you share with slashdot), and for the Mac/Ubuntu using hipster, who has just found this really cool list of 50 cool ipod tricks, check out this link to my blog post about it. - vanlandw, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3good interesting read....100% better then the other Digg/Slashdot posts we have had here before. At he posted some real world facts and did as good as possible to stay away from picking sides.
- System84, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I think the two sites could work together. There shouldn't be a competition.
- ScooterDMan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3agreed. i was reading kottke long before i was reading digg. he always has interesting stuff.
- digikill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21. Story on Slashdot - Read link, read comments, maybe learn something.
2. Story on Digg - Read link, load up the thread, leave dumber than you started. - soros, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@ nlnnet
I have to agree with you, and let me tell you about how many stories I've submitted to slashdot since 98'. Over 400. Guess how many of those stories were accepted.
0
I sort of gave up on believing any of the stories I had were worth submitting (some of them were very cool, that never did show up on slashdot.. very geeky material.) Slashdot it seems is more interested in u.s. politics and any sort of a article that will draw lots of clicks. - super_structure, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Kottke did an excellent job dissecting his web traffic and, more importantly, explaining why it matters. Too bad the article is too long for most of the kiddies around here to appreciate.
- mcbutterbuns, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I personally thing that Slashdot more technologically focused then digg. Don't get me wrong, Digg has some great links but I get sick and tired of "Top 10 things..." and " for beginners" or "coolest backgrounds!". Thats going to happen when the readers pick the articles. Digg is awesome though but I still think Slashdot will continue to have the technology edge.
- Falken, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Very good article on traffic patterns and web influence. A great read! Definitely worth a digg.
- dasc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Oh man. I hope /. doesn't die. I've worked so hard to keep my karma excellent.
- davefaris, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Lesson in reattracting eyes to your site after huge but fleeting traffic increase from two major community sites.
- nlnnet, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Digg is more democratic. When I post it is posted. At slash dot I am a mere peon who must grovel before the Slashdot powers that be. I have tried many times to post to Slashdot without success. I have given up and shifted to Digg.
I still keep up with Slashdot passively, but I wonder how long. - TheRappingShoe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I wouldnt say Digg is just for the kids exactly, but /. is certainly a more serious site. This is demonstrated partly by the kinds of stories published but mostly by the comments/discussion that goes on afterwards. Reading a /. discussion I feel that I'm in a room with lots of technically knowledgable people, possibly with beards. Digg discussions are less technical and in-depth, giving me the feeling of an (on average) younger group, who share an interest in tech stuff but who don't all make a living out of it.
Both are good. Personally I still prefer /. because (1)I learn more from it (2)Slashdotters are masters of sarcasm and dry wit.
On a side note, presuming that this story makes it to the /. front page, we could see the entire internet explode: Slashdot will get digged, and Digg will get slashdotted! Kaboom! :) - clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Sure digg is nice. But it's only for the kids right now. Too many stupid posts, spam and general kiddieness for it to even begin to take over slashdot.
Slashdot is much more refined and caters to a higher level type person than digg. Not saying either is without faults or the perfect site. But there are a lot of similarities, but to me... there is no comparison. Slashdot is on a whole other level compared to digg. - icexe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1god help the poor website that gets both dugg and slashdotted...
- metamongrel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I don't get the whole debate either. Face it, Slashdot isn't going anywhere. Digg is cool for sure, but it's still a bunch of kids with ADHD who can barely focus long enough to read the articles.
- r©ain, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Ehhh. This digg vs /. stuff always bothers me.
But, it was a very interesting write up and commentary.
So I'll digg.
But there is no comparison between digg and /.
I go to /. to read the comments and make comments myself as well as moderate. And I go to digg for a quick information fix.
The amount of time I spend on slashdot each day: 1-2 hours.
The amount of time I spend on digg: 15-20 minutes.
I see people posting on digg about how /. is dying and digg is gonna kill it. Which is why I spend so little time on digg. Most the people commenting on digg aren't that interesting and the comment threading (or lack of it) makes conversation a challenge.
While the comment system on /. has much to be desired, the people who post ARE very interesting and relevant in the fields the article pertains to. I don't care what some high school kid has to say about an astrophysics article posted on digg, I do care what an astrophysicist has to say about the article on /. however. And for that very fact alone, digg, while useful and handy, will never take down /. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1digg is currently for fun tech geeks
slashdot is for more geeky content
for example, i might be wrong, a large portion of digg users will not understand all slashdot content - fishmasta, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I prefer digg because I get more links, but its comment system has a long way to go before it catches up to slashdot. I mostly read slashdot for the comments, not the links anyway.
- sunmicroman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2The ironic thing for me is I found out about digg by just browsing a Slashdot thread one day. I came over and thought to myself, "this is pretty cool". And while the content of the posts on digg don't always have the same substance as Slashdot, at least there isn't the nose up cliques that are happening over there. I can actually post on digg without having to feel the elitist /. arrogance and it is very refreshing.
- billpoly, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Slashdot is going to be around for a long, long time.
- burndive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The front page may not be exactly the way you like it, but as I recall on slashdot you can supply your own user style sheet and make it look exactly like digg if you are so inclined.
I like digg, but I don't like having to scroll through absolutely everyone's comments in chronological order. It's like trying to listen to five conversations simultaniously at a round table. Slashdot is like a room that groups of people can congregate in different parts of to carry on separate conversations related to the topic. With digg, people might comment on a previous comment, but there's no sense of a discussion. There is also less focus. On slashdot, you're free to take up a narrow point and have a conversation about that with people who care, but on digg, people tend to read the link (if they're into that) and all the comments that were posted since they loaded the page, and then write a single, all-encompasing comment.
Reading everyone's treatise in order to find some spark of insight gets tiring. Especially on digg. - panique, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1^^ Actually, your question should be "Why can't Digger's get along with Slashdot?" cuz this is a unidirectional rivalry
BTW Digg, you got served - acebh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think this article can be summed up in what most of us already realize, which is when your site is linked on Slashdot or Digg or another big site, it's 10 minutes of fame. Your site traffic will increase dramatically for several hours if it's on the front page... that's because thousands of people are seeing it amongst 10-15 other links & if it's interesting they'll click it. Slashdot has less articles cycling on their front page or in their archives, so your article is bound to be seen by more people, even if it's no longer on the front page (cause many /.'ers who missed yesterdays news would check out the archives). And sure.. more people will blog or link your article if they have a chance of seeing it on the front page for a long time, as with Slashdot.
I don't think it's a matter of Digg being the new contender that prevented this guy's site from getting the same amount of traffic as Slashdot -- it's all relative to how long the link is available on the front page & how easy it is to get to after it's knocked off the front page.
I agree with the comments on leaving Digg vs. Slashdot debates alone... both are big contenders & both offer something unique. Digg is completely in control of the users & at times can be chaotic with reposts & many similar articles being posted -- but IT IS controlled by the users & you stand a good chance of seeing something interesting. Slashdot is moderated & is nice because articles like this would only appear once -- if someone submitted another Digg vs. Slashdot that didn't offer anything new it wouldn't be accepted. This reminds me of people with video game systems, football teams, etc..... who cares who is bigger or what makes each better, just use them both or whatever one you like better & let it rest. The only people that should really be thrilled are the Digg or Slashdot administrators who have made a successful site where their followers feel the need to argue over competitor sites. - ElectricGrandpa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I can't believe people actually like threaded comments... I don't have enough time to actually click and read through each thread, I'd rather skim digg comments and get the general consensus.
That being said, the stats aren't really that accurate... First of all, the point of Digg and Slashdott isn't really to exert "influence", it's to provide their users with interesting information and stories. Diggers exert influence when it matters, such as the whole PriceRitePhoto thing, I'm sure that if you checked the stats for that site, they would be much higher than just some "top 50" ipod list... If nothing else, perhaps there just aren't as many diggers with ipods ;).
"Kottke did an excellent job dissecting his web traffic and, more importantly, explaining why it matters. Too bad the article is too long for most of the kiddies around here to appreciate."
I swear there are more condescending "adults" here than there are kiddies... - randylovin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Digg needs a threaded comment system.
EOM. - nicodemas, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm filtering all feeds in my Thunderbird client from Digg that mention Slashdot. I'm tired of hearing about it. God, get over the /. vs. Digg complex, people.
- vhold, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think burndive is right on the money. Without threads, there really is no conversation.
If you actually happen to read -this- comment, what are you going to do to see what he said for context? You'll have to use browser find, and then he might have posted multiple comments, so which one am I referring to neccesarily? I suppose I could quote him, but it's a fairly long comment, by digg standards.
Much worse then that, he'll most likely never know that I responded to one of his comments, so the odds of a conversation actually starting are next to nil on Digg. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0to boil it down, Slashdot is for IT proffessionals and digg is for neanderthals, and yes i admit I am one of those neanderthals....slashdot=Important security/updates digg=look at my new iPod that can give me a reach around
- elpottsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Umm, heres crazy idea, why not read both, Oh you already do. In that case WTF ARE YOU ALL PRATTLING ON ABOUT!!!!
- AttroPheed, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Very interesting.
- soupisgoodfood, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I agree with people about the threaded comments. It makes it so much easier to follow all the subtopics and replies, and less likely to make redundant comments etc.
I really don't know why it isn't more popular. Flat is fine if you only average around 10 comments or so. - lenwood, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Its hard to argue with facts. Slashdot isn't going anywhere.
+Digg! - residentweevil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I, like many others, do not understand any reason why these sites should be "in competition." They are different beasts, and serve different needs. That being said, I thought it was a very well thought out article. Most comments above to the contrary are either unsupported or written by people that have not fully comprehended the original article.
+digg - kiph, on 04/20/2009, -0/+0Isn't it obvious that Slashdot will provide more traffic to a site? There are maybe 20 stories on the homepage a day. Digg features some number much higher than that on a daily basis. Digg users not only enjoy having a say on which stories get more exposure, but also like the rate at which fresh stories are available on the front page of the site.
- wilf_brim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0An interesting traffic analysis. Nonetheless, I prefer Digg. I am (frankly) intimidated and have never commented on anything on /. Digg (despite the non threaded comments) is more democratic (although it can get somewhat anarchic at times).
That and the fact that the Digg design is nice, and the /. page design is totally fugly. - AnthonyIGO, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0My site has been a recipient of both and while I definitely appreciated the traffic boost from Digg, it only lasted for about half a day or so. Meanwhile, when we were Slashdotted it bumped up our traffic by 4x for about a week and left us with an overall boost in traffic, unlike Digg.
So in conclusion, this analysis is completely true. - opinionmonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Why can't Digg and Slashdot get along?"
I'm going to compare this to army and marines. Its not that they can't get along, in fact they coexist nicely, its that a group of people within each group have large egoes. - Riddick020, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I didn't think it was a very good article. Others have already pointed out the flaws. I'm reporting this as lame.
- chadell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I eat apples and oranges at different times depending on my craving. This idea of comparison is insane. Why can't we all just get along?
- imajilon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Metafilter did a huge justice for us info junkies by instituting a pay-to-be-a-member-before-you-can-post model. The quality of the responses on a huge array of topics far exceeds anything on Digg, and generally, anything on /. Perhaps MeFi lacks the variety, but I for one enjoy quality over quantity. But hey, this didn't start as a "my favorite forum" post so I'll STFU now and let the on-topic snarking continue.
- crawdad62, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I've just started coming to digg. I like it very much. It's sort of a /. lite. I can read through it fast and move on but honestly (and no offense) /. is way more in depth and you better know what you're talking about before you post there.
Here it's a little more laid back. Both have their place and neither will/should replace the other. -
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