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See the original image at techcrunch.com

Google, Microsoft Bidding For Digg

techcrunch.com — User-generated news site Digg has been working with influential investment bank Allen & Co. (the ones that recently got Slide a half billion dollar valuation) for a few months now, and pitching big tech and media companies on a sale.

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  • Excessive, on 03/07/2008, -93/+36This is a trap!
    • laaabaseball, on 03/07/2008, -8/+69You're a trap
      • Godlike, on 03/07/2008, -14/+8Your mom is a trap.
      • DASH, on 03/07/2008, -10/+3Shut your trap.
      • OwdenBowden, on 03/07/2008, -2/+4There is no Cake.
        • mrdoogee, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4DIgg is committed to the well being of all users. Cake and grief counseling will be available at the conclusion of the purchase. Thank you for helping us help you help us all.
    • Nitesmoke, on 03/07/2008, -4/+79I don't know if this will really happen or not, but begging Kevin not to sell isn't likely to stop him. If you were offered millions for a webpage you would take it.
      • strictnein, on 03/07/2008, -1/+65No kidding. Let's see... I can continue to worry about funding for my web site whose visitors primarily consist of people who use adblock, or I can take big fat sacks of cash.
        • inigomntoya, on 03/07/2008, -7/+1Ah - thank you for the reminder! "Good bye Smashbox Cosmetics!"
        • Seph7, on 03/07/2008, -1/+29"And welcome to diggnation today where recording from Kevin's mansion in the english country side, today we thought we'd go back to the basics and just have some plain old champagne "
        • frishack, on 03/07/2008, -1/+13Seph7-- I so hope Kevin and Alex keep doing diggnation once digg makes it's financial exit. Would be an awesome process to watch the lifestyle transition to gazillionaire.
          • musicbear, on 03/07/2008, -0/+13Do you really think Kevin would be hosting "Microsoft's Diggnation" or even worrying about a weekly podcast with that kind of cash? Hopefully he'd put a good chunk behind Rev3 and he and Alex do a similar but a new show from the Rev3 studios... that is... if he didn't want to just bask in the sun on some secluded beach somewhere for the rest of his life!!!!

            And while I'm thinking about it, it would be cool if he could pull Leo under the Rev3 banner with some of that money...
          • ogremidget, on 03/07/2008, -2/+6Life would get really boring on a beach... or anywhere. People like Kevin that start up business don't just fade away. They stay busy.
          • richardiscool, on 03/07/2008, -1/+4You know, Kevin Rose won't get all of the money that Digg is sold for. He'll likely get a nice sum, but the investors need paying too?
      • Soulbow2, on 03/07/2008, -3/+2Then again, if Digg is not sold, then Kevin will continue to make money off of it.

        Yes, I use Adblock as well...sorry website owners.
    • ArchangelZLT, on 03/07/2008, -10/+3Sorry dude this is not the world of Sherlock...
    • MattNF, on 03/07/2008, -5/+32You're doing it wrong.
      • nihilite, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1this sophomoric attempt makes akbar sad. =,(
    • jostheller, on 03/07/2008, -10/+24Why would Microsoft want to waste its money buying a site where 90% of the users literally hate them. Let me see if I understand this... Microsoft buys digg.com for 300 million. Everyone leaves, I know I will. Microsoft has now just bought a ghost town of a website. hmmmm... It doesn't make financial sense to me.
      • ronaldinho, on 03/07/2008, -4/+23why would Microsoft care? would they really read comments on the website? I don't think they care as long as they see constant web traffic, even if half of Digg are against Microsoft. But will everyone leave? I don't think so. Come to your senses, not everyone is a Apple fanboy.
        • jostheller, on 03/07/2008, -7/+15Linux fanboy. Don't smear my good name. And im not addicted to digg... there are many other sites like digg that I would move to. Microsoft buys digg, you better believe ill stop coming. that isnt a threat. just the facts.
          • ogremidget, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1How about, if MS buys Digg, AND screws things up, then leave.
      • rebelwoaclue, on 03/07/2008, -4/+15M$ Digg = me buh-bye

        It would be the break Slashdot is looking for.
        • jostheller, on 03/07/2008, -2/+7True. thats where I will be...
        • Disfnord, on 03/07/2008, -1/+4Yeah, that's exactly what slashdot needs... /sarcasm
      • mugicha, on 03/07/2008, -2/+7Everyone leaves? So, you'd stop looking at the internet?
    • buddamus, on 03/07/2008, -7/+17Microsoft are offering cake, its a lie, don't fall for it
      • Shiftgood, on 03/07/2008, -0/+10why would you throw away aperture science thing we do not know what it does?
        • mrdoogee, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2Good news. I figured out what that thing you just incinerated did. It was a morality core they installed after I flooded the enrichment center with a deadly neurotoxin to make me stop flooding the enrichment center with a deadly neurotoxin. So get comfortable, while I warm up the neurotoxin emitters.
      • RexxxMaster, on 03/07/2008, -10/+1Ms is a fruit cake with bad fruit in(you fruit cake). if you know what i mean
        • dudeguy1234, on 03/08/2008, -0/+2No I don't, because you don't use intelligible english
    • Urzeitlich, on 03/07/2008, -0/+18IT'S A TRAP!
      • dudeguy1234, on 03/08/2008, -1/+2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ./ It’s a trap!
        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _,,,--~~~~~~~~--,_ . . . . ._________/
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        . . . . . . . . .,-‘ / / : :: :: :: :: : : :::: :::-, ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ; . . . . . . . .
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        . . . . .,/ /|\| | :/ / : : : : : : : ,’-, :: :: :: :: ::,--‘’ :,-‘ . . . . . . . .
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        : : : : : : :¯’’~~~~~~’’’ : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : | : : : : : : : : :
    • andburn1, on 03/07/2008, -1/+2This story is false. www.blog.digg.com
    • dudeguy1234, on 03/08/2008, -4/+3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IT'S A TRAP!. . .
      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _,,,--~~~~~~~~--,_ . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,-‘ : : : :::: :::: :: : : : : :º ‘-, . . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . . . .,-‘ :: : : :::: :::: :::: :::: : : :o : ‘-, . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . . ,-‘ :: ::: :: : : :: :::: :::: :: : : : : :O ‘-, . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .,-‘ : :: :: :: :: :: : : : : : , : : :º :::: :::: ::’; . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . .,-‘ / / : :: :: :: :: : : :::: :::-, ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ; . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . /,-‘,’ :: : : : : : : : : :: :: :: : ‘-, ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;;| . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . /,’,-‘ :: :: :: :: :: :: :: : ::_,-~~,_’-, ;; ;; ;; ;; | . . . . . . .
      . . . . . _/ :,’ :/ :: :: :: : : :: :: _,-‘/ : ,-‘;’-‘’’’’~-, ;; ;; ;;,’ . . . . . . . .
      . . . ,-‘ / : : : : : : ,-‘’’ : : :,--‘’ :|| /,-‘-‘--‘’’__,’’’ ;; ;,-‘ . . . . . . . .
      . . . :/,, : : : _,-‘ --,,_ : : : ||/ /,-‘-‘x### :: ;;/ . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . / /---‘’’’ : # : : : : : | | : (O##º : :/ /-‘’ . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . /,’____ : : ‘-# : , : : : : ‘-,___,-‘,-`-,, . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . ‘ ) : : : :’’’’--,,--,,,,,,¯ :: ::--,,_’’-,,’’’¯ :’- :’-, . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . .) : : : : : : ,, : ‘’’’~~~~’ :: :: :: :’’’’’¯ :: ,-‘ :,/ . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . .,/ /|\| | :/ / : : : : : : : ,’-, :: :: :: :: ::,--‘’ :,-‘ . . . . . . . .
      . . . . .\’|\ |/ ‘/ / :: :_--,, : , | )’; :: :: :: :,-‘’ : ,-‘ : : : , . . . . . . .
      . . . ./¯ :| | : |/ :: ::----, :/ :|/ :: :: ,-‘’ : :,-‘ : : : : : : ‘’-,,_ . . . .
      . . ..| : : :/ ‘’-(, :: :: :: ‘’’’’~,,,,,’’ :: ,-‘’ : :,-‘ : : : : : : : : :,-‘’’\ . . . .
      . ,-‘ : : : | : : ‘’) : : :¯’’’’~-,: : ,--‘’’ : :,-‘’ : : : : : : : : : ,-‘ :¯’’’’’-,_ .
      ./ : : : : :’-, :: | :: :: :: _,,-‘’’’¯ : ,--‘’ : : : : : : : : : : : / : : : : : : :’’-,
      / : : : : : -, :¯’’’’’’’’’’’¯ : : _,,-~’’ : : : : : : : : : : : : : :| : : : : : : : : :
      : : : : : : : :¯’’~~~~~~’’’ : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : | : : : : : : : : :
  • bobnone, on 03/07/2008, -115/+1493Don't sell Digg Kevin! Digg this story he needs to know how we feel!
    • neoknight, on 03/07/2008, -12/+120Can't you sell shares of the site to the users? We'll take care of it while you, Alex and Jay are on the beach in the Bahamas. Srsly!
      • bobnone, on 03/07/2008, -20/+2lol true that!
      • davewashere, on 03/07/2008, -2/+81Yeah, I would like to invest my accumulated lifetime earnings to buy a .1% share of Digg. Seriously Kevin, just cash out. Mansions, cars, and a stable of bitches can't buy you happiness, but then again neither can I.
        • DivisibleByZero, on 03/07/2008, -2/+127It's like the old saying goes. "Money can't buy happiness, but happiness can't buy *****."
        • zengonzo, on 03/07/2008, -2/+106I've been rich and unhappy, and I've been poor and unhappy.

          Rich is better.
          • bbardlbradd, on 03/07/2008, -3/+1I've been rich and happy, and I've been poor and happy.

            Poor is better.
          • t3soro, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2lies
        • Archaic1, on 03/07/2008, -3/+9Agreed; Sell up, then live the rest of your life being fed fruit salad by supermodels on a tropical island in between returning to America weekly for Diggnation.
        • echotech, on 03/07/2008, -2/+12Sell, but not to M$. Those dirty bastards.
    • bxblox, on 03/07/2008, -37/+190Sell it.
      • nbcaffeine, on 03/07/2008, -9/+61take the money and run
        • hypermite, on 03/07/2008, -1/+2take the money and run
          take the money

          here i'm allowed
          everything all the time
          here i'm allowed
          everything all the time
          • Niels, on 03/07/2008, -3/+491.- sell to M$
            2.- profit!
            3.- create digg2.com
            4.- we all move to digg2.com
            5.- ???
            6.- MORE PROFIT !!!
          • andburn1, on 03/07/2008, -2/+8Best. Plan. Ever.
        • JJP0223, on 03/07/2008, -2/+3Ha I was actually listening to that song when I read the comment
      • derjames, on 03/07/2008, -13/+102but not to Microsoft...
        • Audacitor, on 03/07/2008, -9/+72Dear god, PLEASE not to Microsoft.
          • noots, on 03/07/2008, -2/+17Microsoft already owns the ad letting on Digg don't they? I wouldn't be surprised if they buy it.
          • pukiman, on 03/07/2008, -24/+9Please to Microsoft, please! That will certainly shut up them annoying Apple fans (Including Kein Rose) that digg the stupid Apple stories to front page, for good.
          • cowman, on 03/07/2008, -16/+10I'd actually prefer it go to microsoft. google needs competition to come from somewhere.
          • latova, on 03/07/2008, -1/+7cowman: you mean the constant markets that microsoft keeps pushing into?
        • Coded1, on 03/07/2008, -2/+21It doesn't really matter if they do, I think if MS does buy it then Google should come up with a Digg clone and I would hang out there instead. After all they are just putting a price on the store not the customers, even a McD's will close down if no one buys their burgers.
        • ronaldinho, on 03/07/2008, -0/+5It looks like Google might bid higher than what Microsoft would (part of Digg's revenues comes from Microsoft), and seriously, if I was Kevin Rose, I would simply see whoever is willing to offer me the most and go from there. $200 million is no small number for a website. And yes, I rather Google own Digg than Microsoft. God forbid there will be a day when "Digg is only view-able by IE8"
        • ICSU, on 03/07/2008, -1/+1Why?
          It may limit the number of fanboys.
        • delfin1, on 03/07/2008, -2/+3microsoft would make digg so much better, but Google would be more loyal to the original blueprint.
      • InferiorWang, on 03/07/2008, -16/+10I'd like to welcome our new corporate overlords.
      • IglooBurner, on 03/07/2008, -6/+5to Google! I'd like to see what contributions they can make to this site.
        perhaps we can see Digg updates straight from our Gmail! that would be pretty sweet.
        • LonesomeFighter, on 03/07/2008, -0/+9Google would know how to make an effective search engine for the diggs i have made over time
      • delfin1, on 03/07/2008, -1/+3too early to sell.
        there are sooo many people who don't use digg, but they would if they knew about it.
        however there needs to be upgrades within the next few months, otherwise the new technologies will make digg obsolete.
      • GeorgeStone2, on 03/07/2008, -1/+1For the love of god Kevin. Sell!
        This site can't compete any more, I'm afraid.
        Other sites do user generated content better, go out on a high.
    • iainc, on 03/07/2008, -23/+457Sell it, take the money -- who wouldn't? But FFS don't sell it to Balmer! Please, please go with Google.
      • bitspace, on 03/07/2008, -3/+38Yes! I think a sale to Google would be a good thing, to be honest. It would at the very least stay more or less the same as it is now, and at the most become integrated into Google's in-development social networking initiative. Neither of these options is bad, imho. A sale to Microsoft would probably have the same options, except that Microsoft's attempts at Web platforms have been garbage, and I suspect digg would go the way of WebTV like so many other Microsoft web properties.

        • Audacitor, on 03/07/2008, -4/+30If Google buys it, there'll be advertising for it on Youtube. And you know what that means.
          If Microsoft buys it, there'll be advertising for it on MSN. And you also know what that means.
          Whoever buys it, we'll get in influx of idiots.
          • Wildog27, on 03/07/2008, -1/+49And that's different from how it is now in what way?
          • mem2, on 03/07/2008, -0/+26I doubt the signal to noise ratio on digg could get any worse than it already is.
          • darkstar949, on 03/07/2008, -0/+5Welcome to the second Eternal September.
          • Philluminati, on 03/07/2008, -0/+5Too late. I am already here!!!
        • jakem1, on 03/07/2008, -3/+17If Google buys it they'll be able to add your opinions to all the other personal information they're collecting about you.
        • MrMetal, on 03/07/2008, -1/+21Google would probably fix the comment system with their mad AJAX skillz.
      • wweb, on 03/07/2008, -11/+7... and Google gets bigger and bigger, buying digg is another step to Googles attempt of world domination
        • DrOnion, on 03/07/2008, -2/+4You are being dugg down because you have awakened -- you have realized that Google is slowly taking over. They gain power through baby steps -- we don't really notice, nor do we think anything of it. If we continue to give a little bit up to Google each passing day, we will soon wake up in a Google police state. We forget that Google is a publicly traded corporate entity -- they answer only to the masters whom are their investors. They put up the "hip" and "cool" facade to desensitize you and lull you into a false sense of security. Google already knows what you search for online, they read your emails, and they know what places you need directions to. Soon they will control the internet and subsequently the world's primary mode of communication. I am not saying that Microsoft is any better, I am just saying that Google is much more capable of carrying out their intentions.

          As for you comrade wweb, ignore these sheep who sing praises to Google -- do not let them silence you. Continue to fight the good fight!
          • alecks, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2Uhmm... by that reasoning, MS is actually in a better possition.... with, what, 90% of the market being Windows.... They ALSO know everything you do.... and not just online, like Google. We are doomed.
          • wweb, on 03/07/2008, -0/+0I only thought about what happened with writely. It had a really good design and since Google acquired it there is only this bad white and blue Google site!
          • Lutremi, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1You know that every single major search engine already does this? Yeah. Read The Search by John Battelle.
          • DrOnion, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1@ alecks
            Yes comrade, I do realize that MS would know what I do, that is if I used MS. This is yet another reason for switching over to open source, whether it be Ubuntu, Fedora, or Knoppix it does not matter, what matters is that it is open and that there are no ulterior motives. I would say that the general population has awakened with regards to Microsoft's plans -- this is not the case with Google. Here on the bastion of free thinking that is Digg, most people are aware of what MS is up to and have spoke out against the atrocities MS at some point in their lives -- this is not the case with Google. They are sheep -- they hinge on to Google's every word. They wait in eager anticipation for the completion of Google's next project. They eagerly submit to Google's will. Chances are they are running Android on their jailbroken iphones, not because it is functional, but because it is Google and therefore "hip" and "cool". When the day comes that Google releases their full blown OS, the sheep will at least dual boot it with their current operating system if not switch over and run it as their main OS. This OS will pose as open source, but it is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

            And Alecks, you are right. Unless the online community, starting with Digg, takes heed to this warning and the countless warnings of my fellow freedom fighters instead of shrugging us off as being crazy, we will indeed be doomed -- doomed to live in a Google police state, a state that knows our every online move.

            As for you Lutremi, I realize every search engine does what Google does, but they are no way near as powerful as Google, nor do they really have the potential to be what Google is. I am fully aware that the creators of these sites have inappropriate fantasies regarding Google, but they pose no threat and are therefore relatively safe to use.
      • heypetray, on 03/07/2008, -2/+8As long as it doesn't go to Rupert Murdoch, it's fine with me.
    • ArchangelZLT, on 03/07/2008, -12/+115Yeah... If Digg was sold to Google perhaps I'll still visit it for a couple of times per day. But to Microsoft... THAT'S A NIGHTMARE!
      • Audacitor, on 03/07/2008, -11/+73If Digg goes to Microsoft, I'm leaving.
      • Rolcol, on 03/07/2008, -4/+12Agreed. (I also agree with Audicator) Microsoft has been messing up since Yahoo declined their offer and the release of vista. Microsoft comes and I leave. Google, on the other hand, won't make me want to leave.
      • Kanidia, on 03/08/2008, -0/+6Welcome to Windows Live Digg™! Sign in with your Windows Live™ account to port over your current Digg account.

        [Insert ugly Vista-type design with that failure background of the colours and aurora thing]
    • Emnsta, on 03/07/2008, -18/+11If Kevin cared, we wouldn't need to Digg anything for him to know how we feel.
      • Audacitor, on 03/07/2008, -3/+12Kevin already knows how we feel anyway. And I honestly think that even if MS offered more money than Google, he'd go with Google. Because he knows the user base would prefer Google.
        • sadilak, on 03/07/2008, -2/+0Not really. Google is no better than MS. Both of them are equally selfish. Infact, all big corporations are selfish.
          • BryanJK, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2have you see everything google does? what is like to work at google? how they give a phone to all the homeless? tons of free awesome *****?
            I don't think they are a bad company at all
          • sadilak, on 03/08/2008, -0/+0You obviously have no idea how much money bill gates has donated to the third world countries. Get your facts straight. I used to work in Microsoft and it is a very nice place to work contrary to how you think. Their seattle campus is awesome.
      • rpgmaker, on 03/07/2008, -0/+7That's what she said!
        No, seriously, I'm sure that the girl that dumped Kevin for creating digg (before she knew that it was going to make him a millionaire) said the same thing to him.
      • Philluminati, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2we moan because we like moaning.
    • raynar, on 03/07/2008, -11/+21sell it before a pligg clone makes a better version and takes your money.
      • theaceoffire, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1Good point, don't forget what happened to Slashdot.
    • kent1146, on 03/07/2008, -6/+101"Don't sell Digg Kevin! Digg this story he needs to know how we feel!"

      I don't know about Kevin, but personally I believe that:
      The feeling of multi-millions $$$ >> The feeling that you didn't sell out.

      i.e. Screw you guys, I'm going home (where I can swim in a giant vault of money Scrooge McDuck style)
      • raynar, on 03/07/2008, -2/+13exactly. work on a website that is easy to duplicate and lose out on my chance to make it big...or bang a supermodel who only wans me for my money, but i'm cool with that.
      • Coffeedemon, on 03/07/2008, -2/+8"The feeling that you didn't sell out."
        Wish people would give up that attitude about anyone who makes some money. If Kevin cares at all about the so-called community or scene or whatever they're calling it these days he can take some of that huge pile of money to do something free which will enhance the community or use it for some great and noble emerging technology.

        Or he could take it and buy cars and big houses. We'll find out soon enough.
      • aeoo, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2You're forgetting that he's not exactly poor or in need of money even as it is, and I am certain has a good life cut out of him either way. So getting more money is not as attractive as it is for people who have none.
      • MMorJon, on 03/07/2008, -0/+6Dugg for Scrooge McDuck
    • spudnic, on 03/07/2008, -6/+75Why the hell wouldn't he?
      Put up with the bitching of thousands of geeks, or move to an island and live the life of a king for the rest of your life... he'd be stupid not to accept.
    • jeffsback2223, on 03/07/2008, -22/+6If Google gets a hold of Digg it will be sucked dry and censored, just like You Tube. Please for the love of all that is good in this world, Don't sell out!
      • Audacitor, on 03/07/2008, -2/+19If Microsoft gets a hold of Digg, it will be sucked dry, and no Apple stories will be permitted. This little democracy we have going will be destroyed.
        • jeffsback2223, on 03/07/2008, -1/+12I said "don't sell out", not "don't sell out to Google". my comment encompasses Microsoft as well. The fact that Microsoft will censor Digg goes without saying.
        • mem2, on 03/07/2008, -3/+9apple stories being buried ?, GO MICROSOFT
      • cgjamj, on 03/07/2008, -0/+7You understand that there are fundamental differences between You Tube and Digg, right? Copyright issues are a major concern with an online video site where any copyrighted material is converted, uploaded and stored on the youtube servers. Digg does not really have such issues. The content is nothing more than links submitted and stored. Also, if users submit comments providing copyrighted info (HD-DVD crack), Digg is not directly liable as they are not encouraging or promoting such behavior.
        So your point about Google censoring Digg is completely invalid. With You Tube, it was inevitable.
      • Rolcol, on 03/07/2008, -0/+5Microsoft is worse than google. Microsoft will be censoring Open Source and Linux since it may collide with their sales. YouTube has gotten more attention since google bought it so copyright is a bigger issue when it's someones work. News is usually made by people outside of the company so the news story belongs to them.
    • aethelberga, on 03/07/2008, -6/+18Personally I think Kevin should cash in. Opportunities like this don't come along twice in a lifetime. But it is most likely out of his hands-too many other people want their piece of the pie.
    • TnTBass, on 03/07/2008, -4/+18I think greed would win out over anything else. Kevin could keep running this site and make good money doing it. Why sell? I see $200+ millions reasons.

      It is all about the $$$. Don't kid yourself, he will sell. As much as I would like to think I wouldn't sell, I think $200+ million would be damn hard to turn down.
      • aeoo, on 03/07/2008, -2/+3It's hard to turn down 200 mil if you're a cubicle drone, I agree. But if you are a founder of a successful business where you call all the shots, even if you don't have 200 mil in liquid assets immediately available to you **yet**, getting 200 mil and surrendering your role in the business and your role in the community is not as sweet a deal as you think.

        I'm sure Kevin is pretty rich as it is.
        • TnTBass, on 03/07/2008, -2/+1I guess time will tell. Yes, he's probably not doing at all bad for himself these days. He really doesn't need to sell at all. He could keep running digg as well as his other sites, yet he's considering selling. Why? Probably the $200+ million reasons.

          My only other guess would be boredom, but he could always take up a hobby too.
      • Alegoo92, on 03/07/2008, -0/+3Why is it even a BAD decision to sell it? The purpose of business is to make money: and his life will be easier and more luxurious this way.
        • TnTBass, on 03/09/2008, -0/+1It's not a "BAD" decision, if all you're after is money. Which, don't get me wrong, is what motivates 99% of people.
          Looking at it in a pure financial way, yes, selling would make him more.

          However, I would think there would be some motivation in staying in charge of one's own creation.
    • carlvjack, on 03/07/2008, -3/+20Yeah don't sell for millions of dollars and get rewarded for your work.

      Sheesh like none of us would sell to "do the right thing".
      • Alegoo92, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1Plus if he didn't it'd be missing a huge chance.. eventually Digg will lose it's community when people move on.
    • GhengisKhan, on 03/07/2008, -2/+39Sell it Kev. Let's assume for a moment that you're in business to make money. The rest of these diggers yelling 'No!' would dump Digg in a heartbeat for that kind of scratch.
    • dn11, on 03/07/2008, -4/+11Like Kevin has a say in the matter? Getting $12 million in VC funding takes away that ability.
      • HerrEisenheim, on 03/07/2008, -0/+10Exactly. That's what most people don't get. He probably had to give up the right to sell after Series A. Even if he didn't, with $12M in funding he probably only has a minority stake now. I'd be pretty impressed if he owns more than 10% to be honest. He's a pretty smart kid, so who knows—he might. It would be nice to see him be able to walk away with at least $20M.

        That is, essentially, the problem with all these Web 2.0 companies that have no sustainable revenue model. Their only choice is to seek VC and then liquidate via acquisition by a larger company. They can't keep going on their own feet, and they don't generate the profits necessary to go IPO.

        The VCs in the Bay Area want to liquidate in 3-5 years, and look to score at least 10x return. That means, at best, Digg has another two years before it gets sold to the highest bidder. But VC groups are well aware we are in a bubble, and well aware of the current market conditions and trends. Web 2.0 is riding on Google's overinflated ego and stock, which is starting to sink. The time to sell Digg is now, from their point of view. 18 months from now there may not be a buyer.
        • aeoo, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1"That is, essentially, the problem with all these Web 2.0 companies that have no sustainable revenue model. Their only choice is to seek VC and then liquidate via acquisition by a larger company. They can't keep going on their own feet, and they don't generate the profits necessary to go IPO."

          That's not true. If this site has no value, why would any company pay good money for it? Obviously if someone offers you good money to take it off your hands, it is worth it to you to own it yourself too.
          • barnett25, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4If I had a large crane it would be of no value to me, but would be considered very valuable to a construction company.
          • HerrEisenheim, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1barnett25, you have essentially captured Web 2.0 from a business perspective. Bravo.

            Digg, Twitter, Pownce, Flickr, and even Facebook (to a lesser extent) can be thought of in that way. They are value adds to larger companies.
          • Nialsh, on 03/07/2008, -0/+0Well I'm skeptical and probably dense. How has YouTube been utilized as a "crane" by Google, the "construction company"?
          • HerrEisenheim, on 03/07/2008, -0/+0And you'd be right. YouTube was extraordinarily overvalued, but it was also purchased at the peak of the bubble. Why Google paid $1.6B for what is essentially a loss generating liability is something of a mystery. Granted, they are now starting to try to monetize it, but it's unlikely they will ever get $1.6B of utility from YouTube.

            My best guess is that Google wanted to dominate the online video marketplace (i.e. Google Video), and they looked at a cost/benefit analysis of what that would take, and realized it just might be easier to buy the competition. Maybe they figured it would have cost them $2B to try and overtake YouTube with Google Video, I don't know. That is the only logical conclusion I can come to over the acquisition.
        • AcidBurnz, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2Just because Google is offering to buy the company doesn't mean digg has an EXISTING sustainable revenue model. Google just sees the potential for it. Anyways, HerrEisenheim hit the nail on the head.

          Lets hope Google picks it up and lets Kevin keep his job :D
        • HerrEisenheim, on 03/07/2008, -0/+0"That's not true. If this site has no value, why would any company pay good money for it? Obviously if someone offers you good money to take it off your hands, it is worth it to you to own it yourself too."

          I didn't say it has no value. Clearly, it does. But if you want to go IPO you need to have more than "value." You need to have a vision for growth of the company that would require public investment with the expectation of being able to provide returns to the shareholders. In simple terms: You need to be able to show LARGE (even if only on paper) profits. Digg can't do that, especially when half its users (myself included) use some form of Adblocking, which sort of kills their current revenue model.

          Digg is a fine site, and I come here most days. It's great, but it can't stand alone. As part of a larger company, its costs can be consolidated (hosting, bandwidth, management, development, etc.), and thus it can attain a higher level of profitability (and is one of the way companies think of acquisitions in terms of what they are worth; that is, in terms of a "value add" to the parent company) than would ever be possible as a stand alone entity.
    • Shiner6, on 03/07/2008, -5/+17If they do sell to Microsoft I am prepared to develop www.diggfallout.com, and you're all invited. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
      • SSUK, on 03/07/2008, -1/+9Like there's not 101 Digg clones out there already.
    • dsenman, on 03/07/2008, -3/+17Who cares? Both those companies are smart enough to not come in here and brand their logos all over it. They just want to own it for the ad platform. Let Kevin Rose sell it and get rich - he put in all the hard work. He better do it before the bubble really bursts though, this valuation is on the way down.
    • Rekzai, on 03/07/2008, -4/+12Will kevin stop making diggnation when he's a millionaire?
    • ZeroSumDivide, on 03/07/2008, -2/+10I sure as hell hope that if Kevin does sell digg, it'll be Google that snaps it up.
    • Matrix_Prime, on 03/07/2008, -3/+8I say sell it. Digg isn't what it use to be when it first started anyway.
    • jebus123, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2It's a trap!
    • nytel, on 03/07/2008, -1/+1I hope you guys get the money your looking for and let the rest of your life be worry free. Jah Bless!
    • madrid, on 03/07/2008, -6/+21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ./ It’s a trap!
      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _,,,--~~~~~~~~--,_ . . . . ._________/
      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,-‘ : : : :::: :::: :: : : : : :º ‘-, . . /. . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . . . .,-‘ :: : : :::: :::: :::: :::: : : :o : ‘-, . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . . ,-‘ :: ::: :: : : :: :::: :::: :: : : : : :O ‘-, . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .,-‘ : :: :: :: :: :: : : : : : , : : :º :::: :::: ::’; . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . .,-‘ / / : :: :: :: :: : : :::: :::-, ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ; . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . /,-‘,’ :: : : : : : : : : :: :: :: : ‘-, ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;;| . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . /,’,-‘ :: :: :: :: :: :: :: : ::_,-~~,_’-, ;; ;; ;; ;; | . . . . . . .
      . . . . . _/ :,’ :/ :: :: :: : : :: :: _,-‘/ : ,-‘;’-‘’’’’~-, ;; ;; ;;,’ . . . . . . . .
      . . . ,-‘ / : : : : : : ,-‘’’ : : :,--‘’ :|| /,-‘-‘--‘’’__,’’’ ;; ;,-‘ . . . . . . . .
      . . . :/,, : : : _,-‘ --,,_ : : : ||/ /,-‘-‘x### :: ;;/ . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . / /---‘’’’ : # : : : : : | | : (O##º : :/ /-‘’ . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . /,’____ : : ‘-# : , : : : : ‘-,___,-‘,-`-,, . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . ‘ ) : : : :’’’’--,,--,,,,,,¯ :: ::--,,_’’-,,’’’¯ :’- :’-, . . . . . . . . .
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      . . . . .,/ /|| | :/ / : : : : : : : ,’-, :: :: :: :: ::,--‘’ :,-‘ . . . . . . . .
      . . . . .’| |/ ‘/ / :: :_--,, : , | )’; :: :: :: :,-‘’ : ,-‘ : : : , . . . . . . .
      . . . ./¯ :| | : |/ :: ::----, :/ :|/ :: :: ,-‘’ : :,-‘ : : : : : : ‘’-,,_ . . . .
      . . ..| : : :/ ‘’-(, :: :: :: ‘’’’’~,,,,,’’ :: ,-‘’ : :,-‘ : : : : : : : : :,-‘’’ . . . .
      . ,-‘ : : : | : : ‘’) : : :¯’’’’~-,: : ,--‘’’ : :,-‘’ : : : : : : : : : ,-‘ :¯’’’’’-,_ .
      ./ : : : : :’-, :: | :: :: :: _,,-‘’’’¯ : ,--‘’ : : : : : : : : : : : / : : : : : : :’’-,
      / : : : : : -, :¯’’’’’’’’’’’¯ : : _,,-~’’ : : : : : : : : : : : : : :| : : : : : : : : :
      : : : : : : :¯’’~~~~~~’’’ : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : | : : : : : : : : :
      • Dennis88, on 03/07/2008, -4/+1I know I'm probably a silly n00b or whatever, but can someone explain to me why I've seen this on like every digg thread since I joined like 6 months ago? WHAT DOES IT MEAN??
        • GhostyBoy, on 03/07/2008, -3/+9This will probably explain it better than I can:

          http://youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
          • Dennis88, on 03/08/2008, -1/+1Oh come on. I'm not THAT much of a noob.

            And I understand Rick Rolling. I think it's funny. I just don't get the "It's a trap" guy.
        • ganlet, on 03/07/2008, -6/+3The video posted by GhostyBoy and the image by madrid is just digg spam. There is a collection of people on digg who think its funny so they post is everywhere. I bury both of them every time I see them. (Probably going to get buried for saying this)
          • GhostyBoy, on 03/07/2008, -2/+3See, ganlet? This is why you don't get invited to parties.
        • Herostratos, on 03/08/2008, -0/+2No worries, everyone has been n00b at some time in their life. It's admiral Ackbar from star wars. You probably recognize him:
          http://swg.stratics.com/content/lore/personas/imag ...
      • 4d669, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1this hell hole has to be sold before Buzz comes out.
    • chris1012, on 03/07/2008, -7/+1wtf, don't be a sell out.
    • chris1012, on 03/07/2008, -1/+6* forgot to add to my other comment - I use digg because it's owned by digg, not some ***** parent company like microsoft or google. I feel welcome to come on digg and post what ever, say how I feel, without having to worry about huge ass law suits or being spied on. With google, microsoft, or anyone else, that feeling will go away, I won't feel as welcomed here. I also will not enjoy the ads if google or microsoft own it because there will not be any random advertisement. Right now you have ads from all over, but if microsoft owns it, then guess what? MS a ads will be plastered all over.. or on the other hand, i doubt it, but they might remove the ads all together.

      Plus think of the mac fan boys/girls. I bet all of them will disappear because it will be owned by microsoft. Same if google owns it, all the other search engine fanboys/girls probably wont stick around because they can't stand the thought of using a google owned digg. Right now digg.com is neutral to almost everyone, it's a free place to come, post, flame, and a bunch of other things that we enjoy so much, if its owned by a large corporation, it won't neutral ground anymore.

      I, for one, do not welcome any big corporate overlords.
    • SolidSnake24, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1if this happens, expect to see a lot of users, submissions and comments to be removed due to copyright!! This disaster has already happened to Youtube!
  • MrBabyMan, on 03/07/2008, -97/+1493DO NOT WANT!!!!!
    • ani625, on 03/07/2008, -17/+32http://theducks.org/pictures/do-not-want-dog.jpg
      • uzair21, on 03/07/2008, -25/+4Shut the ***** off.
        • gizzymo, on 03/07/2008, -13/+9at least get your insults right........."Shut the ***** up"
        • SSUK, on 03/07/2008, -1/+12Open the ***** on.
        • AcidBurnz, on 03/07/2008, -2/+1Your stupid comments are everywhere! Even on the article too...
    • colonelbuckshot, on 03/07/2008, -14/+24can you be bothered to explain why
    • PhantomRogue, on 03/07/2008, -11/+36Are you going to pay them a few Billion dollars with your awesome submissions MrBabyMan? I didn't think so... If they get a few billion from the sale... they would be stupid not to take it.
      • styler5, on 03/07/2008, -0/+19billion? with a B?
      • dan222555, on 03/07/2008, -1/+16lol who's giving them a few billion dollars?
      • PhantomRogue, on 03/07/2008, -5/+3My Bad, I read the blurb of the article as a billion, not half a billion. But my point remains the same.
    • 0crabby0, on 03/07/2008, -5/+116Mr Babyman - Powered by Microsoft...lol
      • RemuS02, on 03/07/2008, -10/+3Nope, its like this:
        Microsoft - Powered by MrBabyMan
        • celkin, on 03/08/2008, -1/+2I wouldn't be undermining a comment with four-digit diggs.
        • ritzcracker, on 03/08/2008, -0/+2Dude, you killed it.
    • kidcodea, on 03/07/2008, -7/+37beat it basement inflated ego.
    • kjcdude, on 03/07/2008, -20/+13MrBabyMan loves Kevins dick to much. he wouldn't be used to getting reach arounds from someone different
      • JamesMorris, on 03/07/2008, -12/+7Ban MrBabyMan!
        • endlessoul, on 03/07/2008, -3/+10Even though the two knuckleheads above me are being dugg down, it's not in vain.

          MrBabyMan is a cancer on Digg.
          • bullcutter, on 03/07/2008, -1/+6amen! and i don't harbor some personal animous towards him either, its just obvious that he's being paid to spam digg, and i can't believe he is celebrated for this. it goes against everything that Digg stands for! (so does re-submitting & popularizing a duplicate story)
          • MrBabyMan, on 03/08/2008, -6/+7@bullcutter It's apparent that you really do harbor some sort of personal resentment towards me based on all the energy you spend on me in your comments. For the record, as I've stated before (to YOU, in fact, bullcutter) I have never been paid to submit anything to Digg by anyone. Unless you have proof otherwise (and you don't), quit harassing other Digg users.
          • bullcutter, on 03/08/2008, -2/+5for the record, i harp on all the superusers equally, and i only harass people that deserve it. you're manipulating digg for personal gain, now cut it out.
    • dn11, on 03/07/2008, -4/+17But MrBabyMan, YOU WOULD. So would everyone here. Everyone cries about sell outs until they are actually in the position to "sell out" themselves. At least it won't be News Corp. Having said that, I'll believe it when i see it. How many times have these sort of stories come up on TechCrunch?
      • gmprunner, on 03/08/2008, -2/+1Who are you to tell me what I'd do?
    • DarkSamus, on 03/07/2008, -17/+7***** YOU BITCH!
    • zaduma, on 03/07/2008, -5/+17Google would be fine. NOT MS!!!!
      • RexxxMaster, on 03/07/2008, -0/+6as long as the we the user keep controll(vote for betas) that would be sweet
        • Mr.RX99, on 03/07/2008, -0/+3If that remains true, MS buying digg would backfire hilariously, considering how much everyone here hates M$.
    • endlessoul, on 03/07/2008, -5/+60Too bad, MrBabyMan. Maybe now you'll have to get a real job.
      • MrBabyMan, on 03/07/2008, -13/+24Yeah, I guess I'll be losing out on *all* that revenue Digg is paying me now.
        /sarcasm
        • tomboy501, on 03/07/2008, -3/+1With Google behind the scenes at digg....that could actually be a future possibility. Revenue sharing with users a la' YouTube. Think of the possibilities...
        • bullcutter, on 03/07/2008, -1/+20Its not Digg that's paying you, its the websites you spam for.
          • ritzcracker, on 03/08/2008, -1/+3After i read your comment i couldn't help but say "OWNED" aloud.
        • Bilabrin, on 03/07/2008, -7/+1You and like 20 others ought to get paid. How about a certain amout set out each month by Kevin. Say $10,000 or so and divide it among the submitters of any story making it to the front page. Each digger could submit a paypal account for payment. Now THAT is a free market concept. Why should the users of a user generated content site go unpaid for their efforts while a few exploit our passions and get rich?
          • endlessoul, on 03/07/2008, -2/+4I hope you're joking. MrBabyMan has admitted to resubmitting duplicate articles. Why should he be paid because he has "friends" to digg his submissions?
          • bullcutter, on 03/07/2008, -2/+4??? get paid for making Digg more contrived? seeing as how MrBabyMan hogs front page space that should be going to worthier stories (thusly lowering the quality of Digg content in general) how could things _not_ get better if he stopped popularizing stories today??

            put 2 and 2 together and you'll see the supersubmitters are making Digg boring!
    • dracostimpy, on 03/07/2008, -4/+1http://digg.com/users/dracostimpy/gallery/3536850/ ...
    • Bilabrin, on 03/07/2008, -12/+4yOU ON THE PAYROLL HERE BABYMAN. i ASK BECAUSE YOU, MSALEEM AND SUPERNOVA PRODUCE ALOT OF FRONT PAGE CONTENT.

      P.S. sorry about the all caps. Lock was on and , frankly I just don't want to retype the damn thing!
      • bullcutter, on 03/07/2008, -1/+3What I don't understand is why the algorithm had to be re-changed in order to assure continuance of the utter domination of front page material by 4 or 5 users, when its quite obvious Digg would be freer in scope and wider in breadth of subject material without them!

        5-7 users submit 50% or more of the front page material... tens of thousands of users each day... does this seem a little askew to anybody else? until the same user can no longer submit and popularize the same story, digg is broken.
    • alfredomancho, on 03/07/2008, -3/+7corporate influence = censorship. This is the reason why I have such great respect for people like Maddox who are tempted everyday, but still hold to their values.
    • ritzcracker, on 03/07/2008, -5/+10MR BABY MAN GO GOBBLE A *****.
      ***** Microsoft.
    • delgotit99, on 03/07/2008, -5/+2BURIED as LAME
    • Eucolastic, on 03/07/2008, -7/+0DO NOT WANT ANOTHER BAD PREZ

      RON PAUL 08
    • samuel514, on 03/08/2008, -1/+2do not Has! please Kevin, digg can be great without an MS Monkey dancer
  • ani625, on 03/07/2008, -42/+486NNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
    • jabberwolf, on 03/07/2008, -17/+14I can't wait for MS to own Digg!!!
      Maybe they can finally filter out iPhone submits.
      Cash in Kev !!

      (I wonder how burried I'm gonna get haha!!)
    • DSizzle, on 03/07/2008, -3/+2New owners will bring in more people. More 'normal' people. This is bad b/c I'm afraid of anyone that doesn't understand this:

      "\selling"
    • SuperWinner, on 03/07/2008, -1/+6The best thing about this site is no corporate influence, censorship or banned stories. How many Linux stories do you think will get on the front page if Microsoft owns it?
    • rpapi100, on 03/07/2008, -0/+6If you only knew the power of the darkside...
    • ivansusanin, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1great, now digg is gonna become a spy network.
    • ThankTheCheese, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2this is horrible, if they sold out we'd see things like intrusive Flash ads! oh, wait...
    • dannytehmanny, on 03/08/2008, -0/+1Is this the beginning of the end?
  • Four20, on 03/07/2008, -98/+310meh, as long as they continue to work there, it's all the same
    • Myztry, on 03/07/2008, -7/+71Therein lies the problem. It would become yet another leverage tool to enforce silverlight, Internet Explorer, ActiveX, Live ID, Live pseudo search, and the devil knows what else.
      • GOVATENT, on 03/07/2008, -5/+6ok, now name google stuff. You hate on M$, (I do hate them) but i am sure you are using Windows. (no i use linux only on all my computers)
        • Rolcol, on 03/07/2008, -3/+7Google makes its money from ads. More of those annoying "999,999 visitor winner!" ads. If google wins it may support open source/Linux stories while Microsoft may censor them since those stories collide with their sales.
          • GOVATENT, on 03/07/2008, -1/+2Thank You. Both sides of the story.
      • DesignEx, on 03/07/2008, -0/+7Either way, whoever wins it it means more special interests around here. Do you think Google would have let the 'HD-DVD code revolt' continue without deleting EVERY instance? Sure I think Microsoft would be a far worse scenario, but Google is a corporation all about profit too- they've been able to stick to their do no harm philosophy because they've always been more than profitable.

        One of the reasons why I love digg is because it is, for the most part, uncensored when it comes to controversial material. Remember the soldier throwing the dog off the bridge story from a few days ago? Google removed dozens of instances of that from youtube, every mirror that popped up Google was right there to censor it, but Digg left the story where it was and we all got to see it eventually.

        This would be a bad move for digg, I would almost certainly go elsewhere if something like this went through, and I have a feeling I wouldn't be the only one.
        • aeoo, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2That's a very well put, thoughtful comment. I hope it is obvious to everyone what's at stake here, but it's nice to have you put it in words.
    • ArchangelZLT, on 03/07/2008, -3/+21So here comes a negative story of Google/Microsoft. How do you think they'll treat it?
      • stavrogin2, on 03/07/2008, -0/+22How well do you think digg users will take being censored?
        • Pokez, on 03/07/2008, -0/+28Oh, i think a few of us remember how that played out the last time it happened...
      • TomFrost, on 03/07/2008, -2/+20There are negative Google stories?
      • Audacitor, on 03/07/2008, -0/+9Negative Google story? Google will let it pass. They're not evil.
        And if they don't let it pass, it'll be significantly larger than 09f9.
      • oldgal, on 03/07/2008, -0/+5MS would make you pay for it or for something else which embeds it. It would potentially only work with IE.
        Google would make it seamless to imbed anyplace you want. If it's gotta be sold, go Google.
      • PURPLEDRINK, on 03/08/2008, -1/+1i think it would be hillarious if a site with a bunch of macfags... and just fags in general (diggnation... LMAO) we're to be bought by MS... haha... hahahahah lol. Nerd HQ fails
    • jessethouin, on 03/07/2008, -2/+8As a business owner who was kicked out of the business after taking on a partner, I can assure you that this scenario - if it happens at all - will not last very long.
      • Rolcol, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4I don't think he's selling to make a partnership. I think he's selling it completely and he'll be stepping down.
    • Audacitor, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4Don't jinx it.
    • orangekid13, on 03/07/2008, -0/+3think how things went when "kane and lynch" sponsored samespot... now think what it would be like if microsoft OWNED digg
    • swicepick, on 03/07/2008, -0/+11Isn't that what they said with TechTV?
      • DarthBrady, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2Right on. and looked what happened when it was changed with G4.
  • Hobbes24, on 03/07/2008, -43/+793...i've got a bad feeling about this...
    • Hayaemsay, on 03/07/2008, -6/+24As long as it isn't tailored to suit IE...
      • dsmx, on 03/07/2008, -1/+10Since most users use firefox I can see that happening, but the fact that most people on digg use firefox may stop microsoft from bidding.
      • sublimemm, on 03/07/2008, -2/+9IE8 will be in standards mode by default... after the... $1.4 billion dollar EU antitrust ruling.
        • SSUK, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2I sure hope it doesn't suck utter ***** like the recent beta is... I sure love images randomly all over the place...
      • Audacitor, on 03/07/2008, -8/+3I wouldn't be surprised if MS would block FF users from digg.
        Fortunately, FF users are smart enough to bust out the user agent switcher. FF users who aren't... well, I'll be glad to see 'em gone.
        • insertAliasHere, on 03/07/2008, -0/+8You really think that they would block FF users? Really? They don't even block FF users from their own sites. What do you base that guess on, your own personal hatred of MS?
        • Rolcol, on 03/07/2008, -0/+5I love user agent switcher! Makes it look like I'm using IE7 with Vista when i'm on FireFox with Ubuntu.
    • IHaveIssues, on 03/07/2008, -3/+17I think it might be "cashing out". Not sure I can blame them.
      • rickmb, on 03/07/2008, -1/+27Selling to Google == cashing out.
        Selling to Microsoft == selling out.

        There's a difference. And it's not a subtle one.
        Digg is not Yahoo. Digg has a choice.
        • tektalk, on 03/08/2008, -0/+1Yahoo turned down the offer as well, well the board of directors did, and their word is law in the company.
      • IHaveIssues, on 03/07/2008, -1/+2Have you not seen them shilling the Zune? :-)
        But I was simply referring to the appeal of having money in the bank versus having a stock portfolio.
    • bosssmiley, on 03/07/2008, -0/+23Yep. Thar goes the neighbourhood.
    • canthraxp, on 03/07/2008, -2/+15If microsoft buys it and start adding something like "Digg Live!" to it. And start adding glassy buttons everywhere, oversized things, "Better seen on Microsoft Internet Explorer®", etc. I would tear my eyes out of my skull. Don't know if goolge is better, but at least they keep the ol' style.
    • blueskydiver76, on 03/07/2008, -4/+16it's a trap!
    • mochaman, on 03/07/2008, -3/+6Digg is not perfect, but overall they have done a heck of job. It will be a shame if they sold out to big corporations. Please Kevin keep Digg independent.
    • antiorblkflag9, on 03/07/2008, -2/+10*Corporate crater worm comes out of meteor and eats Millennium Falcon (Millennium Falcon = Digg)*
    • hellathatguy, on 03/07/2008, -1/+9kevin's probably like: ohhhh this oil bath is going to feel soooooooo good.
    • br0wser, on 03/07/2008, -1/+6That's no moon. It's a space station
    • cudnthinkovasn, on 03/07/2008, -0/+3dugg for star wars
    • gbhall, on 03/08/2008, -0/+3I'm not surprised: http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9930/666diggfa5 ...
  • uzair21, on 03/07/2008, -64/+16Why not sell digg when you don't care about the community. Sell it and we will be happy.
    • Audacitor, on 03/07/2008, -1/+9Steve Balmer? That you?
      • troye, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2Yes 'tis me, and I'm on the internets trying to buy your Digg.com.
    • dkern, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2Don't wait for a Digg sale- jump over to Reddit and stick with your 35 other friends!
  • biggsuccess, on 03/07/2008, -40/+18This could be bigg!
  • motionblur, on 03/07/2008, -25/+6Maybe now Kevin will be the $60 million man? Perhaps some new math is required...
  • ani625, on 03/07/2008, -20/+17How authentic is this information?
    • kidcodea, on 03/07/2008, -9/+1compared to priscilla presley face?
  • jaybuster, on 03/07/2008, -14/+317Don't let them drink your milkshake
    • sublimemm, on 03/07/2008, -2/+25their straw is too long, he can't help but let them drink his milkshake
    • spiritditch, on 03/07/2008, -2/+31THEY DRINK IT UP!!!
    • WolfDV, on 03/07/2008, -19/+3My milk shake brings all the boys to the yard,
      and they"re like
      it's better than yours,
      damn right it's better than yours,
      I can teach you,
      but I have to charge
    • Lasereth, on 03/07/2008, -3/+12Your comment is full of epic win.
    • shuckl4k, on 03/07/2008, -8/+8THEY CLEAR YOUR BONG HIT!!
      • hellathatguy, on 03/07/2008, -3/+3that was horrible. jesus ***** that was *****.
    • tyzent, on 03/07/2008, -1/+12yea, first they drink your milkshake, then they beat you over the head with a wooden bowling pin until your brain in plastered on the floor. what a ***** way to die
    • Zippo, on 03/07/2008, -5/+6then who will come to your yard?! Not the boys!
    • spect3r, on 03/07/2008, -4/+4^ damn right, it's better than yours
    • imapluralist, on 03/07/2008, -0/+3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hXJMFW25nY
      I DRINK IT UP!
    • airencracken, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2Otherwise I'll consider you a bastard from a basket.
    • sskankin, on 03/07/2008, -2/+0classic!!! nothing better then laughing out loud at work and everyone staring at you!
  • optimusprime01, on 03/07/2008, -19/+5Bye bye digg, hello digg + google = diggoogle.

    See on the last town hall, kevin and jay denied digg buyout by other company and didn't give users a clear picture which techcrunch just gave us in their article.. Not good.
    • Hobbes24, on 03/07/2008, -3/+18i think just "doogle" sounds cooler
      • RealmDown, on 03/07/2008, -2/+47I think "diggle" captures it better.
        • Nougat, on 03/07/2008, -5/+2What about "dongle"? Or "dingle dongle"?
      • jeo77, on 03/07/2008, -2/+4Or...you know, just keep the Digg name?
        • souljaboytellem, on 03/07/2008, -3/+2THat's way to simple, Google likes to make small things seem enormous...Digg Oogly Moogly..ya thats perfect
        • raynar, on 03/07/2008, -1/+8yea, i like how youtube turned into gootube...oh wait, it didnt...
    • blogspinner, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1wouldn't it be doogle or gigg?
    • troye, on 03/07/2008, -2/+1Kevin Rose is a sellout. He is trying to sell us out to M$, and that's not the bad part. All the stupid people of society will be on Digg. We already have some, but we will have MORE of them!

      *Face palm*
  • sunaren2001, on 03/07/2008, -16/+47Crap !!!
    • uzair21, on 03/07/2008, -8/+3What makes you think this is crap.
    • DiggMeTo42, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1Exactly what I thought. Google continues its conquest of the internet.
  • bobnone, on 03/07/2008, -59/+2Dude Some ass posted this story on his blog and then posted it to digg... WTF on my blog I provided a direct link to this stories site and THIS digg counter. Pshh the audacity, I dugg his story down before it could pull diggs from this one. I suggest you all do the same to and copies you see.
    -Bobnone | corphacks.com
    • millerftw, on 03/07/2008, -2/+40No one cares and signing your posts makes you look like a douche.
      • pwnerofnoobs, on 03/07/2008, -0/+24I agree.
        -Douche
      • bobnone, on 03/07/2008, -6/+1Really? Your mom rather enjoyed it when I gave her a dirty Sanchez last night. She every begged me ,like a whore, to sign here ass with my post signature. Who are you anyway? You don't even have an icon, you're a generic dig whore who has only posted three things and only seems to Digg popular posts. Go choke on a cow dick and die a painful death. Bitch.
        -Bobnone | corphacks.com
        -Bobnone | corphacks.com
        -Bobnone | corphacks.com
        • RobotChicken1, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1Wow, that was completely uncalled for. I was almost ready to agree with your first post regardless of the signature, but..
    • xtmno3, on 03/07/2008, -0/+25My first thought about your comment and signature was that _you must be new here_. A short trip to your profile confirms this "A 19 year-old dude who joined Digg on February 14th, 2008". I love being right.
    • souljaboytellem, on 03/07/2008, -0/+8What about the audacity of you signing your name with your blog? That seems much more of a douchiess thing to do
    • ChayD, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1sourgrapes.com
  • abstractwater, on 03/07/2008, -4/+71This is a big cash-in for the digg founders, who only received $11.3M from investors...
    • omnis, on 03/07/2008, -1/+23Only $11.3M? Man, what I could do with that amount of money...
      • MrMetal, on 03/07/2008, -1/+10Hookers and blow, man... hookers and blow.
        • GunDownCCL, on 03/07/2008, -1/+1Why not use it to take lessons in getting yourself a real girlfriend?
    • samssf, on 03/07/2008, -9/+2All Digg users should just donate some money so that they the Digg team can get the funding they need without having to sell out =)
    • johnpdiddyo, on 03/07/2008, -3/+7Only 11.3 million are you serious that is huge.
    • ilkin, on 03/07/2008, -1/+14Wake up and smell the coffee guys, ***** is very right. In grand scheme of things $11.3M is peanuts compared to the $300M - $600M valuation digg will get. The investors that put in the $11.3M are looking like geniuses right now.
    • Bilabrin, on 03/07/2008, -1/+12This reminds me of something....oh yeah,
      http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6768/tomhi2.png
    • HerrEisenheim, on 03/07/2008, -1/+3"Only received $11.3M"

      Ummm... WHAT? You do realize that it's not uncommon for companies to give up a 40% equity stake for a measly $1M in capital, right? I don't know the details of how Digg played out, but it's quite possible that the founders have a less than 10% stake. Kevin Rose isn't exactly going to get a check for $200M. The investors are the ones who make most of the money here. Hopefully he can score at least $10M.
  • darkchild82, on 03/07/2008, -5/+278This is somewhat better than when there were talks of News Corp trying to acquire Digg. Man, if THAT had gone through....
    • techresearcher, on 03/07/2008, -1/+15...we would all have left long ago...
    • dumpyhumpy, on 03/07/2008, -0/+23If Newcorp/BushCo. bought digg I have faith that every story that frontpaged would be one about Oreilly, loofas and falleffels.
      • endlessoul, on 03/07/2008, -0/+6That's fun to say. "loofas and falleffels."

        Loofas and falleffels. It just rolls off the tongue.
      • Lutremi, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2Thank you for giving me something to do for 3-5 minutes
    • buhbyebot, on 03/07/2008, -1/+13***** FOX NEWS
    • madtiger, on 03/07/2008, -1/+4okay, I'll take it on the chin. I work for a company that NewsCorp purchased. The room is filled to the brim with anti-war lefties, but the job is to put out a website that works. The only difference is the extra sponsorships and partnerships that arise from having more contacts in the entertainment industry.
      all in all, I think that Murdoch leaves aquisitions alone if they keep doing what they are doing.
      oh, and the dental plan rocks.
    • mrASSMAN, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4It says two media/news companies are interested as well. I'm certain one of those is News Corp.
  • bobnone, on 03/07/2008, -21/+4email Kevin and Alex at diggnationfans@gmail.com
    • manitoba98xp, on 03/07/2008, -0/+5That's great and all, but Alex Albrecht actually has nothing to do with Digg. So contacting Kevin, Jay and the other Digg staff through Digg might be slightly more effective.
      • bobnone, on 03/07/2008, -0/+3Yes but I was thinking more along the lines of getting this Digg on Diggnation
  • Aidenag, on 03/07/2008, -3/+38Hopefully Kevin responds to this news quickly and in detail so it doesnt blow up with speculation like when the newscorp rumor hit a while back.
    • neave, on 03/07/2008, -0/+6Don't count it out. Although Google and MS are bidding "two media/news companies" are also in the race, one of which could be NewsCorp.
      • IEatHamburgers, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4Media/news companies, eh? CBS hasn't done a bad job with Last.fm, I wouldn't mind if they took over.
        Oh crap, I'm speculating!
  • daFilms, on 03/07/2008, -11/+393...Digg is prepared to take less than the $300 million Allen & Co. were floating late last year. Google, our source says, will likely bid $200-$225 million, which Digg would likely accept..

    --Do you blame them?
    • bromac, on 03/07/2008, -13/+42Depends. If Digg was created to make them an insane amount of cash, then no. If it was created as a forum for free and open information exchange, then yes. Sometimes it's not about money. After about $5 million dollars, what do you NEED the rest for? Greed and luxuries, really. Sometimes, people have principles that can't be bought.
      • canewediggit, on 03/07/2008, -3/+41and sometimes, people don't realize how investment bankers work.
      • inajeep, on 03/07/2008, -2/+33After you put your time, effort and life into the site and get constantly ***** on by members of the digg community for every decision made or not made... it would get old for me fast. I wouldn't blame them if they7 took the money, the peace and quiet and do something else or nothing at all.

      • mrgreenjeans9, on 03/07/2008, -0/+6i'm with you bromac....look at craigslist for instance. he's rejected the huge money and preserved an awesome resource. it's possible to answer to investors and live a comfortable life without completely selling out if you really want to.
        • BOSyooper, on 03/07/2008, -0/+7Craig has to deal with people telling him how to make a bunch of profit all the time. He is definitely the exception for now. Greed usually conquers.
        • raynar, on 03/07/2008, -3/+3but...then if i didnt sell out, how would i afford my rims?
      • RetlawST, on 03/07/2008, -2/+6What do they need the rest for? They could start investing in technologies they support, projects they believe in, and a hooker for each arm.
        • bromac, on 03/07/2008, -4/+2Needs and wants.

          I also NEED a few hundred million dollars to invest. Wait...no I don't. I want it though.
        • hassanchop13, on 03/07/2008, -3/+1you dont need 5 million dollars or a computer, you need some food, water, clothes, and a shack to live in. so stop complaining.
      • Kronos6948, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2They could put a lot of that money into Revision3. Maybe then, they can get rid of their new ads that are going to be placed in the Flash version of their shows.
      • carlvjack, on 03/07/2008, -1/+1Spoken like a man never to be in a position to even dream of being offered 300 million dollars.
    • sourceholder, on 03/07/2008, -8/+1Do I blame them?
      Yes, yes I do.
    • oldgal, on 03/07/2008, -0/+12no
    • ussoldier, on 03/07/2008, -9/+3And its nothing more than a Usenet clone with a web interface.
      • brentinkc, on 03/07/2008, -1/+6Why don't you go post your comments on Usenet, then?
      • dkern, on 03/07/2008, -5/+3Digg is the original- you *****. You are a webface clone and need to get the ***** off this cool site go play with your clone friends- all 50 of them which they spread over Reddit- Usenet- delicious and the like. Your comments are here are not just stupid but they are insane, vile, vacuous, empty-headed drivel which take up ***** space. And your idiot friend gangs who collude and digg down real diggers. So take your cheap-ass carbon copy dialog and get the ***** off this site because we all hate you and stupid friends. You are all like ravenous mosquitoes at a happy family picnic bothering and irritating people who would normally have a great time were it not for bloodsucking idiot mini vampires like you buzzing around looking for a free intellectual meal.

        In order to enjoy an intellectual banquet you need to bring a smart dish for all to enjoy- since you and your friends are unable and unworthy- we have broken out a can of Raid.
        • guyincognitoo, on 03/07/2008, -0/+5You do know that Usenet was established in 1980 right?
        • bingobongony, on 03/08/2008, -0/+1I can't believe you actually just said that Digg was the original. Even Kevin Rose would laugh like hell at you for that.
    • gothicform, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4Speaking as one of the owners of a website that gets literally hundreds of thousands of visitors a day and millions of page views I can see why Kevin et al could be tempted. It's a lot of money you get offered, enough to do whatever you want for the rest of your life and not worry. On the otherhand you created this thing from scratch, a website that's a community with real people in it and you have moral obligations to that community as one of its founders. I wouldn't begrudge them if they did sell, but I wouldn't and haven't.
      • aeoo, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2I don't begrudge or envy Kevin for getting any kind of money. The problem is not with Kevin getting rich. I think everyone here would wish and want for Kevin to get rich (as long as he does not use the money to hurt or limit the people, of course). The problem is that it's impossible to have a free flow of information when a corporation owns the medium. Even the most seemingly benign corporations like Google are quick to censor and control information for their perceived benefit.
        • mahdaeng, on 03/08/2008, -0/+1Why doesn't everybody on Digg send Kevin at least a dollar, then? That will be a hefty sum of money and Digg could remain privately owned.
          • bingobongony, on 03/08/2008, -2/+1Are you kidding. I make more in a year than Kevin would make if every "regular (as in more than once a week) digger sent him one dollar.

            PLEASE tell me you are not buying the ***** that digg has millions of users who visit regularly.
          • mahdaeng, on 03/10/2008, -0/+1@bingobongony:

            PLEASE tell me you didn't take my post seriously.
    • dude111, on 03/07/2008, -1/+7question: why would google want to buy digg? so far everything google has bought, they have somehow integrated into their system. how would digg fit in?
      • imapluralist, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1reader suggestions?
      • bingobongony, on 03/08/2008, -1/+1Google is getting desperate these days. Their company's value has lost about three times as much as Yahoo's value lost in 2000.
    • nathron, on 03/07/2008, -1/+2Googgle.
    • Condemned, on 03/07/2008, -3/+2I'd rather have MS buy it instead of Google...
      • choopie911, on 03/08/2008, -1/+1Uh.....are you kidding me? Look at some of the amazing things google has done both in terms of business, and contributing to others, even just in the San Fran area. Now how many times has MS dropped the ball?...
        • bingobongony, on 03/08/2008, -2/+2Like what? What have they done other than Search and ads that have done ANYTHING? Jiust becuase you want to suck Sergey dick doesn't man that htey have never failed. Losing over $60 billion in market cap in less than 3 months is failing, anyway you look at it.
          • choopie911, on 03/08/2008, -1/+1You're a ***** idiot sir. Google is giving the SF homeless phone numbers and voicemail to increase their employability, so they can receive callbacks from interviews. They are also the ones leading the way on free city-wide wi-fi. Google also bought the architectural design program Sketch-Up and made it free to the public. Google offers a free 411 service, which you can even use to make free calls from payphones.

  • Remmy, on 03/07/2008, -6/+114After the town meeting, how does this surprise anyone? They refused to talk about it but you could tell from their reactions that they were most likely trying to sell it. It's a smart move on their part. With the declining economy and and lack of good content as of late, the wise thing is to get out now before it declines in value even more.
    • dxgg, on 03/07/2008, -1/+3I agree it's a smart move (after all, who wouldn't want the cash?)...but I'm not sure I understand the business sense of a company buying another company that, according to what you said, is losing value.
      • mustbepatient, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1Maybe the other companies don't realize how much Digg has gone downhill? I myself have just started to visit the site less, since I just realized how much less benefit I'm getting out of it these days. I think it will take some time before site traffic really starts taking a hit.
    • HerrEisenheim, on 03/07/2008, -2/+1The refused to talk about it because they don't really know. Kevin Rose does not own Digg—Allen & Co does.
    • blackdude, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1The site has been really falling behind lately & it seems the more popular it has become, the worse the content & community has gotten. Mixx is growing steadily as well, however I hardly visit that site either
  • njraju, on 03/07/2008, -10/+0who is bidding for ww.techbray.com and www.techcrunch.com
  • macwisdom, on 03/07/2008, -11/+293Stay above corporate influence ...Well as much as you can.... If you got to sell go with google

    • RexxxMaster, on 03/07/2008, -2/+2as long as the we the users keep controlll(vote for betas) that would be sweet. take some money.... and 2 chairs that can't be move in there offices. and a place for all the workers of digg(the good ones).
    • chapium, on 03/07/2008, -0/+3Umm, technically digg is a corporation.
  • tnatharik, on 03/07/2008, -33/+569As a user i don't mind Google, Microsoft nah.
    • vandy, on 03/07/2008, -5/+61maybe if google takes over, the search function will finally work decently
    • bysin, on 03/07/2008, -7/+19They might fix digg's broken search feature.
    • esc27, on 03/07/2008, -8/+8Google is quickly becoming a very scary company, at the same time Microsoft is getting most of its teeth knocked out. I'm more afraid of Google these days than Microsoft, especially their web division.
      Ideally, a third web services company would come along...
    • ninja0, on 03/07/2008, -3/+13Honestly, google may do great things... but... MS... ug.... imagine signing in with stupid ms ID?
    • Justin6512, on 03/07/2008, -0/+11Kevin's an apple fanboy, he'll never sell out to the dark side.
      • matu4251, on 03/07/2008, -6/+4you mean google, right?
        • LordSubtle, on 03/07/2008, -7/+2he means msoft
        • samgab, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4With his split of $300M Imagine how many Macbook Pros he could buy...
      • stimpack, on 03/07/2008, -2/+2He sold the ads to MS. He has been sponsored by both XBox and HD-DVD. He will follow the money.
    • smp734, on 03/07/2008, -0/+3w00t to that
  • linkingpro, on 03/07/2008, -12/+4Wont google spare anything going good online? LOL
  • kalel90, on 03/07/2008, -5/+104He could sell to google and maintain control of digg there pretty good about that where as microsoft is not so good at that.
    • elhaf, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4Microsoft just lets things like this founder. They'd be ok with that, since this site is basically an Apple love-fest.
    • dxgg, on 03/07/2008, -1/+5Run-on sentence alert!
    • ehelbush, on 03/07/2008, -3/+2Umm you cant sell a company and maintain control, you know that is kinda why it is purchased.
  • t2t2, on 03/07/2008, -10/+130Somehow i think if Microsoft manages to buy digg a larger revolt than 09 F9 11... will happen, at least i know what i will do
    • Orsenfelt, on 03/07/2008, -1/+31It shall henceforth be known as the Digg exodus of '08.
    • inigomntoya, on 03/07/2008, -2/+3Somebody better start developing plan B in case that happens. I don't want to have to find another site like Digg again...
    • nastronomical, on 03/07/2008, -1/+9Gonna slash your wrist?
      • Cloud7654, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1Remember. Down the lane, not across the street.
      • samgab, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1No. SlashDot his wrists.
    • mossblaser, on 03/07/2008, -2/+29If microsoft were to purchase digg I'd be out quicker than, well, a very quick thing.
    • SSUK, on 03/07/2008, -0/+4You raise a good point there. Digg was staring down the barrel of large legal action over the users here distributing the HD DVD encryption key, as you see in YouTube, if Google receives a complaint like that, you'