Comments on: The Real Power of User Run Sites – The Digg Community Revolts

By: Bret

Bret — Thu, 03 May 2007 19:10:23 +0000

Despite the letter from Kevin Rose, Digg clearly gave in to a sponsor’s request. There was no “real” threat of getting shut down. As you pointed out, Digg didn’t write the post in question, Digg merely listed it as an article of interest to its community which was actually posted by a community member. I’m not sure if this statement applies…nevertheless, “Digg doesn’t write the news, they just report it.” Actually, I take that back…it should apply. I just saw CNBC cover this story on television, and while they didn’t make the key code available, lots of viewers now know it exists. Isn’t that just as bad as what Digg did? Why didn’t the HD DVD company tell CNBC to knock it off? Simple, they probably don’t buy ad time on that station. BTW: nice post.

By: stark

stark — Wed, 02 May 2007 15:20:50 +0000

Yeah, I agree. A totally wasted opportunity to do a massive purge. I was actually talking with a friend of mine last night, after Kevin Rose responded, and we were thinking the same thing. Kevin’s response is probably perfectly crafted by the lawyers…

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 02 May 2007 13:18:36 +0000

My initial reaction to this (and I may completely change my mind later) is that Digg is in serious trouble. To choose to cater to the lunatic fringe and then “deal with whatever the consequences might be” is exactly the opposite of what I would have done. Now you’ve placated the people who make Digg a terrible place and put yourself in legal trouble. Had you stuck to your guns, on the other hand, you chase away the eighth-grade-mentality Diggers, freeing Digg to be a MUCH better site, and you keep yourself out of a major lawsuit

To choose to restore the HD-DVD based on the rationale that it’s what the users want — without regard to the legality — is insane. Now, this may all be a well-scripted plan to pretend that it’s all about the users, when you actually got advice from your lawyer that there was nothing to worry about. Still, I would have used this great opportunity to do an extreme purge of the ones who are the biggest threat to Digg actually going mainstream.

By: Nursing Student

Nursing Student — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:42:43 +0000

I wonder if he meant “as hands OFF as possible”

That seems to make more sense with the rest of his message.

By: Digg have shot themselves in the foot

Digg have shot themselves in the foot — Wed, 02 May 2007 05:38:21 +0000

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