I’m not sure what the point of the “interview” over at marketingshift was — maybe, as I’ve read on other comments, it was an attempt by Digg’s PR firm to try and control the ongoing explosive commentary that is finding traction throughout the blogosphere (I mean, when different versions of the story are being dug up on the front page of Digg, that probably means something) — but there’s not a whole lot of meat in the Interview.
The most significant thing that’s said is Kevin Rose and Jay Adelson confirm what many have suspected for a long, long time (myself included).
That top Diggers’s ‘diggs’ or ‘votes’ are worth more. Therefore, stories submitted by them require less diggs to make it to the front page. The rationale seems to be both rewarding people for their hard work — but to also put new diggers into a Google-like sandbox, to prevent people from joining up quickly, hitting up a few posts, then leaving (gaming, in otherwords).
The corollary to this, of course, is that there are probably varying levels of diggers – not just a binary “yes”, this digger has passed the trial period, and “no”, this digger has not. And therefore, varying worths of those diggs.
Quite the opposite of the One Digger, One Vote theory popping around the blogosphere at the moment.
The irony, therefore, is how this anti-gaming mechanism, coupled with the ‘friends’ system whereby you can see what your friends are digging, creates the circle-digg phenomena, and easily, but unintentionally, leads to a system-wide bias, where the top20 diggers (or 50, or whatever) have a disproportionate number of front page posts.
Now, KRo has gone on record to state that the algorithm is changing, so that the diversity of diggers required to promote a front page article will necessarily be higher; you can’t get the same 20 people digging one article to the front page, no matter how powerful popular hardworking they are.
A quick glance at the frontpage news items seem to bear this out — very few (if any) are now submitted by the top diggers. But with the resignation of p9, one wonders if this is a result of the new algorithm … or the boycotting of Digg by these diggers. At least one Digger has also taken a break from things.
Regardless, one wonders what the purpose of the story was.
PR effort, or genuine attempt to offer an olive branch to the community that is Digg’s very own essence — its lifeblood?
I’m not sure if I learned much — other than confirming what I already knew in addition to Mr. Rose’s own attempt at mending bridges. With vague hints of wanting to protect the algorithm to prevent further gaming, it is dificult to know whehter or not the new changes will actually prevent this sort of phenomena in the future.
Yes — the intent is to prevent “gang” activity.
But without democratizing the “digging” or “voting” processes, and by having an unequal weighting of profiles and Diggers, you will always have the elite diggers having an edge over the ones who are just starting out, regardless of the worth of their diggs.
And with the ability to easily see — and Digg — what your friends are digging, it may merely slow down the circle-digging effect … not quench it altogether.
As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Here’s hoping Digg’s solution to this mess tastes better than this interview.
September 8th, 2006 at 8:04 am | Permalink
[...] Kevin Rose Goes On Record, Wastes Everyones Time. [...]
September 8th, 2006 at 9:19 am | Permalink
Tony,
If you want to know the how and why of the interview then you can contact me directly. I checked your site for a contact form or email but couldn’t find one so I’m commenting here. I can assure you this was a hard post for us to put together on many fronts but I’d be more than happy to answer your questions.
Regards,
Jason
September 8th, 2006 at 10:21 am | Permalink
Mr Dowdell, it would be a pleasure.
Expect an email shortly ;)
Cheers
Tony Hung.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:21 am | Permalink
[...] Kevin Rose Goes On Record, Wastes Everyones Time. [...]
September 12th, 2006 at 11:21 am | Permalink
[...] Well, I’ve already posted my thoughts of the Interview (Kevin Rose goes on Record; Wastes Everyone’s Time), and I was concerned because it didn’t really answer any new questions, although it did confirm everyone’s suspicions: that high reputation diggers have more voting ‘weight’. In fact, the whole thing smacked of a giant PR move on behalf of Digg. [...]
September 17th, 2006 at 6:27 pm | Permalink
[...] People wanted to start contacting me [...]
December 17th, 2006 at 10:17 am | Permalink
I am Mrs Gloria Pelaez A complete citizen of Philippines . I was the Wife of Late Mr Emmanuel N.Pelaez of Philippines he worked with America Embassy as An Ambassador for years and hold other Political position in Philippines before he died in the year July 27 2003. We were married for 14 years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his
death we were both born again Christians and we lived happilly. Since his death, I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is really against.
Before my husband Death I inherited a total sum of 9 million dollars from my late him when he was in his Sick bed, This money which is concealed in a metallic trunk box is deposited with a security and finance company in Cote d’ ivoire under a secret arrangement as a family treasure. This means that the security company does not know the content of this box that was shipped from the Philippine to Cote d’ ivoire under a diplomatic coverage.
Recently l Fell Sick and my Doctor told me that from all the test conducted on my health, I am not going to last long, expecially, due to my Throat cancer and stroke. But what disturbs me most now is stroke.
Having known my condition, I decided to donate this fund to churches or Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct. I want a church or individual that will use this money to fund churches, Orphanages and Widows. Also, the propagation of the work of God, building and maintaining the house of God through this money, is very important.
The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that giveth.
I took this decision because I don’t have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and they have inherited all my late Husband Properties because l could’nt bear a Child for their Late brother. I don’t want my husband’s hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers, for their own selfish interest and in an ungodly manner. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bossom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.
I don’t need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health, and because of the presence of my husband’s relatives around me sometimes. I don’t want them to know about this development, but I know that With God all things are possible.
As soon as I receive your reply in my next mail I shall give you the contact of the Security and finance company in Ivory coast and the Authorization Certificate which is the Certificate of deposit that they gave me on the very day when the box of money was deposited under their company to enable you call them and give them your address for the immediate shipment of the box to you as the original- beneficiary of this fund.
I want you and your church to always pray for me because God work in misterious ways. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Who ever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life.
Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for a church or christian individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to hear from you soon .Indicate your intrest.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs Gloria Pelaez
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:59 pm | Permalink
[...] People wanted to start contacting me [...]