You know, if I my actions were publicly called out as “desperate” on behalf of a “soulless” product, I would certainly take every chance I got at vindicating myself publicly when the data became available. Showing that he’s a big enough guy (or that this stuff just doesn’t matter anymore to him since he’s moved on to a VC firm), Jason Calacanis has opted to not to crow out from every rooftop, but instead, let the news speak for itself.

Of course I am referring to the fact that Jason Calacanis was publicly chastised for poaching top Diggers about five months ago and his model of paying users at a social network site.  With the news that Digg users are seeking alternate forms of payment, allowing private concerns (i.e. marketing, PR firms, and businesses) to potentially control what Digg users see, click and ultimately go, it seems like the “Netscape” model has vinally been vindicated … from a security standpoint.

[the jury is out as to whether paid navigators, in and of themselves, are a critical factor in producing a successful social bookmarking site]

By paying users, it avoids (but does not eliminate) the possibility of this kind of corruption, and allows a level of transparent control (not an oxymoron) that just doesn’t exist on Digg.  And I think its worth repeating one issue: For Digg, deleting all of the top 20, 30, or even 100 accounts will not matter, because another 20, 30 or 100 accounts will rise to the top … and THEY will be the subject of incessant soliciting of their services.

I don’t know if the “Netscape” model will ever be adopted at Digg, but as a means to stave off the creation of a “blackmarket” for traffic in the social bookmarking arena.  And that’s something that Jason Calacanis should be proud of.

UPDATE: Downloadsquad.com recently posted an article suggesting that Digg was rotting form the inside out, due to the juvenile antics of their users, corrupt scandals, and more. Well, the Bury Brigade has got to them as well.  Sure enough, their article was submitted, and promptly buried.