Thursday 30 April 2009

Digg, a case study? Behind the scene parameters, skews and warps the product.

Reading "MrBabyMan: Digg Users Revolt, Against the One Pure Man at the Top"


"I came away from the conversation with a number of conclusions. The dominant one is this. Andrew Sorcini's MrBabyMan persona is sitting at the top of a small network of loyal friends, made up of people like SEO marketers, PR agents turned would-be social media experts and other unsavory folk. That circle is further surrounded by an even larger network of millions of Digg users who try to have fun on the site but also wish they could find success there. Many of them no doubt with they too could find a way to make a living in the snake-oil filled circus that is "new media marketing," as many of the top Digg users have done."


... made up of people like SEO marketers, PR agents turned would-be social media experts and other unsavory folk

... unsavory folk? ....

.... a way to make a living in the snake-oil filled circus that is "new media marketing

... "new media marketing" ... snake-oil filled circus?

" "All I ever wanted," he said, "was just for the stories to live or die on their own merits. If everyone was on a level playing field I would love that - because I still have the skills to find the great stories...I'm not complaining about the algorithm, but I don't want to be vilified for working within the parameters of it."

... If everyone was on a level playing field I would love that ...

... level playing field? ... what someone want ... as MrBabyMan ... when enters an activity ... usually it is not .. and why it is not ... money considerations ... in this case .. the ... "new media marketing" idea ... the snake-oil filled circus.

... for working within the parameters of it ... parameters ... in every activity ... individuals are engaged ... or even beyond the reach of individuals ... the parameters set by the system ... any system ... the range that within it ... the system survives ... exists ... the range set by the parameters ... a range of values in some crucial variables ... for the system ... the conditions that define the system ... system defined by the conditions ... a sensitive dependence of the system's state ... on the conditions ... that a change ... even a minute change would alter ... the system's state ... at any time.

Like what is mentioned ..

"He says he's totally accessible and can be reached by anyone who wants to talk to him - though he didn't know that the email addresses on his profile were visible only to his friends until it was pointed out to him in our conversation."

... email addresses on his profile were visible only to his friends

...which ... he didn't know ...

... until it was pointed out to him ...

... an ever-so-slight change that might have affected the parameters, the conditions. Which might explain ... his predicament ... the outcome state ... his rejection by other users. An upheaval for MrBabyMan.

... parameters ... conditions set ... dynamic states ... constantly evolving ... all the humbug .. in Digg ... millions of users ... submitting stories ... but unaware of the parameters ... the conditions ... the initial conditions ... their acts, their stories outside ... the range of the parametres ... do not succeed ... they are not dug ... frustrated.

"If everyone was on a level playing field ... "

... would a level playing field achieved ... for everyone ... by everyone being savvy ... of the parameters ... the conditions ... the initial conditions ... as the member MrBabyMan, aka Andrew Sorcini, is. By being savvy ... they would be expected ... to act within the parameters ... what would be surmised as ... everyone ... being ... in a level playing field. Then everyone would be expected to be as successful as MrBabyMan ... or ... success would be determined solely or primarily ... on the skills each one has ... as MrBabyMan says ... to find great stories.

... and what about these parameters that MrBabyMan is savvy ... shouldn't have these parameters being included ... or been easily surmised by ... in Diggs Terms of Service. Surely, if all users are regarded equally ... by Diggs CEOs ... they should be. The matter is ... that these parameters ... are not common knowledge ... regardless whether ... Diggs CEOs .. treat each of their users .. equally. If they are. So who sets these parameters ... or .. are they coming out of ... the "new media marketing" ... the snake-oil filled circus ... the circles made up of people like SEO marketers, PR agents turned would-be social media experts and other unsavory folk.

The money-making ... profiteering lot ... that introduce parameters ... which are not about ... finding great stories. Yielding their profits ... exploiting the desire or tendency of other users ... budding entrepreneurs ... to make a living.

What use is Digg then ... for some people to make money? Why kind of service is that? Why would any one consider ... to join Digg? ... to make money? What about the stories? Their worth should be counted on ... on how much money they make? Attached numbers, price tags ... dubious values ... devoid of meaning ... useless.

Money exercising ... their value-eroding influence ... the price-tag value that levels off every value thinkable. Value-less, no inherent value within.