News by Democracy
By Ocean on Apr 21, 2008 in Articles of Interest
Digg.com is a news article website which, unlike regular news websites, is entirely user generated. Users post articles of interest to the site, and then are able to vote which articles they prefer. If a certain article garners enough votes in a small period of time, it will jump to the front page of its category (Science, Gaming, Sports, etc). If the article receives even more votes, then it jumps to the front page of Digg itself. It will remain there for a certain amount of time, until other, newer articles take its place, at which point it is relegated away from the front page back into obscurity.
Along the lines of Wikipedia, Digg is a good example of the Wisdom of Crowds. It will never take the place of news outlets, since it relies on them for its content, but it is a good source for people who want to be in tune with the rest of the populace without scouring multiple news websites.
While our news content, available here, is not user generated, it can be voted for or against, and a listing of the most popular articles can be viewed in the side column.
(2 votes, average: 7 out of 10)
Loading ...
Beware P.J. O’Rourke’s 6th new Sin:
Opinion. It’s the reverse of fact. Listen to NPR or AM Talk Radio if you don’t believe me, or, better yet, read the opinion page of the New York Times. Some people have facts, these can be proven. Some people have theories, these can be disproven. But people with opinions are mindless and have their minds made up about it.
Rebecca | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
@Rebecca
I’m not too sure if O’Rourke’s 6th new Sin would apply in this particular case. Sure, Digg is a website wherein its content is based primarily on the popular opinion of a certain Internet going demographic but, for them, that is their reality - well, to some extent anyway. And isn’t reality basically a perception or our ‘opinion’ of what is and isn’t?
Jason | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
Well this would’ve been a perfect segue for a philosophical blog or some discussion on objective reality or something, but I don’t know anything about either, so nevermind.
Digg tracks popularity of articles, and does so very well. No one ever claimed it categorized the most intellectual, factual or useful articles.
Ocean | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
Mine was merely statement with comic intent - not judgement on the effect of Digg.
To tell the truth I think O’Rourke has a point. But that doesn’t mean opinions should not be expressed. Such is my opinion about opinionated minds.
Rebecca | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
@Rebecca
Oh, oooooh… oooooooooh - nvm then :P
Jason | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply