Digg Versus Reddit: Two Obscure Websites Fighting to Determine The Future of Internet Journalism
It’s an epic battle, one that may fundamentally alter how news sources online are filtered and delivered to the general public. At stake are the fortunes of thousands of newspapers and millions of blogs. You may have never heard of the players in this game. They are obscure and obsessive but their incredible influence is impossible to deny. For the hardcore internet technologists slugging this one out in the trenches, clear ideological and political lines have been drawn. The users of Digg.com trend toward the socially conservative and practice grassroots community activism. Reddit.com, the upstart in this fight, is a haphazard mess of anarchism and subversive liberal propaganda. This is the war for the future of “social news” in America and you should be paying attention.
Social news is akin to the “social networking” that you find on Myspace and Facebook. What makes those sites so popular is that they have come to dominate the online lives of many people. Users check in frequently throughout the day, share thoughts and photography, hopes and fears. As more and more do this, broad discussions develop, virtual communities of like-minded folk find each other and ideologies are formed. In turn, these sites have the power to create political movements and consumer crazes. As even Vanity Fair magazine recognized recently, Governor Sarah Palin has taken intelligent advantage of this trend, growing her Facebook fanbase into two million people who log in to her daily and actively support the candidates she Twitters about.
What Reddit and Digg offer is a bit more basic. They are news websites where users submit stories written by journalists and bloggers and vote on the efficacy of them. There is room for commentary and at times this can be lively. When links receive many votes and make it to the front pages of these sites, they drive an enormous amount of web traffic in one direction and, as a result, increase the advertising revenue for that particular news organizations. The stories these people discuss even have the potential to become major issues of the day, reported on live television and debated in the halls of Congress. Why this is important is that Reddit and Digg represent two very different political philosophies and social goals. There are undercurrents of both Tea Party Patriotism and “crowd sourcing” anti-Christian anarchy happening in our midst. In essence, this is ground zero for some of the worst atheistic propaganda in the country, a place where morality is regularly censored in favor of drug use, homosexual activism and liberal conspiracy theories.
Reddit is quite simply one of the most crudely designed websites on the internet. Its interface is so mundane and uninventive, one has to wonder if its creators are more interested in the saucy topics they talk about (drugs, sex addiction) than actual technological programming. There is no fancy dressing to doll up this hideous looking creature, nothing to mask the dank odor that emanates from this site, an odor not unlike that of a deep yellow haze of marijuana smoke (a drug, incidentally, that most Reddit users celebrate endlessly in their replies and upvoting). As you click deeper and deeper into that site, it’s as if that drug smoke is choking you. You’ve passed through Alice’s Looking Glass into a fantasy land, some bad hallucination where homosexual “marriage,” sodomy and a tv show called The Guild all seem like appropriate topics for social conversation. The debates that follow are crude and swift, childishly simple and yet recklessly cruel. Yes, this basic design belies a content so radical that most normal Americans would be shocked and profoundly ashamed. It is the beehive of a fully anarchist socialist attack on family values and traditional society. (Weirdly enough, the sick enterprise is owned by ladies fashion magazine “Glamour.”)
Sadly, children who have been left alone in their school computer labs or rec room basements are clicking on this site and encountering some of the most dangerous community organizers and liberal propaganda makers in the country. The upvoting and downvoting system encourages the young to be sycophants, begging for the approval of their elders, lured off to garbage-strewn highway underpasses where they trade a family’s morality for a few thumbs up and maybe a line of sarcastic praise. It’s gut wrenching to know that every day America’s most hopeful are forced into contact with the seediest elements of the underground movement. And the moderators are the worst of it, selecting only slimy and outrageous pieces of news to promote and censoring anything that has the slightest sense of Patriotic morality. One can only imagine the wretched places these moderators are logging in from, whether they’re prisoners taking a break from violating their cellmates or failed intellectuals, your future Ted Kaczynskis, who sleep their days away on urine-soaked couches and spend their nights fighting over pizza crusts with domineering cats as they seek out the latest blog update on Christopher Hitchens.
For me, Digg has always represented a very positive and helpful look at America. It’s like a beautiful lawn where the fresh sprouts of freedom and patriotism burst above the surface every day. Sure, there are times when gossip stories get more play than they deserve, but the users are solid citizens and promote the strength of the family in our culture. Items that make it to the front page are often from the most legitimate of news organizations. And when politics is on the table, you hear the honest and heartfelt indignation of many that this country is slipping too readily into dangerous policies and economic decline. As the Tea Party and conservative Christian groups turn to more grassroots activism, it’s places like Digg that are a priceless resource.
On top of all this, the design of Digg.com is truly impressive. They include graphics and photos to make the user experience top notch. There is a great royal blue color throughout, which in its subtle way underscores the idea of solidity and Americana with the effect of reminding some of us older users of a Navy Captain in uniform, standing on the deck of a cruiser, surveying that vast seascape of peril we all face. The waves crashing, the water boiling, and yet we are standing tall and firm with the ideals of family and faith beneath us.
It would be shortsighted in an article such as this to avoid mentioning a small controversy that recently arose on Digg. Some users collectively joined hands to vote and discuss stories that were of interest to the conservative community. On a website separate from Digg, members would notify each other of particular news items that they were passionate about. From there, the group would go to Digg and vote positively on these pieces, propelling them higher up the link chain and bringing greater attention to compelling issues. Sadly, the whole thing was blown out of proportion and now the site has restricted new members and user submissions. As a former member of that group myself, I will say that we were expressing our love and faith as an organized community, exactly as is done with voting in a political election. This was fair and frankly a great example of democracy in action. It was wrong and weak that Digg could be forced by liberal elements to delete accounts and otherwise censor the free speech of its regular, loyal users. Had the liberals thought of this idea, no one would have bothered to even report on it.
As the battle of Digg and Reddit continues, it is vital that Christian-Americans do their part and register for these sites. Get involved and vote your conscience. Think of it like going to the polls every day! There are far too many significant controversies in our culture that need to be addressed and your clicks result in advertising dollars that will keep our friends in the conservative movement in business. You also educate yourself, your friends and family by sharing in these vibrant communities. Also remember that young people are the future and it’s especially important when monitoring children’s internet usage that you direct your kids on the right path– the path of promise, faith and wholesome web surfing!
http://dvice.com/assets_c/2010/08/digg-reddit-timeline-45921.php
- Sinful
- Suspicious
- Scared
- Sad
- Amused
- Laughing Out Loud
Author: Stephenson Billings
Stephenson Billings is an Investigative Journalist, Motivational Children's Party Entertainer and Antique Soda Bottle Collector all in one special, blessed package! Facebook me here or Fanmail me: StephensonBillings@yahoo.com !
4:26 pm
Wow, what a story! I did hear that the owner of digg was a closeted homosexual.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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6:30 pm
Shouldn’t it be spelt “read it” not “reddit”
Hot debate. What do you think?
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6:15 pm
Should it not be spelled “spelled” and not “spelt”.
I mean christ, this is the internet. You have access to more spelling resources than bibles.
Also: Spelt is a grain.
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4:31 pm
Is that a teletubby cartoon on the Reddit logo? That is that homosexual cartoon secretly aimed for children.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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10:02 pm
No Adam, its Obviously not a Teletubby.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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4:34 pm
Reading this is like going into some kind of alternate reality where up is down… You guys really live in your own world where facts don’t matter – don’t you?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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6:34 pm
i live in my own world where nothing matters, facts be damned.
well, gummi bears matter, i have been known to need my daily dose of gummi.
but nothing else matters!
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4:58 pm
Jesus christ, you are so full of shit.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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6:37 pm
i dont think he is, actually.
I’m pretty sure the “occupied” sign was up on c’est holy lavatory. he may be partially full of shit, but i’m pretty sure he is taking care of that problem right now.
besides, who are you to question our lords toilet habits? let the man have a bowel movement in peace.
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12:00 am
is this a joke?
the readership of Digg, and Reddit combine crush this sites readership by 10 fold. i can imagine anyone calling Digg, or Reddit ‘obscure’ that is truly a case of total delusion
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1:36 am
somebody has certainly been deluded, but i don’t think it’s the author of this article.
ironic, dont ya thing
Hot debate. What do you think?
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9:12 am
Bethany, it’s not helpful to call people names. It was a sincere question and I think it had merit.
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3:01 pm
lol! stephenson
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1:37 am
somebody has certainly been deluded, but i don’t think it’s the author of this article.
ironic, dont ya think
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9:11 am
This website is aimed at Christian parents and adults who may not otherwise be familiar with the far corners of the internet. Surely, they have a large user base– in fact that is one of the salient points of my article– but those people come from a very select demographic of the technologically savvy. Most Christians don’t understand that there is this power out there and it’s important for them to be involved and add their faith to the debate, just as we did with PTA boards a generation ago.
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3:12 pm
//This website is aimed at Christian parents and adults who may not otherwise be familiar with the far corners of the internet.//
Then they need to put on their hiking boots and start trekkin’ around, or else (ya know) PARENT the child instead of just let media raise them.
//Surely, they have a large user base– in fact that is one of the salient points of my article– but those people come from a very select demographic of the technologically savvy.//
And what does that have anything to do with anything? The sites are nothing but ‘hey, this is an interesting story’ sites where people link to random stories they found.
//Most Christians don’t understand that there is this power out there and it’s important for them to be involved and add their faith to the debate, just as we did with PTA boards a generation ago.//
Most Christians aren’t retarded man-children that still live with their mothers at the age of 60, and since teenagers and young adults can be Christian, they’re bound to know how the internet works, moreso than you can possibly say.
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3:31 pm
Your inability to absorb the most basic facts continues to amaze me. Here is the basic logic of my article: Digg and Reddit drives enormous amounts of traffic to particular news sites and news stories, thus dramatically increasing their ad revenue. When this is done on a continued basis and with a particular political slant, websites that promote certain values profit and prosper. To address the liberal bias of this profiteering, I am suggesting Christians get accounts at these websites and promote issues and articles that represent OUR values. Most Christian parents will be unaware of these sites because they exist beneath the mainstream of, say, AOL or Yahoo, so my article is meant to inform them.
I have noted these specifics very clearly in my article and yet you have thoroughly failed to comprehend the most basic facts. Please stop commenting without a little knowledge or experience of the subjects you’re addressing. Thanks.
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3:33 pm
Good buddy, just remember these people don’t hold enough intelligence to understand your excellent journalism.
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6:37 pm
I find it absurd that the reasoning behind banning religious extremism escapes you. When ANYONE of ANY religion or other such cult following decides to violate the clearly posted TOU and/ or EULA of a social news website, they should expect themselves to be silenced. One of the ground rules of Digg, for example, is “Don’t be a hater” This means that all of that tripe over consensual same-sex adults partaking in activities (homosexuality) will get you banned. The reasoning for this is that you have absolutely no terms on which to evaluate someone else’s non invasive activities. Have you or any of your acquaintances ever bothered to ask themselves exactly what it is that is so awfully compromising about the acts of others? I mean outside the echelon of your narrow religious fundamentals, of course.
Tl;dr: The last time I checked, there wasn’t some all powerful sky magician actively smiting the LGBT community.
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12:32 am
That was incredible. You people are simply masters. Well done.
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9:13 am
Thank you, Stan. It’s people like you who make the internet such a vibrant, fun community– and one with morality! God bless, my friend.
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1:02 am
“It’s people like you who make the internet such a vibrant, fun community– and one with morality!”
Stevieboy, the internet has no morality. It’s a communication medium, completely un-anthropomorphic, much like telephones and toasters. If you have moral issues with websites that tower over yours in terms of numbers and interest, then you should enter into the fray and defend your moralities, man the guns, so to speak, instead of sitting on the sidelines and preaching about how ‘evil thoughts’ are running amuck. You aren’t being a soldier for Christ here, you’re just whining and pointing fingers at stuff you don’t like.
If open discourse on any topic under the sun chafes your Christian disposition, consider the possibility that your point of view is suffering abandonment and your numbers are shrinking every year. Religious dogma is being uncovered as the destructive sham that it is because larger and larger numbers of people are beginning to see the effects of that dogma wrecking the world and promoting disharmony.
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1:36 am
I lol’d.
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2:56 am
once again i fell forced to ask: what happened to the free speech of the people you disagree with?
why should these people not be alowed to belive something difrent than you and express that openion on readit?
also if those sites are obscure this site is completly unknown.
but the true problem once again is your holier than thou attitude, saying that it’s unfair that you were stoped from breaking the system. you are not suposed to go in the voteing as a group to bring down the system it’s not cencoring you it’s simply keeeping you from abuseing the system. and don’t lie. if the other side had started you would have reported them.
as for your rant of the design of readit seriously that’s pathetic. yes it’s simplistic what are you gonna rant how goggle is too simple as well next? unlike you’r own damn site here the design works. on this site posts will simply disapere some times because they only get shown in new posts and when there are more than 6 at once… well good luck finding it again.
heck you can’t even keep the things staying in the right place on this site. the side bar falls under the rest of the article half the time.
readit is simple but it works. just because you don’t like it isn’t an argument.
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9:17 am
Hi jazze, I think you have misread my article. The issue of free speech is one that liberal Digg moderators imposed on the conservative base who simply wanted to share their views and opinions in a coordinated effort. No one was hurt during the making of Digg’s rise to fame, and I think they owe Christians at the very least an apology for banning so many of us.
As for the obscurity of the site, see my comment above. It’s obscure to the vast majority of mature adults and Christians parents. That’s why I want people to get involved!
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5:14 pm
if you don’t mean what the wors obscure means then don’t use the word obscure.
as for freedom of speech you are trying to say that the people of readit should not be alowed to give their openion. that they should be shot down by people like you.
the thing with the banning lies exactly in the point that it was organized. that isn’t the point of the site. it’s going there to find news and stories and then pointing out to what you thought about it nót a popularity contest where what matters is getting the votes in. if you could make me belive you actually read the stuff before voteing with your own openion fine. but then linking to a site that is allready made for the purpose of linking you to the news… that’s pointless at best and abuse at worst.
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4:47 am
Author is arrogant and small minded. What a poor representative for the faith he champions.
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5:08 am
“Reddit.com, the upstart in this fight, is a haphazard mess of anarchism and subversive liberal propaganda.”
Well, that’s kind of hard to argue with.
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5:09 am
Wait, this quote is better: “For me, Digg has always represented a very positive and helpful look at America. It’s like a beautiful lawn where the fresh sprouts of freedom and patriotism burst above the surface every day.”
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5:10 am
Never heard of christwire, but this is what gave it away for me. Comment sections filled wish ascII pedobears isn’t quite christian. Catholic maybe, but not christian.
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9:14 am
I happen to be a Baptist and while the Catholic church has had many internal issues lately, I think it’s wrong in this time of cultural crisis to cast aspersions. We all need to stick together to fight the larger dangers out there, if you care about this country that is. God bless.
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7:32 am
Wow, its like some freaky alternate world where nobody has any idea whats going on.
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3:04 pm
that doesnt sound like an alternate universe, sounds pretty run of the mill to me.
where in this world does anyone know whats going on, and how do you know your not in the alternate universe, and everyone else is in the normal plane of reality?
maybe we arent really here at all – and we are just figments of your imagination.
something worth considering
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4:54 pm
hi sister Bethany -
I don’t claim to understand one word of the article above ( I just read everythuing the Reverand Billings writes) and I know youre a newcomer so forgive me if my words seem sharp but i need to corect a couple things you say:
there is no ‘alternate universe’ or ‘plane of realty’ and we all are given just one shot at living correclty, so buckle up!
‘This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.’
Ephesians 4:17-19
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5:32 pm
Fuck you.
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5:41 pm
This site is satire, right? No one would sincerely write something this awful. I’m not talking content, I’m just saying the prose is horrible.
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6:46 pm
I asked a native american chieftain years ago when I was young why he was upset with Christians. He told me that he once asked a preacher what happens to those who do not know of the lord all their life and thus are not ‘saved’. The preacher told him that they were forgiven for ignorance as the word hadn’t come to them yet. The chieftain then asked “Then why do you spread the word and cause many to suffer after they have passed?”
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7:44 pm
LOL.
You Christians have the most active imaginations.
First that Jesus fan fiction, now this.
Keep up the good work.
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8:24 pm
WHEN YOU DIE NOTHING HAPPENS HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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8:51 pm
ummmm, if Digg is such a Christian paradise, why was this video twice featured on the front page leading to it becoming a viral sensation?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8vp7ku47Qs
Digg = Heavily Atheist
Reddit = See Digg
World = See Reddit/Digg
It seems what you’re afraid of is… the internet! Who would have thought a forum for people to share information openly without censorship and threats would lead to more and more people realizing that all religions are merely overly successful, ancient brainwashing cults.
It’s called evolution… oh right, you don’t believe in that.
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9:32 pm
I’m a reddit user and I also like to smoke pot. So if Jesus is a liberal what are all of conservatives doing worshiping me?
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4:07 am
If I wasn’t already on reddit this article would have brought me over.
Why is christwire calling any website obscure?
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10:23 am
Because it is obscure to Christian parents! Please read my response above and thank YOU!
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4:08 am
Why is christwire calling any website obscure?
They probably had it on vinyl before it sold out to Conde Nast
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11:32 pm
You can poke fun at web design and choice of mascots all you want, but the rift between Digg and Reddit is much bigger than that.
On reddit, each user’s vote has a value of one. An upvote, or a downvote. It counts as one vote, and that vote directly affects the standing of the article at hand.
On Digg, it isn’t really clear. Power users hold the power. Well, they held the power until Digg v4 came out. The whole controversy you mentioned? It wasn’t blown out of comission, and that group wasn’t just thumbing up conservative material, it was burying liberal material from view. Literally, they all voted to bury it and it disappeared from view, often within minutes. Never had a chance.
On Reddit, an article’s score isn’t shown for some time. Nobody knows how well an article is doing until the score is shown. It’s incredibly hard to game reddit because of how voting works, and links don’t just get buried and hidden from view – they stay until the score comes out.
Digg is owned by people gaming the system. Reddit is owned by the users. And perhaps that’s why so much liberal material appears there; because the users like it. Their view of the news isn’t being filtered by groups who just game the system.
And now look what Digg has done. It’s no longer even controlled by power users now. You have to ‘follow’ a poster. Big blogs like Lifehacker have rss feeds that literally automatically post to digg. It’s all owned by the corporatios now; the users have no say in the content.
And don’t talk about the two like they’re “obscure.” reddit has millions of viewers. Even more came to reddit after Digg v4 came out… a mass exodus if you will. Reddit is a huge forced to be reckoned with, the effects of which can be seen first hand simply by visiting the front page and noticing that Redditors have recently raised over $30,000 for teachers in need of supplies in a mere 8 hours. It took hillary clinton a month to reach $30k. It’s a great community and you’re doing yourself a disservice by condemning it because you don’t like their choice of web design. You know who else has a simplistic web design? Google, and look how much they’re worth now.
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3:55 pm
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5:26 am
orange dahlias,
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3:00 am
Hmm to be honest , i am stunned by the post . Being a Game Developer , now i think to make a online game on this!
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5:07 pm
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