Comments on: Could Netscape deal be a win-win-win?

By: Paying the users — an ongoing saga » Mathew Ingram: mathewingram.com/work

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:50:42 +0000

[...] Weblogs Inc. founder and current Netscape supremo Jason Calacanis (who I most recently tangled with on this post about Steve Irwin), has posted a memo that he sent out to staff of the Digg-ified site recently, updating them on the performance of Netscape since Jason tried to hire away the top submitters from Digg, Newsvine, Reddit and Slashdot (which I wrote about here). [...]

By: Starked SF » Blog Archive » Talk of the Town: Friday

Starked SF » Blog Archive » Talk of the Town: Friday — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:41:53 +0000

[...] Matthew Ingram reflects on the Netscape deal and Calacanis vs. Rose. [...]

By: Mathew Ingram

Mathew Ingram — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 02:58:11 +0000

Thanks, Ryan. I agree it’s going to be interesting to watch the repercussions of Jason’s move. I expect not even he really knows what he’s gotten himself into.

By: jjleg

jjleg — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 19:45:43 +0000

Could Netscape deal be a win-win-win?…

nice…..

By: Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 19:33:18 +0000

It will be interesting over time to see how this plays out.

On one hand it could encourage people to post/submit more to sites like Digg in the faint hope of catching the eye of Netscape to get a gig.

The real “publicity stunt” vs. “genuine concern” will show when Netscape starts getting it’s own top submitters. Will Jason pay them too? And at then what’s the threshold for who gets paid? Top 10? Top 20… how’s 21 going to feel?

I think the mistake Jason makes in his whole rant is the assumption that these users want to be paid or expected to be paid. Sure some of them will take the money (an extra $1K for doing what you’re already doing? sure!). I think the web has gotten so vast that in many cases just seeing your story, with your name as the submitter is enough for many people. Heck look at how everyone stumbles all over themselves trying to get their first “greenlight” at Fark…