Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

I agree with your general assessment that "Digg sucks." However, I question the applicability of Surowiecki's theory of the "wisdom of crowds."

Your assertion that "Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system written using the wisdom of crowds" is false. That many people were involved doesn't begin to meet the criteria that Surowiecki set forth in his book for a "smart crowd." Without going into an extensive analysis, that these people contributed in a very rigid, top-down corporate structure is pretty clear evidence that Microsoft's development process fails to take advantage of the wisdom of crowds as currently defined.

Your application of the wisdom of crowds theory to the comments posted in Dugg is also mistaken. IIRC, one of the key tenets of this theory is that the members of the crowd are independent actors with little or no knowledge of how the other members are behaving, voting, etc. at that particular time. That tenet is violated when one can and does read everyone else's responses before posting your own comment. Another key tenet is that the members of the crowd are diverse and I think we can all agree that is likely not the case for those who participate in Digg.

Again, I think your main points are correct. But they are weakened when you try to misapply the concept of wisdom of crowds. I know it's a popular theory right now but let's please try to not apply it to every situation involving lots of people; not every crowd is a smart crowd. Your arguments stand on their own merit.