I fully respect your opinion. My take on this situation is similar to Derek’s.

http://neothoughts.com/2006/08/13/the-social-bookmarking-gig/

To quote some bits:

I’ve been using digg for about a year. I started off lurking for some months, then registered in December 2005 and began heavily submitting in April 2006.

For me, that was February and April, respectively. I always kept it out in the open. For me, it was a way of helping Linux in a site which, at the time, was Mac/Windows-oriented.

Then Netscape showed up. I didn’t really think much of Netscape when the new beta launched. I thought their Anchors doing meta-journalism on popular articles was a neat idea, but there was nothing that compelled me to use it

That is until Jason offered cash to do the same thing for Netscape that I already loved doing for Digg. Like many people, initially I was unimpressed with the offer. I perceived it as AOL trying to buy themselves a community.

Now, bear in mind that I don’t have many opportunities ahead of me. I still have a job and I’m a student, but it doesn’t make ends meet. So after a long time, like many other Diggers, I began submitting to both sites. And Netscape showed interest. To quote more:

Many people have cried “sell-out” and “traitor” on digg comment threads. My email inbox has also been pummeled with congratulatory messages and well-wishes from fellow diggers.

Again, I respect your opinion. Don’t think that my conscience is clean.

Did you accept an offer by Jason Calacanis to become a “Navigator”?

Now certainly, Digg does not have exclusive rights to the Blogosphere, but then they don’t go around poaching bloggers from other social bookmarking sites either, nor do they corrupt the concept by turning social bookmarking into commercial journalism.

It’s great to make money, but not at the expense of your soul.

Frankly I’m stunned; I can’t believe you of all people have done this.

Sorry Roy, but that’s my take on it, if I’ve missed something, then let me know.

I still read all of the material in Digg and participate at a lower capacity. I also enjoy reading your blog, which brings good material to one’s attention.