A group of networked Ron Paul supporters with enough votes to get a Ron Paul story out of the Upcoming Stories bin every time (an action that requires around 12-15 diggs) is most certainly “artificially altering” the results.
A non sequitur here.. The author even helps define Digg's own definition of "artificial altering," of which he seems to miss the point entirely:
By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree not to use the Services:
9. with the intention of artificially inflating or altering the ‘digg count’, blog count, comments, or any other Digg service, including by way of creating separate user accounts for the purpose of artificially altering Digg’s services; giving or receiving money or other remuneration in exchange for votes; or participating in any other organized effort that in any way artificially alters the results of Digg’s services.
(Emphasis mine.)
If each Digg is from an individual, the criteria for "artificial altering" is not met.. If the author had evidence that a single individual is creating multiple accounts (or any other violation for that matter) in order to Digg stories, he failed to show any of it (yet he claimed to have it).. All I saw was a bunch of speculation and rumor, which the author readily acknowledges with his opening sentence..
There are rumors of Ron Paul supporters manipulating Digg. (Like your article here?)
. . .these people ONLY digg stories about Ron Paul, and many of them don’t read the actual content of submissions. (And so the speculation and lack of evidence begins.)
Anyway, the issue isn't supporters of Ron Paul, the issue is a Digg matter and should be treated as a Digg issue.. Bringing RP into this smacks of agenda, especially when the author starts attacking RP..
Now, I have no opinions on Paul’s political platform nor do I have any political agenda of my own.
..is followed later by this:
Obviously, the man has some support to sustain this kind of guerrilla campaign, and I’m not here to dispute his political strategies.
Immediately followed by THIS!:
Clearly, his [Ron Paul] tactics, although unethical, are working. (No opinion, eh? Heck, I see two in this one sentence..)
Do they not see how they are also contributing to the RP Phenomenon? He seems bright, but he just doesn't see his own effect on things.. The whole idea of what they are doing is bogus, it's not a reasonable criticism of RP, it's a measly red herring.. But hey, if this is all they can come up with.. WOW..
GO RP!