The top users on sites like digg and Netscape are putting in four to eight hours a day. They are certainly not just “users” at this point. They are more akin to freelancers, editors, or researchers. The term I most like to use is “cool hunters.”

They are also just like the editors-at-large at magazines who look for cool stories to cover.

I wouldn’t say disproportionate influence, I would say appropriate influence. They are putting in the most time, they find the stories first, and they know the most people in the community. It only makes sense that the people who invest the most time and effort get the most benefit.

People would not participate in these systems if they were not transparent and if there was a not a recognition system in place. The two top reasons people participate in these systems are recognition and affiliation–in that order.

You take away the leaderboard and you take away the recognition. It would kill the fun of the game for most people. That being said, we found that women are less concerned about their rank and much more interested in the relationships they are building–go figure.

> How would you describe the pressure and influence of marketers, especially as it
> relates to this top-user pool?

Constant.

They are low-rent marketers who are desperate for a cheap way to game the system. The real marketers–in most cases–are smart enough to know they shouldn’t piss in the town well.

Finding sources is your job.