Indeed, which is why talk of post deletions is so important to verify. Has it really become that kind of site? Just another barely concealed attempt to exploit an actual community into providing advertising impressions?

Deleting posts would be the death knell for me. The way we use the site is important, but the ethos of it is moreso. A Slashdot that arbitrarily deletes things it deems unwanted isn't one I'd like to contribute to.

I'm sure we'll find out, one way of another.

But this doesn't actually concede anything, does it?

Main points in this statement:

1: One in four users are still being redirected to the new beta.

2: The current Slashdot layout is still disappearing, to be replaced by the beta.

3: The beta needs development.

So what's so groundbreaking about this announcement? Where's the concession? I'm supposed to be happy about this, I suppose?

This is the part that bothers me:

So Dice wants the best of both worlds; the tech oriented, intelligent userbase contributions, and a wide audience to monetise those contributions to? It isn't going to work.

The slashdot beta!

Bet you didn't see that one coming..

I admire you actually coming out and posting, but I'd point out that there has been a plethora of constructive, detailed feedback on the beta already, seemingly to no avail.

But since you asked, I'd recommend:

Keep the Classic Slashdot.

Since Slashdot without comments is more or less pointless, we actually are paying, it just isn't with money.

If a website is a commodity, then our user generated content and comments are likewise a commodity. On some sites this contribution is pretty marginal, but on Slashdot it's the basis of the entire business model.

Since Slashdot profits from the userbase contributions, that means those contributions have a value.

So yes, I pay, though the contributions are probably not worth a lot ;)

Open up a story for all of this. There's been dozens of red marked stories in the firehose, and you're all going on like nothing is happening. It's your job, I can appreciate that, but as site staff you need to address this at some point.

If Dice are wanting to turn /. into another me-too Cloud/Biz/TV news aggregation garbage, it's your jobs that are on the line too. The slashdot you know will get eaten alive.

Ask yourselves, what will the site have left if nobody contributes?