Please stop using the term "Google-fu" September 24, 2005 12:30 PM Subscribe
Please stop telling us about your Google-fu. Obviously you couldn't find what you were looking for by other means, or you wouldn't be Asking MetaFilter. There's enough noise on AskMe as it is without every other post beginning or ending with "My Google-fu is failing me."
Just say your Metatalk-fu failed you, then no can complain.
posted by Rothko at 12:37 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by Rothko at 12:37 PM on September 24, 2005
Google-fu you.
posted by ColdChef at 12:38 PM on September 24, 2005 [1 favorite]
posted by ColdChef at 12:38 PM on September 24, 2005 [1 favorite]
Your callout-fu is weak.
posted by scarabic at 12:39 PM on September 24, 2005 [1 favorite]
posted by scarabic at 12:39 PM on September 24, 2005 [1 favorite]
Kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation: don't mention that you tried to Google it, and people will tell you to Google it. Mention that you tried to Google it, and people will tell you not to mention that you Googled it.
Agreed.
posted by vacapinta at 12:40 PM on September 24, 2005
Agreed.
posted by vacapinta at 12:40 PM on September 24, 2005
It is a lot like saying "This is my first post", except more irritating.
posted by Chuckles at 12:46 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by Chuckles at 12:46 PM on September 24, 2005
I thought Google-fu was sort of something you had, or didn't have. So, your Google-fu can't fail you, you just don't have enough of it to complete whatever task you set yourself to. It's like The Force, it doesn't fail you, you fail it.
posted by jessamyn at 12:49 PM on September 24, 2005 [2 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 12:49 PM on September 24, 2005 [2 favorites]
I find the term "google-fu" as incredibly annoying as "pony" when used to ask for features. Do you think you're clever? You're not.
posted by null terminated at 12:50 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by null terminated at 12:50 PM on September 24, 2005
Holy shit! Whatever shall we do? Quick, someone call the goddamn wahmbulance!
posted by sciurus at 12:54 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by sciurus at 12:54 PM on September 24, 2005
null terminated: "I find the term "google-fu" as incredibly annoying as "pony" when used to ask for features. Do you think you're clever? You're not."
I'm pretty sure no one uses the term because they think they're clever. Rather, it's used because it's an effective means to communicate a complex concept: sometimes even with the best search engines, the ability to find what you want is more of an art than a science. It's a real damn shame that language expands, yeah.
posted by Plutor at 12:59 PM on September 24, 2005 [1 favorite]
I'm pretty sure no one uses the term because they think they're clever. Rather, it's used because it's an effective means to communicate a complex concept: sometimes even with the best search engines, the ability to find what you want is more of an art than a science. It's a real damn shame that language expands, yeah.
posted by Plutor at 12:59 PM on September 24, 2005 [1 favorite]
Oh well, if you're annoyed by "pony" and "google-fu" then you're annoyed by any parlance that develops in any subculture. I don't think people mean to make some kind of knee-slapping joke every time they say "google-fu," or "pony," they're just terms someone coined that've developed internal meanings around here. Yes - when you use them you're admitting that you're talking to this subculture of people only - those who will unsderstand it - and not the general populace of the world. Some people are really touchy about anyone else doing anything that could conceivably be construed as "cool" or "in," as if it carries with it some monstrous pretension: how dare you use words that aren't easily understood by anyone on the street?
Relax, ye pretension police.
posted by scarabic at 1:12 PM on September 24, 2005
Relax, ye pretension police.
posted by scarabic at 1:12 PM on September 24, 2005
*stands up*
Momma sez, momma sez... momma sez google is the DEVIL.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 1:15 PM on September 24, 2005
Momma sez, momma sez... momma sez google is the DEVIL.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 1:15 PM on September 24, 2005
Yeah, I agree with scarabic, this is all kind of pet-peevish. Saying that you tried google doesn't really add much noise to the site compared to the other stuff. Don't worry about it.
posted by furiousthought at 1:29 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by furiousthought at 1:29 PM on September 24, 2005
It's automatic verbal diarrhoea. Annoying, but no means an isolated example.
posted by nthdegx at 1:39 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by nthdegx at 1:39 PM on September 24, 2005
What is "Google"?
posted by gramschmidt at 1:40 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by gramschmidt at 1:40 PM on September 24, 2005
Early in the game, I admitted to failing with my "google-foo", and no one corrected me, or complained. (Nice people!)
It's just shorthand for "internet website searching capability"... And it's actually pretty important to note this with an asked question, because otherwise everyone is going to tell you that you should have just goggled it.
posted by taz at 1:47 PM on September 24, 2005
It's just shorthand for "internet website searching capability"... And it's actually pretty important to note this with an asked question, because otherwise everyone is going to tell you that you should have just goggled it.
posted by taz at 1:47 PM on September 24, 2005
Googled.
sorry, but I had to correct! Otherwise you all might have ended up goggling when you should have been googling. Not that it won't happen anyway.
posted by taz at 1:50 PM on September 24, 2005
sorry, but I had to correct! Otherwise you all might have ended up goggling when you should have been googling. Not that it won't happen anyway.
posted by taz at 1:50 PM on September 24, 2005
I don't like the term 'pony' for feature. What's wrong with, simply, 'feature'?
Anyway, The 'google-fu' thing on askeme never bothered me, but I suppose people could start putting it in the 'more inside'.
posted by delmoi at 1:59 PM on September 24, 2005
Anyway, The 'google-fu' thing on askeme never bothered me, but I suppose people could start putting it in the 'more inside'.
posted by delmoi at 1:59 PM on September 24, 2005
What is "Google"?
Yeah, I tried to look it up, but my Google-fu failed me...
posted by c13 at 2:10 PM on September 24, 2005
Yeah, I tried to look it up, but my Google-fu failed me...
posted by c13 at 2:10 PM on September 24, 2005
Fu is the first name of Manchu and should be capitalized. Showing proper respect for Fu Manchu will make every one happy for the first time in MetaFilter history.
posted by Cranberry at 2:13 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 2:13 PM on September 24, 2005
sciurus: hahaha
posted by null terminated at 2:37 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by null terminated at 2:37 PM on September 24, 2005
I'm amazed the whole phrase hasn't gotten compressed into MGFFM by now.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:47 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by Wolfdog at 2:47 PM on September 24, 2005
Plutor: it's used because it's an effective means to communicate a complex concept
What's wrong with saying "Google came up with nothing" or "searching came up with nothing" or "I googled it but couldn't find anything"?
Alas, googlefu is magic based and must not be overly questioned. I'm still waiting for the google fairy to visit.
my Google-Fu has lost it's chi or something
i must have misplaced my googlefu today
my google-fu quails before the task
Your google-fu is rusty
my google-fu hasn't evolved
Yeah, they're not trying to be clever.
/sarcasm
posted by null terminated at 2:47 PM on September 24, 2005
What's wrong with saying "Google came up with nothing" or "searching came up with nothing" or "I googled it but couldn't find anything"?
Alas, googlefu is magic based and must not be overly questioned. I'm still waiting for the google fairy to visit.
my Google-Fu has lost it's chi or something
i must have misplaced my googlefu today
my google-fu quails before the task
Your google-fu is rusty
my google-fu hasn't evolved
Yeah, they're not trying to be clever.
/sarcasm
posted by null terminated at 2:47 PM on September 24, 2005
Please stop telling us that two word phrases annoy you when they're common. There's enough noise on MetaTalk without you whining.
posted by klangklangston at 4:02 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by klangklangston at 4:02 PM on September 24, 2005
I don't like the term 'pony' for feature. What's wrong with, simply, 'feature'?
Nothing, of course. But "pony" does carry additional meanings. It's a self-deprecating, supplicatory way of saying "can you please give me a huge and wonderful gift that I don't even really deserve but which will make me happy?"
It's actually a nice way of asking for something without sounding demanding. "I know I may sound like a child asking his parents for a pony, here, but I think it would be great to have the site do THIS." When you point out missing features, you make the site sound sub-functional. When you beg for a pony, you imply that it's good and you've thought of something that would make it fantastic.
SO: all that said, what is wrong with, simply, "pony?"
posted by scarabic at 4:05 PM on September 24, 2005
Nothing, of course. But "pony" does carry additional meanings. It's a self-deprecating, supplicatory way of saying "can you please give me a huge and wonderful gift that I don't even really deserve but which will make me happy?"
It's actually a nice way of asking for something without sounding demanding. "I know I may sound like a child asking his parents for a pony, here, but I think it would be great to have the site do THIS." When you point out missing features, you make the site sound sub-functional. When you beg for a pony, you imply that it's good and you've thought of something that would make it fantastic.
SO: all that said, what is wrong with, simply, "pony?"
posted by scarabic at 4:05 PM on September 24, 2005
It seems that jjg's ideal post doesn't contain any words at all:
http://metatalk.metafilter.com/mefi/47
:)
posted by scarabic at 4:07 PM on September 24, 2005
http://metatalk.metafilter.com/mefi/47
:)
posted by scarabic at 4:07 PM on September 24, 2005
Please stop telling us about your Google-fu.
Please stop telling us what to do in MetaTalk.
posted by grouse at 4:33 PM on September 24, 2005
Please stop telling us what to do in MetaTalk.
posted by grouse at 4:33 PM on September 24, 2005
null terminated : "Yeah, they're not trying to be clever.
"/sarcasm"
Ah, yes, the sarcasm tag. Very clever.
posted by Bugbread at 4:34 PM on September 24, 2005
"/sarcasm"
Ah, yes, the sarcasm tag. Very clever.
posted by Bugbread at 4:34 PM on September 24, 2005
mmm seems like this call out has generated more noise in total then the little catch phrases that has spawned the thread that is...
As for humor value, sometimes it is an attempt at humor, but good luck in definitively qualifying what is funny and what is not.
I have lots of pet peeves, but they do not deserve a thread of their own. Now, if you had said "echo chamber"...
heh (oops sorry is that offensive?)
posted by edgeways at 4:36 PM on September 24, 2005
As for humor value, sometimes it is an attempt at humor, but good luck in definitively qualifying what is funny and what is not.
I have lots of pet peeves, but they do not deserve a thread of their own. Now, if you had said "echo chamber"...
heh (oops sorry is that offensive?)
posted by edgeways at 4:36 PM on September 24, 2005
This peeve over here, I call him Fred, he's been my pet since 5th grade
posted by edgeways at 4:37 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by edgeways at 4:37 PM on September 24, 2005
I thought about making a callout in the gray about this post, but, anywho, that would be teh annoying.
posted by Stoatfarm at 4:44 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by Stoatfarm at 4:44 PM on September 24, 2005
*stands up*
Momma sez, momma sez... momma sez google is the DEVIL.
Mahdoolaa Ahblongahtah...
posted by qwip at 4:47 PM on September 24, 2005
Momma sez, momma sez... momma sez google is the DEVIL.
Mahdoolaa Ahblongahtah...
posted by qwip at 4:47 PM on September 24, 2005
More seriously, though, null terminated: no, they aren't exceptionally clever, but I don't take them as attempts at cleverness as much as levity.
posted by Bugbread at 4:53 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by Bugbread at 4:53 PM on September 24, 2005
Although I fully realize that saying this will open up a huge can of worms, may I mention for just a moment that most, MOST, of the comments in this thread are either attacking the poster or completely irrelevant to the point at hand.
Why is that, exactly? Why are so many MeTa and MeFi comments so ridiculously off-topic or needlessly mean-spirited? And don't tell me that it was always like this, and don't tell me that there was no golden age. Please, just answer the question I've asked (if you care to, at all). Why are so many, many threads these days so filled with absolute drivel?
My theory? I don't know, but part of it might be that because AskMeFi has such "strict" guidelines, people feel that they can get away with whatever they want elsewhere in the site.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 5:05 PM on September 24, 2005
Why is that, exactly? Why are so many MeTa and MeFi comments so ridiculously off-topic or needlessly mean-spirited? And don't tell me that it was always like this, and don't tell me that there was no golden age. Please, just answer the question I've asked (if you care to, at all). Why are so many, many threads these days so filled with absolute drivel?
My theory? I don't know, but part of it might be that because AskMeFi has such "strict" guidelines, people feel that they can get away with whatever they want elsewhere in the site.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 5:05 PM on September 24, 2005
Why are so many, many threads these days so filled with absolute drivel?
Because we can.
posted by mischief at 5:09 PM on September 24, 2005
Because we can.
posted by mischief at 5:09 PM on September 24, 2005
Google-FUBAR
posted by kirkaracha at 5:13 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by kirkaracha at 5:13 PM on September 24, 2005
Why are so many MeTa and MeFi comments so ridiculously off-topic or needlessly mean-spirited?
As far as this thread goes, I think they follow the tone set by the post: annoying, selfish, a little mean-spirited.
posted by scarabic at 5:25 PM on September 24, 2005
As far as this thread goes, I think they follow the tone set by the post: annoying, selfish, a little mean-spirited.
posted by scarabic at 5:25 PM on September 24, 2005
..., MOST, of the comments in this thread are either attacking the poster or completely irrelevant to the point at hand.
Do you really expect us to sit here and seriously discuss the appropriatness of "google-fu"? You make a stupid post, you get stupid comments.
posted by c13 at 5:37 PM on September 24, 2005
Do you really expect us to sit here and seriously discuss the appropriatness of "google-fu"? You make a stupid post, you get stupid comments.
posted by c13 at 5:37 PM on September 24, 2005
c13, though what "I" expect is probably meaningless to the vast majority here, I'll answer the question anyway.
Often times when I see a MeTa post, before commenting upon its merits and offering an opinion, I look at the claim at hand and the original poster (along with his/her history). jjg, in this case, is a long-standing member here whose contributions are vast and extremely respectable.
His tone was brusque; but not entirely dismissable. Why? Because to simply discount the post because I didn't like the way he said it would make me a thin-skinned, whiny, self-absorbed ass. Though his tone would probably affect my answer, it certainly wouldn't act as a guiding principle.
Finally, I would look at the claim and, through a quick scan of the archives, would agree with his premise but disagree that it creates a real problem here. FWIW, I thought that bugbread and jessamyn's comments were spot-on and useful. But that's just me.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 5:46 PM on September 24, 2005
Often times when I see a MeTa post, before commenting upon its merits and offering an opinion, I look at the claim at hand and the original poster (along with his/her history). jjg, in this case, is a long-standing member here whose contributions are vast and extremely respectable.
His tone was brusque; but not entirely dismissable. Why? Because to simply discount the post because I didn't like the way he said it would make me a thin-skinned, whiny, self-absorbed ass. Though his tone would probably affect my answer, it certainly wouldn't act as a guiding principle.
Finally, I would look at the claim and, through a quick scan of the archives, would agree with his premise but disagree that it creates a real problem here. FWIW, I thought that bugbread and jessamyn's comments were spot-on and useful. But that's just me.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 5:46 PM on September 24, 2005
The call outs keep getting more lame, yet we never seem to hit bottom.
posted by LarryC at 5:52 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by LarryC at 5:52 PM on September 24, 2005
I'm with ya seizethday, but if I listed every phrase that irked me on mefi I could write a book (pony, pancakes, why do you hate...making a tag line out of every single line etc.).
This call out has got to be a joke, or someone stole jjg's password. Otherwise, he needs to go outside and unclench.
posted by justgary at 5:57 PM on September 24, 2005
This call out has got to be a joke, or someone stole jjg's password. Otherwise, he needs to go outside and unclench.
posted by justgary at 5:57 PM on September 24, 2005
Well, here we have a guy, one guy, requesting 26433 other members not to do something, because it for some reason bothers him. What should we do exactly? Institute new rules? Conduct a study? Other than snarking, the only thing I can think of is to post another thread in MeTa that says "Please stop posting lame-ass callouts. There is enough noise around without you telling everybody about what happens to bother you today".
But I won't do that.
posted by c13 at 6:01 PM on September 24, 2005
But I won't do that.
posted by c13 at 6:01 PM on September 24, 2005
Is there ANYTHING that doesn't start an argument around here?
I'm with c13.
posted by puddinghead at 6:25 PM on September 24, 2005
I'm with c13.
posted by puddinghead at 6:25 PM on September 24, 2005
Fair enough. This post was less than great (or crappy, if that'd suit your fancy). But what is there to be gained by trying to make jjg into some sort of idiotic, time-wasting poster? Why make a completely irrelevant, and therefore unnecessary, comment?
There are definitely two distinct arguments I'm trying to put forth. One is that people here are being needlessly harsh; two, that if you think this is such a waste of a post, why add to it with utter nonsense?
posted by SeizeTheDay at 6:31 PM on September 24, 2005
There are definitely two distinct arguments I'm trying to put forth. One is that people here are being needlessly harsh; two, that if you think this is such a waste of a post, why add to it with utter nonsense?
posted by SeizeTheDay at 6:31 PM on September 24, 2005
why add to it with utter nonsense?
Because we can do that too.
posted by mischief at 6:48 PM on September 24, 2005
Because we can do that too.
posted by mischief at 6:48 PM on September 24, 2005
Why are people here are being needlessly harsh?
IMO it is a combination of 1) the relatively anonymity of the web (there really is little personal social taboo against being reactionary so many say what pops in their head with little self editing), 2)The permanence of the printed word (the comment stays available for everyone to see and react to) 3) The relative lack of moderating on this site (this is not a call to moderate more heavily, just what happens when it isn't done).
Add to this issues of possibly having a low level of care what other people think or feel, a high personal interest in one's own opinion and any number of contributing factors...
I have no answers that would leave metafilter any semblance of what it is. I try to say here what I would say in person (not always succeeding, but I think I have a high degree of accomplishment)
posted by edgeways at 6:58 PM on September 24, 2005
IMO it is a combination of 1) the relatively anonymity of the web (there really is little personal social taboo against being reactionary so many say what pops in their head with little self editing), 2)The permanence of the printed word (the comment stays available for everyone to see and react to) 3) The relative lack of moderating on this site (this is not a call to moderate more heavily, just what happens when it isn't done).
Add to this issues of possibly having a low level of care what other people think or feel, a high personal interest in one's own opinion and any number of contributing factors...
I have no answers that would leave metafilter any semblance of what it is. I try to say here what I would say in person (not always succeeding, but I think I have a high degree of accomplishment)
posted by edgeways at 6:58 PM on September 24, 2005
If MetaTalk is to play any kind of role in self-policing, it would be good to pick our battles over what we're going to have "rules" or "norms" about. Lame-ass callouts not only clutter MeTa, they introduce noise, polarity, and tomfoolery into what should be a useful channel for discussing issues that relate to having a great community site. So, it would see that some self-policing of the self-policing mechanism itself is in order from time to time. And since callouts about callouts tend to spiral out of control, it would seem that the only tools we have for combating this waste of space are: reason and ridicule. Ridicule does make people think twice about doing stupid shit again. Basic fact. There's some of both reason and ridicule here. But yeah, I am kinda confused as to why Matt hasn't closed this. He seems to have done a closing sweep today already.
posted by scarabic at 7:18 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by scarabic at 7:18 PM on September 24, 2005
I have no answers that would leave metafilter any semblance of what it is.
If ever a statement spoke for itself, this is it.
posted by bingo at 8:00 PM on September 24, 2005
If ever a statement spoke for itself, this is it.
posted by bingo at 8:00 PM on September 24, 2005
Seize, I wasn't going to post anything in the thread, but I will after your comments.
It is a lame observation/request. There is no intelligent, useful conversation that can happen from this post. I'm sure jjg meant well, but there simply is nothing that can happen here. Nobody is going to change behavior. No rules are going to be made. No inferences can be drawn. Basically, it's just pointless kvetching.
People realize this, and lacking anything intelligent to say, and realizing that nobody else will have anything either, they make snarky comments. In a way, you could look at them as attempts to 'rescue' a thread that can't really be rescued. If someone asks a question that can't be answered, a wiseass response is pretty normal. You're just seeing that in text form, nothing more.
Let me ask you a counter-question... what did you expect to see here? Given the lead-in, what's the best possible outcome you can imagine? Do you want people to have a serious discussion on the merits of the word 'google-fu'? Do you imagine old men sitting around a table, stroking their beards, deciding on Acceptable Usage of the Word?
Basically, what possible useful conversation could happen, given this topic?
posted by Malor at 8:16 PM on September 24, 2005
It is a lame observation/request. There is no intelligent, useful conversation that can happen from this post. I'm sure jjg meant well, but there simply is nothing that can happen here. Nobody is going to change behavior. No rules are going to be made. No inferences can be drawn. Basically, it's just pointless kvetching.
People realize this, and lacking anything intelligent to say, and realizing that nobody else will have anything either, they make snarky comments. In a way, you could look at them as attempts to 'rescue' a thread that can't really be rescued. If someone asks a question that can't be answered, a wiseass response is pretty normal. You're just seeing that in text form, nothing more.
Let me ask you a counter-question... what did you expect to see here? Given the lead-in, what's the best possible outcome you can imagine? Do you want people to have a serious discussion on the merits of the word 'google-fu'? Do you imagine old men sitting around a table, stroking their beards, deciding on Acceptable Usage of the Word?
Basically, what possible useful conversation could happen, given this topic?
posted by Malor at 8:16 PM on September 24, 2005
Metafilter: making a tag line out of every single line etc,
posted by delmoi at 9:01 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by delmoi at 9:01 PM on September 24, 2005
I know this is true of myself, and probably a lot of the posters that make it from the blue to the grey/brown.
We're just addicted to posting. We have to post, we're driven no matter how innane or pointless it is!
posted by delmoi at 9:03 PM on September 24, 2005
We're just addicted to posting. We have to post, we're driven no matter how innane or pointless it is!
posted by delmoi at 9:03 PM on September 24, 2005
Metatalk: Basically, what possible useful conversation could happen, given this topic?
posted by vacapinta at 9:40 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by vacapinta at 9:40 PM on September 24, 2005
It's also difficult to answer your question without knowing which posts cross the line and which don't, in your opinion. On the other hand, if I were you, I wouldn't want to callout individuals or individual posts either. So I'll assume that you're talking about all negative comments in this thread, and that you're making no distinction between them in terms of the quantity of negativity in each post (or negatoogle-fu, if you will.).
Not everything can be said as if one were a therapist. Sure, explaining with every comment you make that you neither dislike nor intend any disrespect toward the post although you politely disagree and would appreciate them taking them time (although you're not trying to boss them around) to see the other side of things would certainly spare some people's feelings and avoid unnecessary confrontation. But when a callout sucks, there shouldn't be anything wrong with saying "we're not all here to dance around your pet peeves," or "this callout sucks." or even "unclench" or whatever, because we're not here for group therapy. We're here for a discussion environment where we'd like to speak our minds, within reason. Stuff like this tends to poison the well, so to speak, because now some people who were just using a phrase they saw someone else use may feel self-conscious about it when they shouldn't. Or maybe they'll feel like MeFi is snobby and restraining. Either way, discouraging this nonsense without either
a)lending it too much credence by engaging in a debate it doesn't deserve.
or b) writing term papers when a sentence will do
is perfectly reasonable.
Stepping past that is, to my mind, not reasonable. Insulting the poster, telling them to "grow the fuck up," or in some other way deriding them as a person is where I, personally, draw the line. Why is there so much of that on MeFi recently? Well, since you've pre-emptively dismissed any claims that it always was, I'll say that I don't know why people do that in every instance. Just don't try blaming it on new members. That canard is old and tired.
posted by shmegegge at 9:52 PM on September 24, 2005
Not everything can be said as if one were a therapist. Sure, explaining with every comment you make that you neither dislike nor intend any disrespect toward the post although you politely disagree and would appreciate them taking them time (although you're not trying to boss them around) to see the other side of things would certainly spare some people's feelings and avoid unnecessary confrontation. But when a callout sucks, there shouldn't be anything wrong with saying "we're not all here to dance around your pet peeves," or "this callout sucks." or even "unclench" or whatever, because we're not here for group therapy. We're here for a discussion environment where we'd like to speak our minds, within reason. Stuff like this tends to poison the well, so to speak, because now some people who were just using a phrase they saw someone else use may feel self-conscious about it when they shouldn't. Or maybe they'll feel like MeFi is snobby and restraining. Either way, discouraging this nonsense without either
a)lending it too much credence by engaging in a debate it doesn't deserve.
or b) writing term papers when a sentence will do
is perfectly reasonable.
Stepping past that is, to my mind, not reasonable. Insulting the poster, telling them to "grow the fuck up," or in some other way deriding them as a person is where I, personally, draw the line. Why is there so much of that on MeFi recently? Well, since you've pre-emptively dismissed any claims that it always was, I'll say that I don't know why people do that in every instance. Just don't try blaming it on new members. That canard is old and tired.
posted by shmegegge at 9:52 PM on September 24, 2005
we're driven no matter how innane or pointless it is!
.
posted by mischief at 10:08 PM on September 24, 2005
.
posted by mischief at 10:08 PM on September 24, 2005
sriahc daednu eht dna elbaterew.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 10:43 PM on September 24, 2005
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 10:43 PM on September 24, 2005
I don't like the term 'pony' for feature. What's wrong with, simply, 'feature'?
Because "feature" does not reference a common social stereotype, that of the young girl who begs her father for a pony, the stereotype being that (a) young girls all fall in love with horses in grade four; (b) they will read Black Beauty and The Equestrian Club and other horsey novels; (c) actually owning a horse is, like, the ultimate, you know? and (d) dad is the breadwinner in the family (oy! "breadwinner" is another of those social-reference words! I should have said "primary income earner" or, perhaps, "parent associated with monetary control or largesse").
Naturally, the irony is that they live in a suburban home, and it would be simply impossible for the little girl to actually own a horse, not even a small horse like a pony. She wishes and wishes, but it's only in the fairy tales that ponies come true, oh, sigh.
Which, y'know, is basically why we ask Matt for ponies, not "features." Whole load of connotation in it. Shame you've missed out on it all this time. If there are other words that bug you, just ask: there's usually a reason they're being used.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:54 AM on September 25, 2005
Because "feature" does not reference a common social stereotype, that of the young girl who begs her father for a pony, the stereotype being that (a) young girls all fall in love with horses in grade four; (b) they will read Black Beauty and The Equestrian Club and other horsey novels; (c) actually owning a horse is, like, the ultimate, you know? and (d) dad is the breadwinner in the family (oy! "breadwinner" is another of those social-reference words! I should have said "primary income earner" or, perhaps, "parent associated with monetary control or largesse").
Naturally, the irony is that they live in a suburban home, and it would be simply impossible for the little girl to actually own a horse, not even a small horse like a pony. She wishes and wishes, but it's only in the fairy tales that ponies come true, oh, sigh.
Which, y'know, is basically why we ask Matt for ponies, not "features." Whole load of connotation in it. Shame you've missed out on it all this time. If there are other words that bug you, just ask: there's usually a reason they're being used.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:54 AM on September 25, 2005
alternatively, there's the adult version of wanting a pony. it involves horse cock, though, so you may wish to instead think of pink ribbons and babysitting clubs and kid's horsey books, like "the black stallion"...
posted by five fresh fish at 1:56 AM on September 25, 2005
posted by five fresh fish at 1:56 AM on September 25, 2005
Do people not understand just how inane it is to write "anyhoo"? Or what debilitating electrochemical surges are set off in my brain when I read it?
Hasn't enough damage been done?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:51 AM on September 25, 2005
Hasn't enough damage been done?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:51 AM on September 25, 2005
MetaFliter: annoying, selfish, a little mean-spirited.
posted by fixedgear at 8:56 AM on September 25, 2005
posted by fixedgear at 8:56 AM on September 25, 2005
People realize this, and lacking anything intelligent to say, and realizing that nobody else will have anything either, they make snarky comments.
A better response: don't post anything.
In a way, you could look at them as attempts to 'rescue' a thread that can't really be rescued.
Sound like a waste of time to me -- like trying to create a perpetual-motion machine.
If someone asks a question that can't be answered, a wiseass response is pretty normal. You're just seeing that in text form, nothing more.
I prefer silence. Silence is golden.
Let me ask you a counter-question... what did you expect to see here? Given the lead-in, what's the best possible outcome you can imagine?
"What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence."
-- Ludwig Wittgenstein
posted by grumblebee at 10:01 AM on September 25, 2005
A better response: don't post anything.
In a way, you could look at them as attempts to 'rescue' a thread that can't really be rescued.
Sound like a waste of time to me -- like trying to create a perpetual-motion machine.
If someone asks a question that can't be answered, a wiseass response is pretty normal. You're just seeing that in text form, nothing more.
I prefer silence. Silence is golden.
Let me ask you a counter-question... what did you expect to see here? Given the lead-in, what's the best possible outcome you can imagine?
"What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence."
-- Ludwig Wittgenstein
posted by grumblebee at 10:01 AM on September 25, 2005
~timidly raises hand~
May I still say that my Kung-Fu failed me?
On the other hand my
Mountain Dew-Fu
Zoo Stew-Fu
Skip To My Lou-Fu
Stomach Flu-Fu
Poo-Fu
Glue-Fu
Boo Hoo-Fu
Strange Brew-Fu
Charleston Chew-Fu
Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue-Fu
Get A Clue-Fu
Cindy Lou Who-Fu
all seem to be working fine.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:38 AM on September 25, 2005
May I still say that my Kung-Fu failed me?
On the other hand my
Mountain Dew-Fu
Zoo Stew-Fu
Skip To My Lou-Fu
Stomach Flu-Fu
Poo-Fu
Glue-Fu
Boo Hoo-Fu
Strange Brew-Fu
Charleston Chew-Fu
Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue-Fu
Get A Clue-Fu
Cindy Lou Who-Fu
all seem to be working fine.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:38 AM on September 25, 2005
"What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence."
-- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Way to perpetuate the mis-interpretation of the conclusion of the Tractatus.
posted by gramschmidt at 10:57 AM on September 25, 2005
-- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Way to perpetuate the mis-interpretation of the conclusion of the Tractatus.
posted by gramschmidt at 10:57 AM on September 25, 2005
Way to perpetuate the misinterpretation of the conclusion of the Tractatus.
Well, I know the common interpretation, but (in this instance) I chose to use (one of) my own instead. The wonderful thing about interpretations is that they are personal. The only possible misinterpretation is dishonesty, in which you lie about the way YOU interpret something. As a staunch believer in the Intentional Fallacy, I don't care what Wittgenstein intended. Since he has published his words, I am free to use them (or "misuse" them) however I like. And they ARE useful in this context.
"What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence." = "When we have nothing constructive to add, we should shut up."
posted by grumblebee at 11:36 AM on September 25, 2005
ooh! ooh! Someone snark me now!
This thread is tops!
posted by Edible Energy at 12:11 PM on September 25, 2005
This thread is tops!
posted by Edible Energy at 12:11 PM on September 25, 2005
My Google Jitsu will kick your Google Fu's bottom. So there.
posted by Decani at 12:33 PM on September 25, 2005
posted by Decani at 12:33 PM on September 25, 2005
Re: Pony
It comes from a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon in which Suzie wishes that Calvin would stop being so mean to her.
"As long as I'm dreaming, I'd like a pony," is her conclusion.
There! I added something worthwhile! Will you get off my back now, Mom?
posted by klangklangston at 12:42 PM on September 25, 2005
It comes from a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon in which Suzie wishes that Calvin would stop being so mean to her.
"As long as I'm dreaming, I'd like a pony," is her conclusion.
There! I added something worthwhile! Will you get off my back now, Mom?
posted by klangklangston at 12:42 PM on September 25, 2005
MetaFilter: "There must be a pony in here somewhere!"
posted by ericb at 1:14 PM on September 25, 2005
posted by ericb at 1:14 PM on September 25, 2005
The only possible misinterpretation is dishonesty, in which you lie about the way YOU interpret something.
I interpret this to be nonsense. That's OK, right? One of my favorite movie scenes is the one involving Marshall McLuhan in Annie Hall.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 2:08 PM on September 25, 2005
I interpret this to be nonsense. That's OK, right? One of my favorite movie scenes is the one involving Marshall McLuhan in Annie Hall.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 2:08 PM on September 25, 2005
"What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence." = "When we have nothing constructive to add, we should shut up."
"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything."
- My Mom
posted by fixedgear at 2:27 PM on September 25, 2005
"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything."
- My Mom
posted by fixedgear at 2:27 PM on September 25, 2005
"If you can't say anything nice about someone, come sit next to me." --Alice Roosevelt Longworth
posted by dame at 3:03 PM on September 25, 2005
posted by dame at 3:03 PM on September 25, 2005
I interpret this to be nonsense. That's OK, right?
It's not a matter of OK or not OK. The way you interpret something is the way you interpret it. There may be some interpretations that are more common than others; there may be some interpretations that are sanctioned by influential people; and there may be some interpretations that are generally more useful than others. But I don't see how one interpretation can be more "OK" than others.
posted by grumblebee at 3:18 PM on September 25, 2005
It's not a matter of OK or not OK. The way you interpret something is the way you interpret it. There may be some interpretations that are more common than others; there may be some interpretations that are sanctioned by influential people; and there may be some interpretations that are generally more useful than others. But I don't see how one interpretation can be more "OK" than others.
posted by grumblebee at 3:18 PM on September 25, 2005
By the way, I also love that scene in "Annie Hall." It's funny because it shows a pompous blowhard being put in his place. He is "put in his place," because he's the type of person who worships academic/intellectual authorities. And you get to see one of these authorities telling him he's all wrong. In the same sense, it would be funny seeing God tell a pompous priest that he's all wrong. It's funny because the priest BELIEVES in God and thinks he speaks for God.
However, if the guy in "Annie Hall" wasn't so intellectually confused (he seemingly just "has opinions" to sound smart -- not because he's thought anything through). If he really HAD thought things through and came to a reasoned insight into McLuhan's writing, he could have respectfully told McLuhan, "I disagree with you."
posted by grumblebee at 3:25 PM on September 25, 2005
However, if the guy in "Annie Hall" wasn't so intellectually confused (he seemingly just "has opinions" to sound smart -- not because he's thought anything through). If he really HAD thought things through and came to a reasoned insight into McLuhan's writing, he could have respectfully told McLuhan, "I disagree with you."
posted by grumblebee at 3:25 PM on September 25, 2005
well, there's the way the author/speaker intended, and then there's also saying "If I may use [speaker X] for my own purposes for a moment..." and then there's quoting someone out of context to make your own point which they don't share.
The only possible misinterpretation is dishonesty, in which you lie about the way YOU interpret something.
this is flatly untrue. that's like saying "the only possible murder is when you don't admit to killing someone." misinterpretation has nothing to do with what you SAY you're doing when you quote someone.
AND you never said you were doing anything. you merely quoted him out of context to make a point he didn't make. Can silence be dishonesty? Yes. Yes it can.
But I'm saying that more as a point of order than to tell you what's right or wrong. As far as I'm concerned, you may misinterpret away and should feel no guilt about it. I just wanted to point out that your after-the-fact rationalization for it was B.S.
posted by shmegegge at 3:26 PM on September 25, 2005
The only possible misinterpretation is dishonesty, in which you lie about the way YOU interpret something.
this is flatly untrue. that's like saying "the only possible murder is when you don't admit to killing someone." misinterpretation has nothing to do with what you SAY you're doing when you quote someone.
AND you never said you were doing anything. you merely quoted him out of context to make a point he didn't make. Can silence be dishonesty? Yes. Yes it can.
But I'm saying that more as a point of order than to tell you what's right or wrong. As far as I'm concerned, you may misinterpret away and should feel no guilt about it. I just wanted to point out that your after-the-fact rationalization for it was B.S.
posted by shmegegge at 3:26 PM on September 25, 2005
Jesus fucking Christ, grumblebee. Are you the mascot for being a college sophomore? Because, if you, you're doing a good job.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:01 PM on September 25, 2005
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:01 PM on September 25, 2005
Etherial, I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. A college sophomore? Do you mean I'm being sophomoric? In what way?
Shmegegge, maybe we're arguing over the definition of "interpretation." As I define it, one's interpretation is involuntary. You say something to me and my brain interprets it somehow. That involuntary "somehow" is my interpretation*. It's not right or wrong (okay or not okay). It's morally neutral. It just is. It may not be your intended message. And I guess you can define an "okay" interpretation as one that is inline with the communicator's message. But if you do, you run into a host of problems:
1) How are you supposed to know someone else's intention?
2) If someone tells you his intention, how do you know he is telling the truth?
3) If someone tells you his intention, how do you know he can accurately gauge it? We don't always have a clear insight into our own intentions.
But let's assume that somehow you can figure out intentions. In the case of Wittgenstein, you could claim I could work out his intention by reading the text of his book. (I would argue that this isn't true. You can't do this without performing an act of interpretation, which will always be personal. But I'll pretend I don't believe this for the sake of argument.) If you DO work out someone's intention, the more profound question is "So what?" Why should you care? You SHOULD care if you think of an author as the ruler of his work. I don't. A work is something that exists. I can use it as I see fit. I can ignore parts of it. I can add to it. Etc.
Most of us do this all the time. For instance, we sing songs and we change the lyrics or leave parts out or whatever. We do it because we like the songs better that way.
If people are upset that I used a writer's words out of context, I'm sorry but I don't think that's a bad thing to do. If they're upset that I used his words out of context and didn't make that clear, I will agree that I shouldn't have done that. It was misleading. I was really just trying to have some fun -- the way people say stuff like, "Be Afraid. Be VERY afraid" when mom makes the Christmas fruit cake. They are quoting "Aliens," but using the quote ouf of context in an attempt to be witty. I don't see much horribly wrong with that, but I will concede that it's misleading. I'm sorry if I mislead anyone into thinking Wittgenstein was trying to say that if people had nothing nice to say, they should shut up. As I understand his book, that wasn't what he was trying to say. But I thought his quote -- taken out of context -- was a fun way to make that point. I was using his words as a metaphor for something I wanted to say, and I should have made that clear. (I guess.)
*interpretations are involuntary, but we can try to influence them. We can read scholarly text or listen to what authors say about their own works. By doing so, our involuntary interpretations MAY change -- but they won't necessarily change. Our minds may stubbornly cling to their own interpretations. For example, Stephen King might SAY that his intention is to scare me, but if I'm not scared, I'm not scared. I can't make myself be scared. What I CAN do is lie and say that I am scared, even if I'm not. Which is what I was talking about when I mentioned dishonesty, above.
posted by grumblebee at 5:43 PM on September 25, 2005
Shmegegge, maybe we're arguing over the definition of "interpretation." As I define it, one's interpretation is involuntary. You say something to me and my brain interprets it somehow. That involuntary "somehow" is my interpretation*. It's not right or wrong (okay or not okay). It's morally neutral. It just is. It may not be your intended message. And I guess you can define an "okay" interpretation as one that is inline with the communicator's message. But if you do, you run into a host of problems:
1) How are you supposed to know someone else's intention?
2) If someone tells you his intention, how do you know he is telling the truth?
3) If someone tells you his intention, how do you know he can accurately gauge it? We don't always have a clear insight into our own intentions.
But let's assume that somehow you can figure out intentions. In the case of Wittgenstein, you could claim I could work out his intention by reading the text of his book. (I would argue that this isn't true. You can't do this without performing an act of interpretation, which will always be personal. But I'll pretend I don't believe this for the sake of argument.) If you DO work out someone's intention, the more profound question is "So what?" Why should you care? You SHOULD care if you think of an author as the ruler of his work. I don't. A work is something that exists. I can use it as I see fit. I can ignore parts of it. I can add to it. Etc.
Most of us do this all the time. For instance, we sing songs and we change the lyrics or leave parts out or whatever. We do it because we like the songs better that way.
If people are upset that I used a writer's words out of context, I'm sorry but I don't think that's a bad thing to do. If they're upset that I used his words out of context and didn't make that clear, I will agree that I shouldn't have done that. It was misleading. I was really just trying to have some fun -- the way people say stuff like, "Be Afraid. Be VERY afraid" when mom makes the Christmas fruit cake. They are quoting "Aliens," but using the quote ouf of context in an attempt to be witty. I don't see much horribly wrong with that, but I will concede that it's misleading. I'm sorry if I mislead anyone into thinking Wittgenstein was trying to say that if people had nothing nice to say, they should shut up. As I understand his book, that wasn't what he was trying to say. But I thought his quote -- taken out of context -- was a fun way to make that point. I was using his words as a metaphor for something I wanted to say, and I should have made that clear. (I guess.)
*interpretations are involuntary, but we can try to influence them. We can read scholarly text or listen to what authors say about their own works. By doing so, our involuntary interpretations MAY change -- but they won't necessarily change. Our minds may stubbornly cling to their own interpretations. For example, Stephen King might SAY that his intention is to scare me, but if I'm not scared, I'm not scared. I can't make myself be scared. What I CAN do is lie and say that I am scared, even if I'm not. Which is what I was talking about when I mentioned dishonesty, above.
posted by grumblebee at 5:43 PM on September 25, 2005
I liked that scene from Annie Hall too! I also like the one where he's chasing around the lobster with the new girl and she goes "What is that a joke or something?"
posted by geoff. at 8:12 PM on September 25, 2005
posted by geoff. at 8:12 PM on September 25, 2005
is google-fu that lassie woody allens shagging ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 11:46 PM on September 25, 2005
posted by sgt.serenity at 11:46 PM on September 25, 2005
Perhaps we could rename the existing term "Google-fu" with something much more catchy and get a bunch of pub on the Internet like we invented the original concept.
Nah, never happen.
posted by yerfatma at 5:13 AM on September 26, 2005
Nah, never happen.
posted by yerfatma at 5:13 AM on September 26, 2005
Meta-fu.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:14 AM on September 26, 2005
posted by blue_beetle at 8:14 AM on September 26, 2005
Just an idea...Matt, maybe you could add a checkbox to the post-a-askme page so that users could easily indicate which questions result from ineffective google fu:
posted by If I Had An Anus at 9:01 AM on September 26, 2005
(Then you could just, you know, ignore that bit o' input.)Check here if your Google Fu has failed you.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 9:01 AM on September 26, 2005
For a man with a Fu Manchu moustache revenge is not enough
posted by Joeforking at 9:36 AM on September 26, 2005
posted by Joeforking at 9:36 AM on September 26, 2005
nothing to add, just exercising my compulsive posting disorder... comment #100 in this silly thread.. woo hoo
posted by edgeways at 11:33 AM on September 26, 2005
posted by edgeways at 11:33 AM on September 26, 2005
We'll never make it to 9622.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 12:57 PM on September 26, 2005
posted by If I Had An Anus at 12:57 PM on September 26, 2005
grumblebee, I can accept that. But then, I had no problem with you quoting out of context to begin with. My response to someone accusing me of it would have been "So?"
posted by shmegegge at 2:24 PM on September 26, 2005
posted by shmegegge at 2:24 PM on September 26, 2005
Sad day, but we knew it would come.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 11:01 AM on September 28, 2005
posted by If I Had An Anus at 11:01 AM on September 28, 2005
*surfaces, gasping for breath*
Our longboat capsized.
*begins to hum memorial death march*
posted by raedyn at 12:25 PM on September 28, 2005
Our longboat capsized.
*begins to hum memorial death march*
posted by raedyn at 12:25 PM on September 28, 2005
Of course you're right, IIHAA. It's strange how glad I was to see that you were already here when I arrived.
posted by raedyn at 12:27 PM on September 28, 2005
posted by raedyn at 12:27 PM on September 28, 2005
How about asking Matt for a pony? Re-open 10129 and we won't come back here for those 10 days. Has this ever happened before? I researched but - you knew this was coming - my google-fu failed me.
posted by Cranberry at 1:01 PM on September 28, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 1:01 PM on September 28, 2005
How about asking Matt for a ponydonkey?
If we ask Matt for anything, it should be to have languagehat's original ending to 9622v2 restored.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 1:05 PM on September 28, 2005
If we ask Matt for anything, it should be to have languagehat's original ending to 9622v2 restored.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 1:05 PM on September 28, 2005
If we ask Matt for anything, it should be to have languagehat's original ending to 9622v2 restored. - IIHAA
I second the motion.
posted by raedyn at 1:11 PM on September 28, 2005
I second the motion.
posted by raedyn at 1:11 PM on September 28, 2005
But aren't you afraid to ask? We've been sorta trying to keep to the shadows lest we destroy our own playground.
posted by raedyn at 1:11 PM on September 28, 2005
posted by raedyn at 1:11 PM on September 28, 2005
Damn. Maybe we can draw attention away from ourselves with one final, massively conspicuous image orgy. We never actually did throw me a houseapartment-warming party as raedyn suggested.
posted by gramschmidt at 1:43 PM on September 28, 2005
posted by gramschmidt at 1:43 PM on September 28, 2005
But aren't you afraid to ask? We've been sorta trying to keep to the shadows lest we destroy our own playground.
posted by raedyn
I share raedyn's trepidation about rising above the horizon.
Much as I enjoy the pictures/gifs/illustrations, I wonder if they do not leave a trail of breadcrumbs - or marshmallows - leading right to our current nook.
If every thread gets closed, we'll have to migrate to Metachat.
posted by Cranberry at 3:16 PM on September 28, 2005
posted by raedyn
I share raedyn's trepidation about rising above the horizon.
Much as I enjoy the pictures/gifs/illustrations, I wonder if they do not leave a trail of breadcrumbs - or marshmallows - leading right to our current nook.
If every thread gets closed, we'll have to migrate to Metachat.
posted by Cranberry at 3:16 PM on September 28, 2005
Hmm. I think that Google-Fu is not necessarily something one does or does not have, as jessamyn conjectures, but that it really is more akin to Kung-Fu. One can know of it, or about it, or a little bit of the specifics of its practice to varying degrees. You may very well be better than me at Google-Fu, meaning, perhaps, that you possess a greater number of discreet quantities of Google-Fu than I do, but we can both have it. "My Google-Fu has failed me" is just shorthand for, "I'm not very good at the practice of Google-Fu today." Google-Fu is just a thing, not some sacred, ephemeral ideal that one can "let down" or "fail", but is more appropriately considered simply another way to prepare onions, celery and carrots in a separate roasting pan and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until well caramelized.
posted by gramschmidt at 5:34 PM on September 28, 2005
posted by gramschmidt at 5:34 PM on September 28, 2005
So should we ask Matt what the deal is with his premature thread-closure?
posted by kenko at 5:47 PM on September 28, 2005
posted by kenko at 5:47 PM on September 28, 2005
I think he was just in a pissy mood today. The ongoing thread was nothing more than harmless fun. It seems out of character for Matt to close it. It wasn't offending anyone, or making the site look bad, or taking up too many resources, or really causing harm of any sort. A party kept alive for months, what is the problem with that? The cops have rolled into the two-track and doused the bon fire, but the party can just move along to the next vacant thread. If the authorities persist, perhaps a petition for leniency might then be in order.
posted by caddis at 9:04 PM on September 28, 2005
posted by caddis at 9:04 PM on September 28, 2005
potential trainwreck / clusterfuck warning
That thread is asking for trouble. Hopefully Matt and/or Jess will make a pronouncement and close it before it gets ugly.
Is it bad that when I see something like that coming I feel compelled to break out the popcorn and party hats?
posted by raedyn at 4:03 PM on September 29, 2005
That thread is asking for trouble. Hopefully Matt and/or Jess will make a pronouncement and close it before it gets ugly.
Is it bad that when I see something like that coming I feel compelled to break out the popcorn and party hats?
posted by raedyn at 4:03 PM on September 29, 2005
Looks like some folks start losing the weekend a bit early.
posted by Cranberry at 9:44 PM on September 29, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 9:44 PM on September 29, 2005
*gasps, takes off wet clothes*
I never swam so far while drunk before.
I did find a bottle of vodka floating on the way though.
No wait, it's just an empty bottle.
With a message!
"ipwnzoredtehl0ngb04tp4rt4yhahalolzorskthxbi<3mat"
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:37 AM on September 30, 2005
I never swam so far while drunk before.
I did find a bottle of vodka floating on the way though.
No wait, it's just an empty bottle.
With a message!
"ipwnzoredtehl0ngb04tp4rt4yhahalolzorskthxbi<3mat"
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:37 AM on September 30, 2005
ooh, a note from the owner in the middle of the Atlantic! reminds me of "Ph34r m3, I h4ve r00t."
Did we make too much noise in our previous apartment?
Glad you and raedyn are strong swimmers, g-nifti.
posted by Cranberry at 12:13 PM on September 30, 2005
Did we make too much noise in our previous apartment?
Glad you and raedyn are strong swimmers, g-nifti.
posted by Cranberry at 12:13 PM on September 30, 2005
Hope Grapefruitmoon didn't lose her notarized longboat title on the previous transitions.
posted by Cranberry at 12:15 PM on September 30, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 12:15 PM on September 30, 2005
Apparently I was sent a credit card to replace the one that expired yesterday 18 days ago. I wonder why I never received it.
posted by kenko at 7:06 PM on October 1, 2005
posted by kenko at 7:06 PM on October 1, 2005
It might have come to me by mistake. Let me check.
[time elapse]
Nope, I have Important Changes to Your Account for my card, and your new issue of Greek Sausage Party, but that's it.
Also, Cran, I got your latest Heinlein Society newsletter and something from someone wondering if you'd like to save 10% on vinyl siding. Shall I forward them to you?
posted by gramschmidt at 12:00 AM on October 2, 2005
[time elapse]
Nope, I have Important Changes to Your Account for my card, and your new issue of Greek Sausage Party, but that's it.
Also, Cran, I got your latest Heinlein Society newsletter and something from someone wondering if you'd like to save 10% on vinyl siding. Shall I forward them to you?
posted by gramschmidt at 12:00 AM on October 2, 2005
Gram, how kind. But let me leaf through the 19 catalogs I have received in the last two days - I probably have an offer for vinyl siding. I have been considering replacing the siding where I park my plastic train.
posted by Cranberry at 11:20 AM on October 2, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 11:20 AM on October 2, 2005
Bert and Ernie and friends. Which one are you, gnfti?
posted by Cranberry at 11:54 AM on October 4, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 11:54 AM on October 4, 2005
It's cheeky and not as light hearted as what I usually find in these threads, but it caught my eye. I'm not saying I necessarily agree with the sentiment, but I don't entirely disagree either. As usual, if it offends, you'll all overlook my indescretion. Thanks. Blame it on my being back at work for a week and getting an astounding 2 days pay. Ahead: another two weeks of being broke from the strike.
posted by raedyn at 2:02 PM on October 4, 2005
posted by raedyn at 2:02 PM on October 4, 2005
Which one are you, gnfti?
Ernie. Being half English, I'm glad not* to have the dreaded "unibrow gene" that seems to plague a certain percentage of British males. And Bert. Anyway, I'd rather not have any eyebrows at all, so Ernie.
Any questions?
*Unless, of course, it's latent. We continue to pray.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:46 PM on October 4, 2005
Ernie. Being half English, I'm glad not* to have the dreaded "unibrow gene" that seems to plague a certain percentage of British males. And Bert. Anyway, I'd rather not have any eyebrows at all, so Ernie.
Any questions?
*Unless, of course, it's latent. We continue to pray.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:46 PM on October 4, 2005
I would never ask such an obvious question as "which half?" so I will just congratulate you on being better tempered than Bert.
Confucius-like Words of Extreme Wisdom About Eyebrows: it is easier to pencil on missing brows than shave off unibrows.
Words of Warning: if the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court look catches on, it may become very difficult to obtain eye makeup of any kind.
posted by Cranberry at 9:44 PM on October 4, 2005
Confucius-like Words of Extreme Wisdom About Eyebrows: it is easier to pencil on missing brows than shave off unibrows.
Words of Warning: if the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court look catches on, it may become very difficult to obtain eye makeup of any kind.
posted by Cranberry at 9:44 PM on October 4, 2005
Sorry about your tiny paycheck, raedyn. If praise will help you ignore the hunger pangs, here is a plateful for the mini-billboard.
I do like animateds. Did you make it, or find it somewhere?
posted by Cranberry at 9:50 PM on October 4, 2005
I do like animateds. Did you make it, or find it somewhere?
posted by Cranberry at 9:50 PM on October 4, 2005
it is easier to pencil on missing brows than shave off unibrows.
Both sound pretty terrifying to me, honestly. Make up, hair and other preening are not among my girly talents.
I do like animateds. Did you make it, or find it somewhere?
Making animated GIF's is also a talent I have not developed. Shamelessly stealing other's work though, that I can do!
posted by raedyn at 8:43 AM on October 5, 2005
Both sound pretty terrifying to me, honestly. Make up, hair and other preening are not among my girly talents.
I do like animateds. Did you make it, or find it somewhere?
Making animated GIF's is also a talent I have not developed. Shamelessly stealing other's work though, that I can do!
posted by raedyn at 8:43 AM on October 5, 2005
I seem to be full of exclamation points today. I keep typing them and then deleting them because I look like a cheerleader or something else that's waaayyy too peppy and over-eager. I wonder why.
posted by raedyn at 9:12 AM on October 5, 2005
posted by raedyn at 9:12 AM on October 5, 2005
Making animated GIF's is also a talent I have not developed. Shamelessly stealing other's work though, that I can do!
posted by raedyn at 8:43 AM PST on October 5 [!
Theft of others' work is among my talents also. The gentlemen survivors of the longboat have enriched my files with a blue flash, a green fire and a campfire.
posted by Cranberry at 10:23 AM on October 5, 2005
posted by raedyn at 8:43 AM PST on October 5 [!
Theft of others' work is among my talents also. The gentlemen survivors of the longboat have enriched my files with a blue flash, a green fire and a campfire.
posted by Cranberry at 10:23 AM on October 5, 2005
Is there an IIHAA-related tragedy afoot in aisle 10288?
posted by raedyn at 11:35 AM on October 5, 2005
posted by raedyn at 11:35 AM on October 5, 2005
Aww, thanks, but no...that refers to FPPs only (though I am going to suggest discussing the Longboats really belong on MetaChat issue right after I properly formulate and post my vasectomy AskMe).
posted by If I Had An Anus at 11:46 AM on October 5, 2005
posted by If I Had An Anus at 11:46 AM on October 5, 2005
*eagerly awaits the AskMe*
*wonders idly if that's the sort of thing one shouldn't be eager about*
posted by raedyn at 1:20 PM on October 5, 2005
*wonders idly if that's the sort of thing one shouldn't be eager about*
posted by raedyn at 1:20 PM on October 5, 2005
Hm. Maybe it's time for a pre-emptive callout.
*reads Pitchfork, torches self*
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:57 PM on October 5, 2005
*reads Pitchfork, torches self*
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:57 PM on October 5, 2005
destroy our own playground
Yes, I am punk rock. Thanks for noticing.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:35 PM on October 5, 2005
Yes, I am punk rock. Thanks for noticing.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:35 PM on October 5, 2005
A safe way to play with balls is to roll them.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:33 AM on October 6, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:33 AM on October 6, 2005
*puts straw on shoulder*
*dares sesame boy to knock it off*
posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:54 AM on October 6, 2005
*dares sesame boy to knock it off*
posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:54 AM on October 6, 2005
Anyone interested in monitoring the new accounts that open today and taking bets on which is the next AlexReynolds/Poltroon/Rothko/(lord knows how many other sock puppets)? Or would that be too much like gossiping?
Ya know, I did say we have our own soap opera going here. But it's got too much of people liking each other and being nice in order to really qualify. You want a soap opera, follow around anything that fellow touches.
posted by raedyn at 11:19 AM on October 6, 2005
Ya know, I did say we have our own soap opera going here. But it's got too much of people liking each other and being nice in order to really qualify. You want a soap opera, follow around anything that fellow touches.
posted by raedyn at 11:19 AM on October 6, 2005
EPISODE #9622 "REGICIDE"
INT. NIGHT. THE LONGBOAT SOCIETY HQ.
The society members are discussing the joys of penguin-thawing over martinis.
RAEDYN: So, I can't believe Cranberry went for that 'gnifty' guy, or whatever his name is. I mean, he's so weird and European.
GRAMSCHMIDT: You're just jealous, Rae. Here, let me show you this odd picture I found on the internets.
KENKO: It's.... unsettling.
The door creaks. gnfti rushes in from the rain, panting like a dog. The party looks up at him from their martinis, puzzled. After an awkard pause, If I Had An Anus breaks the silence:
IIHAA: What the hell is going on?
GNFTI: It's, you see - a horrible... uhm-
KENKO: Yeah, he's been sneaking acid sugar cubes on the side again.
IIHAA: Don't give me your Woody Allen schtick right now, gnfti! What in the name of Leif Erikson is going on!
GNFTI: She's dead.
ALL: What!?
GNFTI. Murdered. They murdered the drama queen.
to be continued...
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:11 PM on October 6, 2005
INT. NIGHT. THE LONGBOAT SOCIETY HQ.
The society members are discussing the joys of penguin-thawing over martinis.
RAEDYN: So, I can't believe Cranberry went for that 'gnifty' guy, or whatever his name is. I mean, he's so weird and European.
GRAMSCHMIDT: You're just jealous, Rae. Here, let me show you this odd picture I found on the internets.
KENKO: It's.... unsettling.
The door creaks. gnfti rushes in from the rain, panting like a dog. The party looks up at him from their martinis, puzzled. After an awkard pause, If I Had An Anus breaks the silence:
IIHAA: What the hell is going on?
GNFTI: It's, you see - a horrible... uhm-
KENKO: Yeah, he's been sneaking acid sugar cubes on the side again.
IIHAA: Don't give me your Woody Allen schtick right now, gnfti! What in the name of Leif Erikson is going on!
GNFTI: She's dead.
ALL: What!?
GNFTI. Murdered. They murdered the drama queen.
to be continued...
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:11 PM on October 6, 2005
Neato. Can't wait to find out who the murderers are. I wonder how long those weird-ass Europeans wait between TV seasons.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:04 PM on October 6, 2005
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:04 PM on October 6, 2005
gnfti, that scenelet outpaces the whole of Paul Thomas Anderson's oeuvre, I'm afraid. Kudos.
posted by gramschmidt at 1:14 AM on October 7, 2005
posted by gramschmidt at 1:14 AM on October 7, 2005
*peeks over gnfti's shoulder, watches him writing furiously*
(*is glad she took two semesters in reading "weird and European"*)
posted by Cranberry at 11:39 AM on October 7, 2005
(*is glad she took two semesters in reading "weird and European"*)
posted by Cranberry at 11:39 AM on October 7, 2005
This is early since I don't know if I'll be on here during the weekend at all:
Happy Thanksgiving!
(and you thought only the Europeans were weird)
posted by raedyn at 3:52 PM on October 7, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving!
(and you thought only the Europeans were weird)
posted by raedyn at 3:52 PM on October 7, 2005
May I have the wishbone? Wait... is there a mad turkey disease?
posted by Cranberry at 4:29 PM on October 7, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 4:29 PM on October 7, 2005
GW = Turkey
GW = Mad
ergo: Is there mad turkey disease = true
posted by caddis at 3:11 PM on October 8, 2005
GW = Mad
ergo: Is there mad turkey disease = true
posted by caddis at 3:11 PM on October 8, 2005
So much of this thread makes me laugh. In a self-conscious evil-genius sort of way.
posted by raedyn at 6:20 PM on October 8, 2005
posted by raedyn at 6:20 PM on October 8, 2005
!8o days. Interesting.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:16 PM on October 8, 2005
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:16 PM on October 8, 2005
Chatty Cathy Cult Thread
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Sticky Clitty Gang Bang
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:26 PM on October 8, 2005
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Sticky Clitty Gang Bang
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:26 PM on October 8, 2005
chatty cathy cult threads. Who would do that?
Do we really want to stay here for 6 months? I got kinda used to the gypsy life.
heh - should we go back and improve 9622v2?
posted by Cranberry at 8:16 PM on October 8, 2005
Do we really want to stay here for 6 months? I got kinda used to the gypsy life.
heh - should we go back and improve 9622v2?
posted by Cranberry at 8:16 PM on October 8, 2005
You mean 9622v3?
Sadly, Mr. Cardoso was not grandfathered in. Perhaps, though, his spirit will join us for Thanksgiving Meal.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:37 PM on October 8, 2005
Sadly, Mr. Cardoso was not grandfathered in. Perhaps, though, his spirit will join us for Thanksgiving Meal.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:37 PM on October 8, 2005
It's the anniversary of the first English Luddite riots against the introduction of machinery for spinning cotton in Manchester, England on this day in 1779.
posted by Cranberry at 11:48 AM on October 9, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 11:48 AM on October 9, 2005
The metric system is the tool of the devil. My car gets thirty rods to the hog's head and that's the way I likes it.
posted by gramschmidt at 10:44 PM on October 9, 2005
posted by gramschmidt at 10:44 PM on October 9, 2005
If a creature is already cyanotic - that is, blue - why bother to bomb it? Won't it just die without medical intervention? I suspect that some parent of small children is so sick of the Smurfs that s/he took this opportunity to destroy some. This is entirely understandable.
posted by Cranberry at 10:53 PM on October 9, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 10:53 PM on October 9, 2005
A chocolate fountain was available at a party today. I know, I know, I worry about the possibility of wasted chocolate too, but I prefer the chocolate fountain to the champagne fountain which belongs right next to where gramschmidt put the metric system.
posted by Cranberry at 11:00 PM on October 9, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 11:00 PM on October 9, 2005
Gram, yours is truly an economy car. Something like .094 of a mile to 63 gallons of gas. Way to go!
posted by Cranberry at 11:11 PM on October 9, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 11:11 PM on October 9, 2005
I agree. The chocolate fountain is decadent but honest, while the champagne fountain seems chintzy, obsequious and fundamentally misguided. Like sequins on a condom.
posted by gramschmidt at 11:15 PM on October 9, 2005
posted by gramschmidt at 11:15 PM on October 9, 2005
EPISODE #9623 "IT'S ORIFICIAL"
EXT. DAY. OUTSIDE GRAMSCHMIDT'S LOFT.
Our familiar heroes1 are eating pizza on gram's porch.
RAEDYN: So, I can't believe Cranberry went for that 'gnifty' guy, or whatever his name is. I mean, I heard he pops more pills than Rush Limbaugh.
IF I HAD AN ANUS: Not just orally, either.
An awkward pause.
IIHAA: Not that I, you know, care.
GRAMSCHMIDT (trying to change the subject): Yeah, Cran! I mean, champagne fountains are *soo* early 2004. Way gaudy, too. No- I mean gaudy-with-a-Y, not Gaudi, the Spanish artist. Although, that too. If you design the fountain but die before it's finished, I guess.
CRANBERRY: Now that you mention it - it's the anniversary of the first English Luddite riots against the introduction of machinery for spinning cotton in Manchester, England on this day in 177-
A car with tinted windows rushes down the street and screeches to a halt. KENKO and GNFTI come rushing out.
RAEDYN: Alright, what now.
KENKO (panting): Shitfest!
Awkward silence.
KENKO: That was the clue, you idiots! All we had to do was take the cubic root of 10312 and multiply it by #1's age to find the exact coordinates of the location of the murder weapon.
GNFTI: Uh-huh.
KENKO: Shut up gnfti, you don't know math.
GNFTI: Uh-huh. I just needed a ride. And a place to crash. Gram, can I sleep on your couch?
GRAMSCHMIDT: Well, I don't know - there are two fine young ladies here and-
KENKO: We don't have time for that! So anyway, if my calculations are correct, the murder weapon is... lodged in one of your anuses. All we have to do is find out which one and we're on our way to find the drama queen's killer.
to be continued...
1 Wouldn't that make a fantastic band name?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:35 PM on October 10, 2005
EXT. DAY. OUTSIDE GRAMSCHMIDT'S LOFT.
Our familiar heroes1 are eating pizza on gram's porch.
RAEDYN: So, I can't believe Cranberry went for that 'gnifty' guy, or whatever his name is. I mean, I heard he pops more pills than Rush Limbaugh.
IF I HAD AN ANUS: Not just orally, either.
An awkward pause.
IIHAA: Not that I, you know, care.
GRAMSCHMIDT (trying to change the subject): Yeah, Cran! I mean, champagne fountains are *soo* early 2004. Way gaudy, too. No- I mean gaudy-with-a-Y, not Gaudi, the Spanish artist. Although, that too. If you design the fountain but die before it's finished, I guess.
CRANBERRY: Now that you mention it - it's the anniversary of the first English Luddite riots against the introduction of machinery for spinning cotton in Manchester, England on this day in 177-
A car with tinted windows rushes down the street and screeches to a halt. KENKO and GNFTI come rushing out.
RAEDYN: Alright, what now.
KENKO (panting): Shitfest!
Awkward silence.
KENKO: That was the clue, you idiots! All we had to do was take the cubic root of 10312 and multiply it by #1's age to find the exact coordinates of the location of the murder weapon.
GNFTI: Uh-huh.
KENKO: Shut up gnfti, you don't know math.
GNFTI: Uh-huh. I just needed a ride. And a place to crash. Gram, can I sleep on your couch?
GRAMSCHMIDT: Well, I don't know - there are two fine young ladies here and-
KENKO: We don't have time for that! So anyway, if my calculations are correct, the murder weapon is... lodged in one of your anuses. All we have to do is find out which one and we're on our way to find the drama queen's killer.
to be continued...
1 Wouldn't that make a fantastic band name?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:35 PM on October 10, 2005
Chocolate fountains are so decadent. Sometimes that's just the thing. I've never had an urge to jump into a champagne fountain. Chocolate on the other hand... *looks distracted, licks lips*
posted by raedyn at 9:29 PM on October 10, 2005
posted by raedyn at 9:29 PM on October 10, 2005
What in the world is dersins talking about? Some of us occasionally stop by MetaChat using our MeFi names, but IIHAA usually goes by his old moniker and, frankly, none of us are hardcore regulars, or even regular regulars.
Regular.
Regulate.
Rugulach.
Decoupage.
posted by gramschmidt at 11:10 PM on October 10, 2005
Regular.
Regulate.
Rugulach.
Decoupage.
posted by gramschmidt at 11:10 PM on October 10, 2005
Lenin is dead, but linen is alive and featured in much clothing that I will not buy because linen wrinkles.
I would not mind having some rugulach, however.
Have you "bored kids" been naughty over at taz's place? I have never posted there, so whatever dersins is on about does not include me.
I have lurked there on occasion, most recently to read q's apologia. Poor man! Hope he prospers now.
posted by Cranberry at 12:29 AM on October 11, 2005
I would not mind having some rugulach, however.
Have you "bored kids" been naughty over at taz's place? I have never posted there, so whatever dersins is on about does not include me.
I have lurked there on occasion, most recently to read q's apologia. Poor man! Hope he prospers now.
posted by Cranberry at 12:29 AM on October 11, 2005
gnfti, where are we? Since it is not Gaudi with an i, I guess Barcelona can be ruled out. Are we in The Netherlands? Any chance of a tsunami or hurricane breaching the dikes? Should I send home for my wooden shoes? And my water wings?
posted by Cranberry at 12:37 AM on October 11, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 12:37 AM on October 11, 2005
Well, I guess we now know why 10129 was closed.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 5:43 AM on October 11, 2005
posted by If I Had An Anus at 5:43 AM on October 11, 2005
I read & post to MeCha rarely. I ventured over there when it first was unveiled, and it was very friendly and bunny-ful. But I just couldn't juggle both sites. And now when I head over there, it's a wild-and-wooly bunny world with its own set of in-jokes and familiar characters from MeFi in disguise (different handles, etc) and I'm just too confused to really jump in. So I don't know how much longboat presence exists over there.
posted by raedyn at 7:14 AM on October 11, 2005
posted by raedyn at 7:14 AM on October 11, 2005
Where we are? Why, outside gramschmidt's loft of course! Whether that's a physical location or merely a metaphorical one is for gram to decide.
Oh, and re: kids at MeCha - ironically, I just posted there yesterday regarding my infrequent sojourns ibid.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:47 AM on October 11, 2005
Oh, and re: kids at MeCha - ironically, I just posted there yesterday regarding my infrequent sojourns ibid.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:47 AM on October 11, 2005
dersins:
a) jealous of ous
b) envious of our playground
Vote now.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:49 AM on October 11, 2005
a) jealous of ous
b) envious of our playground
Vote now.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:49 AM on October 11, 2005
That last bear link, IHAA, just - wow. It's so beautiful, I just about cried from laughing.
posted by raedyn at 8:27 AM on October 11, 2005
posted by raedyn at 8:27 AM on October 11, 2005
This comment is golden (in the context of a shitty thread that I wish I hadn't bothered to start reading).
posted by raedyn at 8:41 AM on October 11, 2005
posted by raedyn at 8:41 AM on October 11, 2005
Splendid IIHAA! Two volcanoes sufficient to produce enough popcorn for the viewers of the next flame fest to enjoy while sitting back and watching the flying insults.
posted by Cranberry at 12:54 PM on October 11, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 12:54 PM on October 11, 2005
gnifti, I don't mind being on the deck outside gram's loft except when it rains. Huddling under the umbrella table is kinda* cramped. Could we have a roof?
*kinda is not the plural of children, it is a non-word denoting a degree of crampedness.
Now that I have defined kinda, would you please define "ous"? What is an ous?
*raedyn notes with dismay another navel has been gazed*
posted by Cranberry at 1:03 PM on October 11, 2005
*kinda is not the plural of children, it is a non-word denoting a degree of crampedness.
Now that I have defined kinda, would you please define "ous"? What is an ous?
*raedyn notes with dismay another navel has been gazed*
posted by Cranberry at 1:03 PM on October 11, 2005
It's the end of the work day here, so I dashed off the last fax of the day - quickly typing the cover page. After the fax had gone through, I realized that I had mistyped the name of the company the fax was going to. It's supposed to be BlahBlah Securites Company and I typed BlahBlah Sexcurites Company.
I hope the people in that office have a sense of humour.
posted by raedyn at 4:06 PM on October 11, 2005
I hope the people in that office have a sense of humour.
posted by raedyn at 4:06 PM on October 11, 2005
Well, let's hope it stays limited to a Freudian slip, and doesn't evolve into a pink slip.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:09 PM on October 11, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:09 PM on October 11, 2005
Geez, guh-nifty, I hadn't even considered that horrible possibility.
posted by raedyn at 4:31 PM on October 11, 2005
posted by raedyn at 4:31 PM on October 11, 2005
Some one named krunk wants to know what a Dutch picnic is. gnfti, do you know or is this an Americanism?
posted by Cranberry at 3:31 PM on October 12, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 3:31 PM on October 12, 2005
I can't seem to make the site print. rats. and by now it is at the bottom of the page since it was posted at like 8AM
posted by Cranberry at 3:35 PM on October 12, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 3:35 PM on October 12, 2005
Cran, it seems to've been satisfactorily answered in-thread. I hadn't heard of it before; however, it reminds me of what we call an American party, ironically perhaps. Obviously, it's a party where you BYOB.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:19 PM on October 12, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:19 PM on October 12, 2005
Thanks for flattering me so sincerely, IIHAA.
(longboat confessional: while I am reasonably familiar with the Dilbert oeuvre, I had never heard the term 'cow orker' beforethat thread THAT MESS, and I thought they were making a typo, and I was being snarkily clever. Sigh.)
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:23 PM on October 12, 2005
(longboat confessional: while I am reasonably familiar with the Dilbert oeuvre, I had never heard the term 'cow orker' before
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:23 PM on October 12, 2005
By the way, that BlueBuddies thread has remained eerily quiet after our visit. Are Smurfs fans
a) very little in number?
b) afraid of everything that does not immediately conform to their Smurf-loving ways?
c) flagging it and moving on?
Vote now.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:28 PM on October 12, 2005
a) very little in number?
b) afraid of everything that does not immediately conform to their Smurf-loving ways?
c) flagging it and moving on?
Vote now.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:28 PM on October 12, 2005
smurf fans are very little in size and are blue which is why they admire the obnoxious smurfs. They will probably be targeted in the next bombing.
By killing that website you have done a public service.
posted by Cranberry at 12:30 AM on October 13, 2005
By killing that website you have done a public service.
posted by Cranberry at 12:30 AM on October 13, 2005
Rising Concepts bit the dust after the MetaTalk invasion of frappers. Two out. Batter up.
posted by Cranberry at 11:24 PM on October 13, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 11:24 PM on October 13, 2005
Well?
*pops all-anal porno into the betamax*
*walks back to patio, turns over brats*
*batter drips off arms onto coals, sizzles slightly*
posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:36 PM on October 14, 2005
*pops all-anal porno into the betamax*
*walks back to patio, turns over brats*
*batter drips off arms onto coals, sizzles slightly*
posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:36 PM on October 14, 2005
Do not love stop you from being love too
love comes and go,s but tazy well be here for you
do you think that hateing someone well make you a batter prson?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:54 PM on October 14, 2005
love comes and go,s but tazy well be here for you
do you think that hateing someone well make you a batter prson?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:54 PM on October 14, 2005
Mixed racing?
Stud removal?
The future of endocrinology?
posted by gramschmidt at 11:49 PM on October 14, 2005
Stud removal?
The future of endocrinology?
posted by gramschmidt at 11:49 PM on October 14, 2005
Sorry IIHAA, busy day. I should have been here to make the obligatory pancake reference.
I imagine your brats are all cooked now and it is too late to dip them in the leftover batter before cooking. I think the Brits make something like that called Toad in the Hole. Qwerty155 could probably tell us, but it has been weeks since we heard from him.
posted by Cranberry at 12:36 AM on October 15, 2005
I imagine your brats are all cooked now and it is too late to dip them in the leftover batter before cooking. I think the Brits make something like that called Toad in the Hole. Qwerty155 could probably tell us, but it has been weeks since we heard from him.
posted by Cranberry at 12:36 AM on October 15, 2005
Qwerty155 could probably tell us, but it has been weeks since we heard from him.
Hmm. Why don't we just send gnfti on an Official (though wholly unsubsidized) 9622v2 Extension Investigative Mission to the UK? What say you gnfti? I hear rumours that they serve spirituous beverages in England...
posted by gramschmidt at 10:28 AM on October 15, 2005
Hmm. Why don't we just send gnfti on an Official (though wholly unsubsidized) 9622v2 Extension Investigative Mission to the UK? What say you gnfti? I hear rumours that they serve spirituous beverages in England...
posted by gramschmidt at 10:28 AM on October 15, 2005
I'm up for it; I'm officially a British citizen anyway, so I shouldn't arouse too much suspicion. Also, I heard MI6 are hiring, so maybe I could liaison with them. Or maybe I've been watching Spooks too much.
Now if only I weren't short on dough...
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 12:04 PM on October 15, 2005
Now if only I weren't short on dough...
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 12:04 PM on October 15, 2005
Brain student hires on at MI6! Evildoers will quake in fear.
I believe qwerty said his job was ending. Perhaps he would like to interview for spookdom also.
You could team up; dynamic duo has been used, how about Tremendous Two? Take careful notes, write the best selling books, accept the movie deal, retire to gramschmidt's deck/patio to regale the 9622v2 survivors with tales of international intrigue.
posted by Cranberry at 1:23 PM on October 15, 2005
I believe qwerty said his job was ending. Perhaps he would like to interview for spookdom also.
You could team up; dynamic duo has been used, how about Tremendous Two? Take careful notes, write the best selling books, accept the movie deal, retire to gramschmidt's deck/patio to regale the 9622v2 survivors with tales of international intrigue.
posted by Cranberry at 1:23 PM on October 15, 2005
I was just going to say that. Odd. Q is not among us, is he? I'm just starting my MI6 education and lesson one is *trust no-one*.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:38 PM on October 16, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:38 PM on October 16, 2005
Serenity now!!
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:38 PM on October 16, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:38 PM on October 16, 2005
I think we ought to watch Sgt. Serenity. Burn a longboat indeed! Philistine! OOPS, that is now political; change that to hoodlum or vandal.
Does Q = qwerty155
and q= quonsar?
posted by Cranberry at 5:24 PM on October 16, 2005
Does Q = qwerty155
and q= quonsar?
posted by Cranberry at 5:24 PM on October 16, 2005
I thought Toad in the Hole was a food where you take a slice of bread, cut a hole in the middle, then crack an egg into the hole and fry the whole mess. This process gets you something like this:
A google image search shows me that the Brits do indeed have a dish similar to what Cran describes. It looks like this:
Ahhh... wikipedia solves it for me. In the UK, it's that second thing, but else where it's the first thing. Both are strange concoctions if you ask me.
posted by raedyn at 7:43 AM on October 17, 2005
A google image search shows me that the Brits do indeed have a dish similar to what Cran describes. It looks like this:
Ahhh... wikipedia solves it for me. In the UK, it's that second thing, but else where it's the first thing. Both are strange concoctions if you ask me.
posted by raedyn at 7:43 AM on October 17, 2005
drezdn! /norm
I have never heard of Toad in the Hole before. Sounds nasty to me, looks nastier. But, then again, I tried to look for camel toads in a drug book once.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 12:19 PM on October 17, 2005
I have never heard of Toad in the Hole before. Sounds nasty to me, looks nastier. But, then again, I tried to look for camel toads in a drug book once.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 12:19 PM on October 17, 2005
Gee whillikers (no, I did not spell check that) drezdn. We are not trying to hide from you. Note the date at the top of the page - we will probably be moving again in a week or so. We sometimes leave a bread crumb trail, sometimes marshmallows. Sometimes grouchy people tattle to Matt/Jessamyn and a thread gets closed prematurely.
We frequently gather on the deck outside gramschmidt's loft and high dive into his pool. Just keeping in shape in case we need to swim to a longboat again, but you should be able to hear the screaming when we miss the pool.
posted by Cranberry at 4:51 PM on October 17, 2005
We frequently gather on the deck outside gramschmidt's loft and high dive into his pool. Just keeping in shape in case we need to swim to a longboat again, but you should be able to hear the screaming when we miss the pool.
posted by Cranberry at 4:51 PM on October 17, 2005
Poutine? Deep fat fried potatoes, something like cottage cheese, and gravy made of flour and more fat and water? Please pass the Tums.
posted by Cranberry at 4:57 PM on October 17, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 4:57 PM on October 17, 2005
Poutine is kind of a bizzare idea and much to heavy to eat much of. Yet it is strangely tasty.
posted by raedyn at 9:40 AM on October 18, 2005
posted by raedyn at 9:40 AM on October 18, 2005
Why has no one posted MetaFilter: strangely tasty?
posted by Cranberry at 12:06 AM on October 19, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 12:06 AM on October 19, 2005
*shows off cool tanlines*
This uranium sun therapy really provides results, eh?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 10:03 AM on October 19, 2005
This uranium sun therapy really provides results, eh?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 10:03 AM on October 19, 2005
Wow, there's a lot of stuff going on in the front of the grey. The dios/rothko CC shutupraiser (cool idea that is), Q's return... Migs' return!!
Do you think Miguel coming back warrants a thread of its own?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:32 AM on October 20, 2005
Do you think Miguel coming back warrants a thread of its own?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:32 AM on October 20, 2005
It is getting positively crowded in here with the return of all the old free-loaders (those who have not paid $5.00)
posted by Cranberry at 10:29 AM on October 20, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 10:29 AM on October 20, 2005
Well, he's afflicted some clever CSS mojo upon his user page, so we can't really stalk him. Not that I, you know, would.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:16 AM on October 20, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:16 AM on October 20, 2005
How can we berate them for leaving us if they did not post an edress or a forwarding address?
Casu mentioned in 9622v2 that he would be leaving, but I thought he meant cutting down on the frivolity of 9622v2, not MetaFilter entirely.
posted by Cranberry at 8:21 PM on October 20, 2005
Casu mentioned in 9622v2 that he would be leaving, but I thought he meant cutting down on the frivolity of 9622v2, not MetaFilter entirely.
posted by Cranberry at 8:21 PM on October 20, 2005
OTOH we, in USA, have gained Chewbacca as a citizen
posted by Cranberry at 8:23 PM on October 20, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 8:23 PM on October 20, 2005
I didn't.
With all the talk of fallen MeFites returning to the ~foldy, I wondered about Casu. And `Casu` is in some ways phonetically similar to `Kimchi` and shares many of the same meat attributes. So I looked them up.
'chu bacca?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 5:47 AM on October 21, 2005
With all the talk of fallen MeFites returning to the ~foldy, I wondered about Casu. And `Casu` is in some ways phonetically similar to `Kimchi` and shares many of the same meat attributes. So I looked them up.
'chu bacca?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 5:47 AM on October 21, 2005
I'm here, of course, of issues which are sœxual in nature.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 6:02 AM on October 21, 2005
posted by If I Had An Anus at 6:02 AM on October 21, 2005
speaking here too
Qué hay de nuevo en español.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 6:05 AM on October 21, 2005
Qué hay de nuevo en español.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 6:05 AM on October 21, 2005
Huh? I thought casu marzu was rotten cheese and I still don't see the link.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:15 AM on October 21, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:15 AM on October 21, 2005
Oh, and: where do we paddle next?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:35 AM on October 21, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:35 AM on October 21, 2005
I wish I hadn't clicked on that wikkipedia rotten cheese link. I was looking forward to lunch.
Where to paddle? hmm...
*refers to compass, adjusting by 101 degrees*
*focusses bioculars*
10329?
How... boring. That place could certainly use a little livening up. Are we up to task? Or does someone have an alternate suggestion.
posted by raedyn at 7:42 AM on October 21, 2005
Where to paddle? hmm...
*refers to compass, adjusting by 101 degrees*
*focusses bioculars*
10329?
How... boring. That place could certainly use a little livening up. Are we up to task? Or does someone have an alternate suggestion.
posted by raedyn at 7:42 AM on October 21, 2005
I agree
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:48 AM on October 21, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:48 AM on October 21, 2005
I still don't see the link.
Then try looking here.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 10:37 AM on October 21, 2005
Then try looking here.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 10:37 AM on October 21, 2005
Ah. I am satisfied and appeased, WTASWIMP*. Have I been out-Sherlocked or have you just been paying better attention?
* Would That A Sphincter Were In My Possession. Where I come from, it's a term of endearment.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:16 AM on October 21, 2005
* Would That A Sphincter Were In My Possession. Where I come from, it's a term of endearment.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:16 AM on October 21, 2005
I'm just mo' betrayer of confidences, MOGTTWATS.*
* Messenger Of Glad Tidings to Those Who Are Totally Screwy
posted by If I Had An Anus at 11:31 AM on October 21, 2005
* Messenger Of Glad Tidings to Those Who Are Totally Screwy
posted by If I Had An Anus at 11:31 AM on October 21, 2005
The trouble with cults is they take up so much of your time. Once you get into the whole cult scene you end spending all your time cult message boards and spending money of cult paraphernalia. Before you know the cult is your whole life. - Mr T
posted by raedyn at 2:11 PM on October 21, 2005
posted by raedyn at 2:11 PM on October 21, 2005
Perhaps I should have provided some context, lest you should believe he of the small square hair and fat gold chains had made a declaration so obviously relevant to our longboat madness.
posted by raedyn at 2:18 PM on October 21, 2005
posted by raedyn at 2:18 PM on October 21, 2005
Hm. I pity the fool.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:38 PM on October 21, 2005
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:38 PM on October 21, 2005
Mr T is mistaken. We paid very little for our tiaras and have not bought any cult paraphernalia since. Maybe an extra towel or two, but we need those in real life anyway.
Oh, I did buy a MetaFilter cup, but I gave it away so that doesn't count. That is a different cult.
posted by Cranberry at 10:21 PM on October 21, 2005
Oh, I did buy a MetaFilter cup, but I gave it away so that doesn't count. That is a different cult.
posted by Cranberry at 10:21 PM on October 21, 2005
There were no specific "Viking ships" or "Viking longships"; Vikings used any of the common Scandinavian longships. These boats were identical to those used by the Scandinavian defense fleets, known as the ledung. The term "Viking ships" has entered common usage, however, possibly because of its Romantic associations.
There is no evidence connecting any discovered longship to any particular classical Viking raid. Nor has any "Viking" boat construction site, or harbour, been found or excavated. Thus, our knowledge of the actual boats Vikings used is limited.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:27 PM on October 23, 2005
There is no evidence connecting any discovered longship to any particular classical Viking raid. Nor has any "Viking" boat construction site, or harbour, been found or excavated. Thus, our knowledge of the actual boats Vikings used is limited.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:27 PM on October 23, 2005
Excellent research goodnewsfortheinsane! This means that our boat can have anything we want e.g., a nice fireplace for roasting marshmallows, a wet bar for obvious reasons, and a motor so raedyn won't need to paddle when we embark for (ahem) the next stop.
All aboard. This is the 24th also known as doomsday.
posted by Cranberry at 12:20 AM on October 24, 2005
All aboard. This is the 24th also known as doomsday.
posted by Cranberry at 12:20 AM on October 24, 2005
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Not true. But that's the way it should be.
Kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation: don't mention that you tried to Google it, and people will tell you to Google it. Mention that you tried to Google it, and people will tell you not to mention that you Googled it.
posted by Bugbread at 12:35 PM on September 24, 2005 [1 favorite]