MeFi policy confusion

September 27, 2005 5:58 AM

I think I've been confused about policy. This thread seems to me like it belongs in askmefi. It seems like that to a number of people, actually, who said as much in the thread. Those comments have been deleted, but the thread hasn't been moved to AskMe. Am I misunderstanding how posts like this fit in, here? [more inside]
posted by shmegegge to etiquette/policy at 5:58 AM (22 comments total)

You said there was more inside. I'm writing up a callout on you.
posted by thanotopsis at 6:05 AM on September 27, 2005

Mind you, this isn't a callout. I'm actually wondering what I'm not understanding, in this case. The comment I made in-thread that got deleted basically said "I'm not sure if this is an AskMefi question that just provided us with links to what you already know about (to avoid unhelpful answers) or if it's actually a thread to point out cool stuff. Either way, I think it's interesting and I'm ok with it. I can see how other people would hate it, and I wish you luck dealing with that." I can see why someone would delete that comment. It wasn't about the linked info. But then, if all tangential comments (or even comments that belong in MeTa rather than in MeFi) were deleted, jessamyn and mathowie would never do anything except delete comments.

Other comments that were deleted just said things like, "Shouldn't this be in AskMefi?" If there were flames in that thread, I never saw them, but then they could have been deleted before I read them.

So, I'm honestly confused. Why are honest questions and suggestions deleted, but the thread isn't moved to AskMefi? It seems that I'm operating under a false assumption. Namely:

I believed that asking questions from the community about things like where to buy a toy for your kid belonged in AskMefi. Another assumption I was operating under was that it was ok to say, "I think this belongs elsewhere," if you did so politely.

I'm sorry if I seem like a dick. I'm trying to make it clear that I don't resent having my comment deleted, and that I think there could easily be a good reason for the post staying where it is. I'm just bothered because I can't make sense of it, and it seems to me that I'm misunderstanding something about MeFi policy that I should understand.
posted by shmegegge at 6:05 AM on September 27, 2005

thanotopsis, I see your point. Callout away. And to think, I figured I was safe so long as I didn't mention punching my mother in the mouth.
posted by shmegegge at 6:07 AM on September 27, 2005

The whole thing ends in a question for more information, but we're first presented with a series of realted links that Outlawyr found on his/her own -- links that stand on their own as a post. As for the whole thing being personalized, so what? Isn't it refreshing to see someone say, "here are some links I found" instead of "here are some links Jason Kottke found"?
posted by Robot Johnny at 6:26 AM on September 27, 2005

Flag it and move on.
posted by furtive at 6:27 AM on September 27, 2005

robot johnny:

but does it seem like he's just using his child's gift to make a good post? or is he using his post to make a good gift? Either way, it still seems odd to be deleting every comment that says "shouldn't this be in askme?" I mean, it's a reasonable question, right?

furtive:

but I said this isn't a callout. I'm asking about why certain decisions were made. I'm fine with it being where it is. Like I said above.
posted by shmegegge at 6:33 AM on September 27, 2005

Who is Jason Kottke?
posted by sciurus at 6:39 AM on September 27, 2005

We'd be happy to answer that here.
posted by exlotuseater at 6:42 AM on September 27, 2005

As for where to post this, I was sharing the results of my search so far, and also looking for any other ideas. Ask MeFi seems only to be questions, not links. So it's a hybrid post. Try to be more flexible.
posted by Outlawyr at 9:35 AM EST on September 27 [!]

In his own words.
posted by exlotuseater at 6:44 AM on September 27, 2005

Flag it and move on.

As the poster said, comments have been removed without explanation, so flagging it isn't likely to have much effect. It's a crap post (a link to an Amazon product page?) made worse by crap moderation.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 6:48 AM on September 27, 2005

Yeah, I don't see the harm in simply saying 'shouldn't this be on AskMe'? I thought it was a strange post for the blue as well.

But oh well.
posted by delmoi at 7:02 AM on September 27, 2005

It was informative and had links as well as a question.

Not all of us regularly check out AskMeFi.

My daughter is 7, into robots and as a self-profess legomaniac I did not even know that there was a junior mindstorms-like kit...

And there were several informative links in the thread - where are they now?

Stupid removal.
posted by jkaczor at 7:11 AM on September 27, 2005

And there were several informative links in the thread - where are they now?

They're still in the thread, which is still linked at the top of this page.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 7:17 AM on September 27, 2005

Isn't it refreshing to see someone say, "here are some links I found" instead of "here are some links Jason Kottke found"?

posted by Robot Johnny at 6:26 AM PST on September 27 [!]

I think you're a little biased, Robot Johnny.
posted by agropyron at 7:22 AM on September 27, 2005

well, I guess that's that.

I can't help but feel partly responsible.
posted by shmegegge at 7:24 AM on September 27, 2005

I just saw the post this morning because a lot of people had flagged the post "it breaks the guidelines" which usually indicates something needs attention. I didn't see the comments that were removed -- I assume mathowie was trying to keep the thread on topic -- but there were more comments by the time I checked in saying "this really should be in AskMe" I emailed Outlawyr and suggested he move it there.
posted by jessamyn at 7:39 AM on September 27, 2005

So, I'm honestly confused. Why are honest questions and suggestions deleted, but the thread isn't moved to AskMefi?

Since this seems to be the actual crux of your very long question, allow me to speculate:

Because the software doesn't allow threads to be moved?

That's a guess based on independent thread numbering, and varying features between the three components of the site. I suspect it's simply not possible for them to be moved.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:48 AM on September 27, 2005

What I saw was a fair amount of research on an interesting topic that a user decided to share. Nobody seems to have gotten that though, unfortunate...

Ya, there was a sort of pseudo question at the end. I dare anybody to go and count how many question marks are on the front page right now! Half the posts or more at any given time, I'm sure. Should they all be in AskMe too?
posted by Chuckles at 8:36 AM on September 27, 2005

Plenty of AskMe questions have links in the OP.
posted by matildaben at 9:03 AM on September 27, 2005

Not all of us regularly check out AskMeFi.

Not all of us regularly check out the blue, either.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:12 AM on September 27, 2005

I think it's unfortunate it got deleted. If it's moved to ask it can't be "chatty", which would be interesting to read in that thread.

Had the poster made the post sans question and then just posted the question 2 posts in, all would have been fine and no one woulda called it out.
posted by dobbs at 9:50 AM on September 27, 2005

well, for what it's worth, I don't think anyone would have called out if there hadn't been reasonable comments deleted from the thread.

Also, there have been plenty of times that a question asked on askme was turned into an awesome and informative post (sans question) after the askme thread has had its run, or even simultaneously.
posted by shmegegge at 2:07 PM on September 27, 2005