When is unhelpful okay in AskMe?

September 27, 2005 2:13 PM

So when is unhelpful okay and when is it not? This thread is a lot of fun, but it's also a lot of noise. I assume nobody cares because it's kind of a goofy question, but I think it raises the issue of when is unhelpful okay in AskMe and when isn't it? [more inside]
posted by phearlez to etiquette/policy at 2:13 PM (36 comments total)

I've stopped myself from posting to AskMe in the past when it would have been part of ongoing discussion but not necessarily on-point to the actual question. But I'll admit sometimes I haven't. I try to ask myself "does this contribute to better understanding of the issue" but sometimes I'm just asking "are matt or jess going to delete this?" Is there a fairly clear test that can be applied or is it just a "know it when you see it" thing? Or perhaps purely a matter of enough people flagging?
posted by phearlez at 2:13 PM on September 27, 2005

No way Homeskillet had fingers in a chinese finger trap. A joke question is going to get plenty of joking answers.
posted by caddis at 2:16 PM on September 27, 2005

The giveaway is not that he could type; but that he knew what it was. Knowing its name is 90% of knowing the answer. If everyone agrees this is a lot of fun, then it sort of isn't noise because noise doesn't even have that distinction going for it.

It's funny and harmless. I don't mind this sort of thing once in a blue moon. There are worse questions on the AskMe front page at the moment, in my opinion.
posted by nthdegx at 2:28 PM on September 27, 2005

i knew what a chinese finger trap was before I could get out of it.

I also wouldn't doubt my ability to type with one on -- hell, I could probably type without my hands if i had a long stick, and I certainly could type a few sentences using my pinky quite simply.

That said, I imagine someone at the office would spill the beans before Homeskillet got to the point of asking mefi.

There's always that guy.

"GOD YOU PUSH YOUR INDEX FINGERS TOGETHER DUH."
posted by fishfucker at 2:32 PM on September 27, 2005

I can't believe this. I was JUST ABOUT to post in the "thank you for a balanced metatalk and askme" thread about how this askme thread was the best one in recent memory, and here I have a place for my joy made out for me.

This askme thread is the best one in recent memory. The guy got his answers, and the conversation that resulted doesn't offend me at all, and it doesn't seem to offend the asker, either.

most of the noise I see happened after he clicked "best answer." maybe that's the distinction? I dunno.
posted by shmegegge at 2:32 PM on September 27, 2005

i have to admit, i asked myself the "does this contribute?" question and decided that no one had yet covered the "cutting the knot" angle on the finger trap.

i was definitely on edge though, and usually opt not to post in a situation like this, though sometimes questions seriously beg for it.
posted by bryak at 2:33 PM on September 27, 2005

I deleted about 20 goofball answers in that thread, which I thought was one of the dumbest uses of ask mefi in a long time.
posted by mathowie at 2:37 PM on September 27, 2005 [1 favorite]

No, you considered it a serious thread with requests for a serious answer?

Never in a million years did I think that anyone with the skill to pay $5 couldn't figure out the finger trap. I thought the thread was intended to let off steam and was someone checking to see if anyone was deleting threads today.
posted by ?! at 2:52 PM on September 27, 2005

i flagged it as noise, but apparently, it isn't noisy enough to be deleted in toto.
posted by crush-onastick at 3:05 PM on September 27, 2005

The solution is the first Google result for "Chinese Finger Trap". If you're deleting, be consistent and delete the whole post as "easily searchable". Or are you going to be an editor now, and thus be responsible for content?
posted by Capn at 3:19 PM on September 27, 2005

If you're deleting, be consistent and delete the whole post as "easily searchable".

Easily searchable is almost never a reason for removing AskMe posts. I thought this one was borderline too, but we usually err on the side of leaving them in if there's doubt and it got suprisingly few flags. I deleted a few goofball answers as well.
posted by jessamyn at 3:36 PM on September 27, 2005

AskMe: I thought this one was borderline too
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:46 PM on September 27, 2005

That sort of sketchy behaviour ("it's dumb, heck it's the dumbest ever! but I won't delete it!") is why MeFi is a shithole these days, with trolls and idiots running rampant through every damn thread.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:05 PM on September 27, 2005

Good thing nobody's being a troll or idiot in this thread.
posted by Mid at 4:16 PM on September 27, 2005

Oh, what the hell...

MetaFilter: trolls and idiots running rampant through every damn thread!
posted by mischief at 4:17 PM on September 27, 2005

fenriq = goofball = comment deleted.

So noted.
posted by fenriq at 4:20 PM on September 27, 2005

Sorry for mentioning that you can watch how to remove the damn trap for FREE on TV. Yeah I was being serious.

Oh well I guess I can't complain, this place is still about 10,000x better than slashdot... :-D
posted by shepd at 4:27 PM on September 27, 2005

i typed this with my pinkies.
posted by bonaldi at 4:35 PM on September 27, 2005

I typed this with bonaldi's pinkies.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:43 PM on September 27, 2005

now i wish i hadn't typed that "goofball" answer before I read this whole thread..heh.........

delete away boss....
posted by HuronBob at 4:46 PM on September 27, 2005

For what it's worth, I know what a Chinese Finger Trap is, and I didn't know how to get out of one.

It might not be a joke/hoax. He might really not have known.

The thought of someone typing with his pinkies, stuck in a trap, is quite amusing. :)
posted by Malor at 5:24 PM on September 27, 2005

Next: the Chinese finger trap webcam.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:55 PM on September 27, 2005

I still don't get the "dead grasshopper" reference in the subject. Grr!

phearlez, I'd say the fairly clear test is the one you're putting yourself through when you debate posting to a thread.
posted by kimota at 8:37 PM on September 27, 2005

I was amazed that no one made a Chasing Amy reference - unless it was in one of the deleted comments...

Maybe the AskMe thread will move up on the Google search list, so it's good to make sure the correct answer is there for other "trapped" surfers.
posted by birdsquared at 10:52 PM on September 27, 2005

Unclench.
posted by quadog at 12:00 AM on September 28, 2005

My comment, that apparently was over the border line, was only made after Homeskillet Freshy Fresh had his solution and was informative though tangential. The deletion was warranted considering how the thread turned into a train wreck. However I think a little leeway should be considered especially when a solution for a very binary question has been reported to have worked. IE: HFF had freed himself from the trap.
posted by Mitheral at 8:36 AM on September 28, 2005

My God, do we really care?
posted by ORthey at 11:16 AM on September 28, 2005

It's all real. This is why no one in the office would help me. Everyone thought I was joking, that surely I was trying to be funny. And I didn't want to seem stupid enough to get stuck in a chinese finger trap, BUT I AM SO STUPID THAT I GOT CAUGHT IN A CHINESE FINGER TRAP.
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 12:20 PM on September 28, 2005

which I thought was one of the dumbest uses of ask mefi in a long time

I humbly apologize. When Google didn't give me answers, I instinctively went to ask.mefi. My job is to look at it and press f5.


Never in a million years did I think that anyone with the skill to pay $5 couldn't figure out the finger trap.

Check my user number.

The thought of someone typing with his pinkies, stuck in a trap, is quite amusing

I actually used the three other fingers on both my hands.

I swear guys, I googled and could only find the chinese finger trap used as a metaphor for something else.

Having to defend my idiocy is making me cry big, dumb tears.
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 12:26 PM on September 28, 2005

It's alright, you big, dumb oldbie. We helped you out (quite literally), and ask nothing in return but to weather our disbelief and bitter, bitter derision.

(And mark mine as best answer dammit, i was first.)

:)
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 12:41 PM on September 28, 2005

This may surprise you, but sometimes I need things explained to me, and I was told the don't push, pull explanation. Afterwards, everyone did it the same way fishfucker did. But thanks for your help, gnfti.
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 12:45 PM on September 28, 2005

The don't push, pull explanation?

No wonder you were trapped!
posted by five fresh fish at 4:19 PM on September 28, 2005

I thought the original question, at least, was a delightful use of Ask Metafilter.
posted by redfoxtail at 8:57 PM on September 28, 2005

Dear AskMe: I slipped in the shower and fell right on this dog toy...
posted by cortex at 7:55 AM on September 29, 2005

I googled and came up with more than a few of the same answer of how to get out of it.
posted by agregoli at 10:21 AM on September 29, 2005

If you google chinese finger trap, you'll come up with answers. If you google chinese finger trap solution, it's a tad more difficult. Also understand the slight state of panic and embarrassment I was in. If it didn't give concrete information in the link description, I moved on.
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 11:32 AM on September 29, 2005