Comments on: crunchland has the most helpful user page

crunchland has the most helpful user page

mathowie — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:52:27 -0800

crunchland has the most helpful user page I've seen here. It's like the entire mefi wiki wrapped up in a single page. Thanks, crunchland.

By: glenwood

glenwood — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 20:06:08 -0800

metafilter: Try to digging deeper.

No but seriously, nice work.

By: tweak

tweak — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 20:06:16 -0800

Wow, that is pretty helpful, but I still like holloway's profile best.

By: dg

dg — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 20:15:16 -0800

Meh, all the cool kids knew about crunchland's user page ages ago.

I like holloway's page too, but I think his message is a bit subtle - he needs to tart it up a bit to get mathowie's attention properly. Also, phpilter rocks.

By: Balisong

Balisong — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 20:35:40 -0800

Crunchland Wins!

By: PareidoliaticBoy

PareidoliaticBoy — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 20:36:48 -0800

WOW.

As a newbie, too terrified to yet make a FPP after a year, I find that quite illuminating. Not knowing what sites are considered mainstream, I've never known if something I found to be interesting was worthy of a FPP. In the past, I have, on occasion, considered linking something and then decided not to out of fear of a double-post or linking to one of the unknown verboten sites; only to see that same site linked later, often to much acclaim.

For those of us newbies who really come here for the links, and who don't just want to hear ourselves talk, it would be nice to be given a list of the sites that are considered mainstream, or widely read. I realize that the NY Times or Washington Post fall into these categories, yet nonetheless I see those places linked frequently. Those of us spend limited time online also will not often attend the mainstream places and thus likely will not see all those fabulous links that heavier users consider old hat.

What amazes me continually are the members who completely ignore the FAQ on posting guidelines who then become antagonistic and defensive when their news-filter, snarky, agenda-ridden, stylistic nightmare, double-posts to FARK are derided.

By: justgary

justgary — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 20:59:04 -0800

Double, maybe triple post. Disappointing matt, really...

By: mathowie

mathowie — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:08:40 -0800

I've never seen it. It's worth mentioning two or three times, to be honest. It should be a permanent page on the site now that I think about it.

By: justgary

justgary — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:22:46 -0800

(I was joking matt, if that didn't come across)

Just add it to the guidelines.

By: marxchivist

marxchivist — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:25:58 -0800

As a newbie, too terrified to yet make a FPP after a year....

There is nothing to be afraid of. The worse you can do is look like an ass in front of a bunch of strangers. From reading your comment, I think you'd avoid a lot of problems people have with questionable posts.

By: geoff.

geoff. — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:31:16 -0800

I feel as if I should print this out and put it in my wallet. I'm impressed, and I'm usually not impressed.

By: scarabic

scarabic — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:59:25 -0800

I like the stuff that I agree with which is not in the guidelines. Like "avoid newsfilter."

Shall we start pointing to this thread as implicit mathowie endorsement of that directive? ;)

By: scarabic

scarabic — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:02:50 -0800

The #1 MetaFilter rule is still: don't be dumb.

I swear. I realize that people feel threatened and it takes them years to get up the guts to make a post and all, but that comes with the territory. If there's no penalty for being dumb, a site devolves rapidly. And if there's one thing that has kept me coming back year after year, it's not "eschew doublepostage" or "avoid newsfilter" (OBVIOUSLY not the latter). It's the culture of DON'T BE DUMB. Not only does it please me to take in everyone's un-dumbness, I'm amused by the regular smacking down of the dumbness that seeps in. And my own dumbness has been whittled down a touch over the years, just by hanging out here.

"Think before you post" is excellent life advice.

By: KevinSkomsvold

KevinSkomsvold — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:21:16 -0800

How does the saying go?

"One man's dumb is another man's treasure."

By: holloway

holloway — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:55:17 -0800

If only metatalk allowed the blink tag. They already don't allow some of the best tags

By: fenriq

fenriq — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:58:20 -0800

Damn, I swear the new kids have it so easy. Why don't we just throw fresh rose petals all over the place for them too? /kidding.

That's a pretty solid and sound set of guidelines. Should have to reread it at least once a year.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 23:00:30 -0800

And my own dumbness has been whittled down a touch over the years, just by hanging out here.

Aw, ya big dummy... *grabs scarabic and applies noogies*

By: mystyk

mystyk — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 23:29:05 -0800

I love crunch's user page. It definately is useful, and probably should be made into some kind of specially listed page.

I'm actually surprised that #1 never noticed it before. It was featured prominently a few times that I can think of.

Still, I'd have to say its design lacks flair. For that I suggest taz, jessamyn, or even my own.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 23:56:22 -0800

crunchland is a MeFi God.

By: NinjaPirate

NinjaPirate — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 01:11:12 -0800

I'm sure mystyk would appreciate constructive criticism of his flair for design at this point.

cunchland endorses the unusual, the sincere and the spellcheck. Can't argue with that.

By: moonbiter

moonbiter — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 02:12:31 -0800

The advice on searching by url to avoid double posting doesn't seem to work with the current search tool. I've just tried it with several FPP links and got nada.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 03:04:10 -0800

What's going on here?

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 03:06:05 -0800

crunchland should be promoted to a lower usernumber.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 03:15:43 -0800

So you mean he should be denominated. I heard that can be a painful procedure.

Loved the user page, still do now

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 05:12:59 -0800

I personally find fault with the thoery that people should go looking for stuff to post on MetaFilter. Much better to have a topic that you've come across or interests you and do a little research.

Apart from the introduction, though, I think the advice is sport on. y2karl - *please* see the bit about text formatting.

By: grouse

grouse — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 05:18:44 -0800

Ditto to nthdegx.

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 05:29:18 -0800

is anyone flaming out in this thread?

no?

oh, then I'll take my popcorn elsewhere.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 05:40:26 -0800

crunchland sent me a nasty email once. At least I think he did. My long-term memory's shot to shit.

By: terrapin

terrapin — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 05:58:17 -0800

I agree that other than the first paragraph it is good stuff.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 06:32:32 -0800

"It should be a permanent page on the site now that I think about it."

As soon as you do ... GOATSE.

You just know he's been planning it for years.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 07:02:02 -0800

It should be a permanent page on the site now that I think about it

A link to it in the posting guidelines would be fab.

In the past, I have, on occasion, considered linking something and then decided not to out of fear of a double-post or linking to one of the unknown verboten sites; only to see that same site linked later, often to much acclaim.

Tell me about it! I reckon the best thing to do is just go for it and risk the consequences. I mean, those consequences are only a load of dickheads you've never heard of calling you a dickhead or, at the very worst, someone you like calling you a dickhead. (Um, perhaps I should follow my own advice and break out of my one mediocre post per year of membership rut.)

Not sure the 'list of sites considered mainstream' thing could ever work, though - there'll always be someone who pipes up and says, 'You're linking to ridiculouslyobscuresitewithtworeaders.com? Duh. Everyone will have seen that already!'

By: graventy

graventy — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 07:53:45 -0800

Aw, hell, stavros, we've all sent you a nasty e-mail or two. You get our goats.

By: keswick

keswick — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 08:12:09 -0800

what happened to the marquee tag?

By: fenriq

fenriq — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 08:12:55 -0800

I send Stavros anonymous love letters and roses but he never calls. Oh shit, maybe I should put my number in the card!

To the lurkers sitting on hot FPPs, run them by some of the members who have offered themselves as sounding boards. I've offered myself (email is in profile) and I know many others have.

If you're that worried, check it first and get some pointers on how to make it a better post. And no, I don't think my FPPs are extra special by any means. But I've definitely improved since the first ones (right, Matt?!).

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 08:15:43 -0800

holloway writes "If only metatalk allowed the blink tag."

What! When did that happen?

Seriously though, I really hope blink doesn't go the way of marquee, it is quite useful on occasion in AskMe when you want to point out possible danger.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 08:37:21 -0800

psst. Crunchland is matt's sockpuppet!

By: mystyk

mystyk — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 09:04:57 -0800

delmoi: "psst. Crunchland is matt's sockpuppet!"
Nah, matt's not as good a writer. Crunch has it down cold.

psst. dhoyt is .... damn, I guess that one's been done.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 10:09:04 -0800

Well, thanks very, very much for the shoutouts, all.

While I don't recall the nasty email to stavros either, I'm certain it wasn't unprovoked. And if it was unprovoked, I'm sure it was just one of those rare days when I cheeked my meds.

But seriously, I think going out and finding links is better than waiting for them to find you. The only links that come to me when I don't look for them are from my mother-in-law, and I don't think anyone is interested in the bunny joke of the day... But I do think that the days of finding a new link every day are over. I certainly don't have the patience or inclination to do it, and I don't suspect anyone else does, either. In truth, even now when I do go out searching for something to post, I have trouble coming up with something that hasn't already been posted. So many busy fingers, I guess.

And yeah, the part about the url search has become inaccurate, as someone further up mentioned, now that Matt disabled the internal search functions. I guess it's time to update that.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 14:23:31 -0800

By: crunchland

crunchland — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:40:57 -0800

Ok, cool. I updated it.

By: caddis

caddis — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 19:14:07 -0800

You can do internal link searches the exact same way by using the Post page instead of the Search.

Plop foo.com into the URL field of the posting page, with a title and a description of the link text (just put in alsdfklasdfj for now). Then hit preview, and it will do the very same search, since day one, for that url string.
posted by mathowie at 2:23 PM PST on November 16 [!]

Yes, that is true, but I will be the one who will instead of just searching links, ends up posting "alsdfklasdfj" to the front page.