Comments on: MeFi Press mention: Washington Post

MeFi Press mention: Washington Post

shoepal — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:14:29 -0800

WaPo "In a recent discussion on the MetaFilter community blog"

By: shoepal

shoepal — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:15:13 -0800

"Second rule: Help yourself so you actually can do some work. In a recent discussion on the MetaFilter community blog, others who have worked sick suggested herbal teas, fresh fruit juices, over-the-counter drugs and vegetable sushi with plenty of wasabi to clear the head."

Seemed odd that MeFi was cited, but no link or even a URL was provided.

By: pithy comment

pithy comment — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:18:32 -0800

I'm assuming this is the thread the Post is referring to.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:19:29 -0800

(I think this is the Ask.MeFi thread. From July?!)

By: shoepal

shoepal — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:20:20 -0800

maybe both. The one I found mentions vegetable sushi.

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:34:24 -0800

The fact that the article didn't mention vitamin C is more or less a miracle.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:41:34 -0800

There are at least a few journalists who post here. In this thread a couple of journos discuss research they'd been doing on the thread topic. One for Wired, the other for New York Magazine.

By: allen.spaulding

allen.spaulding — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:54:59 -0800

What a weird article. I mean, the shout-out is great, but totally unnecessary in the context. It feels forced, as if instead of quoting some pop-medical that you buy at a supermarket some editor wanted a 'blog' in there.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:14:37 -0800

The MSM is always pulling shit like that.

By: Lynsey

Lynsey — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:16:41 -0800

For all of you WashPo readers who have suddenly flocked to Metafilter: WAND! (We Are Not Doctors!) Read any medical self-treatment threads and follow their recommendations at your own risk! (IANAL)

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:51:19 -0800

I agree with allen.spaulding. A strange citation.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:54:36 -0800

huh, I wondered why about double the normal number of signups took place yesterday.

By: veronica sawyer

veronica sawyer — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:57:48 -0800

Could it be that a mefite is self-linking on the Washington Post!?!

By: Miko

Miko — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 11:12:18 -0800

Seemed odd that MeFi was cited, but no link or even a URL was provided.

The style of the mention is what's interesting. It's very off-the-cuff, as if everyone already knows what MeFi is and reads it all the time.

There are a lot of journalists here who post, and probably many more who read. The dirty little secret in the world of writing for periodicals is that this is a great place to mine the zeitgeist for ideas.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 11:43:46 -0800

Yeah, miko, I thought the citation odd (style + context) as well. It was cause for pause as I was reading the pulp version of the WaPo with the front page of MeFi open on my screen.

Most of my friends don't know what Metafilter is (beyond "that site shoepal is always referencing") let alone the average WaPo readership. Puzzling. But, if it fills the coffers and keeps the JRun monster away, let the random citations and off the cuff references flow!

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 12:24:05 -0800

The dirty little secret in the world of writing for periodicals is that this is a great place to mine the zeitgeist for ideas.

Well, I've always wondered if little citations like this are the result of terminal laziness on the part of the writer (I'll just quote something some anonymous person said on this community webblog, that'll fill up some space), or if quoting people on Metafilter is the 21st century version of "man-on-the-street" interviews.

I mean, imagine if it read:

In a recent discussion at the Palm Valley Bowl-o-Rama Singles Night, others who have worked sick suggested herbal teas, fresh fruit juices, over-the-counter drugs and vegetable sushi with plenty of wasabi to clear the head.

By: strangeleftydoublethink

strangeleftydoublethink — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 12:45:56 -0800

I'm sure the wasabi industry is thankful as well.

By: Roger Dodger

Roger Dodger — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 13:19:02 -0800

I found it odd that Metafilter advice was presented before doctors' advice.

By: tr33hggr

tr33hggr — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 13:26:01 -0800

Who is the mole?

By: konolia

konolia — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 13:31:45 -0800

Kathy Griffin.

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 13:45:15 -0800

Jeez, if you are sick stay the fuck home. That's what sick leave is for.

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 13:59:53 -0800

sick leave

Hahahahaha!

Heh! Hahaha*snort*ha!

"Sick leave"!

Hee!

By: If I Had An Anus

If I Had An Anus — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 14:02:28 -0800

I, for one, am outraged the Gothamist thread has more comments than this one. Hello, people? WaPo, here!

I blame quonsar.

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 16:03:02 -0800

cortex: Glad I could give you a chuckle.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 16:07:40 -0800

We need a scan!

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 03:37:48 -0800

Miko: "The dirty little secret in the world of writing for periodicals is that this is a great place to mine the zeitgeist for ideas."

Is there anything dirty or secret about it? I've seen stuff on here and subsequently written about it, but then I hear about stuff in the pub and write about it too. And still no 'something similar to something in a MeFi thread from a while ago appeared in a minor Scottish magazine today' call out ;-)

By: If I Had An Anus

If I Had An Anus — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 05:44:54 -0800

Gotta link, jack_mo?

By: Miko

Miko — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 07:11:12 -0800

Is there anything dirty or secret about it?

No, just being silly. But I keep my MeFi pretty close to the vest, even though it's just one source of ideas in a world that offers many. One day's worth of MeFi offers a lot more in the way of information and perspective than one night at the pub. It's just one of the places you can put your antennae out very effectively.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 05:52:04 -0800

If I Had An Anus: "Gotta link, jack_mo?"

Not to anything specific, but I've written a couple of technology/web pieces for The List (kind of like Time Out for Glasgow and Edinburgh) where research has started with stuff I've seen here - off the top of my head, a piece on Bittorrent, a piece on home media PCs and one of those ned of year gadget round up lists. I.E. nothing 'exclusive' to MetaFilter, but in those cases threads have made me think 'Ooh, I should pitch something on that...' and the links and comments have given me a starting point to read up on the topic/raised points that I wouldn't have thought to include.

Or, what Miko just said.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 05:54:31 -0800

Um, end of year. (A 'ned of year' piece might be fun to write, though...)