Deleted AskMe

January 19, 2006 8:21 AM

I'm pissed and slightly baffled. My first post to Ask MeFi was deleted. Apparently I should have posted it here in MetaTalk instead? No one has bothered to explain why, but I'm assuming it's because it was a question about MeFi. (Why do I keep having to log in every time I return to MeFi on my iBook, but not on my PC?)

Well, excuu-uuse me!

I paid $5 for the privilege of posting one question a week, which is then deleted? That's just rude.
posted by blogrrrl to bugs at 8:21 AM (332 comments total)

this will end well
posted by puke & cry at 8:23 AM on January 19, 2006

Lurk more.
posted by selfnoise at 8:23 AM on January 19, 2006

When this is over, you might consider looking back and trying to identify where you went wrong.
posted by gleuschk at 8:25 AM on January 19, 2006

Are you sure you're from Montana?
posted by Ryvar at 8:25 AM on January 19, 2006

And yet, you're still allowed to post the *same* question here, even though you didn't read the guidelines closely enough to do it correctly the first time. I'm failing to see the point of the moral outrage.
posted by occhiblu at 8:26 AM on January 19, 2006

From the screen on which you type an AskMe post:

Make sure it's not MetaFilter, MetaTalk, or Ask MetaFilter related, as those posts would best be posted in MetaTalk than here.

MetaFilter: Kloppen kop on vant.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:29 AM on January 19, 2006

You mean this question, with the accompanying message regarding its deletion? And if you had an email in your profile, you probably would have received a message about it.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 8:30 AM on January 19, 2006

I paid $5

Actually you donated $5 - but you would have had to have properly read the sign-up pages to know that and paying attention doesn't seem to be your forte.
posted by biffa at 8:31 AM on January 19, 2006

I paid $5 for the privilege of posting one question a week, which is then deleted?

You were doing ok until that point. Walking in anywhere with a sense of entitlement is rarely the way to get help or get things done - it usually means you just want to vent.
posted by vacapinta at 8:31 AM on January 19, 2006

Is it time for the picture of the waaahhmbulance yet?
posted by chiababe at 8:33 AM on January 19, 2006

[waits for amusing images]
posted by NinjaPirate at 8:34 AM on January 19, 2006

DETROIT - With a few modest flourishes, the Dodge Corporation unveiled its concept for the 2007 Huff, claiming the now-standard GPS navigation system, ABS package and hybrid-electric powertrain make the Huff even easier than before to drive away in. The Huff is certain to be a big seller in the coming year, as many dealerships expect the retro-stylled taillights to appeal even to the coveted 18 to 42 crowd.
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:35 AM on January 19, 2006

Upon review, the deletion was somewhat anal and doesn't seem effective or helpful to any particular end. That said, you might have been better served by wording this question more politely.
posted by selfnoise at 8:35 AM on January 19, 2006

I can't believe there are guidelines! Five dollars! I thought that money was so I could ignore all the rules!

(This is like people who yell at cops and say "I pay your salary! Go catch real criminals!" By that logic, the only crime would be tax evasion.)
posted by Plutor at 8:36 AM on January 19, 2006

I paid nothing to get in here & I didn't have to wait either. Suckers.
posted by riffola at 8:40 AM on January 19, 2006

I once went to a restaurant and paid 4 dollars for a drink that they never served me. I still haven't gotten over it. I feel your pain. Let the healing begin.
posted by allen.spaulding at 8:43 AM on January 19, 2006

.
posted by matteo at 8:52 AM on January 19, 2006

[sings] Movin' to Montana soon
gonna be a dental floss tycoon....
posted by fixedgear at 8:53 AM on January 19, 2006

Raisin' it up
Waxen it down
posted by PantsOfSCIENCE at 8:55 AM on January 19, 2006

I, for one, think the Internet should come with a big warning label: WARNING!!! MAY REQUIRE READING!!!

Preferably, this label would completely cover the monitor.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:59 AM on January 19, 2006

Oh, OK. Well, apparently you guys are all too cool for me. Bye.
posted by blogrrrl at 8:59 AM on January 19, 2006

Jesus Christ, relax.

Why do I keep having to log in every time I return to MeFi on my iBook, but not on my PC?

Because the browser settings on your laptop are different from those on your PC, I'd bet.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 8:59 AM on January 19, 2006

Yes sir, may I have another, sir.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 9:02 AM on January 19, 2006

That's just rude.

No. The tone of your post is rude. When you joined the site you should have read the guidelines. You obviously didn't read the guidelines, because you posted in the wrong place, then threw a hissy when the incorrectly-placed post was deleted, THEN got further bent out of shape when your mistake was pointed out. It's not a good way to go.

Take a deep breath. You've probably had your question answered. Now let it go.
posted by gaspode at 9:07 AM on January 19, 2006

Oh, OK. Well, apparently you guys are all too cool for me. Bye.

You got that right! We're too cool for school too.
posted by Witty at 9:07 AM on January 19, 2006

*sound of door hitting ass*
posted by NinjaPirate at 9:10 AM on January 19, 2006

By myself I wouldn't
Have no boss,
But I'd be raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss
posted by SteveInMaine at 9:21 AM on January 19, 2006

kosem, I bet that Ao-chan and Gohan would read the guidelines before flaming out on MeTa.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:22 AM on January 19, 2006

hehe, you guys
posted by thirteenkiller at 9:31 AM on January 19, 2006

FOB: Exactly right. But their posts are so thoughtfully constructed and insightful-- their MeTa commentary so practical, evenhanded, and good natured that a flameout seems well nigh impossible. We should all follow their lead.
posted by kosem at 9:31 AM on January 19, 2006

< /b>
crap.
posted by kosem at 9:32 AM on January 19, 2006

My, my, aren't we just the sanctimonious clique?
So much for the concept of community...
posted by mischief at 9:32 AM on January 19, 2006

So basically, blogrrrl has gone from zero to flameout in eight days. Not counting spammers, self-linkers and other scummage, is that a new record? I'm really just curious.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:33 AM on January 19, 2006

Let's start fresh blo grrl. Do you have cookies enabled on the iBook?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 9:36 AM on January 19, 2006

Hi blogrrl, it's probably too late to salvage this whole situation but I'll give it a shot. MetaFilter has three sections. It started out just being the blog on the main page. However, people also started using that page to talk about the site itself, so MetaTalk was created as a place to talk about the site. AskMetafilter started later, as a place for people to ask questions from the MeFi memebrship at large. However, MetaTalk is still the place for questions about the site. It says that here and it says that right above the posting page on AskMetafilter.

This site is large with about 5000 members that post regularly and so it's tough to give everyone a proper orientation before they start using the site. Therefore, we try to put important rules way out there where people can see them, like above the posting areas. The fact that you missed this rule (happens to all of us sometimes), and then decided it was a good idea to come here to complain (less so, but we still see it), hs started this relationship out on a bad foot. However, people have bounced back from worse, so I'd encourage you to let this roll off your back and try again later, maybe after spending some time reading the MetaFilter Wiki and continuing to help out on AskMe.
posted by jessamyn at 9:36 AM on January 19, 2006

$5 !
(Whats that in nickels? )
posted by R. Mutt at 9:36 AM on January 19, 2006

Oh, OK. Well, apparently you guys are all too cool for me. Bye.

Well, yes, but only some of us are cool enough to catch that adorable Steve Martin reference in your post.
posted by googly at 9:39 AM on January 19, 2006

Actually you donated $5
posted by biffa at 10:31 AM CST on January 19

As a legal matter, I woudn't put much weight in that distinction without a difference.
posted by dios at 9:44 AM on January 19, 2006

That went well, I think.
posted by JeffK at 9:46 AM on January 19, 2006

$5.00 donation minus $4.98 leaves a difference of my two cents. And an infinite indifference.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:47 AM on January 19, 2006

Gonna be a mental-toss flycoon (how unique!) /FZ

Give it another shot, Blogrrrl. We may be assholes but we're the bestest assholes you'll ever know.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:49 AM on January 19, 2006

JeffK: That went well, I think.

The Prophecy has been fulfilled!!!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:51 AM on January 19, 2006

Sadly, I'm not even all that cool.
posted by allen.spaulding at 9:51 AM on January 19, 2006

Goodbye old paint, I'm leaving Cheyenne.
Leaving Cheyenne, going to Montana.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:51 AM on January 19, 2006

Before this thread is closed to new comments, I'd just like to say that "Blue Thunder" is a great movie.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 9:52 AM on January 19, 2006

Before this thread is closed to new comments, I'd just like to say that "Blue Thunder" is a great movie.

What is FUBAR?
posted by spicynuts at 9:57 AM on January 19, 2006

Also, "Heavyweights" starring a youngish Ben Stiller is a highly underrated movie.
posted by rxrfrx at 9:58 AM on January 19, 2006

Damn, I'm sorry. Really, anyone who starts a sentence with ...I'm pissed and slightly baffled. ... SHOULD be here.
posted by R. Mutt at 9:59 AM on January 19, 2006

Where's the picture of the big dog barking in the little dog's face with the STFU NOOB? That is what this thread needs.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:59 AM on January 19, 2006 [1 favorite]

ASSISTANT: George Carlin on line two.
KRUSTY: [on phone] Lawsuit? Oh yeah? MY Seven Words You Can't Say On TV bit is completely different from YOUR Seven Words You Can't Say On TV bit. Oh yeah? Well, excuu-uuse me! [hangs up]
KRUSTY: Give him ten grand.
ASSISTANT: Steve Martin on line two.
KRUSTY: Ten grand.
posted by rxrfrx at 10:04 AM on January 19, 2006

"Oh, OK. Well, apparently you guys are all too cool for me. Bye."

God I love morons. Without morons the Internet would be much less fun. I don't think we spend enough time appreciating the joy true idiots bring to our lives.
posted by y6y6y6 at 10:09 AM on January 19, 2006 [1 favorite]

The rated X musical version of Alice in Wonderland is a hoot! See it today!
posted by mds35 at 10:11 AM on January 19, 2006

You just brought tears of joy to my eyes, mds35! That was the first porno movie I ever saw. A friend's older brother sneaked a few of us in to a barely R-rated cut version running on a double-bill with the (cut) version of the X-rated Pinocchio ("It's not his nose that grows!"). I think I was about 14. *sniff*
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:17 AM on January 19, 2006

LURK MOAR

. . . Sorry, wrong message board.
posted by jenovus at 10:22 AM on January 19, 2006

Metafilter: pissed and slightly baffled
posted by octothorpe at 10:23 AM on January 19, 2006

Oh, OK. Well, apparently you guys are all too cool for me. Bye.

I guess that solves your logging in problem
posted by Emperor Yamamoto's Eggs at 10:27 AM on January 19, 2006 [1 favorite]

Tools>Options>Privacy>Cookies>Exceptions
Enter metafilter.com
Click Allow
Click OK





Sorry, guys. Couldn't help myself.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 10:33 AM on January 19, 2006

Ha ha, you guys are hilarious. Really. You all have the social skills of a bunch of 15-year-old boys. (Oh, wait, maybe you ARE a bunch of 15-year-old boys.)

I'm willing to admit my initial post in this thread may have been a bit whiny, but try to imagine how you'd feel if your first, well-intentioned post was deleted without the barest hint of friendliness or helpfulness. I did read the rules, but I'm still finding my way around. You guys could show a little mercy, but no, you'd rather spew insults.

I'm not interested in hanging out with such an unwelcoming bunch. I have better things to do. I won't be back -- not even to lurk -- so do yourselves a favor and save your hostility for someone who cares.
posted by blogrrrl at 10:41 AM on January 19, 2006

Oh, OK. Well, apparently you guys are all too cool for me. Bye.

For the record, some of us aren't. Some of us can't stand the four-year-olds who gleefully mock people who don't share their internet savvy — as if spending lots of time online was something to be proud of. Some of us would have put ourselves in your shoes, understood why you were frustrated, and tried to help.

Unfortunately, the kids have more free time to kill on the internet, so they always get here first.
posted by cribcage at 10:44 AM on January 19, 2006

Nice going. Some of you were a teensy bit mean don't you think?
posted by longbaugh at 10:46 AM on January 19, 2006

No, blogrrrl, don't go!
*cries*



This thread is the most fun I've had in weeks. Seriously, this is not a good place to be whiny and act entitled. Come back under another name and try again, blogrrrl. We're not that bad. We just don't cotton to whiners.
posted by languagehat at 10:48 AM on January 19, 2006

"I won't be back -- not even to lurk -- so do yourselves a favor and save your hostility for someone who cares."

That never really works, does it?

No, no, blogrrrl, don't leave and not even lurk! When I stop and think about the goodness—the greatness, even—that MeFi will lack because we drove you away...well, I break into tears and rend my clothing. I'll remember this day forever.

The music has stopped.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 10:48 AM on January 19, 2006

On non-preview: Oh, come on. If she'd simply posted about her dilemma, people would have been helpful (if probably a bit snarky). But this?

Well, excuu-uuse me!
I paid $5 for the privilege of posting one question a week, which is then deleted? That's just rude.

That's just rude.
posted by languagehat at 10:49 AM on January 19, 2006

What's your blog URL (or should I say blog GURL LMAO)?
posted by moift at 10:49 AM on January 19, 2006

"Try to imagine how you'd feel if your first, well-intentioned post was deleted without the barest hint of friendliness or helpfulness."

I'd feel like a screw-up. Try to figure out what I'd done wrong. Take my lumps. 'Cause that's what all the cool fifteen-year-olds do when they make mistakes.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:51 AM on January 19, 2006

Ha ha, you guys are hilarious. Really. You all have the social skills of a bunch of 15-year-old boys. (Oh, wait, maybe you ARE a bunch of 15-year-old boys.)
posted by blogrrrl at 10:41 AM PST on January 19 [!]

You're a fattie, aren't you.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 10:51 AM on January 19, 2006

Some of you were a teensy bit mean don't you think?

If you can't take the heat, etcetera. I don't have much patience for people with that kind of entitlement complex. If you misread a situation, make an ass of yourself, and don't at least pretend to be contrite about it... well, it's not really my problem, is it?
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:52 AM on January 19, 2006

X-rated Pinocchio ("It's not his nose that grows!")

genius
posted by mr.marx at 10:54 AM on January 19, 2006

If you want Livejournal, you know where to find it.
posted by darukaru at 10:55 AM on January 19, 2006

I'm willing to admit my initial post in this thread may have been a bit whiny, but try to imagine how you'd feel if your first, well-intentioned post was deleted without the barest hint of friendliness or helpfulness.I did read the rules, but I'm still finding my way around. You guys could show a little mercy, but no, you'd rather spew insults.

Well, I'd feel like I should have read the guidelines first.

Oh, wait, you did that? And then you didn't follow them? And then you got upset when your post got deleted and then again when we mocked you for not following the guidelines?

Yeah, we're mean, but you should have followed the rules.
posted by bshort at 10:55 AM on January 19, 2006

do yourselves a favor and save your hostility for someone who cares

*puts hostility in zip-loc bag, stores in freezer*
posted by brain_drain at 10:57 AM on January 19, 2006 [1 favorite]

the social skills of a bunch of 15-year-old boys

Actually, we're a bunch of 14-year-old boys.
posted by ericb at 10:58 AM on January 19, 2006 [1 favorite]

Look, blogrrl, the problem is that you see this as a place where you pay five bucks so you can ask questions. Other people see this as a community, one with a fairly simple set of rules.
It would have been in your best interests to understand those rules before petulantly demanding you get your due. Of course, now that you've treated this community as a five-dollar whore, you're being chastised.
Deal with it and move on; by tomorrow all of these people will have forgotten you and you can start fresh, but only if you lose the chip on your shoulder.
posted by stefanie at 10:59 AM on January 19, 2006

I'm in favor of civility but in this case I disagree with cribcage. This isnt about amount of time spent online - its about rules of etiquette, knowing how to ask questions etc. in a new place or community.

An offline example would be like walking into a $5-donation science museum and then calling the staff over to complain because my favorite exhibit was closed and dammit, "I paid my $5!!" That kind of guy deserves what he gets.

If this had been stated more politely the answers would have been polite in return - I've always seen that to be the case here.
posted by vacapinta at 10:59 AM on January 19, 2006

This thread went down pretty much exactly how I had imagined it would, like many a good thread to have come before it.

And this is why I love this site.
posted by chunking express at 11:02 AM on January 19, 2006

Hmm...
posted by mds35 at 11:02 AM on January 19, 2006

the social skills of a bunch of 15-year-old boys

Grrrrls are so mean.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 11:03 AM on January 19, 2006

ericb, you may be a bunch of 14-year-old boys, but I most certainly am not!
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:03 AM on January 19, 2006

"do yourselves a favor and save your hostility for someone who cares"

In all honesty, I suspect "not caring" was your first mistake, as you claim to have read the rules, which you clearly didn't follow.

And since you then threw a little hissy fit, but now you're taking your ball and going home because you got razzed for it, I suspect "caring" was your second mistake.

And for the record, we aren't all fifteen-year-old boys, here. We just play fifteen-year-old boys on the Internet.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:05 AM on January 19, 2006

No, no, blogrrrl, don't leave and not even lurk!

hee. This was funny.

That's just rude.
I think you're perhaps taking this a wee bit too personally. Your post was not gleefully destroyed by an evil maniac saying, "ha, that'll teach 'er!" It was just edited out because you mistakenly posted it to the wrong section.

Try to imagine how you'd feel...

I think most people would feel, approximately, "whoops."
posted by mdn at 11:06 AM on January 19, 2006

'Course, Blogrrrl could just start a Metafilter Sux blog...
posted by R. Mutt at 11:09 AM on January 19, 2006

We just don't cotton to whiners

. . . And people who don't read the rules. And people who don't realize that if they stick around after we make fun of them, then they get to make fun of the next hapless neophyte who wanders along.

Oh, she left. Where'd I leave my flameout.jpg?
posted by jenovus at 11:10 AM on January 19, 2006

Ha ha, you guys are hilarious. Really. You all have the social skills of a bunch of 15-year-old boys. (Oh, wait, maybe you ARE a bunch of 15-year-old boys.)

I'm willing to admit my initial post in this thread may have been a bit whiny, but try to imagine how you'd feel if your first, well-intentioned post was deleted without the barest hint of friendliness or helpfulness. I did read the rules, but I'm still finding my way around. You guys could show a little mercy, but no, you'd rather spew insults.

I'm not interested in hanging out with such an unwelcoming bunch. I have better things to do. I won't be back -- not even to lurk -- so do yourselves a favor and save your hostility for someone who cares.
posted by blogrrrl at 10:41 AM PST on January 19

didn't read
posted by Optimus Chyme at 11:10 AM on January 19, 2006

I play 1 15-year-old girl on the Internet. You can find me in chatrooms under the name 2yung4u.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:10 AM on January 19, 2006

p.s. most of the grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrls i know aren't whiny children who expect strangers to cotton to their special rules-don't-apply to me fantasies so um
posted by Optimus Chyme at 11:11 AM on January 19, 2006

I mean, she got her question answered anyway. If she'd taken the utterly incomprehensible step of bookmarking her own question, she'd have been able to fix her settings (which is ALL SHE WANTED YOU MEAN TEENS) without complaint.

I love that AskMe questions don't disappear anymore, BTW.
posted by jenovus at 11:13 AM on January 19, 2006

"to cotton to" -- "Although this verbal phrase comes from the noun for the fabric, the semantic connection between these parts of speech is unclear. [Early 1800s]."
posted by ericb at 11:14 AM on January 19, 2006

"Try to imagine how you'd feel if your first, well-intentioned post was deleted without the barest hint of friendliness or helpfulness."

Well, all of my posts (all well intentioned) have been deleted. I can't help it if I'm just lame.
posted by Paris Hilton at 11:14 AM on January 19, 2006

We just play fifteen-year-old boys on the Internet.

Uh, you mean like vigilante-style?
posted by mds35 at 11:15 AM on January 19, 2006

I think this is well beyond the cluestick, the clue bat, and even the clue by four. Time for the Board of Education.
posted by eriko at 11:16 AM on January 19, 2006 [1 favorite]

My posts remain, but inevitably somebody points out that a nearly identical post was put up six years ago.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:16 AM on January 19, 2006

I call BS on your claim (in this post) to have forked over $5 to "post one question a week".

So, what is it? Are you a whiny, entitled fool who doesn't read the guidelines, or are you a pseudo-charitable contributor who felt the need to explain to others that she paid money to answer a question, as if that's important to the answer itself?
posted by aberrant at 11:17 AM on January 19, 2006

So anyway, I was strolling through the park one day...
posted by 517 at 11:18 AM on January 19, 2006

posted by keswick at 11:18 AM on January 19, 2006

I paid $5 for the privilege of posting one question a week

Actually I wonder how many people just pay to post questions. Should cost much more than $5 if that's the case.
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 11:19 AM on January 19, 2006

By the way, hostility isn't like a juce or essence that you have to conserve and save. In fact, the opposite is true. The more hostility and anger you use, the more you get for later. Conserving rage is totally pointless.
posted by Paris Hilton at 11:21 AM on January 19, 2006

I think this is well beyond the cluestick, the clue bat, and even the clue by four. Time for the Board of Education.

LOL.
posted by Paris Hilton at 11:21 AM on January 19, 2006

If she'd taken the utterly incomprehensible step of bookmarking her own question, she'd have been able to fix her settings (which is ALL SHE WANTED YOU MEAN TEENS) without complaint.

Aw, THAT'S IT! Mean Teens! THAT's what we'll call our band!

*grabs guitar*

Okay, who's good on drums?
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:22 AM on January 19, 2006

mds35: "We just play fifteen-year-old boys on the Internet.

Uh, you mean like vigilante-style?"

Teen-hack: Hollow 'em out, coat 'em with resin, string 'em, add pick-ups and whammy bar, turn 'em up to eleven. They're actually quite light when you dry them correctly.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:22 AM on January 19, 2006

I wonder if I can get my $5 back because nobody really helped me with my question about where to get a good polka costume.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:22 AM on January 19, 2006

try to imagine how you'd feel if your first, well-intentioned post was deleted without the barest hint of friendliness or helpfulness.

If you went back to the URL ('address') of your post, you would have seen the note telling you to ask the question in MetaTalk. If you had an e-mail address in your profile one two admins likely would have shot you an e-mail explaining your mistake.

And I'd agree that the loud-mouthed ones around here aren't able to imagine how someone else feels - or else they simply don't care. But that isn't everyone. Please notice all the people in both the Ask Metafilter thread and this thread that have tried to be helpful.

Examples:
6th post in this thread (only 8 minutes after your post here) tells you why it was deleted. 7th post in this thread links back to your original question, which contains the answer. An hour after your post, If I Had An Anus and Jessamyn (who is one of the two moderators in this place) both are very friendly and helpful.

I'm sorry you had to meet the asshole side first, but there's others here, and even the jerks aren't as nasty as they pretend in threads like these. Suggestion: If you have a question, it helps to phrase it in a less whiny/demanding/etc way. This would have gone better if you had just said "why did my first question get deleted?"

Cheers.
posted by raedyn at 11:25 AM on January 19, 2006

I laughed more than I should have.
posted by OmieWise at 11:27 AM on January 19, 2006

Your post was not gleefully destroyed by an evil maniac saying, "ha, that'll teach 'er!"

Who else here wants very badly to see that in the next "reason for deletion" on a deleted post?
posted by Gator at 11:27 AM on January 19, 2006

mds35 -- perfect image!
posted by ericb at 11:28 AM on January 19, 2006

And, if you're still wondering how to not have to log on every time on your ibook, Kirth has a suggestion.
posted by raedyn at 11:29 AM on January 19, 2006

I'm sorry you had to meet the asshole side first...

Well, that's the first side of blogrrrl I had the pleasure of "meeting". So...
posted by Witty at 11:29 AM on January 19, 2006

TURN A BUTT IS A FAIR PLAY
posted by jenovus at 11:30 AM on January 19, 2006

ego autem dico vobis non resistere malo sed si quis te percusserit in dextera maxilla tua praebe illi et alteram
posted by mds35 at 11:33 AM on January 19, 2006

I wonder if I can get my $5 back because nobody really helped me with my question about where to get a good polka costume.

'Course you got no answer. There's no such thing.
posted by cortex at 11:36 AM on January 19, 2006

Ok gang, you're going to hate me after this but I have to side with the girl. Sure she messed up and sure she was hostile about it but it doesn't do anything to help the situation when you go posting Polyanna pictures. Just tell her in a polite manner to think before you type and don't get all defensive on her.

*awaits the throwing of the stale tomatos*
posted by wheelieman at 11:38 AM on January 19, 2006

I enjoy a bit of furious masturbation once in a while. About, say, once a week.
posted by rxrfrx at 11:38 AM on January 19, 2006

That's it, cortex! I'm outta here! I'm never even going to LURK again!
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:39 AM on January 19, 2006

Yea, it's our fault.
posted by Witty at 11:39 AM on January 19, 2006

I'm back!
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:39 AM on January 19, 2006

You're right, wheelieman. I hate you, now.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:40 AM on January 19, 2006

On preview: If I had an Anus runs this now?
posted by wheelieman at 11:40 AM on January 19, 2006

If she didn't really care, she wouldn't really leave.
posted by delmoi at 11:40 AM on January 19, 2006

God, now you've done it. Nothing makes me laugh like crying toddlers. I swear to god. I am supposed to be monitoring a computer lab! What if something happens to the packets?!
posted by jenovus at 11:42 AM on January 19, 2006

Damn, this is a fun thread.
posted by orange swan at 11:42 AM on January 19, 2006

OH GOD THE STUDENTS ARE WATCHING ME LAUGH
posted by jenovus at 11:43 AM on January 19, 2006

I paid $5 for the privilege of posting one question a week, which is then deleted? That's just rude.

Oh, OK. Well, apparently you guys are all too cool for me. Bye.

$5 is the cover charge at the door. It's the price of admission for belonging to this community. But it doesn't entitle you to do whatever you want here. It's still a community, and it still has standards.

If you had an email in your profile, you would have gotten a notification. You didn't bother to put one there, so you don't get notified. That's not "rude," that's the way it works.

And no one here is too cool for you. But you may be a little too entitled and stuck up for us. So bye, indeed.
posted by scarabic at 11:43 AM on January 19, 2006

If I might pick a small nit, wheelieman, that picture is of Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie, not Pollyanna. Note the description of the character....
posted by Gator at 11:44 AM on January 19, 2006

'snot Pollyanna. It's Nellie Olsen.
posted by mds35 at 11:45 AM on January 19, 2006

She posted online under the name swedegrrrl.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:46 AM on January 19, 2006

I thought her username was "sausagegrrrrls".
posted by jenovus at 11:48 AM on January 19, 2006

sausageCrrrrls
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:48 AM on January 19, 2006

Yeah that's what I said
posted by jenovus at 11:49 AM on January 19, 2006

Oh.
posted by jenovus at 11:50 AM on January 19, 2006

sausageCrrrrls was her sock puppet.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:51 AM on January 19, 2006

I'm in favor of civility but in this case I disagree with cribcage. This isnt about amount of time spent online - its about rules of etiquette, knowing how to ask questions etc. in a new place or community.

An offline example would be like walking into a $5-donation science museum and then calling the staff over to complain because my favorite exhibit was closed and dammit, "I paid my $5!!" That kind of guy deserves what he gets.

Your analogy assumes that online etiquette and real-life etiquette are comparable. They're not. We're not talking about slurping soup or elbows on the table. Many people don't equate capital letters with shouting; they simply don't spend as much time online as you, and they've never come across that rule before. You can't expect people to follow etiquette they don't know, and it's unreasonable to assume everyone knows online etiquette.

But most people in this thread reacted to the tone of her post, and that speaks volumes about this community. Y'all are so sheltered, you spend so much time locked up with other internet addicts that you've forgotten what it's like for people who are new to the concept of online communities. Rule #1: New users tend to sound rude — not because they are rude, but because they're not accustomed to expressing themselves in this forum. Be gentle, and let them get their sea legs.

Or behave like a bunch of rabid, territorial pricks, posting stupid jokes and images to prove you own this particular cafeteria table. I'll say this for blogrrrl: She didn't use profanity, she didn't call you Nazis, and she didn't tell you to die. That's above the margin for internet discourse, particularly among new users. It's too bad you drove her off. You might have liked her.
posted by cribcage at 11:51 AM on January 19, 2006

You might have liked her.

I'm betting against, based on the only evidence I have. In any case, it's too late now, right?
posted by aberrant at 11:53 AM on January 19, 2006

Cribcage made my eyes leak. What is this . . . strange emotion?
posted by jenovus at 11:54 AM on January 19, 2006

Won't someone think of the packets?

Hasn't enough damage been done?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:54 AM on January 19, 2006

A++++++ WOULD DEFINITELY PAY $5 TO LURK AGAIN
posted by Duncan at 11:54 AM on January 19, 2006

I already like her! She's got moxie!
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:55 AM on January 19, 2006

For $5, you'd think this joint would hors devours.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:56 AM on January 19, 2006

If you had an email in your profile, you would have gotten a notification. You didn't bother to put one there, so you don't get notified.

Isn't email a required field in the account setup now?
posted by Armitage Shanks at 11:56 AM on January 19, 2006

She's got moxie!
As long as she doesn't have spunk. I hate spunk.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:56 AM on January 19, 2006

Her name is blog girl. You think she's brand spankin-new to the internet?
posted by occhiblu at 11:57 AM on January 19, 2006

I find it ironic that puke & cry was the first to respond.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 11:58 AM on January 19, 2006

cribcage - Anyone who uses the handle "blogrrrl" is not a stranger to the internet.
posted by Witty at 11:59 AM on January 19, 2006

Or what occhiblu said.
posted by Witty at 11:59 AM on January 19, 2006

But possibly with the hyphen in the right place.
posted by occhiblu at 12:00 PM on January 19, 2006

I like her, too. All joking aside, anyone who would spend five dollars of their hard-earned cash just to help a robot cure their canker sores is A-O.K. in my book!
posted by mds35 at 12:01 PM on January 19, 2006

She didn't use profanity, she didn't call you Nazis, and she didn't tell you to die.

No, but she did say "Well, excuu-uuse me!" I'm sorry, but that's deliberate provocation online or off.

Unless you're talking to Princess Zelda. You can get away with it then.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:02 PM on January 19, 2006

I won't be back -- not even to lurk

Don't let the door hit ya where The Lord split ya!
posted by kirkaracha at 12:02 PM on January 19, 2006

"Let's start fresh blo grrl"

That's totally how I parsed it too.

AND YOU PEOPLE RAN HER OFF.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:03 PM on January 19, 2006

"It's still a community, and it still has standards.

... albeit an intolerant and mean community with very low standards.
posted by mischief at 12:06 PM on January 19, 2006

"YOU PEOPLE RAN HER OFF."

That's cuz it's a boys club.
posted by mischief at 12:07 PM on January 19, 2006

There's nothing mean about refusing to suffer fools gladly. Sometimes brutal honesty is the greatest kindness of all.

Love means never having to say Ur S0reE.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:09 PM on January 19, 2006

'Scuse me, Miss blogrrrl! I believe you dropped your glove on your way out. Don't mean to intrude, but I... I...

(Strings swell to an interlude)
(Spotlight)
(Sings)

I may never know who you are,
but perchance someday,
you will return to me!
To meeee!

An eternal tale in a syphilitic sea of gumdrop dreams.
Dreams of you -
and me,
and JAZZ.

(Drums)
(Tap dances furiously)
(Passes out)
posted by icosahedral at 12:15 PM on January 19, 2006

now that you've treated this community as a five-dollar whore

Metafilter: Five-Dollar Whore

(Sorry. Had to be done.)
posted by ereshkigal45 at 12:15 PM on January 19, 2006

You might have liked her.

I'm betting against, based on the only evidence I have.

Yeah, because she was fat.
posted by rxrfrx at 12:17 PM on January 19, 2006

My what an attractive face your community is wearing today, mathowie. You must be so very proud.
posted by Wulfgar! at 12:20 PM on January 19, 2006

I love you all.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:21 PM on January 19, 2006 [1 favorite]

Wulfgar, come off it. Puke & cry nailed it with the first comment. How can you be even a little bit surprised when we've tarred and feathered people for much less?

At least this discussion is in the grey instead of the green, eh? :)
posted by aberrant at 12:23 PM on January 19, 2006

What is FUBAR?
posted by spicynuts at 11:57 AM CST

Actually FUBAR is from Tango & Cash, JAFO was from Blue Thunder.

:)
posted by quin at 12:25 PM on January 19, 2006

I dunno. One the one hand, things that are mean make me sad. But on the other hand, things that are funny make me laugh. Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!

Is there a slang term for five dollars? Y'know, like how a ten is a sawbuck, and a twenty is a double sawbuck? I wonder.
posted by milquetoast at 12:29 PM on January 19, 2006

Or behave like a bunch of rabid, territorial pricks, posting stupid jokes and images to prove you own this particular cafeteria table.

FWIW, mine wasn't doing that. Fighting fire with fire, you know.
posted by deadfather at 12:30 PM on January 19, 2006

Surprised, aberrant? You are mistaken. Very little surprises me about Metafilter, least of all the "we've been assholes before, so it's okay" defense of being assholes.
posted by Wulfgar! at 12:31 PM on January 19, 2006

Milquetoast: I humbly submit "entitlement" as a slang term for $5.
posted by aberrant at 12:31 PM on January 19, 2006

I heard 'blogrrl' was slang for 'five-dollar whore'.
posted by Item at 12:40 PM on January 19, 2006

milquetoast: a 'finski' is a five dollar bill
posted by daveleck at 12:44 PM on January 19, 2006

"Fin" is an acceptable, yet disused, slang term for Ye Olde Five-Dollar Note.
posted by Gator at 12:44 PM on January 19, 2006

so do yourselves a favor and save your hostility for someone who cares.

If she stayed a little longer she would have time to understand that, most of the time, we have a lot more fun directing our hostilty at someone who doesn't care or even know we exist (take, for instance, any Bush thread). Or at ourselves. Specially at ourselves.

Now this would make a nice t-shirt
Metafilter: Too Cool for Me
posted by nkyad at 12:45 PM on January 19, 2006

Metafilter: No Blogrrls allowed
posted by allen.spaulding at 12:45 PM on January 19, 2006

Is there a slang term for five dollars?

A Fin
posted by Duncan at 12:45 PM on January 19, 2006

icosahedral, i think i love you
posted by cortex at 12:46 PM on January 19, 2006

"Y'all are so sheltered, you spend so much time locked up with other internet addicts that you've forgotten what it's like for people who are new to the concept of online communities."

You say this like it's a bad thing. Like we should be take pride in our ability to gently assist clueless new Interent users into the 21st century.

Why would that be a good idea? Why would we want to present a welcoming face to naive new users who feel entitled to extra hand-holding because of their Special Snowflake status? Are you seriously suggesting that we revise the rules of the road here to make MeFi a more welcome place for folks whose only way to fix common forum issues is to throw a hissy fit?

As a long time proponent of chasing off the idiots, I think we've done a great service to MetaFilter by taking the time to point and laugh at blogrrrl.
posted by y6y6y6 at 12:49 PM on January 19, 2006

A fin! Of course. I think I must've known that.

Fin.
posted by milquetoast at 12:57 PM on January 19, 2006

"least of all the "we've been assholes before, so it's okay" defense of being assholes."

You know this blogrrrl person don't you?
posted by y6y6y6 at 12:57 PM on January 19, 2006

This couldn't be her?
posted by Carbolic at 12:59 PM on January 19, 2006

I'm not sure. 'Wouldn't matter if I did. This was still a pretty disgraceful display.
posted by Wulfgar! at 1:00 PM on January 19, 2006

I heard 'blogrrl' was slang for 'five-dollar whore'.

item takes us from mean and funny to vicious and stupid.
posted by timeistight at 1:06 PM on January 19, 2006

I wonder if I can get my $5 back because nobody really helped me with my question about where to get a good polka costume.

Hey! I gave you an online site that sells authentic polka clothing. /grumble
posted by onlyconnect at 1:07 PM on January 19, 2006

"Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.” — David Byrne

/SanctimoniousFilter
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:07 PM on January 19, 2006

Thanks - I'll be here all week!
posted by Item at 1:08 PM on January 19, 2006

I have my own theory about who she is, and if I'm right, then all of you Star Wars geeks are gonna be sorry!
posted by mds35 at 1:08 PM on January 19, 2006

Can we end this ugly trainwreck please?
posted by R. Mutt at 1:08 PM on January 19, 2006

Sorry I ruined Metafilter.
posted by Item at 1:09 PM on January 19, 2006

This is why we have nice things.
posted by allen.spaulding at 1:12 PM on January 19, 2006

*puts $5 in the pool riding on the odds that within the next year a user will register the account 'blogrrrrl' and there'll be a fight about who was more original*
posted by loquacious at 1:12 PM on January 19, 2006

dios writes "As a legal matter, I woudn't put much weight in that distinction without a difference."

Good thing this is an internet community and not a court of law.

stefanie writes "by tomorrow all of these people will have forgotten you and you can start fresh"

Not me, I'll still remember. There's something about a flameout that just sticks in my mind.

cribcage writes "It's too bad you drove her off. You might have liked her."

I don't think metafilter is a good place for people who are brand spanking new to the internet and slow on the uptake. She might make a fabulous member six months from now if she listens more than speaking in those six months.
posted by Mitheral at 1:13 PM on January 19, 2006

I'm with blogrrrl, you guys are mean.
posted by Rothko at 1:17 PM on January 19, 2006

Love it, tpl1212.
posted by grouse at 1:17 PM on January 19, 2006

Wulfgar! - MetaFilter has been a snarky and sometimes bloodthirsty mob for about 6 years now. I know you've been reading the site and actively participating in it (at least off and on) for most of that time. And having seen the site functionality grow and segment in that time I suspect you'll agree with me that Matt has much to be proud of.

But your snark seems to imply that Matt should feel some shame over this thread, or that such behavior somehow runs counter to his goals for the site. I'm not sure where you get that idea. Perhaps you could present us with your reasoning?

Because from where I stand it doesn't seem reasonable to expect Matt to feel bad over us handing some n00b his or her ass. Hasn't that been part of the culture here? And are you taking the low road on your high horse here? Isn't your own blog typically snarky towards people who are perniciously clueless? Granted, you seem to prefer targeting people who are politically or editorially clueless, but I think we'd have little trouble turning your "must be proud" barbs back onto you.

MetaFilter has always been snarky. But at the same time we've always hosted some very good conversation, not to mention great links. And to dismiss the idea that we're a bunch of Fark'ing jerks, AskMe is one of the friendliest and most helpful resources anywhere.

Yes Wulfgar!, Matt has much to be proud of. Perhaps even our way with a good snark.
posted by y6y6y6 at 1:19 PM on January 19, 2006

Tarzan play worlds smallest violin.
posted by puke & cry at 1:20 PM on January 19, 2006

The implications of "I paid my $5! Answer my question!" are disturbing.

As said above, five bucks gets you in the door. You're also supposed to answer questions, not just ask them. To even hint that paying such a paltry stipend entitles you to expert - or armchair - advice is what is incredibly rude.

There have been lots and lots of people who have paid five bucks to simply answer a question, clarify a point or otherwise voluntarily contribute above and beyond Matt's Tivo fund.

It is to them I tip my hat, and who deserve my respect. It is they who should be awarded special status and consideration.
posted by loquacious at 1:25 PM on January 19, 2006

"This couldn't be her?"

All right, now I'm really mad that you mean people ran her off. Look how cute she is!

/attempts to take "boy's club" to a whole new level
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:28 PM on January 19, 2006

y6y6y6 : "Yes Wulfgar!, Matt has much to be proud of. Perhaps even our way with a good snark."

And for the love of dios, Meta is the place to be snarky - specially when some Special Snowflake noob who can't read come here all hurt because her special question was rightfully deleted. Mefi is not the Internet entry point by a long shot. Meta is even less so.
posted by nkyad at 1:31 PM on January 19, 2006

loquacious, she actually has answered many questions. In fact she paid $5 to answer a question.

Anyway, she certainly doesn't have much patience.
posted by lyam at 1:33 PM on January 19, 2006

Thanks y6, I now understand christian reasoning as well.
posted by mischief at 1:36 PM on January 19, 2006

Lyam: See above.
posted by aberrant at 1:38 PM on January 19, 2006

This couldn't be her?

No worries, Carbolic and mr_crash_davis, I think that person already had an account here before blogrrrl.
posted by onlyconnect at 1:39 PM on January 19, 2006

The boy's club sucks. Who are you going to run off next?
posted by Roger Dodger at 1:40 PM on January 19, 2006

Oh, OK. Well, apparently you guys are all too precious for me. I'm suitably ashamed. Bye.

I'm willing to admit my initial post in this thread may have been a bit snarky, but try to imagine how you'd feel if your first, well-intentioned snark was ignored without the barest hint of worship or playfulness. I did read the rules, but I'm still finding my way around. You guys could show a little spitefulness, but no, you'd rather welcome whiney, vacuous strangers with open fucking iArms.

I'm not interested in hanging out with such a welcoming bunch. I have better things to do. I won't be back -- not even to lurk -- so do yourselves a favor and save your hospitality for someone who doesn't care.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:43 PM on January 19, 2006

y6y6y6, I think you overstate my own snark. I wasn't asking (insinuating) concerning whether Matt was proud of his site, but rather this thread. IN this thread you have people making really lame insults about someone being fat (those don't even qualify as snark), you got 5 dollar noobs feeling entitled to bitch a fit that anyone else feels entitled, and you even have an asshole doing web searches trying to find out who this person is, presumeably to pile on even more. This was hardly a major transgression in the history of Mefi. You got folks now just assuming they know anthing at all about the poster (hasn't asnswered questions when she obviously has, is an internet noob, ...).

I've never avoided a good pile on, but the operative word there is "good". This hasn't been it. This has been remarkably self-rightious, all too ignorant, and frankly, very much what I read at most right-wing websites. My snark was simply an attempt to piss Matt off enough that he shut this down, as should have happened about 100 comments ago.
posted by Wulfgar! at 1:45 PM on January 19, 2006

I think this is turning into a blazecock pile-on.
posted by Espy Gillespie at 1:46 PM on January 19, 2006

For the people getting their panties all in a twist about bloggggggggggrls treatment here it's worth noting that she maintained her autocratic attitude even after jessamyn's very helpful response.

I'd say that the selfish tone of her 3 posts here are likely indicative of her personality in general, and that those being chastised for their attitude did nothing other than reflect what they saw. I further submit that she would soon be forgiven, were she to return here and apologize for acting like a self-centered brat.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 1:46 PM on January 19, 2006

*proposes once again a brisk dodgering*
posted by cortex at 1:47 PM on January 19, 2006

I would have thought someone calling herself "grrrrl" would have had a bit more staying power. Kids these days, no gumption at all!
posted by five fresh fish at 1:47 PM on January 19, 2006

Wulfgar!: ...and you even have an asshole doing web searches trying to find out who this person is...

I resemble that statement.
posted by Carbolic at 1:49 PM on January 19, 2006

You know, if someone were in this person's exact situation but weren't such a whiny fuck about it, people wouldn't be as mean. Storming in and making accusations and demanding your $5 worth is a low, low place to begin (as the first comment in this thread indicates). I'm not surprised people have sunk to the occasion.
posted by scarabic at 1:51 PM on January 19, 2006

Sorry, Carbolic but that struck me as really uncool. Bad form, old chap.
posted by Wulfgar! at 1:52 PM on January 19, 2006

Hey, I missed the polka costume link! Thanks!

I'm gonna keep my $5 after all.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:53 PM on January 19, 2006

I just want everyone to know that I will answer questions for $5/each. Any and all questions are welcome*.

* Please be aware that all answers will be one of the following: Yes, No, Maybe.
posted by blue_beetle at 1:53 PM on January 19, 2006

If I wanted to read on the intarnets I wouldn't keep surfing porn sites. Jeez, rules are made to be broken and then to be snotty about breaking them.

Ignoring the site's guidelines and then being all pissy about it is pretty much the worst way to ask for help. But then, its the site that's wrong, not you, right?

Also, five bucks is nothing. Why do people pretend like its some huge amount of money?
posted by fenriq at 1:59 PM on January 19, 2006

For the people getting their panties all in a twist about bloggggggggggrls treatment here it's worth noting that she maintained her autocratic attitude even after jessamyn's very helpful response.

"It's worth noting" that jessamyn's response came too little, too late. It followed a litany of insults and general immaturity and rudeness — and I'd add that blogrrrl has no way of identifying jessamyn (or mathowie, for that matter) as an admin.

I'd say that the selfish tone of her 3 posts here are likely indicative of her personality in general...

I doubt that. As I said above, new users tend to sound rude unintentionally. It's quite common, and I'm disappointed to see so little understanding among habitual netizens.

Regardless: The notion that you can glean anything about someone's personality from three posts on a message board is ridiculous. That sort of attitude is exactly why threads like this happen — and why we end up with a reasonably accurate stereotype about social skills being inversely proportional to the amount of time spent online.
posted by cribcage at 2:00 PM on January 19, 2006

I coughed up a Fin, but all I got was this blazecock pile-on.
posted by daveleck at 2:00 PM on January 19, 2006

Man, you guys are taking this way too seriously and tempers are rising. I'm getting off this blazecock skiff!
posted by mds35 at 2:02 PM on January 19, 2006

Shared contempt is what really brings a community together.
posted by TimeFactor at 2:04 PM on January 19, 2006

i slipped him a fun, just for the halibut
posted by cortex at 2:05 PM on January 19, 2006

"It's worth noting" that jessamyn's response came too little, too late. It followed a litany of insults and general immaturity and rudeness — and I'd add that blogrrrl has no way of identifying jessamyn (or mathowie, for that matter) as an admin.

cribcage, did you ever think to click on Jessamyn's name in that comment and read her user page? It also mentions mathowie.
posted by aberrant at 2:06 PM on January 19, 2006

I wish I was naked.
posted by loquacious at 2:08 PM on January 19, 2006

I coughed up a Fin, but all I got was this blazecock pile-on.

Sounds nasty. You should see a doctor about that.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:10 PM on January 19, 2006

What seems to be the problem?
posted by Dr. Tarr and Professor Feather at 2:12 PM on January 19, 2006

I'm not interested in hanging out with such an unwelcoming bunch. I have better things to do. I won't be back -- not even to lurk -- so do yourselves a favor and save your hostility for someone who cares.

Like, totally!
posted by c13 at 2:15 PM on January 19, 2006

I paid $5 for the privilege of posting one question a week, which is then deleted? That's just rude.

Yeah, that's like going to a Fugazi concert and slam dancing. Except Ian's not going to give you your fin back.
posted by joseph_elmhurst at 2:17 PM on January 19, 2006

MeFi business model:

a. Take their money.
b. Sic the dogs on 'em.

posted by mischief at 2:18 PM on January 19, 2006

"This has been remarkably self-righteous, all too ignorant, and frankly, very much what I read at most right-wing websites."

You made that up.

Self-righteous? How so? We hold old timers to the same standard as blogrrrls. Don't we? Aren't we just as hard on ourselves? Indeed, isn't that what the majority of MeTa posts are about? Bringing each other in for a flogging over some especially stupid moment? Doesn't being a member of this community include opening yourself up to such callouts? We are saying, "We're better than you." We're pointing out how deliciously dense the poster has been. We do the same with ourselves.

Ignorant? Really? Where? The responses (unless you really want to continue cherry picking) seem to be a fitting foil for the poster's overt cluelessness. First she screws up a tech support question, then she gets bitchy about the level of customer service she's getting for her $5, then she gets all defensive and abusive. There are many times where STFU N00B is indeed the first response by idiots. But in this case it seems to fit rather appropriotely. Rude? Yes, of course. Welcome to MetaFilter.

Right-wing websites? Character assassination is now solely owned by the Right? How proud the liberals must be over that? Hmmmmmm...... Who's self-righteous now?
posted by y6y6y6 at 2:20 PM on January 19, 2006

Not buying it for a nanosecond, cribcage. Sorry. She's quite capable of reading the guidelines, and jeassmyn's role here is not germane. However had she taken the time to look, instaed of flinging blanket insults she could have discovered it.

Blogrrls reaction to very sound advice is what is relevant, and her reaction was juvenile in extreme. Pouty and dismissive, her posts all reek of a sense of self-entitlement that's all too common. Your thesis that someone who is consistently rude tells us nothing about them is so demonstrably false that it's laughable. I have a hard time believing that you actually wrote that.

I'm fairly new to the internet myself, yet I'm quite capable of following the incredibly clear instructions on this site. As others have pointed out, anyone calling themselves blogrrl is hardly likely to be a neophyte. Nope, she's rude and demanding, won't follow simple instructions, and is immature to the point of recklessness.

As a retail manager, I can't begin to tell you how infuriating her demand that she get her $5 worth of value from this web site is to someone like me; who's been forced to listen to that kind of crap from customers who haven't got a frikken clue about dealing with others in a respectful fashion.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 2:21 PM on January 19, 2006

DRRRRAAAMAAA!!
posted by Kickstart70 at 2:22 PM on January 19, 2006

fenriq, you're making a few assumptions that I don't think apply. You said:

Ignoring the site's guidelines and then being all pissy about it is pretty much the worst way to ask for help. But then, its the site that's wrong, not you, right?

It's being pretty well assumed that blogrrrl just "ignored" the websites all too explicit guidelines. I remain skeptical as hell about that. The pinhead LaShawn Barber ignored the guidelines by self-linking. Did blogrrrl do that? hardly. If she'd have asked the same question about any other registration based site, it would have been perfectly appropriate in AskMe, right? So where does it say, in these holy and well defined guidelines, that asking about Mefi in AskMe is verboten? 'Been here a while and I can't find it. I don't think that was ignoring anything. I think it was a disagreement in judgement between blogrrrl and jessamin. jessamin wins, of course, because she's the admin. But that doesn't at all support your statement of malice in intent.

Now, I'll agree with you that getting pissy about it wasn't the right way to proceed. But look at all the thinskinned well entitled jerkoffs who immediately responded with "STFU n00b". We're supposed to be the capabletough-skinned and wise ones, right? Hardly.

There's plenty of wrong to go around here. Blaming blogrrrl for a crime you just made up in your head sure ain't makin' it right.
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:22 PM on January 19, 2006

Kettle is a rude asshole.
posted by Pot at 2:24 PM on January 19, 2006

Fuckin’-a-right, you flaccid, pressed-tin knockoff n00b!
posted by Kettle at 2:24 PM on January 19, 2006

Right-wing websites? Character assassination is now solely owned by the Right?

Obviously not. Look at what happened right here. But at least I struck the appropriate nerve.
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:26 PM on January 19, 2006

onlyconnect is correct--not the right blogrrrrrrrrrl.
posted by MrMoonPie at 2:26 PM on January 19, 2006

So where does it say, in these holy and well defined guidelines, that asking about Mefi in AskMe is verboten?

On the postin page at AskMeFi it says:

"Make sure it's not MetaFilter, MetaTalk, or Ask MetaFilter related, as those posts would best be posted in MetaTalk than here.

The text is also highlighted.
posted by ericb at 2:27 PM on January 19, 2006

As a retail manager, I can't begin to tell you how infuriating her demand that she get her $5 worth of value from this web site is to someone like me; who's been forced to listen to that kind of crap from customers who haven't got a frikken clue about dealing with others in a respectful fashion.

Oh, so it's personal for you then. I clearly understand.
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:28 PM on January 19, 2006

Post a new question.
posted by ericb at 2:28 PM on January 19, 2006

You guys are too easily amused.

And whoever does the pot/kettle stuff--you should try having a sex life (with another person). It takes care of those endless hours when you have nothing better to do.
posted by bardic at 2:28 PM on January 19, 2006

Seems clear to me.
posted by ericb at 2:29 PM on January 19, 2006

At the end of the day, while we may have some playground personalities here, I still value the idea that we have a certain barrier of entry for people who can't keep up with the format.

MetaFilter has always been very much on the rough side. Does that give us license to act as we have in this thread? Yes. Of course. And I'm always amused when fellow members, old timers at that, give us a stern talking to about such behavior.

Come on. "For $5 I expect better customer service." This is priceless. If there was ever a time to have an old fashion poo flinging, this is it.
posted by y6y6y6 at 2:34 PM on January 19, 2006

"You guys are too easily amused.

And whoever does the pot/kettle stuff--you should try having a sex life (with another person). It takes care of those endless hours when you have nothing better to do."

We bow before your superior wit.
posted by Kettle at 2:35 PM on January 19, 2006

I agree with everything that has been said in this thread. Even the dots.
posted by AwkwardPause at 2:36 PM on January 19, 2006

So where does it say, in these holy and well defined guidelines, that asking about Mefi in AskMe is verboten?

Are you just playing dumb? It's the third sentence on the page where you enter your question. Its highlighted and is in bold.

Make sure it's not MetaFilter, MetaTalk, or Ask MetaFilter related, as those posts would best be posted in MetaTalk than here.

That is probably why she said that: No one has bothered to explain why, but I'm assuming it's because it was a question about MeFi.
posted by c13 at 2:36 PM on January 19, 2006

ericb, I have no idea how that was interpreted by blogrrrl, but I can think of several ways to interpret it for myself, many of which would have allowed for her question. As I said, should it have concerned any other registration based website, it would have been perfectly appropriate.

That's not the point, though. Benefit of the doubt is a good thing. Useless verbal savagery and the blatent assumption that "you are right and they are wrong" are bad things. Call me quaint, but I kinda believe that.
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:36 PM on January 19, 2006

Pot and Kettle have some of the most entertaining and humurous exchanges on threads like this...at least that's my opinion. You're free to disagree.
posted by ericb at 2:36 PM on January 19, 2006

Of course, I meant humorous. ;-)
posted by ericb at 2:37 PM on January 19, 2006

And whoever does the pot/kettle stuff--you should try having a sex life (with another person). It takes care of those endless hours when you have nothing better to do.

Um. If I were Pot/Kettle (I am not), I would, by your suggestion, be fired for having sex at work.

I think the old "your disagreeable behavior denotes sexlessness" trop is officially stale, kiddo.
posted by cortex at 2:37 PM on January 19, 2006

That's right, c13, you're assuming. Keep that in mind. Heh.
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:39 PM on January 19, 2006

Trope, even!

I'd probably spell better if I had a sex life.
posted by cortex at 2:39 PM on January 19, 2006

That's right, c13, you're assuming. Keep that in mind. Heh.

c13 is assuming nothing. He is quoting her original post above.
posted by ericb at 2:41 PM on January 19, 2006

"I don't think that was ignoring anything."

Okay, now you're just being argumentative. Go to the AskMe form where people post questions. I dare you. Can you perhaps see anything that seems like it might have been willfully ignored? Anything?
posted by y6y6y6 at 2:41 PM on January 19, 2006

You are playing dumb.
posted by c13 at 2:42 PM on January 19, 2006

And I'm always amused when fellow members, old timers at that, give us a stern talking to about such behavior.

In that case, I must be succeeding. Idn't this a whole lot more fun than reading the morans calling other people fat, just 'cause they feel entitled to do so?
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:42 PM on January 19, 2006

I have no idea how that was interpreted by blogrrrl, but I can think of several ways to interpret it for myself

I'm genuinely curious. How else could the highlighted and bold sentence ("Make sure it's not MetaFilter, MetaTalk, or Ask MetaFilter related, as those posts would best be posted in MetaTalk than here.") be interpreted differently than what the words say?
posted by ericb at 2:43 PM on January 19, 2006

blogrrrl has no way of identifying jessamyn (or mathowie, for that matter) as an admin. - cribcage

This is a good point. She is not mentioned on the "new user" page, the "about" page, the splash of the wiki. Matt's name only appears once in all of those places , and not in a way that makes it clear his relationship to the place - it provides no way to link "Matt Haughey" with "mathowie". Matt user page offers no indication of his status, and Jessamyn's does say she does some moderation, but any one of us could type that into our user pages. I think this is a pretty unique situation for an online community. There's pretty much no way to see who's guiding the ship. You'd really have to wait around and read a bunch to feel it out.
posted by raedyn at 2:45 PM on January 19, 2006

This is a good point.
Raedyn,

Wrong.
posted by aberrant at 2:48 PM on January 19, 2006

I love Pot and Kettle. I wished I'd thought of it.
posted by timeistight at 2:48 PM on January 19, 2006

c13 is assuming nothing.

Hmmm, she's assuming and he's quoting her as proof that it was an assumption. Logically, that suggests that he's assuming, yes?

You are playing dumb.

Not dumb; contrary. Many of the folks who have posted in this very thread have bemoaned the seemingly random nature of Mefi administration and deletions. Yet here most of you are, calling something a "willful" breach of protocol when it could have been an honest mistake. Hmmm. I wonder, truly, if maybe we aren't just engaging in a little game of justification here. Yeah, I kinda think so.
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:50 PM on January 19, 2006

calling other people fat

Oh, for the love of christ. How can you take an out-of-context "it's because she's fat" comment as anything but self-aware parody?
posted by cortex at 2:50 PM on January 19, 2006

Cortex writes: I think the old "your disagreeable behavior denotes sexlessness" trop is officially stale, kiddo.

While bashing noobs and doing bad quonsar impressions is somehow refreshingly delightful? Best of the meta-web here, kiddo. Keep up the good work.
posted by bardic at 2:53 PM on January 19, 2006

abberant, did you read what I wrote? I could write that on my user page if I wanted to. Is it reasonable to expect a new user to click on every single link to user pages and read them and decide which ones to trust?
posted by raedyn at 2:54 PM on January 19, 2006

it's hard work.
posted by quonsar at 2:56 PM on January 19, 2006

How else could the highlighted and bold sentence ("Make sure it's not MetaFilter, MetaTalk, or Ask MetaFilter related, as those posts would best be posted in MetaTalk than here.") be interpreted differently than what the words say?

Very simple. It was computer related. It was registration related (regardless of the site in question). It was Mac related "why does this work on a pc but not a mac?". If you want to see mal-intent, you will, and I can't convince you otherwise. But your proof is lacking.

And aberrant, not everybody is anal enough to obsessively check user pages as you seem to do. Especially not a n00b. Proof of nothing, my friend.
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:59 PM on January 19, 2006

While bashing noobs and doing bad quonsar impressions is somehow refreshingly delightful? Best of the meta-web here, kiddo. Keep up the good work.

Your sex-life quip wasn't a bad quonsar impression?
I claimed to be doing the best of anything?
I bashed a noob?
posted by cortex at 3:00 PM on January 19, 2006

And let's say, for the sake of argument, that she thought posting her question about MetaFilter in AskMe was okay, even though the bold highlighted says not to.

So she then found her post was deleted. And suddenly she realizes that she was suppose to post the question in MeTa. So...... She finally actually read the guidelines.

But her next step is to get pissed that the guidelines apply to her. And to accuse the admins of being rude to expect such a thing. Additionally she implies that by paying $5 she should no longer be held to such guidelines.

I'm sorry Wulfgar! but this person needs the tough love. And expecting *any* online forum to not pile on to someone exhibiting this combination of arrogance and ineptitude may be asking a bit much.
posted by y6y6y6 at 3:00 PM on January 19, 2006

"Pot and Kettle have some of the most entertaining and humurous exchanges on threads like this..."

"I love Pot and Kettle. I wished I'd thought of it."

Thanks guys, but bardic was right after all. I just had my handle polished... and suddenly I don't give a shit about him anymore! Thanks, bardic!
posted by Kettle at 3:02 PM on January 19, 2006

I'll ignore the first part of your comment, Wulfgar!, as it really makes no sense to me. As far as random nature of administration goes, sure. But this is the first time I've seen someone acting so bitchy about a deletion. I mean "You guys are mean, I'm leaving"!? "No one bothered to expain to me...."? Is this shit for real? What kind of a reply do you expect?
posted by c13 at 3:02 PM on January 19, 2006

If you want to see mal-intent

I don't see "mal-intent" and personally think she did not read the directions. Her error was corrected and jessamyn had no way of contacting her via e-mail. No harm, no foul.

It was the attitude expressed in her original post and follow-on comments that I -- and I others -- found off-putting. Hardly the right way to endear yourself in a new online community. The brouhaha that followed was IMHO amusing and entertaining...and is yet another example of a flameout and pile-on which will always exist here and elsewhere on the web.
posted by ericb at 3:07 PM on January 19, 2006

Well, this thread is messed up, so I'll add to it with this:

blogrrl reminds me of this date I had one time. Nothing specifically, except for the fact she is a girl and seems handicapped.

So, here is my true story of the most messed blind date ever (names changed to protect the innocent).

So, my friend Steve started dating this girl name Erin. They were pretty hot and heavy (incidentally, they ended up getting married). At that time, I had a bad string of luck with some ladies who were attractive yet shallow and dim. So Erin has this big idea of setting me up on a blind date with one of her friends, a girl named Amanda. I ask about Amanda and I get told that she is attractive, intelligent, cheery and fun to be around. I immediately should have known something is wrong. A female with those qualities does not need a blind date. But I accept on pressure from Erin to go on a double date.

The night comes for the double date, and Steve and Erin pick me up in Steve's SUV. We head over to Amanda's house. When we get there, she must have been waiting because right when we pulled up the door opened. And out rolled Amanda. That's right, rolled. Amanda was in a wheelchair. Now, my first thought is that I am pissed. Not pissed because my date is in a wheelchair, but pissed because no one bothered to tell me that she was in a wheel chair. That seems like something one ought to disclose. So, I get out and help Amanda into the car, and we head to this lakeside park for a picnic dinner as the sun sets.

We get to the park and I carry some blankets out there, and we enjoy a good dinner and a good bit of wine. I talked to Amanda throughout the dinner and it was amazing. She really was brilliant, cheery, funny and just all around the coolest and most interesting female I have met. And while I looked at her, I realized that she was extremely attractive. She could be a face model, for sure. Hell, she could be any kind of model except she in a chair.

So as the wine gets drunk and the darkness sets in, I don't even notice when Steve and Erin slip away with a blanket for some privacy. I was so into Amanda that I was oblivious to anything else as we lay there on the blanket. Eventually she tells me what happened. She had slipped down some stairs and now is paraplegic for the rest of her life and lives with her parents. It was then that she started to get a little sad. She told me how she had never had a boyfriend and would probably never will. She told me that she has never had sex, and wondered if she ever will. I took the bait. I told her that some guy will be lucky to have her. She reached out and hugged me, and we start going at it. After a few minutes, she tells me that she wants me to make love to her. I happily said I would. Then she said the strangest thing. She said that she wanted to have sex standing up. I was quite confused, but at that point, I was *up* for anything. She asked me to pick her up and prop against this little sapling tree, so I did. She couldn't support herself, so she took off my belt and told me to tie her to the tree for support. Confused but with only one thing on my mind, I took the belt and secured her to the tree. And we do it. And it was awesome, if not really strange. Afterwards I unsecure her and we lay back down and I just descend into bliss. At some point later, Steve and Erin come laughing up to us ready to go home.

So we left the park and headed to take everyone home. I was still on cloud nine when we got to Amanda's house and I wheeled her up front. I told her that I wanted to see her again and we talked for a minute. The whole time her father was looking out the window. He finally opened the door and Amanda went inside. I was kind of nervous because he was staring me down like I was some biker guy who was spoiling his little rose. After a moment of silence, he tells me "Thank you" and reaches his hand out for a shake. I shake it, and there inside was a twenty dollar bill. I was confused, offended and began to wonder how drunk I was. I told him I didn't need that. I enjoyed the date and didn't need to be bribed for it. He grinned and said I didn't understand. I asked him to explain himself, what was the money for. He paused for a moment and told me that the last guy had left her tied to the tree.

True story. Reminds me of blogrrl.
posted by dios at 3:09 PM on January 19, 2006 [2 favorites]

What y6y6y6 said!
posted by ericb at 3:10 PM on January 19, 2006

I'm happy for you Kettle. You're one of the more popular sockpuppets on mefi. Words fail me. I'll keep an eye out for you and milkandcookies and collegehumor, cause baby, you're a star.
posted by bardic at 3:10 PM on January 19, 2006

Wulfgar! - I'm just messing with ya pal. You and I will agree that MetaFilter seems to cultivate some of the biggest assholes the Internet ever produced, myself included. And we're certainly proud of our license to shit on new users who assume a level of civility one might expect from a corner convenience store.

Still..... Barrier to entry. Not always a bad thing. And if we enjoy that task perhaps a bit too much, I think we're all willing to take the hit to our karma. Otherwise we wouldn't be here. It is MetaFilter after all.
posted by y6y6y6 at 3:11 PM on January 19, 2006

Damn, dios. If I get that drunk, I always pass out.
posted by c13 at 3:14 PM on January 19, 2006

you've forgotten what it's like for people who are new to the concept of online communities

I could have bought that line of argument in 1986, but certainly not in 2006.
posted by kindall at 3:20 PM on January 19, 2006

Raedyn, Wulfgar:

Fine. You don't check user pages. Will a link on the front page be sufficient? Geez. How much handholding do we need to do around here?
posted by aberrant at 3:20 PM on January 19, 2006

dios, politely, WTF?

Actually, scratch the politely part.
posted by bardic at 3:21 PM on January 19, 2006

Goofball non-sequitur shaggy-dog story, bardic. I'm surprised you didn't like it, what with the sex.
posted by cortex at 3:23 PM on January 19, 2006

I've never avoided a good pile on, but the operative word there is "good". This hasn't been it.

Oh yes it is. To quote y6y6y6: If there was ever a time to have an old fashion poo flinging, this is it.

And give me a break about "several ways to interpret it." It's perfectly clear. Seriously, is she someone close to you? 'Cause you're acting like we dissed your sister.

On preview: Oh, you're just being contrary. Enjoy the fun!
posted by languagehat at 3:25 PM on January 19, 2006

Okay, now I'm like totally grossed out.
posted by Rothko at 3:26 PM on January 19, 2006

Dissed yer Sister would be a great name for a Dee Snider tribute band.
posted by cortex at 3:26 PM on January 19, 2006

sure, cortex, but it doesn't strike me as the kind of joke dios usually tells, though it doesn't look faked in either... I thought it was weird too.
posted by mdn at 3:26 PM on January 19, 2006

Actually, scratch the politely part

He doesn't want that part scratched. He wants it rubbed!
posted by ericb at 3:28 PM on January 19, 2006

I guess this is "humor" in the same way Fuck AIDS day is.
posted by bardic at 3:28 PM on January 19, 2006

I guess this is "humor" in the same way Fuck AIDS day is.

Or calling a bereaved mother an "opportunistic bitch" — wotta riot! Har! Har!
posted by Rothko at 3:30 PM on January 19, 2006

I'm sorry Wulfgar! but this person needs the tough love. And expecting *any* online forum to not pile on to someone exhibiting this combination of arrogance and ineptitude may be asking a bit much.

y6y6y6, you know me well enough to know that I'm not disagreeing. You should also know that I'm not asking people not to pile-on. But, in my not so humble opinion, they need to do it with some fucking class. I've posted to MetaTalk about that very thing. "I'll bet you're fat" deserves as much, if not more, derision than "Well excuuuuse me". You'll notice at this point in the thread that the 3 month n00bs sneering "you really need to learn what MetaFilter is all about" have fled for the hills; and rightly so. Yup, she coulda handled this a whole lot better, and yup, so coulda we.

And a final note to ericb and those of like mind, the whole point of this thread was to induce a flameout. That's what you folks are craving, and it ought to make you stop for a fucking second and wonder why. Blogrrrl had three comments in this thread. If you consider this a ... "flameout" ... then your expectations are way too low. In my opinion, your expectations suck. Those with a true passion for self-disintegration will come along in time. Wait for it. Nurture it if it blooms. Attempting to cause it is just self-important, clumsy, stupid and ugly. Get over your bad selves, 'cause you ain't in control of this thingy here. You ain't a jury, and you ain't the Inquisition. Put away the popcorn, because better displays are coming. You just won't get to take credit for them.

(ericb, don't get me wrong. I respect the hell out you, and your ability to link and prove the case. But you are advocating a questionable position here.)

I'll ignore the first part of your comment, Wulfgar!, as it really makes no sense to me. As far as random nature of administration goes, sure. But this is the first time I've seen someone acting so bitchy about a deletion. I mean "You guys are mean, I'm leaving"!? "No one bothered to expain to me...."? Is this shit for real? What kind of a reply do you expect?

Learn some basic logic. And quit promoting your experience as if it means anything to me.
posted by Wulfgar! at 3:31 PM on January 19, 2006

Fact: dios sometimes tells jokes in places other than Metatalk.

I mean, I could be wrong. Maybe he did actually bang a handicapped girl and get a $20 from her dad in the course of a nearly implausible narrative. But I'm putting my money on joke.

bardic, for god's sake, some people can actually appreciate absurdity. We disagree about this, and so it goes, but you sound for all the world like my sainted grandmother, except that she laughs more.
posted by cortex at 3:32 PM on January 19, 2006

aberrant

I read user pages. But I don't know if a n00b would. And how would they know which user page to read? Do you read EVERY user page in EVERY thread you are in? How would a new user know the difference between Jessamyn saying, truthfully, that she does some moderation and me or quonsar or anybody else claiming that they do? How should a person know that they should read Jessamyn's user page in order to discover that Matt does moderation?

There is lots of useful information on the About page. But please quote for me where Jessamyn is mentioned on the about page. Oh yeah, that's right, nowhere. Like I said. Also, that's the only page that mentions Matt Haughey, but there's no explanation of what his relationship to the site is, and it make no connection of Matt Haughey to mathowie (also like I said).

In terms of giving you an idea of who is "in charge" MetaFilter is very very cryptic. I imagine this is on purpose. People bug Matt and Jess plenty already. And they don't have a very bossy "I'm the center of the site" kind of style. I like that about MeFi. But I can see that when you're new it would be pretty effin difficult to suss out.
posted by raedyn at 3:32 PM on January 19, 2006

i LOL'ed @ dio's joke, but didn't ROFL

FWIW this thread sux IMNSHO

kthxbye
posted by slogger at 3:34 PM on January 19, 2006

I did not participate in this thread.
posted by interrobang at 3:34 PM on January 19, 2006

I'll bet you're fat" deserves as much, if not more, derision than "Well excuuuuse me".

Sure. But you oughtn't deride Steve Martin a comedic "Well excuuuuse me", and neither should you condemn a comedic (if not precisely Martin-esque) "I'll bet she's fat" as if it were a genuine attack on the (unknown and untestable) appearance of this poster. For all the world, it looks to me like someone making a joke about fat jokes.
posted by cortex at 3:35 PM on January 19, 2006

Unholy Jesus bat fuck. There is enough sheer energy in this thread to terraform Mars... And I thought it was bad when I got called Herman Goering my first week...
posted by Football Bat at 3:36 PM on January 19, 2006

I'm pissed and slightly baffled.

I was asked to stop swimming laps and to exit the pool for “family swim.” No one has bothered to explain why.

Well, excuu-uuse me!

I pay $125 for the privilege of swimming laps in this health club pool? To be told that I can’t swim when I want to! That's just rude.
posted by ericb at 3:38 PM on January 19, 2006

But I'm putting my money on joke.

We have a winner.
posted by Otis at 3:39 PM on January 19, 2006

(And for that matter, I don't particularly knock blogrrrl's own Martinism, but only because I'm assuming, to her benefit, that that's what it was -- if not an explicit reference to the Man Himself, at least an attempt to be light-hearted if only for that one line.

It's hard not to conflate it with the rest of her post, though, which was pointedly humorless and self-absorbed.)
posted by cortex at 3:39 PM on January 19, 2006

dios, if I ever see you in person I will tongue-kiss you.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:39 PM on January 19, 2006

And quit promoting your experience as if it means anything to me.

Heh heh...
posted by c13 at 3:40 PM on January 19, 2006

For all the world, it looks to me like someone making a joke about fat jokes.

I agree. Almost a metafatjoke.

I also think that STFU N00b stuff had its own metajoke-element (as do most things written in hax0r here, or metahax0r as the case may be).
posted by kosem at 3:41 PM on January 19, 2006

MetaFilter: Quit promoting your experience as if it means anything to me
posted by the shitty Baldwin at 3:43 PM on January 19, 2006

Exactly, kosem. I'm not annointing the whole goddam thread or anything -- for all my defense of things around here, it's rare that I don't roll an eye or shake my head at some of the comments -- but one of the key things that I find attractive about Metafilter is the overall wit, self-awareness and intelligence of the people here, even when they are being jackasses and snark-bunnies.
posted by cortex at 3:47 PM on January 19, 2006

dios that never really happened to you, you disingenuous right-wing trolling shithead.
posted by moift at 3:51 PM on January 19, 2006

Well, she had been answering questions, before asking a question, so that was nice.
But she was too upset about the deletion and really rude about her $5 entitlement, and that sort of sucked.
And dios told this story.
And...

And, blogrrl. WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS. YOU SAID YOU'D NEVER LURK AGAIN.
posted by seanyboy at 3:53 PM on January 19, 2006

so i'm never gonna lurk again
snarky site don't get no readin'
no i'm never gonna lurk again
the way i lurked the bluuuuuuue
posted by cortex at 3:55 PM on January 19, 2006

dios, if I ever see you in person I will tongue-kiss you.

Gah!! Gross!
posted by loquacious at 3:56 PM on January 19, 2006

And, blogrrl. WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS. YOU SAID YOU'D NEVER LURK AGAIN.

WTF? Get off the drugs, man. They aren't your friend.
posted by Wulfgar! at 3:58 PM on January 19, 2006

cortex, a girl new to the site made a dumb mistake, and (in what I thought was a pretty accurate description on her part) a bunch of l33t dudes acting like 15-year-olds jumped all over her, figuratively. My initial comment was not at all moralistic, more just boredom with what was so predictable--mefites know how to snark, have their own language and codes for it even, film at 11. Should we all gnash our teeth over this? Of course not. Should we, as you seem to imply, pat ourselves on the back as to how clever we are as a community? I don't think so, but I'm in the minority here.

And honestly, you thought dios' attempt to make a joke was funny? That somehow her noobiness translates into being, in his words, "handicapped"? Not to get all feminist-theory on you, but that says a lot about you and where you're coming from.

As for my impaired sense of humor, I like to laugh plenty but only at things that are, I dunno, funny. If certain members here were half as clever as they imagine themselves to be, I'd need Depends. Generally, I just need the spacebar.

Honest question: Do you know any handicapped people personally? Have you ever had one in your family?
posted by bardic at 4:05 PM on January 19, 2006

Wulfgar! is crazy, teh Drusg is my friends, theys told me they lovered me in ways that only drusugs can.

bardic, sure, some of the reactions are assholery-in-action but come on, she came in with the chip on her shoulder and expected polite discourse? She has not been lurking long enough.
posted by fenriq at 4:07 PM on January 19, 2006

"I dunno, funny." bardic

Seem to have misplaced a comma there, pal.
posted by the shitty Baldwin at 4:09 PM on January 19, 2006

All good things must end
Call it tonight
The pile-on's over
And tomorrow starts
The same old thing again

But the crazy crazy pile-on
Never seen so many people
Poking, joking
Look at you dios, you're having fun
But look at me
I'm almost cryin'
That don't keep this pile-on from dyin'
Misery cause for me the pile-on's over
Turn out the lights...

Once I had a blog undyin'
I didn't keep it but I tried
Life for me was just one snark
And then another
They broke her heart so many times
I had to have my parting shot
I had to have my pile-on
Why broke her heart so many times
But one day she said
Sweetheart the pile-on's over
Turn out the lights...
posted by Otis at 4:12 PM on January 19, 2006

.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:13 PM on January 19, 2006

fenriq, I'm not really defending her as much as I'm saying that mefites are predictable, boring gits. Myself included, of course, because I actually got involved in this thread. But given some personal circumstances, the "joke" about fucking a parplegic really disturbs me.

Some of you really thought that was funny? /rubs left temple, reconsiders what this "community" is based on./
posted by bardic at 4:14 PM on January 19, 2006

Hey! Hitting the spacebar skips down a page!

Thanks, bardic, you noble beast. You have changed the inturdnet forever.

bardicnet. sounds good to me.
posted by Item at 4:15 PM on January 19, 2006

shitty baldwin: Nice one. A friend of mine likes to ask, "Is this gonna be haha funny or existential funny?"
posted by bardic at 4:17 PM on January 19, 2006

Dios: I laughed. Good show.
posted by chiababe at 4:19 PM on January 19, 2006

It's like chatting in IRC all over again, except I'm not 15, and I take little joy in berating strangers when they ask what the @ symbol means...

You guys need to get the fuck over yourselves.
posted by SweetJesus at 4:19 PM on January 19, 2006

I paid my five bucks
And the service was shitty
I'm pissed and baffled
posted by aberrant at 4:20 PM on January 19, 2006

I laughed too, but only because the thought of dios getting laid is intense absurdist humor.
posted by Item at 4:20 PM on January 19, 2006

Man, this is way better than the mushroom thread.
posted by nevercalm at 4:22 PM on January 19, 2006

He paused for a moment and told me that the last guy had left her tied to the tree.

I was so wishing that was not fiction, and suspecting that it was, and am now disappointed. Fake stories dressed up as true ones make the baby jesus cry.

Nonetheless, it made the thread worthwhile.

I did not participate in this thread.

Neither did I.

Oh, wait.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:23 PM on January 19, 2006

*Like a lone italian indian, dial-tone walks past this thread, and then sheds a single tear.*
posted by dial-tone at 4:23 PM on January 19, 2006

WHAT?! This isn't the mushroom thread? Then what was that I just ate? It was growin' in shit...
posted by the shitty Baldwin at 4:24 PM on January 19, 2006

I both thought dios's joke was funny AND am sensitive and well attuned to (and often involved in fighting for) issues pertaining to women and the disabled. I suspect I am not alone.

Same reason I'm not offended by Richard Pryor, Sarah Silverman, et al. (Not to compare dios to either, but you know what I mean.)
posted by kosem at 4:26 PM on January 19, 2006

Dios's joke has its own unspeakable tradition here at MeFi. Or at least, #mefi.

My rule of thumb is that I try to be nice until they explain how they're leaving and never coming back. Then they should be humiliated with reckless abandon. It's a good rule for a good thumb.

"I love Pot and Kettle. I wished I'd thought of it."

They're great, except for their fucking racism. Fucking racist kitchen utensils. Fuck them.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 4:26 PM on January 19, 2006

...but only because the thought of dios getting laid is intense absurdist humor.

I'm not sure if laid is a correct term in this case...
posted by c13 at 4:32 PM on January 19, 2006

Fucking racist kitchen utensils. Fuck them.

I'd advise skipping the knife and the eggbeater, just for safety's sake.
posted by jonmc at 4:37 PM on January 19, 2006

And honestly, you thought dios' attempt to make a joke was funny? That somehow her noobiness translates into being, in his words, "handicapped"? Not to get all feminist-theory on you, but that says a lot about you and where you're coming from.

bardic, you and I are taking dios' joke in two very different ways. Where you are (as far as I can tell) reading it as some earnest attempt by dios to tar her via the allegory of the joke, I am reading his joke as a surreal non-sequitur -- his reference to handicapped girls being perhaps 5% jab at blogrrrl's poor social skills in this thread, 95% an intentionally hamfisted segue.

I am laughing at the absurdity which I presume he intended in deploying that comment. You are taking offense at a magnitude of meanspiritedness that I don't think was there. If I'm wrong and you're right about what dios was doing, then I agree with you, and think he was being a dick. But I don't think that's what's going on, and your offense at it thus leaves me unconvinced.

As for my impaired sense of humor, I like to laugh plenty but only at things that are, I dunno, funny. If certain members here were half as clever as they imagine themselves to be, I'd need Depends. Generally, I just need the spacebar.

I said as much myself, a little ways up. The conflict here is that we have differing senses of humor. I agree that folks here sometimes try to hard, or not hard enough. I think we're pretty solid on the whole, though, and I say that not as a pat on the back but as an explanation for why I hang around and defend the gestalt even in the face of some of our less stellar behavior.

I use the spacebar the same way, when I'm not digging on the, well, anthropological adventure of watching how people interact in text. Even a bad comment is educational, and I find discussion of all sorts pretty fascinating when I don't get too emotionally caught up in it.

Honest question: Do you know any handicapped people personally? Have you ever had one in your family?

I know a couple of handicapped people. My very small circle of friends doesn't have any paraplegics, and no one in my immediate family is handicapped. My grandmother is getting on, and has been dealing more and more with assisted mobility, but she lives out of state and so I don't see her frequently.

A good friend of a good friend is blind -- I played bass with his ad hoc band at a disasterous high-school era concert for his blind-kids assocation, and we did some programming together in high school. We hang out occasionally, but don't have a lot of social overlap.

I worked with a blind lady for three years at my last job and helped her set up a linux box as a firewall one long, frustrating* afternoon at her apartment.

I apologize if this is insufficient cred to justify my absurdist sense of humor vis-a-vis the handicapped joke. If it helps, my dad is Jewish and I laugh at all sorts of Judeocentric humor, so, you know, that's something.

*(Do not try to buy crossover cables at Fred Meyers. They do not stock them, and the people who work there will not know that they do not stock them, and they will ask you questions like, "well, uh, I mean, what are you even trying to do, anyway?" and you will have to bite your tongue and thank them for their time.)
posted by cortex at 4:39 PM on January 19, 2006

I guess it's a case of kissing your date goodnight despite standing her up.
posted by ooga_booga at 4:40 PM on January 19, 2006

NOT FUNNY
posted by cortex at 4:51 PM on January 19, 2006

EVERYTHING IS FUNNY
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:56 PM on January 19, 2006

Except ALLCAPS. That's just not funny.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:57 PM on January 19, 2006

cortex, I appreciate your points and I'll leave you with a comment and a question, since this thread is headed for gifs soon--

Judeocentric is a lot different than anti-Jewish. Humor depends on context--I don't think a joke about fucking a paraplegic meets the standard, given other comments made by the poster re: AIDS, and the general tone of this thread, promulgated not by nerdy 15-year-olds but rather former nerdy 15-year-olds.

Would you be willing to recite this joke to a person in a wheelchair? I mean, it's funny, right? Humor trumps context, right? People like me need to lighten up!
posted by bardic at 4:57 PM on January 19, 2006

So bardic, you're saying that because I'm unwilling to tell the one about the minister, the rabbi, and the pope to His Holiness, it's not funny or appropriate?

What sad, unhumorous lives the politically-correct must live.
posted by aberrant at 4:59 PM on January 19, 2006 [1 favorite]

aberrant, read what I typed. Funny and appropriate are different things.

What sad, unhumorous lives the illiterate must live.
posted by bardic at 5:04 PM on January 19, 2006

Q: How many former nerdy 15-year-olds does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: Can we tie it to a tree, first?
posted by the shitty Baldwin at 5:04 PM on January 19, 2006

"Honest question: Do you know any handicapped people personally? Have you ever had one in your family?"

Hell, just today someone called me a pathetic arthritic trick, which I thought mellifluous—though I don't remember leaving the fiver on the nightstand for her. Oh yeah, so I found that joke pretty funny, a bit unwillingly, the first time I heard it. Anyway, it's a transgression joke, that's half the point.

Just, you know, a data point from the crips demographic.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:06 PM on January 19, 2006

bardic, I would recite that to a person in a wheelchair in a heartbeat, if I thought they'd like it. If I thought they wouldn't, I wouldn't. It would depend on the person, not the joke or the wheelchair.

And I said "Judeo-centric" to include all kinds of Jew-related humor, everything from Yiddish puns to Woody Allen flicks to absurdly overblown choruses of "j00s did WTC!!!". I'm not going to assume that any of that is going to go over well in synogogue, but then, Metafilter isn't a synogogue.

I empathize with and respect your fundamental objection: I think people should be nice to each other, and should not try to commit serious harm on one another. I don't think you should mock a Jew or a woman or a handicapped person with the intent to hurt, and I avoid the sorts of backwards sons of bitches who seem to have such malicious intent as part of their character.

But I also make a very serious distinction between intent to harm and those many situations in which one says something that, in context, is not hurtful. And I think that humor is defined in large part by this seperation, this ability to make the distinction between harm and the satirization of harm. And I think you'll find plenty of women and Jews and cripples who feel the same way.

So I think I agree with you in your intent, but have to disagree with your assessment of a lot of what's been said in here.
posted by cortex at 5:09 PM on January 19, 2006

"Just, you know, a data point from the crips demographic." Ethereal Bligh

Can we get a balancing opinion from the bloods?
posted by the shitty Baldwin at 5:11 PM on January 19, 2006

Hooray for fatties!
posted by Joeforking at 5:13 PM on January 19, 2006

Re: dios, wheelchair girl, mr_crash_davis: I will never have an erection again.
posted by Football Bat at 5:17 PM on January 19, 2006

Would you be willing to recite this joke to a person in a wheelchair?

Odd question. For my part, I'd answer 'sure thing, if I knew the person in question, and thought they'd like it'.

The joke/story is about a paraplegic woman being a sexual predator, isn't it?

Regardless, the one thing that's invariant about humour is that everyone has different tastes and boundaries. Nothing new here.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:18 PM on January 19, 2006