Do UFO posts really belong here? January 22, 2006 12:20 PM Subscribe
Is Metafilter an appropriate place to promote UFO myths? Especially from extremely dodgy sources. I think this stuff (like the recent top ufo photos post, and other ufology junk) are something of the worst of the web, not the best. Is this what mefites want?
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble
Indeed, why not? The video, if you can get it to play, is curious enough. Isn't this kind of thing self-policing anyway? I mean, if it doesn't generate any conversation/comments, it would be obvious if it's what MeFites want, yes?
posted by undule at 12:29 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by undule at 12:29 PM on January 22, 2006
Skallas, you have a good point -- but then I've always figured there will always be a section of metafilter which generates and enjoys "drive-by" FPP's and snarky one line comments. I sympathize with your position, particularly the "a good ufo post, would involve" bits -- but it all seems harmless and whimsical so long as it doesn't become the dominant trend.
Then again, I've been guilty of trolly one line snarks myself, so I'm leery of casting around blackened pots.
Ah also, what about this post? It seems more or less structurally identical to the one you called out, but without the shade of psuedo-science. Do you object to it as well?
posted by undule at 12:43 PM on January 22, 2006
Then again, I've been guilty of trolly one line snarks myself, so I'm leery of casting around blackened pots.
Ah also, what about this post? It seems more or less structurally identical to the one you called out, but without the shade of psuedo-science. Do you object to it as well?
posted by undule at 12:43 PM on January 22, 2006
Add it to the Frown Upon column!
posted by Captaintripps at 12:43 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by Captaintripps at 12:43 PM on January 22, 2006
skallas, treat us to a y2k-like UFO post which backs up your skepticism and a grateful MeFi will fawn upon you. Really, it seems like a round-up of ufology liks and sites met with a round-up of Randian objections would be a killer post.
posted by mwhybark at 12:50 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by mwhybark at 12:50 PM on January 22, 2006
No worse and no better as a topic than any other. Call it an exercise in critical thinking, if you must.
Slightly mystifying, this thread is.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:54 PM on January 22, 2006
Slightly mystifying, this thread is.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:54 PM on January 22, 2006
look there are no UFO's.
now, on to a more important question: can anyone explain this anal probe I found this morning?
posted by jonmc at 1:42 PM on January 22, 2006
now, on to a more important question: can anyone explain this anal probe I found this morning?
posted by jonmc at 1:42 PM on January 22, 2006
can anyone explain this anal probe I found this morning?
Yeah, but that costs extra.
Seriously, since when have UFO / Paranormal / Conspiracy Theories not been the best of the web? This post baffles me.
posted by Jimbob at 1:45 PM on January 22, 2006
Yeah, but that costs extra.
Seriously, since when have UFO / Paranormal / Conspiracy Theories not been the best of the web? This post baffles me.
posted by Jimbob at 1:45 PM on January 22, 2006
Weird, "promoting" ufo stuff is bad? It's freaking UFO stuff. I treat it exactly like stories about bigfoot, the loch ness monster, and the dutch... all completely false, made up stuff. Is it really that hard to keep true and fake stuff separate in our minds?
Leave it to people reading to get the joke and blow it off as silly instead of worrying about any possible promotion of alternate realities.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:46 PM on January 22, 2006
Leave it to people reading to get the joke and blow it off as silly instead of worrying about any possible promotion of alternate realities.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:46 PM on January 22, 2006
bigfoot, the loch ness monster, and the dutch
Lollerskates.
posted by gleuschk at 1:47 PM on January 22, 2006
Lollerskates.
posted by gleuschk at 1:47 PM on January 22, 2006
The anal probe question belongs in AskMeFi.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:51 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:51 PM on January 22, 2006
Yeah, but that costs extra.
Well, I was drunk in the West Village the other night. I can't help it oif I'm irresistible.
posted by jonmc at 1:54 PM on January 22, 2006
Well, I was drunk in the West Village the other night. I can't help it oif I'm irresistible.
posted by jonmc at 1:54 PM on January 22, 2006
UFOs,
looney WTC 7 bombing theories, and now
Flight 93 shootdown nonsense comes along.
Is it a full moon? Why did all the loonies come out at once?
posted by caddis at 1:56 PM on January 22, 2006
looney WTC 7 bombing theories, and now
Flight 93 shootdown nonsense comes along.
Is it a full moon? Why did all the loonies come out at once?
posted by caddis at 1:56 PM on January 22, 2006
There was some seriously funny stuff in this Bigfoot thread from last month. "Should I say 'Enhance!' out-loud to my computer and everything'll become clear?" Still makes me laugh out loud.
posted by Gator at 1:59 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by Gator at 1:59 PM on January 22, 2006
MetaFilter: Tip of the Hat to Timecube Dude. Wag of the Finger to UFO Dude.
Because consistency, it ain't in our vocabulary.
posted by five fresh fish at 2:07 PM on January 22, 2006
Because consistency, it ain't in our vocabulary.
posted by five fresh fish at 2:07 PM on January 22, 2006
Well, we all just need to keep an open mind, y'know, I think if we can all just agree to get along, see each others points here, it could mean a whole new enlightenment for our society. Plus we could use more sexy midgets.
posted by mk1gti at 2:10 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by mk1gti at 2:10 PM on January 22, 2006
The linked thread is fine. This one sucks.
Since you asked what MeFites want, I'll suggest that at least a few of us would like to see less enthusiasm for "tattling" on other members about what's appropriate for the site. If you absolutely must object, flag it and move on. But it'd be better if you could skip the first step.
posted by cribcage at 2:31 PM on January 22, 2006
Since you asked what MeFites want, I'll suggest that at least a few of us would like to see less enthusiasm for "tattling" on other members about what's appropriate for the site. If you absolutely must object, flag it and move on. But it'd be better if you could skip the first step.
posted by cribcage at 2:31 PM on January 22, 2006
What cribcage said. Also, this whole post is part of a bigger conspiracy to silence the mortals. Don't tell them anything.
posted by sjvilla79 at 2:37 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by sjvilla79 at 2:37 PM on January 22, 2006
Obviously, skallas thinks we're all too stupid to think for ourselves and to decide whether something is worth considering or not.
posted by crunchland at 2:58 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by crunchland at 2:58 PM on January 22, 2006
I think he's afraid it's really Ezekiel's Wheel.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:46 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:46 PM on January 22, 2006
I think Skallas is actually worried that we'll Uncover the Truth. Whose side are you on, pal? ETs go home! If this was V I think we all know who Skallas would be, the dirty quisling. What did they promise you - your own planet near Kolob? Hovertank? What did it cost to sell out your species to the aliens' (literal) astroturf campaign, and when the Earth is a meatfarm for Greys will it seem worth it?
posted by freebird at 4:34 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by freebird at 4:34 PM on January 22, 2006
I think Skallas is actually worried that we'll Uncover the Truth.
That extraterrestrials run the TV networks? We knew that.
posted by jonmc at 4:39 PM on January 22, 2006
That extraterrestrials run the TV networks? We knew that.
posted by jonmc at 4:39 PM on January 22, 2006
I'll suggest that at least a few of us would like to see less enthusiasm for "tattling" on other members about what's appropriate for the site.
Good god, yes.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:53 PM on January 22, 2006
Good god, yes.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:53 PM on January 22, 2006
Seriously, since when have UFO / Paranormal / Conspiracy Theories not been the best of the web? This post baffles me.
This comment baffles me. UFO / Paranormal / Conspiracy Theories are childish tripe; if that's what Mefites want to see on the front page, more power to them, but I'd rather see it full of techie posts, and I don't even like techie posts.
posted by languagehat at 4:55 PM on January 22, 2006
This comment baffles me. UFO / Paranormal / Conspiracy Theories are childish tripe; if that's what Mefites want to see on the front page, more power to them, but I'd rather see it full of techie posts, and I don't even like techie posts.
posted by languagehat at 4:55 PM on January 22, 2006
For about half the people here a wacky UFO post would be a self link.
posted by srboisvert at 4:56 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by srboisvert at 4:56 PM on January 22, 2006
Mind, I've been led to believe that skallas has good reason to be, ah, 'sensitive' about the topic of anal-probing aliens.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:56 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by five fresh fish at 4:56 PM on January 22, 2006
Why not? What are you afraid of? What are you trying to cover up? THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!
posted by loquacious at 5:00 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by loquacious at 5:00 PM on January 22, 2006
If-and-only-if by "OUT THERE" you mean meatfarms, robot hyperdrive cattlecars filled with the preserved flesh of countless millions, and Ancient Galactic Masters to whom the extermination of a planet is but the work of a soon forgotten moment.
I want to know what the Government is doing about the hyperdrive cattlecars - I suggest writing your congressperson but with a fake name because You Never Know.
posted by freebird at 5:13 PM on January 22, 2006
I want to know what the Government is doing about the hyperdrive cattlecars - I suggest writing your congressperson but with a fake name because You Never Know.
posted by freebird at 5:13 PM on January 22, 2006
In this case, it's "THE TRUTH IS IN THERE!"
And like most truths, it's gonna be a little discomforting.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:26 PM on January 22, 2006
And like most truths, it's gonna be a little discomforting.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:26 PM on January 22, 2006
My congressperson with a fake name? You're right - I never know.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:27 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:27 PM on January 22, 2006
What Languagehat said. There seems to be widespread agreement that it was a bad post. Why not nuke the sucker?
posted by LarryC at 7:07 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by LarryC at 7:07 PM on January 22, 2006
It's called evolution, man. People who believe shit like that are doomed.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:30 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by five fresh fish at 7:30 PM on January 22, 2006
It's speculation: neither true, nor false, nor verifyable. Live and let live.
posted by moonbird at 9:10 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by moonbird at 9:10 PM on January 22, 2006
Kolob is Elohim's (big G) god's, home planet,in Mormon mythology,and the title of a hymn "If I Could Hi' to Kolob" just so you know. also a part of Zion NP. on preview I prefer
Molad.
posted by hortense at 9:24 PM on January 22, 2006
Molad.
posted by hortense at 9:24 PM on January 22, 2006
Hyperdrive Cattlecars is the name of my new band. All of our lyrics are lifted from Douglas Adams books.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:56 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:56 PM on January 22, 2006
Young Zaphod Plays It Safe, A Short Story By Douglas Adams
posted by hortense at 10:35 PM on January 22, 2006
posted by hortense at 10:35 PM on January 22, 2006
That picture of quonsar's has to be a fake. Everybody knows you can't get cinnamon rolls in outer space.
posted by languagehat at 5:22 AM on January 23, 2006
posted by languagehat at 5:22 AM on January 23, 2006
Show a little initiative, ND¢. Start a CinnaBon franchise up there. "In space, no one can hear you order the MochaLatta Chill™ and make fun of you for being a girly-boy as a result."
posted by Gator at 6:34 AM on January 23, 2006
posted by Gator at 6:34 AM on January 23, 2006
Let's post every freaking Art Belly thing we can find, people!
posted by cellphone at 8:21 AM on January 23, 2006
posted by cellphone at 8:21 AM on January 23, 2006
I'm against removing that FPP because:
1. We would not see Skallas' masterful post.
posted by storybored at 8:41 AM on January 23, 2006
1. We would not see Skallas' masterful post.
posted by storybored at 8:41 AM on January 23, 2006
I'm beginning to think that Pretty Generic has hacked Skallas' uid.
posted by crunchland at 8:43 AM on January 23, 2006
posted by crunchland at 8:43 AM on January 23, 2006
2. Also there is an educational component here. There are plenty of folks who may be new/passing thru MeFi who haven't made up their minds or who have not been exposed to the skeptical side.
3. As a skeptic, i find it interesting to see the human side of weirdness and why people believe weird things. I don't want to go looking for it because there's plenty out there. But having the occasional MeFi look-in suits me well.
posted by storybored at 8:46 AM on January 23, 2006
3. As a skeptic, i find it interesting to see the human side of weirdness and why people believe weird things. I don't want to go looking for it because there's plenty out there. But having the occasional MeFi look-in suits me well.
posted by storybored at 8:46 AM on January 23, 2006
Like cats, aliens are terrified of vacuum cleaners...
posted by Captaintripps at 9:08 AM on January 23, 2006
posted by Captaintripps at 9:08 AM on January 23, 2006
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Snyder at 12:25 PM on January 22, 2006