Apologies for posting the double, but I am going to do it anyway.

October 17, 2001 3:30 PM

Sorry if this is a double post but the search timed out -- why do some members applogise in their front page comment for possible double posting because the search timed out, especially before they've actually got to the point of the actual post in the first place? (more)
posted by feelinglistless to Etiquette/Policy at 3:30 PM (18 comments total)

Surely this would be better, placing a disclaimer at the start of the thread if they have to. There are a lot of egg shells being trodden around because anything on the front page is now open to the 'post' who are dismissing threads before they get started. Surely this is the equivalent of being in a conversation at a party and telling someone you've already discussed something early that night and can't be bother repeating yourself. Bit rude isn't it?
posted by feelinglistless at 3:35 PM on October 17, 2001

And yes I do know how to spell 'appologise' -- I was offering solidarity to other bad spellers...honestly...
posted by feelinglistless at 3:36 PM on October 17, 2001

I've always thought "meta-conversation" in a thread was pointless. Post a link, provide some info and possibly take a side, but for the love of god don't tell me about the search or the site, or how you do or do not want to get flamed for posting it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:52 PM on October 17, 2001

I think that the new-ish posters who actually want to be a part of this community are understandably nervous about posting. Cycle: people who don't know the rules post a lot of garbage; old-timers dig in to them; newbies who think they might not know the rules are afraid of getting raked over the coals by a community they are trulty interested in joining. Just a thought.
posted by transient at 5:06 PM on October 17, 2001

Please please don't flame me or anything, but, Hello.
posted by fuq at 5:20 PM on October 17, 2001

I think you're right, transient. The atmosphere around here seems to have definitely gotten a bit chillier of late, which I'm sure many find offputting.

Not everyone have skin like rhino! :::thumps chest:::
posted by rushmc at 5:23 PM on October 17, 2001

why do some members...

because the self-appointed MeFiCops are abusing everybody to the point of paranoia.
posted by quonsar at 7:24 PM on October 17, 2001

and because they lack the self-restraint to hold off posting until the site is less busy and they can do a proper search.
posted by jimw at 8:09 PM on October 17, 2001

because the self-appointed MeFiCops are abusing everybody to the point of paranoia.

I WILL EAT YOUR FACE
posted by holloway at 9:09 PM on October 17, 2001

because the self-appointed MeFiCops are abusing everybody to the point of paranoia

Matt has appointed us all MeFiCops.
posted by jpoulos at 9:09 PM on October 17, 2001

Oh, good.
Now I don't find what I did to that Jamaican in the men's room with the plunger handle so inappropriate.

posted by dong_resin at 12:12 AM on October 18, 2001

and because they lack the self-restraint to hold off posting until the site is less busy and they can do a proper search.

Then you'd just be all up on them for posting a year-old link.
posted by rushmc at 6:20 AM on October 18, 2001

Sigh. Weighs in with slow internet connection whinge.

For some people (the really unlucky ones) the search hardly ever works. Particularly lately. You can't wait for it to work, unless you plan for a retirement home with a sweet broadband connection.

Google works ok, but often I've looked for something that has come up with a search at meta, but doesn't if you search at Google, or is harder to find.

I can understand why some people weigh in with apologies before they post the link. They figure they might as well get it over with. The waiting is the hardest part *hums*

But Matt is right, you should just post up your links, and deal with any complaints/responses as they occur.

Which they will, you know.
posted by lucien at 8:06 AM on October 18, 2001

Oh my god, Holloway, that's the first uncontrollable outburst of laughter I've experienced in weeks. Phew.

(don't flame me for only posting to say I thought something was funny...)
posted by jennyb at 1:13 PM on October 18, 2001

I just wondered how boring it would be if the rules which seem to be at work here were used on individual weblogs -- personality ruined by people apologising for posting things which interest them ...
posted by feelinglistless at 2:16 PM on October 18, 2001

Jeeze, jennyb, keep it to yourself.

(kidding. holloway made me lose it too.)
posted by frykitty at 2:40 PM on October 18, 2001

and because they lack the self-restraint to hold off posting until the site is less busy and they can do a proper search.

Solution: If someone only has an allotted time in which they can post, and that time happens to be a generally busy time (when searches ping out), then they should just have the good grace to never post at all.

[ As it stands, I agree with transient. There must be a brigade of people who check each new front-page post for duplication, quite likely so they can be the first to make some snarky comment about how we've been there and done that. Usually resulting in the first few comments of the thread being about how the thread was already done several months ago or what have you.

Quite a few threads have been killed in that manner. I'd be nervous to post a front-page post too. (perhaps that's why I haven't in the year and a half I've been here) ]
posted by precocious at 3:02 PM on October 18, 2001