I wish we could avoid linking to cyber beggars on MeFi.

July 4, 2006 5:45 AM

I wish we could avoid linking to cyber beggars on MeFi. It's not an interesting topic, and I hate to see them get any attention and thus more traffic to their sites.
posted by orange swan to etiquette/policy at 5:45 AM (28 comments total)

Agree. It's especially fishy because the poster just joined not two weeks ago and this is their first post. It stinks of self-linking/self-promotion.
posted by Rhomboid at 6:00 AM on July 4, 2006

I concur.
posted by dabitch at 6:01 AM on July 4, 2006

I wish I had a very large pony, though I would settle for an average sized horse.
posted by econous at 6:01 AM on July 4, 2006

Hmm. Tokil claims to be getting a divorce in the thread, so it's either not a self-link or he's pretty skilful at putting up a smoke screen.
posted by orange swan at 6:02 AM on July 4, 2006

Tokil claims to be getting a divorce in the thread, so it's either not a self-link or he's pretty skilful at putting up a smoke screen.

It would appear we are dealing with a master of deception.
posted by fire&wings at 6:18 AM on July 4, 2006

Here, here. dabitch, your comment pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter. I'm fine with relatively unique cyber-begging, but tag clouds? Is it three years ago already?
posted by youarenothere at 6:23 AM on July 4, 2006

A master of deception? If I was a master of deception I probably wouldn't be getting divorced! You make me laugh. I just thought it was interesting - everyone has to start with a first post. In case you hadn't noticed, the post is actually about two seperate couples - one in the UK (where yes, I live) and one in Canada (where I don't). So, er, which one am I then?

I'm not related to either couple - you want me to send some DNA? I promise not to post anything similar next time.

Am I free to go now officer?
posted by Tokil at 6:34 AM on July 4, 2006

They're both pretty boring (and ugly) sites, so I removed the post. SaveKaryn and MillionDollarHomepage were both interesting once, years ago, but all the copycats since then are boring as hell.
posted by mathowie at 6:37 AM on July 4, 2006

Apart from the boobs one.
posted by blag at 7:46 AM on July 4, 2006

[pats Tobil on the head, hands him a cookie, tells him he'll have a better day at school tomorrow]
posted by orange swan at 7:59 AM on July 4, 2006

"Tokil". Sigh.
posted by orange swan at 8:00 AM on July 4, 2006

But Tobil's nice too!

Yeah, don't worry about it, Tokil. No harm, no foul. Better luck next time!
posted by languagehat at 9:11 AM on July 4, 2006

Before you assume it's jerk central here, Tokil, the fact is that people do frequently break the guidelines by buying an account simply to (overtly, if they're dumb and just didn't read the guidelines, or covertly if they're just dicks) self-promote some project. For five bucks it's awfully cheap online advertising which is why it's considered abuse. I'm happy to give you the benefit of the doubt but at first blush your post fit that profile (recent account, minimal comments, FPP (front page post) to a moneymaking site. The quick-trigger suspicion is natural if lamentable.
posted by nanojath at 9:47 AM on July 4, 2006

Am I free to go now officer?

Don't nobody leave this place without usin' the addressive comma.
posted by Eideteker at 10:12 AM on July 4, 2006

"The quick-trigger suspicion is natural if lamentable."

It's also natural if it's not lamentable. I look forward to seeing Tokil become a regular pillar of good (not necessarily amazing, but good) posts on MeFi. Time, and his eventual posting history, will tell.
posted by Eideteker at 10:15 AM on July 4, 2006

If Ridley Scott continues to live the world will run out of dry ice and the color blue. Jesus people think. Leave Tokil alone, shitty posts create the discussions that I thrive on. Virtual panhandling can me amusing at times. Imagine a world without blue.
posted by econous at 12:14 PM on July 4, 2006

It would take a heroic peon to mock my spelling error.
posted by econous at 12:23 PM on July 4, 2006

I rather naively thought that my post might generate an interesting discussion - which it did, although not quite in the way I'd intended! With my hindsight goggles on I can see why the finger of suspicion was immediately pointed at me.

No harm done and I promise to choose a better topic next time!
posted by Tokil at 3:03 PM on July 4, 2006

Ah, you're all gentl(man|woman)ly about it. Where's the fun in that?
posted by signal at 3:09 PM on July 4, 2006

I have some foolproof software that filters out this sort of thing. If everyone can send me five dollars I can have it up and running within the week.
posted by Decani at 7:40 PM on July 4, 2006

How do we feel about this deadbeat?
posted by cribcage at 11:59 PM on July 4, 2006

I am shocked!
posted by hortense at 12:19 AM on July 5, 2006

How do we feel about this deadbeat?

I prefer him to this one
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:47 AM on July 5, 2006

HE'S A WITCH! BURN 'IM!!!!!1!!ONE
posted by keswick at 3:45 PM on July 5, 2006

bzzzzzzt
posted by cortex at 4:26 PM on July 5, 2006

How do we feel about this deadbeat?

Defo iffy. Two posts to Projects asking for money, with nary a post or comment anywhere else on the site is pretty bloody cheeky.
posted by jack_mo at 4:34 PM on July 5, 2006

That was my feeling too, but apparently someone disagrees.
posted by cribcage at 6:21 PM on July 5, 2006

It could have been neat, but wasn't. Electroshock for president!
posted by klangklangston at 7:40 PM on July 5, 2006