What if you really could page users? August 8, 2006 11:20 AM Subscribe
What if you really could page users -- alert them to a thread they would interested and/or helpful in?
It's an interesting idea, but sending said user an email works pretty well—I've done it more than once—and requires no additional onsite feature.
posted by cortex at 11:26 AM on August 8, 2006
posted by cortex at 11:26 AM on August 8, 2006
You can. It's called email.
Damn, I'm in a shitty mood today. Sorry about that.
posted by dersins at 11:27 AM on August 8, 2006
Damn, I'm in a shitty mood today. Sorry about that.
posted by dersins at 11:27 AM on August 8, 2006
I tend to email them. Maybe this is a good time to exhort users to include some contact information in their profiles: hey, include some contact info in your profiles!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:29 AM on August 8, 2006
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:29 AM on August 8, 2006
dersins you're supposed to use a caret for that
How are these guys supposed to help me page other users, cortex? I'm not a minority student.
posted by dersins at 11:31 AM on August 8, 2006
How are these guys supposed to help me page other users, cortex? I'm not a minority student.
posted by dersins at 11:31 AM on August 8, 2006
This would be an interesting feature if there was a low bandwidth, low annoyance way to do it. A tiny email might do it, with the sender and receiver's own emails hidden in the process.
I can't think of an easy way to do it aside from a link on user pages that says "send this member a message" or something.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:40 AM on August 8, 2006
I can't think of an easy way to do it aside from a link on user pages that says "send this member a message" or something.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:40 AM on August 8, 2006
I'd be leery of emailing someone to help me with a specific question or problem; it puts them in an awkward position - maybe they don't have the time, don't know the answer, or maybe they hate your guts and don't want to help you.
The 'alert user#' idea is worth thinking about, because often I'll see a question and think to myself (as opposed to thinking to someone else), "Ah, user so-and-so would definitely know the answer to this". Languagehat and jonmc get paged in AskMe _all_ the time.
posted by iconomy at 11:46 AM on August 8, 2006
The 'alert user#' idea is worth thinking about, because often I'll see a question and think to myself (as opposed to thinking to someone else), "Ah, user so-and-so would definitely know the answer to this". Languagehat and jonmc get paged in AskMe _all_ the time.
posted by iconomy at 11:46 AM on August 8, 2006
Languagehat and jonmc get paged in AskMe _all_ the time.
And so if there was a paging feature, they'd get 50 emails every time anyone posted a question in their area of expertise, which I imagine would be quite annoying.
That said, as someone who would never be paged, it sounds like a nice wee feature.
posted by jack_mo at 11:55 AM on August 8, 2006
And so if there was a paging feature, they'd get 50 emails every time anyone posted a question in their area of expertise, which I imagine would be quite annoying.
That said, as someone who would never be paged, it sounds like a nice wee feature.
posted by jack_mo at 11:55 AM on August 8, 2006
What if it didn't send an email, but made a little note on the front page where their username shows up like:
"You are logged in as: dseaton / you've been paged / logout"
Or something similar that's less intrusive than email?
posted by dseaton at 12:07 PM on August 8, 2006
"You are logged in as: dseaton / you've been paged / logout"
Or something similar that's less intrusive than email?
posted by dseaton at 12:07 PM on August 8, 2006
A tiny email might do it, with the sender and receiver's own emails hidden in the process.
No, because then people would be dicks and click the "page" button over and over again just to annoy somebody. At least, that's what I'd do.
The most lo-impact (annoyance-wise) way to do it otherwise is to have a bit of text, perhaps by the "there have been x links" part at the top, that notes that the user is "wanted" in certain threads. Maybe the actual threads in question could be listed on your user page, with the thing on the front page just letting you know you're wanted.
Alternatively, if no one cares what you think at the moment, the text on the front page could say: "You are not wanted". That would be great.
posted by LionIndex at 12:08 PM on August 8, 2006
No, because then people would be dicks and click the "page" button over and over again just to annoy somebody. At least, that's what I'd do.
The most lo-impact (annoyance-wise) way to do it otherwise is to have a bit of text, perhaps by the "there have been x links" part at the top, that notes that the user is "wanted" in certain threads. Maybe the actual threads in question could be listed on your user page, with the thing on the front page just letting you know you're wanted.
Alternatively, if no one cares what you think at the moment, the text on the front page could say: "You are not wanted". That would be great.
posted by LionIndex at 12:08 PM on August 8, 2006
The most lo-impact (annoyance-wise) way to do it otherwise is to have a bit of text, perhaps by the "there have been x links" part at the top, that notes that the user is "wanted" in certain threads. Maybe the actual threads in question could be listed on your user page, with the thing on the front page just letting you know you're wanted.
This is more along the lines of what I had in mind. Just so that the next time they logged in, they could see that they had been paged.
posted by jjg at 12:13 PM on August 8, 2006
This is more along the lines of what I had in mind. Just so that the next time they logged in, they could see that they had been paged.
posted by jjg at 12:13 PM on August 8, 2006
An internal message system would be cool.
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:17 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:17 PM on August 8, 2006
This pager: it vibrates?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:19 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:19 PM on August 8, 2006
Um but man a person could really abuse this paging thing. What if I page dersins to every thread on the front page?
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:20 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:20 PM on August 8, 2006
@thirteenkiller: Why oh why would you page for every thread on the…oh.
Never mind.
posted by Yeomans at 12:29 PM on August 8, 2006
Never mind.
posted by Yeomans at 12:29 PM on August 8, 2006
If you page me, I will come.
p.s. where's my damn pointy hat?
posted by dersins at 12:30 PM on August 8, 2006
p.s. where's my damn pointy hat?
posted by dersins at 12:30 PM on August 8, 2006
Languagehat and jonmc get paged in AskMe _all_ the time.
I do? News to me.
posted by jonmc at 12:52 PM on August 8, 2006
I do? News to me.
posted by jonmc at 12:52 PM on August 8, 2006
Bribery, baby. Since the $30/day thing is going so well on the Blue (and it really is), why not have a one-time prize randomly given to someone with their email in their profile? Put a banner-header thingy across AskMe so all those people who only ever go there will see it.
posted by gleuschk at 12:58 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by gleuschk at 12:58 PM on August 8, 2006
Rather than just a "send a message to this user" button, I prefer constraining it to particular items. "Page a user to this thread/comment" and then, as dseaton suggested, having an inobtrusive alert at the top of the page. This prevents just plain random messages, and means that users will only get one page per thread, no matter how many people page them.
Actually, I think it'd be even better to nix paging to specific comments and instead include an optional textbox for a brief message (and I mean brief) to specifically check out comment #214351 by so-and-so. I'd welcome the occasional page to sleep/dreaming questions on askme, and it might actually get me to contribute to the Green. But then, my e-mail's on my profile page, and I've never been contacted that way, so I got nuthin' to lose.
posted by Eideteker at 1:00 PM on August 8, 2006
Actually, I think it'd be even better to nix paging to specific comments and instead include an optional textbox for a brief message (and I mean brief) to specifically check out comment #214351 by so-and-so. I'd welcome the occasional page to sleep/dreaming questions on askme, and it might actually get me to contribute to the Green. But then, my e-mail's on my profile page, and I've never been contacted that way, so I got nuthin' to lose.
posted by Eideteker at 1:00 PM on August 8, 2006
"news to me"
Well, jonmc, that's sort of the *point*.
It occurs to me, though, that a good reason *to* make this a sitefeature is that you could then only ping said user once or twice, instead of every time.
Course, the wall people need to climb over to send email now is apparently high enough to keep it from being annoying.
MetaFilter: We'll shoot down your "good feature" suggestions.
posted by baylink at 1:07 PM on August 8, 2006
Well, jonmc, that's sort of the *point*.
It occurs to me, though, that a good reason *to* make this a sitefeature is that you could then only ping said user once or twice, instead of every time.
Course, the wall people need to climb over to send email now is apparently high enough to keep it from being annoying.
MetaFilter: We'll shoot down your "good feature" suggestions.
posted by baylink at 1:07 PM on August 8, 2006
"Languagehat and jonmc get paged in AskMe _all_ the time.
I do? News to me."
I would imagine pretty much any thread re: food, music, and girlie parts.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:08 PM on August 8, 2006
I do? News to me."
I would imagine pretty much any thread re: food, music, and girlie parts.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:08 PM on August 8, 2006
"What if I page dersins to every thread on the front page?"
Limited number of pages per day. Five sounds ample, three would probably suffice. And/or the ability to block pages from specific users.
Oh, and in case I was unclear about "only one page" and then individual users hitting up a textbox: When you click on the "you have been paged" it takes you to a list of threads that maybe looks like this. Instead of "suggested by", it would have "paged by". If users used the message field, there'd be a "read messages" link that you could click which would expand to show the message next to the username in a neat list.
You could then have a button or something for "acknowledge/dismiss" this page. Ack. would send a pageback to the original pager(s) "GuruOICU812 has read your page." and dismiss would not. Either way, you would not receive future pages for that thread.
posted by Eideteker at 1:11 PM on August 8, 2006
Limited number of pages per day. Five sounds ample, three would probably suffice. And/or the ability to block pages from specific users.
Oh, and in case I was unclear about "only one page" and then individual users hitting up a textbox: When you click on the "you have been paged" it takes you to a list of threads that maybe looks like this. Instead of "suggested by", it would have "paged by". If users used the message field, there'd be a "read messages" link that you could click which would expand to show the message next to the username in a neat list.
You could then have a button or something for "acknowledge/dismiss" this page. Ack. would send a pageback to the original pager(s) "GuruOICU812 has read your page." and dismiss would not. Either way, you would not receive future pages for that thread.
posted by Eideteker at 1:11 PM on August 8, 2006
I guess an internal message system could help here, though I hate it when ebay and flickr send me an email to tell me I have a website message that I can't interact with in email (it not only redundant, it's annoying). So the more likely thing would be unread messages would be shown in the upper right like this mockup:
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:22 PM on August 8, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:22 PM on August 8, 2006 [1 favorite]
Dersins - I stayed here and got a job this summer instead of heading to Mongolia! I'll get you one soon though; if I'm not there in the next few months my friends certainly will be. And those chips were delicious and opened a whole new world of food enjoyment for me. First hat I get my hands on, man, it's yours.
posted by thirteenkiller at 1:23 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by thirteenkiller at 1:23 PM on August 8, 2006
dude I can see their IPs
posted by thirteenkiller at 1:25 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by thirteenkiller at 1:25 PM on August 8, 2006
Can I just say that I love the power implied on that screenshot? I want delete/edit/close thread buttons!
Okay, I guess I'd have to go start my own community. I'll just shut up now.
posted by FlamingBore at 1:26 PM on August 8, 2006
Okay, I guess I'd have to go start my own community. I'll just shut up now.
posted by FlamingBore at 1:26 PM on August 8, 2006
Aha! He can see IP addresses!!!
So, who's a sock puppet, Matt? C'mon, c'mon, tell us!!!
posted by yhbc at 1:30 PM on August 8, 2006
So, who's a sock puppet, Matt? C'mon, c'mon, tell us!!!
posted by yhbc at 1:30 PM on August 8, 2006
Thanks a lot, Matt. So much for the witness protection program.
*paints "Dear New Jersey Mobsters, Here I Am" on roof in two-foot-tall letters, just to be sure*
posted by cortex at 1:39 PM on August 8, 2006
*paints "Dear New Jersey Mobsters, Here I Am" on roof in two-foot-tall letters, just to be sure*
posted by cortex at 1:39 PM on August 8, 2006
What about talk pages on user profiles, a la Wikipedia? No need for e-mail notifications since you get a "You have new messages" banner whenever you are logged in and access a page in the mefiverse.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 1:44 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by Saucy Intruder at 1:44 PM on August 8, 2006
"Hey, boss, I just got a traceroute dat come t'ru da woire 'bout Louie da Crooner. Seems like that stoolie's hidin' out in freakin' Oregon unda da name a Josh Millard."
"And you mugs told me dat we should keep da old ways, and not update for da twenty-foist cenchury."
"So wait, do youse guys pronounce it 'ore-ih-gun' or 'ore-ih-gone'?"
"I always hoid it was da foist one you said. How's 'bout you, boss?"
"I try not to say it at all, if I can avoid it. Boys, contact the Granoligliere family in Portland. It's time to collect on the favor Don Granoligliere owes me for the time I saved the life of his son, Crunchy."
posted by Eideteker at 1:48 PM on August 8, 2006
"And you mugs told me dat we should keep da old ways, and not update for da twenty-foist cenchury."
"So wait, do youse guys pronounce it 'ore-ih-gun' or 'ore-ih-gone'?"
"I always hoid it was da foist one you said. How's 'bout you, boss?"
"I try not to say it at all, if I can avoid it. Boys, contact the Granoligliere family in Portland. It's time to collect on the favor Don Granoligliere owes me for the time I saved the life of his son, Crunchy."
posted by Eideteker at 1:48 PM on August 8, 2006
FREE CORTEX
Dammit, I just paid seventeen bucks for one. Figures-- as soon as I buy anything it always goes on sale.
posted by dersins at 1:56 PM on August 8, 2006
Dammit, I just paid seventeen bucks for one. Figures-- as soon as I buy anything it always goes on sale.
posted by dersins at 1:56 PM on August 8, 2006
I think we're thinking too small, here. Think about all the times we've had authors or subjects of posts show up to tell their side of a story. I'd like to be able to use this feature to page anyone we're talking about. Think of the possibilities:
Paging Motherfucking Sam Jackson! Motherfucking Sam Jackson - Please report to the Blue. Get these motherfucking snakes off my motherfucking weblog!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:12 PM on August 8, 2006
Paging Motherfucking Sam Jackson! Motherfucking Sam Jackson - Please report to the Blue. Get these motherfucking snakes off my motherfucking weblog!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:12 PM on August 8, 2006
Let's see:
posted by mischief at 2:16 PM on August 8, 2006
self-linkYeah, I think I've got it.
page everybody
repeat
posted by mischief at 2:16 PM on August 8, 2006
Based on this thread about omitting e-mails in profiles I'd imagine there's going to be some kicking and screaming if this gets implemented like mathowies mockup, but really... isn't that why we're all here to begin with?
posted by prostyle at 2:21 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by prostyle at 2:21 PM on August 8, 2006
Based on this thread about omitting e-mails in profiles I'd imagine there's going to be some kicking and screaming if this gets implemented like mathowies mockup, but really... isn't that why we're all here to begin with?
Maybe if the system automatically emailed people it would be a problem, but what's wrong with having internal messaging? People don't HAVE to look at it, and it wouldn't have to involve their email at all.
posted by thirteenkiller at 2:46 PM on August 8, 2006
Maybe if the system automatically emailed people it would be a problem, but what's wrong with having internal messaging? People don't HAVE to look at it, and it wouldn't have to involve their email at all.
posted by thirteenkiller at 2:46 PM on August 8, 2006
As someone who gets paged... and usually by utter pricks... to participate in different threads in order to provide some viewpoint to be shouted down, I vote no for this crap.
While I think it could be a very useful thing in many circumstances, I suspect the likelihood of abuse is significant. As has been said, e-mail exists for the purpose sought. And the nice thing about e-mail is that, for the most part, people aren't assholes in e-mail. The "alert user X to this thread" button would be easier to be an asshole through.
I was going to ask a dog question, and I really was interested in what Biscotti had to say about it. But since I was really just interested in what Biscotti had to say, I just sent an e-mail instead of posting an AskMe question.
posted by dios at 2:50 PM on August 8, 2006
While I think it could be a very useful thing in many circumstances, I suspect the likelihood of abuse is significant. As has been said, e-mail exists for the purpose sought. And the nice thing about e-mail is that, for the most part, people aren't assholes in e-mail. The "alert user X to this thread" button would be easier to be an asshole through.
I was going to ask a dog question, and I really was interested in what Biscotti had to say about it. But since I was really just interested in what Biscotti had to say, I just sent an e-mail instead of posting an AskMe question.
posted by dios at 2:50 PM on August 8, 2006
How about we all agree to use the paging_$username tag, and then subscribe to our own paging tag RSS feed? Note: no one ever pages me.
posted by Plutor at 2:50 PM on August 8, 2006 [2 favorites]
posted by Plutor at 2:50 PM on August 8, 2006 [2 favorites]
Just so that the next time they logged in, they could see that they had been paged. - jjg
As long as it isn't dependant on logging out & in again. Since there's no time-out auto-logout feature/bug for MeFi there's a good cahnce some people are permanently logged in.
posted by raedyn at 2:52 PM on August 8, 2006
As long as it isn't dependant on logging out & in again. Since there's no time-out auto-logout feature/bug for MeFi there's a good cahnce some people are permanently logged in.
posted by raedyn at 2:52 PM on August 8, 2006
We talked about this previously. One of the issues brought up was that it puts the medical, legal, etc. folks in an awkward position. If someone "pages" a doctor to an AskMe thread, and that doctor doesn't respond, does that make him liable, etc.
On top of that.... I'm here because I want to be, not because other people want me to be. Paging sounds like an incredibly annoying feature.
posted by occhiblu at 2:56 PM on August 8, 2006
On top of that.... I'm here because I want to be, not because other people want me to be. Paging sounds like an incredibly annoying feature.
posted by occhiblu at 2:56 PM on August 8, 2006
We talked about this previously. One of the issues brought up was that it puts the medical, legal, etc. folks in an awkward position. If someone "pages" a doctor to an AskMe thread, and that doctor doesn't respond, does that make him liable, etc.
There certainly isn't any liabilty issue. Although you do present a nice thought that I hadn't considered. It is ethically precarious to give advice over the interent if you are a professional. And given the frequency of legal and medical questions, it would be both annoying and ackward if everytime there is a medical question ikkuy2 was paged. Or monju_bosatsu for a legal question. Because everyone has those kinds of questions, but they want free advice from professionals who shouldn't be giving advice.
posted by dios at 3:00 PM on August 8, 2006
There certainly isn't any liabilty issue. Although you do present a nice thought that I hadn't considered. It is ethically precarious to give advice over the interent if you are a professional. And given the frequency of legal and medical questions, it would be both annoying and ackward if everytime there is a medical question ikkuy2 was paged. Or monju_bosatsu for a legal question. Because everyone has those kinds of questions, but they want free advice from professionals who shouldn't be giving advice.
posted by dios at 3:00 PM on August 8, 2006
How about we all agree to use the paging_$username tag, and then subscribe to our own paging tag RSS feed?
This seems like a really clever solution. Of course, I wouldn't know how to subscribe to an RSS feed (or what to do with my subscription once I had it) if you held a gun to me head, but still, it sounds all neat-o and stuff.
posted by dersins at 3:01 PM on August 8, 2006
This seems like a really clever solution. Of course, I wouldn't know how to subscribe to an RSS feed (or what to do with my subscription once I had it) if you held a gun to me head, but still, it sounds all neat-o and stuff.
posted by dersins at 3:01 PM on August 8, 2006
heh. dersins and I are in the same boat. I don't even know what RSS stands for, and what all of the rest of you feed it.
posted by scody at 3:05 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by scody at 3:05 PM on August 8, 2006
ikkyu2's point in the previous thread seemed to be that if he chooses when and if he responds to threads, then he's probably OK. If he or another doctor became the de facto medical advisors to the site (that is, people continually asked *that doctor* for advice, as opposed to really just asking the community), then liability might shift a bit. At least in the eyes of malpractice-suit lawyers.
But yes, more immediately than that: Annoying.
posted by occhiblu at 3:05 PM on August 8, 2006
But yes, more immediately than that: Annoying.
posted by occhiblu at 3:05 PM on August 8, 2006
This sounds awesome. Also, incredibly depressing. "I got... oh, no. No pages. Gonna go refresh my inbox now."
posted by sugarfish at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by sugarfish at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2006
it would be both annoying and ackward if everytime there is a medical question ikkuy2 was paged
Offtopic, and he seems to have removed it from his profile, but a few days ago ikkyu2 had a note there explaining that he wouldn't be doing any more AskMe medical stuff, basically because on the internet, no one knows you're a neurologist. A totally understandable position (I also thought I sensed that he was a bit dissapointed by how his last MeFi post on a macroeconomics paper turned out). His departure would be a big loss for the community, regardless of the medical stuff, so if you see him around, suck up to him.
posted by gsteff at 3:21 PM on August 8, 2006
Offtopic, and he seems to have removed it from his profile, but a few days ago ikkyu2 had a note there explaining that he wouldn't be doing any more AskMe medical stuff, basically because on the internet, no one knows you're a neurologist. A totally understandable position (I also thought I sensed that he was a bit dissapointed by how his last MeFi post on a macroeconomics paper turned out). His departure would be a big loss for the community, regardless of the medical stuff, so if you see him around, suck up to him.
posted by gsteff at 3:21 PM on August 8, 2006
For those that don't like the paging idea, just have it be an opt-out option in our preferences. Then, if someone pages you and you have paging disabled, the sender just gets a 'not available' or something.
I think it's a pretty neat idea, but then, I also would never get paged.
posted by quin at 3:23 PM on August 8, 2006
I think it's a pretty neat idea, but then, I also would never get paged.
posted by quin at 3:23 PM on August 8, 2006
IANASU
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:24 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:24 PM on August 8, 2006
Um but man a person could really abuse this paging thing. What if I page dersins to every thread on the front page?
Then dersins would flag you for abuse and Matt would give you a timeout for being a dick?
posted by EarBucket at 3:32 PM on August 8, 2006
Then dersins would flag you for abuse and Matt would give you a timeout for being a dick?
posted by EarBucket at 3:32 PM on August 8, 2006
"For those that don't like the paging idea, just have it be an opt-out option in our preferences."
You mean like by not having an e-mail in your profile? I thought about suggesting this, and then it seemed like we were back at e-mail again, with the entire paging system being superfluous. I don't know how it is for dios, but I imagine his baiting comes from a set group of users he could block.
I like Plutor's suggestion, but how do I page him to someone else's askme? Matt could build a crude RSS feed into one's profile page, so that it would display anything tagged with $paging_username.
posted by Eideteker at 3:40 PM on August 8, 2006
You mean like by not having an e-mail in your profile? I thought about suggesting this, and then it seemed like we were back at e-mail again, with the entire paging system being superfluous. I don't know how it is for dios, but I imagine his baiting comes from a set group of users he could block.
I like Plutor's suggestion, but how do I page him to someone else's askme? Matt could build a crude RSS feed into one's profile page, so that it would display anything tagged with $paging_username.
posted by Eideteker at 3:40 PM on August 8, 2006
jonmc writes "Languagehat and jonmc get paged in AskMe _all_ the time.
"I do? News to me."
Well, you've got some catching up to do, then.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:00 PM on August 8, 2006
"I do? News to me."
Well, you've got some catching up to do, then.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:00 PM on August 8, 2006
I don't want to get email about threads, or send email about threads. I just want, when I come to this site, something on the page that says "Hey, somebody thought you should check out this thread." Recommendations, rather than obligations.
posted by jjg at 4:02 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by jjg at 4:02 PM on August 8, 2006
This is getting ridiculous. It would take way too much work to implement and maintain this "paging" system, and hardly anyone would use it. It's gimmicky and inefficient.
I think an internal messaging system would be cool, though. Also the ability to change passwords.
posted by thirteenkiller at 4:03 PM on August 8, 2006
I think an internal messaging system would be cool, though. Also the ability to change passwords.
posted by thirteenkiller at 4:03 PM on August 8, 2006
I thought about suggesting this, and then it seemed like we were back at e-mail again, with the entire paging system being superfluous.
It is an *internal* message system. There would be no emails, only a small indicator in the upper right, like my mockup, showing you how many unread messages you have. You could read them, ignore them, save them, respond to them, whatever. It's pretty minor if you ask me.
It sounds like I would have to add the ability to block people that bother you if/when it became a problem for some users.
This would be a general internal messaging system, not tied to posts you've made or anything. Just a way to contact people privately.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:03 PM on August 8, 2006
It is an *internal* message system. There would be no emails, only a small indicator in the upper right, like my mockup, showing you how many unread messages you have. You could read them, ignore them, save them, respond to them, whatever. It's pretty minor if you ask me.
It sounds like I would have to add the ability to block people that bother you if/when it became a problem for some users.
This would be a general internal messaging system, not tied to posts you've made or anything. Just a way to contact people privately.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:03 PM on August 8, 2006
Well, you've got some catching up to do, then.
"Your search - "paging dersins" - did not match any documents."
Sigh. Story of my life.
posted by dersins at 4:09 PM on August 8, 2006
"Your search - "paging dersins" - did not match any documents."
Sigh. Story of my life.
posted by dersins at 4:09 PM on August 8, 2006
There would be no emails, only a small indicator in the upper right, like my mockup, showing you how many unread messages you have. You could read them, ignore them, save them, respond to them, whatever.
Yes. Which is... how my email system works, too.
I would prefer not to have this. If it does get instituted, I would like a way not only to block users but also to turn it off completely.
posted by occhiblu at 4:12 PM on August 8, 2006
Yes. Which is... how my email system works, too.
I would prefer not to have this. If it does get instituted, I would like a way not only to block users but also to turn it off completely.
posted by occhiblu at 4:12 PM on August 8, 2006
paging dersins
posted by persona non grata at 4:14 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by persona non grata at 4:14 PM on August 8, 2006
It is so simple! Maintain a gmail account in your screen name, and then never check it. Makes you seem like a nice friendly person without the bother of actually being one.
Is anyone still here, or did all that talk of carets send everyone to MetaChat?
posted by Cranberry at 4:17 PM on August 8, 2006
Is anyone still here, or did all that talk of carets send everyone to MetaChat?
posted by Cranberry at 4:17 PM on August 8, 2006
Maybe would could add a "Wins the thread!" to the flag options, too.
posted by Cyrano at 4:51 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by Cyrano at 4:51 PM on August 8, 2006
And for balance there should be a "fuck off you pasty-assed git, your myopic twattery is not required in this thread" message as well.
posted by peacay at 5:40 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by peacay at 5:40 PM on August 8, 2006
I powerfully vote for Plutor's suggestion. This way the option is there for anyone who is interested.
Maybe at most have the system twig on paging_$username tags and put a little message somewhere near the "there have been..." and Bob's your internal messanging system.
Otherwise it does sound kind of like reinventing email.
posted by Skorgu at 7:09 PM on August 8, 2006
Maybe at most have the system twig on paging_$username tags and put a little message somewhere near the "there have been..." and Bob's your internal messanging system.
Otherwise it does sound kind of like reinventing email.
posted by Skorgu at 7:09 PM on August 8, 2006
FlamingBore writes "Can I just say that I love the power implied on that screenshot? I want delete/edit/close thread buttons! "
You probably paid just the five bucks then, eh?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:24 PM on August 8, 2006 [11 favorites]
You probably paid just the five bucks then, eh?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:24 PM on August 8, 2006 [11 favorites]
We already have each users lat/long (down to the inch in some cases) if you really need to talk to them, go to their house and knock on the door. (see earlier thread about stalking MeFites via google maps mashups). If you do, you'll probably want to take a few dozen five year olds with you for self defense.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:36 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by blue_beetle at 7:36 PM on August 8, 2006
For the most part, I think occhiblu is right about this. Encouraging users to list an email address would be just as useful.
posted by Chuckles at 7:48 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by Chuckles at 7:48 PM on August 8, 2006
As far as I've seen, most of the doctors and lawyers are smart enough to note "I AM NOT YOUR DOCTOR/LAWYER" when they offer advice. I don't think this woudl open them to liability anyway.
But of course, I AM NOT A LAWYER.
posted by padraigin at 9:22 PM on August 8, 2006
But of course, I AM NOT A LAWYER.
posted by padraigin at 9:22 PM on August 8, 2006
The classic thread about professional responsibility is here. Worth reading!
posted by Chuckles at 10:47 PM on August 8, 2006
posted by Chuckles at 10:47 PM on August 8, 2006
I'd worry about people paging "their gang" to pile on in controversial or politically-charged threads, and especially in callouts. (Here's an example where I get set upon by several users in quick succession; it's pretty clear some behind the scenes communication is going on, and an examination of "user x links to" makes clear there's an existing relationship among those called to the thread.)
I think 'filter is more "real" when gangs of friends or ideological allies don't coordinate pile-ons. Those paged to join in probably feel uncomfortable hearing that "now it's our best chance to take down ortho/dios/alex reynolds/whomever" -- and if they don't, they should. Participate in a pile on if you want -- that's fine -- but use your own voice, tell us your own opinion; if your own voice isn't compelling enough, organizing a posse isn't more convincing.
That said, I'd like to be alerted to any askMefi about SQL, and whenever I see a linguistics question, I think "languagehat should answer that".
posted by orthogonality at 12:21 AM on August 9, 2006
I think 'filter is more "real" when gangs of friends or ideological allies don't coordinate pile-ons. Those paged to join in probably feel uncomfortable hearing that "now it's our best chance to take down ortho/dios/alex reynolds/whomever" -- and if they don't, they should. Participate in a pile on if you want -- that's fine -- but use your own voice, tell us your own opinion; if your own voice isn't compelling enough, organizing a posse isn't more convincing.
That said, I'd like to be alerted to any askMefi about SQL, and whenever I see a linguistics question, I think "languagehat should answer that".
posted by orthogonality at 12:21 AM on August 9, 2006
Afroblanco would like to be alerted whenever someone says "That said."
posted by Eideteker at 12:31 AM on August 9, 2006
posted by Eideteker at 12:31 AM on August 9, 2006
This would be a general internal messaging system, not tied to posts you've made or anything. Just a way to contact people privately.
I think that would be just great.
I see your point, though, orthogonality, but I reckon the usefulness would outweigh the occasional bit of piling on. And it might well cut down on derails, too.
posted by jack_mo at 2:02 AM on August 9, 2006
I think that would be just great.
I see your point, though, orthogonality, but I reckon the usefulness would outweigh the occasional bit of piling on. And it might well cut down on derails, too.
posted by jack_mo at 2:02 AM on August 9, 2006
goodnewsfortheinsane, your Pro Membership will be revoked as a result of showing that screenshot to the plebs.
it's awesome, by the way
posted by swordfishtrombones at 3:29 AM on August 9, 2006
it's awesome, by the way
posted by swordfishtrombones at 3:29 AM on August 9, 2006
I would use this if it were implemented.
*stares at upper-right-hand corner of main page anxiously*
posted by exlotuseater at 4:07 AM on August 9, 2006
*stares at upper-right-hand corner of main page anxiously*
posted by exlotuseater at 4:07 AM on August 9, 2006
ortho, if you're so good at playing 'Encyclopedia Brown, Junior Detective,' how'd you miss the posting-for-a-friend thing?
There was no coordination to that pile-on; it was simply linked in IRC and everyone decided on their own that you were being creepy and weird. That said, people who want to coordinate a pile-on don't need a paging system to do it.
posted by thirteenkiller at 4:41 AM on August 9, 2006
There was no coordination to that pile-on; it was simply linked in IRC and everyone decided on their own that you were being creepy and weird. That said, people who want to coordinate a pile-on don't need a paging system to do it.
posted by thirteenkiller at 4:41 AM on August 9, 2006
Encouraging users to list an email address would be just as useful.
I've got Gmail invites! Anybody interested?
Anybody?
Hello?
/sound of crickets chirping/
posted by grateful at 5:06 AM on August 9, 2006
I've got Gmail invites! Anybody interested?
Anybody?
Hello?
/sound of crickets chirping/
posted by grateful at 5:06 AM on August 9, 2006
OK, that's it—I'm pagin' my gang, you page your gang, there's gonna be a throwdown in the Gray!
posted by languagehat at 5:46 AM on August 9, 2006
posted by languagehat at 5:46 AM on August 9, 2006
Messaging? Yes, please.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:48 AM on August 9, 2006
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:48 AM on August 9, 2006
Hey, how 'bout an internal massage system?
posted by thirteenkiller at 5:56 AM on August 9, 2006
posted by thirteenkiller at 5:56 AM on August 9, 2006
"Hey, how 'bout an internal massage system?"
This internal massage system, it vibrates?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:56 AM on August 9, 2006
This internal massage system, it vibrates?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:56 AM on August 9, 2006
There was no coordination to that pile-on; it was simply linked in IRC
Oh c'mon. IRC is exactly the behind the scenes communication ortho is speaking of.
posted by smackfu at 8:15 AM on August 9, 2006
Oh c'mon. IRC is exactly the behind the scenes communication ortho is speaking of.
posted by smackfu at 8:15 AM on August 9, 2006
Oh c'mon. IRC is exactly the behind the scenes communication ortho is speaking of.
Indeed yes, as I said. He's just wrong in assuming that was some sort of coordinated attack rather than friends sharing an interesting link.
posted by thirteenkiller at 8:17 AM on August 9, 2006
Indeed yes, as I said. He's just wrong in assuming that was some sort of coordinated attack rather than friends sharing an interesting link.
posted by thirteenkiller at 8:17 AM on August 9, 2006
There was no way you could call that attack "coordinated." Nothing matched at all. Even individually, the outfits were atrocious! Yesterday's second-hand fashion faux pas, at best.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:48 AM on August 9, 2006
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:48 AM on August 9, 2006
I dunno, IRFH, it looks to me like they were all dressed in yellow. Well, goldenrod. Whatever.
posted by dersins at 12:49 PM on August 9, 2006
posted by dersins at 12:49 PM on August 9, 2006
"You probably paid just the five bucks then, eh?"
There is no cabal.
posted by graventy at 7:41 PM on August 9, 2006
There is no cabal.
posted by graventy at 7:41 PM on August 9, 2006
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Oh, what's that you say, some users don't list their email in their profiles?
Well, maybe they don't want to be paged.
posted by dersins at 11:25 AM on August 8, 2006