Why was my post deleted?

November 16, 2006 8:44 PM

I asked this question:

http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/51098

Why was the post deleted? It doesn't fall under any of the reasons for deletion given in the FAQ. The question isn't offensive or stupid - though I don't actually think that having either of these qualities neccessarily gets other questions tossed from Metafilter.

The reason given for the post deletion is this:

HYPOTHETICAL FILTER WTFFF

Are hypothetical questions not allowed? I find that really hard to believe.

So, with all due respect to the administrators of my absolute all-time favorite website, I ask - as you did: WTF?

thanks
posted by soulbarn to Etiquette/Policy at 8:44 PM (7 comments total)

You took up too much of the front page! Geesh!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:46 PM on November 16, 2006 [1 favorite]

(I'm referring to this post, of course, not the AskMeta question)
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:46 PM on November 16, 2006 [1 favorite]

I predict that this will also go well.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:46 PM on November 16, 2006

Check the FAQ more carefully. It's right there.

Open ended unanswerable hypothetical questions like "What if Hitler had never been born?"
posted by cortex at 8:49 PM on November 16, 2006

My Ask Metafilter question was removed as chatfilter. What does that mean?

If you want to avoid having your question flagged and possibly removed, here are some things to avoid.
...
- Open ended unanswerable hypothetical questions like "What if Hitler had never been born?"

Please check out the faq. We're trying to keep Ask MeFi useful and focused on solving people's real problems, not a place for idle curiosities we can chat about all day without any closure.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:49 PM on November 16, 2006

from the FAQ: Open ended unanswerable hypothetical questions like "What if Hitler had never been born?" Sometimes we'll allow semi-hypothetical science questions but this one was just "What do you guys think about my hypothetical disaster." There's no right answer and no way to claim any answer is better than any other.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:50 PM on November 16, 2006

My question wasn't open ended. It was a technical question, and I think by the answers one can see that it was nothing like a "what if Hitler had never been born" or "what if the dinosaurs had lived."

But that's a matter of opinion. I think it was a fun question. Again, look at some of the answers.

So I still say WTF, but I guess I also say "live and learn."

As for taking up too much of the front page, sorry. I was going by the way ask.metafilter customarily handles posts. My wrists have now been appropriately slapped, and I am feeling mild, though bemused, remorse.
posted by soulbarn at 9:00 PM on November 16, 2006