Ear to the ground. January 24, 2007 9:50 PM   Subscribe

This is pretty cool.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese to MetaFilter-Related at 9:50 PM (85 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite

Yeah, that's kind of awesome.
posted by ikkyu2 at 9:55 PM on January 24, 2007


It's not only cool and awesome, it's also sweet.
posted by ColdChef at 10:01 PM on January 24, 2007


If you put your ear to the ground you can actually hear the roar of mefites bounding to their keyboards to reply in that thread.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:21 PM on January 24, 2007 [1 favorite]


Neato.
posted by eyeballkid at 10:23 PM on January 24, 2007


I damn near broke my neck trying to get to my keyboard.
posted by shmegegge at 10:27 PM on January 24, 2007


Are we going to have a MeTa post everytime asavage posts on AskMe? Cuz that's gonna get old.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 10:32 PM on January 24, 2007 [2 favorites]


Old is the new new.
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:49 PM on January 24, 2007 [1 favorite]


You're not getting your panties in a twist are you Bosasto?
posted by strawberryviagra at 10:50 PM on January 24, 2007


Chatfilter! Delete! Ban! Delete AND ban!
posted by Simon! at 10:52 PM on January 24, 2007


HYPOTHETICAL FILTER BANHAMMERTIME KTHXBYE


I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE KIDDING IN MY FUCKING LIFE DON'T YOU DARE
posted by loquacious at 11:08 PM on January 24, 2007


Are we going to have a MeTa post everytime asavage posts on AskMe? Cuz that's gonna get old.

I probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise, so I respectfully disagree with your opinion.
posted by loquacious at 11:11 PM on January 24, 2007


I feel kind of bad saying this, but I've never heard of Myth Busters except on metafilter, and only because of all the asavage worship.

When I saw that question, I wish he'd done a better job of describing what kind of myths he's looking for. From the context of the answers, it appears that these "myths" have to be things that can be scientifically disproven in a visually interesting way. So "manifest destiny" probably wouldn't work.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 11:18 PM on January 24, 2007


I agree with Monju. It's a neat AskMe, agreed, but these threads are getting kind of creepy.
posted by cribcage at 11:19 PM on January 24, 2007


I give him extra points and slack for picking up on the oft-repeated "MeFi's own Adam Savage" joke line that shows up here on MetaTalk whenever his name comes up. He's seen it and sees the humor in it and uses it accordingly.

My only hope is that if any of the discussed myths get tested on the show, this site and the user that suggested them gets some small mention. Even just in the credits would be cool.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:23 PM on January 24, 2007 [1 favorite]


mathowie: "I give him extra points and slack for picking up on the oft-repeated "MeFi's own Adam Savage" joke line that shows up here on MetaTalk whenever his name comes up. He's seen it and sees the humor in it and uses it accordingly."

Matt, I was just about to say the exact same thing. It's very cool.
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:27 PM on January 24, 2007


My only hope is that if any of the discussed myths get tested on the show, this site and the user that suggested them gets some small mention. Even just in the credits would be cool.

My thoughts also. It would minimize the "do my homework" vibe.
posted by justgary at 11:28 PM on January 24, 2007


And this is different from "Help me with my Homework"-filter how?

Aside from the fact that he's profiting from it and is a TeeVee guy.

I don't mean to be a curmudgeon, but the hypocrisy and geeky-celeb worship pass is a bit off.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:28 PM on January 24, 2007 [1 favorite]


The difference, Ufez, is that homework is something that needs to be one's own work to be valid, whereas people go to AskMe all the time to get ideas for work because business, in general, doesn't give a fuck where you get your ideas as long as they are good and not proprietary. While I've seen and been amused by the show a few times I'm not a particular fan but the objections here seem silly. It isn't hypothetical, it isn't chat, it is a very specific request and obviously of interest to fans of the show. As far as whether the MetaTalk thread is unnecessary, well, the bar on that one has gotten set pretty fucking low, now hasn't it?
posted by nanojath at 11:40 PM on January 24, 2007 [1 favorite]


Before I left for work there were three answers to this question. I tried to think of something to add but came up with nothing, and now, three hours later with 97 comments, it seems I exercised a lot of self-restraint.
posted by Brittanie at 11:43 PM on January 24, 2007


Shutup Savage haters! Lest ye be busted in the myth.
posted by strawberryviagra at 11:57 PM on January 24, 2007


I know everyone's psyched, but I wish more people had read what was already there before they posted the same ideas for the fifth time.
posted by booksandlibretti at 12:19 AM on January 25, 2007


Wait, I have a great idea for an answer to that question, so nobody steal it, all right? Does tracking with your ear to the ground really work?

What? Somebody said it already? Damn!
posted by antifuse at 1:49 AM on January 25, 2007


On the plus side for the repetitions, they work like votes in some sense. "Let's see: three ear-to-the-grounds, four stampedes, and five of those Back to the Future sequel questions. McFly ftw!"
posted by cgc373 at 2:02 AM on January 25, 2007


Let's be honest: everyone is just falling all over themselves to answer in the desperate hope that Mr. Savage will ask them to appear on an episode of Mythbusters, allowing them the opportunity to toe the ground, blush furiously, and stammer awkwardly whenever Kari is within ten yards.
posted by The God Complex at 2:20 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]


everyone is just falling all over themselves to answer

...meaning that the majority of answers are a waste of pixels. It's a cool question but it really looks like a 'type first and think later' going through the great majority of answers.
posted by peacay at 2:48 AM on January 25, 2007


What Ufez jones said.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:31 AM on January 25, 2007


I've got one: Is it true that the TV show Mythbusters uses something like the scientific method to test their theories - or do they just sort of put their ear to the ground?

I guess this means I'm never going to be on Mythbusters.

Good.

posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:31 AM on January 25, 2007


> And this is different from "Help me with my Homework"-filter how?

He's requesting the questions, not the answers.

> Aside from the fact that he's profiting from it and is a TeeVee guy.

That's fair. Adam, if you use my question, I want my cut: Unlimited airfare around the world, top-floor condos in nice parts of London and San Francisco, and rebroadcast residuals in cash. Have your guys talk with my guys.
posted by ardgedee at 3:47 AM on January 25, 2007


"From the context of the answers, it appears that these "myths" have to be things that can be scientifically disproven in a visually interesting way. So "manifest destiny" probably wouldn't work."

I was ready to raise a hue and cry, with much gnashing of teeth, pulling of hear, rending of breasts or whatever over this OMG ASAVAGE ONCE USED THIS TISSUE style thread, but this comment made me laugh. I thank you, sir or madame.

The tissue will be on eBay once the clearance comes through from my lawyers.
posted by Eideteker at 4:22 AM on January 25, 2007


by then the boogers will be all dried up and crusty.
posted by quonsar at 4:26 AM on January 25, 2007


Can I borrow that for flavor text in the auction, q? I think it'll be a real selling point.
posted by Eideteker at 5:00 AM on January 25, 2007


Ohh, that kind of used tissue.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 5:59 AM on January 25, 2007


It's a valid point that Ubez makes. He is just a guy doing research for his job. Lets not make a big fuss over it.
posted by wheelieman at 5:59 AM on January 25, 2007


This is pretty cool.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese

Yes. Yes, it is.
posted by tellurian at 6:17 AM on January 25, 2007


"and stammer awkwardly whenever Kari is within ten yards."

Man, thank God this MeTa is here, because I can't do this in the thread— I hate hate hate Kari and think the geek-splooge over her is completely retarded. I liked the other girl that used to be on the show; it seemed like she contributed to the actual work more than just wearing "wacky" hats. She just comes across as a total moron and seems to only exist as eye candy, and not very delicious eye candy at that.
It just really bugged me to see how many of those "ideas" in the thread were all about "And hey, we can have Kari dress up in some tight outfit!" If I wanted that type of retarded lad-mag shit, I'd watch Brainiac more.
posted by klangklangston at 7:46 AM on January 25, 2007 [3 favorites]


ardgedee wrote...
That's fair. Adam, if you use my question, I want my cut: Unlimited airfare around the world, top-floor condos in nice parts of London and San Francisco, and rebroadcast residuals in cash. Have your guys talk with my guys.

Actually, I wonder if Adam did check with the show's lawyers before posting that question. I'd hate to think we just created a thread of ideas that Mythbusters absolutely cannot use for legal reasons.
posted by tkolar at 8:15 AM on January 25, 2007


Why? They ask for, and use, user submitted content all the time.
posted by Dave Faris at 8:19 AM on January 25, 2007


I hate hate hate Kari and think the geek-splooge over her is completely retarded. I liked the other girl that used to be on the show; it seemed like she contributed to the actual work...
Right on... she could actually weld.
posted by exogenous at 8:21 AM on January 25, 2007


I mentioned the whole asavage-as-mefite thing to some friends last night, specifically the genuinely funny self-conscious use of "Mefi's own Adam Savage" in that question, and
- they thought it was cool that Adam is a member,
- were entertained by the Wild West prospect, and
- complained about the lack of Scottie. Sorry, Kari.
posted by cortex at 8:25 AM on January 25, 2007


If your geek-splooge is completely retarded, I definately think you should take it back for a full refund, especially if you paid per IQ point.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 8:28 AM on January 25, 2007


My only hope is that if any of the discussed myths get tested on the show, this site and the user that suggested them gets some small mention. Even just in the credits would be cool.

Don't hold your breath.
posted by fixedgear at 8:31 AM on January 25, 2007


Dave Faris wrote...
Why? They ask for, and use, user submitted content all the time.

Usually there's a disclaimer of some kind involved.
posted by tkolar at 8:34 AM on January 25, 2007


I keep reading Kari as Karl. I guess these Metafilter people sure do like German guys.
posted by ODiV at 8:34 AM on January 25, 2007


Oh, and thank god Mitheral came along, or we all would have gone to our graves not knowing that trains don't derail everytime they run over a drunk on the tracks.

Although to be fair, Mitheral is not the only person who appears to have missed the purpose of the thread....
posted by tkolar at 8:40 AM on January 25, 2007


> the genuinely funny self-conscious use of "Mefi's own Adam Savage"

It was a nice touch, although a voice in my head read it as, 'TV's Frank'.
posted by ardgedee at 9:17 AM on January 25, 2007


This is interesting to me because "MeFi's own Adam Savage" is my porn name.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:21 AM on January 25, 2007


Funny the web went from 'this is the new tv, media, whatever' to a place where medoicre but entertaining science shows crib ideas from. Somewhere some Wired editor is crying.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:30 AM on January 25, 2007


I'm just stoked that there is going to be a cowboy episode. Lots of good excuses to blow stuff up.

[And since they have already done a pirate ep, all we need is a ninja one for the trifecta]
posted by quin at 9:35 AM on January 25, 2007


I like the Mythbusters show and appreciate Adam's use of "Mefi's own" but the question or something about the question doesn't sit right with me.

Adam Savage asking a question on AskMeFi for his show while subtly mentioning his show in the title and question and the subsequent fawning over him is one of the best gorilla advertising efforts I have seen. Everybody else who self links or mentions their crap is shot down.

On the other hand, it is pretty cool that he participates here. Can you really hear trains coming if you put your ear to your gun?
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:57 AM on January 25, 2007


He's advertising for gorillas? Sweet, I'll take one.
posted by amro at 10:03 AM on January 25, 2007


As far as I'm concerned, anyone who's job regularly involves blowing shit up and filming it for my entertainment is welcome to ask for suggestions here.

In fact, what about the widespread myth that ribs exiting a cow rigged with dynamite can kill a man 50 yards away? It's a very very very common myth down this way, and I think it needs to be thoroughly investigated. Preferably in slow motion, with lots of playbacks from different angles.
posted by tkolar at 10:09 AM on January 25, 2007


JohnnyGunn, there's no subtlety—it's popular fact around here that there's a show called Mythbusters, that Adam is one of the cohosts, and that people around here know it.

Part of the difficulty with self-linking is the promotion of subjectively favored never-heard-of-it content. Given that Mythbusters is pretty goddam heard of, and that there's only the most threadbear, indirect possibility of promotion to be taken from that thread, I don't see this being comparable to the sort of self-linking we worry about.

It's a very very very common myth down this way, and I think it needs to be thoroughly investigated.

tkolar is absolutely right. It would be a crime not to stage, film, and broadcast this.
posted by cortex at 10:16 AM on January 25, 2007


JohnnyGunn, do you find this question objectionable?

Painting Question: can you help me find inspiration in the old west?

MeFi's own Roger Dodger here. I'm tasked with painting some "Old West" myths for a coffee table book. And I'm light in the idea department on this one. Now I've already painted a whole bunch of sharpshooting myths, and gunslinger myths, and they still want more! I'm asking the hive mind: are there any myths you can think of regarding cowboys or indians or anything to do with the old west. (cue black humor about the donner party etc.)

All suggestions taken seriously. Mostly.


It's a valid question. He's looking for ideas for his job. His username is asavage, we already know who he is. People use AskMetafilter like this all of the time, and he doesn't link to anything. He just says what it is for.
posted by Roger Dodger at 10:17 AM on January 25, 2007


I'm gonna agree with klangklangston.
posted by Totally Zanzibarin' Ya at 10:23 AM on January 25, 2007


Somebody needs to buy an account for Jamie, too.

Though I'll bet he'd answer more AskMe questions than he'd ask.
posted by briank at 10:47 AM on January 25, 2007


Kari Byron is totally sweet, her only job is to wear hats, and tight outfits, and get squeamish about meat. I is gonna ask mefis own asssavage to pass on a mefi account from me. Then when metasexup goes live I'll wow her with non-inlined photoshops of animals getting up to mischief in shenanigan trees.
posted by econous at 10:47 AM on January 25, 2007


It can't fail!
posted by econous at 10:48 AM on January 25, 2007


A few months ago I spent hours trying to figure out what happened to Scotti, and why they replaced her with Kari. I liked Scotti way more but in the end all I could figure out is that she left to do other things.

I think she's still way into that SRM (survival research m-something?) thing in SF where they blow shit up with robots once a month.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:58 AM on January 25, 2007


Kari Byron is the Rachael Ray of science.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:59 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]


Explosions! Yummo!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:01 AM on January 25, 2007


(Survival Research Labs)
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 11:06 AM on January 25, 2007


Kari Byron is the Rachael Ray of science.

I, for one, am totally okay with that.
posted by briank at 11:11 AM on January 25, 2007


Emeril Lagasse is the Joe Rogan of food.
posted by cortex at 11:12 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]


Man, can't people read before posting? If you took out all of the duplications of ideas that thread would be about a quarter of its current massive size. Mentioning the same idea for the fourth time doesn't really accomplish much other than show you have little self-control.
posted by Rhomboid at 11:18 AM on January 25, 2007


I feel kind of bad saying this, but I've never heard of Myth Busters except on metafilter, and only because of all the asavage worship.

When I saw that question, I wish he'd done a better job of describing what kind of myths he's looking for.

Isn't the idea behind AskMe that you have some expertise on the subject before you answer? If you've watched the show, you would know the type of things they do and wouldn't need a detailed description of what he's asking.

(To be fair, it looks like about half the responders in that thread never get deeper than the redheaded girl and the occasional explosions, so you at least practiced restraint from the posting frenzy.)
posted by joaquim at 11:34 AM on January 25, 2007


"Emeril Lagasse is the Joe Rogan of food."

I guess for you, taste is not a factor. BAM!!!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:34 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]


Kari Byron is the only reason two of my barbie loving neices watch the show. The idea that you can be a "girly-girl" woman and still be into science is a very welcome one.
posted by tkolar at 11:37 AM on January 25, 2007


tkolar writes "Mitheral is not the only person who appears to have missed the purpose of the thread"

I didn't miss the purpose though I suppose it could be claimed my comment was a derail. My comment was intended to show why some of the previous answers may not have been best for the show with taking the attitude: "Nay, nay, everyone knows foo. What were you raised in the Centre of the Universe or something?"

Matt and Jessamyn are free to delete that comment if it's been flagged to hell but I'm not going to feel bad about answering questions in AskMe.
posted by Mitheral at 11:40 AM on January 25, 2007


Rachel Ray is the David Irvine of vegetarianism.
posted by econous at 11:52 AM on January 25, 2007


Due to the lack of follow up I think the assumption that he was trolling for free ideas and probably won't give a shout out is a good one.

Also, in my one encounter with him he was not particularly freindly. He was in a bit of a hurry becuase they couldn't get the remote control snowplow working, but the rest of the crew was cool.
posted by Big_B at 12:30 PM on January 25, 2007


My 0.02:

I recently got into Mythbusters and it is a fun show to watch. I was aware that Adam posted on here sometimes and I always thought that was neat. I secretly wanted him to post a question like this one and when I saw it, I was pretty damn happy. I wish I had an old west myth to suggest.

The responses were pretty repetitive and it would've been better if people had taken the time to read the previous answers but it's not a big deal. Lack of feedback from him is kind of a let down but it has only been one day.

I guess I just don't understand the backlash.
posted by Diskeater at 1:57 PM on January 25, 2007


the oft-repeated "MeFi's own Adam Savage" joke line that shows up here on MetaTalk

FYI he started abbreviating it MFOAS a while ago.
posted by mattbucher at 2:08 PM on January 25, 2007


Maybe it's because my roommate's sister is mentally challenged and I have consciously struck the word from my vocabulary but I'm constantly amazed at how many otherwise erudite, sensitive Metafilter members throw "retarded" around like it isn't really, really mean.
posted by nathancaswell at 2:27 PM on January 25, 2007


Cortex, Roger Dodger, etc., First, I love explosions as much as the next guy. In fact probably more. A good fire is worth my time too. An exploding cow is something I would pay to see, PETA be damned. Second, I am not objecting to the question just the way it was phrased. Many people here ask questions work related. That is great. Also it is a fact that Adam is who he is and is well known for it. He can't change that. Nor would we want him to either I reckon. My unease is with the fact that because of his fame (?) he is by default self linking every time he asks about his job. I guess the only solution would be for him to ask questions about his work under a sock puppet.

I know this is a grey area and I have no firm opinion or solution, I was really just pointing it out. If it in any way hinders his ability or desire to stop posting or exploding things I withdraw the point altogether.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 2:46 PM on January 25, 2007


My unease is with the fact that because of his fame (?) he is by default self linking every time he asks about his job. I guess the only solution would be for him to ask questions about his work under a sock puppet.

I think that's reaching too far—it's essentially proposing a prohibition on mefites being popularly successful (or popularly successful people being mefites), but I see where you're coming from and agree that it occupies a strange grey area. Thanks for the clarification.
posted by cortex at 2:48 PM on January 25, 2007


My unease is with the fact that because of his fame (?) he is by default self linking every time he asks about his job.

No. Self-linking is not a metaphor, it's an actual URL inserted into a Metafilter post by the owner of that URL (or someone closely tied to it). To my knowledge, asavage has never put a link to Mythbusters in any of his posts or comments. "Linking" him to Mythbusters is natural and not against the spirit or letter of the rules here.
posted by mattbucher at 3:40 PM on January 25, 2007


what happened to Scotti, and why they replaced her with Kari.

They were both on the show at the same time for at least one season, as I recall, so it wasn't so much a replacement thing.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:56 PM on January 25, 2007


nathancaswell wrote...
Maybe it's because my roommate's sister is mentally challenged and I have consciously struck the word from my vocabulary but I'm constantly amazed at how many otherwise erudite, sensitive Metafilter members throw "retarded" around like it isn't really, really mean.

Alas, that battle has been lost. I try to let my friends know it I find it offensive, but society at large has grabbed the word and run away with it.
posted by tkolar at 4:34 PM on January 25, 2007


nathan, not sure if you were including me in your comment, but I did have that point in mind when I used the word in this thread.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 10:43 AM on January 26, 2007


No, and I wasn't trying to point anyone out in this thread in particular, it's just something finally reached critical posting mass. Unfortunately.
posted by nathancaswell at 10:55 AM on January 26, 2007


I'm surprised at the repetition-hatred over here. It seems like most AskMe posts get a lot of repetetive answers and it's not always because people want to OMG get in with the asker. It's just because people like giving their opinion, even if someone else has already given it. People are like that.

Also, I don't think it's a huge leap to assume that they'd be more interested in shooting myths for which a lot of interest had been indicated, other factors (filmability, science content, explosion probability) aside, so I think it's perfectly reasonable for people to indicate their enthusiasm for a particular idea that's already been posted. I know that's why I "seconded" some of the answers that had already been posted (and yes, I did read all the answers before mine).
posted by marginaliana at 11:27 AM on January 26, 2007


Retarded. Gay. Fatty. Nigger.

There are plenty of words that reflect more on the people who use them than on the people they are referring to.
posted by Dave Faris at 2:34 PM on January 26, 2007


"Fundy."
posted by cribcage at 4:01 PM on January 26, 2007


Hu-man.
posted by Catfry at 11:11 PM on January 26, 2007 [1 favorite]


I'm surprised at the repetition-hatred over here. It seems like most AskMe posts get a lot of repetetive answers and it's not always because people want to OMG get in with the asker.

This is true, except in MOST cases, people that repeat answers will say something like "I agree with so-and-so about X" or "I 2nd the suggestion for X" - in the ASavage thread, many of the dupes were of the "Here's a great idea that I totally thought up on my own: how about trackers that put their ear to the ground?"
posted by antifuse at 6:16 AM on January 29, 2007


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