My Friend's Dull Blog

June 6, 2007 9:00 AM

This is a one-link post to a photo-blog consisting of a painful flash interface, 32 (uninteresting) pictures of a guy's trip to japan and some exceedingly lame attempts at humorous commentary. Surprise! It's the poster's friend's blog! What's the policy on almost-self-links?
posted by The Bellman to etiquette/policy at 9:00 AM (77 comments total)

we should almost go after him with almost torches and almost pitchforks
posted by pyramid termite at 9:05 AM on June 6, 2007 [11 favorites]

Probably not too different from posting something from MeFi Projects, in abstract, but in practice this post ought to be deleted because of suckiness.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:06 AM on June 6, 2007

What's the policy on almost-self-links?
There isn't one, as far as I know. Otherwise I wouldn't have posted it.

Delete it. At this point, you'd be doing us all a favor. Jesus H. Christ, you people...
posted by 40 Watt at 9:07 AM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

I was kinda wondering if that ever happened. I mean, doubles, self-links, ok, but a lot of sucky posts just take their time and scroll by, untouched (I should know; I've posted two of them).

Do sucky posts actually get ripped from the blue?
posted by dreamsign at 9:07 AM on June 6, 2007

40 Watt, you've been around a long time- surely you knew this was a bad idea? I would think so, because if you hadn't known it was a bad idea, you probably would have said it was your friend's blog right off the bat.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:11 AM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

I think my sig other's blog would be tremendously popular on MeFi. It has all the makings:

- she's in Japan with me (MeFi hardcore Japan fetish)
- she's a librarian/lawyer specializing in intellectual property rights and information freedom (ZOMG MeFi fetish cluster)
- she's cute, and likes to knit characters from Katamari Damacy and Domo Kun. she also takes a good photo.

Now our best friend has a great blog that...
posted by dreamsign at 9:11 AM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

I've recently been told by an admin that posting about a friend's site is not OK.

As punishment, I suggest we boil him and that flash interface in oil.
posted by myeviltwin at 9:12 AM on June 6, 2007

Do sucky posts actually get ripped from the blue?

Far more sucktacular posts remain in the archives. Browse through many of my own posts for ample evidence.

Also, I thought those harshing on his photos was unfair. Of course, I only saw one because I couldn't get into the archives.
posted by GuyZero at 9:12 AM on June 6, 2007

Do sucky posts actually get ripped from the blue?

Yes, they do. From the blue, they get ripped out too.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:12 AM on June 6, 2007

40 Watt, you've been around a long time- surely you knew this was a bad idea? I would think so, because if you hadn't known it was a bad idea, you probably would have said it was your friend's blog right off the bat.

Didn't think about it, I guess. Maybe I take the posting guidelines too literally. If Mattjessamyncortex wants to delete it, fine.
posted by 40 Watt at 9:13 AM on June 6, 2007

I hope that your friend isn't discouraged by the reaction and keeps experimenting. However I have to agree that getting a MeFi account and posting to Projects would have been a better idea.
posted by gomichild at 9:18 AM on June 6, 2007

Deleted thread: 61799

This post was deleted for the following reason: No, Lisa, no!

LOL.
posted by dreamsign at 9:19 AM on June 6, 2007

“40 Watt, you've been around a long time- surely you knew this was a bad idea? I would think so, because if you hadn't known it was a bad idea, you probably would have said it was your friend's blog right off the bat.”

I totally disagree with this. Well, actually, as I try to choose my words, I realize I don't totally disagree with this.

I totally disagree with any contention that knowing the site author of a link is cause for anyone to object to a post.

I do agree that 40 Watt may have been aware that something was dubious, and that's because it's just not a very good post. It's not self-evidently such a bad post that everyone would immediately question it or that no one would defend it. But it's not good enough that a person posting it who knows the author would never stop to think, "hmm, maybe I'm mostly posting this because I know the other". I think 40 Watt had those doubts.

Nevertheless, I strongly agree with pyramid termite that the appropriate response is that we should almost go after him with almost torches and almost pitchforks.

On Preview:

“I've recently been told by an admin that posting about a friend's site is not OK.”

Really? That doesn't seem like a good idea to me. It's not very enforceable. It may lead to wannabe sleuths making MeTa callouts with painful cases trying to establish that "this guy knows this other guy". It's good advice to think twice about posting about a friend's site. But a rule? The self-link rule makes sense because it's a nice conjunction of a relatively easily enforceable rule, a strong case made against the likliehood of impartiality, and a strong case for the value of avoiding abusive and self-interested posts. In the case of a friend's site, it's not nearly as enforceable, the likelihood of impartiality is not hugely different than many other posts where the member may have some emotional investment, and members aren't going to be as motivated to abuse the site for the benefit of someone else's self-intetest. In short, a friend-link may seem similar to a self-link, but it has more in common with most other links than it does a self-link.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 9:28 AM on June 6, 2007

Whatever happens, I'm ecstatic to have been pointed at that deleted post blog. So thank you Burhanistan, and thank you 40 Watt for indirectly posting something wonderful.
posted by The Bellman at 9:29 AM on June 6, 2007

However I have to agree that getting a MeFi account and posting to Projects would have been a better idea.

I'll suggest that to him. I doubt he'd be interested.

I have to say I resent the implications that I posted this out of some sort of self-promotion or compensation on this guy's part. Like I said in the blue, I know this guy a little, but it's not like we're BFF or anything. Former co-worker from an old job, I liked his photos, asked him if I could post 'em up, end of story. He's not looking for promotion or anything, and in fact was somewhat skeptical about the post.

I really don't care if this gets axed- if people feel that strongly about it, I'm not personally invested in it beyond the FPP, so kill it and let's be done with it- or flag it and move on. Fair to say I'll never post anything from anyone of less than 3 degrees of separation in my LinkedIn profile ever again.
posted by 40 Watt at 9:30 AM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

thank you 40 Watt for indirectly posting something wonderful.

You're welcome.... I think.
posted by 40 Watt at 9:31 AM on June 6, 2007

Just postin' in the wind, eh?
posted by Burhanistan at 9:32 AM on June 6, 2007

Wavin' my dick in the wind, maybe.
posted by 40 Watt at 9:34 AM on June 6, 2007

I removed it, posting links to friends' sites is generally against the rules. We're not going to get all Blues Clues on you, but it's not strictly kosher, sort of for exactly this reason.
posted by jessamyn at 9:35 AM on June 6, 2007

I resent the implications that I posted this out of some sort of self-promotion or compensation on this guy's part

It's an objectivity thing.
posted by dreamsign at 9:37 AM on June 6, 2007

I thought the air tasted... salty.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:37 AM on June 6, 2007 [2 favorites]

Jinx, madam.
posted by cortex at 9:37 AM on June 6, 2007

Thanks, goodnight, you've been a wonderful crowd! Tip your admin on the way out...
posted by 40 Watt at 9:38 AM on June 6, 2007

In short, a friend-link may seem similar to a self-link, but it has more in common with most other links than it does a self-link.

The "don't link to friends' sites" is more of a guideline and less of a hard and fast rule. I've seen some good posts -- particularly from the archive as I've been backtagging -- where the OP knows the person they're linking to. However in many cases the fact that people know the band, web designer, artists or whatever, can affect their decision of what is a good post for MetaFilter. That is if they defend a site by saying "well it's my friend and I know he/she put a lot of work into it so fuck you guys for saying it sucks" (not saying you are doing this 40Watt) then we have the two data points that it's a friends post and it's not a very good post.

So, if people get all ornery about exposing every personal link to everything, that's no good, but if they say "I dont see why you posted this here, do you know the person or something?" that's decent. I can't imagine case where we'd remove an awesome post just because of a distant connection, but its possible we'd remove an decent seeming post if the person who posted it was good friends with the designer/creator/artist of the site. If it's your friend and they need exposure consider gifting them an acocunt and they can post it to Projects.
posted by jessamyn at 9:44 AM on June 6, 2007

I removed it, posting links to friends' sites is generally against the rules.

Complete the circle, jessamyn: let a friend whack him with the banhammer.
posted by felix betachat at 9:45 AM on June 6, 2007

At least no one had to call the cops to take care of this one.
posted by Greg Nog at 9:46 AM on June 6, 2007

remember folks: snark isn't that big a deal. unless you're snarking my posts. then you're all soulless bastards.
posted by shmegegge at 9:51 AM on June 6, 2007

Hey, quit stealing my lines.
posted by 40 Watt at 9:52 AM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

Nothing builds a community atmosphere better than forbidding members to talk about their friends.
posted by greasy_skillet at 9:59 AM on June 6, 2007

EVENTUALLY A DAY WILL COME WHEN THE FRONT PAGE IS BLANK AND EVERY POSTING GUIDELINE WILL HAVE BEEN FULLY MET AND METAFILTER WILL HAVE ACHIEVED FULL TILT BEST OF THE WEB REDORKULENCE.
posted by quonsar at 10:08 AM on June 6, 2007 [10 favorites]

Nothing builds a community atmosphere better than forbidding members to talk about their friends.

my friends can beat up your friends.

also, i think there has been plenty of "look at what my friend did" kind of posts on metafilter. the problem was this post was crap and people are trying to give a justification to their disgust at it.
posted by Stynxno at 10:09 AM on June 6, 2007

Aw, here's one with her knitting on the Shinkansen. Adorable. You guys are gonna love this.
posted by dreamsign at 10:10 AM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

Maybe I shoulda posted the LOLcats site he's been working on instead.
posted by 40 Watt at 10:15 AM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

Metafilter: Never post anything from anyone of less than 3 degrees of separation
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:27 AM on June 6, 2007

Move it and flag on.
posted by ORthey at 10:46 AM on June 6, 2007

"Aw, here's one with her knitting on the Shinkansen."

Better than shitting on the Kninkansen, I guess.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:51 AM on June 6, 2007

How many times do we have to say it?

"The only valid link worth posting is one found by typing random characters into the address bar of your browser. For more information, go here."
posted by blue_beetle at 11:42 AM on June 6, 2007

These callouts sometimes remind me of a pack of zombies honking and moaning in alarm when they realize one amongst them is not of the dead and they begin to shuffle hungrily towards the, soon-to-be, hamburger-ed bastard.

Call me easily amused and uninsulted by neat slide-y flash interfaces, but I fully enjoyed that site. I liked the photos, generic though they might be cos, ya see I don't care about the art of it so much I've never been to frickin' Japan, and I'm really curious about what the fuck it's like and that site provides an interesting and likeable sensibility. I enjoyed the vicarious thrill of it. Yes it's true. *hangs head in shame*. Golly, I hope this means I don't have to hand in my Mefi decoder ring.

That being said, I am so so so super duper mega disappointed in you 40 watt, cos knowing that you know that person wrecks the whole damned thing. I feel used. I might not come back to Metafilter for hell I don't know, one or two or three or one days because of this. All I have left to say to you 40 Watt at this point in this sad sad heartbreaking episode is:

BRAAAAIIIIINNNNNSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by Skygazer at 11:42 AM on June 6, 2007 [5 favorites]

Thanks, Skygazer... uh, "Brains" to you too, heh...

...hey, man, not so close.


OH DEAR GOD!!!

ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!
posted by 40 Watt at 11:58 AM on June 6, 2007 [2 favorites]

Skygazer, I'm going to need your decoder ring and your badge.
posted by cortex at 12:11 PM on June 6, 2007

We're not going to get all Blues Clues on you

I don't even know what this means, but it has fostered in me a debilitating terror of being gotten Blues Cluesed upon.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 12:27 PM on June 6, 2007

Blues Clues are either early signs of infection from an STD contracted from a Metafilter meetup, or she was referring to what can happen when several members start to put their IT forensics skills to use to track down self-linkers. That or it's some weird reference to a kid's TV show that I don't understand. Choose one, or two or whatever.
posted by Burhanistan at 12:52 PM on June 6, 2007

Well 40 Watt, I guess now someone can answer my question! Yay! So tell me, is that constant wacky preciousness that runs rampant through his comments a sign that your friend is somewhat annoying to hang out with in person? I guess since you're friends, that implies that it is probably funnier & more endearing in 3D.
posted by miss lynnster at 1:02 PM on June 6, 2007

i didn't think the site was as bad as everyone else did, and I'm rather glad I had no inclination to join in the shitfest, but I will say this:

I'm very glad that someone's random photo portfolio finally got kicked the fuck off the front page. thank you for that.
posted by shmegegge at 1:29 PM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

is that constant wacky preciousness that runs rampant through his comments a sign that your friend is somewhat annoying to hang out with in person?
posted by miss lynnster

His former acquaintance from a previous jobs is sooo gonna beat him up if the answers the wrong thing here, right after the response his photos got.
posted by micayetoca at 1:30 PM on June 6, 2007

BRAIIIIIINNNSS.
posted by 40 Watt at 1:33 PM on June 6, 2007

Now you're getting it!
posted by cortex at 1:35 PM on June 6, 2007

Today's callout was brought to you by BRAINS^TM

"BRAINS^TM, the almost meat!"
posted by blue_beetle at 1:54 PM on June 6, 2007 [4 favorites]

I'm just wondering if 40 Watt's friend's first language is English. The photo captions seem to imply that it isn't. Perhaps he's wittier in his native tongue.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:12 PM on June 6, 2007

Soy Shoes: it's faux meat for feet!
posted by cortex at 2:13 PM on June 6, 2007

you can get them at the Soy Shoe Shack: Where the Elite meet for faux meat feet treats.
posted by boo_radley at 2:30 PM on June 6, 2007

We're not going to get all Blues Clues on you
I don't even know what this means

To play Blue's Clues we gotta find a... (paw print!)
A paw print, right! And that's our first... (clue!)
A clue? (A clue!)
Then we put it in our... (notebook!)
Cause they're Blue's Clues, Blue's Clues!

Repeat as necessary. Then sit in a predesignated chair and ponder said clues. This method is particularly effective for determining that your dog would like to go on a picnic.
posted by jrossi4r at 2:32 PM on June 6, 2007 [3 favorites]

Cortex: I'm going to need your decoder ring and your badge.

You'll have to pry them out of my STD infected fingers.



OH..almost forgot:

BRAINS!
posted by Skygazer at 2:43 PM on June 6, 2007

You'll have to pry them out of my STD infected fingers.

Sound of one-hand clapping, grasshopper.
posted by cortex at 2:47 PM on June 6, 2007

Yes, you're all zombies because you don't understand ART.
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:53 PM on June 6, 2007

THIS MAN IS THE NEW HOKUSAI
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:55 PM on June 6, 2007

I totally disagree with any contention that knowing the site author of a link is cause for anyone to object to a post.

Yeah, it is, because it removes the objectivity needed to decide whether our fellow MeFites are likely to find it as interesting as we do. And the whole sleuth thing is a red herring, because the only reason one would be likely to do the sleuthing is because the post sucks (like this one).
posted by languagehat at 3:15 PM on June 6, 2007

I can smell your brains.
posted by loquacious at 5:13 PM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

Haven't the Jabbas even suggested having a friend post something that would be considered self-link if you did it yourself?
posted by The Deej at 5:49 PM on June 6, 2007

They would be "Hutts", I would think, rather than "Jabbas". Jabba was a dude, Hutt was his...species or something.
posted by Burhanistan at 5:51 PM on June 6, 2007

Having successfully drawn out the Star Wars geek, Deej opens fire with wet toilet paper balls.
posted by The Deej at 6:07 PM on June 6, 2007

I stare through your emptiness.
posted by Burhanistan at 6:08 PM on June 6, 2007

These callouts sometimes remind me of a pack of zombies honking and moaning in alarm

Honking zombies?
Were they bitten at clown college?
posted by dreamsign at 6:11 PM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

Zombie Geese. Very dangerous and quite delicious.
posted by Burhanistan at 6:12 PM on June 6, 2007

Did someone say something about brains?
posted by brain_drain at 6:13 PM on June 6, 2007

Why, yes.

My darling, I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you. I love you. For sentimental reasons. I hope you do believe me. I've given you my my my my my my. Given you my heart because I mmmmmmmm mmm you. And you alone were meant for me. Please give your loving heart to me. And say we'll never part.

I go poopy on your stoopy!
posted by breezeway at 6:49 PM on June 6, 2007

Actually, that's kind of great.

That's it; my blog is going all-zombie-clown.

Can one of you post it?
posted by dreamsign at 7:58 PM on June 6, 2007

Can't sleep. Zombie clowns will eat me.
posted by amyms at 8:01 PM on June 6, 2007

Honk if you love Brains.
posted by Skygazer at 8:21 PM on June 6, 2007

Honk!
posted by oddman at 10:37 PM on June 6, 2007

My cat's brains smell like catfood†.

I've had other members of Metafilter ask me to post something of theirs to the front page quite a few times over the years. Sometimes I've done it, if I thought it was SuperDuper, sometimes I haven't. So there.

† I do not have a cat.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:12 PM on June 6, 2007

stavrosthewonderchicken's breath smells like chicken feed
posted by amyms at 11:24 PM on June 6, 2007

Honky muthafuckas.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:18 AM on June 7, 2007

40 Watt, you've been around a long time- surely you knew this was a bad idea

What I find amusing is that early Metafilter, like 2-4 digit UIDs, 1999-2001, *everyone* was daisy-chaining each other's stuff most promiscuously. Then things changed. Around that time context became monetized. Causation or correlation?
posted by meehawl at 7:43 AM on June 7, 2007

Brains.
posted by 40 Watt at 10:08 AM on June 7, 2007

This foie gras, it vibrates?
posted by cog_nate at 12:56 PM on June 7, 2007

Metafilter: You soulless bastards.
posted by Many bubbles at 7:03 PM on June 7, 2007