Comments on: Brevity is the soul of. . . what again?

Brevity is the soul of. . . what again?

bardic — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:28:22 -0800

Flagging a post as "too long."

By: sergeant sandwich

sergeant sandwich — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:33:21 -0800

posting some kind of snarky comment along the lines of "huh?"

By: bardic

bardic — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:34:24 -0800

I've really liked the quality and framing of recent posts, so much so that the ones that needlessly take up half the front page bother me even more. Would it be possible to add a "flagging mark" for a post simply being too long? I usually mark it as "it breaks the guidelines," which I believe they do, but it might be nice to have something more specific in place. Lots of these posts are actually great, content-wise, but need to be trimmed. "It's too long" would indicate that the FPP has merit, but needs some pruning.

I guess the only downside would be more work for the mods, who might become thought of as de facto FPP editors (more often than they are now).

Anways, I think it would be a good idea and easy to implement. Also, I have 1) just eaten a bag of huge cocks, 2) realized my favorite band and/or community website sucks, 3) cleaned the sand out of my vagina. Tia!

By: dhammond

dhammond — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:36:36 -0800

I checked out all the examples you provided and I totally agree.

By: bardic

bardic — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:38:27 -0800

Calling out specific posts is so 2006. It's a brand new day!

By: Ethereal Bligh

Ethereal Bligh — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:44:52 -0800

"I checked out all the examples you provided and I totally agree."

That's funny. I checked out all his examples and I disagree completely.

By: cgc373

cgc373 — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:47:06 -0800

I disagree, too, but I will not tell you—any of you, so don't even ask—what I disagree with. Forget it, it's not gonna happen. I just frickin' disagree, and that's all there is to it.

By: shelleycat

shelleycat — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:48:06 -0800

I think the 'breaks the guidelines' flag is fine, or possibly the HTML/display error one when a long post just looks like arse. We can get pretty carried away making specific flags for everything otherwise.

I always assumed the flag was mainly to draw the mods attention to something, and they're smart enough to figure out what's wrong with the post once they see it.

By: puke & cry

puke & cry — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:52:19 -0800

I flag it as display error. I also flag blink tags on the front page that way.

By: Partial Law

Partial Law — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:54:18 -0800

Assuming you mean what I think you mean, I think "HTML/Display Error" effectively communicates one's belief that 11 italicized lines of text containing no links should be on the inside of a post.

By: Tuwa

Tuwa — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:55:05 -0800

In this case, brevity is the soul of opacity.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:56:26 -0800

display error works great for these but with too long FPPs there is really nothign we can do other than delete or edit both of which are terrible options in an otherwise decent post.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:57:40 -0800

A [more inside] feature would help solve the problem.

By: puke & cry

puke & cry — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:58:03 -0800

I figure you could just chop it and stick it inside. You know, like a sex change.

By: Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America

Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:58:33 -0800

Just flag everything you don't like as "noise." It's a workable alternative until we get our "shit" flag.

The whole flag/favorite system could probably be replaced with a little drop down with two options, actually: "shit" and "the shit."

By: bardic

bardic — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:58:38 -0800

I imagine that when a post starts getting flagged rapidly, the first impression for mods is that someone has posted Hitler's myspace page. If anything, between the "zomg this is great" and "zomg this goes to Stormfront.org" it would be handy to have something like "Hey little guy. You've got pluck and gumption, but you're harshing my mellow with unjustified verbosity is all. Stick around. We like you. We'll take a trip to the beach and fall in love all over again, eventually. Until then, hang in there."

Actually, that's the flag I want. Word-for-word.

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:59:10 -0800

If you do get around to adding entries in the "flag" list, could you also add "axe-grinding"? Right now I flag those as "noise" but it isn't really accurate.

By: cgc373

cgc373 — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:01:01 -0800

bardic, I'm sure you realize already that I disagree, because I said I disagreed above, but I really disagree about the beach thing. I hate beaches. And Beaches bugged the shit out of me, too. It got sand in my vagina, you might say.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:08:33 -0800

But why do you disagree cgc373? Tell me.

By: cgc373

cgc373 — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:11:45 -0800

Oh, why is completely different from what, vronsky. Why is easy. I disagree because I am contrarily inclined. I'm sort of declined, then, I guess. Or reclined. Stupid latinate English.

By: Meatbomb

Meatbomb — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:20:14 -0800

Flagging my penis as "too long".

By: psmith

psmith — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:28:13 -0800

*also flags meatbomb's penis on general principle*

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:28:23 -0800

More single link youtube posts! WOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!

By: bardic

bardic — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:32:48 -0800

Funny. I flog my penis when it gets too long.

Different strokes and all that.

By: Sangermaine

Sangermaine — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:33:27 -0800

I know it's been suggested many times before, but perhaps it really is time for a [more inside] feature on MeFi? jessamyn has said she opposes that because she fears it would lead to essay-length posts, so why not start off with a short trial period? Say, implement the [more inside] feature and see what sorts of effects it has on post length and quality and how it affects the site? Then at the end of the trial period, if the feature isn't causing any major problems or changes, you could extend it for a second trial period (since I think it would probably take a couple of months to notice any changes in posting trends). After that, if everything is still good, make it a permanent feature.

By: cgc373

cgc373 — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:36:22 -0800

Enough with the reasonable suggestions, Sangermaine. THIS IS METATALK!

Flag Meatbomb's penis or begone!

By: disclaimer

disclaimer — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:36:45 -0800

God DAMN it, it's a HUGE BAG OF COCKS, not a BAG OF HUGE COCKS.

Jesus. I need to take this shit less seriously.

By: lonefrontranger

lonefrontranger — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:56:30 -0800

any way to invoke a character limit on the FPP, that includes a [MI] link?

please note, i am not any form of script kiddie, so i'd have no idea if that's actually a reasonable assumption. it just seems like it'd be fairly simple to reduce the chance of war and peace sized postings.

that, and i want the fucking blink tag to DIE already. woo yay, it's my day to ask for pretty pretty ponies!

By: languagehat

languagehat — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:21:22 -0800

why not start off with a short trial period? Say, implement the [more inside] feature and see what sorts of effects it has on post length and quality and how it affects the site?

Makes sense, doesn't it?

*flags meatbomb's penis as double post*

By: vronsky

vronsky — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:54:32 -0800

* uses own extra long penis to hit the flag button to flag meatbomb's penis.

By: hermitosis

hermitosis — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 18:03:54 -0800

*flags penis as "Meatbomb"*

By: RussHy

RussHy — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 20:10:39 -0800

Max character counts before and after the jump should do the trick. Also, I repeat my request for a "Rampant douchebaggery" flag. Also, we need a "not snarky enough" flag for MetaTalk flameouts.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 20:21:26 -0800

Anything longer than 255 characters I flag as "breaks the guidelines".

EIGHT BITS 4 LIFE

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 20:52:40 -0800

I flag the fact that I have no penis.

By: lalex

lalex — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 20:52:48 -0800

*wishing she had an [extra long] penis to use for flagging vronsky's post about flagging meatbomb's post about flagging his penis.*

By: strawberryviagra

strawberryviagra — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 21:52:16 -0800

I'm late to this party. Someone will have to flagellate my penis.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:05:00 -0800

Wow, Metatalk is even dumber than usual lately.

Flag that, fuckos.

By: cgc373

cgc373 — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:03:16 -0800

Why so grumpy, stavros? We're flagging penises in here, man! It is the best of times!

By: Iron Rat

Iron Rat — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:09:28 -0800

You should not have cleaned the sand from your vag, just leave it there and pearls will form around it.
After a year you can harvest, drill, string and when someone complements you on them you can say you made it yourself.

By: strawberryviagra

strawberryviagra — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:41:10 -0800

Methinks Stavros is envious.

By: Meatbomb

Meatbomb — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 01:48:24 -0800

He's got nothing flagworthy, poor little guy.

By: taz

taz — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 04:01:41 -0800

flogging this post as Nacht der langen Penisse

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 04:25:06 -0800

My extra long penis is perfect for cleaning the sand out of those hard-to-reach places.

By: taz

taz — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 04:48:08 -0800

Ah yes, the swivel-head model. Handy.

By: carsonb

carsonb — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 09:40:52 -0800

*flags Meatbombs penis*

I hereby claim this territory in the name of Her Majesty, The Queen of Spain, and all tenants upon thee Her loyal subjects. Proof of fealty begins tomorrow at noon, BYO condom.

Onto the other topic in this thread, I wonder why we need a bauble that tells mods what they would know simply by looking at the front page. One can miss axe-grinding or a double post or a plain ol' shitty link unless every post is read carefully; a long post is obvious to anyone with eyes trained on the front page, literate or not. You don't even have to read the post to see it's too long. Then again, I am a Master of the Obvious and what is apparent to me is not always apparent to those who want more flags on Meatbomb's penis.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 11:18:09 -0800

Run it up the penis and see if anyone salutes.

By: misha

misha — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 11:42:17 -0800

Now I have penis flagging envy.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:12:33 -0800

* salutes karl's penis.

By: danb

danb — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 17:08:19 -0800

The whole flag/favorite system could probably be replaced with a little drop down with two options, actually: "shit" and "the shit."

Word choice aside, why not? Don't all of the flags do essentially the same thing (alert the mods to a post that needs attention)?

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 21:26:25 -0800

Usually the flags help us out a little bit in terms of how severe the problem is. "breaks the guidelines" gets pretty speedy attention as does HTML error and double post. The rest just help us see what might be wrong with a post and I don't know about the other folks, but I treat noise and derail and offensive and other as all about the same unless there are a whole lot of one of them. It also depends on whether what was flagged is a post or a comment. double post on a post gets quicker attention than double post on a comment. We could probably tighten it up some.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 22:52:00 -0800

* flags jessamyn's penis.

By: strawberryviagra

strawberryviagra — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 23:07:27 -0800

There's a "whopper" flag?

By: romakimmy

romakimmy — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 03:25:37 -0800

I'd like a 'Male Answer Syndrome' flag in AskMe myself.

By: NationalKato

NationalKato — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:16:21 -0800

Shit, my flag is only at half-mast this morning. *sigh*

By: uspommie

uspommie — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:31:44 -0800

what is the point of metatalk? is it just a kindergarten for children who think dirty words are funny?

By: strawberryviagra

strawberryviagra — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:53:58 -0800

What makes you say that, bumface?

By: smackfu

smackfu — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:56:41 -0800

Proof that more inside won't cause people to write more.

By: dg

dg — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:06:32 -0800

what is the point of metatalk?
If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand.

By: bethrossrn

bethrossrn — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:44:15 -0800

Is this really appropriate

By: strawberryviagra

strawberryviagra — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 05:05:33 -0800

Well, you wrote it.