WTF, quonsar? November 23, 2007 12:50 PM Subscribe

This account is disabled. What? When? Why?
posted by timeistight to MetaFilter-Related at 12:50 PM (462 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite

first I've heard of it, honestly, though I did see some heated back and forth in today's torture thread.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:55 PM on November 23, 2007

Apparently, he closed it himself. Log says 8:50 am, Pacific time. I haven't heard anything from him; don't know if Matt or Jess or anyone else has. In the hour previous, he posted this comment, which got some flags and some in-thread blowback, but all I can do is speculate as to whether that had anything to do with it or why.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:55 PM on November 23, 2007

And this innocuous comment is the last thing he posted.

No idea.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:56 PM on November 23, 2007

Huh. If you close your account can you open it again? I'm scared to click the link

free quonsar, from himself
posted by Rumple at 1:02 PM on November 23, 2007

Anyone who closes their own account can have us open it up again for them later assuming it wasn't one of those "quit before I get fired" sorts of deals which in this case it wasn't.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:04 PM on November 23, 2007

That "close your account" button has turned out to be a bad idea.
posted by koeselitz at 1:10 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

That "close your account" button has turned out to be a bad idea.

No, I'd say it's still a good idea, even though some users have used it in perhaps a time of heated debate. Behind the scenes, I get at least a couple requests a week from people wanting to close their accounts, pretty much steadily for the past 4 or 5 years. They're sometimes very annoyed that there isn't an option to do it automatically and after I found myself in the same situation (I joined Pounce and was annoyed with the daily emails of everything happening with no way of turning off my account), I decided to make it self-serve so people could bail when they wanted, without having to request/ask/yell/swear at me personally to get it closed.

If you click the link, you're sent to a page asking if you're really really sure and giving some details to warn people away from doing it unless they really want to, but still giving them the option. It's a powerful option, but an option nonetheless that serves a purpose.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:15 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

I disagree. Even in this case (which I'm pretty choked up about), I think it's better for quonsar to give himself a timeout than for him to provoke mathowie to do it like he used to do.

That being said, I hope he comes back soon.
posted by timeistight at 1:15 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

That "close your account" button has turned out to be a bad idea.

I can't really agree with that. Again, before that button came along, we had people (a) emailing to ask to have their account closed, (b) just walking away without any indication that they were leaving, and (c) failing to walk away when they intended to.

With the new system, most of (a) and some of (b) and (c) has been displaced by self-directed account closure.

I've heard from a couple people who've closed their accounts as a self-control measure—with the intention of walking away Right Now and coming back some time when/if they feel like they want to spend time being active on the site again.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:17 PM on November 23, 2007

So slow.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:18 PM on November 23, 2007

I was disagreeing with koeselitz; I agree with Matt and cortex: the button is good.
posted by timeistight at 1:18 PM on November 23, 2007

That "close your account" button has turned out to be a bad idea.

I'm not sure what the point of it is. Is it supposed to be a clever way of ridding the site of melodramatic people? Lots of websites provide a way for users to delete their accounts, of course, but I was under the impression that those are generally provided for two reasons: to get the provider to delete your data, if you don't want to use the site anymore and have privacy concerns, or to avoid email. Neither is relevant here, and I can't think of any other benefit that this feature provides, other than maybe protection against abuse if someone discovers your password.
posted by gsteff at 1:20 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

(b) just walking away without any indication that they were leaving

I guess that makes sense.
posted by gsteff at 1:21 PM on November 23, 2007

I'm not sure what the point of it is. Is it supposed to be a clever way of ridding the site of melodramatic people?

Yes. YES. Oh my word, yes.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:21 PM on November 23, 2007 [5 favorites]

It'd be cool if we could close and re-open our accounts ourselves. Totally pointless of course, but I'd do it all the time.
posted by puke & cry at 1:25 PM on November 23, 2007 [4 favorites]

I was under the impression that those are generally provided for two reasons: to get the provider to delete your data, if you don't want to use the site anymore and have privacy concerns, or to avoid email. Neither is relevant here

I agreed with you 8 years ago when I started the site and I used to email people wanting to "unsubscribe from metafilter" that they just need to stop using their account.

And yet, people kept asking and demanding and in the last year or so, the requests have turned from most often polite to most often highly annoyed. People doing it frequently mentioned how they could close or delete their accounts on every other site and they wanted the same thing from MetaFilter, so I built the feature so I don't have to have these back-and-forth arguments with people wanting out.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:26 PM on November 23, 2007

I'm sort of the opposite. People email me wanting to close their account and I spend a lot of time saying "are you SURE" etc, I don't know, just to be decent about it maybe with someone who is having a bad day. This set-up means people can take total responsibility for their decisions and we don't have to go back and forth on it forever or get hollered at about it. If they close their account it does remove them from MeFiMailability, and the scoail streams stuff but other than not being able to log in to post/comment, yeah not much changes.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:31 PM on November 23, 2007

MetaFilter truly is "more addictive than crack" for a lot of us. There are many reasons why someone might want to end their involvement with the site and the "Close Your Account" is just a mechanism to help them do so.
posted by timeistight at 1:31 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

WHAT
THE
FUCK
QUONSAR!?
posted by loquacious at 1:38 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

So is this what happens when you free quonsar?
posted by cgc373 at 1:38 PM on November 23, 2007

Maybe you should add a warning/confirmation, so people know that closing the account isn't easily reversible. I could see myself accidentally clicking it.
posted by theiconoclast31 at 1:39 PM on November 23, 2007

Did somebody waterboard him. DID THEY?
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:41 PM on November 23, 2007

It has one, theiconoclast31.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:42 PM on November 23, 2007

Did somebody waterboard him. DID THEY?

I peeboarded him. It's like waterboarding, but more yellow.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 1:43 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Well, interesting. I'm surprised - his comment was controversial, but the in-thread blow-back was quite mild, I thought. Certainly nothing like some of the other dustups he's been in around here. Maybe it was just enough, when added to whatever else is going on for quonsar.

I believe there is a warning/confirmation message for people attempt to close their account, theiconoclast31.
posted by never used baby shoes at 1:45 PM on November 23, 2007

yikes, I didn't see this coming. Well, I don't like it. No sir, I don't. Too many people left this week, I am going to develop a holiday phobia.
posted by madamjujujive at 1:45 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

i'm guessing that it was the accusing him of being a drunk that set him off.
posted by empath at 1:57 PM on November 23, 2007

I believe that comment was posted over two hours after he left, empath.
posted by never used baby shoes at 1:59 PM on November 23, 2007

Can I be the village idiot now? I've got the hat.
posted by Meatbomb at 2:00 PM on November 23, 2007 [5 favorites]

Hey, if you have Mefimail setup to to go directly to your email, and when you close your account, will Mefi members be able to reach you via Mefimail?

Also, should people the user has added as a contact be notified that they've closed their account? It would be nice, but I can imagine it spawning all sorts of Metatalk threads.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:02 PM on November 23, 2007

Too many people left this week,

Who else?
posted by dobbs at 2:03 PM on November 23, 2007

Quonsar is still lurking. I can smell him.
posted by brautigan at 2:04 PM on November 23, 2007 [5 favorites]

Also, should people the user has added as a contact be notified that they've closed their account? It would be nice, but I can imagine it spawning all sorts of Metatalk threads.

I don't want this (as someone who links to a lot of people). I don't even like that profiles mention that accounts are disabled, because it encourages Metatalk threads such as this. If someone closes their account to be dramatic, a Metatalk farewell thread just feeds into their drama, and if someone closes their account with the intent of never coming back, they're not going to see it, so why bother?

Who else?
I believe that references the account closings of Ethereal Bligh (and the account he opened after that, K M Ellis), vronksy, and jennydiski.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:10 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

Let's just enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts.
posted by Catfry at 2:10 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

I, and others, have noted the appeal of the BIG SHINY RED BUTTON (reference to Ren & Stimpy cartoon "Space Madness" and the "Delete Universe" button) on a weird psychological level. I wonder if, in the near future, instead of a few requests a week to delete accounts, you get nearly as many requests (just as impatient) to restore accounts.

There was also a suggestion to make the 'button' trigger a temporary disabling of the account, a time-out, at least the first time it's used. Of course, things like that, or a user-triggered Restore, will just make a dead-simple answer to a specific problem much more complicated and I'm sure matt and pb have better things to do, bigger ponies to breed. Such is the Law of Unintended Consequences. Or Truth and Consequences. Or Truth or Dare. ("I DARE you to push the BIG RED BUTTON") Whatever.

One more thought: maybe what pushed the q-man out the door was something the rest of us did not see; maybe messages via MeFiMail from who-knows-who about who-knows-what. I suspect (but can't confirm) that he may not have been as happy as many of us with that particular new feature at all, and if he got bothered by things via that source, he might have just decided this wasn't a place for him any longer... I AM just talking out of my ass; blame too much gassy food for Thanksgiving.
posted by wendell at 2:14 PM on November 23, 2007

I've been away for, like, an hour. WITHOUT resorting to pushing The Button.

And no one even noticed.

posted by The Deej at 2:22 PM on November 23, 2007

I imagine if quonsar was primarily unhappy with mefi mail he would have opted out of the feature rather than close his whole account.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:23 PM on November 23, 2007

I'm curious, Matt: does disabling an account then treat someone as logged out (and can never log in) or as someone logged in who just can't post. ie, if one closes their account, do they see ads and are their viewing preferences kept when they are on the site?
posted by dobbs at 2:24 PM on November 23, 2007

The hell? What happened to EB, vronsky, and jennydiski?
posted by puke & cry at 2:26 PM on November 23, 2007

Oh, and thanks TPS.
posted by dobbs at 2:26 PM on November 23, 2007

people who've closed their accounts as a self-control measure—with the intention of walking away Right Now and coming back some time when/if they feel like they want to spend time being active on the site again.

That's staggering. I'm extraordinarily addicted to Metafilter, but I can't even begin to imagine being this unable to control myself.

Come back q.

the account closings of Ethereal Bligh (and the account he opened after that, K M Ellis), vronksy, and jennydiski.

Holy crap. What did I miss??? Links pls?
posted by CunningLinguist at 2:29 PM on November 23, 2007

does disabling an account then treat someone as logged out (and can never log in) or as someone logged in who just can't post. ie, if one closes their account, do they see ads and are their viewing preferences kept when they are on the site?

I am fairly certain that you continue to see the site as a logged in user but can't post or comment. However the next time you log out you won't be able to log in again.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:30 PM on November 23, 2007

Yeah, I'm with puke & cry. Inquiring minds want to know.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:31 PM on November 23, 2007

You can read all about the other account closings in one of the two feminist threads. I forget which one. And if you weren't reading in the first place, this is your punishment for hating women.

Bwa ha ha.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:33 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

I reckon you should have to pay up again to get undisabled. I run a forum and the shenanigans when people want to flounce out are just tiring after a while. And then they want to come back, and then flounce again. Enough already. If you don't like it, don't come back. If you do like it, don't be a drama queen.

That said, I'd like a time-out button where I can ban myself from viewing Metafilter for a specified time so I can actually get something done. Not a public flounce, more a padlock on the fridge sort of thing.
posted by b33j at 2:33 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

The hell? What happened to EB, vronsky, and jennydiski?

It's a long and mostly pretty vague story. You can read this 1100+ comment thread where it all went down. The short of it is that vronsky is taking an indefinite hiatus for non-dramatic real life purposes, jennydiski didn't really say anything about leaving, and EB left and joined and left again because of a mix of unhappiness with the site and strong feelings about sexism on the site (as seen in the thread).
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:35 PM on November 23, 2007

That said, I'd like a time-out button where I can ban myself from viewing Metafilter for a specified time so I can actually get something done.

This is an awesome idea.
posted by dobbs at 2:36 PM on November 23, 2007 [4 favorites]

I reckon you should have to pay up again to get undisabled. I run a forum and the shenanigans when people want to flounce out are just tiring after a while. And then they want to come back, and then flounce again. Enough already. If you don't like it, don't come back. If you do like it, don't be a drama queen.

I'd draw the distinction between close-and-come-back as a single event and the sort of dramatic flouncing you're describing. I don't mind so much if someone closes their account without a big fuss and then decides later they'd like back in; but someone making a big fucking deal out of it, yeah, less likely to get sympathy, especially if it's a repeater.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:37 PM on November 23, 2007

vronsky is taking an indefinite hiatus for non-dramatic real life purposes

Glad to hear that, although he did prankishly announce his departure in the thread with the drama...
posted by wendell at 2:39 PM on November 23, 2007

Which was kind of annoying, yeah, but he dropped me a line to say all is well and he didn't mean it as a Fuck You to anyone.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:41 PM on November 23, 2007

*cries*
posted by konolia at 2:41 PM on November 23, 2007

the account closings of Ethereal Bligh (and the account he opened after that, K M Ellis)

Thank god.
posted by The Straightener at 2:44 PM on November 23, 2007

I'm sad to see everyone go.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 2:46 PM on November 23, 2007

I'm outta here too.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:46 PM on November 23, 2007

I'm back.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:46 PM on November 23, 2007 [14 favorites]

Something fishy is going on...
posted by Tube at 2:48 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

EB left because of the response he received in the feminist thread. He seemed fed up with some old-timers on the site, and with some of the rehashed ancient grudges. Too bad, really — he and I haven't always gotten along, but at heart he's a good guy and his leaving is a definite loss for the community.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:49 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

DON'T DO THAT, Astro Zombie! DON'T EVEN JOKE ABOUT IT. Who's gonna feed Astro Zombie 3 after you've gone? *shudders*
posted by wendell at 2:50 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Something fishy is going on...
Are you suggesting that, rather than leaving on their own, they've been eaten by jellyfish?!? Oh, you aren't? OK.
posted by wendell at 2:53 PM on November 23, 2007

*cries*
posted by konolia

Not me. I shove my emotions down into a sharp, stony point in my soul.
posted by The Deej at 2:55 PM on November 23, 2007

Quonsar and Metafilter are like people in some of the relationship AskMe's we get sometimes. You know, two people who go back a really long way and have been with eachother through some tough times, but the relationship is really fucked up and one person is an immature emotional vampire. You love 'em to death and have had great times but, really, it's better for both of you to cut off contact. The great times don't make up for the immature emotional vampirism.
posted by Justinian at 2:56 PM on November 23, 2007

... or a user-triggered Restore, will just make a dead-simple answer to a specific problem...

Hmm, I dunno. Wouldn't that defeat the point? User quits because of heated argument, user reads an inflammatory comment after having quit, user reactivates to carry on argument, user quits... lather, rinse, repeat.

And if you weren't reading in the first place, this is your punishment for hating women.

Not having to check your calendar to make sure that it's really 2007 and that you haven't been sucked back to the 56k era by some space-hole suck-hole is the punishment? What's the reward in this Bizarro world I seem to be stuck in?
posted by CKmtl at 2:59 PM on November 23, 2007

EB left and joined and left again because of a mix of unhappiness with the site and strong feelings about sexism on the site

Thanks for the laughs. I missed that completely.
posted by dobbs at 3:00 PM on November 23, 2007

> Something fishy is going on...

Quonsar left without his pants?
posted by ardgedee at 3:02 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Maybe he was just closing up the summer account for the winter, and moving into his winter home/sockpuppet. You don't want to stay in a drafty old account when the mercury starts to drop anyway!
posted by blue_beetle at 3:04 PM on November 23, 2007

Who's gonna feed Astro Zombie 3 after you've gone?

Er, I don't feed Astro Zombie 3, Wendell. My job is muhc more important than that.

I keep him from eating. If I didn't, we'd all be fucked.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:11 PM on November 23, 2007

mathowie: No, I'd say it's still a good idea, even though some users have used it in perhaps a time of heated debate. Behind the scenes, I get at least a couple requests a week from people wanting to close their accounts, pretty much steadily for the past 4 or 5 years. They're sometimes very annoyed that there isn't an option to do it automatically and after I found myself in the same situation (I joined Pounce and was annoyed with the daily emails of everything happening with no way of turning off my account), I decided to make it self-serve so people could bail when they wanted, without having to request/ask/yell/swear at me personally to get it closed.

Really, on consideration, I agree. That was really just a personal reaction, but the site is probably better with the option.

The only problem I can foresee with it (though I'm sure you've thought of this) is that it recently seems like enough people might start emailing you guys to turn their account back on that it might turn out to be a hassle. Maybe it's possible to set up an automated reactivation process, like people email something with "reactivate" in the subject from their email listed on their profile, and the account gets reactivated. (I don't know if this would even be needed. I mean, right now, you get probably less than four or five a week. I dunno.)

But while you're here and listening, so I don't have to start another thread about it: I was looking through my contacts last night, and I realized that I was still linked to jenleigh; but it doesn't seem to be possible to dislink from people whose accounts are disabled. Usually, there'd be "x is a contact (edit, remove)" links next to the username, but with disabled accounts, it just says "this account is disabled." Why? Can you make a button to let me do that?

If it's possible, it'd be very useful.
posted by koeselitz at 3:12 PM on November 23, 2007

Member calls community a bunch of whining shitbags, then leaves. Remind me why I should care?
posted by googly at 3:17 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

koeselitz, I think clicking this link should remove your contact to jenleigh:

http://www.metafilter.com/contribute/xfndelete.mefi?to_user=21579

If that doesn't work, try pasting it in your browsers address field.
posted by timeistight at 3:22 PM on November 23, 2007

Good. Riddance.
posted by vito90 at 3:26 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

.
posted by yhbc at 3:41 PM on November 23, 2007

Googly, I talked to him via email. He decided calling people whining....well, you know...wasn't what he wanted to be doing so he's taking a break.

Fair enough.
posted by konolia at 3:43 PM on November 23, 2007

...a break.

So he'll be back, I hope.
posted by timeistight at 3:50 PM on November 23, 2007

Thanks, konolia.
posted by yhbc at 3:54 PM on November 23, 2007

I see. Well, this calls for some redistribution of tasks. Meatbomb can be the snarky clown (good job on the hat - but have you got the fish?), delmoi will do the superverbose comments (just divide your commenting frequency by three and multiply the number of words in them by 27), and god darn it, it looks like I'm just gonna have to start writing for the London Review of Books.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:55 PM on November 23, 2007 [5 favorites]

It sucks when people leave like this. I hope Q hasn't fallen off the wagon. He is one of the very best things about mefi, but he has been up to his feisty old ways lately which has had me wondering. There is a reason people love this guy, and why Matt put up with what has at times been completely unacceptable behavior. Underneath it all seems to lie a heart of gold, not a "a black-hearted, withered-souled, middle-aged asshole." I anxiously await his return and pray for his well being.
posted by caddis at 4:01 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

My god, quonsar missed a joke. I think the End Times are near. (#)

A prescient comment.
posted by matthewr at 4:08 PM on November 23, 2007

Quonsar left us, but three hours later, he revealed that he would return to konolia, a true believer. We must wait for the second coming of quonsar.
posted by Krrrlson at 4:16 PM on November 23, 2007 [5 favorites]

Thanks, konolia.

From me as well. And q, if you're reading this, come back when you're ready. This ill-tempered anarchist misses you already.
posted by languagehat at 4:17 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Wow, that sexism thread is something else. Crazy. And that explains the sexism/racism flag I was wondering about.
posted by puke & cry at 4:19 PM on November 23, 2007

We have a bloody sexism/racism tag? Didn't we already have an "offensive somethingorother" tag?
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 4:22 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

I wish I could favorite vito90 a few more times.
posted by danb at 4:25 PM on November 23, 2007

There's an 1100 comment thread discussing (among other things) that very question, CF. We're trying something out.
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:26 PM on November 23, 2007

This ill-tempered anarchist is pissed off you left and happy you're gone.
posted by carsonb at 4:26 PM on November 23, 2007

EB left and joined and left again because of a mix of unhappiness with the site and strong feelings about sexism on the site

And because the use of the word "disabled" on profile pages is, like, totally messed up. What's with you people?
posted by dhammond at 4:31 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

and one person is an immature emotional vampire.

Matt does a lot for this community, you shouldn't talk about him that way.
posted by Falconetti at 4:42 PM on November 23, 2007 [4 favorites]

And to think, it wasn't that long ago that I was trying to bury him in a shallow grave in an effort to steal the title as MeFi's own 'lowercase q'.

This feels like a Pyhrric victory.

He'll be back.
posted by quin at 4:44 PM on November 23, 2007

stupid red button sucks more kidney than The Straightener.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 4:58 PM on November 23, 2007

Too many people left this week, I am going to develop a holiday phobia.

Come to think of it, these kind of incidents (and long emotional MeTa threads seem to increase around holiday time. I blame dysfunctional families and tryptophan.
posted by jonmc at 4:59 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

... just walking away ...

you won't see me follow you back home ...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:43 PM on November 23, 2007

i had a date with a fishy quonsarina
posted by pyramid termite at 5:55 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

his pants so scaly that it stung his fly...
posted by jonmc at 5:57 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

This ill-tempered anarchist misses you already.

This ill-tempered anarchist is pissed off you left and happy you're gone

He'll be back.

This well-tempered clavier doesn't particularly care if you never get Bach.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:58 PM on November 23, 2007

Or, hopes you get Bach. Take your pick.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:04 PM on November 23, 2007

but an ill-tempered clavier is hard to handel
posted by pyramid termite at 6:05 PM on November 23, 2007

Get Bach to where you once belonged.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:05 PM on November 23, 2007

Bach in the saddle again.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:05 PM on November 23, 2007

Yo-Yo Ma, I'm sure hard to Handel now yessiram!

Ba-ba-ba-ba-baaaaaaa
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-baaaaaa
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:08 PM on November 23, 2007

You don't want to be around a clavier that's not tempered well. My cat had it once; it was very painful.
posted by danb at 6:08 PM on November 23, 2007

debussy, debussy, what that woman's been doing to me
posted by pyramid termite at 6:09 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Now I want to hit the "Close Account" link on my profile. It's like a big red button that says "Do Not Press". It's just asking for it.
posted by Anonymous at 6:11 PM on November 23, 2007

Snape kills gay Dumbledore.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 6:11 PM on November 23, 2007

we bought a pack of minuets and mrs wagner's lieds
posted by pyramid termite at 6:14 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Ethereal Bligh was my favorite commenter, always digging to the core of things without worrying if people see him as a bore because of it. I cannot remember a thread where level of discussion went down because of him. Please come back.
posted by Free word order! at 6:16 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

These are good, pt. Keep 'em coming!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:16 PM on November 23, 2007

and waltzed off to look for america ...
posted by pyramid termite at 6:17 PM on November 23, 2007

It's like a big red button that says "Do Not Press". It's just asking for it.
(gotta use this one more time)
It's Cyberspa-a-a-ace Madness!!!

I laughed. I cried. I bought the tshirt.
posted by wendell at 6:20 PM on November 23, 2007

He is one of the very best things about mefi, but he has been up to his feisty old ways lately which has had me wondering. There is a reason people love this guy, and why Matt put up with what has at times been completely unacceptable behavior. Underneath it all seems to lie a heart of gold...

I'm just a noob around these parts (3 years yesterday), but the whole time I've been here, I've heard from the old-timers about how quonsar is such a witty, warmhearted, wonderful guy.

Thing is, all I have ever seen is someone whose primary contributions to the discourse are drive-by insults and random all-caps snarks, and who seems not to have the balls or integrity to back up said insults and snarks when he is challenged. His last MeFi comment was a perfect example: drop into the thread, throw down a spurious comment + unwarranted generic insult, and not even have the cojones to back it up when he's challenged. That, to me, doesn't spell "feisty but lovable grizzled veteran," it spells "cowardly troll."

So, quonsar, if you're reading this, and if you even give a shit: kudos to you for taking a break after calling one of the few thoughtful, polite communities on the internet a bunch of whining shitbags. But don't bother coming back until you've figured out what the fuck is wrong with you that you feel the need to call people shitbags for having the temerity to say that torture is bad, and don't even have the courage to defend that insult.
posted by googly at 6:21 PM on November 23, 2007 [17 favorites]

Quick! Back to the Classical Composer Puns Derail!

You're all on my Liszt.
posted by wendell at 6:25 PM on November 23, 2007

Men Who Come Bach and the Women Who Haydn From Them

On the Next Opera.
posted by wendell at 6:28 PM on November 23, 2007 [4 favorites]

kudos to you for taking a break after calling one of the few thoughtful, polite communities on the internet a bunch of whining shitbags. But don't bother coming back until you've figured out what the fuck is wrong with you

dyslexia - i'm sure he meant to call us shining witbags
posted by pyramid termite at 6:28 PM on November 23, 2007 [25 favorites]

The Internet is for epic lulz and high drama. I think quonsar knew that, and I think he left because he saw the lulz fading and the drama becoming all too real.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 6:29 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Sorry for the derail of the derail, wendell. But I assure you that my quonsar-bashing need is Satieated. That's all the seriousness I can Handel for now; I'll be Hayden out for the rest of the evening.
posted by googly at 6:31 PM on November 23, 2007

i knew someone who spent 10 years in tibet and got sick of it - he said it was nothing but epic dulz and high lamas
posted by pyramid termite at 6:31 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

Come on... press the button. Disable yourself. What are you scared of? All of the cool kids are doing it.
posted by miss lynnster at 6:32 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'll press the button if 6 people tell me to. No suckpuppets (i.e. sockpuppets that suck; awesome sockpuppets can vote twice).
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 6:39 PM on November 23, 2007

I missed that quonsar had disabled his account. I was out Chopin cotton and my brother was balin' hay...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:42 PM on November 23, 2007

Googly, you are out of line, and the sad thing is you will probably never figure out why.
posted by konolia at 6:43 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Oh, and President Elvis whatchama... count me as one of the 6.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:43 PM on November 23, 2007

You're not getting off that easily, MPDSEA... not after coining the term 'suckpuppet'...
posted by wendell at 6:44 PM on November 23, 2007

CHOPIN cotton? I thought you were CHOPIN broccoli...

okay, I'm going to ruin it for everybody now...

Is Georges gettin' BIZET?

Did Charles break out in IVES?

Is Giuseppe VERDI interesting?

Is Philip GLASS half empty?

Did Kurt WEILL away the hours?

Did Gustav MAHLER?

Did Englebert HUMPERDINCK?
*flags self as offensive*
posted by wendell at 6:46 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Gersh, you win!
posted by jonmc at 6:48 PM on November 23, 2007

I'm just a noob around these parts (3 years yesterday), but the whole time I've been here, I've heard from the old-timers about how quonsar is such a witty, warmhearted, wonderful guy.

Thing is, all I have ever seen is someone whose primary contributions to the discourse are drive-by insults and random all-caps snarks, and who seems not to have the balls or integrity to back up said insults and snarks when he is challenged.

Oh MAN I was just going to post almost the exact same thing, except note that I've been a VERY active reader of this site for *5* years and have never, once, read a comment of q's that didn't make me think "THIS is the dingus that doesn't get banned because of, uh, what now?". I second Vito90.
posted by tristeza at 6:48 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

hemingway quit piano lessons - it was a farewell to brahms
posted by pyramid termite at 6:50 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

go rodger your hammerstien.
posted by jonmc at 6:51 PM on November 23, 2007

quonsar rarely goes to galleries or museums. "Art?" he says. "Mozart leaves me cold."
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:53 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

I'll press the button if 6 people tell me to.

PRESS IT! Expect 5 of my sockpuppets to respond in a similar fashion.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:54 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

And it must be said, most of quonsar's comments fall into one of two categories: either Kurt, or Weill.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:54 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

I'll press the button if 6 people tell me to.

you and president bush
posted by pyramid termite at 6:56 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

I can't do what 6 people tell me to do
so I guess I'll remain ~~the same~~ a MeFite
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:58 PM on November 23, 2007

Good Lord, Quonsar and EB both gone? What the hell? And people I've never heard of celebrating the fact? A black day here.
posted by LarryC at 6:59 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Mr President: press the button!
posted by nowonmai at 7:00 PM on November 23, 2007

That's 3! We can make this happen, people. pyramid termite, I know you don't like me.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 7:01 PM on November 23, 2007

You're all on my Liszt.

I've got my Chopin Liszt, but I B flat Baroque.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:03 PM on November 23, 2007

pyramid termite, I know you don't like me.

am i that hard to deal with? - come on, MPDSEA, you can beg and grovel better than that

how badly do you want me to put you out of your misery again?
posted by pyramid termite at 7:05 PM on November 23, 2007

pyramid termite, I know you don't like me.

Yeah, pt, c'mon! Cast your vote! Or are you trying to tie it in with a composer pun? Well, forget it, the important thing is that we kick Elvis' ass outta here.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:05 PM on November 23, 2007

"THIS is the dingus that doesn't get banned because of, uh, what now?".

The jester speaks the truths that would get the courtiers hung.
posted by tkolar at 7:08 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Googly, you are out of line, and the sad thing is you will probably never figure out why.
posted by konolia at 9:43 PM on November 23 [+] [!]

Really? I'm out of line? konolia, I appreciate your telling us about your personal communication with him. Really, I do - it helps add some backstory. But you're clearly privy to a lot more than I am because of your personal relationship with him. I don't know quonsar - I only know his internet persona, which in my entire short time here has been nothing but mean-spirited.

You're right - I'll never figure out why I'm "out of line" for doing no more than saying that a member of this community who indiscriminately insults other members of the community is, himself, out of line.

But everyone here has a backstory. Everyone has good days and bad days. Everyone every once in a while says something intemperate. All I am saying is that, in my experience, this particular member has been routinely disrespectful, and I was trying to square that with all the comments about how he is such a wonderful big-hearted guy.
posted by googly at 7:08 PM on November 23, 2007 [6 favorites]

no, i'm gonna go all jerry lee lewis on him first ...
posted by pyramid termite at 7:09 PM on November 23, 2007

am i that hard to deal with? - come on, MPDSEA, you can beg and grovel better than that

how badly do you want me to put you out of your misery again?

Yeah... So, uh, kinks are good, but I think we're talking about different things.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 7:09 PM on November 23, 2007

No no no no... We can't kick Elvis' ass out; then who will we have around here to feel superior to?

Why are you all looking at me all of a sudden?
posted by wendell at 7:10 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Yeah... So, uh, kinks are good, but I think we're talking about different things.

no, you're just doing some weak ass trolling and i'm toying with you - if you want to pull off some kind of public drama chickenshit net.suicide, then do it

we promise to all pay attention and to notice you when you do it, m'kay?
posted by pyramid termite at 7:13 PM on November 23, 2007

Okay, I guess we gotta let googly in on the secret...
Remember "the Star Wars Kid" doing the lightsaber bit in that viral video? Yep, that was quonsar. Now how can you ever stay mad at a guy after that?
posted by wendell at 7:14 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

no, you're just doing some weak ass trolling and i'm toying with you

Uh huh.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 7:15 PM on November 23, 2007

As I said, googly, you don't get it.

Maybe you should just decide to not worry about it.
posted by konolia at 7:18 PM on November 23, 2007

Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America, I'm not going to tell you to press the button.

You either press it because you want to, or don't press it. We are not your evil overlords.
posted by konolia at 7:20 PM on November 23, 2007

Damn, pt... of course! Why didn't I see it? You knew all along. There is much I can learn from you.

Now, let's put this unseemly Dr. Elvis America business behind us and get on with the composer puns....
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:20 PM on November 23, 2007

Steve, the real challenge here would be finding half a dozen people who would admit in public that they want you to stay.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:20 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Show no Mercer.
posted by jonmc at 7:21 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'd like Steve to stay. He obviously finds my addict biker look attractive.
posted by jonmc at 7:21 PM on November 23, 2007

Someone IM me when we get to five. I'll miss the actual guy behind quonsar and I don't think we've seen the last of him. But man, he's been prickly lately. As the site has grown there are fewer people who know his backstory and more who just wonder why he's so cranky, so often, in so many places.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:22 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

C'mon, someone else has to push the button, I need more drama...
posted by pupdog at 7:22 PM on November 23, 2007

And sure, I'll rise to the bait and vote that you delete yourself on the condition that the new account you open ten minutes later has a one-word user name. The gauntlet has been thrown down!
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:25 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

The easiest way to understand quonsar is to know this: if he decides he likes you, he'll stand by you no matter what. And if you're the type of person who can appreciate that, he'll probably like you.
posted by jonmc at 7:26 PM on November 23, 2007

I'll miss the actual guy behind quonsar and I don't think we've seen the last of him.

people who say they're leaving forever are offenbach
posted by pyramid termite at 7:26 PM on November 23, 2007

As I said, googly, you don't get it.

Maybe you should just decide to not worry about it.
posted by konolia at 10:18 PM on November 23 [+] [!]

I can accept that.

But I will reiterate that commenting on someone's public persona - without being privy to the supersecret backstory that gives them carte blanche to insult everyone - doesn't make me "out of line." New and naive, perhaps, but not out of line.
posted by googly at 7:28 PM on November 23, 2007 [10 favorites]

YES!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:29 PM on November 23, 2007

googly - don't worry about it, you were on the money. Somebody who pretends to be an asshole online, no matter what they are like in person, is in fact an asshole online.
posted by Justinian at 7:29 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

oops. That YES was for pt's offenbach... Fast and furious thread going here.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:30 PM on November 23, 2007

if he decides he likes you, he'll stand by you no matter what.

Sometimes it's hard
to be a quonsar...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:31 PM on November 23, 2007

giving all your love to just one fish...
posted by jonmc at 7:32 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

well played, googly. at least one peanut in the gallery was wondering how you'd react to that condescension
posted by psmith at 7:33 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

there are fewer people who know his backstory

So maybe someone could fill us all in? I haven't really interacted with the guy and have no opinion one way or another. I'm not offended by his comments, but I don't find them particularly funny either. The thing people are getting upset over here was, to me, a pretty clear example of sarcasm. Not very funny sarcasm, but sarcasm.

But obviously, some people are going to take it the wrong way. Of course. And I think they have the right to speak their opinion without being lambasted for not knowing the mystery backstory that this guy saved Christmas back in 1998 or whatever.

Basically, the whole thing reads like some gigantic, worn-out "Chuck Norris" type meme where I'm not in on the joke.

So in conclusion:

meh.
posted by drjimmy11 at 7:35 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

How do you know the real truth about quonsar?

Konolia tol' ya!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:35 PM on November 23, 2007

offenbach

I know darn well we can work it out
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
Yes we can can
posted by Wolof at 7:35 PM on November 23, 2007

If six people tell me to go eat some leftover Thanksgiving Upside-Down cake, I will do it.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 7:38 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

If six people say that I am gorgeous and brilliant, I will agree with them.
posted by jonmc at 7:40 PM on November 23, 2007

Do it! DO IT!
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:40 PM on November 23, 2007

Okay, that's two.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 7:41 PM on November 23, 2007

If six people send me 20 dollars each, I will spend it.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:41 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

(To L. Fitzgerald, of course. But feel free to inflate jonmc's ego, too. He looks kinda down.)
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:41 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Thanksgiving Upside-Down cake?
Is that like a regular Pineapple Upside-Downer served on Thanksgiving, or does it contain some Thanksgiving-specific ingredient like cranberries or turkey? Or just leftover cake from yesterday that got shoved into the fridge wrong-side up?

Inquiring minds need to know. Kinda.
posted by wendell at 7:44 PM on November 23, 2007

Here's the tally, so far:

1) flapjax at midnight
2) ThePinkSuperhero
3) nowonmai
4) kittens for breakfast (with a condition that I accept)

Additionally:

1) pyramid termite asked me to grovel for him. I declined.
2) konolia pointed out that mefites are not my evil overlords.
3) jessamyn has expressed interest in ironically banning me once I get to five votes.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 7:45 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Somebody who pretends to be an asshole online, no matter what they are like in person, is in fact an asshole online.

Well put.
posted by terrapin at 7:46 PM on November 23, 2007

Ok, Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America. I'll be 5.
posted by psmith at 7:46 PM on November 23, 2007

No, kittens was voting for L. Fitzgerald's cake... you seem sort of eager to go...
posted by wendell at 7:46 PM on November 23, 2007

I jessamyn just wants to be the sixth vote. If she were gonna ban you, she'd probably just, you know...ban you, man. She has that power.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:47 PM on November 23, 2007

I think jessamyn, even. Gah.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:48 PM on November 23, 2007

Er, on a somewhat related note, I see that It's Raining Florence Henderson has been taking a break since posting this comment on November 17 in that 1,100+ thread. What's happening to this family?!
posted by chinston at 7:49 PM on November 23, 2007

Though without actually closing the account, I hasten to add.
posted by chinston at 7:50 PM on November 23, 2007

Yes, she could, but that would not be very ironic at all!
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 7:50 PM on November 23, 2007

I'll be six. Come back with a shorter username?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:50 PM on November 23, 2007

Just remember, SteveElvis, wen they remember the Great MetaFilter SelfBanning Outbreak of '07, they will remember quonsar and Ethereal Bligh and maybe jennydiski and some other guys...
posted by wendell at 7:50 PM on November 23, 2007

And six.

DO you have the courage to do it. DO YOU?
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:51 PM on November 23, 2007

he's still alive as of...
posted by wendell at 7:52 PM on November 23, 2007

Thanksgiving Upside-Down Cake is like Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, only harvesty. Cranberries and pecans instead of pineapple and maraschino cherries, pumpkin in the cake portion. Personally, I prefer it to PU-DC, because the tartness of the cranberries nicely offsets the sweetness of the glaze.

Credit goes to my girlfriend for the name and this particular cake which I am threatening to eat.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 7:53 PM on November 23, 2007

I'll be six. Come back with a shorter username?

No.

I'm out, doods.

P.S. Epic fail, Astro Zombie.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 7:53 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

And the final irony of this 'put-up-or-shut-up' is that, by putting up, he IS shutting up...
posted by wendell at 7:54 PM on November 23, 2007

All my successes are unnoticed, but at least my failures are epic.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:54 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

And Dr. Steve is disabled. Nice.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:54 PM on November 23, 2007

And heeeeee's OUTTA HERE!!!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:55 PM on November 23, 2007

Eat it, Lore, eat it.

Just don't set your plate down anywhere near that RED BUTTON, please.
posted by wendell at 7:55 PM on November 23, 2007

I for one will miss his spunk.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:56 PM on November 23, 2007

Steve, I... No, no, something is not right, this is like Star Wars, or something, where if I vote to ban you I actualize the "MeFi crushes dissenting views" stereotype...I will not turn to the Dark Side!

On preview: Nooooo!
posted by StrikeTheViol at 7:56 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

All my successes are unnoticed...

Not true, not true!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:57 PM on November 23, 2007

Wow. This is like one of those TV season jumps where half the cast bails during the summer break. Except that, in this case, the cast will all be back under different names within fifteen minutes to a month. Do we have a page that shows members who have joined in the past twenty-four hours or something?
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:59 PM on November 23, 2007

I vote "Mrs. Prime Minister Prof. Dave Celine Canada" for his new username.
posted by googly at 7:59 PM on November 23, 2007

I vote AGAINST. So you've got whatever number of votes you had, minus one.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:00 PM on November 23, 2007

I for one will miss his spunk.
Oh, is that what that smell was?
posted by wendell at 8:00 PM on November 23, 2007

Mr. Elvis isn't dead. He's just tired from working third shift as a short order cook at a truck stop in Tennessee.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:00 PM on November 23, 2007

vote late, vote little
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:00 PM on November 23, 2007

That MPDSEA drama wasn't worth the $5 admission. I'd yawn louder and with a fuller extension, but I'm afraid that my jaw might lock up.
posted by CKmtl at 8:03 PM on November 23, 2007

He decided calling people whining....well, you know...wasn't what he wanted to be doing so he's taking a break.

Good, because I was really offended about the namecalling. Downplaying the use of "stress positions" otoh doesn't take anything away from being a swell guy.
posted by dreamsign at 8:03 PM on November 23, 2007

I'm not going to say this was the Best. Flameout. Ever.

Because it wasn't.

Now who wants Lore's cake?
posted by wendell at 8:03 PM on November 23, 2007

Um...I do, I do?
posted by kittens for breakfast at 8:04 PM on November 23, 2007

Oh, the drama!

Previously, on As Metafilter Turns...
posted by empath at 8:05 PM on November 23, 2007

And what happens if three people say jonmc is gorgeous and three people say he's brilliant?
posted by wendell at 8:06 PM on November 23, 2007

I vote we disable the damn button, already.

Matt, it may be easier from an administrative viewpoint, but around this crew having the kill button at all is like keeping the loaded revolver in the cupboard above the refrigerator, carefully labelled "DO NOT USE THIS IF YOU WANT TO KILL YOURSELF".
posted by yhbc at 8:11 PM on November 23, 2007

Elvis has left the building.

What?

SOMEBODY had to say it...
posted by konolia at 8:11 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

(You know, after some thought, this thread kinda illustrates just how much this place really has changed over the years. We're all really anonymous now, no matter how long we have been around. Most of the folks here don't even know there was ever a Miguel here.

On the bright side, nobody remembers Bunnyfire either.)
posted by konolia at 8:15 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Somebody who pretends to be an asshole online, no matter what they are like in person, is in fact an asshole online.

Freely translated, this is in essence the point of Mother Night, according to Vonnegut himself. "You are what you pretend to be."
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:17 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Make the button much bigger and add it to more forms.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 8:18 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

And what happens if three people say jonmc is gorgeous and three people say he's brilliant?

The Rapture?
posted by y2karl at 8:21 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

On the bright side, nobody remembers Bunnyfire either.

Oh, now that's not true, and you know it. I remember, and I wasn't even an active member at the time - but I was reading, and participating in my own way. You, and Miguel, and quonsar, and so many others, were all part of what made me want to be a part of MetaFilter so badly (well, plus the great links).

The thing is, I miss so many great contributors that are no longer here, but I have seen so many new contributors come in the years I have been around. It does keep rebuilding, and each new person adds something of their own, but - damn, I would miss quonsar if he never came back. Would it kill MetaFilter if he didn't? No - but it would be different. I just keep wondering how different it needs to be before I don't want to be a part of it so badly myself any more.
posted by yhbc at 8:22 PM on November 23, 2007

Or a snowball fight in Hell ?
posted by y2karl at 8:24 PM on November 23, 2007

Make the button much bigger and add it to more forms.

Seriously. The flameouts are keeping me warm during these cold winter nights. I want more, more, more.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:26 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

We're all really anonymous now, no matter how long we have been around.

I wouldn't particularly agree with that. I think it's just that the member numbers have grown, so it's like a city that gets bigger. Of course you won't know everybody: some you will and others you won't. I see your above comment (and LarryC's comment upthread as well, referring to folks he's never even heard of) as representing the feeling of a longterm MeFitown resident who's a little perturbed that these newcomers don't necessarily know who you are. But that's not the same as a site full of "anonymous" people. I've only been around here for a little more than a year, but there are a lot of people that I feel like I *know*. Doesn't feel like an anonymous place to me at all.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:26 PM on November 23, 2007

This is like the last season of Babylon 5.
posted by Skorgu at 8:26 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Hi, guys! I'm new here! So what's the deal with this place? Is it like Fark? How do I do the Photoshop contests?
posted by Totally Not Dr. Elvis Steve Whatever at 8:27 PM on November 23, 2007 [29 favorites]

I've lately been lamenting the personality conflicts of metafilter, in all their manifold glory (and for my own part been trying to rectify them). That being said I don't particularly regret the egress of Mister Broke Dick Evelyn Waugh ShitBird Troll America, although I'm sure he'll be back. Is there an influx of people asking for trouble these days or is it just me?
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:28 PM on November 23, 2007

It's just you, fucker.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 8:29 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Thank god, I was worried.
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:34 PM on November 23, 2007

No problem. Kisses!
posted by Armitage Shanks at 8:37 PM on November 23, 2007

This is terrible news.
posted by Mister Cheese at 8:37 PM on November 23, 2007

Do we have a page that shows members who have joined in the past twenty-four hours or something?

Cool idea. If this feature doesn't exist (and I assume it doesn't) then it should be created.
posted by brain_drain at 8:45 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

On a more productive note, maybe it would be helpful to have the message be "Account disabled by user" or somesuch if the disabling is the result of MetaSeppuku?
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 8:49 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Because it's polling day, I vote this the most entertaining thread ever.
posted by tellurian at 8:50 PM on November 23, 2007

I think there should be a breakaway sect, all disabling their accounts together - matching purple running suits and Nikes, and a waiting starship hiding behind a comet. Only by leaving this plane can you enter the next...
posted by pupdog at 8:55 PM on November 23, 2007

I won't miss quonsar. I've been a reader from way way back in the day (before 9/11). I know his backstory, I know Bunnyfire, I know Miguel. I never found quonsar funny, nor insightful.

However, a lot of people (a whole lot of people) who I don't think are insane liked him, for some reason. So I think it's just a difference in tastes. Quonsar is peanut butter, and I'm apparently allergic. Maybe he's good, but all I ever got from him was vomiting, hives, and acute abdominal pain.

So, yeah, I guess it sucks, in a general way, that he's gone. Like peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches getting taken off the school menu. But as the kid who's allergic to peanuts, I'm personally happy about it.
posted by Bugbread at 9:06 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

The thing is, I miss so many great contributors that are no longer here, but I have seen so many new contributors come in the years I have been around. It does keep rebuilding, and each new person adds something of their own, but - damn, I would miss quonsar if he never came back. Would it kill MetaFilter if he didn't? No - but it would be different. I just keep wondering how different it needs to be before I don't want to be a part of it so badly myself any more.

I know this feeling. Miguel was a huge part of this place when I joined and more to the good than not. I miss him--even if he did leave like a thief in the night. That part did not sit so well with me.

But then I miss rodii and holgate and a host of others who added much to the common banter in the past. All of whom decloak now and then in AskMetaFilter but deprive us of a frequent presence in the Blue and Gray, with a subsequent dilution of the common wit and wisdom to my mind.

A lot of really interesting voices have left the room. Or, maybe again, it is as so many others have said, a matter of scale. The room is so huge and so many more would rather speak than be heard and the common history becomes a common palimpsest. And who knows what goes on in the real lives of real world persons to present themselves so bitterly online ?

Quonsar really soured out there at the end. Remembering him in his hey day and having championed him in the past, it was painful and embarassing to read he wrote of late. I wish him only the best and I do hope he returns restored, refreshed and rejuvenated, as pure as the driven snow and smooth as a baby's butt.

But then I wish that for just about anyone here, generally.
posted by y2karl at 9:07 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

chinston I hadn't noticed that comment by It's Raining Florence Henderson. Glad he didn't disable his account. He seems to be one of the good guys. It will be a shame if he doesn't return.
posted by Sailormom at 9:16 PM on November 23, 2007

I miss Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:21 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

We need to add some sort of new tag to our flagging system in response to Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America's leaving.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:23 PM on November 23, 2007

free quonsar
posted by Stynxno at 9:24 PM on November 23, 2007

I miss Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America.

The Moderator Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat.
posted by y2karl at 9:25 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

That thread was just too toxic to participate or even read too much. TPSH encapsulates the truth right up front, but no one listens.
posted by caddis at 9:25 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Quonsar really soured out there at the end.

Did he? He certainly had changed, but I don't tink it was an increase in bile, at least not directly.

What did seem to change was quonsar's beliefs, putting him at odds with the crowd. I think they soured on him first.
posted by timeistight at 9:31 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

free quonsar

with every purchase
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:32 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

I miss Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America.

How can you miss him if he won't go away?
posted by timeistight at 9:33 PM on November 23, 2007

That thread was just too toxic to participate or even read too much. TPSH encapsulates the truth right up front, but no one listens.

The point of Metafilter is to share interesting content from the web, BUT the point of Metatalk is to run around in circles until we all melt into a pool of butter.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:38 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

If he was genuinely okay with torture, something really did sour. Calling people "whining shitbags" because they cannot abide the notion that a country that is supposed to represent the rule of justice and law? Well, those are words that emerge from a darkened soul.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:39 PM on November 23, 2007

the point of Metatalk is to run around in circles until we all melt into a pool of butter

you might be right, and although we usually get over it, sometimes we don't, and that is sad
posted by caddis at 9:41 PM on November 23, 2007

Are you bringing the butter?
posted by puke & cry at 9:45 PM on November 23, 2007

If he was genuinely okay with torture, something really did sour.
I think it was more of a case of finding himself generally at odds with so much of MeFi lately, what with his changing views on religion and all, leading to a general snarky contrarianism. As opposed to actually believing in what he was saying. At least that's what I want to think.
posted by nowonmai at 9:47 PM on November 23, 2007

Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America went all Andy Kaufman on us.

But all of this drama reminds me that I keep wanting a sockpuppet, and I keep forgetting to create one. Maybe this is a good time. I'm 90 away from 1000 favorites. A "new member" just might take an unexplainable liking to everything I ever posted.
posted by The Deej at 9:48 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Already been done, my friend.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:50 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

"... the point of Metatalk is to run around in circles until we all melt into a pool of butter"

Some pancakes would be really good right now. Excellent thinking!
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:55 PM on November 23, 2007

What was the name of the bunny with the pancake on his head... Sambo?
posted by wendell at 9:59 PM on November 23, 2007

Good riddance, Dr. Captain Mr. Shitbag Liberace Venezuale.
posted by baphomet at 10:09 PM on November 23, 2007

Jesus, people'll click anything. I guess this explains the enduring popularity of banner ads.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:42 PM on November 23, 2007

Where did people hold this conversation before the internet came along? I first sat through it on BBS's at 300 baud, but I can't believe that was the first time people had it.

Probably Gentlemen's clubs in England.

Actually, scratch that. It was more likely in the Agora.



Plato:  Damn, you know.  Socrates never comes down any more.



Aristotle:   I don't know what the deal with him was.  All he ever did was ask questions.  He never answered anything.



Plato:  That was just his style.



Aristotle:  Yeah, whatever.  You can make all the apologies you like, but if he started that today they'd ban his sorry ass.

posted by tkolar at 10:44 PM on November 23, 2007 [26 favorites]

Wendell, the bunny with the pancake on his head was Oolong.
posted by Iamtherealme at 10:51 PM on November 23, 2007

Metafilter: Don't Push The Button
posted by pupdog at 11:01 PM on November 23, 2007

Viv, Al, Di (pronounced Dee) and I heartily approve of reading the entire thread.

On a more pertinent note, I miss people who were around long before I became a member and have now disappeared for whatever reason because I'm addicted to reading the archives. It's kind of like that thing where Slartibartfast takes Arthur Dent back to the beginning of the Krikkit Wars, or being inside a Pensieve in Harry Potter.

All very interesting, to be sure.
posted by h00py at 11:04 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

I've been a member since 2002, and I neither approve nor disapprove, nor disprove this thread.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:07 PM on November 23, 2007

I want a self-inflicted timeout option. "Enter a number and click here to take that many days off."
posted by pracowity at 11:15 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

As a long time reader... well... quonsar made me laugh more than pretty much anybody on this site. If he's gotta go, he's gotta go. I just hope that he can raise happy hell somewhere else. I also hope he's feeling good about his decision and he isn't sitting somewhere crashing down from an adrenalin high feeling like he royally screwed the puccini.
posted by Kattullus at 11:43 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

On the bright side, nobody remembers Bunnyfire either

We would be able to forget her, if only you'd stop bringing her up.

Seriously. Not kidding. You are the only one, konolia, who keeps singing that tune. Either put a sock in it, once and for all, or admit that you like stoking the (bunny)fires of your own notoreity.
posted by scody at 11:51 PM on November 23, 2007 [11 favorites]

I don't remember Bunnyfire. Or Miguel. They are before my time. Oddly, however, I don't feel any gaping sense of emptiness, loss or unfullfilment in my life. At least, not as concerns these two names.

Life goes on, and so does MetaFilter. I've chuckled at times at quonsar's comments. He could be damn funny. Didn't always agree with him, but he could be damn funny. However, should he never, ever show up here again, I don't imagine that will diminish the interesting experience that MetaFilter is for me.

I do hope jonmc, madamejujujive, nickyskye, psmealey, pyramid termite, Blazecock Pileon, vronsky, Abiezer, Kattulus, Alvy Ampersand, Ambrosia Voyeur (and a few dozen more that I'm thinking of) don't decide to opt out of this community, though. Not to mention so many of the folks who contribute to MeFi Music. These folk's and other's contributions to the site have meant much more to me than quonsar's. Just sayin'.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:23 AM on November 24, 2007

I guess the tired fish in pants joke finally ended here.

Somehow I was expecting a suicide cult in this thread. I'm not sure who I expected to be the evil charismatic cult leader.
posted by jouke at 1:27 AM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

flapjax at midnite writes "I do hope jonmc, madamejujujive, nickyskye, psmealey, pyramid termite, Blazecock Pileon, vronsky, Abiezer, Kattulus, Alvy Ampersand, Ambrosia Voyeur (and a few dozen more that I'm thinking of) don't decide to opt out of this community, though."

Er...sorry to break it to you here, but vronsky just left. His user page shows the account as disabled.
posted by Bugbread at 1:28 AM on November 24, 2007

vronsky... say it ain't so!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:22 AM on November 24, 2007

I'm concerned. Genuinely concerned. I think that EB and quonsar were amongst the last two contacts I added.

....Did I kill them?

(And if I did - essexjan and pineapple really need to watch their backs. I WILL KILL AGAIN!)
posted by Jofus at 3:49 AM on November 24, 2007

I'm not sure who I expected to be the evil charismatic cult leader.

Follow me! Follow me!
posted by Meatbomb at 4:19 AM on November 24, 2007

Scody, obviously there are a handful of people who were here, active, and still remember what they were doing in 2002. But it is safe to say that number is pretty danged small in comparison to the rest of the site.

Meanwhile, I really really really miss Miguel. (I miss quonsar too but I know where to find HIM elsewhere.)
posted by konolia at 4:33 AM on November 24, 2007

I just noticed that jennydiski's account is disabled. What the heck?????
posted by konolia at 4:38 AM on November 24, 2007

I miss Son_Of_Minya and Harry Hopkins' Hat.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 4:41 AM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

I just noticed that jennydiski's account is disabled. What the heck?????

Hey, she was just a n00b, after all... a famous one, sure, but still a n00b.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:42 AM on November 24, 2007

Hey, maybe the old guard and the new alike are dropping like flies...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:43 AM on November 24, 2007

I hope he rethinks and comes back. Q was one of the few who's comments, however crazy, made me laugh out loud. There are a few others who do that, but I'm not going to mention names because I'd feel dirty stroking their huge egos.
posted by Elmore at 5:43 AM on November 24, 2007

The trick is to disable your account just at the moment that the comet is at its closest point.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:54 AM on November 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

Goodbye quonsar.
posted by benzo8 at 6:26 AM on November 24, 2007

1. DESPOA -- weirdest flameout ever.

2. Hi, guys! I'm new here! So what's the deal with this place? Is it like Fark? How do I do the Photoshop contests?
posted by Totally Not Dr. Elvis Steve Whatever

Totally worth the 5 bucks. Thanks for the laugh, dude.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:09 AM on November 24, 2007

.
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:12 AM on November 24, 2007

We would be able to forget her, if only you'd stop bringing her up.

Scody, obviously there are a handful of people who were here, active, and still remember what they were doing in 2002. But it is safe to say that number is pretty danged small in comparison to the rest of the site.

Meanwhile, as usual, very good job on avoiding the point.
posted by jmd82 at 8:37 AM on November 24, 2007

Won't someone think of the fish?

Or the pants?
posted by trip and a half at 9:27 AM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

q at his best was snort-milk-out-the-nose funny. I don't know what's been up with him lately, but I hope he comes back eventually, at the top of his form.

EB, although I must admit I skipped over some of your longer posts (I was at work! I shouldn't have been reading MeFi at all!), I generally found your musings insightful and well-reasoned. The internet is overflowing with snark and stupidity and intelligent voices are few and far between (luckily many of them have washed up here on MeFi). Please do us the honor of returning and helping to keep this place classy.
posted by Quietgal at 10:58 AM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

It's heartening to me (particularly after the 'sexism flag' thread(s), which I found dispiriting for a number of reasons) to read personal responses to quonsar's temporary departure. Where I used to live, on LambdaMOO (a place that went through many of MeFi's growing pains more than a decade ago, and handled them with wildly varying degrees of success), users could execute a command that would give them a couple of weeks or months off; as I recall, it involved walking off a cliff in or near the LambdaHouse. I did this once, badly needing a break (one summer would log into the MOO for up to 12 hours a day); it was a big deal, symbolically overloaded, and I can identify with the urge to limit one's access to a community out of concern for one's various selves (and friends).

That's all I guess. In the interests of politeness.
posted by waxbanks at 11:15 AM on November 24, 2007

Thanks for the props and for being such a decent and caring fellow, flapjax. People leaving us sucks, imo. "Good riddance" is an ugly sentiment, but hey, I'm pissed off at the quitters too, especially our longtimers. No Country for Old Men, is it?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:30 AM on November 24, 2007

Who will say "SMOCK" now?
posted by chlorus at 11:43 AM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

It's up to all of us!

SMOCK SMOCK SMOCK
posted by languagehat at 12:01 PM on November 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

I don't remember Bunnyfire. Or Miguel. They are before my time. Oddly, however, I don't feel any gaping sense of emptiness, loss or unfullfilment in my life. At least, not as concerns these two names.

Miguel was the best of metafilter-- the only highly prolific poster whose lively, polite, and clever contributions I consistently enjoyed reading.

In light of the prevalence of blowhards, windbags, and one-trick-ponies among the few solid citizens that make up your current I-hope-they-stick-around list, I confess that your glibness and poor taste sadden me.
posted by Kwantsar at 12:06 PM on November 24, 2007

blah blah quonsar bunnyfire EB miguel kottke blah blah my user number is so low that ... blah blah ... $5 noob ... blah blah ... owillis 9622 ... blah blah ... peterme invented the word "weblog" ... blah blah ... i was here when ... pancakes... evanizer

"Hey, maybe the old guard and the new alike are NAMEdropping like flies...

fixed that for you
posted by jewishbuddha at 12:13 PM on November 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

Miguel was the most eloquent voice ever to be heard on the internets, at least by me. I wish his books were available in English. I bet they are a lot of fun.
posted by caddis at 12:13 PM on November 24, 2007

Funny the wistful memories of Miguel given how much crap he took when he was here for chat mongering.
posted by found missing at 12:20 PM on November 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

oh, he was a chatty bastard now. just check out the MeTa threads he started.
posted by caddis at 12:33 PM on November 24, 2007

There are beans on my plate!
posted by FunkyHelix at 1:11 PM on November 24, 2007

I'm beginning to wonder if he ever had a fish in his pants at all. I think we were being gamed, people. It's UN Owen all over again.
posted by puke & cry at 1:20 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

q i mean, not migs.
posted by puke & cry at 1:29 PM on November 24, 2007

In years to come, we will refer to this time as the Quonsardämmerung.
posted by matthewr at 2:07 PM on November 24, 2007 [3 favorites]

Quonsardämmerung

Shit, now you've done it. There's a rule that quonsar's name must be spelled lower-case, but there's another rule that all German nouns must be upper-case. You've created a linguistic singularity. Damn you to hell!

*vanishes into black hole*

*crawls back out*

Hey, quonsar's in that hole!
posted by languagehat at 2:16 PM on November 24, 2007 [9 favorites]

TMI languagehat, TMI...
posted by pupdog at 2:17 PM on November 24, 2007

As the site has grown there are fewer people who know his backstory and more who just wonder why he's so cranky, so often, in so many places.

I wish SOMEBODY would explain his backstory. I've been here longer than he has, yet I'm clueless. That's probably because, until relatively recently, I only thought of MeFi as a place to find cool links and ask questions. I rarely read metatalk and I still don't participate/read the various blogs and sites that orbit around the community.

Still, I manage to get 80% of what's going on here. But not quonsar. Most of his comments baffle me. I can tell it's because most of them involve injokes that I'm not in on. Maybe if I was in, I would laugh out loud as so many people here do. But since I'm not in, most of his stuff just reads like nonsense to me.

I tried posting something to metachat once, asking for someone to explain both quonsar and his appeal to me. That post was deleted, because the admin worried that I was insulting him or that my question might be taken as an insult. But I'm not insulting him. I have no reason to dislike him (or like him). But I have plenty of reason to be confused.

PLEASE, somebody post a quonsar FAQ. I'm not the only one here who would benefit. And maybe if I knew the backstory, I'd be more ready to empathize with whatever is going on with him now.
posted by grumblebee at 2:26 PM on November 24, 2007 [3 favorites]

Next you'll be asking someone to talk about fight club.
posted by found missing at 2:39 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

I confess that your glibness and poor taste sadden me.

Terribly sorry to disappoint you, there, buddy.

Enjoyed your fruit crate label art post, by the way.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:52 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

As I haven't seen anyone else link to it... quonsar's last Meta post:

i just wanted to mention that the plain theme is looking real nice these days and to thank matt and pb for keeping it updated.

He was always capable of surprising me.

Come back soon, if you can, q.
posted by dash_slot- at 4:28 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Wow, thanks flapjax! I don't think I've ever been counted among such illustrious company!

Well, illustrious company and Abiezer.
:D
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 4:45 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

For the record, me and quonsar go way back and had communicated by email and in more casual settings like irc and MeCha. he wasa genuinely nice guy. His humor was often hilariously vulgar and at his best he could deftly deflate pomposity and priggishness. Sometimes he misfired, but sometimes we all do. I'll miss the fishypants fucker.
posted by jonmc at 4:53 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

I really, really miss the q man already. Can we bring him back by force? No? By coochi-coochi-cooing him? No? I didn't think so.

But I am seriously afraid that he got into my head today. And I am scared. You should be too.

q man hope all is well. Come back as soon as you like it, but come.
posted by carmina at 5:12 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

PLEASE, somebody post a quonsar FAQ.

There isn't one to post. Seriously. quonsar is just this guy, you know? There's some site-history injokiness to his schtick, some just-plain-quonsarness, and you kind of like it or don't or a mix of the two.

I've always found his jabs at Matt and the site kind of shitty, but insofar as his humor around here has a lot of sacred-cowtipping to it, that's not shocking when I'm obviously (especially now that it's officially) pretty invested in the site.

Someone insisted in IRC a while back that those present explain "I have a fish in my pants". That it must be something. That there must be a trick to it, or a history, or something. And maybe deep in the sands of time there is, but it has been so consistently a non-joke joke that I think it's a mistake to see it as anything more than a sort of mantra/koan. The mystique of quonsar goes a bit further, in the wondering eyes of folks trying to decode him post hoc, than it probably should.

It's up there with "What is Kibology" for unsatisfyingly unanswerable questions. Mu.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:38 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

If you're reading this, q-man, big ups to you, you magnificent cantankerous asshole.
posted by Wolof at 5:47 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Googly, you are out of line, and the sad thing is you will probably never figure out why.

I know I'm late, but this was just the most condescending, unwarranted, misguided, cool-kids-in-the-back-of-the-bus bullshit I've read on MeTa in at least a month. And even though I never really appreciated the whole quonsar schtick, I'm pretty sure he would not approve of calling someone "out of line" for criticizing him. His whole deal, as far as I could ever understand, was that everyone takes ___ too seriously; with ___ being whatever people were upset about at the time.

Konolia, I've been here at least as long as you, including your other account, and I think that googly was exactly right. I also think you (and some others) vocally defend quonsar whenever someone makes the slightest knock against him mainly to show your "status" as old-time users -- i.e., "he might have just said something completely off-point and offensive, but if you had been here around back in 2001, during the historic quonsar-Cardoso debates, you would know just how witty and incisive he can be."

The fact that newer users don't "get" quonsar says to me that, for people coming to the site with fresh eyes and without a lot of baggage, quonsar was mainly just spewing noise. The fact that it's mainly "old-timers" who keep saying "if you only knew the guy, you would know how great he is," says to me that he hasn't done anything on this site for a long time to justify one-half of the support and goodwill he enjoys.
posted by Mid at 6:01 PM on November 24, 2007 [19 favorites]

EB gone, now quonsar. Is there some kind of self-purge happening? If so, include me out.
posted by jonmc at 6:23 PM on November 24, 2007

Actually, Mid, the truth is that I don't like it when ANY user on this site gets dissed and I particularly do not like it when it's a longtime user that a lot of us really do like.

It's like if you came up to me in real life and bitched at me about my mom. My mom has her moments and is not perfect, but doggone it, she's my MOM and you need to back off.

quonsar is not my mom, but he has become an online friend of mine, and I will defend him, period.

That is all.
posted by konolia at 6:25 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Well, not QUITE all.

I'm sorry you think it's all "cool kids on the block" to say that new users don't get him: to me, it is simply a fact. If you have history with a person, any person, in any venue, their actions will take on a different connotation than if it is someone you just met.

If you take that as being condescending, I suggest you put down the plate of beans.
posted by konolia at 6:28 PM on November 24, 2007

If you have history with a person, any person, in any venue, their actions will take on a different connotation than if it is someone you just met.

quonsar could be rather abrasive towards people, and although you may find reasons to overlook that - (and i don't really mind it myself as he's rarely directed it towards me and i know how to pay someone back) - not everyone is going to be so ready to make excuses for him, and it's disingenuous for you to pretend that this means that they "don't get him"

yes, i see there's more to quonsar than his being unpleasant or smartassed to others - but, frankly, that's the side he's chosen to present most of, and it's hardly a misinterpretation for people to feel that's his defining quality - even if you know of an underlying reason for it

he's had a certain social role here - and my wild guess is that he may have gotten sick of playing it - can't blame him for that
posted by pyramid termite at 6:39 PM on November 24, 2007

Still, I manage to get 80% of what's going on here. But not quonsar.

There is nothing to get, as several commenters have already stated. As soon as someone says "you just don't get it" without being abloe to explain themselves you can be sure they don't get it themselves.

And there are plenty of old timers who don't get it either, so this whole 'newbies will never get it' is a crock also.
posted by justgary at 6:41 PM on November 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

I suggest you put down the plate of beans.

Beans, whether on a plate, in a bowl or filling up a dump truck, have nothing to do with what Mid said. He's not overthinking anything here. He's simply thinking about your remarks, and commenting on them. I happen to agree with what he said, for the most part. The beans meme, aside from being played out, is completely not applicable here.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:57 PM on November 24, 2007

I'm oldish-timer, and I don't (didn't?) get quonsar either. Had fun picking on 111 with him (ah, good times), but lately just seen him as some sort of low-level contrarian without a whole lot to add.
posted by signal at 7:19 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

I DO get it, and the negative people ARE overthinking it.

And mostly they are overthinking quonsar. His comments are more performance art tnan anything else. I have a hard time explaining it because I have an even harder time understanding why anyone NEEDs an explanation.
posted by konolia at 7:28 PM on November 24, 2007

justgary writes "There is nothing to get, as several commenters have already stated. As soon as someone says 'you just don't get it' without being abloe to explain themselves you can be sure they don't get it themselves."

I agree in theory, but with quonsar, a lot of people have been trying to explain his je ne sais quoi. Saying "he's the jester who makes the jokes which are needed but others don't make", or "he was great at puncturing overinflated egos and arguments" and the like.

I never found any of his quotes insightful or laser-guided or whathaveyou. He just seemed like a dick making really obvious and insulting jokes and comments. But I do think it's unfair to characterize his proponents as having no arguments other than "you just don't get it".
posted by Bugbread at 7:36 PM on November 24, 2007

konolia writes "I have an even harder time understanding why anyone NEEDs an explanation."

That's because you're an idiot.

...

WAIT! Before you get all offended, I'm not calling you an idiot. I was just writing the kind of comment that quonsar wrote. Or, at least, the kind of comment that he came across to me as writing. Perhaps you found his comments much wittier and insightful, but my memories of him are pretty much on that "insult people bluntly in 10 words or less" level. So imagine that you found that comment offensive, but a lot of old MeFites said I was the court jester. You'd want an explanation. So, whether you agree with my characterization of him, hopefully you can understand why a lot of us NEED an explanation.
posted by Bugbread at 7:42 PM on November 24, 2007 [4 favorites]

I DO get it, and the negative people ARE overthinking it.

And mostly they are overthinking quonsar. His comments are more performance art tnan anything else.

How are they overthinking it?

From their perspective, they see a guy quite often (consistently?) being a combative jerk and conclude "Huh, that guy's a combative jerk."

Constant textual performance art is highly overrated, imho.
posted by CKmtl at 7:46 PM on November 24, 2007

And mostly they are overthinking quonsar. His comments are more performance art tnan anything else.

puleeeze

my fellow meower, raoul xemblinosky the III practically invented net.performance art in 1996 on usenet

quonsar's pretty good, but he's nowhere near that level - and lately, what i've seen from him has been pretty artless
posted by pyramid termite at 7:47 PM on November 24, 2007

CKmtl writes "How are they overthinking it?

"From their perspective, they see a guy quite often (consistently?) being a combative jerk and conclude 'Huh, that guy's a combative jerk.'"

Hehe.

"Boy, Bob sure seems like a jerk. I bet he's a jerk."
"No, you're overthinking it! The much simpler explanation is that he's a performance artist!"
posted by Bugbread at 7:49 PM on November 24, 2007 [5 favorites]

he's had a certain social role here

Exactly. He was the guy who would let out a loud resounding fart wheneever we took ourselves too seriously. And while we were friendly, he was never shy about letting me know when I was being a dick. That's fairness in action.

As for the 'only the oldtimers are defending him,' well, when the site was smaller, we all got to know eachother a lot better, so there was a different kind of cameraderie, not better neccessarily, but different.
posted by jonmc at 7:50 PM on November 24, 2007

Also people are responding to some "well, if you only knew about his backstoooory, and you know, the Pawtucket incident, you'd get it, but of course, we can't speak of those things here" build-up in this thread and others. Like maybe everything he said was a substitution cipher and we need the key to decode it to see why it was so smarty.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:55 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Like maybe everything he said was a substitution cipher and we need the key to decode it to see why it was so smarty.

I'm not making that argument. I only know bits and pieces of his 'backstory' and they're not mine to tell. I just know that at his best, his vulgarity and humor would be a resounding reminder that 'hey, whaddaya think, your saving the world? You're killing time at work, schmuck, dial it down and stop taking yourself so seriously!'

and we all need to hear that sometimes and I'll miss him for it.

(a few minutes ago I told pips 'EB's gone! Q's gone! I'm gonna pour a beer on the curb for my homies. She said that it's a sin to waste a beer, so I drank it instead.)
posted by jonmc at 8:04 PM on November 24, 2007

jonmc, just recycle- that beer'll be back around before long...
posted by pupdog at 8:10 PM on November 24, 2007

I have a hard time explaining it because I have an even harder time understanding why anyone NEEDs an explanation.

That's pretty thin, for an explanation.
posted by me & my monkey at 8:14 PM on November 24, 2007

He was the guy who would let out a loud resounding fart whenever we took ourselves too seriously.

I can see that, and I think there's a place for that. But I certainly don't think he had some sort of magic yardstick for determining exactly what "too seriously" is. There are too many examples, I think, of his ranting dismissals of other MeFier's comments and opinions, simply because they didn't meet with his particular standard of... what? I'm not sure, but it often seemed to be rooted in some feeling, on his part, that a lot of folks here are lily-livered, bleeding-heart aesthetes who can't see the error of their ways, stop their hand-wringing and climb aboard the rough-ridin', real man quonsar bus. The one that tears-ass through MeFi threads screaming all-caps insults and hurling cans out the window at the folks having the discussion by the roadside. And this latest business of calling people WHINING SHITBAGS because they don't happen to think torture is justifiable was this attitude taken to an absurd limit.

But I don't hate quonsar. I think his online persona has actually become something more deserving of pity than hate. Perhaps this line, from Richard Thompson's "God Loves a Drunk" could be applied charitably to many of quonsar's more abrasive and egregious outbursts:

His shouts and his curses
they're just hymns and praises
to kickstart his mind now and then...

Anyway, I reckon God loves quonsar.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:28 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

And, lest there be any doubt, of course he's coming back.

What is this, like his fifth departure? That must be part of the whole "jester" thing.
posted by Mid at 8:39 PM on November 24, 2007

flapjax, I'm not nominating him for sainthood. God knows he was off target sometimes, too, but you could say that about any of us. I'm just saying it was good to have him around and I'll miss him.
posted by jonmc at 8:39 PM on November 24, 2007

His name always makes me think of OnStar. And they creep me out. So, good riddance.

What?

Too soon?
posted by poweredbybeard at 8:58 PM on November 24, 2007

I'm not sure if I can say why, but quonsar is one of my favorite mefites. His wit and snark beat the hell out of the sanctimony of especially some previously ignited and banned long eared preacheress.
posted by scottymac at 9:21 PM on November 24, 2007

So, good riddance.

I hope he had the time of his life.
posted by hangashore at 9:24 PM on November 24, 2007

I remember Miguel, but not why he left. Not sure if I remember Bunnyfire. And there was a big thing about "Free Quonsar", but no matter how many bottlecaps I saved, I never got one.

The best part? None of you has the first clue who I am, or cares. Man, I wish I had the time and energy to be famous enough that anyone would notice if I left, let alone felt victorious and/or disappointed about it.
posted by Karmakaze at 9:41 PM on November 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

I wish SOMEBODY would explain his backstory.

Quonsar is Duclod Man.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:44 PM on November 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

jonmc: yeah, my comment wasn't meant as "why do people like the jerk", it was more "konolia, the reason people are asking for an explanation is because you and maybe someone else upthread made a song-and-dance about his mysterious backstory, which obviously just makes people curious".
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:18 PM on November 24, 2007

Haven't you heard? Low user numbers are out. The cool kids are buying high user numbers these days, just to be ornery. Surely that's q's plan. Because he was so, so concerned with being cool.
posted by waraw at 11:45 PM on November 24, 2007

His wit and snark beat the hell out of the sanctimony of especially some previously ignited and banned long eared preacheress.

Wit? What wit? Posting vulgar all-caps near non-sequiturs in threads that for whatever reason don't meet with his approval doesn't require wit. Seriously, how about a link to some wit in the last couple of years?
posted by Justinian at 12:44 AM on November 25, 2007

THERE IS A FISH! in my pants.
posted by Bugbread at 1:36 AM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Ahh, MeTa, a place I can turn to at 7:00am on a holiday weekend far from home and veg out for a few hours reading drama, drama, DRAMA!

I just needed to toss two cents in here because I needed to agree with Mid and flapjax and call you out, Konolia, for being awfully condescending to Googly's honest "wtf?" question. I've read this site since forever, but you know what, someone eloquently asking as part of the community "What the heck was his worth, anyway, cause I don't see it?" deserves something more thought out than "Pssh, if you have to ask, you'll never know, you newb." That's not community, and if you thought it was, you're the one who really needs to take a step back. Defending people might be what you thought you were doing, but you were in fact not, you were being a bleepity bleep bleep.

Times change, places change, groups change. This is 2007, and we're on your lawn, so either make nice with the new neighbors or press the button.

Wow, I was more worked up about this than I thought, condescending drama always brings out the ~~best~~ in me -- thanks MeTa!

(ps; Of course he'll be back, all of are darling starlets orbit Metafilter in such a fashion...)
posted by cavalier at 4:17 AM on November 25, 2007 [3 favorites]

I love it! A new MeFi rhetorical attack-- either step off or press the button.
posted by Mid at 4:59 AM on November 25, 2007

The evil opposite of Fred Rogers.
quonsar has no Mr. Rogers in him.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:48 AM on November 25, 2007

konolia writes "I have an even harder time understanding why anyone NEEDs an explanation."

That's because you're an idiot.

...
So imagine that you found that comment offensive, but a lot of old MeFites said I was the court jester. You'd want an explanation. So, whether you agree with my characterization of him, hopefully you can understand why a lot of us NEED an explanation.

Actually, no.

I take this place at face value, and I don't need explanations. Because I don't overthink it. It is what it is.
posted by konolia at 5:57 AM on November 25, 2007

Wit? What wit? Posting vulgar all-caps near non-sequiturs in threads that for whatever reason don't meet with his approval doesn't require wit. Seriously, how about a link to some wit in the last couple of years?

I think his ALL CAPS non-sequitur comments are/were funny pretty much every time. But I also think South Park is 'comfort food' of television.
posted by KokuRyu at 5:57 AM on November 25, 2007

So what's your Mr. Rogers level MB?
posted by jouke at 6:43 AM on November 25, 2007

You disappoint me, konolia. I know you're not an idiot, but you're sounding like one in this thread, and I'm pretty sure if quonsar were here he'd be mocking you mercilessly. Friendship does not mean pretending your friends are saints or attacking anyone who questions their sainthood, and the attempt is particularly ludicrous when it comes to quonsar, about whom I agree with jonmc.
posted by languagehat at 6:54 AM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Each and every one of us has a little piece of Mr. Rogers in 'em. Well, except, you know...
posted by Meatbomb at 7:02 AM on November 25, 2007

I found this Poem by Ted Hughes which i think may serve as some sort of funeral oration :

We're leaving together,
But still it's farewell
And maybe we'll come back,
To earth, who can tell?
I guess there is no one to blame
We're leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?

It's the final countdown...

We're heading for Venus and still we stand tall
Cause maybe they've seen us and welcome us all
With so many light years to go and things to be found
I'm sure that we'll all miss her so

It's the Final Countdown...
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:02 AM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

<quonsar>
WHY DON'T WE D-DO IT IN THE ROAD?
</quonsar>
posted by chlorus at 7:15 AM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

The best part? None of you has the first clue who I am, or cares.
posted by Karmakaze

I do. You were at a meetup. You like anime. So there.
posted by jonmc at 7:15 AM on November 25, 2007

You disappoint me, konolia.

Why?

Look, I am a right brained individual and I don't give out left brained explanations. And besides, it's a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.
posted by konolia at 7:20 AM on November 25, 2007

it's a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.

Wow, konolia and quonsar are all lovey-dovey. I wonder if I can find anything by them on XTube...
posted by KokuRyu at 7:47 AM on November 25, 2007

That was a quote from O Brother Where Art Thou. Not too lovey dovey, actually.
posted by konolia at 7:58 AM on November 25, 2007

Of course it won't be too lovey dovey. Deep down, we're always who we used to be. I express love, but deep down...deep down I'm just like mom without her Morality Core.

That doesn't mean I don't love most of you anyway. Because I do!
posted by Weighted Companion Cube at 8:03 AM on November 25, 2007 [2 favorites]

The only Coen brothers quote that has ever stuck with me (and I think it describes MetaFilter user profiles quite well):

Tom Reagan: Nobody knows anybody. Not that well.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:20 AM on November 25, 2007

Look, I am a right brained individual and I don't give out left brained explanations.

Have faith in the quonsar.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 8:31 AM on November 25, 2007

I believe in Mathowie, the Admin Almighty,
the Creator of Metafilter and Metatalk,
and in Quonsar, His only Son, our Jester:

Who was conceived of the Holy Snark,
born of the Jessamyn,
suffered under Cortex,
was warned, tempbanned, and permabanned.

He disabled his account.

The third day He arose again from the Fark.

He ascended into Metatalk
and sits at the right hand of Mathowie the Admin Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the newbs and the vets.

I believe in the Holy Snark, the holy Metafilter frontpage,
the questions of Ask Metafilter,
the forgiveness of flameouts,
the resurrection of the A-listers,
and archives everlasting.

Amen.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 8:41 AM on November 25, 2007 [11 favorites]

This whole site is going to crap.
posted by Balisong at 8:54 AM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Look, I am a right brained individual and I don't give out left brained explanations.

What does that even mean?
posted by jmd82 at 9:29 AM on November 25, 2007 [2 favorites]

It means s/he is emotional rather than rational. I think (GODWIN) was the same way.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:33 AM on November 25, 2007

The only Coen brothers quote that has ever stuck with me (and I think it describes MetaFilter user profiles quite well):

Tom Reagan: Nobody knows anybody. Not that well.

Ah, there's a good'un from their new film that you might find fits pretty well, too:

Wendell: It's a mess, ain't it, sheriff?

Ed Tom Bell: If it ain't, it'll do till the mess gets here.

posted by scody at 9:51 AM on November 25, 2007

konolia writes "Googly, you are out of line, and the sad thing is you will probably never figure out why."

He's not out of line. He's just taking quonsar at face value. You're just overthinking things. If you don't understand why some of us don't see what's so cool about quonsar, you never will. Maybe you should just decide not to worry about it. Googly's talking emotion, and you're a fool to look for logic in the chambers of the human heart.

If you take that as being condescending, I suggest you put down the plate of beans.
posted by Bugbread at 9:57 AM on November 25, 2007 [4 favorites]

He was the guy who would let out a loud resounding fart whenever we took ourselves too seriously.

I wonder if he let one rip when he hit The Button [dun-Dun-DUNNN!].
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:32 AM on November 25, 2007

Since we're at the quotation part of the thread I just wanted to throw out a heartfelt "quonsar: Yours is no disgrace."
posted by psmith at 10:38 AM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

14:19 <@quonsar> APPROACH AND GROPE THE ASS OF QUONSAR

So, you know, dude is alive and well, and that's pretty much that.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:24 AM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

*approaches, gropes the ass of quonsar*

I was blind, and now... I'm still blind, but there's something in my hand!
posted by languagehat at 11:32 AM on November 25, 2007 [2 favorites]

Closure and closure, the quonsar creeps, to call out our sins in the night, and in the day. We wait. We hope.
posted by cgc373 at 11:34 AM on November 25, 2007

cortex, let q and I cyber in peace, plz.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:36 AM on November 25, 2007

Ain't nothing gonna break his stride. Ain't nothing gonna slow him down. Oh no.
posted by psmith at 11:46 AM on November 25, 2007

That doesn't mean I don't love most of you anyway. Because I do!

I love you too, Weighted Companion Cube. Even though I threw you into the furnace without a second thought. And I cried because I was so happy for you.
posted by Justinian at 11:54 AM on November 25, 2007

I bet '10 to 1' that Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America (aka Mr. Look At Me. Attention Whore) is checking back frequently to see if anyone is still talking about him -- or, if anyone really cares.
posted by ericb at 12:14 PM on November 25, 2007

I think you missed the part where he came back.
posted by Mid at 12:40 PM on November 25, 2007

"I hope I die before I go deaf."

- Pete Townsend.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:06 PM on November 25, 2007

Each and every one of us has a little piece of Mr. Rogers in 'em.

i know i do

you have no idea how long it took me to get used to the smell before i choked mine down
posted by pyramid termite at 1:18 PM on November 25, 2007

I hate you all.
posted by pupdog at 1:29 PM on November 25, 2007

Ah, there's a good'un from their new film that you might find fits pretty well, too:
   Wendell: It's a mess, ain't it, sheriff?
   Ed Tom Bell: If it ain't, it'll do till the mess gets here.

Oh, no... there's a character in "No Country for Old Men" named Wendell.. and he's the Deputy. I can see where MY next meme is coming from.

   Wendell: Aw, hells bells. They even shot the dog!
posted by wendell at 1:45 PM on November 25, 2007

Buy this magazine or we'll shoot this MeFite?
posted by cgc373 at 1:51 PM on November 25, 2007

I quonsar have foresuffered all
enacted on this same divan or bed
I who sat by Thebes below the wall
and walked among the lowest of the dead.
posted by jouke at 3:16 PM on November 25, 2007

tkolar: The jester speaks the truths that would get the courtiers hung.

But most jesters are still just idiots. When they're right, it's by accident.

The idea of losing quonsar will end up being much more traumatic than actually losing quonsar. He never really contributed much on his own. His primary impact was always in what we said in our endless threads about him. His total verbiage is tiny.

E_B, OTOH -- man, there aren't many people who irritated more MeFites than he did. But as often as he irritated me, he did in fact "have the balls" to stand in there and take his licks for whatever irritating thing he'd said. I will miss him.
posted by lodurr at 3:23 PM on November 25, 2007

And unless he changes his mind, HE'S gone for good.
posted by konolia at 4:11 PM on November 25, 2007

And let me add he's gone because so many of you were so darned mean to him. And in his case I think totally uncalled for.
posted by konolia at 4:12 PM on November 25, 2007

One of the things that I've learned in 11 years of making websites is that some people get quite irrationally irritated about having to scroll.

Growing up in America with a larger than average functional vocabulary, I had already known for a long time that some people get really irritated when people use big words or long sentences. Especially if the sentences are written with correct grammar.

E_B often started down two pegs, in other words.
posted by lodurr at 4:18 PM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

And what disturbs me most right now is that all future communications from quonsar will come via konolia, which will probably be quite traumatic for her since it will include language she can't bring herself to transcribe... like, I know he didn't use the phrase "darned mean"...

Aside from the fact that I probably won't be his message runner, let me remind you I used to work third shift Waffle House right down the street from several strip joints, gay bars, and at least one Irish saloon-not to mention waiting on guys from the naval air station.

I've probably heard words that Tom Waits hasn't even come across yet.
posted by konolia at 4:42 PM on November 25, 2007

E_B often started down two pegs, in other words.

Life is short and one can only waste so much time on people who would rather speak than be heard--especially when it comes with far too much personal information and at such biblical length. People who constantly talk about themselves in such excruciating detail often draw fire. And yet they never seem to get that Too Much Information Enough-about-Me-Let's-talk-About-Me Alzheimer's part is a huge part of the irritation.

And, too, in my experience, EB was nastiest member I can remember to those who ever criticized him even in the most oblique way. No one here has said close to as many nasty things to me or about me as he did. Cross him, and he was malice incarnate. Malice incarnate with the thinnest of skins. I won't miss him.
posted by y2karl at 4:56 PM on November 25, 2007

And let me add he's gone because so many of you were so darned mean to him. And in his case I think totally uncalled for.

I'm not sure if you are referring to EB or quonsar but both of them were, on occasion, the meanest long term members of this site both with redeeming characteristics but oy the meanness!

EB had an awful lot to contribute but he got away with some pretty horrible name-calling because on the balance with his other contributions it seemed like small stuff and he was clearly trying to communicate something. On the other hand, that sort of "fuck you and everyone like you" approach to dealing with people, even intolerant people, really sets a tone here that I think a lot of people found very off-putting. I'm sorry to lose any member who wants to stick around because I believe that there are many things we can work through as a community but dealing with really long heartfelt comments that ended with brief, pointed and nasty attacks on other members was something that I will not miss in the short term.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:07 PM on November 25, 2007

And unless he changes his mind, HE'S gone for good.

well, unless i change my mind, i'm going to post this

if you're going to be someone's sockpuppet, please do it with some information that isn't so obvious and trite, will you?

in fact, maybe you should just stop - we're trying to bury mr quonsar and you keep digging him back up
posted by pyramid termite at 5:19 PM on November 25, 2007

Pyramid termite, you're standing in the wrong grave. I was talking about EB there.
posted by konolia at 5:37 PM on November 25, 2007

Pyramid termite, you're standing in the wrong grave. I was talking about EB there.

(Besides, seriously: If you truly did try to bury quonsar I can see it being just like that scene in Kill Bill 2 where the Bride punches out of her coffin, digs herself out of her grave, goes across the street, and dustily but politely requests a glass of water.)
posted by konolia at 5:39 PM on November 25, 2007

I've probably heard words that Tom Waits hasn't even come across yet.
Yes, but I'm sure you avoid forwarding them unaltered. Please don't take me too seriously.

And if q's upset by what has been said here, we DID come here to bury quonsar, not to praise him, and unlike that dude who was romantically linked to Cleopatra but is now married to J.Lo, we actually did what we said.

But seriously, if he is really hurt, then he has changed even more lately than was apparent.

And let me say to him if he is still reading, I still love him in a totally non-gay way like he was my (slightly) older brother who would've gotten me into so much trouble as a kid, and I wish you'd hung around and posted some more in Music.

I'm just glad we don't have an official "Ethereal Bligh's gone" thread, because that would distract from the important things going on in regard to... uh... what important things are going on?
posted by wendell at 5:41 PM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Can we get Konolia access to different colored text so we can keep track of who she's supposedly speaking for in her comments? It's getting confusing.

Also PinkStainlessTail told me to tell you all that you shouldn't listen to a goddamned thing I say. But then that guy was always an asshole.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:49 PM on November 25, 2007

I always speak for myself. Occasionally I tell what I know, but if I type it, it's from ME.
posted by konolia at 5:54 PM on November 25, 2007

So to summarize: nice Church Lady who "[doesn't] like it when ANY user on this site gets dissed" is the official sockpuppet-by-proxy for a guy who, after behaving like a titanic boor for longer than most people have been here, leaves because so many of those people "were so darned mean to him."

Can we put a fork in this one?
posted by Armitage Shanks at 5:59 PM on November 25, 2007 [2 favorites]

Pyramid termite, you're standing in the wrong grave. I was talking about EB there.

you'd better watch it then - you could get carpal tunnel being his sockpuppet
posted by pyramid termite at 6:01 PM on November 25, 2007 [2 favorites]

As a long time reader I often felt that I needed a "quonsar decoder ring" to figure out the purpose of some of his posts. So I took my magic ring and went through the archive of his comments.

My ring began to shoot smoke, fried the fish, and I'm no closer to deciding if the pitchfork and tar or the halo is the myth I should follow.

He added to the joint as is seen by this lengthy thread and that says something. What it says is that he has given life to the forum above and beyond the kerfluffle that would be here without him.

Easy to shoot this down, I know, but even a cranky uncle at a family gathering will be missed.
posted by stirfry at 6:31 PM on November 25, 2007

Easy to shoot this down, I know, but even a cranky uncle at a family gathering will be missed.

Exactly, a person, someone we have become to know and love, like a character on a TV show, his absence is a diminishment to the common culture. The absence of his rancor is less so. And stop picking on konolia, it's like a Civil War re-enactment of bear baiting already. She's just another lost soul tring to make sense of the never ending changes. There is a great deal to be said about continuity. Quonsar's contributed a great deal here in his own way. As do we all.
posted by y2karl at 6:48 PM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

even a cranky uncle at a family gathering will be missed

Maybe at first, but usually with a few tries you can hit 'em...
posted by pupdog at 6:49 PM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

konolia said: And let me add he's gone because so many of you were so darned mean to him. And in his case I think totally uncalled for.

I was talking about EB there.

konolia, did you even read the comments that preceded EB's flameout in the thread where it happened? He was making extremely nasty personal attacks on several people who were trying to voice their opinions. (I was one of the people he attacked, so I'm not unbiased here, but I tried to respond to him in good faith). In the end, he couldn't sustain his arguments against the number of people who were calling him out on his bad behavior, so he left. If you're trying to make him out to be the victim, I think you are very misguided.
posted by amyms at 6:51 PM on November 25, 2007

And unless he changes his mind, HE'S gone for good.

I would be willing to bet you all of the money in the world that he's not gone for good. I would be willing to bet you all of the money in my pocket that he's reading this right now.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:13 PM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

And unless he changes his mind, HE'S gone for good.

That's possibly the oddest sentence I've read today.

And unless I wear clothes, I'LL aways be naked.
And unless I die, I'LL live forever.
And unless I order the salad, I'M always having the soup.
And unless I stop writing these goofy sentences, I'LL always be writing these goofy sentences, forevar!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:33 PM on November 25, 2007 [3 favorites]

I would be willing to bet you all of the money in the world that he's not gone for good.
What, all this drama and then returning? No. No I say.
posted by jouke at 7:44 PM on November 25, 2007

Don't you go changing Alvy Ampersand! Unless you change, that is.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:49 PM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

That's possibly the oddest sentence I've read today.

Well, not necessarily. I think what konolia is saying is that, to her knowledge, his current feeling is not that he's taking some time away, to return eventually, but that he's done for good.

It seems a little redundant, because it's clear from his (second) signoff that it actually is a signoff, and that should he then return in the future he would have to change his mind—so we're not being provided with information here. But I'd say it's reaching a bit to paint the phrase as all that weird.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:11 PM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Guh? Swap the halves of the sentence: And unless he changes his mind, HE'S gone for good vs And HE's gone for good, unless he changes his mind. Both are completely redundant, just the former one has the oomph of a dramatic ending that detracts from... the, ah... uh...

...h-how the hell do you know what I've read today?!?

Hope I didn't ruin the latest issue of The Walking Dead for you.
And sorry about the whole no-pants thing.
*Lowers blinds*
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:34 PM on November 25, 2007

well, I am not going to let Konolia defend q all on her own, as nice a job as she has done. q is the ultimate big hearted doberman. he barks big, he is funnier than almost anyone here, he hurts your feelings, he hurts everybody's feelings, he hurt Matt's feelings big, but if you want to know how big Matt is just look back over their interactions, that is BIG. q is kind of a changed man, but still the same person. I think he truly regrets some of his recent mean snarks, not the funny and not so mean ones, but the not so funny and pretty mean ones. that is why he is away. I hope he finds grace and rejoins our little dysfunctional lost ship at sea. he always made the knowledge that we probably were not going to be rescued a little easier to stomach. life, she's a tough. here's hoping q is tougher, he sure is funnier. anyway, he's smart enough to know that he can ignore the haters and call strength from the supporters.
posted by caddis at 8:38 PM on November 25, 2007 [4 favorites]

The point is that what he'd be changing his mind about is not "being gone"—clearly, with the account closure, that is fact—but being gone for good, i.e. not coming back.

vronsky closed his account; vronsky said in email that he may well be back eventually. So, unless he changes his mind [on the subject of whether he will or will not return], it's not clear if he's gone for good.

See?
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:50 PM on November 25, 2007

this is so fuck.
posted by exlotuseater at 9:52 PM on November 25, 2007

Don't you go changing Alvy Ampersand!
Sorry. I already changed him.
To Alvy. Awesome. Ampersand. (&!)
It's almost frightening how all the threads here are dovetailing together. Or I really have gone barking mad.
*scratches ear with leg*
posted by wendell at 10:09 PM on November 25, 2007

And unless he changes his mind, HE'S gone for good.

I would be willing to bet you all of the money in the world that he's not gone for good. I would be willing to bet you all of the money in my pocket that he's reading this right now.

TPS, make that bet winnable; put your money where your mouth is. Set a time table and I'll give you a figure and we'll see. Say, year end and $20? Or 6 mos and $50? (Diminishing returns are necessarily acknowledged, and as someone friendly with him it's against my interest to convince him either way, not valid in Texas, ymmv.)
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:05 PM on November 25, 2007

In my mind he still has a capital Q.
posted by Balisong at 11:23 PM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

I would be willing to bet you all of the money in the world that he's not gone for good. I would be willing to bet you all of the money in my pocket that he's reading this right now.

TPS, make that bet winnable; put your money where your mouth is.

Don't do it, TPS.

Chances are he didn't read it until moments after you pressed "post comment".
posted by dreamsign at 11:34 PM on November 25, 2007

Beautifully said, Caddis.
posted by LarryC at 12:06 AM on November 26, 2007

I had a dream last night that I was reading MetaTalk and that there was a quonsar-is-deceased thread... like, funeral dead (have I ever mentioned that my dreams are hideously boring? Seriously. A typical dream for me is that I'm walking down a street near my house and I run into a coworker and we talk about the weather. I stay awake to escape the boredom of my dreams).

Anyway, so quonsar had passed away and I clicked my way into the thread and commented: "LESS CRYING MORE BLOWJOBS"

You know, when I die I wouldn't mind that as an epitaph at all.
posted by Kattullus at 12:46 AM on November 26, 2007 [2 favorites]

Kattullus, That is so funny... because those words... are in my dreams too... but in the dreams I'm a little girl again somehow and it seems so real...
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:54 AM on November 26, 2007

Oh great, I guess it's self-immolation time again.

oww! oww! ouch! oww! don't mind me just oww! burning up with ouch! shame here ahhh! my eyeballs are bursting!
posted by Kattullus at 1:09 AM on November 26, 2007

Alvy,

That sentence struck me as surreal, too, but I think cortex is right. It seems like the sentence is a truism, but in specific cases, it actually isn't.

For example, if I say "I'm going on vacation for two weeks", then I'll be gone, and yet without changing my mind, I'll come back.
If I say "I'm quitting forever", then I'll be gone, and I must change my mind to come back.

ThePinkSuperhero writes "I would be willing to bet you all of the money in the world that he's not gone for good. I would be willing to bet you all of the money in my pocket that he's reading this right now."

Really? You think EB is reading a 400 comment about quonsar?

I'm sure EB is at the site, reading some threads, but I can't see enormous "WTF, quonsar" threads as one of them.
posted by Bugbread at 1:43 AM on November 26, 2007

Sad times, sad times.

The big red button, now that it's there, looks more and more inviting. The ol' place just doesn't seem the same any more and it's not just because of quonsar. I expect that soon there will be a point where, for a lot of us, MeFi just won't be the place we hold fond memories of in our hearts. That's fine, though - all things must change and progress doesn't always suit all of us. I guess the way things are now suits more people than are sad at the passing of the old ways, so that seems fair enough.

Getting old sucks. MeFi growing up and not needing us any more sucks a lot.
posted by dg at 1:48 AM on November 26, 2007 [1 favorite]

You almost had me caddis, right up until the end.

quonsar was no swaggering anti-hero, pricking egos and bringing people down to earth in a gallant attempt to improve all of our lives - he was an idiot playing to the peanut gallery. He didn't miss the mark so often because his art was so edgy, so raw, that it inherently rode a fine line between genius and stupidity - he missed because he didn't care what he wrote as long as he got a snicker from those awed that he had the balls to say some of the things he did.

quonsar was Bart Simpson, disrupting conversations that he had no other way of participating in by putting his hand under his armpit and making fart noises.
posted by benzo8 at 2:30 AM on November 26, 2007 [2 favorites]

I wrote one of those long (we're talking "EB long") half-baked internet amateur pop psychologist essays about quonsar, but as I was previewing it my computer crashed, and that hasn't happened in months. So I took it as a sign to leave well enough alone. googly and bugbread described my exact thoughts on the subject much more elonquently than I could have anyway.

But I'll just say this instead: If it weren't for quonsar, madamjujujive wouldn't be here. I think she mentioned a long time ago that she found MeFi through following quonsar, whose writing/sense of humor she enjoyed. So we all owe him one, even those of us who didn't particularly care for his style (or lack thereof).
posted by Devils Slide at 3:38 AM on November 26, 2007

All these apologias to "q" -- they really do nothing but emphasize how much the legend had come to supplant the man. Not only is quonsar not really quonsar, he never really was.

The myth of quonsar replaced quonsar himself some years ago. Whatever "the man q" is or was like is quite irrelevant to what he was (and is -- he's still here as long as we keep perpetuating his myth with long threads like this one). For several years now, it's been true that if you say anything negative about quonsar people will crawl out of the woodwork to cry out "but you don't really know quonsar" or chuckle knowingly "yeh, that quonsar, he sure gets under people's skins, [insert optional Diogenes or Jester reference]." None of which has really ever been supported by the textual evidence, as far as I could see in the time that I've been reading or participating. But all that's been said already. And lost in the raw volume of quonsar apologia.

quonsar on MeFi would be a great case-study in the cult of personality. There's a senior thesis for some clever undergraduate mefite in the comparison of de facto social networks marshaled around quonsar and Ethereal Bligh, and the language used to attack/defend each. Look at the difference between how exits are received: There's almost an inverse relationship between people who'll "miss" E_B/Keith/kmellis, and people who'll "miss" quonsar. People can take a "foole", but they can't stand someone being serious. As though there's a difference.

Fooles are about drama, too, they just disguise it as comedy. "Look at me look at me!" is still just as much drama when you're doing a pratfall (or when you imagine that you're seeing the emperor naked) as it is when you're giving a speech.
posted by lodurr at 3:45 AM on November 26, 2007 [2 favorites]

Devils Slide writes "I wrote one of those long (we're talking 'EB long') half-baked internet amateur pop psychologist essays about quonsar, but as I was previewing it my computer crashed, and that hasn't happened in months."

Sounds like you used up all the computer RAM. Remember, the average length of a word in English is 5 letters. Each letter is a byte, so with 2 gigabytes of RAM, you're limited to a mere 400,000,000 words.

Conclusion: Get more RAM.
posted by Bugbread at 4:20 AM on November 26, 2007

Sounds like you used up all the computer RAM. Remember, the average length of a word in English is 5 letters. Each letter is a byte, so with 2 gigabytes of RAM, you're limited to a mere 400,000,000 words.

I know. I need at least 700 times that for a proper diatribe.
posted by Devils Slide at 4:27 AM on November 26, 2007

TPS, make that bet winnable; put your money where your mouth is.

Don't do it, TPS.

I could bet all the money in my pockets, because, as last night, I don't have any money in my pockets :-D
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:36 AM on November 26, 2007 [1 favorite]

I could bet all the money in my pockets, because, as last night, I don't have any money in my pockets

I knew it!

And yeah, bugbread & cortex, I see what y'all are saying. Buuut, while I wish vronsky all the best in his abscence, which I hope will just be a short sabbatical, and concede that 'Gone for good, unless he changes his mind' wouldn't be wonky if applied to him, the conditions leading up to EB's dramatic exit and its execution definitely had a sense of certain finality to it.
Well, dramatic exits, I guess.

And, just to keep this ball rolling, I agree with what caddis said. I took a holiday from MeFi a while back because I felt I wasn't contributing in a constructive way and it was negatively affecting my opinion of the site. I wasn't getting anything good out of it and wouldn't until I changed my perspective. quonsar's too smart to buy into the game of haters/supporters, and never struck me as the type of guy who'd do anything unless he hanged-well wanted to, popular opinion fer or agin' him be damned.

Wendell: Thanks for the rechristening, but my hand already starts to cramp up when I sign cheques. :)
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:25 AM on November 26, 2007

So quonsar leaves but so does Ethereal Bligh?

Damn this monkey's paw!
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:43 PM on November 26, 2007

I read this as "elongquently," which seems entirely appropriate.

Heh. I really miss the spell check feature.
posted by Devils Slide at 9:30 PM on November 26, 2007

...while I wish vronsky all the best in his abscence, which I hope will just be a short sabbatical...

It better be, that was questionable timing on his behalf in the context of some personal exchanges...

/shakes fist at disabled vronsky account
posted by prostyle at 10:22 AM on November 28, 2007

And unless he changes his mind, HE'S gone for good.

You sound as if you're mistaking quonsar for the risen body of Christ, Konolia.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:53 AM on November 29, 2007

And your point is ?
posted by y2karl at 11:00 AM on November 29, 2007

You sound as if you're mistaking quonsar for the risen body of Christ, Konolia

Sounds like you are mistaking my comment about EB for one about quonsar.
posted by konolia at 1:00 PM on November 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

Well, it sounds like you're mistaking my comment about you for one about my cat and I don't even know where I'm going with this to be honest
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:08 PM on November 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

Well, since it didn't GO anywhere maybe that's a good thing. ;-)
posted by konolia at 2:32 PM on November 29, 2007

Well, y'all are keeping this thread GOing, that's fer sure!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:56 PM on November 29, 2007

I found mefi via blort, and seeing quonsar go makes me sad.
posted by flabdablet at 5:19 PM on December 4, 2007 [1 favorite]

I found blort via mefi, and being sad makes me go a quonsar.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:24 PM on December 4, 2007

He's back! Yay quonsar!!
posted by Meatbomb at 5:14 AM on December 5, 2007

He's back!

???

Not according to his profile.
posted by grumblebee at 5:50 AM on December 5, 2007

Just fucking with you, grumblebee, sorry.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:36 PM on December 5, 2007

No worries. It was fun. Do it again.
posted by grumblebee at 1:41 PM on December 5, 2007

Can I pay Matt an extra $5 to migrate all of Quansar's posts to my own account? I'm trying to beef up my numbers.
posted by HotPatatta at 2:09 PM on December 5, 2007

Why would you pay five dollars for nothing? He hasn't made any posts, just a couple of comments.
posted by tellurian at 3:16 PM on December 6, 2007

So hungry...
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 1:27 PM on December 21, 2007

What, are you some kind of last word freak?
posted by team lowkey at 1:48 AM on December 22, 2007

No, but I am.
posted by wendell at 3:10 AM on December 22, 2007

As am I.
posted by tellurian at 3:28 AM on December 22, 2007

you will not, wendell
posted by pyramid termite at 4:01 AM on December 22, 2007 [1 favorite]

Oh, yeah. Where's homunculus when you need him?
posted by cgc373 at 4:42 AM on December 22, 2007

He's maybe on his way, maybe not. Anyway, you got me. For what that's worth.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:31 AM on December 22, 2007

Which ain't much.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:32 AM on December 22, 2007

L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg killed a disabled quonsar in the cellar with a Chianti Flask.
posted by tellurian at 5:36 AM on December 22, 2007

You know, I just don't understand people posting in threads that have been moldering in the root cellar for weeks and are about to be hauled off to the dump. What's the point? What do they get out of it? Have they, at long last, no decency left?
posted by languagehat at 7:23 AM on December 22, 2007

D'oh!
posted by languagehat at 7:23 AM on December 22, 2007

What's the point? What do they get out of it?

we could tell you - but then we'd have to kill you

the thin man is getting fat - repeat, the fat man is getting thin
posted by pyramid termite at 7:58 AM on December 22, 2007

I like these little moments . . . of calm . . . before the storm.
posted by cgc373 at 8:03 AM on December 22, 2007

Something something workout video something something hollywood swashbuckler something something "Thin Like Flynn" etc.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:07 AM on December 22, 2007

I drank too much coffee this morning.
posted by ardgedee at 8:24 AM on December 22, 2007

I drank just enough coffee this morning.
posted by languagehat at 11:27 AM on December 22, 2007

I've smoked far too little hashish this evening.
posted by Meatbomb at 11:56 AM on December 22, 2007

In honor of the original subject of this thread, we all have a fish in our pants today.

Smock.
posted by wendell at 12:10 PM on December 22, 2007 [1 favorite]

Is this the thread where I can find out if it's Christmas yet?
posted by miss lynnster at 12:57 PM on December 22, 2007

No, this is the thread where you find out if it's World Orgasm Day. The answer is yes. Get to work.
posted by wendell at 1:07 PM on December 22, 2007

Have any of the vanished ones returned?
posted by Kattullus at 3:56 PM on December 22, 2007

I wish Burhanistan would. I miss him.

I don't miss Vronsky hitting on me, though. He got kinda creepy sometimes.
posted by miss lynnster at 5:17 PM on December 22, 2007

* hits on miss lynsnster, just because *
posted by yhbc at 8:36 PM on December 22, 2007

See, that's why I never did well on the dating scene - remember boys, spelling counts!
posted by yhbc at 8:37 PM on December 22, 2007

Wait, we have to be able to spell and count? Pff. Forget that.

Wait, again. Unless maybe the spell-count thing is where w00t is from, with its numbers and letters. If that's the case, if it's letters and numbers for W00T, then I'm in again. W00T!
posted by cgc373 at 11:45 PM on December 22, 2007

How old is w00t, anyway? Some cursory searching didn't turn up anything older than 2ooo. Anyone know?
posted by Kattullus at 5:00 AM on December 23, 2007

The history of w00t.
posted by languagehat at 6:14 AM on December 23, 2007

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