nice trick April 1, 2008 7:11 AM Subscribe
nice trick
[spoilers redacted]
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble
or, perhaps just as irritating as everything else on 4/1.
posted by garlic at 7:15 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by garlic at 7:15 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
At least I've confirmed I'm not going insane this morning. Yet.
posted by divka at 7:16 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by divka at 7:16 AM on April 1, 2008
i thought i was going mad for a second.
posted by medium format at 7:16 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by medium format at 7:16 AM on April 1, 2008
I think I'm going blind.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:17 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:17 AM on April 1, 2008
Nicely subtle for an April Fool's joke.
posted by echo target at 7:18 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by echo target at 7:18 AM on April 1, 2008
I chuckled after I figured out my monitor wasn't fried. Good job.
posted by demiurge at 7:18 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by demiurge at 7:18 AM on April 1, 2008
I seriously thought there was something wrong with my monitor.
posted by SpacemanStix at 7:18 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by SpacemanStix at 7:18 AM on April 1, 2008
Did you guys update your graphics card drivers recently? I'm not seeing what you're seeing.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:18 AM on April 1, 2008 [15 favorites]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:18 AM on April 1, 2008 [15 favorites]
WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH MY SCREEN AND/OR EYES?
*goes into seizure*
posted by loquacious at 7:20 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
*goes into seizure*
posted by loquacious at 7:20 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
evil.
posted by Reverend John at 7:20 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Reverend John at 7:20 AM on April 1, 2008
Did you guys update your graphics card drivers recently? I'm not seeing what you're seeing.
You think you're sneaky dontcha?
posted by brevator at 7:20 AM on April 1, 2008
You think you're sneaky dontcha?
posted by brevator at 7:20 AM on April 1, 2008
If you're using a DVI connection, every few months you should unplug it from your computer, put the plug up to your mouth (put your t-shirt over it first) and blow out the dust. It's kinda like the old NES cartridges, but when you get a bunch of dust in a DVI cable, you can get color shifts.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:23 AM on April 1, 2008 [8 favorites]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:23 AM on April 1, 2008 [8 favorites]
/is lost
posted by sourwookie at 7:23 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by sourwookie at 7:23 AM on April 1, 2008
oh ok, you got me... I just got a new monitor at work, too, and I was dreading the call to our not-so-helpful helpdesk.
posted by desjardins at 7:24 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by desjardins at 7:24 AM on April 1, 2008
Did you just install any Greasemonkey scripts? Have you tried deleting your cookies?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:25 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:25 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
I am totally stealing your javascript.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:25 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by shakespeherian at 7:25 AM on April 1, 2008
The real pisser is that this has made very obvious that I have 2 dead pixels. THEY ARE ALL I SEE NOW.
posted by boo_radley at 7:27 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by boo_radley at 7:27 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
It's not your graphics card, it's Hotmail. Hotmail did it.
posted by grouse at 7:28 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by grouse at 7:28 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
Alright. Who's the wiseguy?
posted by horsewithnoname at 7:29 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by horsewithnoname at 7:29 AM on April 1, 2008
Oh...ha ha! LMAOROFLOL!!!
(um...what the fuck?)
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:30 AM on April 1, 2008
(um...what the fuck?)
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:30 AM on April 1, 2008
I think this is nvidia specific; there was some mumbling on Slashdot about it, I think, a firmware hack if your browser is out of date. Matt's on a Mac with a different chipset, IIRC, so whatever this exploit is may not affect him. So Safari is good for something, I guess.
FF 2.0.0.12, XP, fwiw.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:31 AM on April 1, 2008
FF 2.0.0.12, XP, fwiw.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:31 AM on April 1, 2008
Am I missing something because I'm using the 'plain' theme?
posted by ardgedee at 7:35 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ardgedee at 7:35 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
I didn't notice it until my second cup of coffee.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:35 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:35 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
I like how it only seems to happen after I click away to another tab and then come back. And start bleeding a little around the cornea.
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:36 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:36 AM on April 1, 2008
HAI GUYZ IM POSTING ON TH PINK
posted by hangashore at 7:38 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by hangashore at 7:38 AM on April 1, 2008
And start bleeding a little around the cornea.
IANAD, but you probably want to go to the hospital there.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:38 AM on April 1, 2008
IANAD, but you probably want to go to the hospital there.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:38 AM on April 1, 2008
/files eye strain class action
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:40 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:40 AM on April 1, 2008
Man, I thought it was all the drugs I took this morning before work. Or I was having a stroke. Or both.
Actually, I'm still not convinced that isn't the case.
posted by quin at 7:42 AM on April 1, 2008
Actually, I'm still not convinced that isn't the case.
posted by quin at 7:42 AM on April 1, 2008
Oh, delayed reaction -- I see it now. Well, that kinda sucks. You can stop doing that anytime you like, actually.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:42 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:42 AM on April 1, 2008
I actually fell for it, I cannot believe it! After I was looking for it earlier and telling my friend what you did last year... and then I come back from work and fall for it!!
Pretty cool tho.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 7:44 AM on April 1, 2008
Pretty cool tho.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 7:44 AM on April 1, 2008
The secret word is "make it stop". Do a find-in-page on your browser and you should find the way out.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:44 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:44 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
I see nothing out of the ordinary. But I'm not very observant.
posted by dobbs at 7:44 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by dobbs at 7:44 AM on April 1, 2008
Oh I see. It gets worse. Clever.
See you guys tomorrow. Aqua I can take. But a pink MeTa? There are rules in this world that really shouldn't be broken. Not ever.
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:46 AM on April 1, 2008
See you guys tomorrow. Aqua I can take. But a pink MeTa? There are rules in this world that really shouldn't be broken. Not ever.
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:46 AM on April 1, 2008
Oh, Suuuuure, matt. You don't think we're going to fall for that, do you?
posted by horsewithnoname at 7:48 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by horsewithnoname at 7:48 AM on April 1, 2008
Color me confused. I don't notice any difference at all. But I use the plain theme. Upon switching to regualar view, I don't notice anything, either, but I haven't looked at the site with a colored background in so long that I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be seeing.
posted by dersins at 7:49 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by dersins at 7:49 AM on April 1, 2008
I like the look after about five minutes. Can we keep it?
posted by LionIndex at 7:50 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by LionIndex at 7:50 AM on April 1, 2008
Apparently I'm not missing something because I'm using the 'plain' theme. Besides the eyestrain.
posted by ardgedee at 7:51 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by ardgedee at 7:51 AM on April 1, 2008
um, screenshot for plain theme users?
I'm using plain theme, and I'm getting it.
posted by LionIndex at 7:51 AM on April 1, 2008
I'm using plain theme, and I'm getting it.
posted by LionIndex at 7:51 AM on April 1, 2008
oh, it only works if you don't click around or whatever. I'm not that type of person unless I'm brushing my teeth.
posted by dobbs at 7:52 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by dobbs at 7:52 AM on April 1, 2008
i freaked out thinking something is wrong with my screen. and then i saw other windows being different.
posted by olya at 7:52 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by olya at 7:52 AM on April 1, 2008
disable bookmarklet:
javascript:void(changeLinkColor=function(){})
/buzzkill
posted by anomie at 7:53 AM on April 1, 2008
javascript:void(changeLinkColor=function(){})
/buzzkill
posted by anomie at 7:53 AM on April 1, 2008
this is getting ugly - no, i really mean it - UGLY
posted by pyramid termite at 7:53 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by pyramid termite at 7:53 AM on April 1, 2008
nerds.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:54 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:54 AM on April 1, 2008
I just thought it was my net connection and kept refreshing - in my defense, it's actually April 2 here!
screenshots:
one
two
three
(it just keeps slowly changing colour)
posted by jacalata at 7:59 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
screenshots:
one
two
three
(it just keeps slowly changing colour)
posted by jacalata at 7:59 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
Everyone who has commented that they don't get it has just confessed to not ever reading conversations before posting.
So let's kill them.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:59 AM on April 1, 2008
So let's kill them.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:59 AM on April 1, 2008
You're a filthy lot of wretches. And I love you for it. :)
posted by zennie at 8:02 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by zennie at 8:02 AM on April 1, 2008
Ok, thanks for the explanation. I constantly click between the three and haven't noticed anything. I really need to learn some patience grasshopper! Neat trick!
posted by pearlybob at 8:02 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by pearlybob at 8:02 AM on April 1, 2008
I like to read what the users of the site have written, and this joke says to me that the users' content is less important than the amusement of the people running the site. It's like a thread hijack, only it's the whole site that's lost.
Hit the refresh button.
posted by LionIndex at 8:03 AM on April 1, 2008
Hit the refresh button.
posted by LionIndex at 8:03 AM on April 1, 2008
Everyone who has commented that they don't get it has just confessed to not ever reading conversations before posting.
Or has Javascript turned off since I'm testing graceful degradation in another tab. :D Thanks anomie, & jacalata for screenshots
posted by romakimmy at 8:04 AM on April 1, 2008
Or has Javascript turned off since I'm testing graceful degradation in another tab. :D Thanks anomie, & jacalata for screenshots
posted by romakimmy at 8:04 AM on April 1, 2008
For a second there I thought everyone was just pretending to see something that I couldn't see and that was what the joke was.
And then after a few more seconds I started squinting so yeah, neato.
posted by like_neon at 8:05 AM on April 1, 2008
And then after a few more seconds I started squinting so yeah, neato.
posted by like_neon at 8:05 AM on April 1, 2008
This joke kinda sucks. I like to read what the users of the site have written, and this joke says to me that the users' content is less important than the amusement of the people running the site. It's like a thread hijack, only it's the whole site that's lost.
You probably didn't catch my earlier comment, so I'll make it more explicit. There is a make it stop link in the footer.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:05 AM on April 1, 2008
You probably didn't catch my earlier comment, so I'll make it more explicit. There is a make it stop link in the footer.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:05 AM on April 1, 2008
Oh I guess I should say I have the plain theme which is why I didn't quite get it at first but I must say that the plain theme execution is more subtle and neato-er.
posted by like_neon at 8:06 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by like_neon at 8:06 AM on April 1, 2008
Can we un-make it stop? I hit the link out of curiosity and now want to make it go!
posted by pearlybob at 8:08 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by pearlybob at 8:08 AM on April 1, 2008
How Clever You All Must Feel! Sorry, it's no Super Pii Pii Brothers.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 8:09 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 8:09 AM on April 1, 2008
[this is NOT a Jackass Move]
Thank you for recognizing the difference between a prank, and telling a lie.
posted by alana at 8:09 AM on April 1, 2008
Thank you for recognizing the difference between a prank, and telling a lie.
posted by alana at 8:09 AM on April 1, 2008
Can we un-make it stop?
I believe the stop-making creates a cookie. So look for that, and remove it!
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:11 AM on April 1, 2008
I believe the stop-making creates a cookie. So look for that, and remove it!
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:11 AM on April 1, 2008
looks again at her screenshots, feels horribly embarrassed realising it shows she is currently working on 'theses', 'procrastination', and three tabs of metafilter.
posted by jacalata at 8:11 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by jacalata at 8:11 AM on April 1, 2008
but I haven't looked at the site with a colored background in so long
Dude, please. African-American background.
posted by klangklangston at 8:12 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
Dude, please. African-American background.
posted by klangklangston at 8:12 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
Can we un-make it stop?
There's no Make It Start link, but you can remove the "STOPIT" cookie by hand to start it. So that and blowing on your DVI cable should take care of it.
posted by pb (staff) at 8:12 AM on April 1, 2008
There's no Make It Start link, but you can remove the "STOPIT" cookie by hand to start it. So that and blowing on your DVI cable should take care of it.
posted by pb (staff) at 8:12 AM on April 1, 2008
Refresh helps, but not if you're halfway down a long thread. And then the fix is clicking on a comment time stamp and refreshing. It's still a pain in the ass and I think it's basically an f-u to the users.
When I hit refresh, it just refreshes it at the same point on the page that I'm already at.
posted by LionIndex at 8:13 AM on April 1, 2008
When I hit refresh, it just refreshes it at the same point on the page that I'm already at.
posted by LionIndex at 8:13 AM on April 1, 2008
It's still a pain in the ass and I think it's basically an f-u to the users.
It's a "fuck you" (we can swear here, you know) to users who aren't bright enough to figure out what's happening, or read the damned thread about what's happening. As such, anyone who regards this as a "fuck you" rather deserves it.
posted by klangklangston at 8:14 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
It's a "fuck you" (we can swear here, you know) to users who aren't bright enough to figure out what's happening, or read the damned thread about what's happening. As such, anyone who regards this as a "fuck you" rather deserves it.
posted by klangklangston at 8:14 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
googly: do you mean why is TPS' profile pink? It always has been, users used to have the option of modding their profile with custom css. It got taken away after some exploits were discovered or something, but pre-existing css remains until the user edits their profile. TPS (alone?) has held out!
posted by jacalata at 8:15 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by jacalata at 8:15 AM on April 1, 2008
Obnoxious. But interesting.
Letting it run its course. Maybe I'll get a pony!
posted by Thorzdad at 8:15 AM on April 1, 2008
Letting it run its course. Maybe I'll get a pony!
posted by Thorzdad at 8:15 AM on April 1, 2008
Jerks.
posted by odi.et.amo at 8:20 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by odi.et.amo at 8:20 AM on April 1, 2008
At first I just thought that there was some code drop for really old AskMe pages. I'll admit I went to a different site to check my screen. After that, I just figured Matt was toying around with things, and it wasn't until I saw this post that I realized what today is.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 8:21 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 8:21 AM on April 1, 2008
Brandon, he's just bitter that we didn't make it fade through a gradient from white to white.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:24 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:24 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
*agrees with shakespeherian, adds Nattie's name to the list...ponders odi.et.amo*
posted by jacalata at 8:24 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by jacalata at 8:24 AM on April 1, 2008
Haha, wonderful!
posted by soundofsuburbia at 8:24 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by soundofsuburbia at 8:24 AM on April 1, 2008
I see what you did there.
It's still a pain in the ass and I think it's basically an f-u to the users
Ah, of course. That would my first guess as well.
::eyeroll::
Suck it up, champ.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 8:25 AM on April 1, 2008
It's still a pain in the ass and I think it's basically an f-u to the users
Ah, of course. That would my first guess as well.
::eyeroll::
Suck it up, champ.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 8:25 AM on April 1, 2008
Brilliant. I thought I was going insane.
And I, for one, am a bit tired of all you whiny bastards who are so horribly inconvenienced by simple internet jokes. This is like the third site I've been on today where people are complaining about their perfectly-styled internet hair being mussed.
Chill out. It's one day out of the year.
posted by billypilgrim at 8:26 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
And I, for one, am a bit tired of all you whiny bastards who are so horribly inconvenienced by simple internet jokes. This is like the third site I've been on today where people are complaining about their perfectly-styled internet hair being mussed.
Chill out. It's one day out of the year.
posted by billypilgrim at 8:26 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
jacalata: Right, but now when I load TPS's page it flashes pink for a second then reverts to MeFi blue. Anyone else see this? Has the April Fool's code somehow messed with her page?
posted by googly at 8:26 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by googly at 8:26 AM on April 1, 2008
What was last year's april fool's thing again? I'm fairly certain I found it rather hysterical.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 8:27 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 8:27 AM on April 1, 2008
HAY GUISE IS THIS SOEMTIHGN ID HAVE TO HAV AN INTARNET TO oh hey wow ow okay urp gah
posted by scrump at 8:29 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by scrump at 8:29 AM on April 1, 2008
googly: I don't see it, it stays pink for me - but I've already disabled the April Fools flashing, have you?
posted by jacalata at 8:33 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by jacalata at 8:33 AM on April 1, 2008
googly: TPS's CSS changes the background to pink, but the JavaScript that cycles the background colors cares not for the CSS and changes to a blue close to MeFi blue. Thus the flash.
posted by skynxnex at 8:33 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by skynxnex at 8:33 AM on April 1, 2008
The first time we dacted them, it didn't take.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:34 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:34 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
I thought my boss had figured out what was getting the most pageviews on my machine and had set up some hack.
posted by krinklyfig at 8:35 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by krinklyfig at 8:35 AM on April 1, 2008
I'm so confused.
I loaded this page, and it just seemed like I was missing out on something that had happened and then been removed.
Then I minimized this page and went to do something else.
Then I came back and suddenly this page was light pink.
Then I refreshed it, and now it's back to being the same kind of slate grey.
What.. I.. eh...erm..
posted by kbanas at 8:37 AM on April 1, 2008
I loaded this page, and it just seemed like I was missing out on something that had happened and then been removed.
Then I minimized this page and went to do something else.
Then I came back and suddenly this page was light pink.
Then I refreshed it, and now it's back to being the same kind of slate grey.
What.. I.. eh...erm..
posted by kbanas at 8:37 AM on April 1, 2008
Just effing brilliant, you total bastards...!
But for the nth time - what was last year's!!!!!
Please?
posted by Jody Tresidder at 8:37 AM on April 1, 2008
But for the nth time - what was last year's!!!!!
Please?
posted by Jody Tresidder at 8:37 AM on April 1, 2008
What was last year's april fool's thing again? I'm fairly certain I found it rather hysterical.
Fake AskMe. Questions like "My cat's been swallowed by a python. How long can it survive?"
posted by cog_nate at 8:37 AM on April 1, 2008
Fake AskMe. Questions like "My cat's been swallowed by a python. How long can it survive?"
posted by cog_nate at 8:37 AM on April 1, 2008
Nice prank - I thought I kept hitting "Select All," greying out the page. You got me good.
posted by porn in the woods at 8:38 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by porn in the woods at 8:38 AM on April 1, 2008
Man, my video card driver shat itself yesterday and I thought it was happening again. *shakes fist*
posted by goo at 8:38 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by goo at 8:38 AM on April 1, 2008
April fooled.
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:39 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:39 AM on April 1, 2008
Okay, I blew on my DVI cable and it got all big and then it exploded and now it's limp. How do I get it back in the hole?
Oooh, look at the pretty colors! I like this! But suddenly I have a craving for cotton candy.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:39 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
Oooh, look at the pretty colors! I like this! But suddenly I have a craving for cotton candy.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:39 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
This is the first April Fool's prank I've seen so far today that really made me laugh, thanks! Making it so slow was a really nice touch.
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 8:39 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 8:39 AM on April 1, 2008
That's pretty neat. I thought I knew what was happening and then I realized I didn't. And then I did.
posted by cashman at 8:40 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by cashman at 8:40 AM on April 1, 2008
me three in the accidental select all misperception. well done.
posted by mwhybark at 8:43 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by mwhybark at 8:43 AM on April 1, 2008
Last year's was brilliant. Anyone got a screenshot? My favourite was WHAT THE FUCK IS WITH PEOPLE? The MeTa thread is here, Jody Tressider. It was basically a fake AskMe page, and the questions were hilarious.
posted by goo at 8:43 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by goo at 8:43 AM on April 1, 2008
Bravo! I left the blue alone for a few minutes per usual.... nice!
posted by cavalier at 8:43 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by cavalier at 8:43 AM on April 1, 2008
Then I refreshed it, and now it's back to being the same kind of slate grey.
"There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling the transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image; make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to the Outer Limits."posted by quin at 8:44 AM on April 1, 2008
Nicely done. I was so inspired to greater April Fool tomfoolery that I hijacked my museum's HVAC system and am currently pumping the building full of jenkem. Now the party's really about to start.
posted by COBRA! at 8:44 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by COBRA! at 8:44 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
And I could try clicking the links in the page I link to - here is the unstyled page.
posted by goo at 8:45 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by goo at 8:45 AM on April 1, 2008
Someone's got a question in Ask about how to disable it.
posted by jacalata at 8:46 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by jacalata at 8:46 AM on April 1, 2008
I thought I was having a stroke, bravo!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:46 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:46 AM on April 1, 2008
When I came back from getting cup of coffee #2 earlier this morning, the AskMe page I had loaded was a different color, and I though oh shit. I refreshed and it was back to normal. I, too, figured that I'd not consumed enough caffeine. I'm just relieved it's not my laptop screen.
Nice job. I like.
posted by rtha at 8:47 AM on April 1, 2008
Nice job. I like.
posted by rtha at 8:47 AM on April 1, 2008
For the first time ever, I'm glad I'm on a BlackBerry.
posted by breezeway at 8:48 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by breezeway at 8:48 AM on April 1, 2008
Ponyrequest: The screen should be doing this color-shift, all the time, and not only MetaFilter, but every site on the internet. Number one, Make It So!
posted by not_on_display at 8:49 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by not_on_display at 8:49 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
oh, magnificent. So subtle I missed it at first, even looking for it... (Well, not now that my screen is bright pink..)
posted by kalimac at 8:50 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by kalimac at 8:50 AM on April 1, 2008
GOO
Thanks VERY MUCH!
(I have to shout because I feel I'm going blind - even though I'm loving this!)
posted by Jody Tresidder at 8:50 AM on April 1, 2008
Thanks VERY MUCH!
(I have to shout because I feel I'm going blind - even though I'm loving this!)
posted by Jody Tresidder at 8:50 AM on April 1, 2008
I would appreciate a certain shade of red, but that's just me.
posted by Cranberry at 8:51 AM on April 1, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by Cranberry at 8:51 AM on April 1, 2008 [3 favorites]
I keep getting up from my desk, and the most dramatic thing I have seen was it change from white to a medium/light gray. So far nothing appalling and/or difficult to read.
I'm a little disappointed...last year's April Fool's joke here was priceless. I was hoping for something similar, but I guess it was tough to top.
posted by tastybrains at 8:51 AM on April 1, 2008
I'm a little disappointed...last year's April Fool's joke here was priceless. I was hoping for something similar, but I guess it was tough to top.
posted by tastybrains at 8:51 AM on April 1, 2008
I've just bought a new laptop and thought I was having issues with the screen and would have to take it back!!
Very funny, I only realised it was an April Fool when I came here!
posted by schmoo at 8:54 AM on April 1, 2008
Very funny, I only realised it was an April Fool when I came here!
posted by schmoo at 8:54 AM on April 1, 2008
We should have done a hidden flash player, starting out on mute, taking 2 minutes to build up in volume to Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up, but that seems meaner.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:54 AM on April 1, 2008 [5 favorites]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:54 AM on April 1, 2008 [5 favorites]
At least that wasn't annoying. Now get the hell off my goddamn lawn!
posted by heyho at 8:57 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by heyho at 8:57 AM on April 1, 2008
Shit! I hit the make-it-stop link, and now I want it back. What can I do?
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:58 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:58 AM on April 1, 2008
I actually thought, "oh god, I read so much metafilter, I've worn out the colors! They keep fading out!"
"Hello, Best Buy? Yes. My screen is out of blue. Can I replace the blue screen cartridge or lightbulb or filament or whatever? Thanks, I'll be right over!"
posted by salvia at 8:59 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Hello, Best Buy? Yes. My screen is out of blue. Can I replace the blue screen cartridge or lightbulb or filament or whatever? Thanks, I'll be right over!"
posted by salvia at 8:59 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
How about a nice yellow that will make all the names and time stamps disappear?
posted by Cranberry at 9:04 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Cranberry at 9:04 AM on April 1, 2008
We should have done a hidden flash player, starting out on mute, taking 2 minutes to build up in volume to Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up, but that seems meaner.
posted by mathowie
I like the music off/on control on this page.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 9:04 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by mathowie
I like the music off/on control on this page.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 9:04 AM on April 1, 2008
This is good.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:11 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:11 AM on April 1, 2008
I first noticed in AskMe that the green seemed lighter than normal, and I thought "What a lame April Fool's joke." I had to step away for a few moments, and when I came back it was nearly white. "Ahhhh, I get it."
Good one!
posted by owtytrof at 9:11 AM on April 1, 2008
Good one!
posted by owtytrof at 9:11 AM on April 1, 2008
We should have done a hidden flash player, starting out on mute, taking 2 minutes to build up in volume to Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up, but that seems meaner.
I'm certain beyond a doubt that you made the right choice.
If only because you know that I know where you live, and that you know that I have orbital weapons platforms - and I know you know that I'm saving them for the NKOTB reunion.
Also, while slightly overkill for a rickroll, deorbiting a railcar-sized slug tungsten on mathowie would wipe out most of my immediate family, along with most of the Portland Metro area. If required, I am willing to pay a price.
posted by loquacious at 9:16 AM on April 1, 2008
I'm certain beyond a doubt that you made the right choice.
If only because you know that I know where you live, and that you know that I have orbital weapons platforms - and I know you know that I'm saving them for the NKOTB reunion.
Also, while slightly overkill for a rickroll, deorbiting a railcar-sized slug tungsten on mathowie would wipe out most of my immediate family, along with most of the Portland Metro area. If required, I am willing to pay a price.
posted by loquacious at 9:16 AM on April 1, 2008
Projects becomes all sorts of awesome colors.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:21 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by shakespeherian at 9:21 AM on April 1, 2008
factory123 said: "half the tabs I've opened are illegible because of poor contrast... This joke kinda sucks... this joke says to me that the users' content is less important than the amusement of the people running the site. It's like a thread hijack, only it's the whole site that's lost... It's still a pain in the ass and I think it's basically an f-u to the users."
Ha hahahahaa!!!! :) :) I get it!
For April Fool's Day, factory123 is playing the role of User With Absolutely No Sense of Humor, Or Even Ability to Realize That One's Curmudgeonly Minority Opinion Doesn't Always Require a Big Stick.
And if it's not a joke, then seriously -- chill out, and acknowledge that other people can have fun with things that you can't. It'll be over tomorrow. Shut up.
posted by pineapple at 9:25 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
Ha hahahahaa!!!! :) :) I get it!
For April Fool's Day, factory123 is playing the role of User With Absolutely No Sense of Humor, Or Even Ability to Realize That One's Curmudgeonly Minority Opinion Doesn't Always Require a Big Stick.
And if it's not a joke, then seriously -- chill out, and acknowledge that other people can have fun with things that you can't. It'll be over tomorrow. Shut up.
posted by pineapple at 9:25 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
Ya know, I remember years ago when Matt was the only moderator and he did something for April Fool's on the Metafilter page. I remember it was awesome at the time and I was hoping Mefi would do something awesome to celebrate April Fool's this year and - here we are! Thanks!
Love the aqua....
posted by Lynsey at 9:26 AM on April 1, 2008
Love the aqua....
posted by Lynsey at 9:26 AM on April 1, 2008
My monitor actually does flicker strange purple/green colors very similar to this when the construction site equipment down the street really gets going. It took me a moment to realize that only this window is affected by the jackhammers today. Very good.
posted by Tehanu at 9:29 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Tehanu at 9:29 AM on April 1, 2008
Nice trick, I thought monitor was fucked up.
posted by puke & cry at 9:34 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by puke & cry at 9:34 AM on April 1, 2008
Well, you totally got me. I thought the monitor was going; we've had a rash of dying monitors here recently anyway and all I could think was, shit, whatever it is, it's catching! And here I was snooping all over the site, looking for the joke, refusing to open this MeTa, sure that I wouldn't fall for whatever this year's joke might be . . . and then, freak out! Oooh no, we're going to have to buy another monitor, there goes the budget, how can this be happening, I wonder if I should use my weekly askme to see if in all seriousness this could be some kind of evil virus plague?
Hee. Well done. Subtle yet infuriating.
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:35 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
Hee. Well done. Subtle yet infuriating.
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:35 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
I also want to say that I'm so terrified of April Fool's Day that I have, so far, been afraid that every FPP— including the one about before- and after-death photos (which were amazing)— is actually a RickRoll.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:35 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by shakespeherian at 9:35 AM on April 1, 2008
Although I did have to turn of scripts for metafilter for the day, it's hard to read the site like that.
posted by puke & cry at 9:36 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by puke & cry at 9:36 AM on April 1, 2008
I actually preferred the royal blue to the regular blue.
*ducks*
posted by middleclasstool at 9:36 AM on April 1, 2008
*ducks*
posted by middleclasstool at 9:36 AM on April 1, 2008
Ah... the CYAN background colour takes me back to the C64 days...
posted by Artw at 9:37 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Artw at 9:37 AM on April 1, 2008
Hmmm, well some of us got clobbered with a Trojan recently and are hoping they have got rid of... then stuff like this comes along (in other news... screw Google Black)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:41 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:41 AM on April 1, 2008
OH BEAUTIFUL! Bright (Cranberry) red! THANKS, mathowie. *takes it personally*
posted by Cranberry at 9:43 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by Cranberry at 9:43 AM on April 1, 2008
Ah, now I see the stopit link mentioned above. Nice.
posted by puke & cry at 9:45 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by puke & cry at 9:45 AM on April 1, 2008
Completely missed it, as I have javascript disabled.
posted by orthogonality at 9:53 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by orthogonality at 9:53 AM on April 1, 2008
If you are finding the xdperience too intense, a simple remedy is large doses of sugar and vitamin C. Also, keep telling yourself "It is just a drug. It will go away in time, the world is still absolutely normal, it is just my perception of it that has changed."
You can also often convert a bad trip into a good one by forcing yourself to laugh. Just saying "ha. ha. ha," even though nothing at all is funny, can often induce a giggle fit that will get you back onto the happy path.
Good luck, happy tripping.
posted by Meatbomb at 9:56 AM on April 1, 2008 [3 favorites]
You can also often convert a bad trip into a good one by forcing yourself to laugh. Just saying "ha. ha. ha," even though nothing at all is funny, can often induce a giggle fit that will get you back onto the happy path.
Good luck, happy tripping.
posted by Meatbomb at 9:56 AM on April 1, 2008 [3 favorites]
So now I'm filling up my browser with tabs of all the Metafilter sites and going back and forth from one to the other to see the pretty colors. This is going to enhance my productivity even more than metafilter usually does. Thanks.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:05 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by gingerbeer at 10:05 AM on April 1, 2008
This was a pretty damn good joke if you ask me. It's also a good way to tell who the geezers are. When everyone else was busy fretting about their monitors, we geezers were having panic attacks over our failing eyesight. Good work, admins! It was fun!
posted by LeeJay at 10:05 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by LeeJay at 10:05 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
We should have done a hidden flash player, starting out on mute, taking 2 minutes to build up in volume to Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up, but that seems meaner.
posted by mathowie
Eh, like a third of the sites on the internet are rickrolling people today, and half the rest are going on about mudkips. I applaud Matt for resisting The Day Of The Living Chans.
posted by ormondsacker at 10:11 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by mathowie
Eh, like a third of the sites on the internet are rickrolling people today, and half the rest are going on about mudkips. I applaud Matt for resisting The Day Of The Living Chans.
posted by ormondsacker at 10:11 AM on April 1, 2008
I usually just read the feed, but I wandered over today specifically to see what mischief the overlords had got up to. Very nice.
posted by frykitty at 10:13 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by frykitty at 10:13 AM on April 1, 2008
The violet that MeMusic has turned into right now is so damn pretty that I want someone to come up with a new subsite just to use the color.
posted by CunningLinguist at 10:22 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by CunningLinguist at 10:22 AM on April 1, 2008
The violet that MeMusic has turned into right now is so damn pretty that I want someone to come up with a new subsite just to use the color.
posted by CunningLinguist
Maybe they can use it for Travel! I hear it's almost done!
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 10:26 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by CunningLinguist
Maybe they can use it for Travel! I hear it's almost done!
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 10:26 AM on April 1, 2008
i WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT EVERYONE WAS SEEING, BUT THEN i OPENED ANOTHER TAB AND CAME BACK AND ....
Sorry about that. Excuse me. I need to go kick my husband's ass now.
posted by FunkyHelix at 10:33 AM on April 1, 2008
Sorry about that. Excuse me. I need to go kick my husband's ass now.
posted by FunkyHelix at 10:33 AM on April 1, 2008
Damn, shakespeherian actually Rickrolled me on April Fools day. I suck.
posted by sdodd at 10:43 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by sdodd at 10:43 AM on April 1, 2008
I thought my eyes were fucked up.
Then I thought my monitor was broken.
Then i figured it out.
Stupid April Fools.
posted by Lord_Pall at 10:43 AM on April 1, 2008
Then I thought my monitor was broken.
Then i figured it out.
Stupid April Fools.
posted by Lord_Pall at 10:43 AM on April 1, 2008
I know it's not cool to say this, like, outloud and all, but I can't help myself. I love you guys, I really do.
posted by vers at 11:08 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by vers at 11:08 AM on April 1, 2008 [4 favorites]
Metafilter would be more professional if it had a white, off-white, eggshell, ivory, cream, wheat, beige, tan, silver, slate, taupe, charcoal background.
posted by CKmtl at 11:11 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by CKmtl at 11:11 AM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
Metatalk 04.01.08: THE MAUVENING
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:25 AM on April 1, 2008 [6 favorites]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:25 AM on April 1, 2008 [6 favorites]
Wasn't there an argument at one point as to whether the MetaTalk background was grey or brown?
For a minute there, I thought I understood what the argument for brown was all about.
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:30 AM on April 1, 2008
For a minute there, I thought I understood what the argument for brown was all about.
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:30 AM on April 1, 2008
Oooh no, we're going to have to buy another monitor, there goes the budget
My reaction was just the opposite, as I thought I'd finally have an excuse to buy a new monitor that uses less power and weighs less than a metric tonne. This monitor I'm looking at, it is not quite new anymore, and it occasionally shorts out a bit making alarming zapping noises, but I'm reluctant to replace it until it actually stops working. it'll probably last another decade, good old DEC.
*pushes degauss button repeatedly*
posted by sfenders at 11:42 AM on April 1, 2008
My reaction was just the opposite, as I thought I'd finally have an excuse to buy a new monitor that uses less power and weighs less than a metric tonne. This monitor I'm looking at, it is not quite new anymore, and it occasionally shorts out a bit making alarming zapping noises, but I'm reluctant to replace it until it actually stops working. it'll probably last another decade, good old DEC.
*pushes degauss button repeatedly*
posted by sfenders at 11:42 AM on April 1, 2008
Wow, another long, indecipherable meta thread; way too long to read right now. Gotta haul my huge-ass monitor to the shop. I'll read this monster when I get back.
posted by the other side at 11:46 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by the other side at 11:46 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
I have no idea what you people are on about.
posted by ooga_booga at 11:53 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by ooga_booga at 11:53 AM on April 1, 2008
Brandon, I was gonna make an exception because this gag is both subtle and clever, but I know better than to weigh in on background colors on MeFi. :)
posted by anildash at 11:58 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by anildash at 11:58 AM on April 1, 2008
This is beautiful. I was here this morning trying to figure out what MeFi was doing for the day and I just couldn't get it. Now, after reading through this thread (slowly) it's all too obvious. <3>
My first is Kongregate's, just because I didn't expect it and there actually is a card for sticking all the way through.
posted by flatluigi at 12:09 PM on April 1, 2008
My first is Kongregate's, just because I didn't expect it and there actually is a card for sticking all the way through.
posted by flatluigi at 12:09 PM on April 1, 2008
Can we keep the Make It Stop link? Anytime anyone has a problem on MetaTalk we can tell them to click the "Make It Stop" link and all will be right.
posted by ALongDecember at 12:47 PM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by ALongDecember at 12:47 PM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
Ha, it took me ages to figure out what the "joke" was, since I'm using my laptop screen at a funny angle so I assumed any weird colours were because of that.
Haha oh Jesus OK I just realised that it changes. Nice.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 12:56 PM on April 1, 2008
Haha oh Jesus OK I just realised that it changes. Nice.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 12:56 PM on April 1, 2008
Yummm, deep chocolate brown.
I have a sinus headache so the lighter colours are rather painful, but this is giving me the giggles. It all evens out. Nice job!
posted by deborah at 12:58 PM on April 1, 2008
I have a sinus headache so the lighter colours are rather painful, but this is giving me the giggles. It all evens out. Nice job!
posted by deborah at 12:58 PM on April 1, 2008
I thought that the IT guys at work had discovered where I spend my day and were giving me a subtle hint to move on after a certain amount of time (plain theme).
I feel so much safer now!
posted by rmless at 1:01 PM on April 1, 2008
I feel so much safer now!
posted by rmless at 1:01 PM on April 1, 2008
I like the music off/on control on this page.
Man, that was the perfect opportunity for a rickroll and you blew it.
/zones out to the slowly shifting colors
posted by languagehat at 1:44 PM on April 1, 2008
Man, that was the perfect opportunity for a rickroll and you blew it.
/zones out to the slowly shifting colors
posted by languagehat at 1:44 PM on April 1, 2008
I thought it was great. Loved the subtlety and some of the colours.
I vote for it staying permanently./
Good one.
posted by alicesshoe at 1:44 PM on April 1, 2008
I vote for it staying permanently./
Good one.
posted by alicesshoe at 1:44 PM on April 1, 2008
Eric Costello ruined this joke by using setTimeout instead of the more appropriate setInterval.
posted by moift at 1:45 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by moift at 1:45 PM on April 1, 2008
Paste into the address bar to make the color change speed up until your browser spazzes out and all your bits catch fire:
javascript:void(setInterval(changeLinkColor, 1000));
posted by moift at 1:50 PM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
javascript:void(setInterval(changeLinkColor, 1000));
posted by moift at 1:50 PM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
Will that make my hands turn blue so that everyone will know I tried it? Dude. I'm not falling for that trick again.
posted by heyho at 2:10 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by heyho at 2:10 PM on April 1, 2008
Man, that was the perfect opportunity for a rickroll and you blew it.
posted by languagehat
It's a bad time for my meanie-bone to be in the shop.
But I do like this Beta to HD-DVD converter. Make sure to check out the demo video! Don't miss it! No siree.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 2:16 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by languagehat
It's a bad time for my meanie-bone to be in the shop.
But I do like this Beta to HD-DVD converter. Make sure to check out the demo video! Don't miss it! No siree.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 2:16 PM on April 1, 2008
Trippy. I thought that "acid flashback" stuff was finally proving true lo these many years gone by. That was fun. Now I have an urge to tie dye things.
posted by madamjujujive at 2:19 PM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by madamjujujive at 2:19 PM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
This is what happens when you wash your interwebs with hot water.
posted by _dario at 2:58 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by _dario at 2:58 PM on April 1, 2008
Man that took me way too long to notice. I blame my partial colour impairment.
posted by juv3nal at 3:02 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by juv3nal at 3:02 PM on April 1, 2008
How was anyone fooled by this? The sidebar and title bar don't change colors.
posted by speicus at 3:41 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by speicus at 3:41 PM on April 1, 2008
Man, that was the perfect opportunity for a rickroll and you blew it.
Seen youtube today?
posted by timeistight at 3:43 PM on April 1, 2008
Seen youtube today?
posted by timeistight at 3:43 PM on April 1, 2008
moift: Paste into the address bar to make the color change speed up until your browser spazzes out and all your bits catch fire:
javascript:void(setInterval(changeLinkColor, 1000));
My compliments to the chef. Now... how to change the values of the red/green/blue increments (var ri, gi, and bi) to different numbers with mixed signs (e.g. 8, -7, 3) for enhanced wackiness?
posted by hangashore at 3:45 PM on April 1, 2008
javascript:void(setInterval(changeLinkColor, 1000));
My compliments to the chef. Now... how to change the values of the red/green/blue increments (var ri, gi, and bi) to different numbers with mixed signs (e.g. 8, -7, 3) for enhanced wackiness?
posted by hangashore at 3:45 PM on April 1, 2008
Yeah I was wondering why I was looking at a horrible site, but then I realized I typed in "boingboing" by mistake.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 3:56 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 3:56 PM on April 1, 2008
CORTEX! How many times have we had to tell you? MetaFilter is NOT A PLAY THING.
posted by DarlingBri at 3:58 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by DarlingBri at 3:58 PM on April 1, 2008
I thought for the dozenth time: "Goddamn, Firefox sucks on OS X!"
posted by zardoz at 5:04 PM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by zardoz at 5:04 PM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oh man, I thought I was going nuts! I kept moving my laptop further and further away from the window, trying to shade it from the sun.
posted by lovecrafty at 5:07 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by lovecrafty at 5:07 PM on April 1, 2008
Wait, how do i turn it back on? I like the color change!
posted by phyrewerx at 5:45 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by phyrewerx at 5:45 PM on April 1, 2008
How was anyone fooled by this? The sidebar and title bar don't change colors.
Trust me, I got emails.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:47 PM on April 1, 2008
Trust me, I got emails.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:47 PM on April 1, 2008
I only seemed to get a few colors. After the day (24-hour period, beginning when mathowie woke up on the west coast?) is over, can there be a recap and a "Make It Start!" option to see the ones we missed?
posted by yhbc at 6:11 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by yhbc at 6:11 PM on April 1, 2008
How was anyone fooled by this? The sidebar and title bar don't change colors.
Duh. It took a while to kick in so most of us who got fooled (*shakes fist at mathowie, sets reminder to avoid MeFi on April 1, 2009*) were deep in a thread as it started to happen - i.e., no sidebar and title bar down here.
posted by mediareport at 6:47 PM on April 1, 2008
Duh. It took a while to kick in so most of us who got fooled (*shakes fist at mathowie, sets reminder to avoid MeFi on April 1, 2009*) were deep in a thread as it started to happen - i.e., no sidebar and title bar down here.
posted by mediareport at 6:47 PM on April 1, 2008
This was honestly one of the most well-conceived and -executed online AFD pranks I've seen. Most of them are just har-har Yahoo PantsChangr-type stuff, but this one actually got me. I was mid-way through getting a screenshot ready to post to Flickr when I realized I really needed to check MeTa first. Such is the depth of my st00pit.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:53 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by middleclasstool at 7:53 PM on April 1, 2008
And I would like to stress again that I prefer the dark blue. Mods plz change kthx.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:56 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by middleclasstool at 7:56 PM on April 1, 2008
Seconding middleclasstool. You guys are evil, true, but you're just so good at it.
posted by pjern at 8:05 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by pjern at 8:05 PM on April 1, 2008
MetaFilter: You guys are evil, true, but you're just so good at it.
Sorry.
posted by deborah at 8:19 PM on April 1, 2008
Sorry.
posted by deborah at 8:19 PM on April 1, 2008
I was thinking on the train this morning "wonder what will be happening on MeFi today - I must remember not to get taken in", pleased with myself that I remembered that it is April Fool's Day in the centre of the MeFiVerse today, despite the civilised world having got over all that yesterday. Damned if I didn't get taken in, though.
*tips cap to perpetrators*
posted by dg at 8:20 PM on April 1, 2008
*tips cap to perpetrators*
posted by dg at 8:20 PM on April 1, 2008
I totally bought it. I sent jessamyn an email. I did not think to check MetaTalk. This was a great April Fool.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:34 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:34 PM on April 1, 2008
middleclasstool said: "I was mid-way through getting a screenshot ready to post to Flickr when I realized I really needed to check MeTa first."
Same here. Well played.
posted by pineapple at 8:36 PM on April 1, 2008
Same here. Well played.
posted by pineapple at 8:36 PM on April 1, 2008
As this is apparently the correct thread to post this: annoying; not funny; went on way too long.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 9:22 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by AmbroseChapel at 9:22 PM on April 1, 2008
I got the light blue Mefi page and thought "Ha! Not sucked in for a change!" and then came here and got annoyed because my monitor was evidently broken.
posted by tracicle at 10:29 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by tracicle at 10:29 PM on April 1, 2008
No AmbroseChapel, this was the correct thread to read to find out how to stop it as soon as you wanted to.
posted by jacalata at 10:55 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by jacalata at 10:55 PM on April 1, 2008
Once again, because this point clearly hasn't been made enough, there are two Meta threads. One is clearly about the annoying background colours and one isn't. The conviction of some people around here that I went to the wrong thread and have only myself to blame is quite baffling.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 11:02 PM on April 1, 2008
posted by AmbroseChapel at 11:02 PM on April 1, 2008
As this is apparently the correct thread to post this: annoying; not funny; went on way too long.
You actually just used a colon and two semi-colons in a single sentence, didn't you? I suppose that's technically correct, but Gods, why!? Do you hate English, or something?
What's wrong with a comma, boy? Hm? Why not start her off with a nice comma? You don't have to go leaping straight for the semi-colon like a bull at a gate. Give her a comma!.
posted by loquacious at 11:43 PM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
You actually just used a colon and two semi-colons in a single sentence, didn't you? I suppose that's technically correct, but Gods, why!? Do you hate English, or something?
What's wrong with a comma, boy? Hm? Why not start her off with a nice comma? You don't have to go leaping straight for the semi-colon like a bull at a gate. Give her a comma!.
posted by loquacious at 11:43 PM on April 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
There's a way to Make It Start all over again at the bottom of the page.
posted by hangashore at 6:38 AM on April 2, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by hangashore at 6:38 AM on April 2, 2008 [2 favorites]
Well, we have learned who doesn't see the humor in jokes and/or seriously values the chromatic integrity of their lawn.
posted by Tehanu at 7:35 AM on April 2, 2008
posted by Tehanu at 7:35 AM on April 2, 2008
If matt were to implement an "I hate pranks" checkbox on the user preferences page, and code the site to suppress any cuteness for users who'd checked it, I wonder how many of the complainers would check it, and leave it checked throughout April Fools day, and never check metatalk to see what they were missing. I'd bet not many.
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:27 PM on April 2, 2008
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:27 PM on April 2, 2008
I suggets the checkbox wording be changed to "Enemy of fun."
posted by Artw at 12:35 PM on April 2, 2008
posted by Artw at 12:35 PM on April 2, 2008
The conviction of some people around here that I went to the wrong thread and have only myself to blame is quite baffling.
Anyone, in either thread, who mentioned that they didn't like it got a personal message from me telling them how to turn it off if they weren't replied-to directly in-thread. I'm sincerely sorry I was in "we've mentioned this already" fatigue by the time you hit the second Meta thread, AC.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:40 PM on April 2, 2008
Anyone, in either thread, who mentioned that they didn't like it got a personal message from me telling them how to turn it off if they weren't replied-to directly in-thread. I'm sincerely sorry I was in "we've mentioned this already" fatigue by the time you hit the second Meta thread, AC.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:40 PM on April 2, 2008
240 comments in this thread about yesterday's 4-1 joke. Is it time to look for a long boat? 16038v2?
posted by Cranberry at 1:33 PM on April 2, 2008
posted by Cranberry at 1:33 PM on April 2, 2008
I think you should modify the javascript to make this happen all the time but only if you are logged in under the username "AmbroseChapel". That would be cool.
posted by Justinian at 1:35 PM on April 2, 2008
posted by Justinian at 1:35 PM on April 2, 2008
I think it would have gone really really well with Pixies' immortal classic "Where is my mind".
posted by gleuschk at 2:29 PM on April 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by gleuschk at 2:29 PM on April 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
I know I've been on Metafilter / Ask / MeTa too long when the background colour makes it illegible to read.
Yet sometimes I just refresh the page, and keep reading.
I think I'll leave this "timer" function on for a few weeks, just because.
posted by seawallrunner at 9:57 PM on April 4, 2008
Yet sometimes I just refresh the page, and keep reading.
I think I'll leave this "timer" function on for a few weeks, just because.
posted by seawallrunner at 9:57 PM on April 4, 2008
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:15 AM on April 1, 2008