Comments on: OP Spotlight

OP Spotlight

JakeLL — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:13:30 -0800

Visually distinguish the OP's comments? (At least in AskMefi.) So invariably on AskMeFi Posts I'll end up scanning for the OP's comments. More often than not, a follow-up by them is required and also you can often get a cliff notes version of the best answer/advice by reading their responses (if they come back). This would be a perfect example. I usually use Firefox's search highlight for the OP's name, but have the MeFi gods ever thought to distinguish the OP's comments in some way ? (like best answer with the "grey box") Or at least include a mark that indicated the OP ever commented ? (also like best answer with the check mark) Just curious. I didn't want to start fiddling with Greasemonkey without at least first putting the idea out there.

By: pete0r

pete0r — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:17:04 -0800

This script does it very well and I believe is pretty widely used.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:34:46 -0800

And now, ladies and gentlemen, here he is again! The man who put it up there first! Absolutely resplendent in 00BFFF Deep Sky Blue! Let's give a BIG MeFi welcome to... the OH! PEE!

*cue zippy MetaFilter theme music and hearty applause*

By: rtha

rtha — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:57:40 -0800

It's a good script. Highly recommended. WOULD RUN AGAIN AAAA++++++++

By: SlyBevel

SlyBevel — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:29:04 -0800

You know what? I'm with the OP here.

I don't want to install a stupid script to get this. I'd really like to see OP comments stand out by default. This would aid in communication overall. But they shouldn't be the standard Best Answer grey, I think, because people would confuse OP comments with Best Answers.

And that's disadvantageous for several reasons.

By: nowonmai

nowonmai — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:31:51 -0800

Previously on MetaTalk.

By: nowonmai

nowonmai — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:33:32 -0800

Which is not to say that I don't think this is an excellent idea.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:36:56 -0800

I read MeFi from at least three locations on a regular basis: home, work, cellphone. I'd love to be able to highlight as well, and Greasemonkey can't do it at two out of three of those. So yeah.. this would be awesome (and I would imagine fairly trivial to implement? Yes? No?)

I have no pie but I do have fresh shortbread if anyone would like

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:39:34 -0800

Is there a Greasemonkey script that posts "There's a Greasemonkey script for that" in every feature request thread from now on?

There should also be a script that makes a "Is there a Greasemonkey script that posts 'There's a Greasemonkey script for that'" joke.

By: blacklite

blacklite — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:49:38 -0800

This would be great and fine but I think it is second priority to some sort of "punch you over the internet if you are posting an easily-searched duplicate".

I think it would also be easy at that point to implement a "punch you over the internet twice if you post an answer to an AskMe question which is exactly the same as an answer given earlier, and you were so caught up in mouth-foaming must-contribute fervor that you didn't bother to read any of the other ones to notice that you would be being both ignorant and redundant" feature.

By: salvia

salvia — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:52:52 -0800

blacklite There's a Greasemonkey script for that

By: exlotuseater

exlotuseater — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:04:19 -0800

yeah, check out MeFi navigator for greasemonkey-- amazing app, that. It labels admins (not that I need that mind you, but it's a feature bundled in with my meta-stuff), original poster, and a drop down list next to each user in threads that allows one to jump to their other comments.

By: popechunk

popechunk — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:44:52 -0800

Remember, kids: switch to a heavier grade monkey lube for the summer months. You don't want that little rascal to overheat.

When commenting on MetaFilter, popechunk uses only Castrol brand monkey grease.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:01:11 -0800

Hey, did anyone realize that there's a greasemonkey script that does this very thing?

dnab, I would like some shortbread thank you. Also, consider making it with some chopped fresh rosemary and fancy imported butter. Yum!

By: bobobox

bobobox — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:05:44 -0800

If you use Firefox: ctrl-F or apple-F, enter name in search bar, tada! name is highlighted, no monkeys were greased in this process.

By: bobobox

bobobox — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:07:37 -0800

Or, as I see, you have done that.

By: Memo

Memo — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:21:48 -0800

Wow. I hadn't realized how useful having greasemonkey installed is. The MeFi navigator script is very handy.

By: cowbellemoo

cowbellemoo — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:51:19 -0800

I've always wanted this, too. Something noticeable if you're looking for it, camouflaged otherwise. Yay for the greasemonkey kids, but this really just seems like a basic readability thing that should be in the site itself. Threads get long, posts look alike, usernames are wierd. Just give a little teensy hint!

By: dobbs

dobbs — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:54:03 -0800

Yeah, never understood why this wasn't done. It makes perfect sense and has no drawbacks.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:59:58 -0800

The answer is NO.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:00:24 -0800

Unless it changes to 'yes'. In which case, never mind.

By: cortex

cortex — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:14:24 -0800

I think the answer kind of remains "hey, maybe, kind of working on other stuff in the meantime", basically.

By: team lowkey

team lowkey — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:42:41 -0800

I'm pretty sure this was implemented months ago.

By: numinous

numinous — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:01:13 -0800

GODSPEED YOU, DEAR FEATURE REQUEST!
team lowkey: Unfortunately, it has not been implemented - though it's been requested over and over (and over and over and over!) again. Perhaps with enough encouragement and enthusiastic requesting, the mods will finally see how fantastic and worthy a feature this will prove to be. Pretty please with sucanat on top ❤.

And perhaps, ~~if we're lucky~~ if the mods are drunk enough, they'll entertain the return of ~✧*GLITTER GRAPHICS*✧~.

By: Kwine

Kwine — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:20:14 -0800

PONY REQUEST: ALL FUTURE SITE MODIFICATION TO BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH GREASEMONKEY.

By: Cranberry

Cranberry — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:57:42 -0800

bobobox your name turned to green print on white. That is so cool! Just as if I knew what I was doing.

By: WalterMitty

WalterMitty — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:45:45 -0800

I don't like monkeys. Especially greasy ones. Speciesist? YES.

By: modernnomad

modernnomad — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:20:37 -0800

I think it's a good idea... not everyone uses greasemonkey, or even compatible browsers, or even uses the same computer every time they access mefi. In fact I'd wager it's a very small technically-oriented minority of the site that uses scripting.

By: Marie Mon Dieu

Marie Mon Dieu — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:40:53 -0800

I installed Greasemonkey on my Firefox in a few seconds, restarted Firefox, then popped over to the link and installed the script. It probably took less time to do that than it has to figure out what I want to say here and type it.

Is Greasemonkey incompatible with some browsers, is that the objection to it? Cuz it's not a stupid script, it's a smart script. Works fine. We're beating a dead horse here, unless Matt and PB want to go all out for every single request and modify the site all day long, these user-created solutions seem fine to me. Or is it just tastier coming from Matt?

By: Plutor

Plutor — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:53:19 -0800

Greasemonkey is only available for Firefox. Some Greasemonkey scripts can be made to work with Opera, but since it's a bit more of a pain to get them installed there (you have to download them and put them in a specific directory under your Opera install) and that browser has an even lower market share than Firefox, it makes it a bit moot. The big missing piece is IE. And although there are more than one Greasmonkalikes for IE, it's still hit and miss.

Not to mention that if you're still running IE, you're probably doing it because you're on a work machine that's got some annoying security settings preventing you from doing anything useful.

By: Pants!

Pants! — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:57:49 -0800

I think the missing piece is Safari.

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:31:44 -0800

So is there a GreaseMonkey script that will let me favourite the mods reasons for deletion?

By: Jofus

Jofus — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:47:31 -0800

I've already been through this.

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:54:55 -0800

'Why doesn't this movie have a soundtrack?'

'Psh, everyone can just bring their iPod into the theater.'

By: baphomet

baphomet — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:19:58 -0800

Don't like greasemonkey? Your computer came with CTRL+F (or Apple+F).

By: goatdog

goatdog — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:39:35 -0800

Is there a greasemonkey script that will predict the point at which commenters will stop reading the post AND most of the comments, and just type as if they're the first person to encounter the issue?

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:45:37 -0800

I think that begins as soon as the post goes up.

By: TheOnlyCoolTim

TheOnlyCoolTim — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:56:40 -0800

We should just have a really complicated Greasemonkey script that creates a page with links and discussion of websites and then we could just shut down Metafilter.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:05:35 -0800

Can we just make this site viewable only with Firefox and be done with it? j/k, sort of

By: jacquilynne

jacquilynne — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:31:25 -0800

Also, consider making it with some chopped fresh rosemary and fancy imported butter. Yum!

Why would you do that to a perfectly good batch of shortbread?

By: Marie Mon Dieu

Marie Mon Dieu — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:36:07 -0800

Cortex: I think the answer kind of remains "hey, maybe, kind of working on other stuff in the meantime", basically.

Plutor: Greasemonkey is only available for Firefox.

So the horse, er, pony, isn't dead, it's just waiting in the stall, hoping to run wild and free someday.

I had an awful flashback of people taking away my Mac and exchanging it for a PC and forcing me to use MS Frontpage as well as the evil IE. Thanks for being patient, Plutor, and answering my question. I bow to all you cubicle jockeys and your battle with the evil overlords of IE.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:39:41 -0800

jacquilynne, don't knock it till you've tried it.

By: quin

quin — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:53:11 -0800

dobbs : It makes perfect sense and has no drawbacks.

Sure, but that's what I said about getting a pet fire-breathing dragon. Now, three burned cities later, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I should have opted for the rabbit instead.

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:15:07 -0800

I didn't know they even had fire-breathing rabbits.

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:16:21 -0800

Request: One (1) pony, fire-breathing.

By: vytae

vytae — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:05:39 -0800

I'd like to point out again, as I've done in previous MeTa posts requesting this feature, that this kind of highlighting would improve both readability AND the quality of answers given on AskMe. Yeah, it would make things more convenient for readers/commenters who would like to look for follow-up info from the original poster, but it's also more likely to get the attention of people who would otherwise have commented without reading the follow-up. Commenters who have seen the posters' follow-up will give more useful answers, which makes the site better. Like dobbs said, "It makes perfect sense and has no drawbacks."

By: ikkyu2

ikkyu2 — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:08:01 -0800

Can we make the OP's comments <blink>?