A felicitous one-off or an example to be followed? January 13, 2002 7:05 AM Subscribe
Norton DC's "marker" post is simple and to the point. It only links to a photograph but the way it's worded suggests the picture is representative of a wider subject: careless parenting, "kids will be kids", toy safety and possibly the redundance of "creative" presents such as crayons or markers for toddlers, etc. So is it a felicitous one-off or an example to be followed? [more inside]
I got sent this picture 4 or 5 times this week as an email attachment. It was sort of funny (the first time)...but hardly anything I'd link to on MeFi! We'd end up with all those junk emails linked up here & then...uh yeah, what machaus said.
posted by thc at 7:25 AM on January 13, 2002
posted by thc at 7:25 AM on January 13, 2002
With no link(s) to written material about parenting, it's junk.
posted by Carol Anne at 7:56 AM on January 13, 2002
posted by Carol Anne at 7:56 AM on January 13, 2002
Yeah, it seems like it ought to be a 'personal site' post.
posted by kv at 7:59 AM on January 13, 2002
posted by kv at 7:59 AM on January 13, 2002
"Coming from a print background," I appreciate the amount of ink the child used on her infant sister.
(Sorry, Miguel, I couldn't resist)
2nd vote for filepile.
posted by Vek at 8:56 AM on January 13, 2002
(Sorry, Miguel, I couldn't resist)
2nd vote for filepile.
posted by Vek at 8:56 AM on January 13, 2002
I just tried to go to the posting page to see if there's anything in the guidelines there that indicate that this post goes against suggestions or guidelines, but right now I just get the "you can't post" screen. If someone else could quote the text I'd appreciate it.
And personally, I'd find comments about why it's inapporpriate for MeFi much more valuable than statements that it belongs on fark or filepile.
posted by NortonDC at 9:39 AM on January 13, 2002
And personally, I'd find comments about why it's inapporpriate for MeFi much more valuable than statements that it belongs on fark or filepile.
posted by NortonDC at 9:39 AM on January 13, 2002
Link to current (though waaaaay at the bottom) side-blog titled "what makes a good post" discussion.
posted by thc at 10:27 AM on January 13, 2002
posted by thc at 10:27 AM on January 13, 2002
Why it belongs in filepile: Seems to me that Mefi is more of a discussion forum for items found on the web (meaningful or mindless). Someone made the point already, but if you wanted to include this picture as a commentary on, say, an article about working mothers who don't have time to supervise their children, then I believe it more appropriate for Mefi. Filepile, for example, is a better place for funny email attachments. Especially when accompanied by a subject line-type comment: "Why not to give little kids markers for Christmas". All that's missing is the "FW: RE: RE:"
posted by Vek at 11:52 AM on January 13, 2002
posted by Vek at 11:52 AM on January 13, 2002
Well gosh.
I support NortonDC.
I know there are some people who might just label NortonDC a "troll" because he posted something without much followup or explanation Some people with kids...or maybe the marker industry...just might even be "inflamed" from such a post.
I mean, some people who really truly absolutely (really) INSIST they are NOT interested in just stifling other points of view might try to justify censorship by saying that this kind of post doesn't do anything for "community-building" at all.
I'm glad I'm not one of those persons. Kinda seems like labelling and attempting to stifle other posts/points of views is pretty much just cowardly.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 12:59 PM on January 13, 2002
I support NortonDC.
I know there are some people who might just label NortonDC a "troll" because he posted something without much followup or explanation Some people with kids...or maybe the marker industry...just might even be "inflamed" from such a post.
I mean, some people who really truly absolutely (really) INSIST they are NOT interested in just stifling other points of view might try to justify censorship by saying that this kind of post doesn't do anything for "community-building" at all.
I'm glad I'm not one of those persons. Kinda seems like labelling and attempting to stifle other posts/points of views is pretty much just cowardly.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 12:59 PM on January 13, 2002
I'm glad I'm not one of those persons. Kinda seems like labelling and attempting to stifle other posts/points of views is pretty much just cowardly
spare us. when pictures of scribbled-on babies = a point of view, get back to me. discussion and stifling are not the same thing except perhaps to the very timid or the very defensive.
Norton DC, I think the reason some folks [and me] think it wasn't a great FPP [though I laughed] is that it was sort of a one-off. A good joke but not really engendering a lasting and memorable discussion. I think the cite I would make is "....ideally unique, interesting, valuable links accompanied by commentary that starts an engaging conversation"
basically, I didn't think it was inappropriate so much as just not super compelling, what's to discuss about it? Seeing the page the image was in, or, better yet, using it to illustrate a wider ranging FPP would have been great. And they do eat that kind of thing up over there at filepile.
posted by jessamyn at 1:14 PM on January 13, 2002
spare us. when pictures of scribbled-on babies = a point of view, get back to me. discussion and stifling are not the same thing except perhaps to the very timid or the very defensive.
Norton DC, I think the reason some folks [and me] think it wasn't a great FPP [though I laughed] is that it was sort of a one-off. A good joke but not really engendering a lasting and memorable discussion. I think the cite I would make is "....ideally unique, interesting, valuable links accompanied by commentary that starts an engaging conversation"
basically, I didn't think it was inappropriate so much as just not super compelling, what's to discuss about it? Seeing the page the image was in, or, better yet, using it to illustrate a wider ranging FPP would have been great. And they do eat that kind of thing up over there at filepile.
posted by jessamyn at 1:14 PM on January 13, 2002
You do realize, fold, that what you just wrote is a classic example of a troll? Perhaps if you stop trolling, nobody will call you a troll. It's a novel idea.
posted by Doug at 1:41 PM on January 13, 2002
posted by Doug at 1:41 PM on January 13, 2002
when pictures of scribbled-on babies = a point of view, get back to me. discussion and stifling are not the same thing except perhaps to the very timid or the very defensive.
Then I recommend that others mind their own little cowardly hypocrisy regarding "support" and "exposition" and "community-building" a little closer.
You do realize, fold, that what you just wrote is a classic example of a troll? Perhaps if you stop trolling, nobody will call you a troll. It's a novel idea.
You do realize, Doug, that what you just wrote was merely and solely a classic example of "labelling." Methinks you don't really have any idea what you're talking about, but you are very interested (for some reason), in having viewpoints that you don't personally agree with eliminated. I wonder why you feel that need?
Perhaps if you stop labelling viewpoints to which you don't agree as "trolls", you'll develop the reasoning abilities necessary to evaluate other positions. It's just a friendly suggestion...
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 3:18 PM on January 13, 2002
Then I recommend that others mind their own little cowardly hypocrisy regarding "support" and "exposition" and "community-building" a little closer.
You do realize, fold, that what you just wrote is a classic example of a troll? Perhaps if you stop trolling, nobody will call you a troll. It's a novel idea.
You do realize, Doug, that what you just wrote was merely and solely a classic example of "labelling." Methinks you don't really have any idea what you're talking about, but you are very interested (for some reason), in having viewpoints that you don't personally agree with eliminated. I wonder why you feel that need?
Perhaps if you stop labelling viewpoints to which you don't agree as "trolls", you'll develop the reasoning abilities necessary to evaluate other positions. It's just a friendly suggestion...
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 3:18 PM on January 13, 2002
a discussion forum for items found on the web (meaningful or mindless).
Emphasis on the latter--all these Flash animation sites make for discussions? And the average comment here amounts to a sound bite... or less.
I don't see the problem if it happens every now and then.
Ah, fold-and-mutilate..the Bizarro Real9.
posted by y2karl at 4:41 PM on January 13, 2002
Emphasis on the latter--all these Flash animation sites make for discussions? And the average comment here amounts to a sound bite... or less.
I don't see the problem if it happens every now and then.
Ah, fold-and-mutilate..the Bizarro Real9.
posted by y2karl at 4:41 PM on January 13, 2002
I actually kind of agree with fold and mutilate. Help, I'm scared!
posted by jonmc at 4:55 PM on January 13, 2002
posted by jonmc at 4:55 PM on January 13, 2002
Vek and jessamyn - Thanks, that was more constructive.
When I was thinking about the post, I had two approaches in mind: the simple one, which I used; and the slighty wordier approach of wondering aloud in the FPP what kind of hell there would be to pay for drunks at parties she attends in college. My thinking was that this approach might elicit stories of that nature.
Ultimately I sacrificed that possibility in favor of the idea that brevity is the soul of wit.
I doubt that the other approach would have satisfied everyone either, but it may have alleviated many of the rational objections.
fold_and_mutilate - I've been very clear about the specific combination of elements I object to in your posts. You go ahead and let everyone know when you can show me rising to your standard of combining those elements.
posted by NortonDC at 5:04 PM on January 13, 2002
When I was thinking about the post, I had two approaches in mind: the simple one, which I used; and the slighty wordier approach of wondering aloud in the FPP what kind of hell there would be to pay for drunks at parties she attends in college. My thinking was that this approach might elicit stories of that nature.
Ultimately I sacrificed that possibility in favor of the idea that brevity is the soul of wit.
I doubt that the other approach would have satisfied everyone either, but it may have alleviated many of the rational objections.
fold_and_mutilate - I've been very clear about the specific combination of elements I object to in your posts. You go ahead and let everyone know when you can show me rising to your standard of combining those elements.
posted by NortonDC at 5:04 PM on January 13, 2002
You go ahead and let everyone know when you can show me rising to your standard of combining those elements.
You go ahead and let everyone know when you will no longer require ideas filtered in a soft, warm, and bland way.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 5:39 PM on January 13, 2002
You go ahead and let everyone know when you will no longer require ideas filtered in a soft, warm, and bland way.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 5:39 PM on January 13, 2002
BTW, f_&_M, omniscience must be quite a burden, how do you bear it?
posted by jonmc at 5:58 PM on January 13, 2002
posted by jonmc at 5:58 PM on January 13, 2002
My little sister used to parrot my sentences back at me. At the time, I reacted with physical violence (sorry, kiddo). The really embarrassing part is that I never learned another way. Lucky for me, she grew out of it along about the time she turned 12.
posted by gleuschk at 6:07 PM on January 13, 2002
posted by gleuschk at 6:07 PM on January 13, 2002
What happened to the post with fold_and_mutilate's personal contact information in it? I was busy putting the data into my Christmas card database when it disappeared.
Do I need to ask this in metaMetaTalk?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:48 PM on January 13, 2002
Do I need to ask this in metaMetaTalk?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:48 PM on January 13, 2002
crash-you are my f***in' hero! Unfortunately, I don't think fold_and_mutilate celebrates xmas. Y'know christianity, capitalism, various other evil western imperialist concepts. H/She/it(can I contract that to"sh'i't") probably dances naked under the moon at the solstice or merely self-flagellates for the sins of metafilterkind.
posted by jonmc at 7:01 PM on January 13, 2002
posted by jonmc at 7:01 PM on January 13, 2002
Y'know, jon, you gripe about f_&_m trolling, and rightly so, but baiting him like that is not especially constructive either. (I'm giving you slack because of your righteous Shaggs love, though.)
posted by rodii at 7:13 PM on January 13, 2002
posted by rodii at 7:13 PM on January 13, 2002
you are very interested (for some reason), in having viewpoints that you don't personally agree with eliminated. I wonder why you feel that need?
It's funny you ask, really. My obvious obsession with censoring others began at about the age of five. Little Billy Michaels told me that blue was the "bestest color in the whole world." Obviously this isn't true, so I called him a "crapface" and ate his Jello brand pudding snack. It's all been downhill from there.
I've tried to find an organization for other people who also want all divergent thought eliminated. I've looked into the KKK, the Neo-Nazi Movement, even the Republican party: none were extreme enough. Luckily, on June 9th, 2000, I found a place full of people like me. Oppressive, closed-minded, and completely devoted to censoring any opinion that is not our own.
Thank you, Matt. Thank you for making my evil dreams come true!
posted by Doug at 7:27 PM on January 13, 2002
It's funny you ask, really. My obvious obsession with censoring others began at about the age of five. Little Billy Michaels told me that blue was the "bestest color in the whole world." Obviously this isn't true, so I called him a "crapface" and ate his Jello brand pudding snack. It's all been downhill from there.
I've tried to find an organization for other people who also want all divergent thought eliminated. I've looked into the KKK, the Neo-Nazi Movement, even the Republican party: none were extreme enough. Luckily, on June 9th, 2000, I found a place full of people like me. Oppressive, closed-minded, and completely devoted to censoring any opinion that is not our own.
Thank you, Matt. Thank you for making my evil dreams come true!
posted by Doug at 7:27 PM on January 13, 2002
rodii-yeah, your right. But If you look at the history between me and f_&_m, i've cut miles of slack for him(to hell with the pronouns!)to hang himself with. To be quite frank, I'm just mystified as to what kind of person makes these kind of posts. It's not his politics that bother me(I have close freinds who make f_&_m look like a republican banker) just the stridency, cobativeness and lack of humor that irk me.
Actually your mentioning the Shaggs here gives me a ray of hope, perhaps we could send f_&_m an mp3 of "Philosophy of The World," perphaps he'd here their righteous message and mellow out.
posted by jonmc at 7:39 PM on January 13, 2002
Actually your mentioning the Shaggs here gives me a ray of hope, perhaps we could send f_&_m an mp3 of "Philosophy of The World," perphaps he'd here their righteous message and mellow out.
posted by jonmc at 7:39 PM on January 13, 2002
mr_crash_davis, just in case you still haven't found what you're looking for, try here. Maybe the comment collapsed in on itself under the weight of its own self righteousnous and fell through a hole in the metaspace-time continuum, I dunno, but it's over there now.
posted by MUD at 11:47 AM on January 14, 2002
posted by MUD at 11:47 AM on January 14, 2002
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
At least without some sort of presentation of why the photograph would be relevant or worth discussing.
So what is the standing policy - or what should it be? - on posts like this?
They're a couple of photographs I'd like to post. I think they could be interesting, by using the same economical approach. But...
But I wonder whether they'd be OK on their own. Or should I risk overplaying my hand - and ruin the open effect - by adding one or two appropriate links to them?
Please advise.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:08 AM on January 13, 2002