AskPolitics September 4, 2008 1:57 PM Subscribe
Is it desirable for AskMe to become a surrogate form of PoliticalFilter?
A disturbing trend today, with three questions all of which seem to relate to talking points from one party or the other, and at least one of them beginning to spin out of control into a general election discussion. One Two Three
Each of those did seem innocent, but as they say: one is bad luck; two is coincidence; three is a trend. Or at least it could presage a trend.
The Mods have been good in the last couple of days at stomping on all the attempts to do Convention posts (both conventions) and these AskMe's feel just a bit like people trying to get around that by using the other forum. (Especially the second, which is nakedly partisan.)
There are all kinds of questions about politics, but maybe we don't want them asked and answered in AskMe. Do we?
A disturbing trend today, with three questions all of which seem to relate to talking points from one party or the other, and at least one of them beginning to spin out of control into a general election discussion. One Two Three
Each of those did seem innocent, but as they say: one is bad luck; two is coincidence; three is a trend. Or at least it could presage a trend.
The Mods have been good in the last couple of days at stomping on all the attempts to do Convention posts (both conventions) and these AskMe's feel just a bit like people trying to get around that by using the other forum. (Especially the second, which is nakedly partisan.)
There are all kinds of questions about politics, but maybe we don't want them asked and answered in AskMe. Do we?
And regarding the partisan claim, people are partisan. They can represent their partisan selves on AskMe as long as they're not using AskMe to soapbox their issues which I don't think even question number two is doing. Compare this to "why shoudln't the US mandate English as the national language, what are the arguments for an against?" [I'm paraphrasing] which actually DID turn into an argument about the English only movement, albeit not from the OP of the question.
If people start debating the talking points instead of answering the question, we'll work hard to shut those derails down in AskMe. If you disagree with the premises of the question, feel free to skip them.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:03 PM on September 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
If people start debating the talking points instead of answering the question, we'll work hard to shut those derails down in AskMe. If you disagree with the premises of the question, feel free to skip them.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:03 PM on September 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
Do we?
That the subject matter might be something you don't care for is not sufficient criteria for deletion.
If the question is well-defined and is answerable, and it doesn't break the rules for chattiness or self-promotion, then why should it be deleted? It doesn't seem like the three AskMes you linked to violate any particular rule or guideline.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:19 PM on September 4, 2008
That the subject matter might be something you don't care for is not sufficient criteria for deletion.
If the question is well-defined and is answerable, and it doesn't break the rules for chattiness or self-promotion, then why should it be deleted? It doesn't seem like the three AskMes you linked to violate any particular rule or guideline.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:19 PM on September 4, 2008
A disturbing trend today
Nothing wrong with people asking questions or looking for information.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:27 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Nothing wrong with people asking questions or looking for information.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:27 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
A lot of AskMes are partisan - did you see the one from anonymous about how bummed he is that his son is president of his college's abstinence club? And how he wanted to get the kid laid?
I confess to getting all fighty in the English-only AskMe, and I apologize. And I'll try to not do that anymore in the green. But the questions you linked to don't seem to break any guidelines, and neither do the answers - they're requests for information, and information is offered. That they are explicitly political is a (temporary) sign of the times.
posted by rtha at 2:32 PM on September 4, 2008
I confess to getting all fighty in the English-only AskMe, and I apologize. And I'll try to not do that anymore in the green. But the questions you linked to don't seem to break any guidelines, and neither do the answers - they're requests for information, and information is offered. That they are explicitly political is a (temporary) sign of the times.
posted by rtha at 2:32 PM on September 4, 2008
My neighbor is a hardcore Republican. Is it safe to eat him, or not?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 2:35 PM on September 4, 2008 [17 favorites]
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 2:35 PM on September 4, 2008 [17 favorites]
askme has things in place for just the sort of chaos you're worried about. The system works, no topic-bans necessary. Trust the force.
posted by iamkimiam at 2:38 PM on September 4, 2008
posted by iamkimiam at 2:38 PM on September 4, 2008
Let's vote on it!
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:39 PM on September 4, 2008
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:39 PM on September 4, 2008
404'd
Get back to work, Blatcher. Don't make me unpersonize you on Facebook again.
posted by Eideteker at 2:42 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Get back to work, Blatcher. Don't make me unpersonize you on Facebook again.
posted by Eideteker at 2:42 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
If people start debating the talking points instead of answering the question, we'll work hard to shut those derails down in AskMe.
OK, fair enough.
posted by Class Goat at 2:45 PM on September 4, 2008
OK, fair enough.
posted by Class Goat at 2:45 PM on September 4, 2008
"My neighbor is a hardcore Republican."
I have no desire to see any of his movies.
posted by Eideteker at 2:46 PM on September 4, 2008
I have no desire to see any of his movies.
"Ooh, baby. Yeah, baby, that's it. Talk dirty to me. Lie to me. Promise me smaller government. Tell me you want to lower taxes and reduce the deficit." *pant, moan*Pass.
posted by Eideteker at 2:46 PM on September 4, 2008
My neighbor is a hardcore Republican. Is it safe to eat him, or not?
So long as he has been declawed and circumcised.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 2:52 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
So long as he has been declawed and circumcised.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 2:52 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Is it safe to eat him, or not?
Sure, you'll meet some of the cream of the republican party that way.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 2:52 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Sure, you'll meet some of the cream of the republican party that way.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 2:52 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Man, I was going to ask how does one become a political operative. I figured that it was non-partisan question and hey, I am really curious on how to go about it. Does this make me bad? Seriously, this was my next askmefi question.
posted by jadepearl at 2:53 PM on September 4, 2008
posted by jadepearl at 2:53 PM on September 4, 2008
Dear AskMe: I am generally pretty amazing. I have seventeen cars, including one that actually transforms - it's Ironhide, if you must know - and for fun on weekends I sometimes buy BMWs just so I can crash them. I've lost count of how many houses I own, my girl will have to get back to you on that one. My gross income is in the tens of thousands per day - mainly from canny investment, because I'm so intelligent, but as a gig on the side I get to test pilot top secret fighter jets - and I sleep with a new Penthouse Pet every night (not that much "sleeping" actually gets done, lol!), because they are so thrilled by my enormous penis and the fact that I last hours in the sack, and have been known to cause powerful orgasms merely by breathing in a woman's ear. I exfoliate daily, using Cristal, and Angelo Zegna - yes, that Zegna - is my personal style consultant. I can crush ice with my bare hands and I never wear the same pair of socks more than once (sometimes not even that!). Problem is, I vote Republican. So, what's the best way for me to fucking murder myself? Thanks in advance, hivemind!
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:58 PM on September 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:58 PM on September 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
I was wondering about "Drill Baby Drill"
a) is it missing punctuation, and where?
b) Is someone against drilling for more oil? why?
posted by garlic at 3:01 PM on September 4, 2008
a) is it missing punctuation, and where?
b) Is someone against drilling for more oil? why?
posted by garlic at 3:01 PM on September 4, 2008
These questions were better in every way than the usual "name my X" , "if you were a tree what kind of tree would you be" , "my relationship is shit but I don't want to admit it" questions that form the bulk of AskMe.
posted by Riemann at 3:19 PM on September 4, 2008
posted by Riemann at 3:19 PM on September 4, 2008
a) see also: go baby go, run lola run, gone baby gone (the love is gone). If you really want to punctuate it, "Drill, baby, drill!" or maybe "Drill, baby! Drill!" would work, but being as how it's (in context, at least) more of a mantra than a piece of prose, that might be overthinking it.
b) Yes, and for a variety of reasons. That's a pretty big discussion.
Also, trademark on "Faster, Pussycatt, Drill, Drill!" officially belongs to me as of right now NO STEALING.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:37 PM on September 4, 2008
b) Yes, and for a variety of reasons. That's a pretty big discussion.
Also, trademark on "Faster, Pussycatt, Drill, Drill!" officially belongs to me as of right now NO STEALING.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:37 PM on September 4, 2008
I keep thinking of those dildos that attach to drills.
posted by desjardins at 4:05 PM on September 4, 2008
posted by desjardins at 4:05 PM on September 4, 2008
a) Why does the main page here say "# new links" and not "# new posts"?
b) ARRRRRGHHHHHHH
c) No worries, I'm not touching that drill quote.
posted by Tehanu at 4:05 PM on September 4, 2008
b) ARRRRRGHHHHHHH
c) No worries, I'm not touching that drill quote.
posted by Tehanu at 4:05 PM on September 4, 2008
Dibs on "Faster, Plutocrat..."
posted by mumkin at 4:06 PM on September 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by mumkin at 4:06 PM on September 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
I was wondering about "Drill Baby Drill"
a) is it missing punctuation, and where?
Well I don't know about punctuation, but it is missing some HTML:
Drill Baby Drill
posted by clearly at 4:07 PM on September 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
a) is it missing punctuation, and where?
Well I don't know about punctuation, but it is missing some HTML:
Drill Baby Drill
posted by clearly at 4:07 PM on September 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
b) Is someone against drilling for more oil? why?
I am. Why:
1. Environmental impact.
2. Dissuades Alternative Energy efforts
3. Decreasing Consumption should be a bigger concern.
4. Stopgap measure
5. Why not use all sources of foreign oil before we tap into ours?
Oil in my opinion is currently undervalued. Perhaps the recent increase in gas prices will spurn Americans into buying more fuel efficient transportation, and an overall decrease in the amount of oil we consume. Drilling as a temporary measure to keep prices down is not a good way to go about solving the initial problem of over consumption.
Really, we need to be investing into other ways to either produce oil, Oilgae being one example, or other sources of energy that have neither the environmental impact of carbon fuels or the shelf life.
...well that is the gist of it anyway.
posted by clearly at 4:23 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
I am. Why:
1. Environmental impact.
2. Dissuades Alternative Energy efforts
3. Decreasing Consumption should be a bigger concern.
4. Stopgap measure
5. Why not use all sources of foreign oil before we tap into ours?
Oil in my opinion is currently undervalued. Perhaps the recent increase in gas prices will spurn Americans into buying more fuel efficient transportation, and an overall decrease in the amount of oil we consume. Drilling as a temporary measure to keep prices down is not a good way to go about solving the initial problem of over consumption.
Really, we need to be investing into other ways to either produce oil, Oilgae being one example, or other sources of energy that have neither the environmental impact of carbon fuels or the shelf life.
...well that is the gist of it anyway.
posted by clearly at 4:23 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
There's also been a lot of questions about computers. And food. Better nip these trends in the bud before we have a full blown hive mind here!
posted by DU at 4:23 PM on September 4, 2008
posted by DU at 4:23 PM on September 4, 2008
Faster mod, BAN BAN BAN
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:21 PM on September 4, 2008
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:21 PM on September 4, 2008
So long as he has been declawed and circumcised.
And deloused.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:41 PM on September 4, 2008
And deloused.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:41 PM on September 4, 2008
My neighbor is a hardcore Republican. Is it safe to eat him, or not?
Are you posting from the MSP men's room?
posted by casarkos at 6:07 PM on September 4, 2008
Are you posting from the MSP men's room?
posted by casarkos at 6:07 PM on September 4, 2008
A lot of AskMes are partisan - did you see the one from anonymous about how bummed he is that his son is president of his college's abstinence club? And how he wanted to get the kid laid?
Thank you for bringing that to my attention. Best lulz I've had all week.
posted by grouse at 7:00 PM on September 4, 2008
Thank you for bringing that to my attention. Best lulz I've had all week.
posted by grouse at 7:00 PM on September 4, 2008
Having asked a couple of these types of questions in the dim past I don't think there is anything sneaky about them. American politics are horribly byzantine, AskMe is a great source for sorting that kind of thing out, and questions of all sorts tend to be topical.
posted by Mitheral at 8:47 PM on September 4, 2008
posted by Mitheral at 8:47 PM on September 4, 2008
drill, baby, drill! IS IT SAFE? OF COURSE IT'S SAAAAAFE
posted by waraw at 8:53 PM on September 4, 2008
posted by waraw at 8:53 PM on September 4, 2008
Yes, ClassGoat, that is desirable.
In other news: Actual begging of the question sighted at MeTa.
(and turgid dahlia: whatever's quickest.)
posted by pompomtom at 10:03 PM on September 4, 2008
In other news: Actual begging of the question sighted at MeTa.
(and turgid dahlia: whatever's quickest.)
posted by pompomtom at 10:03 PM on September 4, 2008
Speaking of begging the question and other stupid rhetorical pet tricks, Tom Tomorrow's This Modern World blog has an amusing observation about Palin's speech:
Sarah Palin:
“Here’s how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.”
Compare to...
Mystery Men :
Mr. Furious: Okay, am I the only one who finds these sayings just a little bit formulaic? “If you want to push something down, you have to pull it up. If you want to go left, you have to go right.” It’s…
The Sphinx: Your temper is very quick, my friend. But until you learn to master your rage…
Mr. Furious: …your rage will become your master? That’s what you were going to say. Right? Right?
The Sphinx: Not necessarily.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:58 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Sarah Palin:
“Here’s how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.”
Compare to...
Mystery Men :
Mr. Furious: Okay, am I the only one who finds these sayings just a little bit formulaic? “If you want to push something down, you have to pull it up. If you want to go left, you have to go right.” It’s…
The Sphinx: Your temper is very quick, my friend. But until you learn to master your rage…
Mr. Furious: …your rage will become your master? That’s what you were going to say. Right? Right?
The Sphinx: Not necessarily.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:58 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Why not use all sources of foreign oil before we tap into ours?
And if they won't sell it to us at a reasonable price, lets invade them to make damn sure that they do!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:17 AM on September 5, 2008
And if they won't sell it to us at a reasonable price, lets invade them to make damn sure that they do!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:17 AM on September 5, 2008
My neighbor is a hardcore Republican. Is it safe to eat him, or not?
Only after you remove the hard core. Otherwise you'll hurt your teeth.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 1:29 PM on September 5, 2008
Only after you remove the hard core. Otherwise you'll hurt your teeth.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 1:29 PM on September 5, 2008
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posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:59 PM on September 4, 2008 [2 favorites]