Hm September 10, 2008 7:00 PM Subscribe
Two of my comments on this post were removed. Why? Were they in any way offensive? Off topic? Doomsaying?
Cortex' comment is just weird.
Cortex' comment is just weird.
This post was deleted for the following reason: poster's request -- jessamyn
I see nothing that would warrant a deletion.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 7:03 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 7:03 PM on September 10, 2008
It's not a big deal. But when totally harmless comments are removes, one would like to know why.
posted by Dumsnill at 7:05 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by Dumsnill at 7:05 PM on September 10, 2008
So email the mods already, you think anybody else knows why they're gone? Asking in MeTa is just attention-seeking.
posted by jacalata at 7:07 PM on September 10, 2008 [9 favorites]
posted by jacalata at 7:07 PM on September 10, 2008 [9 favorites]
Fixed your link to the thread.
There were several comments early in that thread that were talking more about the likely deletion of the thread, or the questionable wisdom of posting the link, etc. than substantially discussing the link at all. It's a great way to kill a thread and, as people have noted in the past, make for a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Your comments were only a portion of what was deleted, and my comment in that thread was not directed specifically at you.
In the future, if you're going to email me around what could reasonably be dinner time, please wait more then ten or twenty minutes before escalating to Metatalk; I might just not have had a chance to respond to you yet. On that note, the contact form (see "contact" in the bottom right of the page) will get to all three of us, upping the chance of a quick response.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:07 PM on September 10, 2008
There were several comments early in that thread that were talking more about the likely deletion of the thread, or the questionable wisdom of posting the link, etc. than substantially discussing the link at all. It's a great way to kill a thread and, as people have noted in the past, make for a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Your comments were only a portion of what was deleted, and my comment in that thread was not directed specifically at you.
In the future, if you're going to email me around what could reasonably be dinner time, please wait more then ten or twenty minutes before escalating to Metatalk; I might just not have had a chance to respond to you yet. On that note, the contact form (see "contact" in the bottom right of the page) will get to all three of us, upping the chance of a quick response.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:07 PM on September 10, 2008
Oh, come on, Cortex, you should be on all the time!
posted by Dumsnill at 7:10 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by Dumsnill at 7:10 PM on September 10, 2008
Wow. If cortex ever tells me to go fuck myself, I will probably strain my back trying.
posted by yhbc at 7:10 PM on September 10, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by yhbc at 7:10 PM on September 10, 2008 [4 favorites]
His comment makes sense.
If you think a post is bad, flag it or email a mod. Bellyaching early on in a thread can lead to people getting defensive about the post, then other people defending the bellyachers. Lather, rinse, repeat until there's a full-blown ragefest in what otherwise might have been an interesting thread.
posted by CKmtl at 7:10 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
If you think a post is bad, flag it or email a mod. Bellyaching early on in a thread can lead to people getting defensive about the post, then other people defending the bellyachers. Lather, rinse, repeat until there's a full-blown ragefest in what otherwise might have been an interesting thread.
posted by CKmtl at 7:10 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
You know, you can use email/IM for something like this...I've IM'd Matt about all sorts of fun questions, like whether Postroad was real. (Sorry, Postroad!) No pressure.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 7:11 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by StrikeTheViol at 7:11 PM on September 10, 2008
I've just been standing by, waiting for your email all this time!!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:13 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:13 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
I haven't even had dinner yet!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:15 PM on September 10, 2008 [7 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:15 PM on September 10, 2008 [7 favorites]
Oh, I sent the mail. Who knew that a mod had to eat?
And I didn't think the post was bad, I was just a bit unsure about what would happen in the comments.
posted by Dumsnill at 7:19 PM on September 10, 2008
And I didn't think the post was bad, I was just a bit unsure about what would happen in the comments.
posted by Dumsnill at 7:19 PM on September 10, 2008
I don't normally bitch about such things, but I kinda thought the deletion of my comment was a little overzealous, too. I didn't exactly contribute any deathless prose to the thread, but when your stuff vanishes sorta arbitrarily, it doesn't exactly compel you to stay in the conversation. Which, actually, in this case is probably for the best anyway.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:25 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:25 PM on September 10, 2008
jessamyn... ever vigilant.
Seriously, MetaFilter mods are the best mods in the world! They have a stunning and mind-boggling amount of availability to the users.
Now, if I may pile on here with a little whining of my own, since it concerns something that is also evident in the linked thread, and I didn't want to start a MeTa about it. It's the phenomenon of Comment by Pasting.
The Palin thread is full of such comments. Its gargantuan size would probably be cut by a third if pertinent info was linked to rather than copied and pasted from articles, op-eds, and blogs. Sure, a line or two is pretty common, but when it's a paragraph or several paragraphs of content copied and pasted from elsewhere... I dunno... it just seems like it's fighting a war by trying to maintain verbosity, and not even with one's own words.
I value the opinions of my fellow MeFites. Even those I may not agree with. But I'd rather hear their case in their own words, not "here, read what this guy said and you'll get it!" Pretty soon, someone else's opposing "this guy" gets pasted, and away we go.
As this U.S. election season moves forward, and if the Palin thread and others are any indication, this will only get worse. I'm sure it hasn't escaped notice by our mods, but I'm wondering if this falls into flag-worthiness, or is it just something that just bugs me and I need to suck it up and not worry about it?
Before any suggests it: yes, I already skip reading those comments. So in my case they are counter-productive.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 7:27 PM on September 10, 2008
Seriously, MetaFilter mods are the best mods in the world! They have a stunning and mind-boggling amount of availability to the users.
Now, if I may pile on here with a little whining of my own, since it concerns something that is also evident in the linked thread, and I didn't want to start a MeTa about it. It's the phenomenon of Comment by Pasting.
The Palin thread is full of such comments. Its gargantuan size would probably be cut by a third if pertinent info was linked to rather than copied and pasted from articles, op-eds, and blogs. Sure, a line or two is pretty common, but when it's a paragraph or several paragraphs of content copied and pasted from elsewhere... I dunno... it just seems like it's fighting a war by trying to maintain verbosity, and not even with one's own words.
I value the opinions of my fellow MeFites. Even those I may not agree with. But I'd rather hear their case in their own words, not "here, read what this guy said and you'll get it!" Pretty soon, someone else's opposing "this guy" gets pasted, and away we go.
As this U.S. election season moves forward, and if the Palin thread and others are any indication, this will only get worse. I'm sure it hasn't escaped notice by our mods, but I'm wondering if this falls into flag-worthiness, or is it just something that just bugs me and I need to suck it up and not worry about it?
Before any suggests it: yes, I already skip reading those comments. So in my case they are counter-productive.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 7:27 PM on September 10, 2008
I'm sure it hasn't escaped notice by our mods, but I'm wondering if this falls into flag-worthiness, or is it just something that just bugs me and I need to suck it up and not worry about it?
I have to admit not minding it. I can see why people do it - people are more likely to read text that's there, rather than click on a link to another site. Which means it's open to abuse, sure, but I've read a lot of interesting things when people have done this that I have to admit I wouldn't have read if people had relied on me to click a link.
How about we split the difference; only paste one paragraph, and include your own comment on it rather than relying on the copied text to be your only contribution?
posted by Jimbob at 7:34 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
I have to admit not minding it. I can see why people do it - people are more likely to read text that's there, rather than click on a link to another site. Which means it's open to abuse, sure, but I've read a lot of interesting things when people have done this that I have to admit I wouldn't have read if people had relied on me to click a link.
How about we split the difference; only paste one paragraph, and include your own comment on it rather than relying on the copied text to be your only contribution?
posted by Jimbob at 7:34 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
About flagging: In my short period here I've never flagged anything. Flagging is stupid. If you disagree with someone or something, just say so.
posted by Dumsnill at 7:36 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by Dumsnill at 7:36 PM on September 10, 2008
You might think so, Dumsnill, but you would be wrong. Flagging does work, and it has greatly improved the discourse around here, because with it no one but the moderators have to see a thousand "what a whiny prick!" comments whenever you open your fucking mouth.
posted by yhbc at 7:38 PM on September 10, 2008 [16 favorites]
posted by yhbc at 7:38 PM on September 10, 2008 [16 favorites]
Y'know, there's a horrible plague afoot.
Cable channels are broadcasting ads for food franchises without locations anywhere near their viewing area. I just saw one on the Food Network for Joe's Crab Shack. And I love crab. But the nearest one is way the hell out in Jersey. they do the same thing to me with Sonic and Red Robin all the time.
They must be stopped.
posted by jonmc at 7:39 PM on September 10, 2008 [3 favorites]
Cable channels are broadcasting ads for food franchises without locations anywhere near their viewing area. I just saw one on the Food Network for Joe's Crab Shack. And I love crab. But the nearest one is way the hell out in Jersey. they do the same thing to me with Sonic and Red Robin all the time.
They must be stopped.
posted by jonmc at 7:39 PM on September 10, 2008 [3 favorites]
> Oh, come on, Cortex, you should be on all the time!
Frequently I have snapped awake in bed in the small hours of the morning, stirred by unease at the thought that cortex might not be on for that brief, unsettling moment.
posted by ardgedee at 7:41 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
Frequently I have snapped awake in bed in the small hours of the morning, stirred by unease at the thought that cortex might not be on for that brief, unsettling moment.
posted by ardgedee at 7:41 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
Now, if I may pile on here with a little whining of my own, since it concerns something that is also evident in the linked thread, and I didn't want to start a MeTa about it. It's the phenomenon of Comment by Pasting.
And I pile on with counter-whining: I really appreciate Comment by Pasting: when the poster has quoted the most-relevant, topical part of the link, it often saves me from having to read the entire article; and it certainly provides me valuable information about what the poster considered to be most important, which in turn helps me in replying.
The Palin that never ends thread is an anomaly. Exceedingly few threads become that gargantuan. Comment by Pasting is not really a problem on MeFi.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:43 PM on September 10, 2008 [4 favorites]
And I pile on with counter-whining: I really appreciate Comment by Pasting: when the poster has quoted the most-relevant, topical part of the link, it often saves me from having to read the entire article; and it certainly provides me valuable information about what the poster considered to be most important, which in turn helps me in replying.
The Palin that never ends thread is an anomaly. Exceedingly few threads become that gargantuan. Comment by Pasting is not really a problem on MeFi.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:43 PM on September 10, 2008 [4 favorites]
if you're going to email me around what could reasonably be dinner time
I don't think reason had anything to do with it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:45 PM on September 10, 2008
I don't think reason had anything to do with it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:45 PM on September 10, 2008
Actually, for the complaint you noted earlier, flagging is a good solution.
Rather than a preemptive "Ugh, this is going to get ugly"-style comment, flag the post with 'other'. If your concern is potential ugliness, flagging it will bring it to the mods' attention much more quickly than that type of comment.
posted by CKmtl at 7:46 PM on September 10, 2008
Rather than a preemptive "Ugh, this is going to get ugly"-style comment, flag the post with 'other'. If your concern is potential ugliness, flagging it will bring it to the mods' attention much more quickly than that type of comment.
posted by CKmtl at 7:46 PM on September 10, 2008
Flagging does work
Yes, you're probably right. (Although I don't think there's much chance of this dropping into YouTube comment territory.)
Don't you feel kind of dorky when you flag something, though? (Unless it's wildly racist or sexist and so on.)
posted by Dumsnill at 7:48 PM on September 10, 2008
Yes, you're probably right. (Although I don't think there's much chance of this dropping into YouTube comment territory.)
Don't you feel kind of dorky when you flag something, though? (Unless it's wildly racist or sexist and so on.)
posted by Dumsnill at 7:48 PM on September 10, 2008
Frequently I have snapped awake in bed in the small hours of the morning, stirred by unease at the thought that cortex might not be on for that brief, unsettling moment.
Every once in a while, I wake up at three a.m. for no reason and find that something on the site has gone apeshit.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate vacapinta being around.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:54 PM on September 10, 2008
Every once in a while, I wake up at three a.m. for no reason and find that something on the site has gone apeshit.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate vacapinta being around.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:54 PM on September 10, 2008
Don't you feel kind of dorky when you flag something, though?
Hello, and welcome to The Internet. Have you been here before? Would you like to try some appetizers?
posted by katillathehun at 7:55 PM on September 10, 2008 [6 favorites]
Hello, and welcome to The Internet. Have you been here before? Would you like to try some appetizers?
posted by katillathehun at 7:55 PM on September 10, 2008 [6 favorites]
Okay, that was a reasoned and thoughtful response, so I withdraw my prior imprecations, as well as the many slurs on your parentage I sent via MeMail (not really).
No, I don't feel dorky. first, it's anonymous, so you don't have to feel anything at all. Plus, it really does work better than the prior alternative, which was for everyone to yell as loud as they could at the beginning of threads. Sometimes that worked, and sometimes it was a lot of fun, but more often it pissed off the moderators (or moderator - at the time, it was just Matt) and doomed a thread to deletion that might otherwise have been saved. As a big proponent of "fun", it took me a while to come around to the idea, but I'm now glad I did.
posted by yhbc at 7:57 PM on September 10, 2008
No, I don't feel dorky. first, it's anonymous, so you don't have to feel anything at all. Plus, it really does work better than the prior alternative, which was for everyone to yell as loud as they could at the beginning of threads. Sometimes that worked, and sometimes it was a lot of fun, but more often it pissed off the moderators (or moderator - at the time, it was just Matt) and doomed a thread to deletion that might otherwise have been saved. As a big proponent of "fun", it took me a while to come around to the idea, but I'm now glad I did.
posted by yhbc at 7:57 PM on September 10, 2008
Don't you feel kind of dorky when you flag something, though?
To flag something, a man would have to put his soul at hazard. He'd have to say, "OK, I'll be part of this world."
It helps if you feel dorky all the time, too.
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:58 PM on September 10, 2008 [3 favorites]
To flag something, a man would have to put his soul at hazard. He'd have to say, "OK, I'll be part of this world."
It helps if you feel dorky all the time, too.
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:58 PM on September 10, 2008 [3 favorites]
I really appreciate Comment by Pasting: when the poster has quoted the most-relevant, topical part of the link, it often saves me from having to read the entire article
Yeah... I agree with that. I guess the definition of "most-relevant" is where it gets iffy.
About flagging: In my short period here I've never flagged anything. Flagging is stupid. If you disagree with someone or something, just say so.
Please note that in the popup list for flagging reasons "I disagree" is not one of the options. Flagging is to alert the mods of something that might break the guidelines of site. Flagging is only visible to the mods and the person who flagged it, not the commenter or the readers. It's a tool to help the mods do their jobs.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:04 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
Yeah... I agree with that. I guess the definition of "most-relevant" is where it gets iffy.
About flagging: In my short period here I've never flagged anything. Flagging is stupid. If you disagree with someone or something, just say so.
Please note that in the popup list for flagging reasons "I disagree" is not one of the options. Flagging is to alert the mods of something that might break the guidelines of site. Flagging is only visible to the mods and the person who flagged it, not the commenter or the readers. It's a tool to help the mods do their jobs.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:04 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'm regretting getting too far into this, but I think I need to correct my use of "anonymous" - as I understand the flagging system, the mods see who is making the flags, but no one else does. That way, if you abuse the flagging system, you can, will and should be called out for that as well, but only by the mods and not by the community at large.
posted by yhbc at 8:04 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by yhbc at 8:04 PM on September 10, 2008
As one of the one's that had a comment removed, I respectfully submit that you mistook sincere sarcasm (sounds like an oxymoron, I know) for FIRST POST / LAST POST silliness and/or doomsaying.
It's a shitty essay, and not just because of the politics, but because it boils everything down to "disagreement = a mental disorder," with a steaming, three-curler shitpile of self-righteousness a la mode.
hugs all around
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:11 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
It's a shitty essay, and not just because of the politics, but because it boils everything down to "disagreement = a mental disorder," with a steaming, three-curler shitpile of self-righteousness a la mode.
hugs all around
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:11 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
"I disagree" is not one of the options
Yeah, I noticed that just now. I always thought of flagging as a way to point out something deeply offensive.
posted by Dumsnill at 8:16 PM on September 10, 2008
Yeah, I noticed that just now. I always thought of flagging as a way to point out something deeply offensive.
posted by Dumsnill at 8:16 PM on September 10, 2008
"Seriously, MetaFilter mods are the best mods in the world! They have a stunning and mind-boggling amount of availability to the users."
You have no idea! I just showed up at Jessamyn's house on Friday and was like, "Happy birthday, I'm taking you to breakfast." She didn't put up a struggle or banhammer me or anything. And the breakfast? Was delicious.
Not at all like mathowie, though, in his reclusive rural Oregon compound. Last time I showed up unannounced at his place, he sicced the dogs on me. Do you have any idea how much cruelty is required to train dogs to ride little recumbent attack bicycles? A lot, that's how much. And the dogs? Delicious. But still. That was cold, mathowie.
Haven't been to cortex's place. I drove by, but one look at that creepy little hobbit-hole and I just kept on driving. *shudder*
posted by Eideteker at 8:17 PM on September 10, 2008 [17 favorites]
You have no idea! I just showed up at Jessamyn's house on Friday and was like, "Happy birthday, I'm taking you to breakfast." She didn't put up a struggle or banhammer me or anything. And the breakfast? Was delicious.
Not at all like mathowie, though, in his reclusive rural Oregon compound. Last time I showed up unannounced at his place, he sicced the dogs on me. Do you have any idea how much cruelty is required to train dogs to ride little recumbent attack bicycles? A lot, that's how much. And the dogs? Delicious. But still. That was cold, mathowie.
Haven't been to cortex's place. I drove by, but one look at that creepy little hobbit-hole and I just kept on driving. *shudder*
posted by Eideteker at 8:17 PM on September 10, 2008 [17 favorites]
Dumsnill: Your profile says you've been around since July, but in seeing the MeTa about your FPP and now this thread, I think you should check out the wiki, or FAQ, or something because I get the feeling that MeFi hasn't quite clicked for you. Not that I am the expert of all things Meta by any stretch of anyone's imagination, but I know that they've proved useful to me in the past.
And to prove what a non-expert I am, I never noticed that MeTa says "note: Everyone needs a hug." below the preview box. Dumsnill, here's a hug.
posted by niles at 8:17 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
And to prove what a non-expert I am, I never noticed that MeTa says "note: Everyone needs a hug." below the preview box. Dumsnill, here's a hug.
posted by niles at 8:17 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
you can, will and should be called out for that as well, but only by the mods and not by the community at large.
And we rarely delete stuff from MetaTalk so, um, Dumsnill I'm not sure if you're making a point or what but you can ease off the flagging now.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:20 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
And we rarely delete stuff from MetaTalk so, um, Dumsnill I'm not sure if you're making a point or what but you can ease off the flagging now.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:20 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
> Flagging is stupid.
Flagging is a signal to the mods. It's a much more effective way to get action on a double post, spam, or shit magnet than piling on in the thread. It also keeps the ambient level of hostility down.
posted by ardgedee at 8:21 PM on September 10, 2008
Flagging is a signal to the mods. It's a much more effective way to get action on a double post, spam, or shit magnet than piling on in the thread. It also keeps the ambient level of hostility down.
posted by ardgedee at 8:21 PM on September 10, 2008
Eideteker is not lying.... about that anyhow.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:21 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:21 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
Also, if you are going to have us all come in here, at least reproduce what your deleted comment was tia.
posted by mlis at 8:26 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by mlis at 8:26 PM on September 10, 2008
sigh
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:26 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:26 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'm not getting the popcorn popper out for this thread, needs more cowbell etc. Also jon I've got three Sonics in the town I live in, don't worry you're not missing much.
posted by nola at 8:28 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by nola at 8:28 PM on September 10, 2008
Yep, mods rarely delete MetaTalk stuff. But they close MetaTalk threads when they turn into attention whoring.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:28 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:28 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oh, come on, you can do better than eponysterical.
I can't reproduce the comment.
tia, on the other hand.
posted by Dumsnill at 8:33 PM on September 10, 2008
I can't reproduce the comment.
tia, on the other hand.
posted by Dumsnill at 8:33 PM on September 10, 2008
I'm regretting getting too far into this, but I think I need to correct my use of "anonymous" - as I understand the flagging system, the mods see who is making the flags, but no one else does. That way, if you abuse the flagging system, you can, will and should be called out for that as well, but only by the mods and not by the community at large.
It's still largely anonymous. We can look up who is flagging what, but in the normal course of our work we don't bother to look. I can think of only a couple occasions where someone has been strange enough about their flagging behavior that I've contacted them, and even at that it wasn't abuse some much as just misunderstanding of what works best.
You noticed, so it works.
This is maybe not the best approach to meeting us halfway.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:34 PM on September 10, 2008
It's still largely anonymous. We can look up who is flagging what, but in the normal course of our work we don't bother to look. I can think of only a couple occasions where someone has been strange enough about their flagging behavior that I've contacted them, and even at that it wasn't abuse some much as just misunderstanding of what works best.
You noticed, so it works.
This is maybe not the best approach to meeting us halfway.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:34 PM on September 10, 2008
Oh, come on, you can do better than eponysterical.
Sometimes the low hanging fruit is the sweetest.
posted by Floydd at 8:35 PM on September 10, 2008
Sometimes the low hanging fruit is the sweetest.
posted by Floydd at 8:35 PM on September 10, 2008
My GOD that is a great picture. "I am eideteker. I have a motorcycle, and I am here to take you to breakfast." Hell, I would have gone with him, after I picked myself up off the floor from my dramatic swoon, and I'm betting that 90% of the self-reporting heterosexual male contingent around here would have too.
posted by yhbc at 8:39 PM on September 10, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by yhbc at 8:39 PM on September 10, 2008 [3 favorites]
This is maybe not the best approach to meeting us halfway.
No. Guess not.
posted by Dumsnill at 8:39 PM on September 10, 2008
No. Guess not.
posted by Dumsnill at 8:39 PM on September 10, 2008
I think we're done here.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:45 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:45 PM on September 10, 2008
Well that is goodnewsforthe . . .
[This thread has been closed do to a total lack of need for it]
posted by nola at 8:50 PM on September 10, 2008
[This thread has been closed do to a total lack of need for it]
posted by nola at 8:50 PM on September 10, 2008
Hmmm, my thread closing button is stuck. Oh well I'm sure someone will come along and take care of it soon enough. Wait a minute, my thread closing button is from Staples. Oh my god I've been living a lie.
posted by nola at 8:58 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by nola at 8:58 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
I want to say something reallly passive-agressive about attention whores now. Those who say this is a long dead thread.
But I'm not gonna.
posted by Dumsnill at 8:59 PM on September 10, 2008
But I'm not gonna.
posted by Dumsnill at 8:59 PM on September 10, 2008
You'll know you've been around MeFi long enough when you talk about "good grass" and you're referring to someone's lawn, and getting off of, etc.
posted by netbros at 9:05 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by netbros at 9:05 PM on September 10, 2008
My GOD that is a great picture.
Seriously. I want the action figure.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:07 PM on September 10, 2008
Seriously. I want the action figure.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:07 PM on September 10, 2008
Also, everybody, stop MeMafiling me to ask about why comments were deleted. I DON'T KNOW.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:10 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:10 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
Jebus, can we have a "moron" entry under "pick a reason to flag" now? Please?
Isn't this thread a suitable proof of need?
Every time um,...someone puts up another comment, yeah, I laugh but I'm laughing at how fundamentally he/she's missing the whole point of:
[x] metafilter
[x] flagging
[x] emailing mods
[x] metatalk
[ ] asshattery
OH. Oh oh oh oh....it should be called "asshattery". Please. Mathowie?
posted by SlyBevel at 9:30 PM on September 10, 2008
Isn't this thread a suitable proof of need?
Every time um,...someone puts up another comment, yeah, I laugh but I'm laughing at how fundamentally he/she's missing the whole point of:
[x] metafilter
[x] flagging
[x] emailing mods
[x] metatalk
[ ] asshattery
OH. Oh oh oh oh....it should be called "asshattery". Please. Mathowie?
posted by SlyBevel at 9:30 PM on September 10, 2008
Cool Papa Bell, if you want to complain about a deletion, do it here, not in thread.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:49 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:49 PM on September 10, 2008
Now, if I may pile on here with a little whining of my own, since it concerns something that is also evident in the linked thread, and I didn't want to start a MeTa about it. It's the phenomenon of Comment by Pasting.
The Palin thread is full of such comments. Its gargantuan size would probably be cut by a third if pertinent info was linked to rather than copied and pasted from articles, op-eds, and blogs. Sure, a line or two is pretty common, but when it's a paragraph or several paragraphs of content copied and pasted from elsewhere... I dunno... it just seems like it's fighting a war by trying to maintain verbosity, and not even with one's own words.
I value the opinions of my fellow MeFites. Even those I may not agree with. But I'd rather hear their case in their own words, not "here, read what this guy said and you'll get it!" Pretty soon, someone else's opposing "this guy" gets pasted, and away we go.
Good point.
posted by dhammond at 9:54 PM on September 10, 2008
The Palin thread is full of such comments. Its gargantuan size would probably be cut by a third if pertinent info was linked to rather than copied and pasted from articles, op-eds, and blogs. Sure, a line or two is pretty common, but when it's a paragraph or several paragraphs of content copied and pasted from elsewhere... I dunno... it just seems like it's fighting a war by trying to maintain verbosity, and not even with one's own words.
I value the opinions of my fellow MeFites. Even those I may not agree with. But I'd rather hear their case in their own words, not "here, read what this guy said and you'll get it!" Pretty soon, someone else's opposing "this guy" gets pasted, and away we go.
Good point.
posted by dhammond at 9:54 PM on September 10, 2008
Whooo, I'm gonna get drunk and just flag the shit out of stuff tonight.
posted by turgid dahlia at 10:13 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by turgid dahlia at 10:13 PM on September 10, 2008
It's silly to care if your comments get deleted. Why would you care? Did you put thought and effort into them? If so, that right there was silly, because they might be deleted, and then your work would be for nothing.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 10:21 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 10:21 PM on September 10, 2008
I would like to see a good old fashioned ca. early 1995 flameout, please. It's been too long.
posted by Rumple at 10:24 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Rumple at 10:24 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
Requesting a flameout? That's a flaggin'!
posted by turgid dahlia at 10:30 PM on September 10, 2008
posted by turgid dahlia at 10:30 PM on September 10, 2008
dhammond, you miss the point. The original complaint was about off-site content being pasted inthread, if germane, not over-lengthy quoting of what other people here had said.
I really appreciate Comment by Pasting: when the poster has quoted the most-relevant, topical part of the link, it often saves me from having to read the entire article; and it certainly provides me valuable information about what the poster considered to be most important, which in turn helps me in replying.
Pre-cisely.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:44 PM on September 10, 2008
I really appreciate Comment by Pasting: when the poster has quoted the most-relevant, topical part of the link, it often saves me from having to read the entire article; and it certainly provides me valuable information about what the poster considered to be most important, which in turn helps me in replying.
Pre-cisely.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:44 PM on September 10, 2008
SHOUTING THREAD. SHOUTING THREAD. I WANT A SHOUTING THREAD.
It's silly to care if your comments get deleted. Why would you care? Did you put thought and effort into them? If so, that right there was silly, because they might be deleted, and then your work would be for nothing.
Is your heart simply three times too small or did someone give you the wrong brain meat?
As the surfers say, "You just have to go for it. Yeah, you might die, but your body floats."
posted by loquacious at 11:23 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's silly to care if your comments get deleted. Why would you care? Did you put thought and effort into them? If so, that right there was silly, because they might be deleted, and then your work would be for nothing.
Is your heart simply three times too small or did someone give you the wrong brain meat?
As the surfers say, "You just have to go for it. Yeah, you might die, but your body floats."
posted by loquacious at 11:23 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's still largely anonymous. We can look up who is flagging what, but in the normal course of our work we don't bother to look.
Aww! Does this mean we can't have a huge breakdown of flags by username?
Metafilter: Stop snitching.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:54 AM on September 11, 2008
Aww! Does this mean we can't have a huge breakdown of flags by username?
Metafilter: Stop snitching.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:54 AM on September 11, 2008
Don't you feel kind of dorky when you flag something, though?
No, I feel relaxed, and like I'm no longer tempted to flame someone for being a racist/sexist/derailing shithead.
posted by rodgerd at 1:00 AM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
No, I feel relaxed, and like I'm no longer tempted to flame someone for being a racist/sexist/derailing shithead.
posted by rodgerd at 1:00 AM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yeah, my comment, which was BRINGING THE THREAD BACK ON TOPIC, was also deleted.
But that's the mods for you. Trigger-happy and non-transparent.
posted by DU at 3:00 AM on September 11, 2008
But that's the mods for you. Trigger-happy and non-transparent.
posted by DU at 3:00 AM on September 11, 2008
I have a question. What do you guys normally flag a post as if it's just weak and not FPP material? "Other?"
I liked the post in question, I just figured this was as good a place to ask as any.
posted by Nattie at 3:46 AM on September 11, 2008
I liked the post in question, I just figured this was as good a place to ask as any.
posted by Nattie at 3:46 AM on September 11, 2008
What do you guys normally flag a post as if it's just weak and not FPP material?
Uncooked bacon.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:30 AM on September 11, 2008
Uncooked bacon.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:30 AM on September 11, 2008
Guys, you are NOT taking MetaFilter SERIOUSLY enough!
My GOD that is a great picture.
Seriously. I want the action figure.
Yeah, I know. It's almost as good as the old picture. All I need is a long white scarf and some brass goggles and Doctor Anachronos lives!
posted by Eideteker at 4:42 AM on September 11, 2008
My GOD that is a great picture.
Seriously. I want the action figure.
Yeah, I know. It's almost as good as the old picture. All I need is a long white scarf and some brass goggles and Doctor Anachronos lives!
posted by Eideteker at 4:42 AM on September 11, 2008
[Posting by Pasting] I guess the definition of "most-relevant" is where it gets iffy.
Not in most cases. In most cases, the poster is supplementing the paste with their interpretation or opinion. That means the most relevant part is, indeed, the part they quote.
The exception is ericb, who often does not post anything more than the paste itself. OTOH, he usually pastes enough of the article that it's not a problem to figure out what his point is.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:43 AM on September 11, 2008
Not in most cases. In most cases, the poster is supplementing the paste with their interpretation or opinion. That means the most relevant part is, indeed, the part they quote.
The exception is ericb, who often does not post anything more than the paste itself. OTOH, he usually pastes enough of the article that it's not a problem to figure out what his point is.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:43 AM on September 11, 2008
I have a question. What do you guys normally flag a post as if it's just weak and not FPP material? "Other?"
Noise? Okay, that was mean.
posted by ersatz at 4:57 AM on September 11, 2008
Noise? Okay, that was mean.
posted by ersatz at 4:57 AM on September 11, 2008
Now, if I may pile on here with a little whining of my own, since it concerns something that is also evident in the linked thread, and I didn't want to start a MeTa about it. It's the phenomenon of Comment by Pasting.
The Palin thread is full of such comments. Its gargantuan size would probably be cut by a third if pertinent info was linked to rather than copied and pasted from articles, op-eds, and blogs. Sure, a line or two is pretty common, but when it's a paragraph or several paragraphs of content copied and pasted from elsewhere... I dunno... it just seems like it's fighting a war by trying to maintain verbosity, and not even with one's own words.
I value the opinions of my fellow MeFites. Even those I may not agree with. But I'd rather hear their case in their own words, not "here, read what this guy said and you'll get it!" Pretty soon, someone else's opposing "this guy" gets pasted, and away we go.
----
Good point.
Thanks.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 5:20 AM on September 11, 2008
The Palin thread is full of such comments. Its gargantuan size would probably be cut by a third if pertinent info was linked to rather than copied and pasted from articles, op-eds, and blogs. Sure, a line or two is pretty common, but when it's a paragraph or several paragraphs of content copied and pasted from elsewhere... I dunno... it just seems like it's fighting a war by trying to maintain verbosity, and not even with one's own words.
I value the opinions of my fellow MeFites. Even those I may not agree with. But I'd rather hear their case in their own words, not "here, read what this guy said and you'll get it!" Pretty soon, someone else's opposing "this guy" gets pasted, and away we go.
----
Good point.
Thanks.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 5:20 AM on September 11, 2008
little recumbent attack bicycles?
I want to see a movie with these in it. They should probably be armed with rocket launchers, and the plot should be sweetened by them going kamikaze out of the back of an open cargo jet and taking out alien spaceships on their way to the ground. Then just when you think the riders are going to hit the ground and perish, FLOOSH! Parachutes.
Maybe Recumbent Attack Bicycle Squadron!.
posted by cashman at 5:28 AM on September 11, 2008
I want to see a movie with these in it. They should probably be armed with rocket launchers, and the plot should be sweetened by them going kamikaze out of the back of an open cargo jet and taking out alien spaceships on their way to the ground. Then just when you think the riders are going to hit the ground and perish, FLOOSH! Parachutes.
Maybe Recumbent Attack Bicycle Squadron!.
posted by cashman at 5:28 AM on September 11, 2008
Seriously. I want the action figure.
Me too, please. Also, the bobblehead and the poster. And there's a life-size cardboard cut-out display thing, right? I want one of those, too.
posted by rtha at 6:09 AM on September 11, 2008
Me too, please. Also, the bobblehead and the poster. And there's a life-size cardboard cut-out display thing, right? I want one of those, too.
posted by rtha at 6:09 AM on September 11, 2008
Maybe Recumbent Attack Bicycle Squadron!
Alert Pixar immediately... someone is violating their Non-Disclosure Agreement....
posted by anotherpanacea at 6:25 AM on September 11, 2008
Alert Pixar immediately... someone is violating their Non-Disclosure Agreement....
posted by anotherpanacea at 6:25 AM on September 11, 2008
Yeah, my comment, which was BRINGING THE THREAD BACK ON TOPIC, was also deleted.
You comment was a quote of and a direct response to upthread noise that itself got deleted. Noble re-rail intent or not, it didn't make any sense at that point.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:27 AM on September 11, 2008
You comment was a quote of and a direct response to upthread noise that itself got deleted. Noble re-rail intent or not, it didn't make any sense at that point.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:27 AM on September 11, 2008
Now, if I may pile on here with a little whining of my own, since it concerns something that is also evident in the linked thread, and I didn't want to start a MeTa about it. It's the phenomenon of Comment by Pasting
I think it's totally fine, and here's why: In my own case, since I am one of the token conservatives around here, I like to back up what I am saying and thinking with the words of others-it's a credibility issue. Plus, when I can find a point expressed in a cogent manner by someone else, why not utilize it? I mean, how many of you click on every link in the threads you read? Particularly if you are in a hurry?
posted by konolia at 6:30 AM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
I think it's totally fine, and here's why: In my own case, since I am one of the token conservatives around here, I like to back up what I am saying and thinking with the words of others-it's a credibility issue. Plus, when I can find a point expressed in a cogent manner by someone else, why not utilize it? I mean, how many of you click on every link in the threads you read? Particularly if you are in a hurry?
posted by konolia at 6:30 AM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
"You keep using words like "Pasghetti" and "Momatoes". You make numerous threatening references to the UN and at the end you repeat the words "Screw Flanders" over and over again..."
I honestly never get tired of repeating that.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:59 AM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
I honestly never get tired of repeating that.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:59 AM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Wait, hang on. We have the <A> tag? I don't know that we can be trusted with something that might be used to SEND PEOPLE TO PLACES ON THE INTERNET. If quoting means keeping people safe here, then call me a quoter. It's the American thing to do.
posted by subbes at 7:03 AM on September 11, 2008
posted by subbes at 7:03 AM on September 11, 2008
OK, well, let me rephrase my gripe:
When I copy and paste something, it's because it's important enough for everyone to read without clicking a link.
When you copy and paste something, it's because you are lazy and have no original thoughts.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:15 AM on September 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
When I copy and paste something, it's because it's important enough for everyone to read without clicking a link.
When you copy and paste something, it's because you are lazy and have no original thoughts.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:15 AM on September 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
since I am one of the token conservatives around here
Aw, c'mon, you've been more than one of the token conservatives. Give yourself some credit.
posted by norm at 8:29 AM on September 11, 2008
Aw, c'mon, you've been more than one of the token conservatives. Give yourself some credit.
posted by norm at 8:29 AM on September 11, 2008
blue_beetle : momatoes :: cortex : same as in town
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:49 AM on September 11, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:49 AM on September 11, 2008
When I copy and paste something, it's because it's important enough for everyone to read without clicking a link.
When you copy and paste something, it's because you are lazy and have no original thoughts.
What, what?
posted by rand at 9:19 AM on September 11, 2008
When you copy and paste something, it's because you are lazy and have no original thoughts.
What, what?
posted by rand at 9:19 AM on September 11, 2008
When I copy and paste something, it's because it's important enough for everyone to read without clicking a link.
When you copy and paste something, it's because you are lazy and have no original thoughts.
-----
What, what?
My mind. She is blown.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 9:46 AM on September 11, 2008
When you copy and paste something, it's because you are lazy and have no original thoughts.
-----
What, what?
My mind. She is blown.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 9:46 AM on September 11, 2008
We thought Eideteker was Irish. It's odd to see that he's actually Italian.
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 9:47 AM on September 11, 2008
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 9:47 AM on September 11, 2008
Re-reading this Meta, it's obvious to me that Cortex does, very definitely, need a hug at this point.
{{{{{cortex}}}}}
posted by misha at 10:30 AM on September 11, 2008
{{{{{cortex}}}}}
posted by misha at 10:30 AM on September 11, 2008
Aww! Does this mean we can't have a huge breakdown of flags by username?
I'd like some personal idea about how useful my flagging is. As a whole, flagging is useful, but am I overflagging, underflagging, or flagging goofy?
Also knowing the people who's flags most match the end result by the mods would be interesting too.
posted by garlic at 11:07 AM on September 11, 2008
I'd like some personal idea about how useful my flagging is. As a whole, flagging is useful, but am I overflagging, underflagging, or flagging goofy?
Also knowing the people who's flags most match the end result by the mods would be interesting too.
posted by garlic at 11:07 AM on September 11, 2008
FLAGS ARE FAVOURITES WAKE UP SHEEPLE
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:09 AM on September 11, 2008
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:09 AM on September 11, 2008
As a whole, flagging is useful, but am I overflagging, underflagging, or flagging goofy?
I rooted through the overall flag data a while back and found that how people go about flagging varies a lot from person to person—some folks flag a lot, a lot of folks flag a little, and the spectrum from one end to the other is pretty well populated.
I might give that another go and try to put together a more interesting overall view of how flagging actually behaves on the site, but we're staying away from releasing specific flagging data since it's more of a background metric and not intended for public consumption.
In general, if you're flagging when you think it's appropriate and you're not flagging every single comment in a thread, you're probably doing it fine. (If you feel like you need to flag every single comment in a thread, or even more than three or four, it's a better idea to just drop us a line telling us what's up.)
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:21 AM on September 11, 2008
I rooted through the overall flag data a while back and found that how people go about flagging varies a lot from person to person—some folks flag a lot, a lot of folks flag a little, and the spectrum from one end to the other is pretty well populated.
I might give that another go and try to put together a more interesting overall view of how flagging actually behaves on the site, but we're staying away from releasing specific flagging data since it's more of a background metric and not intended for public consumption.
In general, if you're flagging when you think it's appropriate and you're not flagging every single comment in a thread, you're probably doing it fine. (If you feel like you need to flag every single comment in a thread, or even more than three or four, it's a better idea to just drop us a line telling us what's up.)
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:21 AM on September 11, 2008
Derail question about flagging: Is it useful for users to flag FPPs that they just think are, well, not the best of the web? If so, is "other" the flag to use? Why isn't there a "stupid" flag?
posted by Perplexity at 11:34 AM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Perplexity at 11:34 AM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oops, I see that this was asked upthread. But not answered. Somebody suggested "noise", but that's not an option for FPPs.
posted by Perplexity at 11:37 AM on September 11, 2008
posted by Perplexity at 11:37 AM on September 11, 2008
I like "Breaks the Guidelines" for those. But I think it was indicated previously that any flag you choose gets the same attention from admin.
posted by yhbc at 11:44 AM on September 11, 2008
posted by yhbc at 11:44 AM on September 11, 2008
Do you have any idea how much cruelty is required to train dogs to ride little recumbent attack bicycles?
The mental image of dobermans on recumbent bicycles outfitted with spikes caused me to chortle a Caramel Apple Sugar Baby into my sinuses. Just thought I'd share.
posted by Dr-Baa at 11:51 AM on September 11, 2008
The mental image of dobermans on recumbent bicycles outfitted with spikes caused me to chortle a Caramel Apple Sugar Baby into my sinuses. Just thought I'd share.
posted by Dr-Baa at 11:51 AM on September 11, 2008
Has the Large Hadron Collider Destroyed the Earth Yet??
posted by Rumple at 11:59 AM on September 11, 2008
posted by Rumple at 11:59 AM on September 11, 2008
I like "Breaks the Guidelines" for those. But I think it was indicated previously that any flag you choose gets the same attention from admin.
Pretty much, especially for posts where there's generally less nuance in what can be wrong than with a comment. If you think a post is problematic enough that it shouldn't be there, that's part of what the flagging system is for. We may not ultimately agree, but there's no harm in putting your flag in if you feel that way.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:05 PM on September 11, 2008
Pretty much, especially for posts where there's generally less nuance in what can be wrong than with a comment. If you think a post is problematic enough that it shouldn't be there, that's part of what the flagging system is for. We may not ultimately agree, but there's no harm in putting your flag in if you feel that way.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:05 PM on September 11, 2008
I just read through all these comments to request that please, please add a "Sucks" option for flagging posts. It's the only reason I ever flag, and there's no option for it.
Or, if that's not possible, please add something in the admin interface that translates whatever flag comes from "rusty" to read "Sucks." Because that's what I mean to tell you. And it wouldn't have to be public, or anything.
Surely you can do that. It breaks my heart a little every time to choose "Other," or "It breaks the guidelines." That's not what I want to say.
posted by rusty at 12:27 PM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Or, if that's not possible, please add something in the admin interface that translates whatever flag comes from "rusty" to read "Sucks." Because that's what I mean to tell you. And it wouldn't have to be public, or anything.
Surely you can do that. It breaks my heart a little every time to choose "Other," or "It breaks the guidelines." That's not what I want to say.
posted by rusty at 12:27 PM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Rumple, they found the Higgs Boson! I
It was behind the couch the whole time.
posted by Mister_A at 12:32 PM on September 11, 2008
It was behind the couch the whole time.
posted by Mister_A at 12:32 PM on September 11, 2008
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by ColdChef at 7:01 PM on September 10, 2008