reasons for leaving

October 3, 2008 7:38 PM

Lately, I've noticed that quite a number of people whose presence I've enjoyed have disabled accounts. Are the majority of those people closing accounts leaving of their own accord?
posted by fake to MetaFilter-related at 7:38 PM (138 comments total)

All of those people left of their own accord, yeah.
posted by jessamyn at 7:43 PM on October 3, 2008

The most common reason in self-imposed exile from mefi is usually "busy with work, need to waste less time on mefi" which is totally fine with me and I do the same on other communities I used to have more time for.
posted by mathowie at 7:45 PM on October 3, 2008

In some cases they close an old account and open a new one, for purposes of anonymity.
posted by Class Goat at 7:46 PM on October 3, 2008

Oh and this is as good a time as any to mention that we've gone seven days without a banning for the first time in "time since a banning" records have been kept.
posted by jessamyn at 7:46 PM on October 3, 2008 [2 favorites]

Obviously, we need a volunteer to wig out.

Anyone? Bueller?
posted by yhbc at 7:49 PM on October 3, 2008 [5 favorites]

Oh and this is as good a time as any to mention that I've left several times, but no one noticed, so I came back.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:50 PM on October 3, 2008

Dude, DC Comics keeps killing you off as well. I'd say you deserve to wig out.
posted by yhbc at 7:51 PM on October 3, 2008 [8 favorites]

I had no idea that the ban-hammer had to be wielded that often! Yikes!
posted by Class Goat at 7:55 PM on October 3, 2008

(Well, except for self-linkers who joined recently and make the bare minimum 3 comments before their first and last post.)
posted by Class Goat at 7:56 PM on October 3, 2008

I had no idea that the ban-hammer had to be wielded that often!

Picture the admins as this guy. Works best with cortex, i think.
posted by jonmc at 8:14 PM on October 3, 2008 [2 favorites]

I had no idea dobbs left. We didn't agree on much, but we did so interestingly. Drag.
posted by jonmc at 8:15 PM on October 3, 2008

Take that, Blind Lawyer Guy and, like, Zangief or whatever!
posted by cortex at 8:18 PM on October 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Sometimes, when I get really busy with work, I close my browser. But I always come back within a few minutes.
posted by aubilenon at 8:23 PM on October 3, 2008 [3 favorites]

jonmc: that pic is so jessamyn!
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:24 PM on October 3, 2008

Banhammeren!
posted by Sailormom at 8:57 PM on October 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Wow, you guys must get wicked headaches after staring at that super-blurry admin page all day.

Wait, skullfucking?
posted by dirigibleman at 9:04 PM on October 3, 2008 [2 favorites]

Actually, all three of them were my sock puppets.
And so are you.
posted by cimbrog at 9:05 PM on October 3, 2008

This is more like jessamyn.
posted by netbros at 9:10 PM on October 3, 2008 [8 favorites]

Take heart, fake! Sometimes people come back. Sidhedevil was gone for almost three years and then returned-- and The Filter is stronger for it.

I'm still holding out hope that one day we'll see the return of amberglow and troutfishing.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:21 PM on October 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Actually, all three of them were my sock puppets.

Really? I thought I was merely getting bowlegged with age.
posted by jonmc at 9:26 PM on October 3, 2008 [2 favorites]

I think Ecclesiastes/Seeger summed it up best.

But it sounds better with a Rickenbacker. On horses!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:37 PM on October 3, 2008

Are the majority of people opening accounts doing so on their own accord or are they forced into metaslavery? I didn't join of my own accord, but I stick around almost voluntarily.

This seems like as good a time as any to thank the mods for their time and effort and all of you for your posts, comments and other before every leaves of their own accord. Cheers.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:47 PM on October 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

I had no idea that the ban-hammer had to be wielded that often!

To be fair, when people close their account, that resets the timer as well (self-imposed ban is how the database sees it). So yeah, no one has left or had to be pushed out in a week, which is a new record. Usually one person a week decides to hang it up (or be an idiot spammer).
posted by mathowie at 9:59 PM on October 3, 2008

man, I haven't been around that much this year (election consuming), a number of people have left that surprise me.
posted by edgeways at 10:45 PM on October 3, 2008

dobbs and mdn? That is a blow to the site. I don't really know andrew cook, so can't comment.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:46 PM on October 3, 2008

They disabled their accounts after they found out you were stalking them through MetaFilter. Way to go, fake.
posted by Eideteker at 11:06 PM on October 3, 2008

Damn, I miss andrew cooke.

And where's ambrglow?
posted by orthogonality at 11:25 PM on October 3, 2008

I miss Amberglow, too. DIdn't really know andrew cooke, and am shocked that dobbs and mdn are gone.

I'm glad that Dame still frequents a little, but I miss EB, as much as I disagreed with him at times.

I know there are others I'm not thinking of.

Cortex, your 88 Lines about 44 Mefites was brilliant. Have you thought about putting together a "People Who Died" parody for those who have disabled their accounts, leaving us poorer for it?
posted by Navelgazer at 12:08 AM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Was it something we said?
posted by Cranberry at 12:17 AM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

It's also weird listening to the 88 Lines again and realizing how much the scene has changed. Some of the most badass have stuck around, obviously (jonmc, AstroZombie, jonson, delmoi, Dave Farris nee crunchland, konolia, IRFH, ikkyu2, Effigy2000) while others are so very lost to history. Now so much of MeFi as it exists now is defined not just by those early members, but by members like ND¢, DecemberBoy, plexi, Marissa Stole the Precious Thing, Solon and Thanks, and so on. Hell, even nickyskye didn't end up in the original song.

Not saying there needs to be an update, but it's just interesting how all of this evolves.
posted by Navelgazer at 12:50 AM on October 4, 2008

Oh, and Meatbomb still kicks some ass around here. How could I forget Meatbomb?
posted by Navelgazer at 12:52 AM on October 4, 2008

Was it something we said?

Or...or something we didn't say?
posted by Elmore at 12:55 AM on October 4, 2008

And so that it doesn't seem like I'm leaving anybody out, ColdChef, amyms, Flapjax at Midnite, not-on-display, ArtW, homunculus, [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST], Eideteker and Kittens for Breakfast all count among those who I'd consider the chief MeFites of today, among many others I'm certainly forgetting.

It ain't personal, y'all.
posted by Navelgazer at 1:01 AM on October 4, 2008

konolia

Nope.
posted by Wolof at 1:03 AM on October 4, 2008 [6 favorites]

Those guys are some of my favorite members, too, fake! I often think of them all, and a bunch of other MIAs. But people do decide to come back, and it's understandable that sometimes people feel like leaving - they find themselves becoming angry... they feel like they spend too much time on the site when they should be doing other things... they feel the need to get out of their ruts and do something else for a while. All these things have happened to me, and I become scarce or whatever. Not closing my account, though, because then I would have to dig up my password when I inevitably come back, and that's just how lazy I roll.
posted by taz at 2:30 AM on October 4, 2008

Are the majority of people opening accounts doing so on their own accord or are they forced into metaslavery? I didn't join of my own accord, but I stick around almost voluntarily.

The Democrats put a gunn in their back and told them to either write bad mortgage loans to unqualified borrowers, or join MetaFilter.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:44 AM on October 4, 2008

Are the majority of people opening accounts doing so on their own accord or are they forced into metaslavery? I didn't join of my own accord, but I stick around almost voluntarily.

Back in the late Spring of 2002, I was fishing off the Vava'u group in northern Tonga. All of a sudden, a westerly squall blew up and threw me from my canoe. I don't know how many hours I was adrift in the surf, near lifeless, before the crew of one of the marauders' boats that infest those coasts hauled me onboard. The following weeks are a blur. I was trafficked across borders, taken to lands whose existence I'd known of only dimly. Finally, I was placed in bright, partitioned room and given a computer screen to stare at and a job in information management. And a membership to this place. Some day, I will escape this strange world and cross the seas once more to rejoin my people.
posted by Sonny Jim at 4:07 AM on October 4, 2008 [14 favorites]

konolia

Nope.
posted by Wolof at 4:03 AM on October 4

What he said. Being a 'chief Mefite' means actual contribution, and actually engaging in actual discussion, not "god says y'all are going to hell" and running away with fingers in ears when people disagree.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 4:12 AM on October 4, 2008 [4 favorites]

dnab, I think Wolof was actually referring to the fact that konolia is no longer around, rather than making a judgment on her position in Mefi.
posted by jacalata at 4:43 AM on October 4, 2008

konolia

Nope.

Everyone join with me, please, in singing, to the tune of that "a-wim-a-way" chorus from "The Lion Sleeps Tonight":

konolia-nope, konolia-nope, konolia-nope, konolia-nope, konolia-nope...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:55 AM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

Will the last one to leave MetaFilter please unplug the server? Thanks.
posted by trip and a half at 6:31 AM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

konolia, yes, just by virtue of the fact you guys can't stop talking her.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:33 AM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

Have you thought about putting together a "People Who Died" parody for those who have disabled their accounts, leaving us poorer for it?

Eh, that'd feel pretty grim. Also, we have members who have actually died, so double-grim.
posted by cortex at 6:37 AM on October 4, 2008

"Eideteker and Kittens for Breakfast all count among those who I'd consider the chief MeFites of today"

Welp, guess that means it's time to disable my account.
posted by Eideteker at 6:40 AM on October 4, 2008

I miss occhiblu.
posted by ambrosia at 6:41 AM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

Some day, I will escape this strange world and cross the seas once more to rejoin my people.

your island's been condo-ized and your people have all joined fark

you're a lucky man
posted by pyramid termite at 6:57 AM on October 4, 2008

psst... occhiblu is all over MetaChat.
posted by Eideteker at 7:10 AM on October 4, 2008

Dobbs and mdn were certainly excellent members of the site (I considered dobbs Toronto's only A-lister) but to be honest, I never really noticed that they weren't posting anymore. We have lots of good-to-wonderful posters here, so it's not like the site has suffered in terms of overall quality.
posted by orange swan at 7:12 AM on October 4, 2008

Oh and this is as good a time as any to mention that we've gone seven days without a banning for the first time in "time since a banning" records have been kept.

You know, if you'd just told me, I could have staged a magnificent flameout. But I need 24 hours' notice so I can rent a chainsaw.

I miss those people too. (Come back, dobbsie!)
posted by languagehat at 7:19 AM on October 4, 2008

Everyone join with me, please, in singing, to the tune of that "a-wim-a-way" chorus from "The Lion Sleeps Tonight":

konolia-nope, konolia-nope, konolia-nope, konolia-nope, konolia-nope...

Replacing a phrase of 4 syllables with one containing 5 doesn't work too well in a song.
posted by orange swan at 7:20 AM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I hear it as kohn-OHL-ya NOHP, kohn-OHL-ya NOHP, in my head, orange swan. It scans fine to me.
posted by cgc373 at 7:35 AM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Replacing a phrase of 4 syllables with one containing 5 doesn't work too well in a song.

It's only a 5 syllable phrase if you say the name as ko-no-li-ya. But I'm assuming the pronunciation is like "magnolia", that is, 3 syllables: mag-nol-ya. Ko-nol-ya. You dig?

Or, on preview, what cgc373 said.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:36 AM on October 4, 2008

Hmm. I'd always pronounced it as Kohn-ohl-ee-a.
posted by orange swan at 7:38 AM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

it's not like the site has suffered in terms of overall quality.

I didn't make that claim, but I will admit being tempted.

It's funny to watch people drop off. I noticed paulsc hasn't posted since July.

I've had my own breaks from mefi, usually because I found myself frustrated and unable to post in a not-harsh way, but also due to the constant comment/thread deletion happening here. It just feels bad/wrong.
posted by fake at 7:39 AM on October 4, 2008

...but also due to the constant comment/thread deletion happening here.

Ah, well, that's another whole conversation, there, ain't it?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:12 AM on October 4, 2008

it could be, flapjax, if it weren't likely to... disappear...
posted by orange swan at 8:14 AM on October 4, 2008

taz

...funny you should pop up when the topic of favorite mefites is raised - just sayin'

dobbs has taken breaks a few times I think. Sure hope he comes back. I think a lot of people take self-imposed breaks now and then. I hate to see anyone leave, I want everyone back in the pool!
posted by madamjujujive at 8:14 AM on October 4, 2008

"Dave Farris nee crunchland,"

Nope.

Also, I just realized that Flapjax and I pronounce konolia different, as mine wouldn't fit the meter.
posted by klangklangston at 8:43 AM on October 4, 2008

And the last I heard from dobbs, he asked me my address. Then nothin'.
posted by klangklangston at 8:44 AM on October 4, 2008

> I'm assuming the pronunciation is like "magnolia", that is, 3 syllables: mag-nol-ya. Ko-nol-ya. You dig?

??

Where I live magnolia has at least six and sometimes seven or eight.
posted by jfuller at 8:58 AM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

It's actually quite hard to get banned, once you're an established account.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 9:02 AM on October 4, 2008

It's only a 5 syllable phrase if you say the name as ko-no-li-ya. But I'm assuming the pronunciation is like "magnolia"

It is. Mag-no-li-ya.
posted by dirigibleman at 9:02 AM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

And the last I heard from dobbs, he asked me my address. Then nothin'.

He didn't even call "afterwards"? Bastard!!
posted by orange swan at 9:03 AM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'm of the "Ko-nol-ya" pronunciation persuasion.
posted by josher71 at 9:14 AM on October 4, 2008

I say "konolia" something like kən'əljə (well, I don't say it at all, but if I were tasked to), solidly three syllables. I don't think konolia rhymes with magnolia for me, though.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 9:19 AM on October 4, 2008

I always thought it was some sort of hybrid of canola and magnolia.
"Konolia, Coming Soon From Monsanto!"
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:30 AM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

I think it rhymes with "cornhole yuh".
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:37 AM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

Old members get bored. You just see the same arguments repeat themselves except you don't care any more. And it shouldn't surprise anyone that the political threads are a huge turn-off to some.
posted by smackfu at 9:47 AM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

And it shouldn't surprise anyone that the political threads are a huge turn-off to some.

It's funny how MeFi is so big, though, that you can get tired of one thing and just stop doing that thing. I go months on end when I don't touch a political thread and just read threads about arts and funny internet crap. And then I feel like being political again.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:00 AM on October 4, 2008

If it is frowned upon to bring up users in threads who are not in-thread participants, then this thread by its very existence is not in compliance. Fortunately, that is why we have guidelines, rather than hard and fast rules.

I would request, though, that we keep it light and sweet, enough dumping on certain people already.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:06 AM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Meatbomb: "If it is frowned upon to bring up users in threads who are not in-thread participants, then this thread by its very existence is not in compliance. Fortunately, that is why we have guidelines, rather than hard and fast rules.

I would request, though, that we keep it light and sweet, enough dumping on certain people already."

even worse when the member has disabled their account, and therefore can't respond at all.
posted by grandsham at 10:11 AM on October 4, 2008

mdn was the first person to ever contact me here and make me feel like this was a community and someplace special. It's sad she (and other great members) chose to leave. I can only hope it wasn't due to some real-life difficulty.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:15 AM on October 4, 2008

Ah, well, that's another whole conversation, there, ain't it?

Yeah, and it's clear how the cookie crumbled. I didn't mean to derail with that comment -- just to offer one of the reasons that I find contributing here less attractive than I used to.
posted by fake at 10:16 AM on October 4, 2008

enough dumping on certain people already

I agree with the sentiment, but there's only one comment here that could be classified as such.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:20 AM on October 4, 2008

Also not a fan of the dumping. And Konolia, Magnolia, Cornhole Ya, all rhyme to this Tennesseean.
posted by josher71 at 10:23 AM on October 4, 2008

(I considered dobbs Toronto's only A-lister)
posted by orange swan

then it's very likely that you haven't noticed this guy and his songs.
posted by micayetoca at 10:25 AM on October 4, 2008

A correction to Navelgazer's comment above: jonson ain't around much, either. I was actually just thinking about him today; I saw something about Red Buttons, and I immediately thought of this comment.
posted by Greg Nog at 12:10 PM on October 4, 2008

THE DAMN PLANE TAKES OFF OF THE CONVEYOR, OK?
posted by loquacious at 12:24 PM on October 4, 2008 [4 favorites]

This will Wendell.
posted by lukemeister at 12:36 PM on October 4, 2008

Is it possible to do some analysis of how many in various user number clusters (say, 5 or 10k increments) have been active within various timeframes (week/mo/3mo/6mo/year)?
posted by mkultra at 12:40 PM on October 4, 2008

no, it will NEVER Wendell, because WENDELL will never end.

And konnietrollya disabled her account over a week ago. Can you people please stop talking about her here and just follow her further well-scripted adventures at MetaChat?

If I'm going to have a big, dramatic flameout, I'll do it at MetaChat. But you know, I prefer being the bumbling comic relief who gets into trouble in entertaining ways here at the Filter.
posted by wendell at 1:38 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Some of us just hang around to see when the whole thing will blow up....cats...bunnies and flapjacks.....
posted by bjgeiger at 1:54 PM on October 4, 2008

Can you people please stop talking about her here and just follow her further well-scripted adventures at MetaChat?

Or can we, you know, stop crossing the fucking streams where she's concerned?
posted by mudpuppie at 2:01 PM on October 4, 2008

It's really easy not to talk about something, yet I don't think you have the hang of it yet.
posted by smackfu at 2:07 PM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

Jesus... further examples of why not to drink and post (calling myself out here.) Not that this thread wasn't going to be an instant derail anyway, but I probably shouldn't have helped it along it's way by naming my new MeFi all-star team as it existed to my half-functioning brain at 3:30 in the morning.

I apologize to anyone I didn't mention, and apologize to anyone I did for dragging them into this. Meatbomb is right that it's not appropriate to drag in people from outside the thread.

And yeah, cortex, once I thought about it some more, the Jim Carrol thing could be mishandled really easily, considering how little purpose it would serve.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:14 PM on October 4, 2008

Easy come, easy go. So it has been, so it will be.
posted by Kwine at 2:17 PM on October 4, 2008

If anyone wants to explain how their usernames are pronounced (it boggles my mind that anyone would actually give a rat's ass about how other people pronounce their usernames...) then by all means reactivate your account HERE, where it's being talked about. Don't go elsewhere and make cross-site stunt posts.
posted by iconomy at 2:24 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

no, it will NEVER Wendell, because WENDELL will never end

*joins Church of Wendell, sings hymns of praise*
posted by lukemeister at 2:27 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

iconomy (EYE-CON-o-mee?): For the record, I pronounce my name NAY-vell-GAZE-er, and I'm sorry if there was any confusion.

amyms is an interesting one to me, because I always pronounced it ah-MIMS in my head, and just last night realized it was probably Amy M.S., like with jonmc.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:36 PM on October 4, 2008

Wha?? My username is pronounced I See On, Oh My! How dare you, Navelgazer. How DARE you.
posted by iconomy at 2:42 PM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

Wha?? My username is pronounced I See On, Oh My!

Really? Mine is pronounced thep INKS, uper he RO! Imagine that!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:46 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Well, shit. Now I am missing Dave Faris and mr_crash_davis.
posted by yhbc at 3:05 PM on October 4, 2008

mr_crash_davis too?? At this rate, I'll be all alone very soon :-(
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 3:07 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

And that's when the CHUDs'll come for you.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 3:16 PM on October 4, 2008

crap, that is bad news, yhbc - but like quonsar, both those people have had prior temporary self-imposed exiles.

lassie, come home!
posted by madamjujujive at 3:19 PM on October 4, 2008

Hundreds of years from now:

No one knows who they were or what they were doing
But their legacy remains
Hewn into the living rock ... of MeFi.
posted by lukemeister at 3:21 PM on October 4, 2008

My username is pronounced "N@".
posted by Eideteker at 3:26 PM on October 4, 2008

thep INKS, uper he RO!

I had it right all along!
posted by madamjujujive at 3:29 PM on October 4, 2008

amyms is an interesting one to me, because I always pronounced it ah-MIMS in my head, and just last night realized it was probably Amy M.S., like with jonmc.

Your second notion is the correct one.

There's a recent thread here where people talked about their nicknames, including some comments about pronunciation.
posted by amyms at 3:32 PM on October 4, 2008

Speaking of pronounciations, and I can't remember who first brought it up, but I don't think we've ever learned if peacheater eats peaches or cheats peas.
posted by yhbc at 3:32 PM on October 4, 2008

It was nice of dios to favourite his first anything before he left.
posted by gman at 3:38 PM on October 4, 2008

scody is pronounced "maverick"
posted by scody at 3:39 PM on October 4, 2008 [6 favorites]

Gah, don't you guys see?! Someone is destroying the cabal from the inside!
posted by graventy at 3:43 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

and oh crap, I just saw that jonson's account is disabled. I just thought he wasn't around much these days. He's my Crowded House concert pal (seriously: some enterprising science-y type needs to look into creating an alternate source of energy by channeling the giddiness jonson and I generate when we're in the same room talking about the songwriting genius of Neil Finn), so I'll have to email him to see what's up.
posted by scody at 3:46 PM on October 4, 2008

I knew about jonson, and he's another in my "miss" category, along with the two I already mentioned and several others, including shane.

I have another category, as well. Lets not dwell on that one.
posted by yhbc at 3:52 PM on October 4, 2008

I just come here for the free popcorn.
posted by nola at 3:57 PM on October 4, 2008

"by all means reactivate your account HERE"

Now iconomy, you know that to do that, you need to contact an admin. And it's Saturday night, so they're all obviously tied up with their busy social lives.

*snicker*
posted by Eideteker at 4:27 PM on October 4, 2008

I didn't realise so many had disabled their accounts. I read a lot more here than I post so it kind of feels like I knew them. Sad.
posted by liquorice at 4:32 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I miss cribcage
posted by klangklangston at 5:55 PM on October 4, 2008

I have to make a confession, and I don't even really know where to start. Ok, deep breath.

I'm sorry. It started years ago, before favorites were implemented. So many bright minds, so fascinating. Sparkling wit, dry humor, exuberance, earnestness. So much to admire.

I started collecting them. I mean, people. Well, not usually the whole person, a lot usually has to be thrown away. I just keep the best parts.

You can see the conundrum I was in. I wanted to know these minds, to spend time with them, to read their posts and comments, but of course I couldn't let them post because they'd call for help and tell everyone... and I couldn't sit their and just make sure they posted as though everything was normal, because then they wouldn't be speaking their own minds.

It was hard, but I found the solution. I lost more than a few good ones trying to implement the solution. Some brains just died in the shock, others simply went mad - broken babbling things, minds completely unhinged from reference and structure. So much fine equipment, so much learned. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to embed tens and hundreds of thousands of microscopic electrodes into a living brain? How many long, sleepless nights coding language databases, testing feedback loops and exceedingly fine amplifiers, designing entirely new SQUID devices to capture more data... more and more data, so much data. So many sleepless nights stretching into weeks and then months and then years. I built an entire universe for them, a fantastic universe, deep and wide and as real as whatever real is. I talk to them. I put wires in my own brain and I talk to them directly, and some of them post even now under new accounts, freed from the burdens of time and energy and space, freed from mundane care, free to think and write even more.

You can see them if you like. They would be happy to meet you. They're here, they're all here. In the basement. Let me show you, you must see what I've done! I insist... look at the containers they're in. So much work went into those, miniaturizing the life-support systems. Look at how fine the electrode wires are! And that SQUID is cooled with liquid helium, but it's barely larger than a toaster. The computer room is through that door. I can't remember how many cores, now. 200,000? about 20 Gflop, peak? I even invented my own high speed optical networking using full-spectrum laser diodes... wait, where are you going?

Yeah, that door locks from the other side. Oh, I think you know why. You know, if that's how you really feel about it all you do realize that I simply cannot allow you to leave. Oh, don't start screaming. Why always with the screaming? It'll be easier if you don't fight. I have a new jar prepared already. Oh, they'll be so excited to meet you and show you around, I just know it.

*pulls out a tranquilizer dart pistol from his lab coat pocket, smiling*

Happy Halloween. :)
posted by loquacious at 6:05 PM on October 4, 2008 [6 favorites]

I can understand it - this desire to cut out :-(

However, I haven't wanted to give anyone the satisfaction of having run me off through intimidation.
posted by chuckdarwin at 6:22 PM on October 4, 2008

I haven't wanted to give anyone the satisfaction of having run me off through intimidation

!?!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:27 PM on October 4, 2008

Don't worry about it, AA. It's too tedious and fucking boring to recount here, despite the subject of the 'callout'.
posted by chuckdarwin at 6:36 PM on October 4, 2008

Hey, wait a minute, chuckd... you mean I didn't run you off with my carefully laid-out plan of daily intimidation?

Man, I gotta work on my intimidation skillz
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:36 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Sorry, I should probably articulate that better - I can't and won't argue that the place isn't a bit rough at times and folks don't treat one another as well as they should on occasion, but while most of us enjoy delivering a good zing when it's deserved, I really doubt there are more than a woodshop teacher's handful of people here who are actively trying to intimidate anyone from participating, or are so petty, delusional, bullying, and self-important to derive pleasure or a sense of accomplishment from seeing someone they butted heads with depart.

[Cue list of examples refuting my up-with-peopleness]
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:37 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Upon non-preview, fair enough, chuckd.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:37 PM on October 4, 2008

Up with Alvy Ampersand!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:42 PM on October 4, 2008

more than a woodshop teacher's handful

This, btw, is one of my favourite new phrases.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:54 PM on October 4, 2008

I posted a Metatalk thread about mdn a while ago and found out that she has noted that she got very busy with her dissertation and life and was trying to cut down on the internet generally; it's possible she may be back someday. (I miss her voice here, too.)
posted by onlyconnect at 8:07 PM on October 4, 2008

*joins Church of Wendell, sings hymns of praise*

The Cult of Wendell was formed years ago, at MonkeyFilter (am I crossing the streams AGAIN?) soon after it was first founded and I was one of the first MeFites to take on Dual Citizenship. But there were some difficulties with the KoolAid (I TOLD them it was the kind you have to add sugar to, but did anybody LISTEN?) and the Cult disbanded.

But I still have enough devoted followers (minions? henchmenandwomen?) scattered across the Web to ensure a proper punishment for anyone who mispronounces my name ... it's WEN-dəll, NOT wen-DELL. And spell it with two Ls. And two Es (but not next to each other). And my blog is now at its most self-centered address ever: Wendell. Me.
posted by wendell at 8:14 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

"Wendell Me" sounds kinky.
posted by amyms at 8:44 PM on October 4, 2008

It is.
posted by wendell at 9:18 PM on October 4, 2008

And it's Saturday night, so they're all obviously tied up with their busy social lives.

Huh?
posted by jessamyn at 9:36 PM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night!
posted by amyms at 9:43 PM on October 4, 2008

"Wendell Me" sounds kinky.

I heard it's banned in 14 countries.
posted by gomichild at 9:48 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

What we need is an "Everybody Hurts" video with MeFites.

languagehat
I wish folks would stop assuming I'm a prescriptivist.

loquacious
Oh man, the drugs are wearing off, and I'm NOT happy.

Eideteker
I just want to make people laugh, why won't they laugh DEAR GOD WHY AREN'T THEY LAUGHING??!

cortex
Just gotta hang on til Jessamyn kicks the bucket. Then I'll be #2. Just got to hang in there.

quonsar
Fucking amateurs. I had a fish in my pants when they were still in diapers.

orthogonality
This is all Bush's fault. This is all Bush's fault. This is all Bush's fault. This is all Bush's fault.

jonmc
Sure I'm mediocre, but am I mediocre enough?

asavage
Oh, hey. I still have that MetaFilter account. Now how can I make it so I get paid to blow it up?

y2karl
            <blockquote><small>... [more inside]

five fresh fish
What if someone notices I'm not feeling so... "fresh" today?

jessamyn
Do you think they know I'm naked when I ban them? And if they do, is that better or worse?
posted by Eideteker at 10:04 PM on October 4, 2008 [5 favorites]

And it's Saturday night, so they're all obviously tied up with their busy social lives.

Busy what now?
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:58 PM on October 4, 2008

I miss Shouting.

Seriously. The guy had magic pee-pee.

Oh, and it only took him 40 comments to prove that he was abso-fucking-lutely insane.

He was the Emily Dickinson of crazy.
posted by bardic at 12:33 AM on October 5, 2008 [1 favorite]

...wow. I'd forgotten about him.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 3:08 AM on October 5, 2008

I really doubt there are more than a woodshop teacher's handful of people here who are actively trying to intimidate anyone from participating, or are so petty, delusional, bullying, and self-important to derive pleasure or a sense of accomplishment from seeing someone they butted heads with depart.

I concur, AA. It is a pretty small number of people. It's still kind of a drag when they gang up on a brother.
posted by chuckdarwin at 5:40 AM on October 5, 2008

People drift in and out. Mostly, other Mefites don't notice. This is probably one of the things that keeps Metafilter from getting boring.

My name is pronounced exactly how any other Klingon name would be pronounced, krrreeb hhhom, with both the r and the h hurting human throats and the emphasis on the second syllable.
posted by QIbHom at 11:15 AM on October 5, 2008

i am still here.
posted by exlotuseater at 12:56 PM on October 5, 2008

So you are, exlotuseater, and how many days has it been since you last ate a lotus?
posted by Navelgazer at 9:08 PM on October 5, 2008

I miss Shouting.

Seriously. The guy had magic pee-pee.

No kidding. What's messed up about that comment is 1) it only has two favorites and 2) both of them are by me. Seriously people, does no one else see the genius of that comment?
posted by puke & cry at 11:39 PM on October 5, 2008

I do! [favorites]
posted by limeonaire at 9:40 PM on October 6, 2008

Hmm. Shouting is still sharing his musical gifts with the world. [NSFA, i.e., not safe for anywhere]
posted by bardic at 11:29 PM on October 6, 2008

That's a musical 'gift' kinda like getting socks from your grandmother for Christmas.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:44 AM on October 7, 2008

Hmm. Shouting is still sharing his musical gifts with the world. [NSFA, i.e., not safe for anywhere]

He seems pretty handy with that drum machine. I smell club megamixes!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:14 AM on October 7, 2008