(Possibly) deleted posts and books that are too long for their own good. October 6, 2008 5:27 PM Subscribe
Ok. So, lets get two things straight-
a) i am a looooong time lurker.
b) i have just finished reading Anantham by Neal Stephenson.
I distinctly (DISTINCTLY!!) remember reading a post about this book and its idea of quantum consciousness, but deliberately (DELIBERATELY!!!) avoided it due to a wish to avoid spoilers.
So, i ask two things-
a) did this thread exist, or did i imagine it? (should the affirmative be affirmed, please take heed that i used all my google-fu to find this this thread to no effect...)
b) look, we've got freakin' blogspot blogs listin' metafilter's deleted threads. Can we not register 'worstoftheweb.com' or 'deleterfilter.com' and make these threads searchable...
Keep on rockin'. MeFi is the best ON the web.
a) i am a looooong time lurker.
b) i have just finished reading Anantham by Neal Stephenson.
I distinctly (DISTINCTLY!!) remember reading a post about this book and its idea of quantum consciousness, but deliberately (DELIBERATELY!!!) avoided it due to a wish to avoid spoilers.
So, i ask two things-
a) did this thread exist, or did i imagine it? (should the affirmative be affirmed, please take heed that i used all my google-fu to find this this thread to no effect...)
b) look, we've got freakin' blogspot blogs listin' metafilter's deleted threads. Can we not register 'worstoftheweb.com' or 'deleterfilter.com' and make these threads searchable...
Keep on rockin'. MeFi is the best ON the web.
See also a site search for anathem.
We don't really have much incentive to make deleted threads more searchable than they are, offhand. The deleted thread blog is explicitly not a Mefi property, and we prefer it that way.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:33 PM on October 6, 2008
We don't really have much incentive to make deleted threads more searchable than they are, offhand. The deleted thread blog is explicitly not a Mefi property, and we prefer it that way.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:33 PM on October 6, 2008
It wasn't deleted, but you misspelled "Anathem." I think Google indexes deleted threads, too.
posted by Pronoiac at 5:48 PM on October 6, 2008
posted by Pronoiac at 5:48 PM on October 6, 2008
Can we not register 'worstoftheweb.com' or 'deleterfilter.com' and make these threads searchable...
It's a free internet, you can aways build this. We don't have any incentive to do it as an official site project.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:55 PM on October 6, 2008
It's a free internet, you can aways build this. We don't have any incentive to do it as an official site project.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:55 PM on October 6, 2008
This post from a week and a half ago, maybe?
Palindromatically numbered post alert!
Also, it's the third result for Stephenson.
posted by tellurian at 6:00 PM on October 6, 2008
Palindromatically numbered post alert!
Also, it's the third result for Stephenson.
posted by tellurian at 6:00 PM on October 6, 2008
I'm only 1/4 of the way through SO DON'T LET ME READ THIS THREAD
posted by DU at 6:54 PM on October 6, 2008
posted by DU at 6:54 PM on October 6, 2008
i have just finished reading Anantham by Neal Stephenson.
I also liked his novel Scow Crush!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:21 PM on October 6, 2008 [4 favorites]
I also liked his novel Scow Crush!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:21 PM on October 6, 2008 [4 favorites]
Was it a post on Pharyngula? P-Zed liked snow crash, did not like the first half of Anathem.
I am waiting for it to show up in a used book place.
posted by dirty lies at 9:24 PM on October 6, 2008
I am waiting for it to show up in a used book place.
posted by dirty lies at 9:24 PM on October 6, 2008
I also liked his novel Scow Crush!
Scow Crush sucks. You should read Quacksalver.
posted by Skyanth at 12:10 AM on October 7, 2008
Scow Crush sucks. You should read Quacksalver.
posted by Skyanth at 12:10 AM on October 7, 2008
Can't believe I posted such a lie just to make a joke. Sorry, Neal! I loved Snow Crash! Please don't hit me!
posted by Skyanth at 12:11 AM on October 7, 2008
posted by Skyanth at 12:11 AM on October 7, 2008
Like the OP, I remembered this post and wanted to find it after I finished the book. It took a while for me to find the thread because the only tags attached to the post were physics, philosophy and books... nothing about nealstephenson, anathem, etc.
I realize there are a lot of problems with allowing non-OP members to add tags to a post (batshitinsane editorializing, for instance). But tags overall have been a blessing, especially with site search being so hit-or-miss. This post is a case where allowing users to back-tag would really have come in handy.
posted by infinitewindow at 5:12 AM on October 7, 2008
I realize there are a lot of problems with allowing non-OP members to add tags to a post (batshitinsane editorializing, for instance). But tags overall have been a blessing, especially with site search being so hit-or-miss. This post is a case where allowing users to back-tag would really have come in handy.
posted by infinitewindow at 5:12 AM on October 7, 2008
Is 'google-fu' going the route of 'hacking,' where the bar just keeps getting lower and lower until eventually I'm hacking my sleep by hitting the snooze button and using my google-fu to type a single word into a search bar?
posted by box at 6:03 AM on October 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 6:03 AM on October 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Is 'google-fu' going the route of 'hacking,'
Well, to be fair, 'google-fu' was a stupid word to begin with.
posted by signal at 6:23 AM on October 7, 2008
Well, to be fair, 'google-fu' was a stupid word to begin with.
posted by signal at 6:23 AM on October 7, 2008
I liked his Cryptocominon.
It was all brainy and shit.
posted by quin at 7:05 AM on October 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
It was all brainy and shit.
posted by quin at 7:05 AM on October 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Your post is very emphatic–EMPHATIC!–about its emphases.
posted by Mister_A at 7:27 AM on October 7, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 7:27 AM on October 7, 2008
I realize there are a lot of problems with allowing non-OP members to add tags to a post
Mutual contacts can add tags to each others' posts. Start making friends!
posted by carsonb at 7:42 AM on October 7, 2008
Mutual contacts can add tags to each others' posts. Start making friends!
posted by carsonb at 7:42 AM on October 7, 2008
Scow Crush sucks. You should read Quacksalver.
Dude, you misspelled Quackslaver. If you had included the subtitle (Tales of the Rabid Duck) you would have known that.
posted by The Bellman at 7:50 AM on October 7, 2008 [2 favorites]
Dude, you misspelled Quackslaver. If you had included the subtitle (Tales of the Rabid Duck) you would have known that.
posted by The Bellman at 7:50 AM on October 7, 2008 [2 favorites]
This post is a case where allowing users to back-tag would really have come in handy.
Anyone who is a mutual contact can tag a post anywhere on the site and you can always email/im one of us and we'll add relevant tags. I just added them to that post, thanks for the tip.
I'd write more but I'm off to Crypto-Comic-Con, if I can figure out this damned invitation....
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:53 AM on October 7, 2008 [3 favorites]
Anyone who is a mutual contact can tag a post anywhere on the site and you can always email/im one of us and we'll add relevant tags. I just added them to that post, thanks for the tip.
I'd write more but I'm off to Crypto-Comic-Con, if I can figure out this damned invitation....
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:53 AM on October 7, 2008 [3 favorites]
Is this Joe Biden?
posted by Neiltupper at 8:03 AM on October 7, 2008
posted by Neiltupper at 8:03 AM on October 7, 2008
Hah! Crypto-Comic-Con! I am putting the Moby Dork tag on this whole thread.
posted by Mister_A at 9:15 AM on October 7, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 9:15 AM on October 7, 2008
Dudes I totally meant to not close that tag, FYI. That's how I roll.
posted by Mister_A at 9:16 AM on October 7, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 9:16 AM on October 7, 2008
Ok. So, lets get two things straight-
If you continue to abuse grammar and punctuation in this way on this site I will get in my time machine, hunt down your ancestors and eat their young.
posted by loquacious at 9:25 AM on October 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
If you continue to abuse grammar and punctuation in this way on this site I will get in my time machine, hunt down your ancestors and eat their young.
posted by loquacious at 9:25 AM on October 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Is this Joe Biden?
Is that you, Joe Biden? Is this me?
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:30 AM on October 7, 2008
Is that you, Joe Biden? Is this me?
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:30 AM on October 7, 2008
Apologies for the bad spelling and posting-while-drunk....
Thankyou all, now back to the lurking...
posted by spongeboy at 10:00 AM on October 7, 2008
Thankyou all, now back to the lurking...
posted by spongeboy at 10:00 AM on October 7, 2008
Is this Joe Biden?
No, spongeboy is Neal Stephenson. Sales are down and Neal thought this would be a good way to get them back up again by dredging up a dormant thread. Nice try Stephenson, you early got us this time.
PS: I have no evidence of this.
posted by Pollomacho at 10:42 AM on October 7, 2008
No, spongeboy is Neal Stephenson. Sales are down and Neal thought this would be a good way to get them back up again by dredging up a dormant thread. Nice try Stephenson, you early got us this time.
PS: I have no evidence of this.
posted by Pollomacho at 10:42 AM on October 7, 2008
Girl
You early got me now
You got me so I can't
Sleep in late
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:05 PM on October 7, 2008
You early got me now
You got me so I can't
Sleep in late
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:05 PM on October 7, 2008
Anyone who is a mutual contact... [snipped]
Oh, that's cool, didn't know about that. Thanks!
posted by infinitewindow at 1:09 PM on October 7, 2008
Oh, that's cool, didn't know about that. Thanks!
posted by infinitewindow at 1:09 PM on October 7, 2008
I think we all agree that Zodiack! -- his book about Cathy, the compulsive shopper / Greenpeace activist -- really isn't very good.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:20 PM on October 7, 2008
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:20 PM on October 7, 2008
Did the blink tag go away?
Ceci n'est pas une unset VCR:
posted by Pronoiac at 1:48 PM on October 7, 2008
Ceci n'est pas une unset VCR:
posted by Pronoiac at 1:48 PM on October 7, 2008
It's better than The Big Q, though. Why'd he have to ruin a perfectly serviceable Animal House story with all that Bond gadgetry?
posted by box at 1:52 PM on October 7, 2008
posted by box at 1:52 PM on October 7, 2008
Using amazingly advanced video to text technology to make this comment, this actually is an unset VCR:
: pm
posted by quin at 2:23 PM on October 7, 2008
: pm
posted by quin at 2:23 PM on October 7, 2008
I'm sad: Chrome doesn't support blink! (Firefox does. Go figure.)
posted by epersonae at 3:50 PM on October 7, 2008
posted by epersonae at 3:50 PM on October 7, 2008
A real Stephenson post would imitate his inability to properly write an endi
posted by waraw at 4:49 PM on October 7, 2008
posted by waraw at 4:49 PM on October 7, 2008
More trivia: I checked, blink works in Firefox, but not in (Mobile) Safari.
Allegedly, Opera supports it. Also: 'The inventor of the blink tag, Lou Montulli, has said repeatedly in interviews that he considers the blink tag to be "The worst thing I've ever done for the Internet."'
posted by Pronoiac at 8:53 AM on October 8, 2008
Allegedly, Opera supports it. Also: 'The inventor of the blink tag, Lou Montulli, has said repeatedly in interviews that he considers the blink tag to be "The worst thing I've ever done for the Internet."'
posted by Pronoiac at 8:53 AM on October 8, 2008
I finished the book a while ago. And by the way, this post itself reveals some of the key stuff in the book. So thanks.
posted by delmoi at 5:14 PM on November 1, 2008
posted by delmoi at 5:14 PM on November 1, 2008
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posted by cortex (staff) at 5:32 PM on October 6, 2008