Take it outside October 21, 2008 10:34 AM Subscribe
Is there some way to get a clean up in the Colin Powell thread? Jesus, a hugely optimistic event and a couple of knickers in a twist hot heads turn it into a 3rd grade playground.
Can't anybody make a link any more?
posted by timeistight at 10:38 AM on October 21, 2008
posted by timeistight at 10:38 AM on October 21, 2008
I'm back. Do you mean this thread? It's 360 comments long. I skimmed it and it doesn't seem to be any big trainwreck-in-the-making and the last ten or so comments are okay. Can you be a bit more specific about what seems to be the problem?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:39 AM on October 21, 2008
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:39 AM on October 21, 2008
The thread in question, I'm presuming.
Is there active clean-up/redirect needed at this point? I saw obnoxiousness yesterday but it seems to have mostly cooled down after a couple of folks invoked "take it to Metatalk" at the time, but maybe there's been more since I looked?
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:39 AM on October 21, 2008
Is there active clean-up/redirect needed at this point? I saw obnoxiousness yesterday but it seems to have mostly cooled down after a couple of folks invoked "take it to Metatalk" at the time, but maybe there's been more since I looked?
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:39 AM on October 21, 2008
I deleted some fuck you nonsense, but usually if a thread has moved on effectively it's better to let that sort of thing lie. There really are some broken records that show up in those political threads. You'd think that everyone would know how they feel by now.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:49 AM on October 21, 2008
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:49 AM on October 21, 2008
A dad took his sons, ages seven and five, to the park for a picnic. The seven year old read the sign with the playground rules to his brother.
“Do not jump on the merry-go-round when in motion.”
“Go down the slide while sitting, only.”
“Only one child on a swing at a time.”
(There were a good twenty rules.)
The boys promised to obey them so Dad could go work on the picnic lunch.
Just before it was time to eat, Dad went over and watched them play. They were obeying the rules, that is, all but one. On the tall, semicircular slide, the kids were coming down head first!
Dad took them over to the posted regulations. They read them, again. Dad asked the boys what they had to say for themselves.
“Oh, don’t be silly, Dad … no one uses the slide rule anymore!”
posted by netbros at 10:54 AM on October 21, 2008 [25 favorites]
Well I tagged a comment. The whole stinkycheese/pineapple obnoxiousness about two thirds of the way down.
posted by spicynuts at 11:01 AM on October 21, 2008
posted by spicynuts at 11:01 AM on October 21, 2008
jessamyn: "I skimmed it and it doesn't seem to be any big trainwreck-in-the-making and the last ten or so comments are okay. Can you be a bit more specific about what seems to be the problem?"
Didn't you notice all of the people disagreeing with spicynuts? You know.. "those" people who aren't from the "real" MetaFilter. Only people from the pro-MetaFilter regions should be allowed to comment.
posted by Plutor at 11:03 AM on October 21, 2008 [4 favorites]
Didn't you notice all of the people disagreeing with spicynuts? You know.. "those" people who aren't from the "real" MetaFilter. Only people from the pro-MetaFilter regions should be allowed to comment.
posted by Plutor at 11:03 AM on October 21, 2008 [4 favorites]
Well, thanks for posting this. Now I can ask a meta-question about something in that thread:
posted by boo_radley at 11:11 AM on October 21, 2008
This marks the point where this race has official moved into "live boy or dead girl" territory.What the hell does this mean? I'm not complaining about it, but I don't understand it.
posted by azpenguin at 11:23 AM
posted by boo_radley at 11:11 AM on October 21, 2008
When a politician has a large enough lead in the poles, it's often said that the only way for him to lose now is if he gets caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl.
posted by Bonzai at 11:15 AM on October 21, 2008 [8 favorites]
posted by Bonzai at 11:15 AM on October 21, 2008 [8 favorites]
Thanks for asking that, boo_radley. I thought it was like 'do you still beat your wife?' but I'm baffled.
posted by fixedgear at 11:16 AM on October 21, 2008
posted by fixedgear at 11:16 AM on October 21, 2008
In 1983, while running for Louisiana Governor, Edwin Edwards joked "The only way I can lose this election is if I'm caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy".
posted by Plutor at 11:16 AM on October 21, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by Plutor at 11:16 AM on October 21, 2008 [4 favorites]
Bonzai: "When a politician has a large enough lead in the poles..."
It's a little-known fact that Poles represent a relatively small fraction of US votes.
posted by Plutor at 11:18 AM on October 21, 2008 [4 favorites]
It's a little-known fact that Poles represent a relatively small fraction of US votes.
posted by Plutor at 11:18 AM on October 21, 2008 [4 favorites]
What the hell does this mean?
It means that an apparently inevitable political victory can only be derailed if the (presumably male) candidate is caught in a relationship with either a live boy (i.e. "OMG HE's TEH GHEY") or a dead girl (i.e. "OMG HE HAD HER KILLED TO HUSH HER UP")
posted by dersins at 11:19 AM on October 21, 2008
It means that an apparently inevitable political victory can only be derailed if the (presumably male) candidate is caught in a relationship with either a live boy (i.e. "OMG HE's TEH GHEY") or a dead girl (i.e. "OMG HE HAD HER KILLED TO HUSH HER UP")
posted by dersins at 11:19 AM on October 21, 2008
Before election day, [Edwin] Edwards had joked with reporters: "The only way I can lose this election is if I'm caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy".
posted by piratebowling at 11:20 AM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by piratebowling at 11:20 AM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Jesus, a hugely optimistic event and a couple of knickers in a twist hot heads turn it into a 3rd grade playground
This scans alright, but man, some hyphens really could have helped here. It took me about 12 reads to get past "knickers in a twist hot heads turn it into" without going crosseyed.
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:21 AM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
This scans alright, but man, some hyphens really could have helped here. It took me about 12 reads to get past "knickers in a twist hot heads turn it into" without going crosseyed.
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:21 AM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Thanks, everybody!
posted by boo_radley at 11:39 AM on October 21, 2008
posted by boo_radley at 11:39 AM on October 21, 2008
Um, a dead boy is okay, then?
posted by trip and a half at 11:48 AM on October 21, 2008
posted by trip and a half at 11:48 AM on October 21, 2008
You just say he was a terrorist and you had to kill him with your bare, naked hands to protect democracy.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:52 AM on October 21, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:52 AM on October 21, 2008 [3 favorites]
Whereas if it's a live girl, you wait for them to ask if you want to be forgiven of your sins, and then you say no, no, heck, you're not Catholic, Father, I'm actually Jewish, and they're all what the heck, why are you in a confessional telling me about this nonsense for then, and you go I'M TELLING EVERYBODY! and then Yakkety Sax starts playing.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:54 AM on October 21, 2008 [6 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:54 AM on October 21, 2008 [6 favorites]
Maybe we should poll the Poles to find out what they think?
posted by blue_beetle at 11:59 AM on October 21, 2008
posted by blue_beetle at 11:59 AM on October 21, 2008
I don't think they have enough pull to justify the bother.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:03 PM on October 21, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:03 PM on October 21, 2008
You forgot Poland!
posted by lukemeister at 12:13 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by lukemeister at 12:13 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Um, a dead boy is okay, then?
Funny story... This guy was at the RNC this year... holding this sign... and I near doubled over laughing.
posted by symbollocks at 12:43 PM on October 21, 2008 [5 favorites]
Funny story... This guy was at the RNC this year... holding this sign... and I near doubled over laughing.
posted by symbollocks at 12:43 PM on October 21, 2008 [5 favorites]
My husband and I have voted thanks to Oregon's vote-by-mail process. Thus political ads now go right to the round file, and TV ads meet the mute button. We are loftily, even smugly above last minute canards, no October Surprise for us. (No offense to the Mefite of the same name)
For us, the wretched campaign is over while we still have a shred of sanity.
posted by Cranberry at 12:52 PM on October 21, 2008
For us, the wretched campaign is over while we still have a shred of sanity.
posted by Cranberry at 12:52 PM on October 21, 2008
spicynuts: "knickers in a twist hot heads"
I giggle at the eponysteriousness.
posted by not_on_display at 12:56 PM on October 21, 2008
I giggle at the eponysteriousness.
posted by not_on_display at 12:56 PM on October 21, 2008
Erm, you could probably snip that tired USian/American-cum-number-of-continents war of wits.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:05 PM on October 21, 2008
posted by Sys Rq at 1:05 PM on October 21, 2008
Glad you finally got around to reading yesterday's thread, spicynuts </sarcasm about day-late-dollar-short>... but thanks in earnest for posting the MeTa that stinkycheese himself was far too timid to initiate, preferring to crap in the thread and then say things such as "I'm aware this really should go to MetaTalk... but I'm not going to be the one to start it, nyah nyah nyah!" (and, still at it with his signalless noise in the thread apparently -- and yes, I've flagged.)
Now, I'm moving on -- to the WHINY, CHURLISH abuse of the word "censorship" that continues to be thrown around this site by a bunch of people who clearly have never used a dictionary.
MetaFilter isn't a vacuum. Anyone who wants to have his opinion and share it freely, that's fine -- but anyone who can't also allow other people to refute or disagree with that opinion, without crying "Shut it down! Censorship! I have been SILENCED ALL MY LIFE!" is either a histrionic shit-stirring martyr or a newb who is painfully unclear on the concept that is MetaFilter... nay, internet discussion in general.
It doesn't make you look clever. It makes you look ignorant. TMYK™ . . ... o ~ °*
And thanks, as ever, to the fine staff at MetaFilter -- for handling these fiery and often overwrought* political threads with aplomb and patience. T - 14 days.
* My own participation included.
posted by pineapple at 1:07 PM on October 21, 2008 [10 favorites]
Now, I'm moving on -- to the WHINY, CHURLISH abuse of the word "censorship" that continues to be thrown around this site by a bunch of people who clearly have never used a dictionary.
Dear Inappropriate-Censorship-Accusation Brigade:Getting huffy and pretending that someone has actually attempted to silence you is looking more and more ridiculous by the day. Alluding that MetaFilter is a website where people get banned for speaking out of line, or that anyone who disagrees with another is advocating a banning, or purposely interpreting statements like "Since you can't seem to say anything except for how badly you hate MeFi, there are other websites that might be more to your liking" as "OH YOU WANT TO BAN ME IS THAT IT? YOUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY? FASCISTS! AMERICANS ARE FASCISTS!!! THIS PLACE IS JUST LIKE GUANTANAMO! YOU'RE ALL FASCISTS! CENSORSHIP!!!" only serves to remind us that you've got the discourse level of a reactionary hormone-addled 13-year-old.
We appreciate how exciting it must be, the heady thrill of this wacky American 1st Amendment and all, and we congratulate you on coalescing around such an important platform. Still, it appears that you're failing to grasp the finer points of the concept.
"I don't agree with you" ≠ "I want you silenced"
"I don't agree with you" ≠ "You deserve to be banned"
"I don't agree with you" ≠ "We must never have any political threads ever, as they are a breeding ground for disagreement"
"I don't agree with you" ≠ "I'm going to oppress and coerce you"
"Castigating people who already agree with you mightn't be as effective as taking your ire to the appropriate audience" ≠ "Quit MetaFilter"
"I don't share your opinion, so I'm going to comment with my own rebuttal" ≠ "Go kill yourself, foreigner"
"I believe you are totally full of shit" ≠ "I'm taking away your right to free speech"
Therefore, please put a sock in it, post-haste.
Cheers,
the rest of us
MetaFilter isn't a vacuum. Anyone who wants to have his opinion and share it freely, that's fine -- but anyone who can't also allow other people to refute or disagree with that opinion, without crying "Shut it down! Censorship! I have been SILENCED ALL MY LIFE!" is either a histrionic shit-stirring martyr or a newb who is painfully unclear on the concept that is MetaFilter... nay, internet discussion in general.
It doesn't make you look clever. It makes you look ignorant. TMYK™ . . ... o ~ °*
And thanks, as ever, to the fine staff at MetaFilter -- for handling these fiery and often overwrought* political threads with aplomb and patience. T - 14 days.
* My own participation included.
posted by pineapple at 1:07 PM on October 21, 2008 [10 favorites]
I, too, wish there was time to prove everyone on the internet wrong.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:11 PM on October 21, 2008 [6 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:11 PM on October 21, 2008 [6 favorites]
Also, I think it's worth calling out that slimepuppy apologized, not once but twice, for any inadvertent role in causing a ruckus in that thread -- and even took the time to clarify his intent on the original inflammatory comment, for the benefit of those of us who took offense on first read.
That's a decent way to be, and I'm glad for his participation.
posted by pineapple at 1:13 PM on October 21, 2008
That's a decent way to be, and I'm glad for his participation.
posted by pineapple at 1:13 PM on October 21, 2008
Sys Rq: "Erm, you could probably snip that tired USian/American-cum-number-of-continents war of wits."
She's tried to clean it up but they're still crapping in the thread.
posted by octothorpe at 1:14 PM on October 21, 2008
She's tried to clean it up but they're still crapping in the thread.
posted by octothorpe at 1:14 PM on October 21, 2008
You know, I think I'm done with that "TMYK™ . . ... o ~ °*" thing. RIP, TMYK.
posted by pineapple at 1:19 PM on October 21, 2008
posted by pineapple at 1:19 PM on October 21, 2008
Erm, you could probably snip that tired USian/American-cum-number-of-continents war of wits.
You could have up until matteo decided to go in with NUH UH USIAN IS RIGHT AND AMERICAN IS WRONG BECAUSE CANADIANS AND MEXICANS ARE AMERICAN TOO.
Using terms for a nationality that the nationality itself doesn't when speaking that language: meh.
Insisting, clearly and directly, that those terms are in some way really and truly objectively better than the adjectives the nationality actually uses for itself, and that the nationality is bad and should feel bad for using those adjectives instead of the favored terms: giant tool.
Why people can't just use Merkin I don't know.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:20 PM on October 21, 2008
You could have up until matteo decided to go in with NUH UH USIAN IS RIGHT AND AMERICAN IS WRONG BECAUSE CANADIANS AND MEXICANS ARE AMERICAN TOO.
Using terms for a nationality that the nationality itself doesn't when speaking that language: meh.
Insisting, clearly and directly, that those terms are in some way really and truly objectively better than the adjectives the nationality actually uses for itself, and that the nationality is bad and should feel bad for using those adjectives instead of the favored terms: giant tool.
Why people can't just use Merkin I don't know.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:20 PM on October 21, 2008
Thread crapping!? Stop the internet! Everyone out! Someone get the chlorine solution so we can disinfect it before everyone gets back in.
Sorry folks, come back in 20 minutes after the lifeguards check the pH.
posted by GuyZero at 1:21 PM on October 21, 2008
Sorry folks, come back in 20 minutes after the lifeguards check the pH.
posted by GuyZero at 1:21 PM on October 21, 2008
Also, because flagging it once wasn't enough, I think this is really fucking offensive. Multiple direct insults at another poster, a racial slur, a couple of accusations of imperialism, and zero contributing content -- all in one short little comment!
Well done, matteo. If you're ever out of work, I'm sure the Eagle Forum or the RNC would happily hire you as a copywriter.
posted by pineapple at 1:32 PM on October 21, 2008
Well done, matteo. If you're ever out of work, I'm sure the Eagle Forum or the RNC would happily hire you as a copywriter.
posted by pineapple at 1:32 PM on October 21, 2008
AMERICAN IS WRONG BECAUSE CANADIANS AND MEXICANS ARE AMERICAN TOO.
STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT
*fingers in ears*
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 1:32 PM on October 21, 2008
STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT
*fingers in ears*
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 1:32 PM on October 21, 2008
It looks like stinkycheese has decided to take a break.
"Anyways, I expect I'll take a bit of time off from here now. I'm not interested in exchanging barbs with bozos."posted by ericb at 1:36 PM on October 21, 2008
I think everybody will agree with me when I say that I cannot wait until these goddamn elections are over.
posted by booticon at 1:39 PM on October 21, 2008
posted by booticon at 1:39 PM on October 21, 2008
Thread crapping!? Stop the internet! Everyone out! Someone get the chlorine solution so we can disinfect it before everyone gets back in.
Carl Spackler: "It's no big deal."
posted by ericb at 1:39 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Carl Spackler: "It's no big deal."
posted by ericb at 1:39 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
The whole stinkycheese/pineapple obnoxiousness
I agree. Pineapple belongs on pizza or in Mai Tais, not paired with stinky cheese.
posted by desjardins at 1:40 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
I agree. Pineapple belongs on pizza or in Mai Tais, not paired with stinky cheese.
posted by desjardins at 1:40 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Ouch. Double ouch. And I'd like to take this moment to thank Firefox for making it so easy to do repeated searches in threads.
Ok, I now see the stinkycheese/scody/pineapple clusterfuck. Had I done so before, I would have avoided anything that even playfully verged on anti-American sentiment. Because it was intended to be playful. Actually, half my surprise is that a Colin Powell endorsement thread would contain a trainwreck at all.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 1:45 PM on October 21, 2008
Ok, I now see the stinkycheese/scody/pineapple clusterfuck. Had I done so before, I would have avoided anything that even playfully verged on anti-American sentiment. Because it was intended to be playful. Actually, half my surprise is that a Colin Powell endorsement thread would contain a trainwreck at all.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 1:45 PM on October 21, 2008
Also, because flagging it once wasn't enough, I think this is really fucking offensive. Multiple direct insults at another poster, a racial slur, a couple of accusations of imperialism, and zero contributing content -- all in one short little comment!
Comment seems to have been normeratored. Can anyone dig it out of their cache? I hate missing a chance to be upset at matteo.
posted by timeistight at 1:46 PM on October 21, 2008
Comment seems to have been normeratored. Can anyone dig it out of their cache? I hate missing a chance to be upset at matteo.
posted by timeistight at 1:46 PM on October 21, 2008
Comment seems to have been normeratored. Can anyone dig it out of their cache? I hate missing a chance to be upset at matteo.
posted by timeistight at 4:46 PM on October 21 [+] [!] [quote]Other [2/2]: «≡·
it's not worth it. unless he jumps in here to bring it up, it's really not worth getting into, and certainly not worth piling on about.
posted by shmegegge at 1:53 PM on October 21, 2008
posted by timeistight at 4:46 PM on October 21 [+] [!] [quote]Other [2/2]: «≡·
it's not worth it. unless he jumps in here to bring it up, it's really not worth getting into, and certainly not worth piling on about.
posted by shmegegge at 1:53 PM on October 21, 2008
Matteo, you’re being combative in misconstruing an obvious analogy and obfuscative in changing the subject.
Hell, I probably do need therapy anyway. But again, I wouldn’t contest this particular point if it weren’t thrust upon me and other readers again and again.
You either argue (wherever appropriate) that it is proper use or whatever with the linguists here that are smarter than I am.
Or you take my, and others, word for it that we don’t care for it and continue to be purposefully disrespectful (even if not intended originally, it’s been stated). As I said, I wouldn’t care either way were it not for the insinuation in usage as applied in context and by repetition. If you don’t understand that, get someone to explain it to you.
I’ve said my piece. And I won’t bring it up again.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:54 PM on October 21, 2008
Hell, I probably do need therapy anyway. But again, I wouldn’t contest this particular point if it weren’t thrust upon me and other readers again and again.
You either argue (wherever appropriate) that it is proper use or whatever with the linguists here that are smarter than I am.
Or you take my, and others, word for it that we don’t care for it and continue to be purposefully disrespectful (even if not intended originally, it’s been stated). As I said, I wouldn’t care either way were it not for the insinuation in usage as applied in context and by repetition. If you don’t understand that, get someone to explain it to you.
I’ve said my piece. And I won’t bring it up again.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:54 PM on October 21, 2008
The main problem with American imperialism is you're so shit at it; you've barely managed fifty years and the game's up. We were at it for centuries, slaughtering and robbing poorly armed natives in ever corner of the globe, before it all went tits up in Suez.
posted by Abiezer at 2:04 PM on October 21, 2008 [7 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 2:04 PM on October 21, 2008 [7 favorites]
Tits Up in Suez obviously being Huxley's little-known working title for Eyeless in Gaza
posted by Abiezer at 2:08 PM on October 21, 2008 [10 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 2:08 PM on October 21, 2008 [10 favorites]
For what it's worth, I never interpreted pineapple's (or anyone's) comments as an attempt to silence me or say that my opinion was unwanted in the discourse.
I feel bad about the whole thing now where my badly worded comment sorta derailed a very positive thread.
So, y'know, sorry.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:14 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
I feel bad about the whole thing now where my badly worded comment sorta derailed a very positive thread.
So, y'know, sorry.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:14 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
pineapple: I didn't start a Meta thread because I didn't care that much, to be honest. Your initial comment smacked to me of the worst insular USian exceptionalism, just more of the same old problem. The hardships of being an American who is called to task for the actions of your government, and how such speech ought not to be at Metafilter. I was appalled to see such twaddle favourited by posters I respect.
To me, that comment should rightly have been posted at Metatalk - because it concerned other people posting and the content of their posts - but you didn't post it there, you posted it in the thread. That was your decision.
I chose to simply ask whether posters guilty of the heinous words "damn you all to hell" (lest Obama not be elected, please note *not* elected) or the like should just be banned outright if they are so disagreeable to the userbase here.
If you don't want to hear from certain voices, just be honest and ban them, OK?
I did not hold anyone or any group (ie. Americans) guilty or responsible for *anything*, and despite my later pointing this out, none of the posters suggesting in-thread that I had done this in any way noted that, rescinded their comments, or apologized.
pineapple: The matteo and slimepuppy rants upthread, I have had to hear in person -- usually while travelling alone, and sometimes from scary angry large men in pubs or driving my taxis, leading a tiny voice in the back of my head to sound an alarm that surely hate crimes can happen to Americans.
Is this the root of the problem, pineapple?
I'm sorry you were scared, but I don't think it merits casting out such a point of view just because you've been scared when you've heard these views put to you before. I enjoy having a lot of different opinions at Metafilter; some people here strike me as idiots or cranks, so what? The words themselves will do no harm, I'm fairly certain. Your country is, after all, the world's only superpower.
Just relax.
posted by stinkycheese at 2:21 PM on October 21, 2008
To me, that comment should rightly have been posted at Metatalk - because it concerned other people posting and the content of their posts - but you didn't post it there, you posted it in the thread. That was your decision.
I chose to simply ask whether posters guilty of the heinous words "damn you all to hell" (lest Obama not be elected, please note *not* elected) or the like should just be banned outright if they are so disagreeable to the userbase here.
If you don't want to hear from certain voices, just be honest and ban them, OK?
I did not hold anyone or any group (ie. Americans) guilty or responsible for *anything*, and despite my later pointing this out, none of the posters suggesting in-thread that I had done this in any way noted that, rescinded their comments, or apologized.
pineapple: The matteo and slimepuppy rants upthread, I have had to hear in person -- usually while travelling alone, and sometimes from scary angry large men in pubs or driving my taxis, leading a tiny voice in the back of my head to sound an alarm that surely hate crimes can happen to Americans.
Is this the root of the problem, pineapple?
I'm sorry you were scared, but I don't think it merits casting out such a point of view just because you've been scared when you've heard these views put to you before. I enjoy having a lot of different opinions at Metafilter; some people here strike me as idiots or cranks, so what? The words themselves will do no harm, I'm fairly certain. Your country is, after all, the world's only superpower.
Just relax.
posted by stinkycheese at 2:21 PM on October 21, 2008
ericb, you are my hero.
Thanks. I have always wondered if the 'Baby Ruth In The Pool' bit was a paid product placement. I somewhat doubt it, since the candy bar is so suited to that scene.
posted by ericb at 2:26 PM on October 21, 2008
Thanks. I have always wondered if the 'Baby Ruth In The Pool' bit was a paid product placement. I somewhat doubt it, since the candy bar is so suited to that scene.
posted by ericb at 2:26 PM on October 21, 2008
Slimepuppy, I didn't read your comment in the same way that, apparently, a lot of people here did after the kerfluff. It was obvious to me that you were rhetorically making a plea to the nation, not accusing mefites of voting for Bush and ruining the world. I think you were pretty much scapegoated in pineapple's attack.
Pineapple, I understand that frustration.l I haz it. We are all overwrought. Let's be friends.
posted by taz at 2:28 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
Pineapple, I understand that frustration.l I haz it. We are all overwrought. Let's be friends.
posted by taz at 2:28 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
"damn you all" rather. See you weren't even damned to hell, geez.
posted by stinkycheese at 2:29 PM on October 21, 2008
posted by stinkycheese at 2:29 PM on October 21, 2008
....Well, I've tried this on occasions when the conversation online got too heated, and I wanted to confuse people into changing the subject, so:
(takes deep breath and starts singing)
Any old iron, any old iron,
Any any any old iron,
You look neat, talk about a treat,
You look dapper from your napper to your feet,
Dressed in style, brand new tile,
And your father's old green tie on,
But I wouldn't give you tuppence for your old watch chain,
Old iron, old iron!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:35 PM on October 21, 2008
(takes deep breath and starts singing)
Any old iron, any old iron,
Any any any old iron,
You look neat, talk about a treat,
You look dapper from your napper to your feet,
Dressed in style, brand new tile,
And your father's old green tie on,
But I wouldn't give you tuppence for your old watch chain,
Old iron, old iron!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:35 PM on October 21, 2008
“Insisting... that the nationality is bad and should feel bad for using those adjectives instead of the favored terms...”
Exactly. Y’know, only thing that irritates me is the ‘insisting’ part that casts it as what any given nationality is defacto saying. (Minor quibble with the fact it sounds awkward, but, meh, matter of taste.)
It’s how stuff goes from “Is that guy looking at me?” to “What’s your problem?” to - a problem.
Out of basically nothing.
In part human nature I suppose. I seem to be the middle stooge in these things. The Larry Fine: “say, whydontcha leave him alone?”
And the inevitable: “shaddyap porcupine” and nose twisting with a claw hammer and you get your pants set on fire with an iron...
...perhaps I’m carrying that metaphor too far.
‘Merkins: Daytuk‘rjibs
“The main problem with American imperialism is you're so shit at it;”
There’s an interesting scene in ‘U.S’ with Alex Ross where Brittania tells Uncle Sam that, while her fall was terrible, his is going to be catastrophic.
I sort of hope we just carefully hunker down into a reclining position like an old man in a sauna.
posted by Smedleyman at 2:38 PM on October 21, 2008
Exactly. Y’know, only thing that irritates me is the ‘insisting’ part that casts it as what any given nationality is defacto saying. (Minor quibble with the fact it sounds awkward, but, meh, matter of taste.)
It’s how stuff goes from “Is that guy looking at me?” to “What’s your problem?” to - a problem.
Out of basically nothing.
In part human nature I suppose. I seem to be the middle stooge in these things. The Larry Fine: “say, whydontcha leave him alone?”
And the inevitable: “shaddyap porcupine” and nose twisting with a claw hammer and you get your pants set on fire with an iron...
...perhaps I’m carrying that metaphor too far.
‘Merkins: Daytuk‘rjibs
“The main problem with American imperialism is you're so shit at it;”
There’s an interesting scene in ‘U.S’ with Alex Ross where Brittania tells Uncle Sam that, while her fall was terrible, his is going to be catastrophic.
I sort of hope we just carefully hunker down into a reclining position like an old man in a sauna.
posted by Smedleyman at 2:38 PM on October 21, 2008
Um, a dead boy is okay, then?
Sure, just invoke a gay panic defence and there'll be a chunk of the electorate that will call you a hero!
posted by rodgerd at 2:39 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
Sure, just invoke a gay panic defence and there'll be a chunk of the electorate that will call you a hero!
posted by rodgerd at 2:39 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
gay panic defence is also a good band/superhero team name
posted by slimepuppy at 2:42 PM on October 21, 2008
posted by slimepuppy at 2:42 PM on October 21, 2008
See what I mean? Totally a decent person.
stinkycheese, your attempt at making yourself look more human after all this would possibly, possibly have some merit if you didn't have such a rampant history of this exact same sort of bigoted thread-shitting while inflaming many a previous "USIANS SUCK AMIRITE????" tangent.
According to your whiny little profile update, you entered the Colin Powell thread strictly to see how anyone could possibly have favorited me so much and to pick fights.
Try to retroactively frame that all you like in some sort of noble truth-to-power costume for the benefit of the unaware, but there are longer memories around here than that, and the bottom line is that you are one serious, grudgeholding bigot. That's churlish, invertebrate behavior (much like your recent "oh, are you only feeling that way because you're scared, sweetheart? did the big bad man scare you?" expectoration), and I for one won't miss you or any of your bullshit.
(You know, IF you actually flame out, as promised. A girl can dream.)
posted by pineapple at 2:56 PM on October 21, 2008
stinkycheese, your attempt at making yourself look more human after all this would possibly, possibly have some merit if you didn't have such a rampant history of this exact same sort of bigoted thread-shitting while inflaming many a previous "USIANS SUCK AMIRITE????" tangent.
According to your whiny little profile update, you entered the Colin Powell thread strictly to see how anyone could possibly have favorited me so much and to pick fights.
Try to retroactively frame that all you like in some sort of noble truth-to-power costume for the benefit of the unaware, but there are longer memories around here than that, and the bottom line is that you are one serious, grudgeholding bigot. That's churlish, invertebrate behavior (much like your recent "oh, are you only feeling that way because you're scared, sweetheart? did the big bad man scare you?" expectoration), and I for one won't miss you or any of your bullshit.
(You know, IF you actually flame out, as promised. A girl can dream.)
posted by pineapple at 2:56 PM on October 21, 2008
I didn't start a Meta thread because I didn't care that much, to be honest.
Of course you didn't. The toddler never has interest in cleaning up his own poopy -- just flinging it and leaving it for the grownups.
posted by pineapple at 2:58 PM on October 21, 2008
Of course you didn't. The toddler never has interest in cleaning up his own poopy -- just flinging it and leaving it for the grownups.
posted by pineapple at 2:58 PM on October 21, 2008
Somebody said it. I tend to agree. The whole world should get a vote in U.S. Presidential Elections.
Exhibit A.
posted by philip-random at 3:00 PM on October 21, 2008
Exhibit A.
posted by philip-random at 3:00 PM on October 21, 2008
You've got a real weird obsession with excrement there, pineapple.
posted by stinkycheese at 3:03 PM on October 21, 2008
posted by stinkycheese at 3:03 PM on October 21, 2008
G'nite folks! Drive safely!
posted by waraw at 3:12 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by waraw at 3:12 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Why you even have to do a thing?
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:31 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:31 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Well, perhaps a discussion should be had - somewhere - by some people with bigger brains and cooler heads about this ‘U.S.ian’ business. Grammatic form. Linguistic - whatever. It’s out of my league.
I just know I didn’t like the “Freedom Fries” b.s. or the actual acrimony (versus the friendly rivalry) against France, et.a. from within the U.S., so too, I didn’t much care for the tone - whatever the terms.
And my apologies as well on general principle for contributing to an air of acrimony within the thread.
(Although I do consider targeted/on topic ‘fuck you’s as in-bounds ...but then I consider very little as out. Lambasting wide groups indiscriminately, would be one.)
“You've got a real weird obsession with excrement there, pineapple.”
As opposed to a real healthy obsession?
...no, wait. There are...
I remember seeing a program on discovery or some such about roaches and a roach guy. He was an exerminator apparently.
Fortuitous because at the time, where we were living, we had a roach problem.
The roach guy was sticking his hand into this clear box full of roaches. Some were hissing, some were biting him or nipping, whatever roaches do, etc. etc. and the interviewer asked him: aren’t you creeped out by that?
And the guy said that, yes, in fact, he was. Very much so.
So the interviewer asked him why he was sticking his hand into this roach box for whatever experiment they were doing.
And he said it was because it would bring them knowlege of how to better kill roaches, and he would endure anything for that because “roaches are filthy, dirty, disgusting creatures and I want to kill them all.”
I immediately leaned over and looked at my wife and said “Honey, who does he work for again?” and I called that pest control company.
I mean, if you want to get the right guy for the job...
posted by Smedleyman at 3:38 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
I just know I didn’t like the “Freedom Fries” b.s. or the actual acrimony (versus the friendly rivalry) against France, et.a. from within the U.S., so too, I didn’t much care for the tone - whatever the terms.
And my apologies as well on general principle for contributing to an air of acrimony within the thread.
(Although I do consider targeted/on topic ‘fuck you’s as in-bounds ...but then I consider very little as out. Lambasting wide groups indiscriminately, would be one.)
“You've got a real weird obsession with excrement there, pineapple.”
As opposed to a real healthy obsession?
...no, wait. There are...
I remember seeing a program on discovery or some such about roaches and a roach guy. He was an exerminator apparently.
Fortuitous because at the time, where we were living, we had a roach problem.
The roach guy was sticking his hand into this clear box full of roaches. Some were hissing, some were biting him or nipping, whatever roaches do, etc. etc. and the interviewer asked him: aren’t you creeped out by that?
And the guy said that, yes, in fact, he was. Very much so.
So the interviewer asked him why he was sticking his hand into this roach box for whatever experiment they were doing.
And he said it was because it would bring them knowlege of how to better kill roaches, and he would endure anything for that because “roaches are filthy, dirty, disgusting creatures and I want to kill them all.”
I immediately leaned over and looked at my wife and said “Honey, who does he work for again?” and I called that pest control company.
I mean, if you want to get the right guy for the job...
posted by Smedleyman at 3:38 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
I agree. Pineapple belongs on pizza or in Mai Tais, not paired with stinky cheese.
Feta and Pineapple is my favorite pizza topping - and feta smells like feet. I rest my case.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 3:49 PM on October 21, 2008
Feta and Pineapple is my favorite pizza topping - and feta smells like feet. I rest my case.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 3:49 PM on October 21, 2008
some sort of noble truth-to-power costume
*mind races furiously for Halloween*
posted by scody at 4:13 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
*mind races furiously for Halloween*
posted by scody at 4:13 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
I have been on many 3rd grade playgrounds that were substantially optimistic. Just the other day I heard a couple of young fellows hopefully opining that since Mrs. Wardle was sick, maybe the substitute would give them ice cream and cake, instead of the arithmetic test.
posted by Astro Zombie at 4:22 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Astro Zombie at 4:22 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
Jesus, a hugely optimistic event and a couple of knickers in a twist hot heads turn it into a 3rd grade playground.
I don't remember the Lord entering into it...
Dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand and God
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:44 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
I don't remember the Lord entering into it...
Dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand and God
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:44 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
"I don't share your opinion, so I'm going to comment with my own rebuttal" ≠ "Go kill yourself, foreigner"
Darn it. Apparently, I've been doing it wrong all along ...
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:44 PM on October 21, 2008
Darn it. Apparently, I've been doing it wrong all along ...
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:44 PM on October 21, 2008
I wish you people wouldn't leave us hanging.
Smedleyman, what was the name of the exterminators?
Astro Zombie, did the substitute teacher give them ice cream and cake?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:31 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Smedleyman, what was the name of the exterminators?
Astro Zombie, did the substitute teacher give them ice cream and cake?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:31 PM on October 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
>Jesus, a hugely optimistic event and a couple of knickers in a twist hot heads turn it into a 3rd grade playground
>>This scans alright, but man, some hyphens really could have helped here. It took me about 12 reads to get past "knickers in a twist hot heads turn it into" without going crosseyed.
I would have gone with hot-knicker twist-heads, myself.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:36 PM on October 21, 2008
>>This scans alright, but man, some hyphens really could have helped here. It took me about 12 reads to get past "knickers in a twist hot heads turn it into" without going crosseyed.
I would have gone with hot-knicker twist-heads, myself.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:36 PM on October 21, 2008
Can anyone dig it out of their cache?
Paging Bobby Brown...
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 5:47 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
Paging Bobby Brown...
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 5:47 PM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
We were at it for centuries, slaughtering and robbing poorly armed natives in ever corner of the globe, before it all went tits up in Suez.
it's spelled B-O-S-T-O-N, not S-U-E-Z
posted by pyramid termite at 8:57 PM on October 21, 2008 [3 favorites]
it's spelled B-O-S-T-O-N, not S-U-E-Z
posted by pyramid termite at 8:57 PM on October 21, 2008 [3 favorites]
Re Tits up in Suez: I wonder if this political party could grow some legs in a Mad Max post-collapse Usia?
posted by Meatbomb at 9:44 PM on October 21, 2008
posted by Meatbomb at 9:44 PM on October 21, 2008
Matteo has an irony problem, it's true.
Oh, those fiery and passionate Spaniards.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:55 PM on October 21, 2008
Oh, those fiery and passionate Spaniards.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:55 PM on October 21, 2008
"Tits Up In Suez" would make an awesome band name.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:57 PM on October 22, 2008
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:57 PM on October 22, 2008
The USian/American distinction kind of makes me twitch. It's the "United States of America." That's the name. So, "American" is just as cromulent a descriptor as "USian" because "America" is IN THE NAME.
Until we have the "Canadian States of America" or "The Mexican States of America," I see no reason why "American" would cause any confusion. Sure, they're on the continent, but the word America is not part of the name of their country. Why do we need to create a new word, especially one that doesn't really roll off the tongue?
If we really do need a new word to be more PC, I nominate "Vesupiccian" since the continent was discovered by Amerigo Vespucci and given a coin toss, we could be called "North Vespucci" and the "United States of Vespucci" respectively. It at least sounds better than "USian" which in my mind sounds like "Asian" on first hearing.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 1:24 PM on October 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Until we have the "Canadian States of America" or "The Mexican States of America," I see no reason why "American" would cause any confusion. Sure, they're on the continent, but the word America is not part of the name of their country. Why do we need to create a new word, especially one that doesn't really roll off the tongue?
If we really do need a new word to be more PC, I nominate "Vesupiccian" since the continent was discovered by Amerigo Vespucci and given a coin toss, we could be called "North Vespucci" and the "United States of Vespucci" respectively. It at least sounds better than "USian" which in my mind sounds like "Asian" on first hearing.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 1:24 PM on October 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's actually the "Dominion of Canada" so I guess we're Dominionists or something.
posted by GuyZero at 1:37 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by GuyZero at 1:37 PM on October 23, 2008
I like to call Mexicans "EUians" on political forae, just to remind them that there's a new Mexico out there too, tyvm.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:41 PM on October 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:41 PM on October 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's actually the "Dominion of Canada"
It hasn't been that in 26 years, dude.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:55 PM on October 23, 2008
It hasn't been that in 26 years, dude.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:55 PM on October 23, 2008
Seriously, I never got the memo. I just figured everyone was all informal these days.
posted by GuyZero at 4:39 PM on October 23, 2008
posted by GuyZero at 4:39 PM on October 23, 2008
grapefruitmoon, I think your comment just made me figure out the thing that always low-grade, subconsciously annoyed me about the "USian" moniker.
The common argument is "Canada is on the continent of North America too, right?"
But it's a wholly specious argument, from every direction that I can see. Even if you buy the notion that the word "American" indicates first someone who lives on the North American continent, and not a resident of the USA (which certainly isn't common usage for that word)...
...still, no one anywhere identifies themself first by continent, do they? Doesn't everyone use their country name as their preferred demonym?
But even if they did... let's say this is a really common practice somewhere -- it's not a common practice in Canada. Canadians call themselves Canadians, and the Canadians I know wouldn't dream of calling themselves Americans.
So Americans don't take anything away from Canadians, by self-identifying as "Americans."
In other words, it feels like a trumped-up charge... like umbrage that was ginned up just to let one set of people find a reason to be offended at another.
posted by pineapple at 6:13 PM on October 23, 2008
The common argument is "Canada is on the continent of North America too, right?"
But it's a wholly specious argument, from every direction that I can see. Even if you buy the notion that the word "American" indicates first someone who lives on the North American continent, and not a resident of the USA (which certainly isn't common usage for that word)...
...still, no one anywhere identifies themself first by continent, do they? Doesn't everyone use their country name as their preferred demonym?
But even if they did... let's say this is a really common practice somewhere -- it's not a common practice in Canada. Canadians call themselves Canadians, and the Canadians I know wouldn't dream of calling themselves Americans.
So Americans don't take anything away from Canadians, by self-identifying as "Americans."
In other words, it feels like a trumped-up charge... like umbrage that was ginned up just to let one set of people find a reason to be offended at another.
posted by pineapple at 6:13 PM on October 23, 2008
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
- include a link
- explain what exactly is going wrong, specific comment links help
- don't exacerbate the problem by using your own invectives against the people who you're complaining about.
I'll take a look....
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:37 AM on October 21, 2008 [1 favorite]