Long time listener first time caller October 22, 2008 12:39 PM   Subscribe

Jumping the snark

I'm new to MeFi, mainly posting in AskMe (it's fascinating). Today I came across something I thought was interesting, posted it up, and copped some flak. Is it 'cause I unwittingly picked a topic there'd been three threads about before, because I inserted a link to a blog I like as a 'bonus', or just a different style (copped a comment on the structure of my post intro). I've lurked a bit and post a lot on a UK current-affairs messageboard which is pretty cutthroat at times - is it just MeFi takes a bit longer to settle into? And yeah, I'm aware there are people online who just like a good ol' bitch. I like it here and I wanna stick around a bit.
posted by mippy to Etiquette/Policy at 12:39 PM (89 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite

PETA is sort of a pretty common axe grindy topic around here, either (mostly) people who hate them and their attention grabbing antics, or people who, not defend them exactly, but sort of agree with their general "this is war!" idea about getting people to quit eating meat.

It's a topic that's been done and many people here are tired of the same old fight. Many other people here relish the chance to dust off their same old strawmen and go at it as if they were the last two breeders on earth. You didn't know, but that's most of it. And flak is just part of it most of the time.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:45 PM on October 22, 2008


Ah, that makes sense. I tend to avoid any threads (here or elsewhere) on abortion, atheism or Palin for much the same reasons...

Just got a bit 'uh oh; when getting this comment. I'm thin-skinned and don't know who Cortex is, y'see. And I came across the infamous mushroom thread the other day.
posted by mippy at 12:50 PM on October 22, 2008


Do you know who cortex is now?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:53 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


Hey, at least you didn't post the Orson Scott Card op-ed. That one *really* sucked.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:53 PM on October 22, 2008 [3 favorites]


I didn't know I had showed up in that thread. For what it's worth, the class is really more of a weekend workshop, and also does not exist.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:54 PM on October 22, 2008 [9 favorites]


Biting you is just our way of saying hi, you shit-for-brains monkey-loving bottom-feeding sewer drain! Welcome to the blue and the grey, we hope you stick around.
posted by Plutor at 12:56 PM on October 22, 2008


Unfortunately, there is no topic so inoccuous that it will not result in someone finding something to snark/insult/ballbust about.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 12:56 PM on October 22, 2008


Go do a nice big fat juicy post on obesity, diamonds, cat declawing, pubic hair waxing, unequal distribution of wealth, luxury goods, bicycles...
posted by fixedgear at 12:57 PM on October 22, 2008


(maybe the admin's names could all have sheriff's badges)
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 12:58 PM on October 22, 2008 [3 favorites]


Despite it being a PETA thread, I thought the comments in your post were remarkably snark-free, and were actually pretty playful.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:58 PM on October 22, 2008


Seems like a perfectly fine post and snarkfest to me, with most of the snark going Petas way. Cute website BTW (and weird idea).
posted by Artw at 12:59 PM on October 22, 2008


mippy, snark aside, that was a solid post. You did fine.
posted by Malor at 12:59 PM on October 22, 2008


Go do a nice big fat juicy post on obesity, diamonds, cat declawing, pubic hair waxing, unequal distribution of wealth, luxury goods, bicycles...
posted by fixedgear


Bicycles?!?! Damn you, fixedgear, and your hippie ways!!!!!! Just pray you don't find yourself on the road in front of my 1988 Cadillac Sedan DeVille!!!!
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 1:00 PM on October 22, 2008


SUVs, internal combustion in general, your favorite band sucks/my favorite band sucks...
posted by fixedgear at 1:02 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


Yeah, I would just stay away from the blue...there's nothing good on there anyhow. Stick to the green.
posted by Grither at 1:04 PM on October 22, 2008


for God's sake, don't ever make a post about a comedian. they come out of the woodwork to tell you he or she is not and never was funny.
posted by shmegegge at 1:08 PM on October 22, 2008


What I find funny about this question is....

You think you got hit in that thread? Man, there have been some that are way harsher.

Just a point of reference, you're more familiar with askme, where people are generally on their best behavior. On the blue, not so much.

I've eaten the best snark lines I've thought of when reading askme, since while amazingly intelligent, clever, funny, and scathing, they were also of no use to the poster.

Askme seems to be policed a bit more stringently than meta as well. On meta it seems like if the opinion is valid it will stand (even if presented in an insulting and adversarial manner). On askme, a "UR stupid you stupid person," comment will get removed fairly quickly, even when it's true.
posted by cjorgensen at 1:10 PM on October 22, 2008


I once got turned on on a forum (one that now a lot of net friends of mine post on) for saying that I didn't like Monty Python as bad impressions of it ruined it for me years prior to watching any.
posted by mippy at 1:10 PM on October 22, 2008


Who's your cortex?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:15 PM on October 22, 2008


Yeah, I would just stay away from the blue...there's nothing good on there anyhow. Stick to the green.

Beg to differ. All the good stuff is in the grey/gray. Pizza, Hendrick's gin, single malt, incredible flame outs where you can see 'the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”'
posted by fixedgear at 1:16 PM on October 22, 2008 [3 favorites]


Oh and welcome aboard mippy. Vegetarianism, fat people, religion, abortion, politics, peta and misogyny tend to push the Filter's buttons, sometimes resulting in nastiness on all sides of the discussion.

Cab ride stories though? People love'em!*

Inside joke about this post of mine, which sparked a bit of back and forth
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:21 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


Ha ha, remember when I accidently triple posted my Hemingway joke in there? Good times.

Anyway everything PETA does is controversial, partially because their views are fringe enough that many people disagree with them and partially because they purposely try to promote controversary with their various ad campaigns. In my opinion they are basically the same as internet trolls, in that they mainly just say things to get a reaction out of people and don't contribute anything new to the discussion.

The thread itself was pretty tame especially considering it's a PETA thread. Most of the comments were silly, because really the idea of using the term sea kittens instead of fish is pretty silly no matter what side of the animal rights argument you're on.
posted by burnmp3s at 1:22 PM on October 22, 2008


All the good stuff is in the grey/gray. Pizza, Hendrick's gin, single malt, incredible flame outs...

You forgot bacon.
posted by rtha at 1:27 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


I once got turned on on a forum (one that now a lot of net friends of mine post on) for saying that I didn't like Monty Python.

Oh, turned on ON a forum. I get turned on IN forums for saying I don't like Monty Python, shoot, like all the time.
posted by dirtdirt at 1:33 PM on October 22, 2008


Sexy.
posted by mippy at 1:37 PM on October 22, 2008 [2 favorites]


The problems with kittens in the sea are manifold, not the least of which being that they really hate getting wet, unless you're spraying them with water to warn them off of misbehavior, in which case they fucking love it and prance around in the mist.
posted by uncleozzy at 1:42 PM on October 22, 2008 [4 favorites]


I was told once that my favorite band sucks. They would be so wrong, but I can't remember who my favorite band is.
posted by ardgedee at 1:42 PM on October 22, 2008 [2 favorites]


Hey mippy, I did not give your post a very good review, but I think you're a good egg. My ire stemmed from two key facts:

1. So tired of PETA (even though this fish thing was new)
2. More importantly, I couldn't see the relation between one of your links and the subject at hand.

However, I think you have handled yourself with grace and good humor, and I will read your next post, even especially if it is about something really stupid.
posted by Mister_A at 1:46 PM on October 22, 2008


This is the lamest fishing-for-compliments post I've ever seen in the grey.








Welcome!
posted by nevercalm at 1:49 PM on October 22, 2008 [2 favorites]


It puts the lotion in the basket or it gets the Cortex.
posted by panboi at 1:50 PM on October 22, 2008 [2 favorites]


unless you're spraying them with water to warn them off of misbehavior, in which case they fucking love it and prance around in the mist

I think you're supposed to rotate the little square thing at the end of the spray bottle over to the stream setting. Otherwise you'll end up with a refreshed and revitalized cat instead of a wet and annoyed one.
posted by burnmp3s at 1:59 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


It puts the lotion in the basket or it gets the Cortex.

Is this lotion you would be using?
posted by cimbrog at 2:01 PM on October 22, 2008


Otherwise you'll end up with a refreshed and revitalized cat instead of a wet and annoyed one.

Ah, I should maybe stop putting relaxing aromatherapy oils in there, too.
posted by uncleozzy at 2:06 PM on October 22, 2008


Unfortunately, there is no topic so inoccuous that it will not result in someone finding something to snark/insult/ballbust about.

So, is that like, Rule 43 of the Internet?
posted by lysdexic at 2:08 PM on October 22, 2008


Oh man. I was just being a dick, mippy. I could do without another PETA post, but I could have just ignored it, and I didn't really expect it to get deleted (I didn't even flag it). There isn't really any such thing remedial posting course. And what could anyone have to fear from cortex?! So, sorry - my comment was unnecessary. But check out this picture of a hamster!

I have to dash. Please burn my effigy in my absence.
posted by nanojath at 2:09 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


Unfortunately, there is no topic so inoccuous that it will not result in someone finding something to snark/insult/ballbust about.

What about the Nicholas Brothers tap dancing? (Self-link.)
posted by cgc373 at 2:11 PM on October 22, 2008


damnit if that thread hadn't been locked I woulda started a fight in there no problem
posted by bonaldi at 2:20 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


This cortex...




it vibrates?
posted by allkindsoftime at 2:24 PM on October 22, 2008


As long as you're not a giant glazed donut, you have nothing to fear from cortex.
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 2:25 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


I'm amazed folk have been listing controversial topics without mentioning circumcision. I'm sure I've seen more shrieking over infant cock here than anything else over the years.

Yeah, I would just stay away from the blue...there's nothing good on there anyhow. Stick to the green.

See, this is my personal hot button issue. Whenever people say stuff like that, or I see a user profile that's 100% Ask, I have to stop myself from bellowing, "Are you fucking mental? You like the upstart adjunct to the site where people whinge about their mean girlfriends and ask you to fix their computer better than the proper site with links to cool stuff? You read that for entertainment?! Aaaargh! Grrrrr!". (I use Ask myself, of course, but still... nutters.)

Also, 'mippy' is a lovely username that is fun to say out loud. Mippy!
posted by jack_mo at 2:39 PM on October 22, 2008 [4 favorites]


It puts the lotion in the basket or it gets the Cortex.

Fail.
posted by chugg at 2:44 PM on October 22, 2008


As long as you're not a giant glazed donut, you have nothing to fear from cortex.

That donut is giant? I'd always just assumed cortex was a primordial dwarf.
posted by jack_mo at 2:44 PM on October 22, 2008


Just so you know: I'm cortex
posted by Jofus at 2:54 PM on October 22, 2008


Sorry, can't help it...

Metafilter: more shrieking over infant cock here than anything else
posted by marxchivist at 2:58 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


Honey the folks around here just like to have freindly snarks. Most don't get "too" hostile, if they do someone will fix it.
posted by bjgeiger at 3:02 PM on October 22, 2008


Dude I copped flak for a post about soap, which is like the most innocuous topic on earth. So don't take it personal. People just like having opinions. On everything. Ever. And making those opinions heard. Loudly. All the time.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:16 PM on October 22, 2008


Wait, the post wasn't even DELETED?

Weak. Meta. Talk. Weak.

Anyways, the last PETA post was only a week ago. And it had links to all the other ones. And it went as well as any other PETA thread. So that's what you were stepping into.
posted by smackfu at 3:22 PM on October 22, 2008


"Go do a nice big fat juicy post on obesity, diamonds, cat declawing, pubic hair waxing, unequal distribution of wealth, luxury goods, bicycles..."

This is how I imagine that post could look like;

Low-income obese people are less likely to be able to afford bicycles compared to wealthy people. While recent aid programs have shown that poor people obviously want bicycles (and diamonds too, let's face it), reality suggests that the world's unequal distribution of wealth is a clear prevantative factor in their being able to do so. Instead, it is probably more likely that poor people tend to spend most of their money on pubic hair waxing and cat declawing.
posted by Effigy2000 at 3:34 PM on October 22, 2008 [12 favorites]


maybe the admin's names could all have sheriff's badges

I look forward to my mac suddenly tasering me. bro.
posted by krautland at 3:56 PM on October 22, 2008


The chip in my head has sent an electronic signal based on the gray background before me, indicating that I am to come into this thread and get quite yelly and agitated, and then rebut anyone who dares rebut me with scathing, possibly irrelevant barbs.

But it's so much fun to say mippy that I shan't.

Also, this: However, I think you have handled yourself with grace and good humor


MIPPY!
posted by pineapple at 4:28 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


Effigy2000, you forgot the link to the story indicating that, lacking business from poor obese people, all the mohels are working exclusively for wealthy thin people now, and performing the circumcisions with scalpels tipped with African diamonds. Unapologetically, even. They aren't even CONSIDERING Canadian diamonds or estate diamonds.
posted by pineapple at 4:31 PM on October 22, 2008


mippy (and yes, that is a fantastic username):

Don't worry about it. That was very low-level snark on what was honestly a good n00b-post. nanojath has already offered a mea culpa, but I read that comment to be essentially good-natured ribbing.

I see why if you didn't know who cortex was it might have been confusing (for the record, the mods are Mathowie - #1, it's his site, generally hangs out on the blue, from my experience; jessamyn - awesome and quick to reply to questions and problems, generally moderates the green; cortex - loves donuts, is king of mefimusic and handles most of the blue now, seemingly; pb - rarely seen in the flesh or on the face of the site, but does the coding that lets the rest of us do our thing; and vacapinta - a figure out of folklore who supposedly hunts errant threads by night, but we only have rumors to go on, for now.)

Generally, unless a subject is truly generating hate or snark or noise so as to become a derail, this sort of thing can be handled with a memail, and in my experience, the person will be happy to respond personally to explain what they meant. There's a lot of snark, and with so many users, it's hard sometimes to know who will get the in-jokes and meta-jokes and who will misinterpret them.

In other words: MeFi doesn't haze new members, it just feels that way until you get used to us hazing everybody.

Also: (I don't mean this as any insult to you, mippy, I just feel like we've seen a lot of this sort of thing recently) can we have a pony where users can't post a new thread on MeTa until, say, three months after joining? Not to shit on new users, but just so that they have time to get a feel for the site before covering the gray with questions about the culture?
posted by Navelgazer at 5:08 PM on October 22, 2008


Vegetarianism, fat people, religion, abortion, politics, peta and misogyny tend to push the Filter's buttons, sometimes resulting in nastiness on all sides of the discussion.

You left out circumcision. Pro/anti posts about that are usually a barrel of monkeys, too.
posted by necessitas at 5:19 PM on October 22, 2008


You left out circumcision.

And audiophiles.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:30 PM on October 22, 2008


For what it's worth, the class is really more of a weekend workshop, and also does not exist.

This is true.

There are no cortex re-education camps.
posted by the Cabal at 6:16 PM on October 22, 2008 [2 favorites]


Pizza toppings, too.
posted by yhbc at 6:17 PM on October 22, 2008


mippy makes me think of Miffy and Mappy.
posted by box at 6:58 PM on October 22, 2008


Oh really? Really?

Oh fine. Let's all talk about kittens.


they are ADORABLE!
posted by The Whelk at 6:59 PM on October 22, 2008


Also: oftentimes, but not always, when I think that Metafilter doesn't do x well, x is something that I know a little bit about, and/or something that I have strong feelings about. Is it like that for everybody?
posted by box at 7:00 PM on October 22, 2008


Oh fine. Let's all talk about kittens. they are ADORABLE!

Yes and they should all be declawed!!
posted by desjardins at 7:24 PM on October 22, 2008


oftentimes, but not always, when I think that Metafilter doesn't do x well, x is something that I know a little bit nothing about, and/or something that I have strong feelings about. Is it like that for everybody?

FTFY.

But no, I know what you mean. And the snark isn't directed at you personally, box. It's not so much that Metafilter in particular doesn't do X well, but rather that people when confronted with something they feel strongly about, whether they're knowledgeable or not, tend to get a little bit.... shirty. And Metafilter is just an aggregate of people.

[/captain obvious]
posted by Phire at 7:33 PM on October 22, 2008


I thought the post sucked because it was simply a link to a PeTA campaign. It was the kind of thing that my mother would email to me--though she'd be doing so because she thought it was the cutest thing. The rest of the links were terrible. I think the rule of thumb should be that if you feel you need to pad your FPP or include "bonus links" (as you called them) then your post isn't worth posting.

Frankly, I'm stunned that anyone is calling that a good post, let alone Malor and Navelgazer and some others who've been here a few years. I'm also stunned the post wasn't deleted as it was a textbook example of GYOB.

I'm really surprised to be saying this, but if if it wasn't for the political threads of late, there'd be little point to coming to MeFi as of late.
posted by Manhasset at 9:02 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


I was told once that my favorite band sucks. They would be so wrong, but I can't remember who my favorite band is.

I remember who your favorite band is and they really do suck.
posted by MikeMc at 9:15 PM on October 22, 2008


I've lurked a bit and post a lot on a UK current-affairs messageboard which is pretty cutthroat at times

You need a proper training program to toughen you up. Start with something light like Fark or SA then work your way through the various *chan /b/ boards and when you're done you'll have a hide like a rhino and the intellect of your average Oakland Raiders fan. And remember to always be on the offensive, even when you're wrong.
posted by MikeMc at 9:26 PM on October 22, 2008 [2 favorites]


PETATalk.metafilter.com

AM I RITE?
posted by blue_beetle at 9:29 PM on October 22, 2008


Shirty is the new official replacement for fighty, just so you all know. Thanks Phire.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:26 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


But I LIKED fighty. Shirty doesn't even make sense.
posted by desjardins at 10:29 PM on October 22, 2008


Does so.

sulk.
posted by Phire at 10:31 PM on October 22, 2008


Here's an example of shirty for you.
posted by h00py at 11:19 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


Right, which of you bastards is snarking at my bird, eh?

[/Begbie]
posted by liquidindian at 11:39 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


The Whelk: "Oh really? Really?
Oh fine. Let's all talk about kittens.
they are ADORABLE!
"

You forgot delicious.
posted by dg at 12:58 AM on October 23, 2008


You'll never be accepted as true metafilter member unless you get savaged for posting/commenting something.

It's actually remarkably easy to be accepted around here.
posted by slimepuppy at 1:54 AM on October 23, 2008


h00py: "Here's an example of shirty for you."

Aaaah, Russell Crowe. Good performance from him there. No 'Beautiful Mind', but pretty good.
posted by Effigy2000 at 1:57 AM on October 23, 2008


Heh. It's funny because it's true, Effigy2000.
posted by cgc373 at 3:12 AM on October 23, 2008


Also, 'mippy' is a lovely username that is fun to say out loud. Mippy!

I personally want this thread to be a lot less friendly than it is now, have everyone fall out, maybe a few people banned, a protest splinter group forming, that sort of thing, because we could then look back and refer to it as Mippygate, which has a nice ring to it.
posted by liquidindian at 3:26 AM on October 23, 2008


Mippy is, IIRC, a cross between Miffy and Zippy. All attempts to attach a zip to my mouth so far have failed, much to the chagrin of the poster above me.
posted by mippy at 5:37 AM on October 23, 2008


Dudes, are we really up in arms about pubic hair waxing? I had no idea. Are we fer it or agin it? Are there any contentious posts we can point to on the topic?
posted by Mister_A at 7:16 AM on October 23, 2008


I think the rule of thumb should be that if you feel you need to pad your FPP or include "bonus links" (as you called them) then your post isn't worth posting.

And see, I thought the rule of thumb was that a one-link post showed no creativity, no effort, no flesh on its bones.

But, to be fair, I am not what anyone could call a regular FPPoster.
posted by pineapple at 7:25 AM on October 23, 2008


The distinction folks generally make is the between a post that has a bunch of links because all of the links are interesting (say, a good historical roundup of the best links out there on some specific topic) vs. a post that has a bunch of links because the poster wants to avoid getting called out for a single not-so-great meat link.

There's tons of shades of grey here, of course, and not everybody agrees about the nature of the distinction above (or even whether roundups are good or single not-so-great links are inherently bad), but it's definitely a multidimensional thing that can't reasonably reduced to just One Link Is Bad, Many Links Are Good or vice versa.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:56 AM on October 23, 2008


Yes it can!

*breaks chair over cortex's head, shouts incoherently*

...Sorry, I got caught up in the Shirty the Bear link.
posted by languagehat at 8:08 AM on October 23, 2008


I think the site should be changed to read:

note: Everyone needs a TOPLESS hug.
posted by pineapple at 8:38 AM on October 23, 2008


Boy I sure don't.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:48 AM on October 23, 2008 [1 favorite]


Sorry phire. I'm kind of shirty today. (Pink silk buttondown, if you must know.)
posted by desjardins at 8:55 AM on October 23, 2008


And I'm in my underwear! WOOOoooooooo
posted by Baby_Balrog at 9:51 AM on October 23, 2008


Gender is a contentious topic as well, and any post about any kind of sexism should have the "EVERYONE IS OPPRESSED" warning in addition to "Everyone needs a hug."
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:25 AM on October 23, 2008


in which case they fucking love it and prance around in the mist.

Okay, I am now imagining remake of "Gorillas In The Mist" with Sigourney Weaver doing a belly crawl through a suburban backyard to conduct biological field research on Puff and Mittens.

I clearly need some kind of food.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:32 AM on October 23, 2008


Well for chrissake, make sure you don't eat IAMS. That shite's-- well, shite. Fucking tainted corn grits.
posted by heyho at 1:44 PM on October 23, 2008


pineapple: "I think the site should be changed to read:
note: Everyone needs a TOPLESS hug.
"

Only if you want carpet burn on your nipples.
posted by dg at 2:29 PM on October 23, 2008


I'm thin-skinned

Yeah, you're gonna be happy here.
posted by phearlez at 2:30 PM on October 23, 2008


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