The Meme Equivalent of Grey Goo: Tomorrow's FPP November 3, 2008 6:59 PM Subscribe
Just out of curiousity, tomorrow, there's going to be about five million, four hundred thousand, six hundred fifty-two attempts to write a "first black President" FPP. Do the mods have any specific plans, or is it going to be whomever jumps the gun first? And are you guys going to be able to enjoy the festivities, or are you going to be too busy deleting everyone's massively respawning dupes? ;-)
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- loup
We never have specific plans, I'm not sure why these sorts of threads come up all the time. We can't determine what happens on the front page. And, honestly, if we weren't also watching this MetaTalk thread we'd have one less thing to do tomorrow.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:04 PM on November 3, 2008 [6 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:04 PM on November 3, 2008 [6 favorites]
half high-five to eideteker. (high 2.5?)
posted by mayfly wake at 7:05 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by mayfly wake at 7:05 PM on November 3, 2008
I think this is overthinking things a bit, by making a big deal ahead of time. I think in the early evening, when people start calling it for Obama, there will certainly be a post, and that's fine.
(speaking as a moderator/admin here, we will be popping champagne come wednesday morning because it will mean NO MORE FUCKING ELECTION THREADS for two more years)
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:05 PM on November 3, 2008 [13 favorites]
(speaking as a moderator/admin here, we will be popping champagne come wednesday morning because it will mean NO MORE FUCKING ELECTION THREADS for two more years)
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:05 PM on November 3, 2008 [13 favorites]
I hope people will also spend some time at PoliticalFilter tomorrow because I think that's where the live blogging of the election night stuff will be happening.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:06 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:06 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
... a "first black President" FPP.
Let's hope it's not an FPP indicating a "first female V.P." After all, the fat lady hasn't sung yet.
posted by ericb at 7:09 PM on November 3, 2008
Let's hope it's not an FPP indicating a "first female V.P." After all, the fat lady hasn't sung yet.
posted by ericb at 7:09 PM on November 3, 2008
I think I'm going to stay in bed tomorrow.
posted by Class Goat at 7:10 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by Class Goat at 7:10 PM on November 3, 2008
Let's hope it's not an FPP indicating a "first female V.P."
Lipstick on a prig.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:15 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Lipstick on a prig.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:15 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm going to the park to watch the rhesus monkeys running around wildly in their enclosure. Who wants to come?
posted by gomichild at 7:16 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by gomichild at 7:16 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
Way to jinx him dude.
posted by smackfu at 7:18 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by smackfu at 7:18 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
You said Halle Berry and my train of thought derailed.
posted by rodgerd at 7:19 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by rodgerd at 7:19 PM on November 3, 2008
Okay, here's a question for you.
Barack Obama: black president... or blackest president???
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:21 PM on November 3, 2008 [7 favorites]
Barack Obama: black president... or blackest president???
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:21 PM on November 3, 2008 [7 favorites]
Let them all stand.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:22 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:22 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
Mariah Carey, and the rest of the gang will not stand for anything less.
mariah carey would like you to know she does not to stand up for anyone except herself and only that with the help of five underpaid assistants. she is also far too lazy to take part in any kind of ganglife beyond gratuitous posing.
posted by krautland at 7:25 PM on November 3, 2008
mariah carey would like you to know she does not to stand up for anyone except herself and only that with the help of five underpaid assistants. she is also far too lazy to take part in any kind of ganglife beyond gratuitous posing.
posted by krautland at 7:25 PM on November 3, 2008
(speaking as a moderator/admin here, we will be popping champagne come wednesday morning because it will mean NO MORE FUCKING ELECTION THREADS for two more years)
Just like everyone's let that whole Florida 2000 thing slide. I'm sure it'll go swimmingly.
posted by spiderwire at 7:31 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Just like everyone's let that whole Florida 2000 thing slide. I'm sure it'll go swimmingly.
posted by spiderwire at 7:31 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
...there's going to be about five million, four hundred thousand, six hundred fifty-two attempts...
Way to overexaggerate by like nine-hundred and eleventy-bajillion percent.
posted by turgid dahlia at 7:32 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Way to overexaggerate by like nine-hundred and eleventy-bajillion percent.
posted by turgid dahlia at 7:32 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Such a unique moment in history demands unique coverage.
I propose we re-enact the entire campaign in thread form. First thing in the morning we get a glut of threads posted by all comers. Mathowie's pragmatic and matter-of-fact post will be the early favorite -- inevitable, really -- but it will soon be challenged in comment count by an eloquent, well-written post full of inspirational links and Powerful, Quiet Photos of Obama.
Over several grueling hours the battle will play out -- longtime posters will be accused of being "in the tank", undecideds will teeter on the fence, posting equally in each, supporters of both threads will compete bitterly to be the first to post links to the latest news, and a few high-profile mods will eventually announce their support of the newcomer to dramatic effect.
Despite a desperate last-minute gambit arguing that favorite-count should determine the winner, mathowie's post will fail to garner enough constructive comments and will be defeated in a stunning upset. After some behind-the-scenes wrangling, it will get merged with the victor's thread.
The triumphant Obama Victory Mega-Thread will then face off against the pre-emptive McCain Campaign Post-mortem Analysis Thread, which will have received little attention at that point. Although the rivalry will be friendly at first, soon the contest for best political post of 2008 will sour, spawning ugly flame-outs and endless MeTas.
In the final hours before the presidential race is called, the McCain thread will win the participation of an entertaining user with a gut-bustingly clever handle who will, despite their attention-getting comments, eventually prove to be a shallow troll.
Though the spectacle will draw attention and extra activity to the McCain thread for awhile, sudden server issues will slow down service for everyone, forcing people to ignore the troll's shenanigans and move en masse to the now-shorter Obama thread, relishing in its relatively quick load times. Though the impaired bandwidth will soon clear up, the Obama thread will nevertheless see a huge activity boost that will propel it to its rightful place in Metafilter History. It will be a beautiful moment for everyone.
Oh, and PoliticalFilter can be Ron Paul.
posted by Rhaomi at 7:33 PM on November 3, 2008 [15 favorites]
I propose we re-enact the entire campaign in thread form. First thing in the morning we get a glut of threads posted by all comers. Mathowie's pragmatic and matter-of-fact post will be the early favorite -- inevitable, really -- but it will soon be challenged in comment count by an eloquent, well-written post full of inspirational links and Powerful, Quiet Photos of Obama.
Over several grueling hours the battle will play out -- longtime posters will be accused of being "in the tank", undecideds will teeter on the fence, posting equally in each, supporters of both threads will compete bitterly to be the first to post links to the latest news, and a few high-profile mods will eventually announce their support of the newcomer to dramatic effect.
Despite a desperate last-minute gambit arguing that favorite-count should determine the winner, mathowie's post will fail to garner enough constructive comments and will be defeated in a stunning upset. After some behind-the-scenes wrangling, it will get merged with the victor's thread.
The triumphant Obama Victory Mega-Thread will then face off against the pre-emptive McCain Campaign Post-mortem Analysis Thread, which will have received little attention at that point. Although the rivalry will be friendly at first, soon the contest for best political post of 2008 will sour, spawning ugly flame-outs and endless MeTas.
In the final hours before the presidential race is called, the McCain thread will win the participation of an entertaining user with a gut-bustingly clever handle who will, despite their attention-getting comments, eventually prove to be a shallow troll.
Though the spectacle will draw attention and extra activity to the McCain thread for awhile, sudden server issues will slow down service for everyone, forcing people to ignore the troll's shenanigans and move en masse to the now-shorter Obama thread, relishing in its relatively quick load times. Though the impaired bandwidth will soon clear up, the Obama thread will nevertheless see a huge activity boost that will propel it to its rightful place in Metafilter History. It will be a beautiful moment for everyone.
Oh, and PoliticalFilter can be Ron Paul.
posted by Rhaomi at 7:33 PM on November 3, 2008 [15 favorites]
After all, the fat lady hasn't sung yet.
We can only hope. I mean, yeah, it would be bad. But I don't think we Canadians can go back to feeling we have anything to feel remotely envious about. Hell, our dollar was briefly worth more than a dollar!
otoh, please win and make Harper your bitch.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 7:33 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
We can only hope. I mean, yeah, it would be bad. But I don't think we Canadians can go back to feeling we have anything to feel remotely envious about. Hell, our dollar was briefly worth more than a dollar!
otoh, please win and make Harper your bitch.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 7:33 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
On my local NPR station this morning, they interviewed a seventy-something year-old man from the Arkansas delta, and he referred to Obama as 'the black Bill Clinton.' I'm pretty sure he meant it as a compliment.
posted by box at 7:33 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by box at 7:33 PM on November 3, 2008
60 metatalk posts, really?
because I think that's where the live blogging of the election night stuff will be happening
Yeah and probably a couple of open threads throughout the day. Based on the early vote turnout, America is going to see something amazing and frustrating tomorrow and that's before the first polls close.
We never have specific plans
You guys are some crazy kind of awesome.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:34 PM on November 3, 2008
because I think that's where the live blogging of the election night stuff will be happening
Yeah and probably a couple of open threads throughout the day. Based on the early vote turnout, America is going to see something amazing and frustrating tomorrow and that's before the first polls close.
We never have specific plans
You guys are some crazy kind of awesome.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:34 PM on November 3, 2008
I was going to post to MeTa about this earlier -- would it be too much to ask that
1. One of the mods actually post the election thread so there's no dispute about it like there was in that Palin thread I posted yesterday... that post be declared The One True Thread to Rule Them All and there would be no confusion
2. Maybe we could suggest here some of the things to put in the top of the post beforehand -- I was thinking that CNN's county-by-county election results from 2000 and 2004 would be nice, along with the Secretary of State pages for the swing states.
posted by spiderwire at 7:37 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
1. One of the mods actually post the election thread so there's no dispute about it like there was in that Palin thread I posted yesterday... that post be declared The One True Thread to Rule Them All and there would be no confusion
2. Maybe we could suggest here some of the things to put in the top of the post beforehand -- I was thinking that CNN's county-by-county election results from 2000 and 2004 would be nice, along with the Secretary of State pages for the swing states.
posted by spiderwire at 7:37 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
Wait, Mariah Carey's black?
posted by infinitewindow at 7:37 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by infinitewindow at 7:37 PM on November 3, 2008
My plans for tomorrow:
1. Get up early.
2. Get in the voting queue right when the polls open.
3. Grab a free coffee and maybe a free donut if I can.
3. Commute to the office.
3. Get involved in my work. Really, really involved in my work. I'm gonna be busy. All day. Can't afford to be distracted. Not at all. Lots to do. Not even time for free ice cream. Don't distract me until, like, sometime very very late Tuesday night. Or maybe Wednesday.
posted by ardgedee at 7:38 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
1. Get up early.
2. Get in the voting queue right when the polls open.
3. Grab a free coffee and maybe a free donut if I can.
3. Commute to the office.
3. Get involved in my work. Really, really involved in my work. I'm gonna be busy. All day. Can't afford to be distracted. Not at all. Lots to do. Not even time for free ice cream. Don't distract me until, like, sometime very very late Tuesday night. Or maybe Wednesday.
posted by ardgedee at 7:38 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Exhibit A: John McCain
Exhibit B: A testicle (nsfw)
Which is which? I CAN NO LONGER TELL THEM APART.
A vote for McCain is a vote for balls. BALLS ALL UP IN UR FACE.
So don't do it, kids.
posted by turgid dahlia at 7:39 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Exhibit B: A testicle (nsfw)
Which is which? I CAN NO LONGER TELL THEM APART.
A vote for McCain is a vote for balls. BALLS ALL UP IN UR FACE.
So don't do it, kids.
posted by turgid dahlia at 7:39 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Also, I am TIVOing your election, so please, no spoilers.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 7:41 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 7:41 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oh, and PoliticalFilter can be Ron Paul RuPaul.
Bitch, please.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:42 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Bitch, please.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:42 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
oh, who cares, I know I'm rehearsing my "Obama wins" thread comment. as of now, I'm planning to comment:
USA TO McCAIN/PALIN: "THANKS BUT NO THANKS!"
still working on it, though.
posted by matteo at 7:42 PM on November 3, 2008 [4 favorites]
USA TO McCAIN/PALIN: "THANKS BUT NO THANKS!"
still working on it, though.
posted by matteo at 7:42 PM on November 3, 2008 [4 favorites]
I like the tags for this MeTa, btw:
fpp
obama
election
dupes
IT'S A CONSPIRACY
posted by spiderwire at 7:43 PM on November 3, 2008
fpp
obama
election
dupes
IT'S A CONSPIRACY
posted by spiderwire at 7:43 PM on November 3, 2008
and by the way, if, once they call the election for Obama you're seriously thinking of wasting your time drafting a fpp about it, you're automatically lame. the only appropriate response is to get out of the house & run naked in the streets, drunk, with a big ass "O" painted across your chest.
posted by matteo at 7:46 PM on November 3, 2008 [17 favorites]
posted by matteo at 7:46 PM on November 3, 2008 [17 favorites]
This should be Obama's victory speech:
"VICTORY FOR CHAIRMAN ALLAH!" [black power salute]
I'd be tempted to do that. One of the many reasons I'll never be in politics.
posted by spiderwire at 7:47 PM on November 3, 2008 [8 favorites]
"VICTORY FOR CHAIRMAN ALLAH!" [black power salute]
I'd be tempted to do that. One of the many reasons I'll never be in politics.
posted by spiderwire at 7:47 PM on November 3, 2008 [8 favorites]
would it be too much to ask that...
Yes, actually. Maybe mathowie will get his post on, but honestly it's sort of pulling rank for us to choose to do something like that and there's no good reason to do it. I know that mathowie's word sort of settles disputes and all, but besides deleting stuff that is totally awful or breaks the rules we have no dominion over the front page and that's how it should be.
I know people get sort of anxious waiting to see if the thread that's posted, that becomes the sort of Election Results thread, is good or terrible but at some level the more people commit to 1) including information they'd like to see in a thread when the time comes 2) not crapping in other people's threads because it doesn't suit your particular sensibilities of what that thread should in your secret heart of hearts look like, the better we'll be.
Now I'm a bit of an outlier on these things because this election cycle has been work for the first time ever and that's a bit of a bummer for me personally, horns in on my leisure time, you see. That said, with a few exceptions I've been happy at how things have gone here vis a vis the election cycle and I like to think that me and cortex and mathowie and pb and vacapinta have had something to do with that.
So, whatever the functional equivalent of "tip your waiters" is in a nice non-monetary fashion, we'd appreciate it. Be kind to each other and don't let your anticipatory spazzitude wreck things.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:48 PM on November 3, 2008 [5 favorites]
Yes, actually. Maybe mathowie will get his post on, but honestly it's sort of pulling rank for us to choose to do something like that and there's no good reason to do it. I know that mathowie's word sort of settles disputes and all, but besides deleting stuff that is totally awful or breaks the rules we have no dominion over the front page and that's how it should be.
I know people get sort of anxious waiting to see if the thread that's posted, that becomes the sort of Election Results thread, is good or terrible but at some level the more people commit to 1) including information they'd like to see in a thread when the time comes 2) not crapping in other people's threads because it doesn't suit your particular sensibilities of what that thread should in your secret heart of hearts look like, the better we'll be.
Now I'm a bit of an outlier on these things because this election cycle has been work for the first time ever and that's a bit of a bummer for me personally, horns in on my leisure time, you see. That said, with a few exceptions I've been happy at how things have gone here vis a vis the election cycle and I like to think that me and cortex and mathowie and pb and vacapinta have had something to do with that.
So, whatever the functional equivalent of "tip your waiters" is in a nice non-monetary fashion, we'd appreciate it. Be kind to each other and don't let your anticipatory spazzitude wreck things.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:48 PM on November 3, 2008 [5 favorites]
the only appropriate response is to get out of the house & run naked in the streets, drunk, with a big ass "O" painted across your chest.
Well, I plan to spend the evening drinking $5 pitchers of High Life anyhow, so I'll be most of the way there. I just need to get someone to draw the O for me, so I don't get it backwards.
posted by uncleozzy at 7:48 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
Well, I plan to spend the evening drinking $5 pitchers of High Life anyhow, so I'll be most of the way there. I just need to get someone to draw the O for me, so I don't get it backwards.
posted by uncleozzy at 7:48 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
Ben and Jerry's Very Very Carey/Berry
Maybe white chocolate ice cream with a sexy, gooey coffee swirl and raspberries?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:51 PM on November 3, 2008
Maybe white chocolate ice cream with a sexy, gooey coffee swirl and raspberries?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:51 PM on November 3, 2008
That said, with a few exceptions I've been happy at how things have gone here vis a vis the election cycle and I like to think that me and cortex and mathowie and pb and vacapinta have had something to do with that.
You guys have been great. I just felt bad yesterday about missing the double, and was trying to make up for it by thinking of a way to save work for you guys. Your take on the utility of a One True Thread seems correct, though.
posted by spiderwire at 7:51 PM on November 3, 2008
You guys have been great. I just felt bad yesterday about missing the double, and was trying to make up for it by thinking of a way to save work for you guys. Your take on the utility of a One True Thread seems correct, though.
posted by spiderwire at 7:51 PM on November 3, 2008
Metafilter: Be kind to each other and don't let your anticipatory spazzitude wreck things.
[sniffs, wipes tear]
posted by waraw at 8:04 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
[sniffs, wipes tear]
posted by waraw at 8:04 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
If Obama wins I would like to make a motion (watch, I'm doing it with my arms like a helicopter) that pure anarchy reign for no more and no less than a day on Mefi. For myself I plan on spending the following day burning my town to the ground and shitting my pants with joy.
posted by nola at 8:07 PM on November 3, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by nola at 8:07 PM on November 3, 2008 [3 favorites]
How about if Obama wins, allow the IMG tag in one thread? That's change I can believe in.
posted by Diskeater at 8:10 PM on November 3, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by Diskeater at 8:10 PM on November 3, 2008 [4 favorites]
I was just curious about the administrivia of how a really, really big event is handled.
The same as all the other events. I can't think of an event that was so huge we've had to do something markedly different. A few times we've posted a hot topic on the sidebar [Karl Rove comes to mind] to let people know there was an open thread on the topic but we don't treat the election any differently than the Superbowl, the World Series, celeb obits, the Olympics or any other Big Event that gets a lot of attention but at the end of the day isn't going to make us suddenly free from fear or free from want. It's underwhelming at some level.
I know there are really big sites that are having real capacity load issues and whatnot during this election cycle, but we're lucky that the growth of this community has been steady but not crazy and we're just not seeing the need to do anything differently from how we've done it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:14 PM on November 3, 2008
The same as all the other events. I can't think of an event that was so huge we've had to do something markedly different. A few times we've posted a hot topic on the sidebar [Karl Rove comes to mind] to let people know there was an open thread on the topic but we don't treat the election any differently than the Superbowl, the World Series, celeb obits, the Olympics or any other Big Event that gets a lot of attention but at the end of the day isn't going to make us suddenly free from fear or free from want. It's underwhelming at some level.
I know there are really big sites that are having real capacity load issues and whatnot during this election cycle, but we're lucky that the growth of this community has been steady but not crazy and we're just not seeing the need to do anything differently from how we've done it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:14 PM on November 3, 2008
I have a little fantasy that, sometime between tonight and tomorrow, pb will have h4x0red up some temporary code that will make it impossible to make a post whose text or links contain the following words: Obama, McCain, Biden, Palin, president, election, elected, wins, win.
Any such would-be poster would get a big blinky warning. Something along the lines of: "We know. Everyone within the reach of an internet connection, telephone, TV, or radio knows. The people up in the Space Station know. It's all over the news everywhere in the world. The only people who don't know are desert nomads and isolated bushtribes. They can't read MetaFilter, though."
posted by CKmtl at 8:15 PM on November 3, 2008 [4 favorites]
Any such would-be poster would get a big blinky warning. Something along the lines of: "We know. Everyone within the reach of an internet connection, telephone, TV, or radio knows. The people up in the Space Station know. It's all over the news everywhere in the world. The only people who don't know are desert nomads and isolated bushtribes. They can't read MetaFilter, though."
posted by CKmtl at 8:15 PM on November 3, 2008 [4 favorites]
Any such would-be poster would get a big blinky warning.
Or just a script that replaces candidates' names: so if you try to post an "Obama wins!" thread it comes out as "McCain wins!"
...Hmm, now that I think about it, someone will probably post that anyway. Bah.
Maybe a script that substitutes random historical candidates: "Polk wins in a landslide over Jennings! Huzzah!"
posted by spiderwire at 8:18 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Or just a script that replaces candidates' names: so if you try to post an "Obama wins!" thread it comes out as "McCain wins!"
...Hmm, now that I think about it, someone will probably post that anyway. Bah.
Maybe a script that substitutes random historical candidates: "Polk wins in a landslide over Jennings! Huzzah!"
posted by spiderwire at 8:18 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Is there ever such a thing as an "open thread" on Metafilter? I have been here since 2006 and I don't recall ever seeing such a thing.
But Obama's imminent election seems like such a unique event that it seems appropriate to have a thread titled "Open 2008 U.S. presidential election thread" so that there's a clear place for us to post stuff during the day.
posted by jayder at 8:19 PM on November 3, 2008
But Obama's imminent election seems like such a unique event that it seems appropriate to have a thread titled "Open 2008 U.S. presidential election thread" so that there's a clear place for us to post stuff during the day.
posted by jayder at 8:19 PM on November 3, 2008
Maybe we should just have a script that replaces all politicians' names with "Kodos" or "Kang."
posted by spiderwire at 8:21 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by spiderwire at 8:21 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Warren Harding: Not So Black
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/magazine/06wwln-essay-t.html
posted by lukemeister at 8:23 PM on November 3, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/magazine/06wwln-essay-t.html
posted by lukemeister at 8:23 PM on November 3, 2008
oops, I should learn how to use html one of these days.
posted by lukemeister at 8:24 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by lukemeister at 8:24 PM on November 3, 2008
Dibs on the first "Christ, what an asshole" comment in the election winner thread.
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:30 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:30 PM on November 3, 2008
we will be popping champagne come wednesday morning because it will mean NO MORE FUCKING ELECTION THREADS
Unless multiple voting problems in multiple states make Florida 2000 look like a minor misunderstanding. Me, I'm not popping anything until I see a picture of the Big O propping his size 11 feet up on the desk in the Oval Office, and don't say he's not allowed to do it because this time I think it is MANDATORY.
Still, anything with a single link to the first news site that "calls it" should be extraordinarily deleted; sent to the cornfield; made un-visible even to "lofi" surfers like myself. In the words of Alton Brown, "you got to bring more to the table". And I want "Good Eats", not just some "30 Minute Mealy Mouth".
It's the only way this whole Presidential Campaign can.... [dare I say it] ....wendell.
posted by wendell at 8:32 PM on November 3, 2008 [3 favorites]
Unless multiple voting problems in multiple states make Florida 2000 look like a minor misunderstanding. Me, I'm not popping anything until I see a picture of the Big O propping his size 11 feet up on the desk in the Oval Office, and don't say he's not allowed to do it because this time I think it is MANDATORY.
Still, anything with a single link to the first news site that "calls it" should be extraordinarily deleted; sent to the cornfield; made un-visible even to "lofi" surfers like myself. In the words of Alton Brown, "you got to bring more to the table". And I want "Good Eats", not just some "30 Minute Mealy Mouth".
It's the only way this whole Presidential Campaign can.... [dare I say it] ....wendell.
posted by wendell at 8:32 PM on November 3, 2008 [3 favorites]
DEWEY WINS!!!!!
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:35 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:35 PM on November 3, 2008
Just out of curiousity, tomorrow, there's going to be about five million, four hundred thousand, six hundred fifty-two attempts to write a "first black President" FPP.
Wait a minute, Ron Paul's black?
posted by ob at 8:48 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
Wait a minute, Ron Paul's black?
posted by ob at 8:48 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
If this votes barackin' then posts'll come a knockin'
posted by drezdn at 9:05 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by drezdn at 9:05 PM on November 3, 2008
To put what Matt and Jess have said another way: our plan is basically to be paying red-alert levels of attention to the site but that's pretty much it. What happens tomorrow will happen, we're more concerned with keeping the site from exploding if something goes awry than with plotting a course.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:09 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:09 PM on November 3, 2008
Eideteker: Any "black president" FPP should be deleted, because Obama's biracial
But which president has been blacker? The answer is none. None more black.
posted by Kattullus at 9:09 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
But which president has been blacker? The answer is none. None more black.
posted by Kattullus at 9:09 PM on November 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
Wait, McCain's black?
posted by blue_beetle at 9:24 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by blue_beetle at 9:24 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
But which president has been blacker? The answer is none. None more black.
As long as we can avoid a shit sandwich tomorrow night, it doesn't matter.
posted by secret about box at 9:25 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
As long as we can avoid a shit sandwich tomorrow night, it doesn't matter.
posted by secret about box at 9:25 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Bitch may be the new black but black is the new president bitch!"
Sir Tracy Morgan Esq.
posted by Sailormom at 9:29 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Sir Tracy Morgan Esq.
posted by Sailormom at 9:29 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
You'll know the official election results thread when you see it.
It'll have these:
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:05 PM on November 3, 2008 [26 favorites]
It'll have these:
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:05 PM on November 3, 2008 [26 favorites]
At lunchtime tomorrow (Nov. 5th) it'll be 10 PM EST (Nov. 4th), and if it's in the bag for anyone it'll be in the bag for Obama. If it _isn't_ called by 10 PM EST, then I'm going to assume something very suspicious is going on in light of recent polls which have shown hardly any tightening in McCain's direction.
I have to stay at school until six, then I'm going to take pictures of newsstands and bookstores in my neighborhood to see the President Obama coverage in Korean dead-tree media.
Then I'm going to get fucking hammered with fellow ex-pats and celebrate the fact that America is back on track after an extended eight-year nightmare.
If Palin wins? I'll let my boss know he's got me for another four years if he'd like. And I'll go home and go to bed.
Either way, tears will be shed.
posted by bardic at 10:35 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
I have to stay at school until six, then I'm going to take pictures of newsstands and bookstores in my neighborhood to see the President Obama coverage in Korean dead-tree media.
Then I'm going to get fucking hammered with fellow ex-pats and celebrate the fact that America is back on track after an extended eight-year nightmare.
If Palin wins? I'll let my boss know he's got me for another four years if he'd like. And I'll go home and go to bed.
Either way, tears will be shed.
posted by bardic at 10:35 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Obama's October Surprise?
From the genius mind of Tim Kreider
posted by jtron at 10:44 PM on November 3, 2008
From the genius mind of Tim Kreider
posted by jtron at 10:44 PM on November 3, 2008
Could we side-bar the Dixville Notch thread and call that the open-election-day thread?
posted by marsha56 at 11:06 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by marsha56 at 11:06 PM on November 3, 2008
I got to use my sirens! woohoo!
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:21 PM on November 3, 2008 [7 favorites]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:21 PM on November 3, 2008 [7 favorites]
And yeah, I sort of made that the official in-progress election day thread in the sidebar.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:23 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:23 PM on November 3, 2008
Yaaayyyy!!!
Thanks mathowie. I'm the idiot who flagged the Dixville notch thread. I didn't know the proper way to ask for it to be side-barred. I promise not to flag again.
posted by marsha56 at 11:27 PM on November 3, 2008
Thanks mathowie. I'm the idiot who flagged the Dixville notch thread. I didn't know the proper way to ask for it to be side-barred. I promise not to flag again.
posted by marsha56 at 11:27 PM on November 3, 2008
It warms the heart to see our leader has posted images (sniffle)
posted by Cranberry at 11:37 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by Cranberry at 11:37 PM on November 3, 2008
Dibs on the first "Christ, what an asshole" comment in the election winner thread.
Dibs on "this will wendell".
posted by DreamerFi at 11:47 PM on November 3, 2008
Dibs on "this will wendell".
posted by DreamerFi at 11:47 PM on November 3, 2008
After all, the fat lady hasn't sung yet.
Oh yeah. Anyone who thinks this is a lock is kidding themselves.
posted by dg at 11:55 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah. Anyone who thinks this is a lock is kidding themselves.
posted by dg at 11:55 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Can we not all get back the British model of participatory democracy please?
Dutifully and joylessly trudging to primary schools and village halls the nation over; polling card in hand to stand numbed and slack-jawed in line with all the other schmucks, like some assembly line worker pulling at the lever of his lathe or a middle aged, middle Englander slipping his length to the wife he stopped loving decades ago?
That's democracy. What you're experiencing over there is more akin to waking up before a long anticipated party when you're 17 and you know that she's going to be there or, after having searched high and low for your car-keys and running tragically, dangerously to save a beloved Aunt from dying from diabetic shock, you realise that the keys were in your pocket all along!
posted by Jofus at 2:42 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Dutifully and joylessly trudging to primary schools and village halls the nation over; polling card in hand to stand numbed and slack-jawed in line with all the other schmucks, like some assembly line worker pulling at the lever of his lathe or a middle aged, middle Englander slipping his length to the wife he stopped loving decades ago?
That's democracy. What you're experiencing over there is more akin to waking up before a long anticipated party when you're 17 and you know that she's going to be there or, after having searched high and low for your car-keys and running tragically, dangerously to save a beloved Aunt from dying from diabetic shock, you realise that the keys were in your pocket all along!
posted by Jofus at 2:42 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
mariah carey would like you to know she does not to stand up for anyone except herself and only that with the help of five underpaid assistants. she is also far too lazy to take part in any kind of ganglife beyond gratuitous posing.
Mariah has employed me to throw a couple of gang-signs on her behalf at this stage in the discussion.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:09 AM on November 4, 2008
Mariah has employed me to throw a couple of gang-signs on her behalf at this stage in the discussion.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:09 AM on November 4, 2008
I'll be away from the internerds and any real form of communication with the outside world all day.
In a way, I suppose I should be grateful, but damn. Two year olds just don't want to talk about the election! Obama, oshmama, VOTE ELMO.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:51 AM on November 4, 2008
In a way, I suppose I should be grateful, but damn. Two year olds just don't want to talk about the election! Obama, oshmama, VOTE ELMO.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:51 AM on November 4, 2008
I have dibs on posting Living Colour's "Cult of Personality" when Obama wins.
As I've said before, though. Call him what you want. We still know he's one of our own. And I think many multiracial folks will agree that their experience is different enough from the "black experience" or the "white experience" growing up for us to count as "our own thang." But hey, negroes in the white house! Let's repaint that sucker so it's the Red, Black, and Green House, son!
posted by Eideteker at 4:17 AM on November 4, 2008
As I've said before, though. Call him what you want. We still know he's one of our own. And I think many multiracial folks will agree that their experience is different enough from the "black experience" or the "white experience" growing up for us to count as "our own thang." But hey, negroes in the white house! Let's repaint that sucker so it's the Red, Black, and Green House, son!
posted by Eideteker at 4:17 AM on November 4, 2008
Fried chicken in every house and 22s on every car in the garage!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:23 AM on November 4, 2008
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:23 AM on November 4, 2008
Or just a script that replaces candidates' names: so if you try to post an "Obama wins!" thread it comes out as "McCain wins!"
Are Diebold machines powerful enough to run Metafilter in these high-traffic times?
posted by inigo2 at 4:42 AM on November 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
Are Diebold machines powerful enough to run Metafilter in these high-traffic times?
posted by inigo2 at 4:42 AM on November 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
the only appropriate response is to get out of the house & run naked in the streets, drunk, with a big ass "O" painted across your chest.
don't forget to mug, assault, and then scratch a backwards B on the faces of any mccain supporters you find skulking about near ATM machines.
it's the dyslexia that makes us angry.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:01 AM on November 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
don't forget to mug, assault, and then scratch a backwards B on the faces of any mccain supporters you find skulking about near ATM machines.
it's the dyslexia that makes us angry.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:01 AM on November 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
post title: "Black is the new President"
posted by DU at 6:19 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by DU at 6:19 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
I didn't know the proper way to ask for it to be side-barred. I promise not to flag again.
It's fine. Generally speaking the "fantastic post" thread is the way to nudge us to sidebar something but we're wtching aggregate flag counts mostly [except in AskMe, and except for things that need to be repaired] so don't worry much about an errant flag anyplace.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:35 AM on November 4, 2008
It's fine. Generally speaking the "fantastic post" thread is the way to nudge us to sidebar something but we're wtching aggregate flag counts mostly [except in AskMe, and except for things that need to be repaired] so don't worry much about an errant flag anyplace.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:35 AM on November 4, 2008
Can we just have a single-image 4chan link to a
posted by adipocere at 6:37 AM on November 4, 2008
.jpg of a sad-looking McCain, with "FAIL" written across it in white Impact (with black outline)? I'm sure the image will appear there shortly, and won't vanish for days.posted by adipocere at 6:37 AM on November 4, 2008
Can we just have a single-image 4chan link to a .jpg of a sad-looking McCain, with "FAIL" written across it in white Impact
Site guideline is that gleeful "in yo face" behavior actually isn't useful to creating a better tomorrow. So, no.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:08 AM on November 4, 2008
Site guideline is that gleeful "in yo face" behavior actually isn't useful to creating a better tomorrow. So, no.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:08 AM on November 4, 2008
I'm not really a champagne guy so I'm chilling a nice 22 oz Racer 5 IPA for later. Beer and voting, perfect together.
posted by fixedgear at 7:23 AM on November 4, 2008
posted by fixedgear at 7:23 AM on November 4, 2008
"anticipatory spazzitude"
There's a pill that will fix that....
posted by HuronBob at 7:56 AM on November 4, 2008
There's a pill that will fix that....
posted by HuronBob at 7:56 AM on November 4, 2008
Y'all are going to jinx this.
posted by Evangeline at 8:00 AM on November 4, 2008
posted by Evangeline at 8:00 AM on November 4, 2008
James Brown is black?
Well, these days he's more of greyish color, but his hair still looks fablous.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:10 AM on November 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
Well, these days he's more of greyish color, but his hair still looks fablous.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:10 AM on November 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
I always thought that PoliticalFilter was a facetious reference to "not here, please". Thanks to this thread I now realize that it's AN ENTIRE OTHER SITE. Who knew!
posted by crysflame at 9:00 AM on November 4, 2008
posted by crysflame at 9:00 AM on November 4, 2008
'I always thought that PoliticalFilter was a facetious reference to "not here, please". Thanks to this thread I now realize that it's AN ENTIRE OTHER SITE. Who knew!'
Well, first it was one, then it was the other.
posted by Eideteker at 9:25 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Well, first it was one, then it was the other.
posted by Eideteker at 9:25 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Are we being extraordinarily well behaved so far today, or have the mods taken my advice to have offending threads "extraordinarily deleted; sent to the cornfield; made un-visible even to "lofi" surfers like myself"??
And I have no objections to an ultimate merger between the following two MetaMemes: "SURELY THIS... will wendell."
And matt, about your images... I never thought you were the kind to hold a drudge.
posted by wendell at 11:30 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
And I have no objections to an ultimate merger between the following two MetaMemes: "SURELY THIS... will wendell."
And matt, about your images... I never thought you were the kind to hold a drudge.
posted by wendell at 11:30 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Folks on the site have by and large been very good so far today, and we thank y'all for that.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:38 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:38 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Folks on the site have by and large been very good so far today, and we thank y'all for that.
Ditto. Thank you.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:54 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Ditto. Thank you.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:54 AM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
If looked like a McCain victory or looked close, ya'll would probably be ready to tear your hair out by the time the first polls closed.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:56 AM on November 4, 2008
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:56 AM on November 4, 2008
I will not rest until we elect our first Blackula President.
posted by The Whelk at 12:43 PM on November 4, 2008
posted by The Whelk at 12:43 PM on November 4, 2008
ok, so which UK MeFite took matteo's suggestion to heart? 'cause you forgot the "O" ;)
posted by romakimmy at 5:13 AM on November 5, 2008
posted by romakimmy at 5:13 AM on November 5, 2008
You mean that's not matteo? That's sort of how he's always looked in my mind's eye.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:35 AM on November 5, 2008
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:35 AM on November 5, 2008
from the lone meetup picture of matteo that I remember, he is a much better looking (IMO) Milanese gentleman than the enthusiastic UK whippersnapper pictured.
posted by romakimmy at 6:14 AM on November 5, 2008
posted by romakimmy at 6:14 AM on November 5, 2008
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Eideteker at 7:02 PM on November 3, 2008 [18 favorites]