Does "Christ, what an asshole" count as an "In Joke"?

December 4, 2008 8:22 AM

Does "Christ, what an asshole" count as an "In Joke"?

Someone posted that comment - not about me, I hope - in my last thread. And when I saw it again in a thread from today, I teasingly called it a "double". Then I belatedly realized that it's something of a tradition. [Apparently, I am not aware of all Internet traditions.]

I hadn't thought to check the In Jokes page on the MeFi Wiki first. But it any case, it's not there. I know I can add it myself. But before taking action, I thought I'd do a spot poll to see whether people think it belongs there.

posted by Joe Beese to Etiquette/Policy at 8:22 AM (231 comments total)

It's an injoke, if not a particularly vibrant one, yeah. From here; certainly not exclusive to metafilter, either, but probably visible enough here at this point to qualify for wikification.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:25 AM on December 4, 2008

It's only an in joke if it's specific to Metafilter, which it's not.
posted by wfrgms at 8:26 AM on December 4, 2008

There's a user with that as his/her handle if I'm not mistaken.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:27 AM on December 4, 2008

Christ, what an ill-informed netizen.
posted by DU at 8:30 AM on December 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

There's a user with that as his/her handle if I'm not mistaken.

Yep.

It's only an in joke if it's specific to Metafilter, which it's not.

Grey areas, here. I wouldn't call "tl;dr" a mefi injoke, certainly—it's use here is basically vanilla. "CWAA" has taken on a degree of local currency, though, I think, so that including it seems reasonable though with a note that it's not specific too or originating from mefi.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:32 AM on December 4, 2008

(See also "Is this something I'd need an x to understand..." comments; the line is very much not specific to metafilter, but it has been a part of the metafilter context for long enough that it is invoked and referred to and played with in a meta sense to a degree that justifies in my view the notion that we have made it ours somewhat. Meme and injoke ownership is not a zero-sum game.)
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:34 AM on December 4, 2008

"Ass, what a Christhole" is; however, Mefi specific.
posted by ND¢ at 8:36 AM on December 4, 2008

Grey areas, here. I wouldn't call "tl;dr" a mefi injoke, certainly—it's use here is basically vanilla. "CWAA" has taken on a degree of local currency, though, I think, so that including it seems reasonable though with a note that it's not specific too or originating from mefi.

With that logic, I could claim that the word "the" has taken local currency. Christ what an asshole originated pre-metafilter and is no way, shape or form, anywhere near the legitimacy of, say "We have cameras" or "Administrator please hope me".
posted by Stynxno at 8:37 AM on December 4, 2008

Maybe change the title of the wiki from "In-jokes" to "Things people say on this site that don't make sense unless you realize that it is a reference to something."
posted by ND¢ at 8:43 AM on December 4, 2008 [7 favorites]

Like how all of our profile pictures are pictures of us holding guns. If you didn't know the origin of that then it might seem kind of creepy.
posted by ND¢ at 8:45 AM on December 4, 2008 [12 favorites]

It would be a pretty dumb claim with apparently nothing to support it, but yes, go crazy. I'm not suggesting CWAA has the same legitimacy and pureness of mefi-born-and-raised injokes, but it has more going for it than "the".

If your argument is that the bar for a wiki mention, even with qualification, should be higher, I can dig it but I respectfully disagree. It turns out that we have some extra wiki sitting around and it's not a big resource issue.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:45 AM on December 4, 2008

I suggest adding "HI I'M FROM METAFILTER AND I COULD OVERTHINK THE LEGITIMACY AND APPROPRIATENESS OF A PLATE OF BEANS"
posted by DU at 8:47 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

yo dawg, we heard you like wikis, so we put a wiki in your wiki so you can wiki while you wiki
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:48 AM on December 4, 2008 [18 favorites]

the
posted by mullacc at 8:49 AM on December 4, 2008 [8 favorites]

I'm sick of trying to start in-jokes on this site and having it not work and THAT'S IT YOU ASSHOLES I AM OUT OF HERE.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:51 AM on December 4, 2008

I'm back.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:52 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Say it once, it's funny. Say it twice, it's silly. Say it three times and that's a spanking.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:53 AM on December 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

Did someone say wiki wiki?
posted by ND¢ at 8:53 AM on December 4, 2008

Also, if you'll excuse me, I have a best post in December contest to go win with that link.
posted by ND¢ at 8:55 AM on December 4, 2008

cortex said: "yo dawg, we heard you like wikis, so we put a wiki in your wiki so you can wiki while you wiki"

And tell me if this would ever be allowed in AskMe...
posted by booticon at 8:56 AM on December 4, 2008

Christ.... What an Asshole!
posted by Mastercheddaar at 8:56 AM on December 4, 2008

Is "Joe Beese" a transparent sock puppet playing out his dumb-schtick?
posted by Rumple at 9:02 AM on December 4, 2008

No one would notice
He had what they call
passing complexion
posted by Burhanistan at 9:07 AM on December 4, 2008

Joe's just a regular guy.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:11 AM on December 4, 2008

Is "Joe Beese" a transparent sock puppet playing out his dumb-schtick?

I forget. Can you tell me who I really am?
posted by Joe Beese at 9:12 AM on December 4, 2008

Wasn't it paphnuty who started the whole "holding a gun in your profile picture" thing?

And whatever happened to him, anyway?
posted by yhbc at 9:15 AM on December 4, 2008

Rumple wrote: Is "Joe Beese" a transparent sock puppet playing out his dumb-schtick?

That's what I thought, too.
posted by a little headband I put around my throat at 9:17 AM on December 4, 2008

I am a sweetheart
I am a prom queen
I am some puppies
posted by Burhanistan at 9:19 AM on December 4, 2008

Hi, I'm Joe Beese.

What chance does a returning deceased war veteran have for that good paying job, more sugar, and the free mule you've been dreaming of? Well, think it over. Then take off your shoes.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 9:22 AM on December 4, 2008 [5 favorites]

That's what I thought, too.

Yeesh.

Well, if you consider it evidence one way or the other, I've got about 6,000 posts over at Daily Kos under my "nom de Net".
posted by Joe Beese at 9:23 AM on December 4, 2008

Call the police
posted by Paphnuty at 9:23 AM on December 4, 2008 [4 favorites]

The Emperor makes his rounds, Master of all Cats
Fat in the Midwest, Emperor rolls his little balls -- Catland
Says hi to his pal Walter, for all that smoking in the backyard
The neighbors do not understand, he's an aberration
Even makes a funny noise
He plays great hunter with a ball-point pen
When the cat's away, ah, it's a regular rat day
When the rat's away, ah, King Cat, King Cat can play day
I jump around with my wang in the wind
It flops around, you admired it
I am your neighbor now
You can't stop me now
In exchange??, I will even run a mm mm mm??
If not, then all I want is something else
You will ask them for me
In exchange, I'll piss on everything you value
I am the Emperor of Cats
I do what I want now, cats
I do what I want now, cats
I shit outside if I want to
All a part of my, ow, kitty empire
posted by Burhanistan at 9:24 AM on December 4, 2008

Well, if you consider it evidence one way or the other, I've got about 6,000 posts over at Daily Kos under my "nom de Net".

Which only goes to show how deep the conspiracy runs, really. Christ, what an... ah, forget it. Hang on, Paphnuty!
posted by chinston at 9:29 AM on December 4, 2008

With that logic, I could claim that the word "the" has taken local currency.

except that "the" is not a joke (yet).
posted by shmegegge at 9:31 AM on December 4, 2008

Personally, I can't afford the luxury of "Christ, what an asshole." I usually have to settle for the off-brand, "Jesus, what an asshat." Half the price, 3/4th of the quality.
posted by piratebowling at 9:32 AM on December 4, 2008 [8 favorites]

the?
posted by cgc373 at 9:32 AM on December 4, 2008

Another inside joke that might apply here: LURK MOAR
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 9:33 AM on December 4, 2008

Also: POST ON DAILY KOS LESS
posted by ND¢ at 9:35 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

except that "the" is not a joke (yet).

Just because you have no sense of humor...
posted by Joe Beese at 9:36 AM on December 4, 2008

I forget. Can you tell me who I really am?

I've narrowed it down to a dozen of the regular manipulators. So yeah, you're "one of them".
posted by Rumple at 9:40 AM on December 4, 2008

HURF DURF IN-JOKE MAKER
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 9:40 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

what
posted by ardgedee at 9:41 AM on December 4, 2008

Good in-jokes should be weird and not easy to confuse with a real comment. Like "we have cameras" is good because it's probably not going to get a response of "huh? I don't have a camera."

So this fails that test.
posted by smackfu at 9:42 AM on December 4, 2008

So yeah, you're "one of them".

You asked for it.
posted by Joe Beese at 9:42 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

It was a triumph...
posted by BeerFilter at 9:47 AM on December 4, 2008

It's an injoke, if not a particularly vibrant one, yeah.
posted by cortex at 7:25 AM

This injoke, it vibrates?
posted by boo_radley at 9:51 AM on December 4, 2008 [5 favorites]

Christ, what an in joke.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:52 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

What about tired in-jokes that have fallen out of favour?

Thanks,
GuyZero
posted by GuyZero at 9:57 AM on December 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

6,000 posts at Daily Kos equals approximately 1/2 a post at Metafilter. There's a formula but I can't find it now.
posted by gman at 9:57 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

What about tired in-jokes that have fallen out of favour?

GuyZero's profile
Location: Sunnyvale, CA

You got a license to be using British spelling, son?
posted by Joe Beese at 9:58 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I think you mean Canadian spelling.

And cripes, it's a profile, not a resume. Stalk much?
posted by GuyZero at 10:00 AM on December 4, 2008

Yeah, he took an exam and everything. Ploughed through it in record time.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:02 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Stalk much?

Only when in sock-puppet mode.
posted by Joe Beese at 10:04 AM on December 4, 2008

We're supposed to be holding guns in our profile pictures? Why didn't anyone tell me?
posted by bondcliff at 10:06 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I am, however, not nearly as on-point with en-CA as MeFi's own Joe Clark.
posted by GuyZero at 10:07 AM on December 4, 2008

Nice use of the word plough once again, cortex.
posted by gman at 10:10 AM on December 4, 2008

Don't feed the disingenuous troll
posted by Rumple at 10:14 AM on December 4, 2008

I'm holding my weiner. Both in my profile picture and otherwise.
posted by Mister_A at 10:14 AM on December 4, 2008

Don't feed the disingenuous troll

I hereby request that we prorogue this thread.
posted by GuyZero at 10:16 AM on December 4, 2008 [6 favorites]

This is not the name for yourself that you're looking for.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:17 AM on December 4, 2008

Changed my profile picture to avoid being called out by some agro MeFite who has a problem with those who don't conform.
posted by gman at 10:18 AM on December 4, 2008

What's a paphnuty?
posted by Rock Steady at 10:27 AM on December 4, 2008

This is not the name for yourself that you're looking for.

sigh...

I'd ask if MeFi has been so frequently victimized that the kind of paranoia exhibited in this thread is common - but no doubt it would be interpreted as "dumb-shtick". So instead I'll just encourage you to flag my shit - or do whatever you feel you've got to do - because insults alone aren't going to make me walk away from my five-buck investment.
posted by Joe Beese at 10:29 AM on December 4, 2008

How is that paranoia? You're making a big ass of yourself.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:30 AM on December 4, 2008

Metafilter: so frequently victimized that the kind of paranoia exhibited in this thread is common.

hmm, or maybe just

Metafilter: paranoia.

Hey, an in joke!
posted by chinston at 10:33 AM on December 4, 2008

Metafilter: insults alone aren't going to make me walk away from my five-buck investment.
posted by gnome de plume at 10:35 AM on December 4, 2008 [18 favorites]

How is that paranoia?

I assume that's a rhetorical question. But what the hell...

It's paranoia because between two possiblities - 1) I'm a noob who's perhaps over-cautious in acclimating to a site with a rowdy reputation; 2) I'm a transparent sock-puppet/attention-whore - people seem to have instantly decided it's the second on what seems to me no evidence whatsoever.
posted by Joe Beese at 10:36 AM on December 4, 2008

chinston - Your profile picture of one kid holding a gun to the other's head, one-ups us all.
posted by gman at 10:38 AM on December 4, 2008

It's obviously number one. If you were a sock puppet this would probably be more entertaining.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:40 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Joe Beese -

Welcome to Metafilter. May I suggest you chill out a little? New users who come on too strong tend to raise hackles. No one likes raised hackles.
posted by Bookhouse at 10:42 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

It's obviously number one. If you were a sock puppet this would probably be more entertaining.

I'm glad I've persuaded you. So please don't let me detain you on your way to more entertaining destinations.
posted by Joe Beese at 10:42 AM on December 4, 2008

The cane in my profie pic contains a gun hidden inside. Also, there's another hidden in my hat.

Also, what's this about a rowdy reputation? I thought we were a bastion of civility?
posted by owtytrof at 10:42 AM on December 4, 2008

Protip for Joe Beese: People will take you more seriously if you have a gun picture in your profile.
posted by found missing at 10:45 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

May I suggest you chill out a little? New users who come on too strong tend to raise hackles. No one likes raised hackles.

Is there a "they started it" tag or something? :-)

Asking for a group endorsement before editing a wiki doesn't meet my definition of "coming on too strong", to be perfectly honest. And hackle-raising cuts both ways.
posted by Joe Beese at 10:46 AM on December 4, 2008

people seem to have instantly decided it's the second on what seems to me no evidence whatsoever.

It's probably because you've been trying to equal your Daily Kos comment count in three days flat, and appear to be au fait with several other injokes.
posted by a little headband I put around my throat at 10:49 AM on December 4, 2008

Joe, I think there's an overactive immune system playing into the reaction you're getting, yeah. As far as I can tell you're just a new person, and, you know, welcome to the this great big weird family and its attendant quirks and hangups.

One of those hangups is a degree of paranoia toward folks who show up out of the blue and come on strong. You've been really unusually active in your short time on the site, and you've been for lack of a kinder word kind of a loudmouth in that short time. That's consistent with some of the shitty behavior we've seen in the past from folks, and it gets people on edge accordingly.

The thing is, I have the advantage of more behind-the-scenes info to work with on the sockpuppet question than a normal user, so most folks don't have as much evidence, or any, that you're not some agitator redux back for another round. So I can say, hey, I'm pretty sure you're the long-time-lurker-first-time-caller guy you say you are, and maybe this help settle the question down some, but the skepticism is pretty understandable in context.

My recommendation is that you throttle back a little and ease into the community more gently than you have been. Read more and comment less for a while, maybe, and try to soak up some of the feel of the place a bit more. I think you'll draw less flak and get off on a much better foot that way, honestly.

What's a paphnuty?

Twenty bucks, same as in gulag.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:50 AM on December 4, 2008 [4 favorites]

It took like forever to get them to hold that pose.
posted by chinston at 10:52 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

isn't there a greasemonkey script that lets you ignore people? paging Plutor...
posted by desjardins at 10:55 AM on December 4, 2008

Every time I see, "Christ, what an asshole," I think of Jesus Christ making bunny ears behind someone's head.
posted by FunkyHelix at 11:00 AM on December 4, 2008 [4 favorites]

Read more and comment less for a while, maybe

Interesting. The idea of a velocity-limit didn't occur to me as an etiquette consideration.

Given that my "Favorited by others" is running ahead of "MeFi comments" [this thread excepted] - and my whopping 2 threads to date have been favorited an average of 10 times a piece - I like to think that I've been pulling my weight so far.

But I thank you for constructive criticism.
posted by Joe Beese at 11:00 AM on December 4, 2008

So young to be a favo[u]rite whore... such innocence... defiled.

Also, to get this back to which recurrent jokes are "in" and which ones are simply manifestations of the greater int3rw3b, is "You know who else X Y Z?" just here? Because you know who else like cracking in-jokes?
posted by GuyZero at 11:08 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

This thread is over 30 comments old, and has been closed for archival purposes.
posted by gman at 11:08 AM on December 4, 2008

Given that my "Favorited by others" is running ahead of "MeFi comments" [this thread excepted] - and my whopping 2 threads to date have been favorited an average of 10 times a piece - I like to think that I've been pulling my weight so far.

These are questionable metrics in general, but be aware that dragging them out to explain why everybody else is wrong about whether or not you're coming on too strong is an especially bad idea. That may not have been how you meant it, but that's kind of how it reads.

I've liked both of your posts so far, for what it's worth. Chilling out on the commenting somewhat doesn't necessarily mean not making interesting posts, so don't conflate the two.

Asking for a group endorsement before editing a wiki doesn't meet my definition of "coming on too strong", to be perfectly honest.

I don't think much of anybody was thinking primarily of this thread. It's certainly not what I was talking about.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:08 AM on December 4, 2008

So young to be a favo[u]rite whore

Only in MeFi years. :-) Kos turned me out long ago.
posted by Joe Beese at 11:09 AM on December 4, 2008

2) I'm a transparent sock-puppet/attention-whore - people seem to have instantly decided it's the second on what seems to me no evidence whatsoever.

You're probably not one, maybe you are (don't really have any position on this, myself) but perhaps some regulars have seen what they would call your "shtick" before, namely from other infamous trolls who continue to plague this site with their own tiresome shtick.

On preview, what cortex said.

shtick shtick shtick
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:10 AM on December 4, 2008

GuyZero: not just us, no.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:11 AM on December 4, 2008

shoop da woop
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 11:13 AM on December 4, 2008

Given that my "Favorited by others" is running ahead of "MeFi comments" [this thread excepted] - and my whopping 2 threads to date have been favorited an average of 10 times a piece - I like to think that I've been pulling my weight so far.

Hi, welcome to your orientation, my name's Alvy. First off, Favorites don't mean shit.



Uh, that's pretty much it. Have fun.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:18 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Yeah, but does it count if the implied answer isn't Hitler? I mean, when "Cosmodrome" asks You know who else is kinda bangin? I don't think their rhetorical answer is "HITLER!!!".
posted by GuyZero at 11:18 AM on December 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

FYI Hitler is pretty bangin'.

There's noise in those results—it's not an unlikely phrase to use in general—but there's definitely some Snowclone Hitler action going on if you look.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:20 AM on December 4, 2008

I don't like how you people throw around the word 'shtick' like you're in my tribe. I'm starting a thread.
posted by gman at 11:21 AM on December 4, 2008

Metafilter: Read more and comment less
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 11:25 AM on December 4, 2008

be aware that dragging them out to explain why everybody else is wrong about whether or not you're coming on too strong is an especially bad idea

It makes me wish there were negative favorites, to be honest.
posted by smackfu at 11:30 AM on December 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

Life: Read more and comment less
posted by inigo2 at 11:33 AM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Asking for a group endorsement before editing a wiki doesn't meet my definition of "coming on too strong", to be perfectly honest.

Take it from this n00b: editing the wiki in your second week is pretty presumptive.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 11:46 AM on December 4, 2008

Zippity bop!
posted by languagehat at 11:49 AM on December 4, 2008 [4 favorites]

In the USA, isn't it spelled plogh?
posted by blue_beetle at 12:00 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I don't like how you people throw around the word 'shtick' like you're in my tribe. I'm starting a thread.

Don't be shticky.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:00 PM on December 4, 2008

With that logic, I could claim that the word "the" has taken local currency. Christ what an asshole originated pre-metafilter and is no way, shape or form, anywhere near the legitimacy of, say "We have cameras" or "Administrator please hope me".

The problem with that hyperbole is that when people use the word "the", they aren't making implied references to previous uses of the word. That, in fact, is the key characteristic of an in-joke: a shared second meaning that isn't obvious to a typical outside observer (although not necessaily all outsiders). There are plenty of MetaFilter in-jokes that originated elsewere. "HURF DURF" predates its first use on AskMe by at least four years, and cortex's tretise on the subject suggests the entire phrase may be more than 10 years old. "[this is good]" is at this point a dying in-joke, but it was a reference to [REDACTED -Ed]. Even more broadly, "ponies" as requests is probably the in-joke with the oldest origins.
posted by Plutor at 12:01 PM on December 4, 2008

I don't like how you people throw around the word 'shtick' like you're in my tribe

It certainly takes chutzpah.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:15 PM on December 4, 2008

Read all of Greg Nog's comments, learn to faithfully imitate them, and then post with élan. It'll be great, trust me. Better yet, let that go for the rest of youse, too.
posted by cowbellemoo at 12:18 PM on December 4, 2008

I for one welcome our new in-joke-slinging overlords.
posted by BigLankyBastard at 12:19 PM on December 4, 2008

Aw MeTa drama. Thanks - it's been a slow work day.
posted by lunit at 12:20 PM on December 4, 2008

The thing is, Joe, normally overly cautious newbies with a passing awareness of MeFi's "rowdy reputation" are wary of the whole elitist community thing that sometimes permeates this entire site, and prefer staying in the background to observe the dynamic of the community, rather than strong-arm themselves into the inner circle, as you seem to be doing. You may have the best of intentions, but the general atmosphere of commenting on MeFi is entirely different from the atmosphere at other forums, and if you've been lurking for a long time and now hold a genuine desire to be part of this community, I kind of feel like your tone would be a bit different.

I follow MeFi via RSS feeds, so I do end up skimming a good portion of the threads that get posted, and in pretty much every thread I've read in the past week or so you've commented within the first couple of comments with lots and lots of follow up comments. It feels a lot like editorializing/thread monitoring, and that combined with your very defensive "There's nothing wrong with the way I have been interacting with the community despite what the community is telling me and you're all just paranoid" in this thread just comes off as very alienating.

I'd say that a part of what makes MeFi so awesome is that the people on here are worth respecting, and in exchange you want to be respected by them. You're kind of acting like other people's opinions aren't worth your time, which doesn't play too nicely with the whole point of a community, eh?

But hey, welcome to MeFi. Hope you find your place.
posted by Phire at 12:24 PM on December 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

See, this is my problem. I only tell out-jokes.
posted by never used baby shoes at 12:33 PM on December 4, 2008

lurk moar
posted by infinitewindow at 12:33 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

fish/pants.
posted by Sailormom at 12:33 PM on December 4, 2008

What's Brown and schticky? A Schtick! The.

Also, Joe, don't worry about it too much. I've been fairly active on this site for a few years now, and have always had a nagging curiosity about where CWAA came from as well. I also get your desire to understand all the nuances of the culture here right off the bat, but there's two problems with that.

(1) The nuances are just that - nuanced. They take a little while to get used to.

(2) They aren't very important at all.

You've made a couple of good posts in your short time here, and commented a lot, which I personally don't take any umbrage to. My suggestion to you would be to not worry with trying to make any of the in-jokes for a while, or at least not with your current frequency, and just focus on sincerity and originality. Make your own jokes.

Also, fuck the haters. Navelgazer
posted by Navelgazer at 12:42 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

You know how IRL, sometimes people will show up, noisily join a conversation, drop a bunch of in-jokes, and then when the wander off to refill their drink, everyone looks around saying "who was that person? Where the hell did they come from?" And other times, a person shows up, listens for a while, makes a few thoughtful comments, and then listens some more, and eventually people introduce themselves, and everything is cool?

That happens here too.
posted by oneirodynia at 12:42 PM on December 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

welcome to MeFi. Hope you find your place.

Thanks for the encouragement.

No question I've been commenting promptly in any thread where I felt I had something marginally amusing to say - though to the best of my recollection, this is the only thread where I've been what I would consider a conspicuous presence. If people interpret that as "strong-arming into the inner circle", I honestly think that says more about them than it does about me. But contrary to suspicion, pissing people off really isn't my agenda - so I'm content to say "Uh, OK - whatever" and dial it back.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:43 PM on December 4, 2008

Not very often.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:44 PM on December 4, 2008

Joe Beese: Does "Christ, what an asshole" count as an "In Joke"?

That was my comment! Yay! No, you are not an asshole (that I know of)... I was referring to any of the characters in that hellish clip you posted.

The first time I saw the phrase "Christ, what an asshole," it referred to (IIRC) how you could replace any caption of any New Yorker cartoon with those words and it'd make the cartoon funnier.

When I arrived at MeFi, I noticed the phrase popped up a lot here. It made me laugh. Although I think it's the first time I used that comment myself.

Welcome aboard, Joe.
posted by not_on_display at 12:46 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

No, you are not an asshole (that I know of)

The jury appears to be still out. :-(
posted by Joe Beese at 12:48 PM on December 4, 2008

MetaTalk: other people's opinions aren't worth your time.
posted by ersatz at 12:52 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

No question I've been commenting promptly in any thread where I felt I had something marginally amusing to say

When I first joined a year ago I did basically the same think in AskMe. I would answer any question that I could say something marginally helpful in. Eventually I learned that I should tone it down and answer less. It's less about some imaginary "inner circle" and more about keeping your signal to noise ratio high.

I do post a lot of jokes around here though, so I might not be the best person to give advice on that kind of thing.
posted by burnmp3s at 12:54 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Joe Beese: The jury appears to be still out. :-(

FUCKK THE JURY AMIRITE? METALATK CAN KI$$ MY A$$! AHHH DO WHAT AHHH WAN!
posted by not_on_display at 12:57 PM on December 4, 2008

The only good defense in MetaTalk is to walk away and let your proxies duel it out.
posted by smackfu at 1:04 PM on December 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

though to the best of my recollection, this is the only thread where I've been what I would consider a conspicuous presence.

Well, here there's a couple of things to say. First, you may be surprised at how much folks who are regulars here notice site behavior in aggregate. You've been a very conspicuous presence in your presence in so many threads, even if it's usually just a comment or two in any given thread. This is a big place, but not so big that new folks wandering in don't stand out when they're, well, conspicuously new. Commenting, commenting, commenting right out of the gate catches a person's eye.

Second, that you've had a kind of consistent mode in your comments. Many—not all, but glancing back through your comment history I think "most" is fair—have been to the short-and-punchy side, which are going to stand out in folks' minds. See also the point made above about trotting out existing site references: new name + old joke = "what's going on here?" to regulars, even as just a passing thought.

So you may not have been trying to be conspicuous, but, yes, you've been pretty conspicuous. New site culture, commenting is a whole new world from lurking, etc—no harm done in making your way through the adjustment period in a new place, so I want to be clear that I'm detailing this to try and help you understand where people are coming from, not just to give you a hard time. But things like this:

If people interpret that as "strong-arming into the inner circle", I honestly think that says more about them than it does about me.

aren't great. You're getting criticism, and I know that can suck, but please don't lapse so quickly into fighty "no YOU'RE the one with the problem" rhetorical crap. The site has enough of that already.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:12 PM on December 4, 2008

No, cortex, YOUR site has enough of that already! Wait...
posted by Navelgazer at 1:16 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'd say now that you're full-time, cortex, you're actually the one with (a lot of) the problem(s)!
posted by not_on_display at 1:18 PM on December 4, 2008

I just like posting non sequitur video links.
posted by Burhanistan at 1:21 PM on December 4, 2008

So you may not have been trying to be conspicuous, but, yes, you've been pretty conspicuous.

Without getting too personal, suffice it to say that this observation hits all kinds of home.

I am officially retiring from this thread to go think for a while.
posted by Joe Beese at 1:22 PM on December 4, 2008

There is no inner circle.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:23 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

And sometimes the occasional Non video link.
posted by Burhanistan at 1:23 PM on December 4, 2008

Now that Joe's gone, do we get to talk about all the jokes we weren't letting him in on, like should-I-eat-it and how cortex isn't actually a mod?
posted by Navelgazer at 1:26 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

There is no inner circle.

Ceci n'est pas un cabal?
posted by Phire at 1:40 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

You mean cortex is a rocker? * sigh *
posted by not_on_display at 1:41 PM on December 4, 2008

I am just looking for a used car, what is all this?
posted by ALongDecember at 1:51 PM on December 4, 2008 [7 favorites]

Meltdown in progress?
posted by fixedgear at 1:52 PM on December 4, 2008

!!!!YOU ARE THE 1,000,000TH PERSON TO MAKE THE MOD/ROCKER JOKE!!!!
!!!!!! PUNCH THE PILL-POPPING STUTTERING BRIT TO WIN A PRIZE!!!!!!
posted by yhbc at 1:53 PM on December 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

1. Coin in-joke
2. ???
3. Profit!
posted by nightwood at 1:53 PM on December 4, 2008

Thanks, Joe. I didn't realize what a crotchety old Mefite I am until I had visceral reactions to every single one of your emoticons.
posted by gnomeloaf at 1:55 PM on December 4, 2008

yhbc:
!!!!YOU ARE THE 1,000,000TH PERSON TO MAKE THE MOD/ROCKER JOKE!!!!
!!!!!! PUNCH THE PILL-POPPING STUTTERING BRIT TO WIN A PRIZE!!!!!!

me mum says "stop hitting me!" at's a prize in itself, eh?

...and with that, I will retire from this thread, too.
posted by not_on_display at 1:57 PM on December 4, 2008

YOU ARE THE 1,000,000TH PERSON TO MAKE THE MOD/ROCKER JOKE

What about the rod/mocker joke? The rock/modder joke? The mock/rodder joke? Wow what versatile words....

three rocks!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:03 PM on December 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

Thread closing time?
posted by ALongDecember at 2:04 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

There is no inner circle.

People who aren't in it often say that.

-MeFi Platinum Member Since 2006
posted by tkchrist at 2:06 PM on December 4, 2008

Does "Christ, what an asshole" count as an "In Joke"?

Here, no. But at the church run Proctologist office I used to work at - HILARIOUS!
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 2:13 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

This is as good as a bucket of cocks!
posted by chugg at 2:18 PM on December 4, 2008

I fail. :(
posted by chugg at 2:18 PM on December 4, 2008

Thread closing time?

I love that song! But it's not really the same as the much better song that had the name first.
posted by GuyZero at 2:22 PM on December 4, 2008

I really like it when we get to the part of the Meta where Burhanistan links to post-punk videos. By the end of a long MeTa, they are almost always appropriate.
posted by Bookhouse at 2:23 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Yes, here comes the sun on the end of this thread.
posted by GuyZero at 2:34 PM on December 4, 2008

Is anybody surprised that a new member might use favorites as a measuring stick?
posted by Joseph Gurl at 2:37 PM on December 4, 2008

You replied to one of my threads with 'Quick, somebody call Cory Doctorow?' What is this meant to mean, other than 'Hi! I'm a twat!'
posted by mippy at 2:45 PM on December 4, 2008

You replied to one of my threads with 'Quick, somebody call Cory Doctorow?' What is this meant to mean

Just guessing, but did it have something to do with steampunk dildoes and / or subway map mashups?
posted by dersins at 2:53 PM on December 4, 2008

I see Burhanistan's NON, and I raise him a Sleep Chamber.
posted by malocchio at 2:59 PM on December 4, 2008

There is no inner circle.

People who aren't in it often say that.

-MeFi Platinum Member Since 2006

tkchrist, what an asshole.
posted by Caduceus at 3:08 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

r wth dsmvwlng s mthd f mdrtn?
posted by subbes at 3:08 PM on December 4, 2008

(Not really. I'm actually rather fond of him.)
posted by Caduceus at 3:09 PM on December 4, 2008

malocchio: I see Burhanistan's NON, and I raise him a Sleep Chamber.

JOHN ZEWIIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZZZZ!
posted by not_on_display at 3:14 PM on December 4, 2008

N ah, Damien Hirst. I have not the time to read BoingBoing.
posted by mippy at 3:15 PM on December 4, 2008

Is this where I sign up for the paddlings?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 3:25 PM on December 4, 2008

Um, I was in line for ducklings.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:32 PM on December 4, 2008

Omg! Bunnies!

Our in-jokes are a Venn diagram of cute, offensive, unintelligible and just plain smug.

cute is always better than venal though fwiw
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 3:35 PM on December 4, 2008

Google Tends is backing you up on that one.
posted by GuyZero at 3:40 PM on December 4, 2008

OMG! Those bunnies are far cuter than I expected them to be.
posted by Phire at 3:54 PM on December 4, 2008

I came for the baby snakes.
posted by not_on_display at 4:06 PM on December 4, 2008

I felt really dumb when I finally realised that CWAA stood for Christ What An Asshole - while reading Navelgazer's first comment here.
posted by jacalata at 4:16 PM on December 4, 2008

r wth dsmvwlng s mthd f mdrtn?

They are not moderators, they are normarators.
posted by fixedgear at 4:27 PM on December 4, 2008

[NOT CWAASIST]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:29 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I really wish we could cancel all the good flameouts until after the xmas rush --- I miss everything.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:42 PM on December 4, 2008

I googled the acronym before it hit me, jacalata.
posted by stavrogin at 4:44 PM on December 4, 2008

stavrogin, you really should've taken jacalata's approach; you just don't know what it's like to have a good, solid Navelgazer-based epiphany.

mmmmm... good stuff....
posted by Navelgazer at 5:02 PM on December 4, 2008

Duckling? I've never duckled before.
posted by ooga_booga at 5:06 PM on December 4, 2008

Oh god, ooga_booga, you've gotta try it. Just google it, SafeSearch definitely OFF.
posted by Navelgazer at 5:12 PM on December 4, 2008

bowl/soup
posted by dawson at 5:13 PM on December 4, 2008

does anyone read the posts down here?
posted by trip and a half at 5:16 PM on December 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

we all do.
posted by lunit at 5:22 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Are you kidding, trip? This thread is my entertainment for the night.
posted by Navelgazer at 5:25 PM on December 4, 2008

Christ, everybody needs an asshole.
posted by NikitaNikita at 5:48 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

DAMN! My spidey sense! Only after several blue comments I MeFi-mailed Joe Beese specifically asking "Whose sock pupppet are you?" -- I had no idea this thread existed! Damn spidey sense!
posted by cavalier at 6:13 PM on December 4, 2008

And I thought you were kidding, Navelgazer
posted by ooga_booga at 6:43 PM on December 4, 2008

For the record, this is exactly why I lurked for two years before making my first FPP a few days ago. Sparse commenting and a few Askme questions aside, I've kept my Mefi activity to a 'read-only' since I first found the site and invested my five big ones. I've been reading all day as ol' Joe has been plowed in more than one post. Not that sympathizing with kiosk venders doesn't deserve some ribbing, and I mean, I haven't read this whole thread yet either so many he does or says something REALLY bad that warrants all the hate, but thus far, I think some of you ruffians are a bit on the cranky side today.
So there. Now I've said something to start my own pile on. Christ, what an asshole.
posted by Bageena at 6:54 PM on December 4, 2008

All my epiphanies have been Navelgazer-based.
posted by Caduceus at 6:54 PM on December 4, 2008

we talked about you in the podcast, Bageena.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:56 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Alright, now I've read everything. Joe probably deserves a little abuse. *laughs* I would never argue with Cortex. I heard from someone that he can not only bring down the banhammer, but that he'll fill your stockings with coal if'n you act like a dick.
However, I do like Joe's line of logic about popularity/weight of coolness on mefi=favorites per post. I mean, I've only done one FPP, but it's been favorited 10 times and one of those favorites came from Matt, so I'm pretty sure that makes me a bishop or a pope or something.
posted by Bageena at 7:06 PM on December 4, 2008

Oh no. I'm scared of that jessamyn. Very scared. That totally destroys my plan to subtly gain access to the secret mefi boards that all the long-timers and cool table kids have access to. I don't want to become suddenly popular or unpopular. Now I have to wait an hour before I can go home and download the podcast and see what was said. My stomach hurts.
Please delete any comments or posts by me from the last two weeks. I'm going back to lurking!

*runs*
posted by Bageena at 7:08 PM on December 4, 2008

Yeah, Bageena, there's a certain amount of "HOW DARE this confident interloper presume?" nonsense going on, but it's fairly equally matched by a similar amount of "I AM HERE, Metafilter - BEHOLD!" that sticks to some (but not all) of Joe's comments so far. Without new people Mefi would stagnate, so it's fundamentally Good that new strong personalities keep showing up, but in Joe's case a bit less of the rapid-fire, deliberately bad-boy Me!Me!Me! droppings (which I bet he fine-tuned as he clawed for attention in the stinking miasma of KosdiaryLand), and more thoughtful links and commentary that recognize this place isn't the same kind of competition for attention as that swamp, would do wonders.
posted by mediareport at 7:12 PM on December 4, 2008

so I'm pretty sure that makes me a bishop or a pope or something.

A drunk that smelled like a brewery got on a bus one day. He sat down next to a priest. The drunk's shirt was stained, his face was full of bright red lipstick and he had a half-empty bottle of liquor sticking out of his pocket. He opened his newspaper and started reading. A couple minutes later, he asked the priest, "Father, what causes arthritis?"

"Mister, it's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, and contempt for your fellow man," the priest replied.

"Imagine that," the drunk muttered. He returned to reading his paper.

The priest, thinking about what he had said, turned to the man and apologized: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?"

"I don't have arthritis, Father," the drunk said, "but I just read in the paper that the Pope does."
posted by netbros at 7:25 PM on December 4, 2008 [5 favorites]

Jesus Christ, ooga_booga! I thought I was kidding too!

What the hell is wrong with people?!
posted by Navelgazer at 7:38 PM on December 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

In other news, has everyone adopted grumblebee's profile-pic greasemonkey script by now? Because since the Great Gunnening of, well, yesterday, it makes all of these MeTa threads so much more entertaining.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:44 PM on December 4, 2008

Jesus Christ, ooga_booga! I thought I was kidding too!

And this is why the internet is the best argument against solipsism.
posted by Phire at 9:14 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

he'll fill your stockings with coal if'n you act like a dick

Unless you're a coal miner, in which case he fills them with candy and enjoyable toys.
The prick.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:52 PM on December 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

For the record, this is exactly why I lurked for two years before making my first FPP a few days ago.
Bageena: I've been here 4 years and still have made one.
I sometimes get called out over it too. Can't win for losing.
posted by nightchrome at 1:13 AM on December 5, 2008

New users who come on too strong tend to raise hackles. No one likes raised hackles.

Son, my daddy's daddy started raising hackles on this here patch of land more'n a hunnert years ago, and the folks round here have always enjoyed our hackles. We take pride in our hackles. Our pickles, too.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:14 AM on December 5, 2008

^haven't!
posted by nightchrome at 1:14 AM on December 5, 2008

loudmouth? loudmouth?

"Joe, I think there's an overactive autoimmune system playing into the reaction you're getting"
fixed that for you
posted by de at 2:47 AM on December 5, 2008

NikitaNikita writes "Christ, everybody needs an asshole."

Unless they want to be full of shit.

Navelgazer writes "has everyone adopted grumblebee's profile-pic greasemonkey script by now?"

Nope. Avatars are Evil.
posted by Mitheral at 4:38 AM on December 5, 2008

The natural evolution of a MeFite is you start out as a noob who raises the hackles of the old-timers and draws their ire. Soon, though, you yourself become an old-timer ... who raises the hackles of the old timers and draws their ire.
posted by not_on_display at 5:11 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]

In Russia, your asshole is the Christ...am I doing this right?
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 6:11 AM on December 5, 2008

I AM HERE, Metafilter - BEHOLD!
posted by yeti at 7:03 AM on December 5, 2008

Do these raised hackles make me look phat?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:13 AM on December 5, 2008

In Russia, your asshole is the Christ
St. Basil Goatsexes, worst icon ever.
posted by Abiezer at 7:26 AM on December 5, 2008 [2 favorites]

no way

he's my favicon
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:46 AM on December 5, 2008

In Russia, your asshole is the Christ
St. Basil Goatsexes, worst icon ever.
posted by Abiezer at 7:26 AM on December 5 [+] [!]

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holey Goatse.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:58 AM on December 5, 2008 [4 favorites]

Ceci n'est pas un cabal?

Mais non, certainement.
posted by the Cabal at 9:50 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]

I find you can get away with no end of deplorable behavior as long as you explain it as an "inside joke".

"Dude, why are you flipping off that nun?"

"Inside joke."

"What's with the stuffed teddy-bear impaled on the spike in your yard?"

"Inside joke"

"Why are you spray-painting that puppy?"

"Inside joke"

Unfortunately it works both ways:

"But officer, you don't need to subdue me, I'm complying with your request to stop having sex with the vending machine... why are you pulling out your tazer?"

"Inside joke..."
posted by quin at 10:14 AM on December 5, 2008

Goatse: Christ, what an asshole.
posted by longsleeves at 10:27 AM on December 5, 2008 [2 favorites]

I really need to visit MetaTalk more often.

Hey, everybody! I changed my profile pic.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 12:15 PM on December 5, 2008

okay, but where's the gun?
posted by found missing at 12:45 PM on December 5, 2008

I haven't gotten my Player's Club membership card yet.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 12:51 PM on December 5, 2008

That, and it's damn near impossible to find a pic of Marisa Kirisame holding a gun.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 12:56 PM on December 5, 2008

I felt really dumb when I finally realised that CWAA stood for Christ What An Asshole - while reading Navelgazer's first comment here.

I was seriously about to ask what a CWAA was. Thanks for sparing me, jacalata.
posted by naoko at 1:36 PM on December 5, 2008

Because I'm a sheep, I changed my profile picture as well. Fits nicely with my gmail address.
posted by desjardins at 2:50 PM on December 5, 2008

If only I worked in a lab with one, I'd dork out over posing with my gene gun.
posted by NikitaNikita at 3:00 PM on December 5, 2008

What, is your photoshop broken?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:06 PM on December 5, 2008

I too have a gun. Check and mate.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:15 PM on December 5, 2008

Y'all keep your guns. My profile pic has been bladed from day one.
posted by Bookhouse at 3:20 PM on December 5, 2008

Speaking of inside jokes, this weapons-in-profiles thing is hard to explain, even to other MeFites.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:28 PM on December 5, 2008

Inside jokes and psychoses can often overlap.
posted by Burhanistan at 3:29 PM on December 5, 2008

That, and it's damn near impossible to find a pic of Marisa Kirisame holding a gun.

Yes, that's why God made Photoshop. Even my profile pic now has a gun.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:29 PM on December 5, 2008

Speaking of inside jokes, this weapons-in-profiles thing is hard to explain, even to other MeFites.

I think it has something to do with Obama's secret plan to cancel the 2nd amendment.
posted by found missing at 3:32 PM on December 5, 2008

Yes, that's why God made Photoshop.

Indeed.
posted by dersins at 3:46 PM on December 5, 2008

No guns, everyone must pose with a bicycle. Purple bicycle in your case, Jessamyn.
posted by fixedgear at 5:21 PM on December 5, 2008

Fine, my profile pic is now gunned.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 5:21 PM on December 5, 2008

I'm sticking with the ghost donkey. It doesn't need a gun to haunt your dreams.
posted by Caduceus at 6:27 PM on December 5, 2008

Am I doing this gun thing right?
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:35 PM on December 5, 2008

Dangit, makes me want to get a profile pic so I can put a gun in it.
posted by Phire at 6:49 PM on December 5, 2008

Has anyone used Tim Gunn as their profile pic, yet?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:43 PM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]

My gun is so gunny it is in off-screen space.
posted by Wolof at 8:57 PM on December 5, 2008

Speaking of inside jokes, this weapons-in-profiles thing is hard to explain, even to other MeFites.

Correct me if I missed something, but the explanation is, as I understand it: a couple of MeTa posts down, tkchrist tried to make a point about klang's character by the fact that klang's profile pic shows him pointing a gun at the camera, at which point everybody made a joking point about how "manly" they are by changing their profile pics to feature guns.

At least... that why I did it.

In unrelated news, I just reached 2000 favorites, and am interested in learning what sort of perks this entails. Anyone?
posted by Navelgazer at 9:41 PM on December 5, 2008

Oh yeah, you can all claim Ironic Distance all you want, but I knew that given enough time, I could get you all to embrace the gun.

Given enough time, I bet I could even get you to the range with me...


...and then, you're mine!

Bwahaha
posted by quin at 9:42 PM on December 5, 2008

No perks Ng, just responsibilities.
posted by netbros at 9:48 PM on December 5, 2008

I just reached 2000 favorites
and not a single one of them from me.

I know, bcause I checked.
posted by timeistight at 9:51 PM on December 5, 2008

timeistight: I know as well, because I've been waiting for that moment for what feels like an eternity.

and netbros: I understand. Does this count?
posted by Navelgazer at 9:58 PM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]

I fail at manly.
posted by reflecked at 1:22 AM on December 6, 2008

I just flail, mainly.
posted by h00py at 2:06 AM on December 6, 2008

I was seriously about to ask what a CWAA was.

Here you go.
posted by lukemeister at 6:22 AM on December 6, 2008

I just got back from vacation in heaven and that guy Christ, what an asshole
posted by pianomover at 10:29 AM on December 8, 2008

Heaven, I'm in heaven
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:27 PM on December 9, 2008

CWAA is on the wiki now.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:48 PM on December 10, 2008