Big thanks to a helpful MeFi-ite

February 11, 2009 10:20 AM

Big ups to DarlingBri who struggled through our phone tree and stepped in to give me some much needed advice and context about ECommerce.

It's really pleasant to remember what a positive impact the internet can have on your life. As I found myself completely in over my head with a new project at work, DarlingBri gave a ring all the way from Ireland when my lousy VoIP phone refused to let me dial out.

She gave me gracious access to a real e-commerce back end, completely contextualized our search and helped me understand what a ghetto we've been living in for the last few years.

But more than that, it was wonderful to feel like you can reach out to a community and receive real help. The web is always so saturated with snark and LOLCats and whatever else, it was a beuatiful reminder that there are real people on the other end. So, a cheer for MeFi and three cheers for DarlingBri!

Thanks, yo.

posted by GilloD to MetaFilter-Related at 10:20 AM (19 comments total)

(for reference)
posted by inigo2 at 10:25 AM on February 11, 2009

I am not so good at internets.

Thank you, also
posted by GilloD at 10:33 AM on February 11, 2009

I am not so good at internets.

Have you considered favouriting her answers or marking as "best answer" in recognition of your satisfaction, yo?
posted by gman at 10:49 AM on February 11, 2009 [2 favorites]

Yeah, mark her answer(s) "best" (because it feels awesome to have that little green checkmark!) and maybe add "resolved" to the tags in the askme, if you feel it's been resolved.

And nice shoutout - yay for extra-helpful mefites, and yay for letting us know how great they are!
posted by rtha at 11:15 AM on February 11, 2009

Awesome! That was very nice.
posted by cashman at 11:32 AM on February 11, 2009

Could you have possibly made the same point without throwing lolcats under the bus? DID YOU EVEN TRY?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 11:38 AM on February 11, 2009 [2 favorites]

snaps all around!
posted by blue_beetle at 12:09 PM on February 11, 2009

If someone from Ireland called me up and told me I was living in a ghetto, I'd make an official complaint through the Embassy. Just saying, you know. Eire ain't all that.
Good for you, darlingBri
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 12:12 PM on February 11, 2009

If it will in any way get me a MeTa shoutout, I will gladly drunk-dial any of you in the middle of the night and insult your place of residence.
posted by middleclasstool at 12:15 PM on February 11, 2009 [3 favorites]

Ceiling cat forgives. (But continues to watch.)
posted by Rhomboid at 12:20 PM on February 11, 2009

DARLINGBRI IS DARLING

(dear intenret: moar lolcats plz)
posted by Metroid Baby at 12:40 PM on February 11, 2009

Oh god. I mangled the spelling of "beautiful", completely disregarded regular linkage, forgot to mark faves and insulted LOLCats. I am having an internet MELTDOWN.
posted by GilloD at 12:45 PM on February 11, 2009 [2 favorites]

Also you used the word "MeFi-ite" instead of the perfectly reasonable MeFite (Me? Fight?).

METAFAILTER
posted by Rock Steady at 1:47 PM on February 11, 2009

THE TELEPHONE WIZARD

Here's how it works:

• You are at a drunken party, and suddenly you remember Meatbomb's offer to be your telephone wizard. You tell your drunken colleagues that you know a wizard who can guess your cards over the phone, all the way from Bulgaria. "Geddafukouttahea!" they say.
• Pull out a deck of cards. Tell them that to make sure it is completely legit, they can select a card however they want - random, top of the deck, their own choice, whatever.
• Once they have their choice, make sure it is public. Show everyone (you need to see it too).
• Phone me. You have to start by saying "Hello, is Mr. Wizard there?"
• As soon as you have given me this prompt and I know what's up, I will start reciting the suits - "Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, Clubs..." You interrupt me when I say the right suit, saying "Well could you put him on please?" Then I run through the cards - "Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten..." Again, once I hit the right card you interrupt "Hello, Mr.Wizard? Yes, I will put her on now."
• You hand the phone to the mark.
• I have some mystical bullshit lines about visualizing the card, hold it to your forehead, blah blah blah. I guess the card, then hang up.
• THEIR MINDS ARE BLOWN.

posted by Meatbomb at 2:27 PM on February 11, 2009 [15 favorites]

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your -

Wait, you're in Bulgaria?!

I think I'd prefer patronizing locals. No offense.
posted by Pronoiac at 3:25 PM on February 11, 2009

THEIR MINDS ARE BLOWN

Just don't make the same mistake I did and call him from a party he's already at. It wasn't all that impressive.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:30 PM on February 11, 2009

You expected him to act surprised?
posted by Pronoiac at 3:47 PM on February 11, 2009

Just don't make the same mistake I did and call him from a party he's already at. It wasn't all that impressive.

Hell, I'd be impressed to find myself at a party in Bulgaria!
posted by jacalata at 5:07 PM on February 11, 2009

Pick a random card from a deck (or just think of one).

Don't tell me which card it is.

Now move your mouse over here

Now approximately 2% of the Mefites think I'm an Internet wizard. No phone calls needed.
posted by qvantamon at 6:42 PM on February 11, 2009 [3 favorites]