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March 19, 2009 12:42 PM Subscribe

Whats with the period?

I've started to notice a lot of posts that are made up of only a ".". I don't want to call anybody out because I may just be uninformed and there may be a purpose to it that I don't understand.

Whats up with that?

Is there a purpose to that, or is it just to be seen, or in agreement of the last post, OP, or what?

It doesn't contribute anything to the community...as far as I know.

I really don't understand.

Thanks in advance to all the mefites who will respond with a simple ".".

posted by hal_c_on to Etiquette/Policy at 12:42 PM (100 comments total)

http://faq.metafilter.com/#4
posted by Jaltcoh at 12:42 PM on March 19, 2009

This is in the faq.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:42 PM on March 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

The wiki is a good first stop if you're confused about some sort of site convention.

This one in particular has come up a bunch in Metatalk over the years, but the wiki has a brief writeup on it.

It denotes something along the lines of "a moment of silence"; it generally shows up in obit threads re: actual death but shows up occasionally in other context to varying ironic effect; and people have never really agreed in general on whether it's a good or a bad thing.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:44 PM on March 19, 2009

How many times a year does this question need to be asked?
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:46 PM on March 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

It's kind of like that old Mullah Nasr Eddin joke that ends with him saying "Don't you know I'm the only one who hasn't spoken yet?".
posted by Burhanistan at 12:46 PM on March 19, 2009 [4 favorites]

Yay, Nasreddin Hoca reference!
posted by ocherdraco at 12:49 PM on March 19, 2009

Krap. Its in the faq. I read the faq, but must have missed it.

Thanks for the help, guys.
posted by hal_c_on at 12:50 PM on March 19, 2009

.
posted by owtytrof at 12:51 PM on March 19, 2009

Tag surfing: "dot" produces these three threads from late 2004 (nice clumping, that), and "period" produces pretty much the same list.

There are surely many more, but the metatalk backtagging project is still a work in progress.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:52 PM on March 19, 2009

I'd like to see a list of things that don't contribute anything to the community. Such a list, of course, would... well, you see where I'm going with this.
posted by box at 12:54 PM on March 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

Oh, I always thought it was in reference to the Glen Duncan quote from I, Lucifer.

"One day the ordinariness will be terminally punctuated by the extraordinary full stop of death."
posted by Elmore at 12:56 PM on March 19, 2009 [7 favorites]

Whats with the period?

Also explained here.
posted by gman at 12:57 PM on March 19, 2009

See, and I was hoping this was like, a 9 year anniversary post of the first time someone asked about the dot.
posted by Liver at 12:58 PM on March 19, 2009 [2 favorites]

oh man, this brought a smile to my face. It's like a return to the good old days of metatalk, when the worst we had to worry about were questions about the dot, or the same 2 people calling each other out every day.

and they say time travel doesn't exist.
posted by shmegegge at 12:58 PM on March 19, 2009

The first time it happens, it's called menarch, and represents the moment when an adolescent female becomes capable of procreating, even though, for many girls, they potentially can become pregnant even before they have experienced their first period.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:08 PM on March 19, 2009 [6 favorites]

As the 10-year anniversary approaches, let's take a moment to remember all those we've lost in the past years.

[cue music]

Keyser Soze's bad decisions
U. N. Owen's hurf durf
Dhoyt, dhoyt, dhoyt, dhoyt, and dhoyt
Ethereal Bligh's monologues
All possibility of a professional white background
Quonsar's pantfish
The true meaning of "."
Heath Ledger
posted by Krrrlson at 1:12 PM on March 19, 2009 [6 favorites]

The first time it happens, it's called menarch

see, that's what i never understood.

i always thought that it should be womenarch, as opposed to mencolumn.
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:14 PM on March 19, 2009 [5 favorites]

box : I'd like to see a list of things that don't contribute anything to the community.

Me too, but I'd like it to be really broad and all inclusive: Things that have personally contributed nothing here: pocket lint, the planet Mercury, starfish, hot air balloons, the Spanish American war, rust, 1903, the cassette single "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night", the air-space above Wrigley Field...

I suspect that it would be a big list.
posted by quin at 1:17 PM on March 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

This metatalk from 2007 has a bunch of geekery re: the history and use of the dot, for anybody who can't get enough of that sweet, sweet usage ontogeny.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:28 PM on March 19, 2009

The first time it happens, it's called menarch, and represents the moment when an adolescent female becomes capable of procreating, even though, for many girls, they potentially can become pregnant even before they have experienced their first period.

That's not in the FAQ!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:36 PM on March 19, 2009 [3 favorites]

Its for when people have a great deal to say about a topic, but don't want to take up a lot of space on the page, so they type it out, but compress it down really small, and that is the dot that you see there. If you copy and paste the dot into Word or something like that and increase the font, then it will reveal what they were saying. Not many people know that, so it is cool to ask.
posted by ND¢ at 1:37 PM on March 19, 2009 [3 favorites]

Is it really that hard to figure out? I mean.. I saw ONE obituary thread and my mind was made up. Why there's even a FAQ, I do not know. Geez, use your heads, people.
posted by sunshinesky at 1:40 PM on March 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

dot
posted by caddis at 1:44 PM on March 19, 2009

Heh.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:53 PM on March 19, 2009

Way to half-ass the search, dude.

;
posted by Sys Rq at 1:58 PM on March 19, 2009

The dots are self-indulgent and stupid. Please stop.
posted by found missing at 2:07 PM on March 19, 2009

Calling people self-indulgent and stupid is self-indulgent and stupid. Please continue.
posted by dersins at 2:15 PM on March 19, 2009 [4 favorites]

.
posted by found missing at 2:17 PM on March 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

Metafilter and I are like a couple that have been in a relationship so long that they have each told each other every story, anecdote and joke they know and now they are either talking about what happened that day, repeating themselves or silent.
posted by ND¢ at 2:17 PM on March 19, 2009 [3 favorites]

I never looked in the FAQ either.

I just assumed the dot represented a stone or little rock, like at the end of Schindler's List where each of the survivors walk by Schindler's grave and leave a rock there.

Since I like my explanation better than the FAQ:
Hal_c_on, the dot represents a little rock, just like in Schindler's List.
posted by txvtchick at 2:21 PM on March 19, 2009 [2 favorites]

Can anyone tell me, how do I sign up for a metafilter account?
posted by waraw at 2:27 PM on March 19, 2009 [3 favorites]

,

(I'd be quite sad if you died)
posted by ob at 2:34 PM on March 19, 2009

Grief? Is that what they're meant to denote?

I always thought it was, "I would like to comment here, but the severity of my cramps precludes it. Maybe later."

That obit-filter posts always turned into a gigantic, multi-gendered, virtual menstrual huts for all of MeFi was something that, like pancakes, bunnies, and the longboat threads of yore, I chalked up as being one of the sweet imponderable mysteries of the Blue.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 2:53 PM on March 19, 2009

After some distracted wandering through the archives, there are a whole lot more metatalk threads tagged with "dot" now.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:59 PM on March 19, 2009

Morse illiteracy, mostly.
posted by klangklangston at 3:03 PM on March 19, 2009

MORSE THE PITY
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:16 PM on March 19, 2009

.--. .-.. .- - . / --- ..-. / -... . .- -.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:17 PM on March 19, 2009

What the fuck's the internet?!
posted by gman at 3:23 PM on March 19, 2009 [2 favorites]

I grew up always knowing what the dot meant.
It meant someone had died.

As a child I feared the dot. I wondered if when you died you would see nothing but dots. My punctuation was hesitant... Like I was jinxing myself just by using the dot. One day I would wake up in my top bunk and my mother would find me all blue and covered in dots. Dead. Over time I learned that the dot was not always a death symbol... just a symbol of the end. A sort of metaphorical death of a sentence. A sentence is only alive until you reach its end. It dies as many deaths as it is read. We are all long run on sentences and we will all end. Its up to you to make that end exciting! or a statement. of how you lived.

But the mysterious end? Only if it is of your own doing and not murder.
posted by Mister Cheese at 3:23 PM on March 19, 2009 [2 favorites]

There's a moment during the Passover Seder when all of the participants are instructed to pour out a drop of their wine for each of the ten plagues. It's a symbolic gesture to respect the memory of those ancient Egyptians who died from the plagues and from the closing of Sea of Reeds. We're celebrating our freedom, but it's not all fun and games: a lot of people died for our freedom.

I like to think of those "."s as the same kind of offering. They aren't moments of silence so much as they are discarded opportunities for levity. We have a great time on MetaFilter, frequently at others' expense. Once in a while, it's nice to take a moment and remember that on the other side of the Internet are people, and sometimes they aren't enjoying the moment as much as we are.
posted by Plutor at 3:32 PM on March 19, 2009 [4 favorites]

That link goes to a simulated teletype machine that blats out "Never Gonna Give You Up" in dots and dashes, doesn't it? I'm so onto you, Effigy2000.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 3:48 PM on March 19, 2009

There's no need to ... .... --- ..- -, Effie.
posted by flabdablet's sock puppet at 3:58 PM on March 19, 2009

does anyone read the posts down here?
posted by killdevil at 4:04 PM on March 19, 2009

- .... . -.. --- - -- . .- -. ... ... --- -- . --- -. . .... .- ... -.. .. . -.. .-.-.- --- .-. .. - -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. .--- ..- ... - -- . .- -. ... --- -- . --- -. . ... - .- .-. - . -.. .- -- . ... ... .- --. . .. -. -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . -... ..- - ..-. --- .-. --. --- - - --- ..-. .. -. .. ... .... .. - .-.-.- - .... . -.. --- - -- . .- -. ... ... --- -- . --- -. . .... .- ... -.. .. . -.. .-.-.- --- .-. .. - -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. .--- ..- ... - -- . .- -. ... --- -- . --- -. . ... - .- .-. - . -.. .- -- . ... ... .- --. . .. -. -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . -... ..- - ..-. --- .-. --. --- - - --- ..-. .. -. .. ... .... .. - .-.-.- - .... . -.. --- - -- . .- -. ... ... --- -- . --- -. . .... .- ... -.. .. . -.. .-.-.- --- .-. .. - -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. .--- ..- ... - -- . .- -. ... --- -- . --- -. . ... - .- .-. - . -.. .- -- . ... ... .- --. . .. -. -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . -... ..- - ..-. --- .-. --. --- - - --- ..-. .. -. .. ... .... .. - .-.-.- - .... . -.. --- - -- . .- -. ... ... --- -- . --- -. . .... .- ... -.. .. . -.. .-.-.- --- .-. .. - -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. .--- ..- ... - -- . .- -. ... --- -- . --- -. . ... - .- .-. - . -.. .- -- . ... ... .- --. . .. -. -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . -... ..- - ..-. --- .-. --. --- - - --- ..-. .. -. .. ... .... .. - .-.-.- - .... . -.. --- - -- . .- -. ... ... --- -- . --- -. . .... .- ... -.. .. . -.. .-.-.- --- .-. .. - -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. .--- ..- ... - -- . .- -. ... --- -- . --- -. . ... - .- .-. - . -.. .- -- . ... ... .- --. . .. -. -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . -... ..- - ..-. --- .-. --. --- - - --- ..-. .. -. .. ... .... .. - .-.-.- - .... . -.. --- - -- . .- -. ... ... --- -- . --- -. . .... .- ... -.. .. . -.. .-.-.- --- .-. .. - -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. .--- ..- ... - -- . .- -. ... --- -- . --- -. . ... - .- .-. - . -.. .- -- . ... ... .- --. . .. -. -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . -... ..- - ..-. --- .-. --. --- - - --- ..-. .. -. .. ... .... .. - .-.-.- - .... . -.. --- - -- . .- -. ... ... --- -- . --- -. . .... .- ... -.. .. . -.. .-.-.- --- .-. .. - -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. .--- ..- ... - -- . .- -. ... --- -- . --- -. . ... - .- .-. - . -.. .- -- . ... ... .- --. . .. -. -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . -... ..- - ..-. --- .-. --. --- - - --- ..-. .. -. .. ... .... .. - .-.-.-

That decodes to an ASCII image of a bucket of cocks.
posted by Science! at 4:04 PM on March 19, 2009

. Uh-oh.
posted by new and improved buzzman IV at 4:19 PM on March 19, 2009

sunshinesky writes "Why there's even a FAQ, I do not know"

Because, it's a

.
.
.

Wait for it,

.
.
.

F_requently A_sked Q_uestion.
posted by Mitheral at 4:31 PM on March 19, 2009

Why there's even a FAQ, I do not know

Because I need the little nubs that are all that is left of my fingers after all this MetaTalk typing to type dots into obit threads.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:36 PM on March 19, 2009

... ..- .-. . .-.. -.-- | --..-- | | -.-- --- ..- | -- . .- -. | | .--. .-.. .- - . | --- ..-. | -... . .- -. ... | ..--.. | |
posted by klangklangston at 4:37 PM on March 19, 2009

Whats with the period?

How many times a year does this question need to be asked?

Approximately 12, in my experience. Srsly bullshit.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 4:39 PM on March 19, 2009 [3 favorites]

-... -.-- .--. .-. --- .... .. .- ...
posted by klangklangston at 4:39 PM on March 19, 2009

-- .. ... - -.-. .-.. --- ... .. -. --. .. -. --..-- --. . - - .. -. --. - .... .. -.-. -.- . .-. --- -. . -.. .-. --- .--. ... --- ..- - --..-- -... . -.-. --- -- .. -. --. --.- ..- .. -.-. -.- . .-. .-.. .. --. .... - ... --. .-. --- .-- -.. .. -- --..-- - .... . -.-- --. .-.. .. -- -- . .-. - .... . -.-. .... .- -. -.-. . ... ... -- .- .-.. .-.. . .-. --..-- - .... . --- -.. -.. ... .- .-. . ... .-.. .. -- -- . .-. -.. --- - -.. .- ... .... --..-- -.. .. -- ..-. .-.. .- ... .... --..-- -.. --- -. .----. - -.-. .-. .- ... .... .-.. --- --- ... . -. .. -. --. -- -.-- --. .-. .. .--. -... . ... ..- .-. . - --- - .-. . .- -.. -.-. .- .-. . ..-. ..- .-.. .-.. -.-- ... - . . .-. .. -. --. .- .--. .- ... ... .- --. . ..-. .. -. -.. .. -. --. .- .-.. .. -. . -.-. .-. --- ... ... . ... --- -. ..-. .. .-. . --..-- -.-. .-. --- ... ... ..-. .. .-. . .--. .-. --- --. .-. . ... ... .. ...- . .- -.-. -.-. . .-.. . .-. .- - .. --- -. --..-- ... -.- .. -.. -.. .. -. --. -... ..- - - .... . . -..- .--. .-. . ... ... .. --- -. .-. . -- .- .. -. ... .--. .- -. --..-- .-. .- -.. .. .- - --- .-. ... ..-. --- .-. .- .-.. .-.. .-. .- -.. .. .- .-.. --..-- .. .----. -- ... - .. .-.. .-.. .. -. -.-. --- -. - .-. --- .-.. --..-- .. ..- -. -.. . .-. ... - .- -. -.. --..-- .- .... .- -. -.. --..-- .- .... .- -. -.. -- --- ...- . -.. -- . -.. .-. .. ...- . -. -... -.-- ... . .-.. ..-. -....- .--. .-. --- .--. ..- .-.. ... .. --- -. - ..- .-. -. .. -. --. .-. .. --. .... - .- -.-. .-. --- ... ... - .... . ... - .-. . .- -- - .... . .-. .. ... -.- ... .. -. -.-. .-. . .- ... . -.. .-- .. - .... ... ..- ... - .- .. -. . -.. .-.. . .. ... ..- .-. . -.-. --- ..- .-. - .. -. --. -.. . .- - .... --..-- ... --- .. .-.. .-.. .- - . .- ... .
posted by klangklangston at 4:48 PM on March 19, 2009

Since we got that problem solved, does anybody know how I can find out who was speaking on NPR Tuesday night at 8pm? It was an Indian woman giving an amazing speech about peace, war, rights, culture, etc.
posted by iamkimiam at 4:53 PM on March 19, 2009

(Oh Dear!) Miss Morse got Pearls for Swine into some minor trouble back in the day. If you put obscene Morse code in your song, it turns out the first people to notice it are Boy Scouts.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 4:59 PM on March 19, 2009

.-- .... .- - .----. ... .-- .. - .... - .... . .--. . .-. .. --- -.. ..--.. .... .- .-.. ..-. -....- -.-. .... .. .--. .--. . .-- .- ... - --- .-. . -.- . . .--. . .-. ... .- -.-- ... - --- ... .. - --- -. -- --- ... ... .- -. -.. -.-. .... . .-- .-- .... .. - . .-- .. .-.. .-.. --- .-- -... .- .-. -.- .- -. -.. -. --- - - --- -- .- -.- . . -.-- . -.-. --- -. - .- -.-. - .--. .-.. . .- ... . .-.-.- .--. .-. . ..-. . .-. .-. . -.. .--. .-.. .- -. .. ... .-.. .- ..- -.. .- -. ..- -- .-.-.- .--. .-.. . .- ... . ... . -. -.. .- - . .- .-. .-.. .. . ... - -.-. --- -. ...- . -. .. . -. -.-. . .-.-.- .- .-.. ... --- --..-- - .... . ... . . .-.. . -.-. - .-. .. -.-. - . .-.. . --. .-. .- .--. .... ... --..-- - .... . -.-- ...- .. -... .-. .- - . ..--.. .. .-. . -- .- .. -. -.-- --- ..- .-. ..-. .- .. - .... ..-. ..- .-.. . - -.-. .-.-.-
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:01 PM on March 19, 2009

Just when I think this site could not possibly get more nerdish, you bust out the morse code.

Dots, sweet, sweet Dots. Ack. Stop making me think of candy-- I'm going through sugar withdrawl.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:11 PM on March 19, 2009

Just when I think this site could not possibly get more nerdish, you bust out the morse code.

Just keep in mind that if it appears in an obit thread, it's Remorse Code.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:16 PM on March 19, 2009 [11 favorites]

iamkimiam: "Since we got that problem solved, does anybody know how I can find out who was speaking on NPR Tuesday night at 8pm? It was an Indian woman giving an amazing speech about peace, war, rights, culture, etc."

Were you listening to City Arts & Lectures on KQED? That would have been the Iranian Azar Nafisi.
posted by Science! at 5:18 PM on March 19, 2009 [2 favorites]

Just when I think this site could not possibly get more nerdish, you bust out the morse code.

59 6F 75 20 74 68 69 6E 6B 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 65 72 64 79 3F 21 3F 3F
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:36 PM on March 19, 2009

6E
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:36 PM on March 19, 2009

Yes! Thanks, Science!!
And for the correction there, too. Eek, I hate it when I do stuff like that!
posted by iamkimiam at 5:39 PM on March 19, 2009

I'VE BEEN TYPING PROSE MY WHOLE LIFE!
posted by chinston at 5:52 PM on March 19, 2009

You know I'd like to thank Science, too. You've been there for me for so many years, all the way from making cell models in ice cream tubs up to helping me figure out what the hell that maple syrup smell is in Manhattan every once in a while (oh, and thanks for helping Medicine out, too—without the two of you, I'd be dead, I'm sure). I'm glad we're restoring you to your rightful place in our society.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:12 PM on March 19, 2009

Here's a

.

for this thread
posted by five fresh fish at 6:18 PM on March 19, 2009

Aww, c'mon guys, we shouldn't lie to the kids anymore. I think hal_c_on is now old enough to know the real truth about periods.
posted by tula at 6:38 PM on March 19, 2009

Grandma's curse.
posted by bardic at 6:49 PM on March 19, 2009

Ah! Found it! Anyone need more dots? Got a whole room full!
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 6:56 PM on March 19, 2009

.. .- -- -- ..- -.-. .... --- -... .-.. .. --. . -.. - --- -.-- --- ..- ..-. --- .-. .... .- ...- .. -. --. - .- ..- --. .... - -- . - .... .- - .-.-.- .. .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. .-.. .. -.- . - .... . -. - --- .--. ..- - .. -. - --- .- -. --- - . - --- -.-- --- ..- ---... .-..-. -... . .- ..- - .. ..-. ..- .-.. -.-. .... .. -. ... - --- -. --..-- -.-- --- ..- .-. .-.. --- ...- . .-.. -.-- . -.-- . ... -- .- -.- . -- . -.. .. . --- ..-. .-.. --- ...- . --..-- .-..-. -... ..- - .. .-- .- -. - - .... .- - .--. ..- - .. -. .- --. .- .-.. .-.. .- -. - -- .- -. -. . .-. .- -. -.. -... . -. .. -.-. . .-.. -.-- - ..- .-. -. . -.. .-.-.-
posted by maudlin at 7:19 PM on March 19, 2009

It's something Ethel C. Pedley wrote in 1899.
posted by tellurian at 7:51 PM on March 19, 2009

It's an homage to a rapper, P Dotty.
posted by lukemeister at 7:59 PM on March 19, 2009

Why there's a FAQ
I do not know
It's house is in the village though

It will not see me
standing here
while I watch MetaTalk
fill up with snow

The little mods
must think it queer
to dot without
a sentence near
between the green and snowy grey
the coldest website of the year

obit threads are lovely, dark and deep
but I have promises to keep
and plums to eat while you were gone
so delicious
so cold

this isn't even particularly funny but it's what passes for discourse at the bottom of a metatalk thread
posted by GuyZero at 9:10 PM on March 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

your face is what passes for discourse at the bottom of your face
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:19 PM on March 19, 2009 [4 favorites]

:(
posted by fleacircus at 9:41 PM on March 19, 2009

Fuck this whole fucking website.
posted by Curry at 9:45 PM on March 19, 2009

Some MeFites flame out and need to take a break. I begin to love MeFi too much and that's when I know I really need to back off a bit. Before I creep out your roommates.

and you know else who had a face?
posted by GuyZero at 10:04 PM on March 19, 2009

hannibal lecter?
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:17 PM on March 19, 2009

This twitter feed could be so much better than it is now.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:22 PM on March 19, 2009

...
posted by Pronoiac at 12:21 AM on March 20, 2009

How many times a year does this question need to be asked?

The wiki says 4, there's a write-up about it
posted by mattoxic at 12:38 AM on March 20, 2009

This particular MetaTalk is better than anything I've read on MetaFilter... ever.
posted by runcibleshaw at 1:11 AM on March 20, 2009

The real problem with using a period as comment is that if you use it then there is no punctuation that can indicate that the comment is done.

For example, if I write "." it's not clear whether I meant ".." or whether I meant "." - indicating a stop without any previous expression.

I've invented a better system, but so far my innovations have been ignored.
posted by twoleftfeet at 3:03 AM on March 20, 2009

How many times a year does this question need to be asked?
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 2:46 PM on March 19

Periodically.
posted by Reverend John at 5:59 AM on March 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

see, that's what i never understood.

i always thought that it should be womenarch, as opposed to mencolumn.

Clearly not a member of mensa or menses.
posted by Pollomacho at 7:01 AM on March 20, 2009

That's what's left after the superdeletion.

I've already said too much.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 11:03 AM on March 20, 2009

.. .... .- - . -... . .. -. --. .-.. .- - . - --- - .... . .--. .- .-. - -.-- .-.-.-
posted by ob at 11:55 AM on March 20, 2009

i was a member of mensa, but my membership lapsed, so to speak, and was never renewed.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:02 PM on March 20, 2009

Epic Fail?
posted by Curry at 3:52 PM on March 20, 2009

Epic flail!

*runs around, warbling & waving arms overhead like Kermit*

Thanks, I needed that.
posted by Pronoiac at 4:00 PM on March 20, 2009

How many times a year does this question need to be asked?

How many times a year do we need to ask how often people are going to ask what the dot means?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:42 AM on March 21, 2009

How many times a year do we need to ask how many times a year do we need to ask how often people are going to ask what the dot means?
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:02 AM on March 21, 2009

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:03 AM on March 21, 2009

?
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:30 AM on March 21, 2009

The answer my friend
is blowing in the wind...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:56 AM on March 21, 2009

it's a flag?
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:12 PM on March 21, 2009

I'm so tempted to paste the Treaty of Westphalia in morse code, but I'm afraid jessamatex will come to my home and bury pickaxes into my car.
posted by double block and bleed at 3:44 PM on March 21, 2009

it's a flag?

Perhaps. Anyway, it's moved on.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:42 PM on March 21, 2009

It's kind of like that old Mullah Nasr Eddin joke that ends with him saying "Don't you know I'm the only one who hasn't spoken yet?".

My favorite Mullah Nasr Eddin joke involves the intrepid Mullah walking down an alley and a belligerent young man sneaking up behind him and shoving a finger up his ass. The Mullah stops, calls the man over and gives him a gold coin before making his way down the alley again. A bystander who noticed the exchange runs up to the Mullah and incredulously asks him why he rewarded the kid for such disgusting behavior. Mullah Nasr Eddin calmly replies that he's old and feeble and couldn't mete out any punishment to the young man, but by rewarding him he'd ensured that the hoodlum would repeat the act. The thug's next victim would probably not be old and weak as the Mullah and give the hoodlum his comeuppance.

Actually this belonged in the AskMe about the idiot who tried to take advantage of his gf during a massage.
posted by Devils Slide at 11:03 PM on March 23, 2009

Anyone who sexualizes Nasr Eddin again is going to get a severe beat down.
posted by Burhanistan at 11:08 PM on March 23, 2009

or a new love...who knows?
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:08 AM on March 24, 2009

This one time I looked in the fridge for a Dannon yogurt but all I could find was celery.
posted by dmd at 7:52 AM on March 24, 2009

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