Share:
Twitter
Facebook

Just curious...
March 25, 2009 1:45 AM Subscribe

Dear Reddit: Please help me save my son.

Maybe this doesn't belong on MeTa and my apologies if not, but I didn't think it really warranted the blue. Its an interesting, honest, somewhat sad thread from Reddit that is getting a lot of comments / traffic. Yet for all intents and purposes reads exactly like something I'd expect to see on the green, here. I'm curious - has this happened much before with the Reddits/Diggs/etc. and I've just completely missed it? Or is this possibly the start of some of the other BOTW aggregation sites moving a bit towards what AskMe pioneered? Or is it just a complete anomaly?

posted by allkindsoftime to MetaFilter-Related at 1:45 AM (189 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite

On an aside, there is definitely the un-moderated noise in that thread that you wouldn't have if the same question had been posed here on the green. It gives me pause to say thanks to the mods for their hard work at keeping AskMe an order of magnitude away from what it would otherwise be.
posted by allkindsoftime at 2:01 AM on March 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

are you just trying to find a new playground for sixcolors?
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:57 AM on March 25, 2009 [18 favorites]

Before this post goes greasemonkey pink, I for one would like to say to sixcolors, mate, do something with your profile page- please. You a reare breed, and your profile page beckons. Tell us about your family, neighbours, lets see some photos. 'cmon!
posted by mattoxic at 4:18 AM on March 25, 2009

reare breed
ouch

I meant raw bread
posted by mattoxic at 4:18 AM on March 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

I'm curious - has this happened much before with the Reddits/Diggs/etc. and I've just completely missed it? Or is this possibly the start of some of the other BOTW aggregation sites moving a bit towards what AskMe pioneered?

Not exactly the same thing, but those kinds of questions do tend to pop up in forums that have large numbers of users, even if it's off-topic from the actual theme of the forum. That's part of the reason why most big forums have a special off-topic area where users can talk about anything or ask questions. I've even seen forums that specifically have special "My life is screwed up, please help" subforums.
posted by burnmp3s at 4:35 AM on March 25, 2009

I for one would like to say to sixcolors, mate, do something with your profile page- please. You a reare breed, and your profile page beckons. Tell us about your family, neighbours, lets see some photos. 'cmon!

Or at the very least, post your list of people to kill.
posted by gman at 4:42 AM on March 25, 2009

Let me be the first to say that thisis obviously just a viral advertising campaign for "Ernest's Son Goes To Jail: The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Throwing Tree"
posted by Grither at 4:43 AM on March 25, 2009

How is this thread already about sixcolors?
posted by Bango Skank at 5:10 AM on March 25, 2009 [15 favorites]

Please ensure that all derails about sixcolors go in this box. Once it's full, leave her alone.

posted by baphomet at 5:14 AM on March 25, 2009 [8 favorites]

oooh. this is kinda neat.
whee!

posted by yeoz at 5:20 AM on March 25, 2009 [3 favorites]

This kind of thing (high signal to noise) isn't uncommon on reddit at all, perhaps less common on digg, but the two sites are not the same.

I think that even on relatively nonrestrictive sites like reddit, when someone takes the time to craft a serious post or question it encourages other to take it seriously as well. That's not to say that there is no noise, I was just reading a reddit thread that was pretty much the OP and a commenter trading long, multi-paragraph, well written responses for a long time. Only at the end did the commenter reveal that he/she was a troll baiting the OP. I can't remember where I found the link, but it was weird. Dozens of well written comments between the two, all for the purposes of trolling.

Anyway, there is signal and noise everywhere. Earnestness, and honesty encourages earnestness and honesty, but does not mandate it or filter out the junk.
posted by Science! at 5:23 AM on March 25, 2009

FYI
Joanie Loves Chachi

posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:24 AM on March 25, 2009

*farts loudly*
posted by Science! at 5:24 AM on March 25, 2009

How is this thread already about sixcolors?

Just preempting before she makes it about herself.
posted by gman at 5:28 AM on March 25, 2009

In the name of the most holy and individual Trinity: Be it known to all, and every one whom it may concern, or to whom in any manner it may belong, That for many Years past, Discords and Civil Divisions being stir'd up in the Roman Empire, which increas'd to such a degree, that not only all Germany, but also the neighbouring Kingdoms, and France particularly, have been involv'd in the Disorders of a long and cruel War: And in the first place, between the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord, Ferdinand the Second, of famous Memory, elected Roman Emperor, always August, King of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Arch-Duke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Marquiss of Moravia, Duke of Luxemburgh, the Higher and Lower Silesia, of Wirtemburg and Teck, Prince of Suabia, Count of Hapsburg, Tirol, Kyburg and Goritia, Marquiss of the Sacred Roman Empire, Lord of Burgovia, of the Higher and Lower Lusace, of the Marquisate of Slavonia, of Port Naon and Salines, with his Allies and Adherents on one side; and the most Serene, and the most Puissant Prince, Lewis the Thirteenth, most Christian King of France and Navarre, with his Allies and Adherents on the other side. And after their Decease, between the most Serene and Puissant Prince and Lord, Ferdinand the Third, elected Roman Emperor, always August, King of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Arch-Duke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Marquiss of Moravia, Duke of Luxemburg, of the Higher and Lower Silesia, of Wirtemburg and Teck, Prince of Suabia, Count of Hapsburg, Tirol, Kyburg and Goritia, Marquiss of the Sacred Roman Empire, Burgovia, the Higher and Lower Lusace, Lord of the Marquisate of Slavonia, of Port Naon and Salines, with his Allies and Adherents on the one side; and the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord, Lewis the Fourteenth, most Christian King of France and Navarre, with his Allies and Adherents on the other side: from whence ensu'd great Effusion of Christian Blood, and the Desolation of several Provinces. It has at last happen'd, by the effect of Divine Goodness, seconded by the Endeavours of the most Serene Republick of Venice, who in this sad time, when all Christendom is imbroil'd, has not ceas'd to contribute its Counsels for the publick Welfare and Tranquillity; so that on the side, and the other, they have form'd Thoughts of an universal Peace. And for this purpose, by a mutual Agreement and Covenant of both Partys, in the year of our Lord 1641. the 25th of December, N.S. or the 15th O.S. it was resolv'd at Hamburgh, to hold an Assembly of Plenipotentiary Ambassadors, who should render themselves at Munster and Osnabrug in Westphalia the 11th of July, N.S. or the 1st of the said month O.S. in the year 1643. The Plenipotentiary Ambassadors on the one side, and the other, duly establish'd, appearing at the prefixt time, and on the behalf of his Imperial Majesty, the most illustrious and most excellent Lord, Maximilian Count of Trautmansdorf and Weinsberg, Baron of Gleichenberg, Neustadt, Negan, Burgau, and Torzenbach, Lord of Teinitz, Knight of the Golden Fleece, Privy Counsellor and Chamberlain to his Imperial Sacred Majesty, and Steward of his Houshold; the Lord John Lewis, Count of Nassau, Catzenellebogen, Vianden, and Dietz, Lord of Bilstein, Privy Counsellor to the Emperor, and Knight of the Golden Fleece; Monsieur Isaac Volmamarus, Doctor of Law, Counsellor, and President in the Chamber of the most Serene Lord Arch-Duke Ferdinand Charles. And on the behalf of the most Christian King, the most eminent Prince and Lord, Henry of Orleans, Duke of Longueville, and Estouteville, Prince and Sovereign Count of Neuschaftel, Count of Dunois and Tancerville, Hereditary Constable of Normandy, Governor and Lieutenant-General of the same Province, Captain of the Cent Hommes d'Arms, and Knight of the King's Orders, &c. as also the most illustrious and most excellent Lords, Claude de Mesmes, Count d'Avaux, Commander of the said King's Orders, one of the Superintendents of the Finances, and Minister of the Kingdom of France &c. and Abel Servien, Count la Roche of Aubiers, also one of the Ministers of the Kingdom of France. And by the Mediation and Interposition of the most illustrious and most excellent Ambassador and Senator of Venice, Aloysius Contarini Knight, who for the space of five Years, or thereabouts, with great Diligence, and a Spirit intirely impartial, has been inclin'd to be a Mediator in these Affairs. After having implor'd the Divine Assistance, and receiv'd a reciprocal Communication of Letters, Commissions, and full Powers, the Copys of which are inserted at the end of this Treaty, in the presence and with the consent of the Electors of the Sacred Roman Empire, the other Princes and States, to the Glory of God, and the Benefit of the Christian World, the following Articles have been agreed on and consented to, and the same run thus.

I.

That there shall be a Christian and Universal Peace, and a perpetual, true, and sincere Amity, between his Sacred Imperial Majesty, and his most Christian Majesty; as also, between all and each of the Allies, and Adherents of his said Imperial Majesty, the House of Austria, and its Heirs, and Successors; but chiefly between the Electors, Princes, and States of the Empire on the one side; and all and each of the Allies of his said Christian Majesty, and all their Heirs and Successors, chiefly between the most Serene Queen and Kingdom of Swedeland, the Electors respectively, the Princes and States of the Empire, on the other part. That this Peace and Amity be observ'd and cultivated with such a Sincerity and Zeal, that each Party shall endeavour to procure the Benefit, Honour and Advantage of the other; that thus on all sides they may see this Peace and Friendship in the Roman Empire, and the Kingdom of France flourish, by entertaining a good and faithful Neighbourhood.

posted by UbuRoivas at 5:37 AM on March 25, 2009 [11 favorites]

Ubu you bastard
posted by The Whelk at 5:42 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

I paid for seven colors and got six. How's that for being born under a bad sign.

posted by Dr-Baa at 5:43 AM on March 25, 2009

A message to the mods
Please don't hit me.

posted by baphomet at 5:44 AM on March 25, 2009

I like turtles!
posted by h00py at 5:48 AM on March 25, 2009

Wow, I've never seen anything go from interesting to annoying so quickly as that box thingy.
posted by Pastabagel at 5:50 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

baphomet, what hath thou wrought

posted by Dr-Baa at 5:50 AM on March 25, 2009 [4 favorites]

wow.
posted by allkindsoftime at 5:50 AM on March 25, 2009

Wow, I've never seen anything go from interesting to annoying so quickly as that box thingy.

Preconisyterical
posted by Dr-Baa at 5:51 AM on March 25, 2009

errr, precognisyterical, even.
posted by Dr-Baa at 5:52 AM on March 25, 2009

I like turtles!

We know, that's why they're getting a restraining order.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:58 AM on March 25, 2009

MetaTalk: I've never seen anything go from interesting to annoying so quickly
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:09 AM on March 25, 2009 [3 favorites]

It's okay, I've got pictures. I'll be in my bunk.
posted by h00py at 6:10 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

\\||||\|||||||||||||||||//|/\\|||||||\|||||||||/|||||//|/
\\||||||||||||||||||||||||//
\\||||\|||||||||||||||||//|/
\\||||||||||||||||||||||||//

Look. It is a toothbrush.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:11 AM on March 25, 2009 [80 favorites]

Sup /b/
posted by turgid dahlia at 6:18 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

O

O

O

O

Obama

posted by bunnytricks at 6:41 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

Ooooooh!I feel like I'm doing something bad.

posted by chillmost at 6:44 AM on March 25, 2009

wat

posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:56 AM on March 25, 2009

crap i suck at html.
how do i add a row to my excel?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:57 AM on March 25, 2009

TATERS

Product of Metafilter

posted by SpiffyRob at 6:59 AM on March 25, 2009 [4 favorites]

I don't get it.
posted by Night_owl at 7:08 AM on March 25, 2009

?how does i box lol

posted by cimbrog at 7:12 AM on March 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

CATSHOW ARE YOU GENTLEMEN !!

posted by cortex (staff) at 7:16 AM on March 25, 2009 [13 favorites]

Cortex is the thirteenth Cylon!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:21 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

| ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ | ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ ¦ ❘ ❘ ❘ ❘ |

Look. It is a ruler.
posted by suedehead at 7:22 AM on March 25, 2009 [11 favorites]

DIRECTIONS Light fuse
Place in mouth

posted by Bernt Pancreas at 7:23 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

(I got nothin'.)
posted by katillathehun at 7:27 AM on March 25, 2009

Hey, this isn't going to make unfun work for Matt and/or PB is it? 'cause if so, we should stop, right?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:28 AM on March 25, 2009

You know, I'm genuinely surprised and disappointed that allkindsoftime's perfectly serious and relevant question immediately degenerated into rampant threadshitting. It didn't deserve to be closed as posted, but if even Cortex is making boxes, it's probably time to pull the plug.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:28 AM on March 25, 2009

I accidentally the box

posted by schyler523 at 7:31 AM on March 25, 2009 [4 favorites]

See, I'm wise enough to know when a gift needs givin'

dick

posted by Balonious Assault at 7:33 AM on March 25, 2009 [13 favorites]

You know, I'm genuinely surprised and disappointed that allkindsoftime's perfectly serious and relevant question immediately degenerated

On the one hand, I don't share your surprise.

On the other, I find that pretty ironic.
posted by allkindsoftime at 7:38 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

A cat.Dead or alive?

posted by Night_owl at 7:42 AM on March 25, 2009 [14 favorites]

        \\\\\\,
       _/''  \\\
       \      D
        \_   /
        <>,_
       / \Y/ /` \
       || #  |  |
       || #  |  |
       || #  |  |
       ||=[]=|  |
       ||    |__|
      //| |  /||\
        | |   |
        | |   |
------( (--   |       | |   |
       [_[___]
      (_(____|                                                                                                    ||
                                                                                                    ||
                                                                                                    ||
                                                                                                    ||
                                                                                                    ||
                                                                                                    ||

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/||
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\||

Walk the plank, guy.
posted by Rhaomi at 7:45 AM on March 25, 2009 [8 favorites]

I predict that this will be abused. By me.

posted by quin at 7:49 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

I'd like to think of the thread more as having been successfully para-railed at this point from an earlier and even less likeable derail.

I'm sorry it didn't turn into a frank discussion of your query, allkindsoftime, and I think it's an interesting question, but posting a shades-of-Migs conversation piece in the middle of the night is a crapshoot under the best conditions.

Also,

BoxxyI am ME!

posted by cortex (staff) at 7:49 AM on March 25, 2009 [3 favorites]

Wow, I've never seen anything go from interesting to annoying so quickly as that box thingy.

I know, right?
posted by box at 7:54 AM on March 25, 2009 [23 favorites]

A thread on Metatalk, about a post on Reddit, gets derailed by a html tag recently posted on Digg with lashings of 4chan references. *blip*
posted by Elmore at 7:54 AM on March 25, 2009

--) (----------------------------/\/\/\/\----Simple Circuit

posted by vacapinta at 7:54 AM on March 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

***HOW IS BOXXY FORMED?***
posted by Mister_A at 7:56 AM on March 25, 2009 [8 favorites]

Take a look inside... 8====D

It's my dick in a box!

This can only be used for evil.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:58 AM on March 25, 2009 [3 favorites]

Or repeating Balonious Assault above, goddamn it.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:01 AM on March 25, 2009

posting in a legendary ~~thread~~ tag

posted by cowbellemoo at 8:03 AM on March 25, 2009

Dune:

PAIN

Alternately:
Se7en:

The upper hand of John Doe

posted by Bernt Pancreas at 8:04 AM on March 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

Mime

posted by Evangeline at 8:05 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

posted by yeoz at 8:06 AM on March 25, 2009 [17 favorites]

^^ Great Pyramid of Yeoz
posted by cowbellemoo at 8:08 AM on March 25, 2009 [6 favorites]

Thank you all for making Wednesday morning bearable.
posted by greekphilosophy at 8:08 AM on March 25, 2009

Now that's just silly.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:08 AM on March 25, 2009

It's boxes all the way down.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 8:12 AM on March 25, 2009 [3 favorites]

hmm

oh hai thar.

hehe

posted by yeoz at 8:13 AM on March 25, 2009 [7 favorites]

Now that's just plain silly.
posted by joe vrrr at 8:13 AM on March 25, 2009

Look. It is a ruler.

|-|-------|-------------|-------------------------|---|---------------|-----------|-----| It's an optimal ruler!

"-" marks half a length.
posted by Lemurrhea at 8:13 AM on March 25, 2009 [5 favorites]

Oh. sorry about the page spam. I was viewing the page in IE and its not as bad as in firefox (which i took a glance at just see the behaviour).
posted by yeoz at 8:14 AM on March 25, 2009

The silliness makes the sorrow more bearable. Or is it bare-able?
posted by filthy light thief at 8:14 AM on March 25, 2009

Over in the playboy thread people were making fun of us nerds who were talking about the technology instead of the boobies.

ALL YOUR BOXES MOCK THIS GUYS SONS TRADEGY
posted by ook at 8:22 AM on March 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

AND I AM A-OK WITH THAT IN CASE IT WASNT CLEAR
posted by ook at 8:24 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

BECAUSE I KNOW YOURE ALL HANGING ON TENTERHOOKS FOR MY APPROVAL
posted by ook at 8:25 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

I promise never to write in all-caps again if someone will provide an acceptable definition for "tenterhook". It's a word I've been using for years and I only just now realized I have no clue what it means.

Is it something boy scouts use?
posted by ook at 8:26 AM on March 25, 2009

OUR NEW BOXY OVERLORDS I welcome them

posted by patricio at 8:27 AM on March 25, 2009

1. I agree allkindsoftime, that's pretty interesting. That said
  a) MeTa isn't really for tryouts of stuff that doesn't make it on the blue
  b) MeTa is a bad place for super emotional stuff that is
    I. on an emotional topic
    II. posted late at night
    III. posted in that chatty sort of "what do you guys think?" way

2. and to everyone else, this sixcolors-baiting stuff stops right now. I'd take ten of her over people who think it's fun to take someone who has a hard time fitting in and then make fun of them in threads where they're not showing up. That's totally beyond the pale, not okay, and not how we do things here.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:29 AM on March 25, 2009 [59 favorites]

</box>
posted by subbes at 8:30 AM on March 25, 2009

I promise never to write in all-caps again if someone will provide an acceptable definition for "tenterhook". It's a word I've been using for years and I only just now realized I have no clue what it means.

At your service.
posted by CKmtl at 8:42 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

I agree allkindsoftime, that's pretty interesting. That said

MeTa isn't really for tryouts of stuff that doesn't make it on the blue
MeTa is a bad place for super emotional stuff that is
1. on an emotional topic
2. posted late at night
3. posted in that chatty sort of "what do you guys think?" way

And to everyone else, this sixcolors-baiting stuff stops right now. I'd take ten of her over people who think it's fun to take someone who has a hard time fitting in and then make fun of them in threads where they're not showing up. That's totally beyond the pale, not okay, and not how we do things here.

Reformatted with the new hotness for you, jessamyn.
Please forgive me for being cheeky...
posted by cimbrog at 8:46 AM on March 25, 2009 [4 favorites]

The constant really rude comments directed towards sixcolors make me sick.

(on preview, good to know at least one person agrees with me. It's disgusting)
posted by iconomy at 8:52 AM on March 25, 2009 [6 favorites]

Oh great, another tag for them to take away from us

posted by TedW at 8:57 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

7What's in the box? What's in the booooxxx?

posted by gemmy at 9:03 AM on March 25, 2009 [6 favorites]

think

posted by middleclasstool at 9:16 AM on March 25, 2009 [9 favorites]

Box + Blink tag = The Metafilter equivalent of the nuclear option.
posted by Jofus at 9:17 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

a) MeTa isn't really for tryouts of stuff that doesn't make it on the blue

Sorry it came across as such - I really didn't feel it merited blue, but its a question that I'm genuinely curious about on a topic I'm interested in, yet I couldn't find a way to word it that I thought would work on the green. (Honestly all I could picture it turning into was a nightmare there for moderation purposes - clearly I wasn't far off).

b) MeTa is a bad place for super emotional stuff that is
I. on an emotional topic

Noted.

II. posted late at night

Can you elaborate here? Late at night for the US? I find myself now amongst that minority of me-fites that for many years I saw bitching about their general exclusion in considerations and assumptions about the way the site operates. I posted this in the middle of the morning, my time.

III. posted in that chatty sort of "what do you guys think?" way

Also noted. I tried to avoid this and was really hoping for more of the responses I got like this and this, and a mefi mail that I got from one user equally disgusted with where this thread went. Honestly now I feel like I wish I had a pony I could use to go back and best-answer their stuff in this thread, but again - back to the fact that this probably wouldn't work great on the green.

Sorry about the mess I've caused here. It honestly was the last thing I was aiming for, but I guess I've learned from what's happened and your thoughts.
posted by allkindsoftime at 9:19 AM on March 25, 2009

_/----\
\O---O/ vroom vroom

/----\_
vroom \O---O/ beep beep

posted by xbonesgt at 9:20 AM on March 25, 2009 [28 favorites]

My box

posted by CunningLinguist at 9:20 AM on March 25, 2009

Did I leave my kid in the car?
posted by pianomover at 9:23 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

Posting as: dersins (logout)




<><>Posting as:  <>dersins<>/a > (<>logout<>)<> 


[INSERT RECURSION HERE]

Note: Everyone needs a hug.
posted by dersins at 9:24 AM on March 25, 2009

Oh, man, I totally suck at that. Stupid live preview.
posted by dersins at 9:24 AM on March 25, 2009

O ← me /H\ / \

SOAP

posted by middleclasstool at 9:28 AM on March 25, 2009 [4 favorites]

Treasure chest
(RAWR! Mimic!)

posted by steef at 9:37 AM on March 25, 2009 [8 favorites]

Remember this post, everyone. In a years time, Reddit will have supplanted AskMe completely and we'll all wonder what happened. allkindsoftime will then point to this thread and our stupid little boxes and laugh from atop the pile of money he will have amassed by then.

Oh, and

box. huh-huh-huh.

I wouldn't be surprised if AskMe type functionality began appearing in places like Reddit. However, as you noted, the responses contain lots of noise. The moderation/community aspect of MetaFilter is a major reason why people come here and will continue to differentiate MetaFilter no matter what new options are offered elsewhere. Reddit Questions (Askit?) would still be Reddit in its nature.

posted by cimbrog at 9:37 AM on March 25, 2009

                            OO=7       why hello thar
                              ||
----------------------------||        o                   ||                  o      __o
         o                  ||                 o     |X__>
       ___o                 ||                __o
     (X___>--             __||__            |X__>     o
                         |      \                   __o
                         |       \                |X__>
   ______________________|________\_______________
  /                                               \____________   _
  \                                                            \ (_)
   \    O       O       O            uss lurkster               >=)
    \__________________________________________________________/ (_)

posted by Rhaomi at 9:38 AM on March 25, 2009 [22 favorites]

Can you elaborate here?

Yes. This was posted at 4:45 am my time and 1:45 am cortex/mathowie/pb time. Meaning unlikely mod intervention/attention for hours and hours. No big deal really, this certainly wasn't a "I need a mod opinion" sort of question, but I think this thread is a great example of how without even being totally "hey SHUT UP" about it, our presence early in MeTa threads can set a tone for how things go. As I think you said in your first comment: "unmoderated noise"

So, now you know. MeFi skews about 75%/25% US/non-US so yeah you're going to see this effect when you post stuff in the middle of the US night if people are inclined for any reason to be all peanut gallery about things. Emotional topics can make this sort of thing happen. I don't quite understand that, but I've definitely seen it over and over here.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:42 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

When can we see a finished box?
posted by evilcolonel at 9:43 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

think

posted by middleclasstool

Yup, they told me that in middle school, too!
posted by Night_owl at 9:49 AM on March 25, 2009

Yes. This was posted at 4:45 am my time and 1:45 am cortex/mathowie/pb time. Meaning unlikely mod intervention/attention for hours and hours.

Bingo. Add in to the mix the likelihood of the late-night US folks being (check all that apply)

[ ] punchy
[ ] silly
[ ] bored
[ ] drunk

and you've got a recipe for weirdness or silliness. I don't think this is an awesome thing, and it'd be great in my opinion if the site demographics were flat enough internationally that the graveyard shift was a bit less graveyardy here, but that's the shape of it.

It doesn't mean "don't ever do that" or anything—Metatalk is, like the rest of the site, open 24/7 with good reason—but it's something to take into account when you're deciding whether and when to make a post.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:52 AM on March 25, 2009

Add in to the mix the likelihood of the late-night US folks being

US + Canada actually, yeah.

I'm looking at you, gman
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:03 AM on March 25, 2009

MeFi skews about 75%/25% US/non-US so yeah you're going to see this effect when you post stuff in the middle of the US night

What's the proportion of american continents/non-american continents? There's at least a respectable contingent of us Canadians here, but I have no idea on central or south america. Probably not much - maybe shifting to like 80/20 or so?
posted by Lemurrhea at 10:13 AM on March 25, 2009

Metatalk is, like the rest of the site, open 24/7 with good reason—but it's something to take into account when you're deciding whether and when to make a post.

I make it a rule never to post while asleep.
posted by Elmore at 10:21 AM on March 25, 2009

Add in to the mix the likelihood of the late-night US folks being

What you call 'late-night', I refer to as 'early morning'. One can be pretty darn sure anything posted at 7am EST ain't getting deleted until jessamyn wakes up from her beauty sleep at around 9 or 10.

I'm not wearing my glasses, what the hell does the fine print up there say?
posted by gman at 10:23 AM on March 25, 2009

I'm not wearing my glasses, what the hell does the fine print up there say?

The ghetto red hot rude boy lickin shots in your area mad man terror on your block.
posted by chunking express at 10:28 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

mind = blownWoah.
OMG
W
T
F
posted by GuyZero at 10:30 AM on March 25, 2009

I never tried input fields before and now I know why. Oh well.
posted by GuyZero at 10:30 AM on March 25, 2009

There's lots of Canadians around; at least I get that impression.

posted by Caduceus at 10:31 AM on March 25, 2009

I can't figure out how to make the box tag work. I'm a sad panda.
posted by Caduceus at 10:32 AM on March 25, 2009

There is no Canadian Conspiracy. Really.
posted by GuyZero at 10:34 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

I'm pretty sure we just added fieldset and legend to the blacklist.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:41 AM on March 25, 2009

I am boxless :(
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:42 AM on March 25, 2009

What you call 'late-night', I refer to as 'early morning'.

What you call hell, gman calls home.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 10:47 AM on March 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

Bring it back!
posted by carsonb at 10:47 AM on March 25, 2009

I'm pretty sure we just added fieldset and legend to the blacklist.

Yours will be the first ass up against the box when the revolution comes, sir.
posted by middleclasstool at 10:47 AM on March 25, 2009

Indeed you did.
posted by Mister_A at 10:48 AM on March 25, 2009

Oh man, <button> doesn't work anymore either.

SAD TROMBONE
posted by carsonb at 10:49 AM on March 25, 2009

It was good while it lasted.
posted by Caduceus at 10:50 AM on March 25, 2009

I blame yeoz. And AIG.
posted by Mister_A at 10:50 AM on March 25, 2009

I'm pretty sure we just added fieldset and legend to the blacklist.

Is it a secret blacklist?
Don't make me try them all.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 10:51 AM on March 25, 2009

If I were not a lazy man, I'd start posting ASCII box joke comments just to spite you.

Consider yourself lucky.
posted by middleclasstool at 10:53 AM on March 25, 2009

WHY?
posted by schyler523 at 10:57 AM on March 25, 2009

+- hugs -----------------+
|                        |
|  I do appreciate it,   |
|    middleclasstool.    |
|                        |
+------------------------+

posted by cortex (staff) at 10:58 AM on March 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

cortex: "I'm pretty sure we just added fieldset and legend to the blacklist."

┌─You can break our borders...────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ┌─...but you can never take...─────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
│ │                                                                          ││
│ │    OUR FREEDOM                                                           ││
│ │                                                                          ││
│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

posted by Rhaomi at 10:59 AM on March 25, 2009 [6 favorites]

"Did I leave my kid in the car?"

Wait, I'm still wearing my slippers!
posted by klangklangston at 11:15 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

Late to the party as usual. No box for me.

+---------------------------+
|           Fuck.           |
+---------------------------+

posted by JeffK at 11:18 AM on March 25, 2009

So yeah, I already sent out some private apologies, but sorry for completely exploding this thread with boxiness. I was just getting sick of the sixcolors bashing in a thread that had nothing to do with her, and figured that posting a novel tag would do the trick. I had no idea just how much abuse you can get out of fieldset, but I guess the ingenuity of MeFites should never be questioned. I really enjoyed some of the box ascii though, you guys made me crack right up.
posted by baphomet at 11:20 AM on March 25, 2009

Bdo still works

These boxes work!

Right
Wrong

posted by klangklangston at 11:22 AM on March 25, 2009

Damn. Neither BDO nore Table works, though they work in preview.
posted by klangklangston at 11:23 AM on March 25, 2009

Does ~~del~~ins work, or do we have to use ~~strike~~?
posted by klangklangston at 11:26 AM on March 25, 2009

Live preview is a lie. Push-button preview is a disappointment.
posted by carsonb at 11:28 AM on March 25, 2009

_*~((({C _{L _{I C K T}H}E ^{B ^{U ^{T T O}N}}S})))~_*
posted by koeselitz at 11:28 AM on March 25, 2009 [4 favorites]

what i like about silly threads like this one is you think oh, but the mods will show up and ruin everything! and then cortex stumble in and everyone goes silent and then cortex goes heyyyy i brought some tequila!!!! and yay the party explodes like boom and then when everyone's passed out on the lawn jessamyn pulls up lowers her window and lifts her sunglasses and says, we have some rules here you know. and we stammer sooorrry muuumm we'll clean it up we swear and she goes good, well carry on then. and then cortex barges through the door with a plunger on his head and SCREAMS IIII AAAAAM PLUUUUNGERMAAAAAN oh hi jess but she just smiles and drives off.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:29 AM on March 25, 2009 [73 favorites]

How about ?

Now my box just needs sides!

posted by klangklangston at 11:31 AM on March 25, 2009

^{a^{b^{u^{s^{e &nbsp&nbsp m}u}c}h}?}
posted by baphomet at 11:31 AM on March 25, 2009

oh crap
posted by baphomet at 11:31 AM on March 25, 2009

Aww. More sadness. No HR.
posted by klangklangston at 11:31 AM on March 25, 2009

^{a^{b^{u^{s^{e &nbsp &nbsp m}u}c}h}?}
posted by baphomet at 11:32 AM on March 25, 2009

guess that doesn't work
posted by baphomet at 11:32 AM on March 25, 2009

Kbd curious Ninjatofu! Maybe?
posted by klangklangston at 11:33 AM on March 25, 2009

I assume map doesn't work, since we have no img src.
posted by klangklangston at 11:34 AM on March 25, 2009

ul - unordered list
ol - ordered list
dir - directory list (deprecated)
menu - menu list (deprecated)

OL seems to work…
posted by klangklangston at 11:37 AM on March 25, 2009

But not quite, since it removes the awesome roman numerals.
posted by klangklangston at 11:38 AM on March 25, 2009

posted by klangklangston at 11:40 AM on March 25, 2009

No opt group.
posted by klangklangston at 11:40 AM on March 25, 2009

Option value?
posted by klangklangston at 11:42 AM on March 25, 2009

Which fruit would you like for lunch?

Banana

None

posted by klangklangston at 11:44 AM on March 25, 2009

How about quotes?
posted by klangklangston at 11:46 AM on March 25, 2009

It looks like: definition lists; still work
but still I mourn: the loss of my friend; fieldset

posted by baphomet at 11:48 AM on March 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

Textarea?

posted by klangklangston at 11:48 AM on March 25, 2009

A^{A^{A^{R^RRGG}H}!}F_{I_{E_{L_DSET}}G}O^{N^{E^{? ^THE}D}E}U_{C_{E_{_YOU S}A}Y} !
posted by koeselitz at 11:49 AM on March 25, 2009 [6 favorites]

Does still work for teletype?
posted by klangklangston at 11:49 AM on March 25, 2009

Bet I can't change the title!
What is amusing is when the opening tag is deleted by the filter but the closing tag remains</iframe>
It was nice knowing you, <fieldset>. As a late registering member of this site, I thank you for the opportunity to participate in a crap flood long after <img> was removed.
posted by cimbrog at 11:59 AM on March 25, 2009

In the name of the most holy and individual Trinity

Did somebody call me?
posted by trinity8-director at 12:01 PM on March 25, 2009

I don't really see the difference between teletype, code, and kbd
posted by Navelgazer at 12:18 PM on March 25, 2009

I see your mock-up text boxes and I raise you an actual text box.

posted by Effigy2000 at 12:37 PM on March 25, 2009

Fuck! That worked in live preview. Oh well. Nevermind.
posted by Effigy2000 at 12:37 PM on March 25, 2009

I am boxless :(

Not me.
posted by JenMarie at 12:44 PM on March 25, 2009

O snap! Good one JenMarie.
posted by Mister_A at 12:49 PM on March 25, 2009

What's in the Box?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:07 PM on March 25, 2009

No 7even references? Lame.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:10 PM on March 25, 2009

people who think it's fun to take someone who has a hard time fitting in and then make fun of them in threads where they're not showing up. That's totally beyond the pale, not okay, and not how we do things here.

Can we get special dispensation for the one case of Meatbomb? Please?
posted by StickyCarpet at 1:10 PM on March 25, 2009

I'm pretty sure we just added fieldset and legend to the blacklist

And this should give us all hope, for when a blacklist is used instead of a whitelist, there will always be holes.

/me cracks his knuckles to start trying various encodings...

not really, but only 'cuz I got better things ta do today
posted by davejay at 1:18 PM on March 25, 2009

No 7even references? Lame.

It's covered.
posted by jerseygirl at 1:24 PM on March 25, 2009

Can we get special dispensation for the one case of Meatbomb? Please?

I won't go into more detail, but that would be a bad idea.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:24 PM on March 25, 2009

I'm pretty sure we just added fieldset and legend to the blacklist

In lieu of other global oppressors abuse of blacklists, I demand this list be made public for our approval!!!
posted by jmd82 at 1:25 PM on March 25, 2009

We have four boxes with which to defend our freedom: the soap box, the
ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.
— Unknown.

posted by lysdexic at 1:37 PM on March 25, 2009

No 7even references? Lame.

It's covered.

And the first, albeit more oblique, reference here.
posted by Bango Skank at 1:40 PM on March 25, 2009

Damn.
posted by lysdexic at 1:43 PM on March 25, 2009

Great, now I"m having flashbacks to my Paradox programming days, building a damned purchase order entriely out of ascii codes.

┌────┐
├────┤
└────┘
posted by lysdexic at 1:46 PM on March 25, 2009

_{_{_{_{It is probably my fault they took away <fieldset> Sorry.}}}}
posted by yeoz at 1:46 PM on March 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

Heh.
posted by Mister_A at 1:51 PM on March 25, 2009

Here's a Box for you.
posted by adamvasco at 2:07 PM on March 25, 2009

_{_{_{posted by baphomet at 4:27 PM on March 25

_{_{_{posted by baphomet at 4:27 PM on March 25}}}}}}
posted by baphomet at 2:30 PM on March 25, 2009

Success!
posted by baphomet at 2:30 PM on March 25, 2009

I love lysdexic's wobbly sandwich.

baphomet, please stop that.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:38 PM on March 25, 2009

I'm done now.
posted by baphomet at 2:38 PM on March 25, 2009

This comment is the movie trailer scene of my dreams.
posted by scrump at 3:35 PM on March 25, 2009

How is it possible that this thread isn't closed yet? Jessamyn, are you hoping for one last epic funny?
posted by davejay at 4:34 PM on March 25, 2009

Hey Joey, where you going with that gun in your paw.

                /\ /\
               (( Y((
                \ |\
                /  O~O
                \ _    |--.
                 \`-=--^-'
                  \ \
                 _/  \
                (  .  Y
               /"\ `--^--v--. .'===='
              / _ `--"T~\/~\ ///' 
             / " ~\.  !
       _    Y      Y./
      | |   |      |
      | l   |     / ./'
      | l   | | Y .^/
      |  l  | | |/| |
      |  \/' | Y | !
      l       l |_L______
       \,____{ __"~ __ ,\_,\_

posted by tellurian at 4:36 PM on March 25, 2009 [3 favorites]

Yes. This was posted at 4:45 am my time and 1:45 am cortex/mathowie/pb time. Meaning unlikely mod intervention/attention for hours and hours

Wouldn't that be prime vacapinta (the forgotten fifth Meatle) time, though?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:04 PM on March 25, 2009

Not saying he was asleep on the job or anything, just curious if he's still hooked into the juice.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:06 PM on March 25, 2009

vacapinta is around for obvious deletes and emergency closures, but he's neither tasked with, nor deserving of the concomitant grief that comes with, trying to do this sort of grey-area cat herding work.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:17 PM on March 25, 2009

Win?

posted by killdevil at 6:26 PM on March 25, 2009

MetaTalk: grey-area cat herding

Get it! Grey! Area!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:33 PM on March 25, 2009

. <----- the tiniest box
posted by exlotuseater at 8:12 PM on March 25, 2009

SAD TROMBONE
posted by carsonb at 11:49 AM on March 25 [+] [!]

I like this better.
posted by evilcolonel at 8:17 PM on March 25, 2009

Meatles? So I guess the answer is that vacapinta is there for the tragedy, not the comedy. I can dig it.

MetaTalk: grey-area cat herding

You know it doesn't like to be called that.
posted by lysdexic at 10:20 PM on March 25, 2009

hey, we have a new definition for a troll: "someone who has a hard time fitting in".

that's actually perfectly logically sound.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:34 AM on March 26, 2009

I prefer to be Billy Preston, the "Black Beatle" who lays down a piano track every now and then. Maybe you can call me the Midnight Meatle?
posted by vacapinta at 4:49 AM on March 26, 2009

vacapinta performing "Will it Go Round in Circles"
posted by SpiffyRob at 6:40 AM on March 26, 2009

I prefer "The Evil Midnight Mod What Mods At Midnight."

IT'S THE ONLY JIB I GOT, BABY
posted by middleclasstool at 7:11 AM on March 26, 2009 [2 favorites]

« Older Post containing pictures of a ... | No more "can I eat it&quo... Newer »

You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments

Just curious... March 25, 2009 1:45 AM Subscribe

Just curious...
March 25, 2009 1:45 AM Subscribe