Come with me and take on the Mefi burden.

February 19, 2002 3:42 PM

The Kafster's comment got me thinking. Anyone want to join me in refraining from posting anything "hot button" or anything so far left or right that all it will get is a bunch of flames? Come with me and take on the Mefi burden.
posted by geoff. to Etiquette/Policy at 3:42 PM (36 comments total)

Instead of telling people "this is the right way to do things", I thought instead having like an individual affirmation would be better and wouldn't incite those gosh darn rebels.

I think the approach of, "I'm not going to do it, but I'm not going to condemn those who do" sounds wholesome and just plain American.
posted by geoff. at 3:48 PM on February 19, 2002

That sounds like too much effort for me.

Can I just complain instead?
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:54 PM on February 19, 2002

No, I will not join you. Civility does not prevent the expression of any ideas I can think of ATM. Take the time to phrase statements impersonally and avoid inflammatory wording. Failing to do so will undermine any opportunity of genuinely influencing people's thinking, undercutting your efforts and wasting everyone's time, including the poster's. If how to make a civil post on a sensitive topic eludes you, then make the effort anyway and say in the post that you're concerned about maintaining civility and trying to do so.
posted by NortonDC at 3:56 PM on February 19, 2002

can we start more metatalk threads about previous metatalk threads about the group hand wringing of what's wrong with metafilter?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:58 PM on February 19, 2002

I'm just saying putting your comments in the original thread would have worked fine, no?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:58 PM on February 19, 2002

My mind just made the noise Pop Rocks make if you swill them with beer.
posted by dong_resin at 4:00 PM on February 19, 2002

I reluctantly agree with Mathowie, and therefore posted my response to this thread here.

Flame away.

And Dong? Pop Rocks don't go with beer. You use Pop Rocks with Kool-aid and Everclear. Didn't they teach you anything in college?
posted by ZachsMind at 4:09 PM on February 19, 2002

Ikes, okay, I thought it would be a good idea to start it's own thread... I guess not... this totally backfired... well I gambled... now I will crawl back in the hole.
posted by geoff. at 4:11 PM on February 19, 2002

I thought it would be a good idea....this totally backfired

Welcome to my world, geoff.
posted by jonmc at 4:14 PM on February 19, 2002

My world too, Geoff. Attempts at appealing to common sense do not hold water in MeFi.

I recommend just not FPP'ing, and MST3K'ing the people who do. Flippant one-liners. Zingers. Whatever you call it. I personally enjoy other people's zingers more than I do the mightier than thou crossfire schtick.

And yes I'm well aware I'm guilty of both.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:23 PM on February 19, 2002

What is this, a Doormat Of The Month Pageant?
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:35 PM on February 19, 2002

What is this, a Doormat Of The Month Pageant?


I'm not a doormat, I'm a whipping boy. Get it straight, Kaf.
posted by jonmc at 4:38 PM on February 19, 2002

Geoff wins the Swimwear portion, with ZachsMind's plea for world peace through patting puppies keeping him within striking distance. Jonmc wowed the judges with his evening gown.

Anyone's game.
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:39 PM on February 19, 2002

I'm not a doormat or a whipping boy. I'm a worthless piece of congealed slime not deserving of living under the refrigerator. Honestly Kafka if you're gonna open your mouth stop putting your foot in it. Sheesh!
posted by ZachsMind at 4:43 PM on February 19, 2002

And talent? MetaFilter has no talent competition?
posted by dness2 at 4:44 PM on February 19, 2002

And talent? MetaFilter has no talent competition?


*puts on tutu and begins tapdancing furiously*
posted by jonmc at 4:47 PM on February 19, 2002

*looks for his cheerleading baton*

What about the evening gown portion? Do they still even do that? Why do I feel like I'm on Family Feud all the sudden?

posted by ZachsMind at 4:49 PM on February 19, 2002

Flippant one-liners. Zingers.

"You zap my Zinger and I'll move your nose to another part of your face!"

(remember that one?)
posted by rushmc at 5:09 PM on February 19, 2002

Cue Joni Mitchell song and: I now understand - hey, I'm slow - what Matt said when he deleted one of my first posts. He said it created a circle jerk and that this was not good. Well it does and it isn't. And I'm changing my handle to circlejerk. Or maybe, given the self-flagellating mood here, just jerk.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 5:37 PM on February 19, 2002

I'm officially no longer commenting on posts that are references to posts in threads that are references to posts that are in reference to threads referring to previous statements made on MetaTalk.

Seriously, it's hard enough for me to keep up with the cult threads, much less maze through MeTa.
posted by eyeballkid at 5:52 PM on February 19, 2002

*sigh*
I never got in to college.
Every interview I kept answering them honestly when they'd sarcasticly ask me if I thought I was too smart to go there.
Shows what they knew.
Or what I knew...

Whatever.


Dance, monkey-john, dance!
posted by dong_resin at 7:22 PM on February 19, 2002

"can we start more metatalk threads about previous metatalk threads about the group hand wringing of what's wrong with metafilter?"
tha iz frikkin SA-sicnt. deadpan- bumper sticker -machine gun funny with a rearview cool that rolls its fingers when the cops roll by. F#%$ kissing ass but that is MeTa to a tee baby...

posted by clavdivs at 7:29 PM on February 19, 2002

MetaFilter: Three Doormats and a Circle Jerk.
posted by Kafkaesque at 7:31 PM on February 19, 2002

Leave this post alone... stop commenting... my dignity is being shred apart.
posted by geoff. at 7:37 PM on February 19, 2002

That last comment garnered a 9.8 from the Swedish judge. Nice going, geoff!
posted by Kafkaesque at 7:40 PM on February 19, 2002

... my dignity is being shred apart.

Um...what is this "dignity" thing you speak of , earthling?

Dance, monkey-john, dance!

sorry... I love ya, mammy.....
posted by jonmc at 7:47 PM on February 19, 2002

Dude...my hands are tired, my manhood is limp. Yet, I cannot help but continue to masturbate. Wheeeee!
posted by BlueTrain at 7:57 PM on February 19, 2002

Looovely, BlueTrain. Thanks for that.
posted by Marquis at 8:08 PM on February 19, 2002

Kafkaesque" "That last comment garnered a 9.8 from the Swedish judge. Nice going, geoff!"

Yes but they're giving Geoff the Gold anyway because the French judge accused herself of cheating. However, BlueTrain is now in 26th place because his lack of stamina killed him on that last performance. Good luck in 2006, Blue!
posted by ZachsMind at 1:03 AM on February 20, 2002

wow, I thought the original thread had devolved into wanking, I stand corrected... keep it to the cult threads people... that's why they're there.
posted by tj at 1:46 AM on February 20, 2002

And just when they were going to start whacking each other with folding chairs for that championship belt...
posted by y2karl at 1:54 AM on February 20, 2002

I love this place!
posted by bjgeiger at 3:01 AM on February 20, 2002

Leave this post alone... stop commenting...

geoff.

This thread gives a whole new meaning to your famous full stop. ;)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 4:01 AM on February 20, 2002

tj, this thread is a good example of why I think the cult threads are a bad idea. They spill out into the rest of the place every now and then. Matt will complain, eventually, and the chatter will die down for a bit. But the cycle will begin anew.

(Not that I'm bashing anybody, 'cause I'm far from the ideal MeFi member. I do think there's a place for stuff like this. Unfortunately, it's Yahoo Groups.)
posted by Doug at 9:01 AM on February 20, 2002

Maybe I don't get MetaFilter as a concept, but how can you expect to not have at least some chit-chat in a conversation based place? It's a natural part of discussion.
posted by dong_resin at 11:18 AM on February 20, 2002

'Some' is the operative word here. Or should be.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:00 PM on February 20, 2002