closed February 21, 2010 5:24 PM Subscribe
Is there some reason for the plethora of closed threads on metatalk recently ?
Either were having a run of terrible posters or the mods are becoming rather hypervigilant - let us either pelt these posters with tomatoes or force the mod annoyer to apologise for annoying the mods.
Does no one realise the elemental powers these mods possess ?
They can direct bolts of meta lightning from their meta fingertips.
At our meta golf clubs.
As we are meta holding them.
Or are these closed threads a sign that metafilter is nearing its end ?
Either were having a run of terrible posters or the mods are becoming rather hypervigilant - let us either pelt these posters with tomatoes or force the mod annoyer to apologise for annoying the mods.
Does no one realise the elemental powers these mods possess ?
They can direct bolts of meta lightning from their meta fingertips.
At our meta golf clubs.
As we are meta holding them.
Or are these closed threads a sign that metafilter is nearing its end ?
It is a sign of the end of metadays.
But seriously, it's because lots of users have recently been misinterpreting MetaTalk to be the place to make posts that aren't quite good enough for an FPP. Kind of like a MetaFilter B-list. And Metatalk is not a MetaFilter B-list.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:28 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
But seriously, it's because lots of users have recently been misinterpreting MetaTalk to be the place to make posts that aren't quite good enough for an FPP. Kind of like a MetaFilter B-list. And Metatalk is not a MetaFilter B-list.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:28 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
My take on it is that a lot of people have been having a "first day on the planet" kind of thing with MetaTalk - stumbling upon it and thinking that it's kind of a catch-all kind of thing, when really, there are a few rules. Mostly there have been a bunch of "feeler" posts for "If I posted this, would it be awesome?" and leaving that thread open is pointless because the answer is "Post it and find out, duh."
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:29 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:29 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
JINX.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:29 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:29 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
I suspect there's a connection between the plethora of closed threads and the plethora of completely fucking pointless threads.
I could be wrong, of course.
Nice use of the "of" tag, by the way. That's taxonomic gold right there, that is.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 5:29 PM on February 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
I could be wrong, of course.
Nice use of the "of" tag, by the way. That's taxonomic gold right there, that is.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 5:29 PM on February 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
There were three that I closed in the last day or two. One of them was a sort of "I'm not sure what this is doing here at all" situation, one was a "not what MetaTalk is for" situation [please don't use MeTa for a "why is there not a post on this?" question, it's ridiculous], and one the OP asked us to close. That's it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:30 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:30 PM on February 21, 2010
Then there was a fellow who was incensed that no one had posted about his favorite dead person, not realizing that the power to post was inside him all along, and all he needed was self-confidence, or ruby slippers, or some silly plot twist like that.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:30 PM on February 21, 2010 [7 favorites]
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:30 PM on February 21, 2010 [7 favorites]
I mean a sign in that the user base is no longer capable of producing metatalk worthy posts. It would surely be a tragic event. Perhaps people need to read a guide to producing a successful metatalk post.
What advice would older posters give re - how to make a successful metatalk post ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:31 PM on February 21, 2010
What advice would older posters give re - how to make a successful metatalk post ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:31 PM on February 21, 2010
There is no success in MetaTalk, there is only flame and snarkness.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:32 PM on February 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:32 PM on February 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
Then there was a fellow who was incensed that no one had posted about his favorite dead person, not realizing that the power to post was inside him all along, and all he needed was self-confidence, or ruby slippers, or some silly plot twist like that.
I sent him a private memail after I posted, apologizing if I had inadvertently stolen his thunder. Didn't spot the MeTa until after I posted. His only contribution to my FPP was "It's about goddamn time."
posted by zarq at 5:36 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
I sent him a private memail after I posted, apologizing if I had inadvertently stolen his thunder. Didn't spot the MeTa until after I posted. His only contribution to my FPP was "It's about goddamn time."
posted by zarq at 5:36 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh no! I violated the JINX. What is my punishment? I can't remember - I played Phoenix on my TI83 through middle school.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:36 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:36 PM on February 21, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments but open for unicorns.
posted by The Whelk at 5:38 PM on February 21, 2010 [13 favorites]
« Older How does Mefi feel about posts...
This thread is closed to new comments.
so clever
posted by Rhaomi at 5:39 PM on February 21, 2010 [6 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
so clever
posted by Rhaomi at 5:39 PM on February 21, 2010 [6 favorites]
I have now seen what I believe to be the balls of Greg Nog's cat.
posted by herodotus at 5:42 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by herodotus at 5:42 PM on February 21, 2010
I wonder why you keep putting ? A space before your question mark ? And then drawing absurd conclusions ? Like is MetaFilter nearing its end ?
posted by kate blank at 5:43 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by kate blank at 5:43 PM on February 21, 2010
I'm going to start banning people for that "this thread is closed to new comments" stuff, fair warning. I have a whole new type of ban too. I'm sort of excited about it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:44 PM on February 21, 2010 [37 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:44 PM on February 21, 2010 [37 favorites]
Oooh is it hellban? Is it hellban? Can I watch?
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:45 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:45 PM on February 21, 2010
I like the video where Greg Nog is petting his cat's head and it's all fuzzy and doing adorable pawing - can you tell I'm in kitty withdrawal cause of housemate allergies? CAN YOU?
posted by The Whelk at 5:45 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 5:45 PM on February 21, 2010
I don't think there's anything going on here except a random spate of threads fit for closing. Things go up and down here, and just as there are those rare days with no metatalk posts at all, there are days where there's a lot, and days where there's a larger share of either asked-and-answered or this-isn't-a-good-idea posts.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:46 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:46 PM on February 21, 2010
No it is not a hellban. It's contextually appropriate. It lets you type really long comments and then when you try to post them it says the thread closed five seconds before you hit "post." You're only banned for comments that take longer than ten minutes to type.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:47 PM on February 21, 2010 [28 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:47 PM on February 21, 2010 [28 favorites]
Yes, but haven't you put up the rest of the podcast? Is it TOO HOT FOR THE WEBS?!?
posted by The Whelk at 5:47 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 5:47 PM on February 21, 2010
Needle Matt for podcast updates, that's his baby.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:48 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:48 PM on February 21, 2010
Something something Norway hockey, amirite? Also, would it be OK for me to make FPP about a guy I don't know who might not be missing?
posted by fixedgear at 5:48 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by fixedgear at 5:48 PM on February 21, 2010
Most of them were downright stupid and/or pointless.
posted by special-k at 5:48 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by special-k at 5:48 PM on February 21, 2010
jessamyn: I'm going to start banning people for that "this thread is closed to new comments" stuff, fair warning. I have a whole new type of ban too. I'm sort of excited about it.
Proposed MetaTalk post:
posted by Kattullus at 5:52 PM on February 21, 2010 [3 favorites]
Proposed MetaTalk post:
We're rolling out a new type of ban. Help us test it out! Comment in this thread to get banned.I'm just really curious to find out who'd actually comment in that thread.
posted by Kattullus at 5:52 PM on February 21, 2010 [3 favorites]
This is where I worry that I've been amazingly annoying for a while and just been indulged. I'm gonna go read about about the 1600s and not troll the internet trying to find an excuse to post a long story about robots and possibly Kara Trace.
posted by The Whelk at 5:55 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 5:55 PM on February 21, 2010
No it is not a hellban. It's contextually appropriate. It lets you type really long comments and then when you try to post them it says the thread closed five seconds before you hit "post." You're only banned for comments that take longer than ten minutes to type.
And you call it The Ethereal Bligh?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:56 PM on February 21, 2010 [11 favorites]
And you call it The Ethereal Bligh?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:56 PM on February 21, 2010 [11 favorites]
Well Mr. Whelk, I find you tremendously amusing. But that could just mean I've been amazingly annoying too...
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:57 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:57 PM on February 21, 2010
Kattullus, I would totally comment in that thread.
Greg Nog, thank you for showing us your cat's balls. That was the first time I ever saw cat balls. They're a bit disturbing, to be honest. But, you know, thanks.
posted by brina at 5:59 PM on February 21, 2010
Greg Nog, thank you for showing us your cat's balls. That was the first time I ever saw cat balls. They're a bit disturbing, to be honest. But, you know, thanks.
posted by brina at 5:59 PM on February 21, 2010
Greg Nog, have you seen "Prospero's Books"? Because you can totally see Caliban's balls in that too.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:01 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:01 PM on February 21, 2010
I sent him a private memail after I posted, apologizing if I had inadvertently stolen his thunder. Didn't spot the MeTa until after I posted. His only contribution to my FPP was "It's about goddamn time."
actually infini had one closed after he asked if anybody had any good FPP ideas lying around that he could develop. I memailed him to try the deleted FPPs log, for items torpedoed due to lack of context or links or crappy development or whatever. but then it occurred to me that such an action might be taboo like dating your best friend's ex.
what are the cultural mores concerning ownership of deleted FPPs? are they rubbish, free to be converted into found art by anyone who cares? or do they remain the property of the OP?
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:06 PM on February 21, 2010
actually infini had one closed after he asked if anybody had any good FPP ideas lying around that he could develop. I memailed him to try the deleted FPPs log, for items torpedoed due to lack of context or links or crappy development or whatever. but then it occurred to me that such an action might be taboo like dating your best friend's ex.
what are the cultural mores concerning ownership of deleted FPPs? are they rubbish, free to be converted into found art by anyone who cares? or do they remain the property of the OP?
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:06 PM on February 21, 2010
jessamyn: "I'm going to start banning people for that "this thread is closed to new comments" stuff, fair warning."
So close... I saw my entire posting history flash before my eyes.
(sorry, won't happen again)
posted by Rhaomi at 6:09 PM on February 21, 2010
So close... I saw my entire posting history flash before my eyes.
(sorry, won't happen again)
posted by Rhaomi at 6:09 PM on February 21, 2010
I'm just really curious to find out who'd actually comment in that thread.
DU
Astro Zombie
and of course *looks up thread* The Whelk, I mean duh.
posted by nola at 6:09 PM on February 21, 2010
DU
Astro Zombie
and of course *looks up thread* The Whelk, I mean duh.
posted by nola at 6:09 PM on February 21, 2010
Greg Nog, like brina I had also never seen cat balls.
If he's a little bit down in the dumps after the procedure and you want to cheer the little guy up, please feel free to tell your cat I will never, ever forget his nutsack.
posted by herodotus at 6:13 PM on February 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
If he's a little bit down in the dumps after the procedure and you want to cheer the little guy up, please feel free to tell your cat I will never, ever forget his nutsack.
posted by herodotus at 6:13 PM on February 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
what are the cultural mores concerning ownership of deleted FPPs? are they rubbish, free to be converted into found art by anyone who cares? or do they remain the property of the OP?
Traditionally they're up for grabs if someone cares to make a better post on the matter. This is not to be done sarcastically nor hastily, or you risk another deletion and possible further action against you on the grounds of 'stunt posting'. Converting them to found art is A-OK, but don't post it to the front page. Sell it at your next garage sale or pin it up in your bathroom or write an article for the Onion or something.
posted by carsonb at 6:13 PM on February 21, 2010
Traditionally they're up for grabs if someone cares to make a better post on the matter. This is not to be done sarcastically nor hastily, or you risk another deletion and possible further action against you on the grounds of 'stunt posting'. Converting them to found art is A-OK, but don't post it to the front page. Sell it at your next garage sale or pin it up in your bathroom or write an article for the Onion or something.
posted by carsonb at 6:13 PM on February 21, 2010
I can't believe I clicked a link that said "my cat's balls." I mean, really, what was I expecting to see?
posted by slogger at 6:15 PM on February 21, 2010 [14 favorites]
posted by slogger at 6:15 PM on February 21, 2010 [14 favorites]
How did I just go back in time two hours. Does that mean I get to have dinner again?
posted by slogger at 6:22 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by slogger at 6:22 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
That's been around for a while actually. slogger, I think liketitanic is someplace on the west coast.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:23 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:23 PM on February 21, 2010
Converting them to found art is A-OK, but don't post it to the front page. Sell it at your next garage sale or pin it up in your bathroom or write an article for the Onion or something.
posted by carsonb at 9:13 PM on February 21 [+] [!]
that was almost helpful
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:25 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by carsonb at 9:13 PM on February 21 [+] [!]
that was almost helpful
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:25 PM on February 21, 2010
Greg Nog, you could always hook him up with a great big set of Neuticles afterwards. I'm pretty sure they make them in kittycat sizes. You could also go for Great Dane-sized ones. As a conversation piece or something.
posted by elizardbits at 6:39 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by elizardbits at 6:39 PM on February 21, 2010
This is like ShitMeTa2.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:43 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:43 PM on February 21, 2010
jessamyn: “There were three that I closed in the last day or two.”
Well, and it was less than a month ago that I was noticing that cortex closed four metatalk threads in less than 24 hours.
Not that that's a bad thing. All were warranted. Just thought it was sort of humorous.
posted by koeselitz at 6:55 PM on February 21, 2010
Well, and it was less than a month ago that I was noticing that cortex closed four metatalk threads in less than 24 hours.
Not that that's a bad thing. All were warranted. Just thought it was sort of humorous.
posted by koeselitz at 6:55 PM on February 21, 2010
I just noticed that sgt.serenity has such a beautiful plethora.
posted by special-k at 7:01 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by special-k at 7:01 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
We've.
Got.
A brand new ban called "Punch his ass right in the dick."
posted by sageleaf at 7:07 PM on February 21, 2010 [3 favorites]
Got.
A brand new ban called "Punch his ass right in the dick."
posted by sageleaf at 7:07 PM on February 21, 2010 [3 favorites]
I want a ruling on the JINX thing. Is it a preview then post and "Oh damn, someone else wrote the same thing!"? Or is it if someone posts within the same minute? If it's like ten minutes later can you still be all "YEAH JINX...because i didn't preview...!"?
posted by P.o.B. at 7:09 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by P.o.B. at 7:09 PM on February 21, 2010
I think it's important in these sorts of circumstances to remember that random doesn't mean predictable. It's perfectly possible for random to be a long string of zeros and then a one or a bunch of days with no closings and then a spate.
If someone more conversant than I am in statistical analysis wants to do some sort of Poisson Distribution wackiness with closings to see if they behave in aggregate in a like predictably random way, that'd be neat.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:12 PM on February 21, 2010
If someone more conversant than I am in statistical analysis wants to do some sort of Poisson Distribution wackiness with closings to see if they behave in aggregate in a like predictably random way, that'd be neat.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:12 PM on February 21, 2010
that was almost helpful
I have put many beautiful pinatas in the storeroom, each of them filled with little surprises.
posted by carsonb at 7:15 PM on February 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
I have put many beautiful pinatas in the storeroom, each of them filled with little surprises.
posted by carsonb at 7:15 PM on February 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
Wait. Cats have balls?
Well then. That would explain this.
posted by netbros at 7:34 PM on February 21, 2010
Well then. That would explain this.
posted by netbros at 7:34 PM on February 21, 2010
yes yes i know about the punctuation and spacing, but where were you when metatalk was bereft of an interesting thread, a place to engage in discourse and talk a load of pish ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:37 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:37 PM on February 21, 2010
That was actually my first cat-balls encounter. A memory for a lifetime.
posted by deacon_blues at 7:38 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by deacon_blues at 7:38 PM on February 21, 2010
And you call it The Ethereal Bligh?
The Ethereal Blight, surely.
posted by ODiV at 7:40 PM on February 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
The Ethereal Blight, surely.
posted by ODiV at 7:40 PM on February 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
but where were you when metatalk was bereft of an interesting thread, a place to engage in discourse and talk a load of pish ?
I was living for a dream, loving for a moment
Taking on the world... that was just my style
posted by herodotus at 7:41 PM on February 21, 2010
I was living for a dream, loving for a moment
Taking on the world... that was just my style
posted by herodotus at 7:41 PM on February 21, 2010
some sort of Poisson Distribution
Is that what you call it when FiskBike does all the work?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:43 PM on February 21, 2010 [11 favorites]
Is that what you call it when FiskBike does all the work?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:43 PM on February 21, 2010 [11 favorites]
So I'm the only one here who thought the cat balls link was going to show actual cat toys purchased separately from the kitten? Err, that is, fabric or plastic ball-shaped toys, with catnip or a bell inside? Balls that are not-testicles?
I clicked the link and was enlightened, as that poor little guy will soon be.
posted by maudlin at 7:46 PM on February 21, 2010
I clicked the link and was enlightened, as that poor little guy will soon be.
posted by maudlin at 7:46 PM on February 21, 2010
Pfffft. I'm not afraid of this "whole new type of ban."
just kidding
posted by marxchivist at 7:53 PM on February 21, 2010
just kidding
posted by marxchivist at 7:53 PM on February 21, 2010
Did ZenithNadir feel so bad about his MeTa faux pas that he disabled his acct? That makes me a little sad...
posted by emilyd22222 at 7:54 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by emilyd22222 at 7:54 PM on February 21, 2010
You're only banned for comments that take longer than ten minutes to type.
Wow, as a sysadmin of twenty+ years, and well acquantied with evil, there's only two things I can really say here.
1) I love you.
2) That's my hat.
I like that hat.
posted by eriko at 7:56 PM on February 21, 2010
Wow, as a sysadmin of twenty+ years, and well acquantied with evil, there's only two things I can really say here.
1) I love you.
2) That's my hat.
I like that hat.
posted by eriko at 7:56 PM on February 21, 2010
cortex: "If someone more conversant than I am in statistical analysis wants to do some sort of Poisson Distribution wackiness with closings to see if they behave in aggregate in a like predictably random way, that'd be neat"
I'm pretty sure this is how 2012 started.
posted by graventy at 7:56 PM on February 21, 2010
I'm pretty sure this is how 2012 started.
posted by graventy at 7:56 PM on February 21, 2010
I have a whole new type of ban too. I'm sort of excited about it.Does Metafilter finally support hell bans?
posted by planet at 8:01 PM on February 21, 2010
Hell bans are for amateurs.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:02 PM on February 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:02 PM on February 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
You guys, I'm sort of torn here. Because I usually think Greg Nog makes amusing posts and I like to read them. But then I also want to never, ever forgive him for foisting his cat's balls upon this thread.
(Yes. I did click that link, and what did I expect was going to happen?)
posted by howrobotsaremade at 8:22 PM on February 21, 2010
(Yes. I did click that link, and what did I expect was going to happen?)
posted by howrobotsaremade at 8:22 PM on February 21, 2010
actually infini had one closed after he asked if anybody had any good FPP ideas lying around that he could develop. I memailed him to try the deleted FPPs log, for items torpedoed due to lack of context or links or crappy development or whatever. but then it occurred to me that such an action might be taboo like dating your best friend's ex.
I'm looking forward to his next post: a conglomeration of defanged spam links, 18 doubles and an editorial about that whoremonger Sarah Palin.
posted by zarq at 8:27 PM on February 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm looking forward to his next post: a conglomeration of defanged spam links, 18 doubles and an editorial about that whoremonger Sarah Palin.
posted by zarq at 8:27 PM on February 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
You're only banned for comments that take longer than ten minutes to type.
NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by zarq at 8:29 PM on February 21, 2010
NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by zarq at 8:29 PM on February 21, 2010
You're only banned for comments that take longer than ten minutes to type.
To be truly evil, you'd apply this to MeFi posts, not just comments. Do you know how long it takes me to compose a #@&%*($|^!!!! FPP!?
posted by zarq at 8:31 PM on February 21, 2010
To be truly evil, you'd apply this to MeFi posts, not just comments. Do you know how long it takes me to compose a #@&%*($|^!!!! FPP!?
posted by zarq at 8:31 PM on February 21, 2010
Who are all these people who can live on the planet for decades and never see a cat's balls?
posted by mediareport at 8:32 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mediareport at 8:32 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
no pressure, infini
posted by toodleydoodley at 8:34 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by toodleydoodley at 8:34 PM on February 21, 2010
so clever
posted by Rhaomi at 8:39 PM on February 21 [2 favorites +] [!]
Actually, it was. When I was reading the comments here earlier, I totally thought it was done and closed the tab. :P
In the dictionary, under "Gullible" it says "See Zarq."
posted by zarq at 8:35 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Rhaomi at 8:39 PM on February 21 [2 favorites +] [!]
Actually, it was. When I was reading the comments here earlier, I totally thought it was done and closed the tab. :P
In the dictionary, under "Gullible" it says "See Zarq."
posted by zarq at 8:35 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
no pressure, infini
Oh, no no no. Now I want to see infini create something epic! :D
posted by zarq at 8:36 PM on February 21, 2010
Oh, no no no. Now I want to see infini create something epic! :D
posted by zarq at 8:36 PM on February 21, 2010
Nowhere is a listing of what is a good post to MetaTalk. Not on the posting page or FAQ. Maybe a link to the Wiki?
posted by ALongDecember at 8:38 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by ALongDecember at 8:38 PM on February 21, 2010
Oh! I read my book and then watched Outrage and now I've got a twitch in my eye that hasn't been there since my Bread And Circus Days and I want to build a statue to Barney Frank.
posted by The Whelk at 8:39 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 8:39 PM on February 21, 2010
but where were you when metatalk was bereft of an interesting thread, a place to engage in discourse and talk a load of pish ?
It was then that I carried you.
posted by jtron at 8:41 PM on February 21, 2010 [5 favorites]
It was then that I carried you.
posted by jtron at 8:41 PM on February 21, 2010 [5 favorites]
zarq: "To be truly evil, you'd apply this to MeFi posts, not just comments. Do you know how long it takes me to compose a #@&%*($|^!!!! FPP!? "
Compose in Notepad, mofo, it's what all the cool kids do.
Actually the cool kids probably use Vim or some Linux Notepad variant that's soooo much better and free and open source and shit.
posted by graventy at 8:48 PM on February 21, 2010
Compose in Notepad, mofo, it's what all the cool kids do.
Actually the cool kids probably use Vim or some Linux Notepad variant that's soooo much better and free and open source and shit.
posted by graventy at 8:48 PM on February 21, 2010
I don't think the col kids are on Metafilter, they're all smoking drugs behind the gym and getting handjobs in the woods and listening to devil music.
*kicks rock with sneaker*
I wish i was cool.
posted by The Whelk at 8:51 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
*kicks rock with sneaker*
I wish i was cool.
posted by The Whelk at 8:51 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
howrobotsaremade: But then I also want to never, ever forgive him for foisting his cat's balls upon this thread.
I didn't think that picture was that bad, certainly nothing to compare to what I've been exposed to making typos in Google Image Search.
posted by Kattullus at 8:52 PM on February 21, 2010
I didn't think that picture was that bad, certainly nothing to compare to what I've been exposed to making typos in Google Image Search.
posted by Kattullus at 8:52 PM on February 21, 2010
I'm just really curious to find out who'd actually comment in that thread.
I would. And then grapefruitmoon would tell me I was wrong.
So, why is this thread still open?
posted by cjorgensen at 8:56 PM on February 21, 2010
I would. And then grapefruitmoon would tell me I was wrong.
So, why is this thread still open?
posted by cjorgensen at 8:56 PM on February 21, 2010
It wasn't really, but for some reason I am inexplicably weirded out about seeing the private parts on animals. Like if I ever had one of those kinds of dogs with a curling up tail, I would probably have to put pants on it.
posted by howrobotsaremade at 8:59 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by howrobotsaremade at 8:59 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
"Plethora" is one of my favourite words. Also "myriad". Did you know that the collective noun for plethora is "a myriad of plethoras"?
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:06 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:06 PM on February 21, 2010
"Plethora" is one of my favourite words.
1 : a bodily condition characterized by an excess of blood and marked by turgescence and a florid complexion
There is always a reason.
posted by Wolof at 9:16 PM on February 21, 2010
1 : a bodily condition characterized by an excess of blood and marked by turgescence and a florid complexion
There is always a reason.
posted by Wolof at 9:16 PM on February 21, 2010
I cleaned my kitchen AND my herb garden today. I would like a mimosa.
posted by The Whelk at 9:18 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 9:18 PM on February 21, 2010
turgid dahlia: "Plethora" is one of my favourite words.
Bulbous Bouffant.
plethora macadamia bamboozled gazebo igloo ploy
posted by Kattullus at 9:30 PM on February 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
Bulbous Bouffant.
plethora macadamia bamboozled gazebo igloo ploy
posted by Kattullus at 9:30 PM on February 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
Speaking of words, I'm always kinda surprised that the word "gleet", meaning a mucopurulent urethral discharge or a condition of urethral inflammation causing such a discharge, isn't more popular on the Internet. You'd think it would be.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:31 PM on February 21, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:31 PM on February 21, 2010 [3 favorites]
"You're only banned for comments that take longer than ten minutes to type."
But, but I have this friend here that although quite earnest and likeable enough is a little bit slow.
posted by vapidave at 9:42 PM on February 21, 2010
But, but I have this friend here that although quite earnest and likeable enough is a little bit slow.
posted by vapidave at 9:42 PM on February 21, 2010
Me-Ow! My Balls!
posted by telstar at 10:08 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by telstar at 10:08 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments. lots of hard returns
posted by grobstein at 10:47 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by grobstein at 10:47 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
Important clarification needed: Mimosas while cleaning the kitchen, or afterwards?
posted by mollymayhem at 11:11 PM on February 21, 2010
posted by mollymayhem at 11:11 PM on February 21, 2010
jessamyn writes "No it is not a hellban. It's contextually appropriate. It lets you type really long comments and then when you try to post them it says the thread closed five seconds before you hit 'post.' You're only banned for comments that take longer than ten minutes to type."
Pfft! That isn't going to catch any old timers used to thwarting JRuns with notepad.
posted by Mitheral at 11:34 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
Pfft! That isn't going to catch any old timers used to thwarting JRuns with notepad.
posted by Mitheral at 11:34 PM on February 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
"Important clarification needed: Mimosas while cleaning the kitchen, or afterwards?"
I relay the judges ruling: Mimosas while, vodka rocks with a wedge of lime afterwards.
posted by vapidave at 12:12 AM on February 22, 2010
I relay the judges ruling: Mimosas while, vodka rocks with a wedge of lime afterwards.
posted by vapidave at 12:12 AM on February 22, 2010
Great. Now I want a mimosa, a vodka on the rocks, and a pair of ruby slippers.
Because then I can get drunk & click my heels together to get the image of GregNog's cat's balls out of my head.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 12:38 AM on February 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
Because then I can get drunk & click my heels together to get the image of GregNog's cat's balls out of my head.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 12:38 AM on February 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
Who are all these people who can live on the planet for decades and never see a cat's balls?
Seriously.
My last encounter with cat's balls was a a stray my mom had adopted. She had named the kitten Sallypants. Then the balls showed up, and she changed his name... to Mr. Sallypants.
Mr. Sallypants subsequently lost said balls, and turned to a life of crime, stealing My Little Ponies and other small objects, which he stashes under a rug in the living room. I am unsure if it was the loss of his balls, his odd name, or society that is to blame.
posted by louche mustachio at 1:25 AM on February 22, 2010 [6 favorites]
Also, I believe the scientifical internets term is "harblz."
As in "Mai harblz. Let me show you them." or "OH NOES! Plz don't cuts off mai harblz!"
posted by louche mustachio at 1:30 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
As in "Mai harblz. Let me show you them." or "OH NOES! Plz don't cuts off mai harblz!"
posted by louche mustachio at 1:30 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
I would. And then grapefruitmoon would tell me I was wrong.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa? Do I have some kind of reputation for telling people that they're wrong?
*rubs eyes* It's early in the morning and I don't even know who I am right now.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:32 AM on February 22, 2010
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa? Do I have some kind of reputation for telling people that they're wrong?
*rubs eyes* It's early in the morning and I don't even know who I am right now.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:32 AM on February 22, 2010
You one is one except for you. And doppelgangers. And twins. And clones. And Alternate universe doubles.
I hope I've cleared that up.
posted by The Whelk at 5:26 AM on February 22, 2010
I hope I've cleared that up.
posted by The Whelk at 5:26 AM on February 22, 2010
some sort of Poisson Distribution
Is that what you call it when FiskBike does all the work?
Oh god, I'm not sure what's more scary:
posted by FishBike at 5:33 AM on February 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
Is that what you call it when FiskBike does all the work?
Oh god, I'm not sure what's more scary:
- That cortex used the phrase 'Poisson distribution'
- That I actually know what that is
- That I have a network performance analysis textbook, discussing telephone switches and data networks, that makes extensive use of that term, and that I read for fun, and that's why I know what a Poisson distribution is
- That I'm considering hauling that book out again tonight to see if I can actually understand the math behind it this time, to figure out the distribution of MeTa thread closures to see if they actually are Poisson.
- That I used HTML ordered list and list item tags to make this list, instead of just manually typing the numbers
posted by FishBike at 5:33 AM on February 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
Poisson Distribution is totally a French inde pop band.
posted by The Whelk at 5:57 AM on February 22, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 5:57 AM on February 22, 2010
Plethora is also used incorrectly most of the time. It really means an excess of things, as in too many, when most people use it just to mean a lot of things. In this case the OP got it right. Nice job!
posted by ekroh at 6:30 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by ekroh at 6:30 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
I just want to know how they got away with calling that guy "boner" on tv.
posted by morganannie at 6:59 AM on February 22, 2010
posted by morganannie at 6:59 AM on February 22, 2010
infini is female I think.
posted by paduasoy at 6:26 AM on February 22 [+] [!]
see, that's so cool how on teh interwebz nobody knows you're a woman in finland. I never believe in profile pix because I assume they're just whatever avatar you decided to be this week.
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:11 AM on February 22, 2010
posted by paduasoy at 6:26 AM on February 22 [+] [!]
see, that's so cool how on teh interwebz nobody knows you're a woman in finland. I never believe in profile pix because I assume they're just whatever avatar you decided to be this week.
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:11 AM on February 22, 2010
Poisson Distribution is totally a French surplus-fish social-welfare program. Damn socialists!
posted by jtron at 7:18 AM on February 22, 2010
posted by jtron at 7:18 AM on February 22, 2010
Plethora ... used incorrectly most of the time ... really means ... most people use it just to mean ...
Doesn't a word mean what most people use it to mean?
posted by OmieWise at 7:19 AM on February 22, 2010
Doesn't a word mean what most people use it to mean?
posted by OmieWise at 7:19 AM on February 22, 2010
Doesn't a word mean what most people use it to mean?
Your probably right.
posted by zarq at 7:46 AM on February 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
Your probably right.
posted by zarq at 7:46 AM on February 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
I, for one, welcome our new mod overlords.
posted by idiomatika at 7:50 AM on February 22, 2010
posted by idiomatika at 7:50 AM on February 22, 2010
Your probably right.
I C what U did their. Do U C what I did did?
/not prescriptivist
Wait, what? I've confused myself.
posted by OmieWise at 7:57 AM on February 22, 2010
I C what U did their. Do U C what I did did?
/not prescriptivist
Wait, what? I've confused myself.
posted by OmieWise at 7:57 AM on February 22, 2010
If we're going to be all "using the wrong words for things" today, it wouldn't be complete without a reference to the ode to the spelling checker.
posted by FishBike at 8:02 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by FishBike at 8:02 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm just really curious to find out who'd actually comment in that thread.
DU
Astro Zombie
Hey! What the! I don't comment in every single thread.
(Checks commenting history)
Well, now I do. But I wasn't going to comment in this one until you mentioned me by name.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:40 AM on February 22, 2010
DU
Astro Zombie
Hey! What the! I don't comment in every single thread.
(Checks commenting history)
Well, now I do. But I wasn't going to comment in this one until you mentioned me by name.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:40 AM on February 22, 2010
OmieWise -- I usually refer to the dictionary on these matters, since you have to have some kind of standard. I use Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition, the standard for AP and most newspapers. So while the editor in me doesn't insist on using healthful instead of healthy or expected instead of anticipated, there are only two meanings for plethora listed in my dictionary, and the sense of "a lot" is not one of them. So I guess you should read my comment with that in mind.
posted by ekroh at 8:52 AM on February 22, 2010
posted by ekroh at 8:52 AM on February 22, 2010
while. while cleaning. which is maybe the problem?
You say problem, I say opportunity!
Guess I need to go buy some champagne. My kitchen is a mess.
posted by mollymayhem at 8:53 AM on February 22, 2010
You say problem, I say opportunity!
Guess I need to go buy some champagne. My kitchen is a mess.
posted by mollymayhem at 8:53 AM on February 22, 2010
i know my plethoras, that all im saying.
posted by sgt.serenity at 9:00 AM on February 22, 2010
posted by sgt.serenity at 9:00 AM on February 22, 2010
Let me quickly clear something up here; I am not the new Ban. The mods have been really up front about the fact that they like pretty much everyone here, so, barring some unbelievably ridiculous comment catastrophe, there is simply no way they would deploy me in the event of Something Bad happening.
Not after what happened last time.
In my defense, I did use the word "Everything?" when I asked for clarification, I just don't think they understood the full implications...
posted by quin at 9:17 AM on February 22, 2010
Not after what happened last time.
In my defense, I did use the word "Everything?" when I asked for clarification, I just don't think they understood the full implications...
posted by quin at 9:17 AM on February 22, 2010
> I use Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition, the standard for AP and most newspapers.
I've never worked for AP or newspapers, but in every editorial office I've worked in, the standard is Merriam-Webster's Collegiate. The latest edition of that is the 11th, which has the following definition: "excess, superfluity; also: profusion, abundance." So it's fine either way.
posted by languagehat at 9:19 AM on February 22, 2010
I've never worked for AP or newspapers, but in every editorial office I've worked in, the standard is Merriam-Webster's Collegiate. The latest edition of that is the 11th, which has the following definition: "excess, superfluity; also: profusion, abundance." So it's fine either way.
posted by languagehat at 9:19 AM on February 22, 2010
I usually refer to the dictionary on these matters, since you have to have some kind of standard.
Not according to my standard.
posted by jtron at 9:27 AM on February 22, 2010
Not according to my standard.
posted by jtron at 9:27 AM on February 22, 2010
So it's fine either way.
Sure, I guess. If you really want to use Merriam-Webster's Collegiate. But that's not gonna fly in the New World.
posted by ekroh at 9:32 AM on February 22, 2010
Sure, I guess. If you really want to use Merriam-Webster's Collegiate. But that's not gonna fly in the New World.
posted by ekroh at 9:32 AM on February 22, 2010
My next question is:
Who is Justin Bieber and why can't I stop crying over him?
posted by P.o.B. at 1:01 PM on February 22, 2010
Who is Justin Bieber and why can't I stop crying over him?
posted by P.o.B. at 1:01 PM on February 22, 2010
Is there some reason for the plethora of closed threads on metatalk recently ?
Pre-Moderation Syndrome
Timecube stylee !
posted by y2karl at 1:27 PM on February 22, 2010
Pre-Moderation Syndrome
Timecube stylee !
posted by y2karl at 1:27 PM on February 22, 2010
No it is not a hellban. It's contextually appropriate. It lets you type really long comments and then when you try to post them it says the thread closed five seconds before you hit "post." You're only banned for comments that take longer than ten minutes to type.
I suppose you expect me to attribute the ten times this has already happened to me to coincidence rather than the long string of monstrous experiments that have led to the final perfection of this inhumanly cruel horror.
posted by jamjam at 4:47 PM on February 22, 2010
I suppose you expect me to attribute the ten times this has already happened to me to coincidence rather than the long string of monstrous experiments that have led to the final perfection of this inhumanly cruel horror.
posted by jamjam at 4:47 PM on February 22, 2010
Well now here's a thing. I was looking at thread closure statistics for MetaTalk to see if they've been relatively consistent over time, or increasing over time, or what. I'm surprised to find out the rate is actually decreasing over time, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of MeTa threads flagged as closed.
Here's a count of the number of closed MeTa threads, by quarter:
Here's a count of the number of closed MeTa threads, by quarter:
Q1 2005: 57 of 542 (10.52%)posted by FishBike at 4:51 PM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Q2 2005: 31 of 409 (7.58%)
Q3 2005: 64 of 492 (13.01%)
Q4 2005: 119 of 642 (18.54%)
Q1 2006: 139 of 660 (21.06%)
Q2 2006: 57 of 571 (9.98%)
Q3 2006: 59 of 581 (10.15%)
Q4 2006: 60 of 595 (10.08%)
Q1 2007: 66 of 519 (12.72%)
Q2 2007: 56 of 521 (10.75%)
Q3 2007: 59 of 497 (11.87%)
Q4 2007: 33 of 562 (5.87%)
Q1 2008: 54 of 482 (11.20%)
Q2 2008: 41 of 379 (10.82%)
Q3 2008: 31 of 392 (7.91%)
Q4 2008: 22 of 362 (6.08%)
Q1 2009: 32 of 392 (8.16%)
Q2 2009: 22 of 350 (6.29%)
Q3 2009: 16 of 368 (4.35%)
Q4 2009: 20 of 364 (5.49%)
Q1 2010: 19 of 227 (8.37%) [so far]
If you want to fine-tune that dorkery a bit, try and take into account when metatalk thread started staying around upon deletion and see if there's some sort of inflection in the rate of closure around then. It was probably some time in 2007; I thought I had tracked it down and made a note in the wiki timeline, but I guess not.
Prior to that, metatalk threads were nuked entirely, which made deletions really unlikely and, hence, closures a little more commonly needed, is my perception.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:09 PM on February 22, 2010
Prior to that, metatalk threads were nuked entirely, which made deletions really unlikely and, hence, closures a little more commonly needed, is my perception.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:09 PM on February 22, 2010
Well, it looks to me like the earliest MeTa posts in the Infodump which are marked 'deleted' or 'closed and deleted' are in October 2007. The one on October 10th, 2007 gives the deletion reason as 'This was just a test. -- pb', so that's probably it there.
There are a couple of deleted MeTa posts with earlier date stamps, but I suspect that's just somebody going back and deleting a couple of older things a long time after they were posted.
posted by FishBike at 5:20 PM on February 22, 2010
There are a couple of deleted MeTa posts with earlier date stamps, but I suspect that's just somebody going back and deleting a couple of older things a long time after they were posted.
posted by FishBike at 5:20 PM on February 22, 2010
My MeTa post a week or so ago got closed because I had, frankly, not understood the meaning of the abbreviation 'FIAMO', nor how to discreetly contact the mods with a raised eyebrow ("Isn't this a bit off?") instead of coming in here all self-righteous. Whoops!
Also I had just seen this post and as a newbie to MeTa it had misled me.
Will try not to make that mistake again.
posted by lapsangsouchong at 9:45 PM on February 22, 2010
Also I had just seen this post and as a newbie to MeTa it had misled me.
Will try not to make that mistake again.
posted by lapsangsouchong at 9:45 PM on February 22, 2010
You're only banned for comments that take longer than ten minutes to type.
I hope this is some kind of joke. Because if it is real, possibly one of the most disrespectful and passive aggressive things I've ever seen. Not the nature of Metafilter as I understand it...
posted by gjc at 2:22 AM on February 23, 2010
I hope this is some kind of joke. Because if it is real, possibly one of the most disrespectful and passive aggressive things I've ever seen. Not the nature of Metafilter as I understand it...
posted by gjc at 2:22 AM on February 23, 2010
Then you don't understand MetaFilter at all.
Proposed MetaTalk post:
We're rolling out a new type of ban. Help us test it out! Comment in this thread to get banned.
I'm just really curious to find out who'd actually comment in that thread.
I'd hit it.
posted by dg at 4:17 AM on February 23, 2010
Proposed MetaTalk post:
We're rolling out a new type of ban. Help us test it out! Comment in this thread to get banned.
I'm just really curious to find out who'd actually comment in that thread.
I'd hit it.
posted by dg at 4:17 AM on February 23, 2010
I hope this is some kind of joke. Because if it is real, possibly one of the most disrespectful and passive aggressive things I've ever seen. Not the nature of Metafilter as I understand it...
Yes, it was a joke. Hell, any day where we as mods manage to go without spending more than ten minutes writing up a comment is a surprisingly quiet one on Metafilter.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:33 AM on February 23, 2010
Yes, it was a joke. Hell, any day where we as mods manage to go without spending more than ten minutes writing up a comment is a surprisingly quiet one on Metafilter.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:33 AM on February 23, 2010
I hope this is some kind of joke.
Total joke, yes. Sort of predicated on the verbosity of both cortex and me, for extra non-believability.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:04 AM on February 23, 2010
Total joke, yes. Sort of predicated on the verbosity of both cortex and me, for extra non-believability.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:04 AM on February 23, 2010
Yes, it was a joke. Hell, any day where we as mods manage to go without spending more than ten minutes writing up a comment is a surprisingly quiet one on Metafilter.
If anything, the site should enforce a minimum ten minute editing time before you can submit a comment. If it hasn't been that long since you started typing in the comment box, the Post Comment button should just make it say "Please think about this comment a bit longer before posting. Thanks!"
posted by FishBike at 8:07 AM on February 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
If anything, the site should enforce a minimum ten minute editing time before you can submit a comment. If it hasn't been that long since you started typing in the comment box, the Post Comment button should just make it say "Please think about this comment a bit longer before posting. Thanks!"
posted by FishBike at 8:07 AM on February 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
If anything, the site should enforce a minimum ten minute editing time before you can submit a comment. If it hasn't been that long since you started typing in the comment box, the Post Comment button should just make it say "Please think about this comment a bit longer before posting. Thanks!"
"We notice that you're using lots of capital letters, "fighty" language towards other members, and you referred to one of this site's mods as "a tin-plated dictator with delusions of godhood."
You may want to take a moment and breathe before you post this."
posted by zarq at 8:49 AM on February 23, 2010
"We notice that you're using lots of capital letters, "fighty" language towards other members, and you referred to one of this site's mods as "a tin-plated dictator with delusions of godhood."
You may want to take a moment and breathe before you post this."
posted by zarq at 8:49 AM on February 23, 2010
"tin-plated dictator with delusions of godhood"
Oh man, if I ever get a sock-puppet…
posted by Kattullus at 8:53 AM on February 23, 2010
Oh man, if I ever get a sock-puppet…
posted by Kattullus at 8:53 AM on February 23, 2010
I have a couple times idly considered a keyword-driven alert tool to supplement explicit things like flags, as a way to keep an extra eye out for potential flareups in real-time. I'm not convinced it would be all that much help, given the potential for false positives and the fact that it's more a question of how a keyword got used than the keyword itself that'd make it problematic and flagging would seem to follow that logic already, but it could be an interesting rainy-day experiment.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:11 AM on February 23, 2010
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:11 AM on February 23, 2010
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by zarq at 5:28 PM on February 21, 2010 [24 favorites]