How Much "Too Much" is Too Much "Too Much"-ing?

May 11, 2010 11:28 AM

There's a bit too much "too much __________________" going on in MetaTalk. Every other day, MetaTalk hosts a thread wherein a user complains that a subject they find uninteresting is being overdone on Metafilter. Such threads are an expression of individuals' disinterest in a subject, and while there's nothing intrinsically wrong with such disinterest, it's somehow evolved into a continuing reoccurrence within MetaTalk that's just utterly purposeless.

Truly, these threads are useless: everyone's sensibilities are different and these threads are simply an expression of individuals' taste. And I have nothing against individuals' tastes, no dispute with them not liking whatever subject they're complaining about – life'd be boring if we all had the same sensibilities and diversity is the spice of life – but, truly, do we need to see 100 different people complain to everyone else every other day about the 100 different subjects they respectively find uninteresting?

I'm sorry you're finding the frequent posts on the civilzation developing in the fungal growths within Sasquatch's toe jam to be uninteresting, but different individuals keep posting the threads, and commenters are participating in said threads, and all those people who are participating in said threads ... well, to bastardize Spock, "the tastes of the many outweigh the tastes of the one," with the caveat of how Mefi's moderation team influences same. So instead of "flag it and move on," how about "click the 'next' item in your bloody feedreader and for Pete's sake move on"?

My own proposal? A moratorium on moratorium suggestions, a moratorium on "too much _________ " threads, plus a pointer (perhaps even in the FAQ) to how users can set up Yahoo! Pipes to filter out subjects they never want to see in their Metafilter thread.

Yes, the timing of this thread may come off as reactionary given its placement, but this shouldn't be interpreted as a personal attack against the poster of the most recent thread.

posted by WCityMike to Etiquette/Policy at 11:28 AM (263 comments total)

you have got to be fucking kidding
posted by Nothing... and like it at 11:30 AM on May 11, 2010 [26 favorites]

In before closure.
posted by Burhanistan at 11:30 AM on May 11, 2010

Guys at this rate I will not be able to figure out which thread becomes a late afternoon hang-out thread, okay? Work with me here.
posted by The Whelk at 11:31 AM on May 11, 2010 [8 favorites]

You're fucking joking, right?
posted by paisley henosis at 11:32 AM on May 11, 2010

Truly, these threads are useless

Even though I find them tiresome, I don't think they're at all useless. It's good to get a community read on certain topics and except for the flagging queue which is a little mod-facing-only, this is the way to do it.

Irritable internet users are irritable and while we have to discount this a little bit, or tell people "I'm sorry you dislike @notation but we're not going to ban people for using it" MeTa is the place for this sort of discussion to happen.

And we're busy. And more Meta threads make us more busy, not less, always. So while I appreciate that you may have had good intentions, your orthogonal approach may not have actually helped make the problem you perceive any better.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:33 AM on May 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

There's just the right amount of too much irony in this post.
posted by crunchland at 11:33 AM on May 11, 2010 [22 favorites]

Be the change you want to see in the world.
posted by knapah at 11:33 AM on May 11, 2010 [8 favorites]

In before moratorium on "moratorium on moratorium suggestions".
posted by juv3nal at 11:34 AM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Jessamyn has the patience of Yoda.
posted by heyho at 11:35 AM on May 11, 2010 [44 favorites]

jessamyn: And we're busy. And more Meta threads make us more busy, not less, always.

(a) Longstanding policy against derailing an original thread with something else, so I'm not derailing the original thread.

(b) This thread essentially suggests the community stop generating quite as many purposeless Meta threads every other day, which would have the effect of "less busy".
posted by WCityMike at 11:36 AM on May 11, 2010

Burn the village to save it.
posted by Burhanistan at 11:37 AM on May 11, 2010

Jessamyn has the patience of Yoda.

Truth Quoted This Is. Trying her patience we are, yes?
posted by zarq at 11:37 AM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

Ignore any MetaFilter threads that you find boring or irritating.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 11:37 AM on May 11, 2010

jessamyn: your orthogonal approach

Also, just in the interests of "always learning", I'm not sure what you mean by "orthogonal" here in this context.
posted by WCityMike at 11:38 AM on May 11, 2010

Truly, these threads are useless [...]

I think they're pretty useful, actually, in that they help keep some of the "too much of X" complaints out of the threads in question. Which is one of the major reasons to have a part of the site like MetaTalk, as a sort of safety valve where people can blow off steam about things they don't like.
posted by FishBike at 11:39 AM on May 11, 2010

Moratoria, people. It's a lovely little plural.

Irritable internet users are irritable and while we have to discount this a little bit, or tell people "I'm sorry you dislike @notation but we're not going to ban people for using it" MeTa is the place for this sort of discussion to happen.

Pretty much this, yeah. Barring some indication that a full-on sea change taking place where "there's too much x" will be posted far more often from now on, I think it's safe to treat a small run of complaints lately as just that: a local phenomenon that will probably (like the individul things being complained about) ease off naturally over time.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:41 AM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Can we just use this as a catch-all for complaints of this sort? Because someone just posted another Conan one and I am so over him.
posted by smackfu at 11:43 AM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

MeTa
posted by empath at 11:43 AM on May 11, 2010 [31 favorites]

...a local phenomenon that will probably (like the individul things being complained about) ease off naturally over time.

I'm hoping that the frequency of people exiting the site will fall soon.
posted by zarq at 11:44 AM on May 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

I'd like a moratorium on reducing the amount of moratoria reduction.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:45 AM on May 11, 2010

I don't even know what the fuck that means.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:45 AM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

There are too many threads not about comics, Doctor Who or JavaScript! I demand an end to them!
posted by Artw at 11:46 AM on May 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

There are too many threads not about comics,

I've just in asked to create a "soundtrack" for when my comic debuts, what is music you should be listening too when reading it.

It's an interesting challenge.
posted by The Whelk at 11:48 AM on May 11, 2010

Statistics on MetaTalk posts asking for moratoriums in the last three months:

March
0 posts

April
1 Post (April 29, Lady Gaga)

May
1 Post (May 11, Ebert)
posted by Meta Filter at 11:49 AM on May 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

There are too many threads not about comics, Doctor Who or JavaScript! I demand an end to them!

Hey, I've been working on a comics FPP.
posted by zarq at 11:49 AM on May 11, 2010

I've just in asked to create a "soundtrack" for when my comic debuts, what is music you should be listening too when reading it.

Obviously it's White William's cover of 'I Want Candy,' on repeat.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:50 AM on May 11, 2010

"'the tastes of the many outweigh the tastes of the one,' with the caveat of how Mefi's moderation team influences same."

This seems like a pretty poor metric for acceptability of posts on the front page. Or at least I'm glad the front page isn't Reality TV, Budweiser and Football all the time irregardless of the tastes of the many.
posted by Mitheral at 11:51 AM on May 11, 2010

This is so Meta.
posted by mmmbacon at 11:52 AM on May 11, 2010

Confirmation bias.
posted by DU at 11:52 AM on May 11, 2010

MetaTalk has been getting a lot more fun and interesting in its own right, lately.

Don't think I'd like that if I were a moderator, though.
posted by jamjam at 11:55 AM on May 11, 2010

Mitheral: "This seems like a pretty poor metric for acceptability of posts on the front page. Or at least I'm glad the front page isn't Reality TV, Budweiser and Football all the time irregardless of the tastes of the many.

Actually, it's a fair metric. Deleted posts usually show up in the RSS feed, and I have the Greasemonkey script installed, and I haven't seen reality television, Budweiser, or football amongst the deleted posts. "The many" isn't the world's or nation's population, it's the Mefite community – and, again, there's the caveat of how the moderation team moderates for the outliers.
posted by WCityMike at 11:55 AM on May 11, 2010

"2-2 Pitch...Moratoria in the wind-up...strike three swinging! WCityMike swings and misses and the inning is over."

"I tell you what Dan, it looks like Moratoria had WCityMike completely fooled on that one; he swung for a homerun and instead, he's headed back to the dugout while the fans jeer him on."
posted by Hiker at 11:57 AM on May 11, 2010

Guys at this rate I will not be able to figure out which thread becomes a late afternoon hang-out thread, okay? Work with me here.

This.
posted by Mister_A at 11:58 AM on May 11, 2010

Also, I don't believe in moratoriums—I'm all for Viking funerals.
posted by Mister_A at 12:00 PM on May 11, 2010

What about cafetoriums?
posted by Burhanistan at 12:02 PM on May 11, 2010

Them are OK.
posted by Mister_A at 12:03 PM on May 11, 2010

Shut up! Minor Threat's on!
posted by Mister_A at 12:04 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Guys at this rate I will not be able to figure out which thread becomes a late afternoon hang-out thread, okay? Work with me here.

I sometimes wonder if the off-topic (even for MeTa) stuff is actually not so great, like the threads that turn into chat rooms or alphabet threads for example. Sometimes I see it happen when the serious discussion is also still going on, and worry that it's derailing a useful conversation. And do these things just create a bunch of noise that the mods have to read in its entirety?
posted by FishBike at 12:05 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

So we should have a lot more Lady Gaga posts, is what you're saying. OK, I'm on board with that.
posted by infinitywaltz at 12:06 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

It's oxygen.
posted by Burhanistan at 12:06 PM on May 11, 2010

Jessamyn has the patience of Yoda.

Yoda yellled at Luke when on Dagaboh, after knowing he was the son of the the Jedi who betrayed them all, so don't talk to me about Yoda's patience, he was senile old fool who never learned to speak right.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

You put on the ruffle skirt with sequins first!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:06 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Since when did Yoda become a substitute for Job?
posted by Burhanistan at 12:07 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Okay, this transformed into a joke thread. Let it be so.

I don't get it, though. I wrote the above, I even tried to mix in a slight bit of humor to show I wasn't just grar-grar-graring, I didn't personally attack anyone ... so why did it pretty much gather universal ridicule? I've got to be missing something.
posted by WCityMike at 12:09 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I haven't seen reality television, Budweiser, or football amongst the deleted posts.

I haven't seen 'em survive on the front page, either. You know why? If I don't think a post is interesting, I ignore it and move on. So, football, Budweiser or reality show posts either aren't being made, or I'm not bothering to read them. People post things here that I skip over for lack of interest ALL THE TIME. No one is forcing any of us to click or comment.
posted by zarq at 12:11 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Fishbike, I agree with you. Sometimes it's like herding cats around here. Hard to get at the productive conversation.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 12:12 PM on May 11, 2010

I've got to be missing something.

It was a solution in search of a problem. Many people around here have developed a rather keen eye for that and tend to react decisively. If you were our supervisor at work we would grumble under our breath and look for a way to implement it. But since it's MeTa, well...here we are.
posted by Burhanistan at 12:12 PM on May 11, 2010

Sometimes that's just how MetaTalk goes, WCityMike. For what it's worth, I kind of agree with you, though not really hard enough to argue or whatever.
posted by infinitywaltz at 12:13 PM on May 11, 2010

Burhanistan: It was a solution in search of a problem. Many people around here have developed a rather keen eye for that and tend to react decisively. If you were our supervisor at work we would grumble under our breath and look for a way to implement it. But since it's MeTa, well...here we are.

But it wasn't a "solution", really. It was a "knock off the neverending whiny 'but I don't WANT to read or even have to skip past FPPs about Person X' complaining, for Pete's sake!", dressed up to be all nice and kumbaya-ish.
posted by WCityMike at 12:15 PM on May 11, 2010

I think there's too much of an absence of full frontal nudity on the front page, personally.
posted by Mister_A at 12:15 PM on May 11, 2010

   
posted by y2karl at 12:16 PM on May 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

I sometimes wonder if the off-topic (even for MeTa) stuff is actually not so great, like the threads that turn into chat rooms or alphabet threads for example. Sometimes I see it happen when the serious discussion is also still going on, and worry that it's derailing a useful conversation. And do these things just create a bunch of noise that the mods have to read in its entirety?

Maybe a new subsite, for derails springing from derails, and moratoria on moratoria? MeMeTaTa?
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:17 PM on May 11, 2010

I think there's too much of an absence of full frontal nudity on the front page, personally.

Are you volunteering?
posted by zarq at 12:18 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

But it wasn't a "solution", really. It was a "knock off the neverending whiny 'but I don't WANT to read or even have to skip past FPPs about Person X' complaining, for Pete's sake!"

Well, six in one, half-dozen in the other. But as was shown, there hasn't exactly been a surfeit of those kinds of posts here at any rate. And, in those threads that are there, sometimes the discussion about why something is in fact interesting can be interesting in itself.
posted by Burhanistan at 12:18 PM on May 11, 2010

We could tag them "MeTaTas"
posted by zarq at 12:18 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

I don't get it, though. I wrote the above, I even tried to mix in a slight bit of humor to show I wasn't just grar-grar-graring, I didn't personally attack anyone ... so why did it pretty much gather universal ridicule? I've got to be missing something.

Because you posted a MetaTalk thread complaining about how there are too many MetaTalk threads that complain about too many MetaFilter posts on certain topics. Mr Pot, there is a Ms Kettle I'd like you to meet.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 12:19 PM on May 11, 2010

so why did it pretty much gather universal ridicule? I've got to be missing something.

Because it was a MeTa thread about how they were too many MeTa threads, when it was reduced to its bare skeleton. And even though I know it came form a place of caring, it was another MeTa thread about saying you don't like something so everyone in the community needs to maybe act differently. Again, no big deal and I know it's something you care about but I guess I see it this way...

You don't solve the problem of people being irritated and generating too many MeTa threads by addressing the symptom [too many MeTa threads] you address it by going after the problem [people are irritable and think that people can help them with this irritability by stopping doing THAT GODDAMNED IRRITATING THING] which I don't think this does. It doesn't do this because a side effect of looking at the symptom [too many MeTa threads] actually makes that particular symptom worse [yet another MeTa thread by someone who is irritated at something] with their own solution to the problem [everyone else stop doing the irritating thing please] which is unworkable.

And again I think the larger issue of how much of people's intolerance of $_THING is expected to be resolved by moderators and how much is expected to be resolved by people adjusting their own expectations and/or behavior and that is, I think, fascinating. But that's not quite what this is.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:19 PM on May 11, 2010

And seriously, Mike, from what I know of you (only what I've seen on MetaFilter), you seem like a decent person, and I think you're right that people should just shut up and not look at things they don't want to look at, and let the flag queue take care of things if they feel compelled to register dislike or disapproval. But the timing was a little, you know, it came off stunty to me is all.
posted by Mister_A at 12:19 PM on May 11, 2010

so why did it pretty much gather universal ridicule?

Well, you adopted an arrogant tone, speaking to us as if we were kids as you chastised us for creating complaining about silly problems, even as you did the same. Everyone here is Special Snowflake(TM) and it doesn't help when you say their special snowflake problem isn't important. Because it is, to them.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:20 PM on May 11, 2010

Since when did Yoda become a substitute for Job?

There's no such thing as Job.
posted by heyho at 12:20 PM on May 11, 2010

The King of Feature Requests is using the words "useless" and "too much". Wow.
posted by gman at 12:20 PM on May 11, 2010

Oh, sorry, didn't mean to pile on, should have previewed.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:20 PM on May 11, 2010

There's no such thing as Job.

How so? Whether or not dude actually existed doesn't make the story any less of a literary example.

Unless I'm missing a joke here...
posted by Burhanistan at 12:22 PM on May 11, 2010

Burhanistan: But as was shown, there hasn't exactly been a surfeit of those kinds of posts here at any rate.

That statistic blows my mind, as I could've sworn I was seeing them show up here far too often. I suppose in light of their rareness, everyone's response is understandable.
posted by WCityMike at 12:23 PM on May 11, 2010

Pony request: metatalk.metatalk.metafilter.com
posted by NoraReed at 12:25 PM on May 11, 2010 [7 favorites]

Orthogonal
posted by lukemeister at 12:25 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Too Much, Too Young.

You done too much much too young
You're married with a kid when you could be having fun with me
You done too much much too young
Now you're married with a son when you should be having fun with me

Don't wanna be rich, don't wanna be famous

Ain't he cute, no he ain't
He's just another burden on the welfare state

Call me immature, call me a poseur
I'll to spread manure in your bed of roses
Don't we wanna be rich Don't we wanna be famous
But I'd really hate to have the same name as you

You done too much much too young
Now you're chained to the kitchen making currant buns for tea

Ain't you heard of the starving millions
Ain't you heard of conraception
Do you really wanna go with the sterilization
Take control of the population boom
It's in your living room
Keep a generation gap
Try wearing a cap
posted by loquacious at 12:26 PM on May 11, 2010

Unless I'm missing a joke here...

The joke is that Yoda is also fictional and yet also equally good at being a place from which to receive moral and ethical guidance.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:26 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

your bloody feedreader

gross
posted by chinston at 12:26 PM on May 11, 2010

jessamyn: it was another MeTa thread about saying you don't like something so everyone in the community needs to maybe act differently.

See, that's it; I don't understand this particular element of your argument, Jessamyn, which you said above as well in different form. This post is exactly the converse of that: it's a MeTa saying, "Hey, you don't like reading about something? Don't expect everyone in the community to act differently by avoiding posting about that something."
posted by WCityMike at 12:26 PM on May 11, 2010

I miss alt.barney.dinosaur.die.die.die.
posted by lukemeister at 12:27 PM on May 11, 2010

gman: The King of Feature Requests is using the words "useless" and "too much". Wow.

Yeah, screw you, gman.
posted by WCityMike at 12:27 PM on May 11, 2010

I don't get it, though. I wrote the above, I even tried to mix in a slight bit of humor to show I wasn't just grar-grar-graring, I didn't personally attack anyone ... so why did it pretty much gather universal ridicule?

Because you posted it to MetaTalk? Didn't you see the sign on the door? Did someone take down the "UNIVERSAL RIDICULE, THIS WAY, HIPPIES USE SIDE DOOR" sign again?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:30 PM on May 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

WCityMike is a contender to be the inaugural member of the triple-triple club -- only 20 more MeTa posts to go.

Mathowie is about 10 AskMe's short of the same feat..
posted by empath at 12:32 PM on May 11, 2010

This post is exactly the converse of that: it's a MeTa saying, "Hey, you don't like reading about something?

Dude, this is so not coming across.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:32 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

OMG I so want a "Universal Ridicule This Way" sign for my office. Motherfuckers will LOL at that IRL.
posted by Mister_A at 12:32 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

"UNIVERSAL RIDICULE, THIS WAY, HIPPIES USE SIDE DOOR"

Yeah, there's some hippie bullshit about hugs there now.
posted by empath at 12:33 PM on May 11, 2010

Burhanistan: "Since when did Yoda become a substitute for Job?"

The "patience of Job" is kind of an odd phrase, since Job in the canonical book pretty much complains the whole way through, up to the point of wishing he was never born* (although understandably so). When James (chapter 5 verse 11 of his eponymous epistle) says "you have heard of the patience of Job" he is likely referring either to oral tradition that had developed alongside the canonical account, or to the apocryphal "Testament of Job," much more current to James' time (if not contemporaneous) where Job's patience is significantly played up.

For more Biblical arcana, you can read MOFB.

*Well, actually, calling curses on the person who announced his birth, since to wish one's own non-existence was sacrilege.

/incorrigible Bible geek
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:33 PM on May 11, 2010 [30 favorites]

Allegorical comment
posted by xod at 12:34 PM on May 11, 2010

"UNIVERSAL RIDICULE, THIS WAY, HIPPIES USE SIDE DOOR"

Short for "HIPSTERS AND HIPPOS."
posted by zarq at 12:35 PM on May 11, 2010

Note: Everyone needs some drugs, man,
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:35 PM on May 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

Huh, so maybe the story of Yusuf/Joseph is a better example. He endured the well, patiently resisted the advances of the Vizier's hot wife, and quietly worked in public service while hatching his plot to reunite his family and shame his brothers into piety.
posted by Burhanistan at 12:36 PM on May 11, 2010

♪ There's a hug in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, ♫
♫ There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hug. ♬
posted by zarq at 12:37 PM on May 11, 2010

Dammit. Perfectly good joke and I fucked it up with a stupid typo. :P
posted by zarq at 12:37 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is not what disinterest means. And don't give me any bollocks about usage.
posted by Abiezer at 12:38 PM on May 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

Peter can you please do a FPP about that, because that is a fascinating topic and I'd love to read more.
posted by empath at 12:39 PM on May 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

Peter=Pater
posted by empath at 12:39 PM on May 11, 2010

Can we please just stick to one derail?
posted by Mister_A at 12:40 PM on May 11, 2010

This post is exactly the converse of that: it's a MeTa saying, "Hey, you don't like reading about something? Don't expect everyone in the community to act differently by avoiding posting about that something."

I think it's in part a matter of scope, and the fact that this feels like a premature reaction to the stated problem. It'd be one thing if there'd been fifty posts of type x recently and this was x' post fifty-one—the downside of another post opening up and generating more visibility and angst and work and whatnot would be small potatoes compared to the preceding storm of posts, and so broaching the discussion would feel more like it was worth the cost.

Instead, we've got like two or three posts in recent memory, not back to back, about moratoria, and then one more post about meta-moratoria, and that latest one right on the heels of the previous one in a way that was bound to look conspicuous. And so the attendant drama and friction and confusion of folks beholding this new thread is overwhelming the potential utility of a discussion about meta-moratoria.

Like Jess said, I know you posted this with all good intent. But it feels like you jumped the gun and did so with really conspicuous timing, so the reaction has been more to the superficial metastory of the post than to the intended core topic. C'est la vie.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:41 PM on May 11, 2010

I learned the hard way that MeTa threads have exactly three tones:

1. SCHMOOPY!
2. http://ask.metafilter.com/tags/metafilter
3. GRAR!

If you're posting a MeTa thread and it's not obviously 1 or 2, then people are going to read it as 3. No exceptions.
posted by Riki tiki at 12:41 PM on May 11, 2010 [5 favorites]

Peter can you please do a FPP about that, because that is a fascinating topic and I'd love to read more.

And I know I (for one) would really appreciate a Yoda tie-in, if you could.
posted by heyho at 12:42 PM on May 11, 2010

so why did it pretty much gather universal ridicule?

Dudebro? I know you mean well, but how long has it been since you've turned off the computer and been outside to look at a far horizon?

Because your perspective is a little short. I recommend a nice long walk with some nice vistas and views if you can manage it. No, I'm not being snarky. I'm being wholly serious.

You're getting kid-glove treatment here for a post that more or less comes off as very off-putting, condescending and rather demanding and expectant, and then you seem to expect a round of hearty AYEs in your favor or something, when it's really kind of a non-issue and a solution looking for a problem as others have pointed out.

You used "truly" twice. In one paragraph. Truly what? You're not even stating empirical truths, nor are they backed by facts, nor do the statistics back you up. You've been here about two less years than I have, but have twice the MetaTalk post.

You care about this issue? Put your money where your mouth is and post less MeTas. Full stop.
posted by loquacious at 12:42 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I think there's too much of an absence of full frontal nudity on the front page, personally.

OK! Talk to you later!
posted by Nothing... and like it at 12:42 PM on May 11, 2010

MetaTalk: Confusion of Folks
posted by Mister_A at 12:42 PM on May 11, 2010

Can we have a moratorium on the use of the word "Dudebro"?
posted by bondcliff at 12:45 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

HAHAHAHAHA! this is hysterical!
posted by msconduct at 12:46 PM on May 11, 2010

I never meta meta I didn't like.
posted by lukemeister at 12:49 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

You know what's funny is the word metastasis is sort of its own opposite if you think about it...
posted by Mister_A at 12:52 PM on May 11, 2010

There's a bit too much "too much __________________" going on in MetaTalk.

There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "too much __________________" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk.

There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "too much __________________" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk.

There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "too much __________________" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk.

Also,

There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "too much __________________" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk.
posted by jjray at 12:53 PM on May 11, 2010 [5 favorites]

Can we have a moratorium on the use of the word "Dudebro"?

Dudebro, I'm totally in support of this, dudebro.

Wait. Why is my mom and bro here? Is this an intervention!? Dudebro, I can stop saying "dudebro" any time I want. I'm fine, dudebro.

Ok. Maybe I need help, brah.
posted by loquacious at 12:56 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Dude?
posted by loquacious at 12:57 PM on May 11, 2010

When Metafilter starts to suck, the proper response is to close your browser and walk away, not to post to MetaTalk.
posted by GuyZero at 12:58 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't think I've ever heard 'dudebro,' although I do like the term 'assbutt,' and they appear to be related.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:00 PM on May 11, 2010

it's Dudebrah, duh dudebro dude duuuuuude dudes dude?
posted by The Whelk at 1:00 PM on May 11, 2010

Sometimes I really love MetaChat. Unless a thread has a really interesting issue that people want to discuss, it devolves into snark. Some of the snark is clever and adds to the discussion in a meta-meta way. It's often a good read, especially if, like today, one is in a foul mood.
posted by theora55 at 1:02 PM on May 11, 2010

There's a bit too much "There's a bit too much "too much __________________" going on in MetaTalk" going on in MetaTalk.

Oh man that's totally going in my song.
posted by Riki tiki at 1:05 PM on May 11, 2010

There's a bit too much "too much __________________" going on in MetaTalk."

Charles Nelson Riley!
"There's too much 'hinder'. A-huh-huh-huh."
posted by charred husk at 1:08 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I may adopt "dudebro." It fits right in with my constant use of "rad" and "awesome."
posted by eyeballkid at 1:10 PM on May 11, 2010

Eyeballkid, what about "Rawsome"? That's something that's a mixture of rad and awesome.
posted by josher71 at 1:10 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

This post is exactly the converse of that: it's a MeTa saying, "Hey, you don't like reading about something? Don't expect everyone in the community to act differently by avoiding posting about that something."

What is "something," though? To you, it's Roger Ebert, Lady Gaga, whatever. But the "pot, meet kettle" comes in because "something" could just as easily be "MeTa threads claiming we talk about X too much."

You said in the post that "everyone's sensibilities are different," but you seem to have missed that. Your problem with the "too much" stuff was that "Truly, these threads are useless." But that's a feeling (your personal sensibility), not a factual truth. I think that these threads could potentially be useful. So, just like you want those tired of Ebert not to "expect everyone in the community to act differently by avoiding posting about" him, lots of people could say the same to you: Don't expect everyone in the community to act differently by avoiding posting in MeTa when they think a subject has a larger-than-justified presence here.

Another problem is that many dislike the "too much" threads for a specific reason--that it's unnecessary to complain when no one has to read a thread against her will--and exactly the same could be said about your post objecting to the "too much" threads, because no one is forcing you to read the "too much" threads.
posted by sallybrown at 1:10 PM on May 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

Hey if we're neologizing, let me offer "muchismo".
posted by Mister_A at 1:11 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Mister A, I'm a fan of that one!
posted by josher71 at 1:14 PM on May 11, 2010

Too + much = touch, which is what you should stop doing to me NO SERIOUSLY STOP HUGGING ME I'LL SHANK YOU
posted by loquacious at 1:15 PM on May 11, 2010

It's moratortises all the way down.
posted by lore at 1:16 PM on May 11, 2010 [6 favorites]

Let's turn this moratorium into a more-atorium!

More games!
  More prizes!
    More fun for everyone!
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:21 PM on May 11, 2010 [5 favorites]

Are you suggesting that there's still serious conversation in this thread? If so, please show it to me. I thought it was fairly well wrapped up and we were on to Viking funerals and ruffle skirts...
posted by stoneweaver at 1:26 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

We'RE TOO BUSY HUGGING LOQUACIOUS
posted by The Whelk at 1:28 PM on May 11, 2010

Serious conversation.
posted by sallybrown at 1:29 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Coming from rather the opposite direction, there are only four posts tagged with foxes and two of them are mine and one of them is about Fleet Foxes.
posted by Wolfdog at 1:33 PM on May 11, 2010

That all sort of stands to reason, doesn't it WOLFDOG?
posted by Mister_A at 1:37 PM on May 11, 2010

Maybe you should grind your canine axe somewhere else!
posted by Mister_A at 1:37 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I like the internet, it allows me to read sentences I never would have dreamed possible.
posted by The Whelk at 1:39 PM on May 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

Which loony-ass MeTa thread should I post nonsense in? I will decide based on the next comment in each thread.
posted by box at 1:40 PM on May 11, 2010

That's totally dudical.
posted by Burhanistan at 1:41 PM on May 11, 2010

Dudealicious
posted by The Whelk at 1:45 PM on May 11, 2010

Cooler Ranch Duderitos.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:46 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

All I am saying is the next time someone feels like making a MetaTalk post about too much of something, they could instead choose to bring the world a smidge closer to balance and harmony by making a lovely post about foxes instead.
posted by Wolfdog at 1:47 PM on May 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

Ach, this guy again.
posted by Mister_A at 1:49 PM on May 11, 2010

Now, too much of nothing
Can make a man feel ill at ease
One man’s temper might rise
While another man’s temper might freeze
In the day of confession
We cannot mock a soul
Oh, when there’s too much of nothing
No one has control

Say hello to Valerie
Say hello to Vivian
Send them all my salary
On the waters of oblivion

Too much of nothing
Can make a man abuse a king
He can walk the streets and boast like most
But he wouldn’t know a thing
Now, it’s all been done before
It’s all been written in the book
But when there’s too much of nothing
Nobody should look

Say hello to Valerie
Say hello to Vivian
Send them all my salary
On the waters of oblivion

Too much of nothing
Can turn a man into a liar
It can cause one man to sleep on nails
And another man to eat fire
Ev’rybody’s doin’ somethin’
I heard it in a dream
But when there’s too much of nothing
It just makes a fella mean

Say hello to Valerie
Say hello to Vivian
Send them all my salary
On the waters of oblivion
posted by box at 1:49 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

I suggest a moratorium on threads that propose a moratorium on moratorium suggestions.
posted by killdevil at 1:53 PM on May 11, 2010

Curse you box, now my witty comment is just too much of too much of nothing.
posted by Dr Dracator at 2:01 PM on May 11, 2010

for a post that more or less comes off as very off-putting, condescending and rather demanding and expectant,

So... I'm the only one who read an unwritten /hamburger on this post?

Help! I'm turning into a Guesser!

Can we talk about kilts instead of ruffle skirts? Vikings in kilts would be perfectly acceptable.
posted by small_ruminant at 2:03 PM on May 11, 2010

I'm still reading the title:
How Much "Too Much" is Too Much "Too Much"-ing?
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 2:04 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

How much mulch would a woodmulch mulch if a woodmulch could mulch mulch?
posted by Burhanistan at 2:04 PM on May 11, 2010

There are two many David Cameron posts.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:06 PM on May 11, 2010

How much much would a much much much if a much much much much much.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:08 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

With a much much here and a much much there, here a much there a much much a much a much much.
posted by box at 2:12 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

As long as we can all agree that one can never have too much cowbell.
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:12 PM on May 11, 2010

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:18 PM on May 11, 2010

... goose, you're it!
posted by filthy light thief at 2:18 PM on May 11, 2010

Mulch?
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:18 PM on May 11, 2010

Now I want to get wings.
posted by box at 2:19 PM on May 11, 2010

OPEN THE DOOR GET ON THE FLOOR, EVERYBODY DO THE DINOSAUR.

WAIT.

WHAT IS THE DINOSAUR?
posted by The Whelk at 2:21 PM on May 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

howbell
nowbell
brownbell
cowbell
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:21 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

moratorium
auditorium
unobtainium
posted by box at 2:23 PM on May 11, 2010

The system works. MeTa reminds me of my back storage room. You need to keep the front end of the house nice and tidy, but sometimes there are certain things that can't just be tossed away, so it goes into the back room, where things are a little bit less tidy; but it still gets a spot. It's the overlow location that is inevitable in any organized system. And living with other family members, I don't always have a say regarding what goes back there.
posted by SpacemanStix at 2:25 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

You say ToMAHto
I say Sub Machine Gun!

you say PoTAHtoe
I saw diseases!

ToMahto! Machine Gun! PaTAHtoe! Chlamydia! Let's all the whole thing fish.
posted by The Whelk at 2:27 PM on May 11, 2010

not enough hugging if you ask me

and knowing you lot, you won't

meh
posted by infini at 2:28 PM on May 11, 2010

Can we talk about kilts instead of ruffle skirts? Vikings in kilts would be perfectly acceptable.

you know who else wanted kilts to be acceptable?
posted by infini at 2:29 PM on May 11, 2010

PRINCE CHARLES
posted by The Whelk at 2:31 PM on May 11, 2010

Roddy Piper?
posted by gman at 2:31 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

the 19th Century Scottish Nationalists who made the whole things up?
posted by The Whelk at 2:32 PM on May 11, 2010

I have no idea.. but Prince Charles is a good answer...

prince albert otoh...
posted by infini at 2:33 PM on May 11, 2010

OPEN THE DOOR GET ON THE FLOOR, EVERYBODY DO THE DINOSAUR.

WAIT.

WHAT IS THE DINOSAUR?


MMPHGRGL. CHOMP CHOMP MMF GULP.

WAIT, SHOULD I NOT HAVE EATEN THAT UPS DELIVERYMAN?



Uh oh.

Does anyone need a large brown truck?
posted by zarq at 2:41 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

There is not yet enough singing in this thread.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:41 PM on May 11, 2010

Here in the Midwest, there are many, many men who could seriously benefit from a Dudebrah.
posted by quin at 2:42 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I AM THE VERY MODEL OF A MODERN MAJOR MEFITE.
posted by The Whelk at 2:43 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

Ichabod hootchiekoo!
posted by y2karl at 2:44 PM on May 11, 2010

Personally, I like the "too much _________ " MeTas. They are some of my favorite threads. They're the reason I'm here. If you don't like them, just skip them.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 2:46 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

TOO MUCH METAFILTER TWO was largely seen as a limp, cynical attempt to cash in on the success of TOO MUCH METAFILTER and it died at the box office.
posted by The Whelk at 2:49 PM on May 11, 2010

I AM OUTRAGED AT SOMETHING!
posted by JeffK at 2:56 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

Cortex died for somebody's sins but not mine
Meltin' in a pot of posts
Injoke up my sleeve
Thick snark of stone
My comments my own
They belong to me, me

People say 'beware!'
But I don't care
The words are just
FAQs and regulations to me, me

I post in a thread, you know I look so proud
I'm movin' in this here blogosphere, well, anything's allowed
And I go to this here meetup and I just get bored
Until I look in the window, see an FPP
Humpin' on the Pepsi blue, leanin' on the Pepsi blue
Oh, the post's so good, oh, the post's so glam
And I got this crazy feeling and then I'm gonna ah-ah post some spam
Ooh I'll post my links to you

Here it comes
Postin' in the thread
Here it comes
Lurkin' in the blue
Here it comes
Killin' all ur d00ds
Here it comes
Snarkin' in the green
It's a pretty good joke
And oh, the post's so good, oh, the post's so glam fine
And I got this crazy feeling that I'm gonna ah-ah post some spam

And then I see this icon in my mail
See this icon in my mail
And I look up into the big inbox
And say, 'oh my God here's The Whelk!'
And the fav'rites are addin' to my post
Postin' on my blue they whisper to me and I take the big plunge
And oh, it was so good and oh, it was so glam
And I'm gonna tell the world that I just ah-ah left some spam

And I said MeFite, click on this link, you clicked on my link
You sent pageviews to me, you clicked on my link
And my link is, and link is, and my link is, and my link is G-O-A-T-S-E
G-O-A-T-S-E Gooooooatse G-O-A-T-S-E Gooooooatse
G-O-A-T-S-E Gooooooatse G-O-A-T-S-E Gooooooatse
posted by shakespeherian at 2:58 PM on May 11, 2010 [6 favorites]

I'm waiting for my thread
Got a bunch of snark in my head

Up to MetaTalk, got to find
some rambling thread more dead than a-live. Oh!
I'm waitin' for my thread.
posted by The Whelk at 3:06 PM on May 11, 2010

We could tag them "MeTaTas"

Actually, I prefer the tag "MeTaTers."
posted by ericb at 3:18 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm here supa supa dudebro.
posted by eyeballkid at 3:19 PM on May 11, 2010

a large brown what?

too much.......................
posted by infini at 3:26 PM on May 11, 2010

I'm sorry, everybody.
posted by WCityMike at 3:31 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

Metafilter: frequent posts on the civilzation developing in the fungal growths within Sasquatch's toe jam
posted by jquinby at 3:32 PM on May 11, 2010

For some reason "moratoria" in my head becomes "cremoratorium" and I think ColdChef should be here.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 3:37 PM on May 11, 2010

edamame is such a wonderful food.
posted by angrycat at 3:48 PM on May 11, 2010

edameta is chalky and unpleasant!
posted by The Whelk at 3:51 PM on May 11, 2010

I'm sorry, everybody.

I like you, WCityMike. You are a good guy.
posted by SpacemanStix at 3:55 PM on May 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

I shot a man in Meta
Just to watch him open a Meta about too many shootings in Meta.
posted by minifigs at 3:59 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Yo dawg—i herd u like moratoriums, so i put a moratorium in your moratorium so you can moratorium while you moratorium
posted by polymodus at 4:06 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm sorry, everybody.

HOW DARE YOU APOLOGI- oh

No worries. :)
posted by zarq at 4:07 PM on May 11, 2010

How much much is a too much much if a too much would much too?
posted by davejay at 4:17 PM on May 11, 2010

Can we set up Yahoo! Pipes to generate an endless, regressive loop of this kind of MetaFilter post, that goes on forever until the sun is a dense black clump of rock?
posted by davejay at 4:18 PM on May 11, 2010

I knew this couple in Europe a while back - the mom was Dutch/British and the dad was Argentine/Italian, so between them they spoke 4 languages. They drew straws and decided to keep English as the 'adults are talking seekrits' language for when their son was still wee.

Somehow this led to the kid getting it into his mind that the word "penis" was an exultation of pure joy, and when terribly excited for some little kid reason or another, would run around in circles shouting "PENIS!" with obscene delight. Eventually they had to set a few ground rules re: when and where were the appropriate times/locations that one would be permitted to run about bellowing PENIS repeatedly. This led to admonishments of "no penis-shouting in the SPAR! we have talked about this, young man!"

tl;dr sometimes the swift devolution into ridiculousness of these MeTa threads makes me want to run in circles shouting "PENIS!"

That is all.
posted by elizardbits at 4:19 PM on May 11, 2010 [9 favorites]

have i missed the point in the thread when everybody passes around the crack pipe?
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:26 PM on May 11, 2010

No no, meta is guess culture, you have to hint about it.

Hmm, it looks like everyone here is on crack. I really could use some crack.

It has been ages since I have had a good crack high and you guys have clearly been smoking up.

Too bad I don't have any crack of my own to smoke.

Then comes the puppy dog eyes and pouting.
posted by idiopath at 4:29 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

You guys broke my brain. I'm flashing back to the portobello mushroom thread.
posted by The otter lady at 4:29 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh, and since this is a thread where we can just post whatever, check it out: using DSP to solve mathematical problems using the number line as your "signal".
posted by idiopath at 4:31 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

The crack pipe would've been introduced somewhere between here and here. mmm, crack...
posted by Hardcore Poser at 4:33 PM on May 11, 2010

UbuRoivas, I would share my drugs with you if I had some. LOOKS AT IDIOPATH
posted by heyho at 4:33 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm sorry, everybody.

Of course this means you have to bake the pie, right?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:39 PM on May 11, 2010

Perhaps this is the place for the 'collaborative comment' from this thread:

Once upon a time on Metafilter .... A [SLYT] romped across the blue fields, pursued doggedly by a [NSFW]. The [SLYT] meekily inquired whether she was a 'thin post'. Sadly she was eviscerated by Randy Bush before she ever received an answer.

Nonplussed, [NSFW] devoured the entrails, like Anthony Bourdain -- whacked out on weed and beer -- lost in Asia. Another friday night.

oh hi there. con amor, yo pongo una salchicha cocida a sus pies y mirar para arriba en usted con grandes, abiertos, ojos suplicantes.

Could we use it write collaborative comments in MetaFilter?
posted by pracowity at 9:31 AM on May 10 [70 users marked as favorite, foolishly [+][?]

then rapidly appearing upon the horizon,
99 red balloons, floating in the summer sky.
posted by balloonboy at 9:32 AM on May 10 [99 favorites][!]

lets take this to meta
posted by narkalicious, quite snarkaly at 9:35 AM on May 10 [+][!]

[comment depleted]
posted by snarkalicious at 9:38 AM on May 10 [+][!]

Heh, I'm typing! This is quite cool! said the little user, watching the romping and ranging NSFW.
posted by little_user [1 billion favorites][!][flagged as 'tasty']

Now i have nothing to say. Oh well.
Is it true that the one trillion dollars in aid to Greece was spent on corn chips and salsa? Yes: Pace Extra Chunky (Medium). My favorite nachos.

This financial crisis isn't delivering aid to the right places. Indeed, I haven't been delivered any aid at all. Dammitohell. Mefi needs to live beyond its means, then declare insolvency, accept fresh hint-of-lime corn chips and Pace Extra Chunky (Medium) salsa, or Five Guys cheezburgers.

Banzai???

Meep now for the unemployed slimes and lepers.
Goal!

I, for one, like the professional white background. It is classy.

Meep Meep ...ZIP TANG...ZIP TANG
NOTE TO SELF: CALL Your Mom.

:

With all these colors, it looks like we're writing in an exploding cotton candy factory. I mean, in a good way.

Frazetta's body will set alight in the middle of town set to the tunes of a thousand screaming sirens as is custom.

Yourworldoftext.com? lite? (IT"S THE CLASSY VERSION OKAY?) Well, alright. I like the anonymity, I guess.

Once Upon A TIme ... Yeah, a bear ate your balls. Right? Balls, that's super clever. Yep. He got both of them in at once. Good times. But then divine intervention happened, and you got better balls. They are made of soild silver and can predict the weather.

death makes jeff goldblums of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders smooth as raven's legs.

Everyone bailed. I am now alone.
Wee
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 5:04 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

Wee

Indeed.

Methinks womble's bogarting the crack pipe
posted by zarq at 5:11 PM on May 11, 2010

I had these today. Cookies and creme creme sandwich cookies. They were delicious.

*falls into hole in universe*
posted by jonmc at 5:11 PM on May 11, 2010

Cabbages.
posted by flabdablet at 6:24 PM on May 11, 2010

I was in line at a hot dog stand the other day. When asked what toppings he wanted, the European dude in front of me, looked at the options and said "Mustard...and cabbage." I'm geussing he wasn't German.
posted by jonmc at 6:29 PM on May 11, 2010

I am now alone.
posted by The Whelk at 6:52 PM on May 11, 2010

Well, what you need to do is get some of those cookies I mentioned and some cookies and cream ice cream, and some of this stuff and put the whole mess in a blender and start drinking. Maybe add a little Jamesons.
posted by jonmc at 6:58 PM on May 11, 2010

I meant this stuff for the secons link, dammit.
posted by jonmc at 7:11 PM on May 11, 2010

How much is too much Jamesons?
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:17 PM on May 11, 2010

the one after this one
posted by The Whelk at 7:18 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Don't ask silly questions, ubu.
posted by jonmc at 7:19 PM on May 11, 2010

Yeah, this must be the 420 thread.
posted by blucevalo at 7:39 PM on May 11, 2010

Kimchee.
posted by slogger at 7:47 PM on May 11, 2010

No, I meant for the purposes of the recipe.

See, I was thinking of something like a Jamesons & Coke ice cream soda - tall glass of J&C, with a scoop of the cookies & cream icecream, and some crumbled cookies on top. If you wanted, you could add some rich creamery whipped cream, as well. Maybe drizzle some Baileys over the cream & icecream.

Now I just need a catchy name for it. Jamesons Irish triple cream soda?
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:48 PM on May 11, 2010

The Apocookylypse.
posted by jonmc at 7:53 PM on May 11, 2010

Too much too much, yet not enough honkytonkin'.
posted by klangklangston at 8:02 PM on May 11, 2010

The Sickbed of Cookielain.
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:03 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Dudebro: My Shit is Fucked Up So I Got To Shoot/Slice You II: It's Straight Up Dawg Time
posted by danb at 8:31 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

Crumbs, ubu, what an awful gag.
posted by flabdablet at 8:38 PM on May 11, 2010

While studying for Thursday's number theory final, I found a haiku I'd apparently written in my notes:

take the negation
one may only work forward
contradiction proof
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:40 PM on May 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

Not to harsh anyone's mellow, and maybe I missed it, but what happened to vronsky?
posted by yhbc at 8:50 PM on May 11, 2010

Re: vronsky, see this post.
posted by zarq at 8:59 PM on May 11, 2010

Oh yeah. Now I remember that happening, but I had forgotten all about it.

Must be all the crack.

[NOT CRACK-HEADIST]
posted by yhbc at 9:05 PM on May 11, 2010

Wainscoting.
posted by neuron at 9:56 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Since when did Yoda become a substitute for Job?

21 May 1980, 2:00 AM EST.
posted by doctor_negative at 10:28 PM on May 11, 2010

You guys appear to have mocked the shit out of this. Which is a shame. I think it's a valid concern.
posted by seanyboy at 12:29 AM on May 12, 2010

Yeah, I agree with WCityMike too, it is a valid concern and a real one regardless of whatever numbers got presented upthread - I've noticed a real dilution of metatalk into these kinds of ladygaga posts and into trivial updates, of late, and that takes away from one of its main purposes, which is it is where the "self policing" comes in for the community as a whole.
posted by Rumple at 12:41 AM on May 12, 2010

Not that I agree with WCityMike. I just think he's got a point, and he should get a bit more respect than he's been given here.

Remind me to come and post the entire lyrics of songs into your metatalk threads. When you've got a beef. Remind me to respond to a nicely worded post with personal attacks and meaningless jabber next time you try to make a place you like better.
posted by seanyboy at 12:49 AM on May 12, 2010

Wait, a thread saying "these threads that complain about the kinds of threads getting made are useless" is defending the use of Metatalk for self policing how?
posted by idiopath at 1:10 AM on May 12, 2010

seanyboy: "Not that I agree with WCityMike. I just think he's got a point, and he should get a bit more respect than he's been given here. "

More respect for threads that condemn other threads for condemning other threads!
posted by telstar at 1:21 AM on May 12, 2010

Hakuna MeTaTa, everyone!
posted by tzikeh at 2:55 AM on May 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

As condemnation goes, there's a difference between asking if there are too many "too many" threads, and just piling on because the recursive nature of the question amuses you.
posted by seanyboy at 3:53 AM on May 12, 2010

As condemnation goes, there's a difference between asking if there are too many "too many" threads, and just piling on because the recursive nature of the question amuses you.

I think this comment summed this up as much ado about nothing. At that point, there is not much to be taken seriously.
posted by Hiker at 4:37 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

More respect for threads that condemn other threads for condemning other threads!

oh thanks a lot. I nearly snorted coffee through my nose again. I can't afford to kill another laptop right now
posted by infini at 5:29 AM on May 12, 2010

O GREY AND WET MORN! I SHAKE MY FIST AT YOU!
posted by The Whelk at 5:55 AM on May 12, 2010

Hakuna MeTaTa, everyone!

That's hilarious. :D
posted by zarq at 7:36 AM on May 12, 2010

Man, guys, off topic. Jesus.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:52 AM on May 12, 2010

There's a bit too much "Man, guys, off topic. Jesus." going on in this MeTa thread.
posted by shii at 8:38 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

I thought we were talking about Job and Yoda, not Jesus.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:52 AM on May 12, 2010

They're all the same cookie, just different packaging.
posted by heyho at 8:56 AM on May 12, 2010

Request: the book of Job illustrated and paraphrased as a set piece on Dagobah. Though I think to work right it'd need to invert the analogy we've been running with so far and cast Yoda as Yahweh and Luke as Job, and have Luke submit to Yoda's will and let his friends go and die off in Cloud City after all.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:56 AM on May 12, 2010

Cortex, as you know, was the inspiration for the character Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory.
posted by y2karl at 9:00 AM on May 12, 2010

Well, here you go then, shakespeherian: MetaFilter apparently does have one.
posted by heyho at 9:04 AM on May 12, 2010

Can someone else make a call on this GaGa related video?
posted by empath at 9:05 AM on May 12, 2010

They're all the same cookie, just different packaging.

This is actually an esoteric secret truth about the brotherhood of prophets, you know.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:06 AM on May 12, 2010

Bazinga!
posted by zarq at 9:06 AM on May 12, 2010

ZAMBONI
posted by The Whelk at 9:06 AM on May 12, 2010

Burhanistan: "This is actually an esoteric secret truth"

It was, until you spilled the beans.
posted by idiopath at 9:09 AM on May 12, 2010

ZAMBONI


JAM ON IT!


Ah, man, this is too funky for me.
I'm goin' home.
Hey, Murgatroid, let's go!
Hey, you fellas seen my sister Murgatroid.
She was standin' over here just a minute ago.
Yeah, I think I saw her over there with Randy .
He's rockin' the mic, you know.
posted by zarq at 9:10 AM on May 12, 2010

Can someone else make a call on this GaGa related video?

Decent Voice. Nice control. His outfit needs a lot of work.
posted by zarq at 9:13 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

LOL macro to symbolize this callout.
posted by idiopath at 9:16 AM on May 12, 2010 [3 favorites]

But the great thing about revealing secret esoteric truths is that people won't notice them anyway unless they have the requisite level of initiation to interpret them. Kind of like how people just drive right by those CIA mind scrambling coils everyday and just think they're part of the scenery.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:26 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

> I think this comment summed this up as much ado about nothing. At that point, there is not much to be taken seriously.

Hmm. And yet the Ebert Moratorium post is OK?
If I may paraphrase...

Statistics on Metafilter posts about Ebert in the last three months:

March
2 posts

April
1 Post

May
1 Post

posted by seanyboy at 9:31 AM on May 12, 2010

President Truman: Fellas, this visit's top secret, so no one is to know about it except the senior officers, scientists, and one conspiracy nut no one will believe.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:33 AM on May 12, 2010

Hmm. And yet the Ebert Moratorium post is OK?

Posts to MetaTalk and post to MetaFilter is a sort of apples/oranges comparison. WCityMike has been here a long time and knows that MeTa folks can bring on the snark. All the mods have been respectful in answering his question. Other people are pointing out that his phrasing may have led to the tone of some of the responses he got here [and others which are not okay and we've talked to people] which I think is worthwhile information.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:35 AM on May 12, 2010

To be fair, my post specifically did not call for an Ebert moratorium.
posted by crunchland at 9:52 AM on May 12, 2010

There's a bit too much __________________ going on in MetaTalk.
posted by mazola at 10:14 AM on May 12, 2010

Yoda could actually be one of Job's friends, Blidad the Shuhite (shoe height).

Sorry, I'll go now.
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:17 AM on May 12, 2010

There's a bit too much __________________ going on in MetaFilter.
posted by mazola at 11:05 AM on May 12, 2010

All this Ebert columbarium talk is really creepy.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:09 AM on May 12, 2010

Why do I keep reading "Job and Yoda" as "Yob and Joda"?
posted by The otter lady at 11:51 AM on May 12, 2010

Matt Damon is Jason Bourne in The Ebert Moratorium !
posted by y2karl at 12:18 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Congrats threadshitters with the inability to FIAMO. You just won another one.
posted by Big_B at 12:31 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Big_B: "Congrats threadshitters"

Yeah I get the feeling with many subjects that "mefi does not do well" that there is kind of an inmates running the asylum thing where a handful of haters bring the noise and doom the thread (as opposed to people on both sides being consistently uncivil, which is a related but fundamentally different issue IMHO).
posted by idiopath at 12:38 PM on May 12, 2010

jessamyn: WCityMike has been here a long time and knows that MeTa folks can bring on the snark. All the mods have been respectful in answering his question. Other people are pointing out that his phrasing may have led to the tone of some of the responses he got here [and others which are not okay and we've talked to people] which I think is worthwhile information.

For some reason I really have no explanation for, I had this perception that people were making "too much" posts a lot more frequently than they were. I mean, I had the perception that it was happening multiple times a week, and it was a perception that had the texture of fact in my head, not the texture of opinion.

So, I wrote the post off that perception without fact-checking it. And the post was a "last straw" reaction -- not directed against crunchland's MeTa but certainly prompted by it. Well, everyone else wasn't hampered by that misperception, and pointed out, evidently rightfully, that essentially I was making a big deal out of nothing -- and as this is MetaTalk, it was for the most part not done gently. As Jessamyn said, that's something I know already.

I appreciate the moderators' even-handedness. I don't think I realized how well the moderators do their jobs until I was exposed to what an antimoderator was like. I know that commentary on TNH is rather old hat by now, but her gross incompetence did serve to me as a living, breathing example of just how much an antimoderator could screw up an online community. By contrast, the level of restraint Metafilter's moderators exhibit is rather prodigious by comparison. I truly do hope that I don't tax it too much.

The one place I'm finding some difficulty in resisting is needling on the number of MeTa posts. I'm sure at some point I'm going to grow a thicker skin on that point, enough to ignore it, but in the meantime ... a number is just something that's done. It's something that exists and it's not going to decrease. So it's something you'll always be able to use ... far past the point where it becomes anything but a retread. (And, personally, I think it's already reached that point -- but obviously I'm biased.) So if that's how you choose to summarize me here, then you're picking one point of my existence here and blowing it up to larger than it is, but that's your action; I can't do anything about it.

Can I change my behavior in the future? I'm not going to stop posting to the gray altogether, but on those occasions where there seems to be useful truth present in community reaction – when the community knocks me upside the head – I do try to learn from it and move onward.

For example, I didn't post to MeTa for the second half of 2009, and excluding the mistake with this thread (which in itself is a lesson learned), I've made four posts since February. One was a bug report, one was a birthday greeting, one was a "best of" request on a previously un-"best of"-d topic, and one was a question on a mod experiment. None of the questions were "pony requests" and all seem in review to be legitimate usages for Mefi threads.

I'm human, and on occasion where I'm already spread too thin, I may make mistakes like I did when first posting this thread, but even this is not too egregious a mistake. So I'll kindly ask said needlers to cut me a little slack.
posted by WCityMike at 12:45 PM on May 12, 2010 [3 favorites]

WCityMike: I cannot speak for all the needlers, but my needling was intended in good fun and in no way meant to insult you personally or provoke extended embarrassment. I figured you were lampshading the meta irony of your own post and saw myself as playing along in kind.
posted by idiopath at 12:51 PM on May 12, 2010

idiopath: WCityMike: I cannot speak for all the needlers, but my needling was intended in good fun and in no way meant to insult you personally or provoke extended embarrassment.

By needlers I meant only, to borrow Jessamyn's words, the "others which were not okay." I don't want what I wrote to devolve into "guess which responses WCityMike was referring to", but certainly no apology needed in your case, idiopath.
posted by WCityMike at 1:08 PM on May 12, 2010

WCityMike: It seems like most of the snark herein is fairly generic, par for the Meta-course and not really directed at you personally. There was some history checking, and that is also pretty much de rigeur for MetaTalk, regardless of the poster.

I like your posts to the Blue, and hope that this little trip hasn't dissuaded you. But always remember that any post to Metatalk that has any ring of complaining about how X sucks is pretty much asking for the machine gun treatment. It's probably not the most ideal dynamic, but it seems pretty firmly crystallized as the site MO here.
posted by Burhanistan at 1:15 PM on May 12, 2010

I like you WCityMike!
posted by angrycat at 1:42 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

I wasn't needling at all. I was totally goddamn serious about the word "dudebro."
posted by bondcliff at 1:44 PM on May 12, 2010

oh hi
posted by needled at 1:56 PM on May 12, 2010

I'm bringin' back Broheem, Dudebro!
posted by Mister_A at 2:58 PM on May 12, 2010

Congrats threadshitters with the inability to FIAMO. You just won another one.

In war and threadshitting no one ever really wins.
posted by octobersurprise at 3:32 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

All's fair in love & threadshitting.

(until you get dumped and/or banned)
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:51 PM on May 12, 2010

Close only counts in horseshoes and threadshitting.
posted by box at 3:54 PM on May 12, 2010

*singing* Over thinking a plate of beeeeeeans...
posted by IndigoRain at 1:43 AM on May 13, 2010

*waltzing*
posted by infini at 3:29 AM on May 13, 2010

Matilda? Is that you?
posted by Sailormom at 6:42 AM on May 13, 2010 [1 favorite]

yes mom
posted by infini at 7:05 AM on May 13, 2010 [1 favorite]