What ever happened to foo?

May 26, 2010 7:19 AM

Is it cool to inquire about users who have seemingly disappeared from the site?

There are a handful of users I've been wondering about, their accounts neither active nor disabled, and their final comments don't really give clues to their leaving. I know IRL identity is a twitchy thing around here, and sometimes ponderings like this can cross that line. So, is it okay to have a "What ever happened to...?" thread, or if my desire to know is burning so brightly should I just contact a mod instead?

posted by slogger to Etiquette/Policy at 7:19 AM (329 comments total)

It's not forbidden or anything, though I think it can be sort of a big red target for some drama depending on the situation. Checking with us first is a good idea as far as that goes.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:22 AM on May 26, 2010

foo was permanently barred.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:22 AM on May 26, 2010 [40 favorites]

It's usually not such a great idea if you're concerned that there may have been some issue around their departure. I mean, you are always welcome to make a MetaTalk about a questions about the community, but some MeTa threads about users who have left go well, some don't go as well and some open up old issues in ways that are problematic. The worst case is something like "User foo left because of [something bad] and then came back under [new username] to get a new start" which people will helpfully offer and then we're in a tricky position because hey, you asked, but we'd really like people to be able to start over without the MeTa microscope on them.

On the other hand, mods sometimes, though not always, know why people have left or what's up with them so you can ask us as well. People who just drifted off we often don't know much about though. There's also the possibility that a user drifted off after making some vague comments about depression or that sort of thing, and that tends to get peopel unhappy and agitated.

Also, and this only sort of fits here, if you know that a user (regular user, infrequent user, anyone with a login) has died, you can let us know and we have a way we can mark that which will at least make that sort of thing clear.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:24 AM on May 26, 2010

Good points. There have been a couple of BNDs I've been wondering about, but I'm aware that topic's pretty much verboten. But as far as some of the inactive-but-not-disabled go, it sounds like it's best to just let my curiosity continue to burn...
posted by slogger at 7:31 AM on May 26, 2010

it sounds like it's best to just let my curiosity continue to burn...

Why not send them a message and ask? I just did.
posted by Jaltcoh at 7:33 AM on May 26, 2010

Curiosity about unpeople is natural and you will not be punished but may be encouraged to seek realignment in a temporary work camp.
posted by DU at 7:39 AM on May 26, 2010 [12 favorites]

I miss amberglow.
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:44 AM on May 26, 2010 [25 favorites]

Also, and this only sort of fits here, if you know that a user (regular user, infrequent user, anyone with a login) has died, you can let us know and we have a way we can mark that which will at least make that sort of thing clear.

foo has crossed the bar.
posted by pracowity at 7:44 AM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

What Jaltcoh said. Even if they don't have an email address listed, some people have their MeMail set to forward to their email so they'd get it even if they don't come here anymore.
posted by amro at 7:50 AM on May 26, 2010

i miss andrew cooke
posted by handee at 7:52 AM on May 26, 2010 [5 favorites]

I miss tomcat spike and Todd Lokken.
posted by fixedgear at 7:54 AM on May 26, 2010 [4 favorites]

I miss Frisbee Girl.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:58 AM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

That one guy, though. You know. I don't miss him.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:59 AM on May 26, 2010

I miss that one dude.
posted by pracowity at 8:00 AM on May 26, 2010

I miss amberglow.

I recently noted that bunnycup has disabled her account, and this is one of the very few times I've felt a distinct loss when a user left. jessamyn posted a comment that indicated she may eventually be back, but it still saddens me.

Moreso since she disabled her account, which means I can no longer access her blog or her email address to tell her I'll miss her. I also can't seem to get to her blog (the Google it does nothing), which I enjoyed reading.

I get why this info is scrubbed when a user disables their account, but that doesn't mean I wish any less that there was some way left active to get in touch.
posted by anastasiav at 8:01 AM on May 26, 2010 [7 favorites]

Whereas fu has taken some time off to practice for the Bar.
posted by edbles at 8:03 AM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

The implementation of this would probably be problematic, and I am sure there are abuse potentials for which I have not carefully looked, but, gosh, what I wouldn't wish for, when a user disables their account, some way to leave some kind of misses flag to be set, not unlike contacts, but visible when logged out/disabled. Even a simple count, versus enumeration, could be helpful.

It might be nice for a user who had disabled their account for whatever reasons to know that 428 other MeFites miss them.
posted by adipocere at 8:09 AM on May 26, 2010 [14 favorites]

Even if they don't have an email address listed, some people have their MeMail set to forward to their email so they'd get it even if they don't come here anymore.

And many people are on Facebook/Twitter/Flickr/AIM/whathaveyou. I sent someone a message by MefiMail; I wouldn't be surprised if this person isn't having their mail forwarded to them (maybe they wanted to totally disengage from Metafilter), but I'll try Twittering them a little later...
posted by Jaltcoh at 8:11 AM on May 26, 2010

slogger: “But as far as some of the inactive-but-not-disabled go, it sounds like it's best to just let my curiosity continue to burn...”

Look, it's only been about twelve hours since I last commented, okay? I have to sleep some time. But in case you were worried, I'm fine.
posted by koeselitz at 8:11 AM on May 26, 2010 [6 favorites]

I miss pracowity. I really enjoyed his interactions with that one dude.
posted by quin at 8:17 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

It might be nice for a user who had disabled their account for whatever reasons to know that 428 other MeFites miss them.

It might be crushing for a newly-account-disabled user to learn 0 MeFites are missing them.
posted by kingbenny at 8:18 AM on May 26, 2010 [5 favorites]

I really miss that guy, you know, with the comment about the thing? Yeah, I'm sorry he's gone.
posted by misha at 8:20 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is why I think it is important to go out with a massive flame out. Because then people will know why you left, and also enjoy your leaving.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:35 AM on May 26, 2010 [33 favorites]

All I'm saying is that I need a little more elpapacito in my life than I've been getting. That's all.
posted by jtron at 8:37 AM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

what I wouldn't wish for, when a user disables their account, some way to leave some kind of misses flag to be set, not unlike contacts, but visible when logged out/disabled. Even a simple count, versus enumeration, could be helpful.

Oh god no. Please don't turn departures into contests. That's, like, worst idea ever.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 8:57 AM on May 26, 2010 [14 favorites]

It might be nice for a user who had disabled their account for whatever reasons to know that 428 other MeFites miss them.

I think this has great potential for drama; it seems like people, when flaming out, could basically say "I'm leaving FOREVER, since none of you appreciate me! At least I don't believe you do..." the point being "if enough people miss me I'll deign to come back", and I'm a bit uncomfortable with that.

Also, what if they've been banned and want to come back but can't? That's a little iffy.

Or what if they left for personal reasons or because they felt like MetaFilter was taking up too much of their time or making them fighty and so they are glad they've left (or at least disabled their account) but seeing how much people miss them would make them want to come back/feel guilty about it even if they would really prefer not to in the long run.

I think kingbenny's point that it could be really sad to realize that no one misses you is an excellent one as well.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 9:00 AM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

anastasiav-

I have bunnycup's email and while I don't feel comfortable just handing it out without her permission, I've been forwarding comments like yours to her so that she knows she is missed (and come back ). Hopefully, after reading your comment, she'll respond and I'll update you (with her permission of course) via memail.
posted by miss-lapin at 9:02 AM on May 26, 2010

kingbenny: "It might be crushing for a newly-account-disabled user to learn 0 MeFites are missing them."

Makes getting a Brand New Day really easy, though.
posted by charred husk at 9:06 AM on May 26, 2010

Just so we're clear, with some of our missing members, we'll never know what happened, because the truth is a mixture of Bermuda Triangle and a sasquatch breeding program started by Nazis.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:13 AM on May 26, 2010

It might be nice for a user who had disabled their account for whatever reasons to know that 428 other MeFites miss them.

That's kinda like getting to see who comes to your funeral.
posted by slogger at 9:16 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

the truth is a mixture of Bermuda Triangle and a sasquatch breeding program started by Nazis.

Ain't it always?
posted by nickmark at 9:23 AM on May 26, 2010

COME BACK, DHOYT, COME BACK
posted by cmonkey at 9:25 AM on May 26, 2010 [6 favorites]

I miss tkchrist.
posted by The Whelk at 9:26 AM on May 26, 2010 [15 favorites]

I heard that those crazy kids Dhoyt and Jenleigh finally got married.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:27 AM on May 26, 2010 [10 favorites]

It might be nice for a user who had disabled their account for whatever reasons to know that 428 other MeFites miss them.

My goodness, this is a well-intentioned and yet utterly terrible idea.
posted by desuetude at 9:28 AM on May 26, 2010 [5 favorites]

I just went to the bathroom, jeez. I'm back now. It's OK.
posted by desjardins at 9:29 AM on May 26, 2010 [5 favorites]

Oh when ColdChef was in New York and I had a blade to his neck we discussed my eventual flame-out. Charts, diagrams, shocking revelations, experimental fluids - it will be wonderful.
posted by The Whelk at 9:29 AM on May 26, 2010 [5 favorites]

It might be nice for a user who had disabled their account for whatever reasons to know that 428 other MeFites miss them.

With a little virtual gravestone on which little virtual roses could be left. Like a little virtual Père LachaiseFilter.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:34 AM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

I miss kalessin. Oh wait.

I can only speak for philip-random here but trust me, if he ever ceases to exist, you won't be missing much because he's just a fictional character anyway.
posted by philip-random at 9:38 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

DNAB and Optimus, though he's only been gone for a while. Even though I argued with them, from time to time.

It's sobering, sometimes, to look through old threads and see so many names that are no longer active on the site. *sighs for Miguel*
posted by jokeefe at 9:40 AM on May 26, 2010 [6 favorites]

Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.
posted by Ouisch at 9:43 AM on May 26, 2010

*devil horns*
posted by Ouisch at 9:44 AM on May 26, 2010

I miss tomcat spike and Todd Lokken.
You're missing a "h" in "tomcat"...no biggie as the "h" is silent too; cheers! \!!!/
posted by thomcatspike at 9:47 AM on May 26, 2010 [25 favorites]

Wait, somebody left?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:49 AM on May 26, 2010

I miss the spittoon / You always did.
posted by Abiezer at 9:54 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Anyone have the email address of the img tag?
posted by fleacircus at 10:00 AM on May 26, 2010 [5 favorites]

I don't think anyone would miss me much (and I probably get regularly confused with jacquilynne* anyway) but FYI I'm starting 2 months of intensive calculus courses next week and if I want any hope of passing then I probably need to add all the MetaFilter domains to my hosts file until August.

*Oh jeez, I just looked at her picture and we have very similar glasses and skin/hair/eye color. So it would be even more confusing if we ever ended up at the same meetup!
posted by Jacqueline at 10:05 AM on May 26, 2010

So it would be even more confusing if we ever ended up at the same meetup!

Why, then in the return of the gaze she could return you the face that you are staring from.
posted by fleacircus at 10:09 AM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

"I probably need to add all the MetaFilter domains to my hosts file until August."

Actually... I think I'll do that right now, since I really need to focus on reviewing pre-calculus for the next few days. So if anyone in the future is browsing my comments wondering where I went, that's where, and please MeMail me if you need/want to get in touch (my MeMail forwards to my email).
posted by Jacqueline at 10:10 AM on May 26, 2010

It makes me really happy that bunnycup and miss-lapin are friends.
posted by purpleclover at 10:11 AM on May 26, 2010 [15 favorites]

I miss DNAB.
posted by mollymayhem at 10:11 AM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

fixedgear brought thomcatspike back after over two years! Now maybe Migs will show up...
posted by languagehat at 10:14 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I miss slogger. What happened to that guy? It's been like an hour.
posted by decagon at 10:20 AM on May 26, 2010

*sniff*

I didn't know you cared!

*blubber blubber*
posted by slogger at 10:28 AM on May 26, 2010

Why is it that we can't have the img tag again?
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:29 AM on May 26, 2010

A combination of potential exploits and the fact that some people were absolute fuckers with it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:32 AM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

Cheer up! I'm still here everybody!

YOO HOO OVER HERE


I

AM

STILL

HERE

AND

I

CAN'T

TYPE

ANY

BIGGER

THAN

THIS
posted by GuyZero at 10:36 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

the fact that some people were absolute fuckers with it.

Yeah, but let's not name any chicken-fucking names, amirite?
posted by GuyZero at 10:37 AM on May 26, 2010

Yeah, but let's not name any chicken-fucking names, amirite?

There is a response to this oft-misunderstood topic on my profile page.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:42 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I really hated it when the IMG tag left. Yet about a month after it was gone, I no longer missed it. Now I think the absence makes it a stronger site. It's weird to go into old threads and see so much extra chaos.
posted by yeti at 10:43 AM on May 26, 2010 [5 favorites]

I have never used the img tag.

Could someone please pay attention to me anyway?
posted by desuetude at 10:45 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

A combination of potential exploits and the fact that some people were absolute fuckers with it.

We're not the ones with an explanation of chicken fucking in our profile.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:45 AM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

I don't think anyone would miss me much (and I probably get regularly confused with jacquilynne* anyway)

Well, I would will miss you. I'm pretty stingy with my "links to", but you are one of the chosen few.

(I am fully aware that finding out I've linked to you may make you stay gone longer purely out of shame. For this, I apologize.)
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:47 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh, you'll miss me when I'm gone alright. You will all miss me. And when you slimy creeps slither back to me, begging me to return, I won't even hear your cries. Mostly because I don't know how to forward my memail.
posted by Think_Long at 10:49 AM on May 26, 2010

Metafilter: You can check out any time you like...but you can never leave.
posted by Miko at 10:55 AM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

You'll miss me with effigies, lightin' up your house like Xmas trees.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:07 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I disable my account whenever I get up from the computer.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:09 AM on May 26, 2010

Will no one weep for sixcolors?
posted by Parasite Unseen at 11:09 AM on May 26, 2010 [4 favorites]

I still love you.
posted by sveskemus at 11:14 AM on May 26, 2010

*Eats some BBQ out of the car trunk for my homie*
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:16 AM on May 26, 2010 [6 favorites]

Also, and this only sort of fits here, if you know that a user (regular user, infrequent user, anyone with a login) has died, you can let us know and we have a way we can mark that which will at least make that sort of thing clear.

I actually have a part in my will that lists my logins and passwords and usernames for various sites so that some lucky person can go and close them down for me. Not that I'll likely care, at that point, but just to be tidy.
posted by jokeefe at 11:20 AM on May 26, 2010

Will no one weep for sixcolors?

This is why you can't have nice things.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:20 AM on May 26, 2010 [18 favorites]

jokeefe: “I actually have a part in my will that lists my logins and passwords and usernames for various sites so that some lucky person can go and close them down for me. Not that I'll likely care, at that point, but just to be tidy.”

I mention that in my will, too. It's just above the "press button to destroy world" clause.
posted by koeselitz at 11:22 AM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

jokeefe: that's in my estate planning, too!
posted by crush-onastick at 11:23 AM on May 26, 2010

The mods should put this on auto-play on the profile pages of people who leave.
posted by amyms at 11:27 AM on May 26, 2010

I favorited adipocere's comment because when he was gone, I missed him.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:36 AM on May 26, 2010

fixedgear brought thomcatspike back after over two years! Now maybe Migs will show up...


I'll try. Alacazam, alacazoinks, Miguel Cardoso, we summon you.
posted by fixedgear at 11:43 AM on May 26, 2010

“I actually have a part in my will...

This was actually my get-rich business idea: Internet Will. A site where you could securely store your pwds and instructions or a statement for making contact with your online communities after your demise. Since I'm unlikely to do anything about it, feel free to steal the idea and become rich, rich, rich beyond your wildest dreams.
posted by Miko at 11:44 AM on May 26, 2010

Could pb create a virtual graveyard with little markers recording the screen name and joined/left dates of the dear departed?
posted by Cranberry at 11:52 AM on May 26, 2010

I miss amberglow.

Me too. All the best to him wherever he may be. It looked like he headed off to Europe for some travelling. There are a lot of others I miss, but he was so active and such a positive part of the experience here.
posted by caddis at 11:53 AM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

Cranberry: "Could pb create a virtual graveyard with little markers recording the screen name and joined/left dates of the dear departed"

Can it include a sword-throwing knight who eventually gets stripped down to his boxers?
posted by charred husk at 11:55 AM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

Could pb create a virtual graveyard with little markers recording the screen name and joined/left dates of the dear departed?

That is like the depressingest thing I ever heard.

Here lies Andy peperony and chease
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:55 AM on May 26, 2010 [4 favorites]

Could pb create a virtual graveyard...

Why does it have to be virtual?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:57 AM on May 26, 2010 [4 favorites]

"The mods should put this on auto-play on the profile pages of people who leave."

I expected that to be Yakety Sax.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 11:58 AM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

I miss rodii.

No wait no I don't I just bought him a beer last week. Hi rodii!

Wait again now I really do miss him 'cause he owes me a beer and I'd really like a beer right about now.
posted by gleuschk at 12:11 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

adipocere writes "Even a simple count, versus enumeration, could be helpful.

"It might be nice for a user who had disabled their account for whatever reasons to know that 428 other MeFites miss them."

Please no, there is way too much score keeping as it is.
posted by Mitheral at 12:12 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Please no, there is way too much score keeping as it is.

AND I'M WINING!
posted by The Whelk at 12:16 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

Well, I certainly don't miss that mischief son of a bitch and his bullshit emoticon. ;-P
posted by Ardiril at 12:23 PM on May 26, 2010

Screw you, "The Whelk", I'm all over this game!
posted by GuyZero at 12:24 PM on May 26, 2010

We should all take a moment to remember hoder too ...
posted by forforf at 12:30 PM on May 26, 2010 [9 favorites]

AND I'M WINING!

And dining too?
posted by Melismata at 12:36 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

ahem... Metafilter: A combination of potential exploits and the fact that some people were absolute fuckers with it.

Could we maybe have that April Fool's day color-shifting prank for disabled accounts, but in reverse? Like, the disabled account profile page slowly shifts to black instead of white. Very dramatic. Although white could work, too; then people could shout, "No! Don't go towards the light!!" at their screens if it would make them feel better.
posted by backseatpilot at 12:42 PM on May 26, 2010 [4 favorites]

I left for a brief period of time and I'll admit it, the people who emailed me and begged me to come back were both totally unexpected and extremely persuasive.

Unfortunately, I don't think the reverse would work. If you begged me to leave, I'd probably just get all stubborn about how I AIN'T GOING NOWHERE.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:50 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

moose clitoris

Is that an Urban Dictionary term for large, protruding knuckles?
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:54 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

I don't want want to read anymore about the moose clitoris
posted by The Whelk at 12:58 PM on May 26, 2010

moose clitoris is a (an?) euphemism for the fold of skin between a camel's toes.
posted by GuyZero at 1:05 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I miss Moose Clitoris. IMHO she was the most fearsome linebacker to ever play for the Fighting Blue Hens.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 1:20 PM on May 26, 2010

I've come... crawling back. What more can I do? Let me be your wife!
posted by Devils Rancher at 1:23 PM on May 26, 2010

Finally! I've been watching this fucking site obsessively for the past 8 months to see if anyone would notice I had stopped commenting. You fuckers need to be more observant.
posted by ND¢ at 1:25 PM on May 26, 2010 [34 favorites]

Unfortunately, I don't think the reverse would work. If you begged me to leave, I'd probably just get all stubborn about how I AIN'T GOING NOWHERE.

I periodically get mail pointing out that it's been a while since I disabled my account, and isn't it time for one of my extended breaks? I usually just say something like, "Piss off, cortex. I aint going noooo where!"
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:37 PM on May 26, 2010 [10 favorites]

ND¢: "I've been watching this fucking site obsessively for the past 8 months to see if anyone would notice I had stopped commenting."

That seems kind of sad. Do you need a hug?
posted by charred husk at 1:42 PM on May 26, 2010

Finally! I've been watching this fucking site obsessively for the past 8 months to see if anyone would notice I had stopped commenting.

This is totally what I would do, too.
posted by not that girl at 1:45 PM on May 26, 2010

I myself would never do such a thing.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 1:47 PM on May 26, 2010

I've been watching this fucking site obsessively...

OH. I didn't know it was that kind of site! No wonder meet ups are popular!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:48 PM on May 26, 2010

Nothing... and like it, I noticed that you stopped commenting, but I didn't say anything, and then I found out that you never really left, and now I blame you for toying with my emotions. You bastard.
posted by maqsarian at 1:55 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I missed ND¢, but now he's back, so I'm missing Majick instead.
posted by misha at 2:02 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

You fuckers need to be more observant.

Someone emailed me today specifically asking about you and I told them all about your marvelous potato baby.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:12 PM on May 26, 2010

I miss the younger me who cared about cinema.
posted by everichon at 2:14 PM on May 26, 2010 [5 favorites]

And the flameouts! We haven't had a good flameout in a dog's age. Où sont les flameouts d'antan?
posted by everichon at 2:15 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

My favorite part about when ND¢ comments is that invariably someone is all:

NDcent said (I don't know how to make that symbol!):

And the someone else is all:

ALT+0162

And then someone else is all:

WHO THE FUCK DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO COPY AND PASTE.
posted by SpiffyRob at 2:35 PM on May 26, 2010 [15 favorites]

ND¢, don't think you'll get away again!
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:37 PM on May 26, 2010

ND¢

Just testing that copy and paste feature. Where ya' been buddy boy? What is this about a "potato baby?"
posted by marxchivist at 2:43 PM on May 26, 2010

Someone emailed me today specifically asking about you and I told them all about your marvelous potato baby.

Potato Baby 2: Electric Boogaloo is set to drop around the first of July.
posted by ND¢ at 2:47 PM on May 26, 2010 [4 favorites]

And Potato Baby I is still rocking the world's ass off.
posted by ND¢ at 2:51 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

That is terrific. I am glad that sometimes these threads get people to pop back in and say hello.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:52 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

I am eating nommy tater tots right now. I feel this is the appropriate time and place to share this information.
posted by elizardbits at 2:53 PM on May 26, 2010

For second that looked liked like mommy tater tots.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:01 PM on May 26, 2010

mommy tater tots and daddy tater tots and babby taters tots and they all go in my mouth.
posted by The Whelk at 3:10 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

wait what?
posted by The Whelk at 3:10 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

And dining too?

On Bar, who is now food.
posted by tangerine at 3:14 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Sing, goddess, the anger of quonsar’s Son of Minya
and its devastation, which put pains thousandfold upon the Mefites,
hurled in their multitudes to the house of MeTa strong souls
of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting
of dogs, of all birds, and the will of mathowie was accomplished
since that time when first there stood in division of conflict
quonsar’s son the lord of men and brilliant Son of Minya. . . .
posted by shmegegge at 3:16 PM on May 26, 2010 [4 favorites]

Could pb create a virtual graveyard...

Why does it have to be virtual?

The mods could move all of the user's contributions onto a flash drive, and bury it in a little plot somewhere.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 3:18 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't miss wendell.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:30 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

I do.
posted by redfisch at 3:41 PM on May 26, 2010

oh, redfisch, don't encourage him.
posted by shmegegge at 3:52 PM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

Hey, that would be cool:

                  _  /)
                 mo / )
                 |/)\)
                  /\_
                  \__|=
                 (    )
                 __)(__
           _____/      \\_____
          |  _     ___   _   ||
          |                  ||
          |                  ||
          | everichon flamed ||
	  |	out here     ||
          |        on        ||     
	  |  April 1, 2010   ||				
	  |      He had	     ||
	  |	  2027       ||
	  |    favorites     ||
	  |		     ||
	  | 	             ||
          |                  ||
  *       | *   **    * **   |**      **
   \))ejm97/.,(//,,..,,\||(,,.,\\,.((//

posted by everichon at 3:53 PM on May 26, 2010 [11 favorites]

I would totally visit the Graveyard of The Account Disabled, and walk among its pixels. I've never asked for a pony before, but I am asking now.

* big Keane eyes *
posted by everichon at 4:02 PM on May 26, 2010

is a simple LOOK UPON MY WORKS AND DESPAIR not good enough for you?
posted by The Whelk at 4:10 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

                       ----------
                      /          \
                     /    REST    \
                    /      IN      \
                   /     PEACE      \
                  /                  \
                  |      cortex      |
                  |      23554 +     |
                  |    killed by a   |
                  |      troll       |
                  |                  |
                  |                  |
                  |       1337       |
                 *|     *  *  *      | *
        _________)/\\_//(\/(/\)/\//\/|_)_______


Goodbye cortex the moderator...

You died in The Tubes of the Internet in thread number 19340 with 17563 comments,
and 36 posts, after 3318 days.
You were level 7418 with a maximum of 83 WPM when you died.

posted by cortex (staff) at 4:10 PM on May 26, 2010 [21 favorites]

whenever cortex appears in this tomfoolery I feel like we should link arms and spin around.
posted by The Whelk at 4:13 PM on May 26, 2010

to this, obviously
posted by The Whelk at 4:13 PM on May 26, 2010

You were level 7418 with a maximum of 83 WPM when you died.

Requesting addition of user level data to the infodump please. Oh, the correlations that could be made with this! It would almost be as much fun as getting the cabal flag included.
posted by FishBike at 4:32 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Could pb create a virtual graveyard...

Why does it have to be virtual?

All in a day's work for a Digital Assassin.
posted by contrariwise at 4:33 PM on May 26, 2010

So what ever happened to Amberglow and Tkchrist? I know I've got a few scrolls of resurrection in the back, but I don't want a Litch on my hands, again.
posted by The Whelk at 4:55 PM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

I miss plep.
posted by homunculus at 4:56 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Me too. He's even stopped updating nyplep (back in January). I hope he's ok.
posted by anastasiav at 5:00 PM on May 26, 2010

I miss vronsky.
posted by Sailormom at 5:01 PM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

Isn't it nice, though, that we still have each other?
posted by amtho at 5:10 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

I have to admit, threads like this make me want to disable my account just to see if anyone would notice. I guess it's the internet version of fantasizing about attending one's own funeral.
posted by Bookhouse at 5:12 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I miss myself sometimes.
posted by jonmc at 5:12 PM on May 26, 2010

I'm Facebook friends with plep, he seems to be fine. Except he's playing Farmville. WTF, plep?
posted by jokeefe at 5:18 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I have no idea where amberglow went and hope he is ok.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:20 PM on May 26, 2010

aha ! jonmc would probably know where amberglow went.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:20 PM on May 26, 2010

I missed hermitosis for all of, like, two days, before realizing he was already back and doing fine. Bastard didn't even give me a chance to grieve.
posted by koeselitz at 5:23 PM on May 26, 2010

still no 3 on the mefi contribution index
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:25 PM on May 26, 2010

I'm not here. This isn't happening.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:27 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I miss cortex, whatever happen to that guy?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:27 PM on May 26, 2010

dersins. what happened to that guy?
posted by gman at 5:27 PM on May 26, 2010

aha ! jonmc would probably know where amberglow went.

Amberglow dropped by my store about 2 years ago to sell some books. he had just been laid off. He was bent but unbroken. I haven't seen him since.
posted by jonmc at 5:31 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

COMING IN 2023! WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WHELK? A THRILLING TALE OF MURDER PERVERSION AND LEMURS FROM BEYOND.
posted by The Whelk at 5:34 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

I miss hama7 and his always engimatic, always interesting posts.

I miss Pot and Kettle and their amusing asides.

I also miss Astro Zombies 2 and 3 and their erudite conversation. But not Original Astro Zombie. That guy's only after my brains.
posted by armage at 5:38 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Yes, you too can have your very own Engimatic for ten low payments of only $29.99! Call now! (Offer void in the continental US, the island of Oahu, and Alaska south of the Arctic Circle)
posted by armage at 5:40 PM on May 26, 2010

C'mon, guys, you know cortex is just faking his own death so he can come back as a caped crusader. Banhammer Man - protecting us from SEO spammers!
posted by Quietgal at 5:45 PM on May 26, 2010

well i just put lester in the closet for a while. might let him out in september.
posted by lester's sock puppet at 5:50 PM on May 26, 2010

I miss DNAB too.

You know who I'm surprised no one's mentioned? dirtynumbangelboy.

Oh. Wait.

So where is our bagel-licious friend anyways?
posted by IndigoRain at 5:52 PM on May 26, 2010

Yay! thehmsbeagle is back! I can stop mourning now.
posted by runningwithscissors at 6:07 PM on May 26, 2010

161 comments in, and no love for ethereal bligh? For shame!
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:08 PM on May 26, 2010 [9 favorites]

nor occhiblu.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:08 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

the fish

is always

in our pants

with our hand

cut

off
posted by The Whelk at 6:09 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Wait, hama7's gone? I had no idea.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:09 PM on May 26, 2010

speaking of which, ikkyu2.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:09 PM on May 26, 2010 [8 favorites]

Ethereal Bligh! He even defriended me (among a bunch of other Mefite types) on Facebook ages ago. Guess he really wanted to make a break with the place.
posted by jokeefe at 6:34 PM on May 26, 2010

Really? He was at my wedding. The night before the ceremony, he was incredibly cool about being summond to our hotel room to party by the extremely drunk quartet of me, pips, Zack Replica and elizard.
posted by jonmc at 6:37 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

This place has gone to shit since Bookhouse stopped commenting.

On a more serious note, I miss amberglow too. He was the first person that paid attention to me was nice to me when I joined up. Well, the first one I noticed anyways.
posted by marxchivist at 6:40 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

matteo's not commenting much these days, so I was totally over the moon when he called a couple of weeks ago to say hi. As ever, he was filled with hilarious anecdotes, in this case involving members of ABBA. Beyond that I was sworn to secrecy.
posted by scody at 6:44 PM on May 26, 2010

Anybody besides me remember MrBaliHai? He was a cool dude.
posted by jonmc at 6:53 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

Summon Bevets?
posted by tzikeh at 6:55 PM on May 26, 2010

hatmaui because it always cracked me up.
posted by fixedgear at 6:58 PM on May 26, 2010

I miss dios. No, seriously. So rare to find someone you disagree with and respect at the same time.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:08 PM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

Also jonson.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:09 PM on May 26, 2010

Anybody besides me remember MrBaliHai? He was a cool dude.

I do.

But we're very old.
posted by anastasiav at 7:12 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I miss my lost innocence.
posted by misha at 7:13 PM on May 26, 2010

Did you look in the sofa cushions?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:16 PM on May 26, 2010

About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about. Even old Stradlater and Ackley, for instance. I think I even miss that goddam Maurice. It's funny. Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.
posted by ND¢ at 7:29 PM on May 26, 2010 [6 favorites]

hadjiboy hasn't been active here since Jan 2nd this year. Hope he's travelling well.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:30 PM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

161 comments in, and no love for ethereal bligh? For shame!

It would have to be a 2,000 word comment that walks the line between insightful and offensive.
posted by armage at 7:31 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Anybody besides me remember MrBaliHai? He was a cool dude.

He was always pretty classy in his comments, IIRC.

Now that "stevewoz" guy, whoever he is -- he made a single comment and then skedaddled. I mean, what nerve.
posted by armage at 7:36 PM on May 26, 2010

On a serious note, anyone know what happened to Vidiot? His account isn't disabled, but he hasn't posted or commented since September 2008. Any NYC Mefites run into him at all (assuming he's still in NYC)?
posted by armage at 7:41 PM on May 26, 2010

I've seen Vidiot recently on other sites.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 7:51 PM on May 26, 2010

Hell, even wendell is gone. The next column down, for most threads, is almost like a list of people who've disabled their accounts. I miss a lot of people. I lurked for a long time, and I joined because I wanted to be part of the conversation with some great people, and folks like wendell, tkchrist, ikkyu2, and dozens other I've forgotten (sadly) or haven't yet realized are gone made this place pretty great. It's still good, and there are new people who post pretty good stuff.

Personally, I just hate change.
posted by Ghidorah at 7:59 PM on May 26, 2010

MetaFilter: walks the line between insightful and offensive.
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:00 PM on May 26, 2010

I just noticed a few minutes ago that ZacksMind hasn't been back, either. I know I've "only" ben a member since the Great 5$ Onslaught, Day Two, but I'd been a regular reader since about 2001, so yeah, a lot of history here. Wah.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:04 PM on May 26, 2010

On a serious note, anyone know what happened to Vidiot?

He is alive and well and the owner of a comfy couch. I crashed at his place in New York a few weeks ago.
posted by ColdChef at 8:12 PM on May 26, 2010

Oh yay, glad to hear that thehmsbeagle is back!
posted by otherwordlyglow at 8:13 PM on May 26, 2010

I've seen Vidiot recently on other sites.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey

There are other sites?
posted by ColdChef at 8:20 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

Some people who are "gone" ain't so "gone," y'know?
posted by jtron at 8:21 PM on May 26, 2010

I miss dios. No, seriously. So rare to find someone you disagree with and respect at the same time.

That and he had my back when I battled the LOLTEXAS.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:22 PM on May 26, 2010

There are other sites?
posted by ColdChef

That reminds me -- whatever happened to that ColdChef guy?
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:23 PM on May 26, 2010

I was just going to say the same thing as Item. Some times I think I would love to do the same thing (I hate the nick yhbc now) but I'm a cheap bastard and don't want to spend $5.00 to fuck around on the internet.
posted by yhbc at 8:32 PM on May 26, 2010

That reminds me -- whatever happened to that ColdChef guy?

Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I am there.
posted by ColdChef at 8:40 PM on May 26, 2010 [11 favorites]

You must have hella frequent flyer miles.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:46 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

And when there are only one set of footprints on the beach, it was when he was drunk and I was carrying him.
posted by yhbc at 8:46 PM on May 26, 2010 [8 favorites]

I miss amberglow and hope he's well, wherever he is and whatever he is doing.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:51 PM on May 26, 2010

As a matter of fact, I have two MeFite guests sleeping on my sofa tonight. I took them out for fried alligator. Really.
posted by ColdChef at 8:57 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

Could we include the option of leaving an contact e-mail when we disable accounts?
posted by jason's_planet at 9:06 PM on May 26, 2010

I miss ikkyu2??
posted by sweetkid at 9:10 PM on May 26, 2010

As long as Meatbomb is here, the rest of you lot can all go to hell.
posted by not_on_display at 9:30 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I will give you five minutes to reconsider that statement.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:32 PM on May 26, 2010 [11 favorites]

I miss honkzilla, whereas jeffp was always a kind of cipher. And I always suspected OneBallJay was kind of faking it.
posted by meehawl at 9:39 PM on May 26, 2010

Erm... Paris Paramus? mcgraw?

I really miss amberglow and Ethereal Bligh, too.
posted by koeselitz at 9:54 PM on May 26, 2010

I mean, Meatbomb and jessamyn. And geez, eveyone here, if I really have to reconsider the statement!

Everyone needs a hug.

but especially meatbomb and jess
posted by not_on_display at 9:57 PM on May 26, 2010

Where the fuck has moonbird been? That asshole, used to be so active, even went to the Mega 10 year anniversary meetup in Nawlins, now what? Nuttin' but a few AskMes. People want that user number, he's taking up valuable server space. Nice quirky posting history Mr. Lunar Avian person, but you're old and crusty now.
posted by moonbird at 10:13 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm been gone for months, any activity on my part is just escaping gas and reflex arcs. Apologies about the smell.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:18 PM on May 26, 2010

161 comments in, and no love for ethereal bligh? For shame!

nor occhiblu.

I miss them both, they were two of the stronger voices here. While I often disagreed with their takes, both of them consistently made perceptive, thoughtful comments. It was contributions like theirs that kept me coming back over the years that I lurked.

I also miss nixerman. Maybe not as insightful, but he always had an atypical point of view which enlivened the threads he participated in.
posted by BigSky at 10:40 PM on May 26, 2010

nthing DNAB.

That is terrific. I am glad that sometimes these threads get people to pop back in and say hello posted by jessamyn

I figured if I nthed it would help. Or make an angel get her wings. Or somethin.
posted by NikitaNikita at 11:04 PM on May 26, 2010

I used to communicate infrequently with Mr. Bali Hai via his awesome blog. As I recall, he got laid off and took a break from blogging for a while, and I think got a new job that took up his time. I do recall seeing an infrequent post from him now and then about some tropical objet d'arr he discovered haunting antique stores.

I think I'll drop him a line tomorrow to see how he's doing. He did seem like an awfully nice --and undeniably fascinating -- fellow.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:29 PM on May 26, 2010

As long as Meatbomb is here, the rest of you lot can all go to hell.
posted by not_on_display at 11:30 PM

I will give you five minutes to reconsider that statement.
posted by jessamyn at 11:32 PM

I mean, Meatbomb and jessamyn. And geez, eveyone here, if I really have to reconsider the statement! ...
posted by not_on_display at 11:57 PM

He took longer than five minutes!!! /tattle tale voice
posted by amyms at 11:53 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

He took longer than five minutes!!!

It's okay, we're on Internet Time here.

(that means I show up 30 minutes late for every thread)
posted by armage at 12:43 AM on May 27, 2010

ND¢ -- some of us notice, but don't mention it.
posted by spiderskull at 1:33 AM on May 27, 2010

It's okay, we're on Internet Time here.

(that means I show up 30 minutes late for every thread)

Surely internet time is incessantly refreshing a thread with beads of sweat forming as you wait for a reply?
posted by litleozy at 1:50 AM on May 27, 2010

I miss tkchrist. [...] speaking of which, ikkyu2. [...] matteo [...] wendell

Stop it. I haz a sad.
posted by rodgerd at 3:19 AM on May 27, 2010

Yeah; I honestly did not realize how many of my favorite users were gone until this thread.

I certainly understand that people move on, their lives and habits change. But I do miss them.
posted by Miko at 5:56 AM on May 27, 2010

Don't worry everyone! ☆I'm☆ still here!
posted by shakespeherian at 5:58 AM on May 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

you're gonna quit me baby
good as i been to you, lord lord
good as i been to you, lord lord
good as i been to you
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:20 AM on May 27, 2010

I should have quit you, baby
such a long time ago
I wouldn't be here with all my troubles
down on this killing floor.
posted by shakespeherian at 6:26 AM on May 27, 2010

wendell

Stop it. I haz a sad.

Don't be sad about wendell! He's standing right there.
posted by maqsarian at 6:38 AM on May 27, 2010

It's okay, we're on Internet Time here.

I was thinking about Internet Time when reflecting on the fact that I had been away from Metafilter for eight months. Eight months is eight months in real life time. But on the internet everything is accelerated because of the amount of information we are digesting. A modern internetian is exposed to more information in a month than someone in the 1800's would get in a lifetime. An event which occurred in 2004 might as well have happened in pre-history because we have been exposed to so much new information since then. We have lived thousands of lifetimes in internet time since 2004. So we live for 100 some-odd years in real life, but that is for all intents and purposes an eternity on the internet.

So its like when I go to heaven and get to live forever with Jesus cause I am from South Carolina, if I don't happen to see my momma for a million years its no big deal cause me and my momma are going to live forever, so what is a million years here and there? Similarly, I was away from Metafilter for eight months. That is so long that the internet people here have been through thousands of years worth of change since then, but who cares really? We have an eternity to spend together in subjective internet time. What are a few thousand years here and there?
posted by ND¢ at 6:41 AM on May 27, 2010 [7 favorites]

Wait, who are you again?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:48 AM on May 27, 2010

I'm worse than Really Internet Famous/Slightly Real Life Famous, worse than Strictly Internet Famous, worse than One Site on the Internet Famous, and worse than One Site on the Internet Well-Known. I'm Known on One Site on the Internet to the Extent Can Disappear and Nobody Comments on Said Disappearance Until Eight Months Have Passed But Then Somebody Does Finally Say Something. It's . . . not a great thing to be.
posted by ND¢ at 6:59 AM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Is Internet Time like the reality we are creating for each other, so that eventually/now/later/always mathowie will open the door to blinding light and we'll all get up out of our pews except cortex will be lying in the bamboo with the dog?
posted by everichon at 9:48 AM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm actually not on Internet Time but on Para-Time and I need to go finish my assignment in Jak-Hakka Sector.
posted by GuyZero at 10:08 AM on May 27, 2010

when I go to heaven and get to live forever with Jesus cause I am from South Carolina

I had no idea. Now I don't feel so bad for skipping church for the last 15 years.
posted by chiababe at 10:14 AM on May 27, 2010

PEOPLE SHMEGEGGE MISSES
A GRAND BUT INCOMPLETE AND IMPORTANT LIST OF IMPORTANTNESS

quonsar
miguel
ethereal bligh
optimus chyme
tkchrist
todd lokken
billtastic (I know, I know. who? his flame burned too brightly too quickly.)
fandango matt
jennydiski
UN Owen
nickyskye
pretty generic
dhoyt
jennleigh
Son of Minya
PinkStainlessTail

more if I think of them.
posted by shmegegge at 10:14 AM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

uh nicky is still totally around
posted by The Whelk at 10:21 AM on May 27, 2010

Yeah, nicky is still around.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:24 AM on May 27, 2010

nickyskye hasn't quit, shmegegge! and Hooray for that!

Meatbomb, nickyskye, and jessamyn. the rest of you all... OUT!

and ...yeah I miss hadjiboy and amberglow, too.
posted by not_on_display at 10:25 AM on May 27, 2010

what they said.
posted by not_on_display at 10:25 AM on May 27, 2010

I'll give you 4 minutes to reconsider that statement.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:27 AM on May 27, 2010

George, I can reconsider that statement in 3 minutes.
posted by shmegegge at 10:29 AM on May 27, 2010

also, SORRY NICKYSKYE! I HAD YOU CONFUSED WITH SOMEONE ELSE!
posted by shmegegge at 10:29 AM on May 27, 2010

Several of those people are still around (or are around again, depending on how you want to think about it), a few others had been back before either effing off or getting banned, a couple more were the same person...
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:32 AM on May 27, 2010

well, some of the list was tongue-in-cheek. I legitimately miss them in the sense that I miss their shenanigans, but I'm also glad they're gone. the ones who are legitimately back I obviously did not know about, but I'm also totally fine not having sock puppets or BNDs outed.
posted by shmegegge at 10:34 AM on May 27, 2010

I miss you shmegegge.
posted by not_on_display at 10:43 AM on May 27, 2010

me, too.
posted by shmegegge at 10:48 AM on May 27, 2010

Hey guys hey guys hey guys! Guess who's back!
posted by Rory Marinich at 10:55 AM on May 27, 2010 [6 favorites]

Yeah, once you get that Blue in you, you can't ever quit it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:05 AM on May 27, 2010

Yay! Bagels for everyone!
posted by slogger at 11:33 AM on May 27, 2010

Dirty bagels for all!
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:59 AM on May 27, 2010

Hooray, Dirty Numb Bagel Boy! Hope to see you posting again.

Also, I once met tkchrist and challenged him to a kung fu duel. Taking his advice, we successfully defended ourselves against heart disease.

I also miss EB, he articulated a bunch of really respectable and important things as well as some stuff I found hard to take and borderline offensive. I mean, seriously dude, BMW touring sedans? Over the line.

And, dang, I sure do miss kathrineg. I sure wish she'd come back under a different name and do something memorable that makes me feel good about the site. Oh well...
posted by stet at 12:27 PM on May 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

And, dang, I sure do miss kathrineg.

Yeah, this.
posted by everichon at 1:15 PM on May 27, 2010

I'd just like to say at this point that I'm really glad the rest of you are still here.
posted by Nabubrush at 1:28 PM on May 27, 2010

But I am thisclose to FB suicide, I tell ya what.
posted by everichon at 1:53 PM on May 27, 2010

I miss K and S. Too soon?
posted by fixedgear at 1:54 PM on May 27, 2010

Once I didn't write anything here for like a week cuz I was on vacation in Volcanistan, and nobody missed me...
posted by Mister_A at 3:00 PM on May 27, 2010

I miss ratbastard and sapphireblue.
posted by terrapin at 4:23 PM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I miss ratbastard and sapphireblue.

Oh man I just had the greatest flashback to May 2001.
posted by gleuschk at 4:46 PM on May 27, 2010

On a serious note, anyone know what happened to Vidiot?

He is alive and well and the owner of a comfy couch. I crashed at his place in New York a few weeks ago.

and living with me and pips' former roommate and co-worker. (long story)
posted by jonmc at 4:57 PM on May 27, 2010

and living with me and pips' former roommate and co-worker.

Y'all are living with Gladys Knight? Does she sing "Midnight Train to Georgia" around the house?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:20 PM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh man, House totally sang "Midnight Train to Georgia." Or rather, Chase sang it and House and Foreman were his backup singers.

It was pretty sweet.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:51 PM on May 27, 2010

at the closing down of the thread and in the banhammering,


we will remember them.



paaaaarp
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:53 PM on May 27, 2010

Oh man, House totally sang "Midnight Train to Georgia." Or rather, Chase sang it and House and Foreman were his backup singers.

It was pretty sweet.

Then it turned out that Cuddy was the Smoke Monster and they were all dead the whole time.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:58 PM on May 27, 2010

I miss evanizer.

/old school
posted by languagehat at 5:58 PM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Well, Willie Nelson cut his braids off. With luck and $5, they may be a member soon. And flame out after awhile. And then you can miss them, too.
posted by y2karl at 6:00 PM on May 27, 2010

Hey Dirtynumbangelboy ! Still waiting on that postcard back, you sexy flaky cooking person you
posted by The Whelk at 6:19 PM on May 27, 2010

who has like the best most evocative address ever, was your Realtor a frustrated poet or is it just Toronto or T-Town as I've been told to call it by no one
posted by The Whelk at 6:20 PM on May 27, 2010

I miss the folks who discover this place, post interesting things in a flurry of activity for a month or so, and then depart.
posted by maxwelton at 6:55 PM on May 27, 2010

I wish I knew where to find writing from the guy who wrote the blog post featured in this FPP. I read his blog for several months and actually got to know him on a semi-personal level before we lost contact. I got wrapped up in some other life stuff, and by the time I went back, his blog had been removed from the internet. The wayback machine can't help me, google's cache can't help me, and I neglected to save many of the fantastic and touching posts on that blog. The short stories were top-notch as well, and this from someone who is not a fan of the genre for the most part. I know his name and I know he has a Twitter account, but that format doesn't really serve the same purpose.

That blog post is actually the reason I came to Metafilter, even though I didn't sign up for a time after that. He linked from his blog to the MeFi post about his blog post about BPD and I came by and lurked for awhile to see what it was all about. I got the impression he had been a member here. If someone knows his username (whether he still posts or once did but no longer) I'm sure I would love to know it so I could go back and read him. He was a very intriguing writer.

I'm truly thankful that he gave me the gift of this community.
posted by Night_owl at 6:56 PM on May 27, 2010

I miss Ghengis Kahn and his brother Don.
posted by thinkpiece at 6:58 PM on May 27, 2010

I miss shane. Remember him? Also jonson, amberglow, miguel, (of course), kafkaesq, jpoulos and many others. However, I LOVE getting to recognize and appreciate new members as I read their comments and enjoy their contributions. THAT is what keeps me around, not the memories of previous times, as memorable and as good as they were.
posted by yhbc at 7:16 PM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

re jonson: I can report that he is alive and well in L.A., and we're planning on seeing Crowded House together this summer. I'll tell him folks miss him, and will report back any suitably snarky rejoinder he may have.
posted by scody at 7:36 PM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I missed shmeggege but then I backed up and hit him.

(BA DUM TSH!)
posted by klangklangston at 7:48 PM on May 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

scody, tell jonson flapjax sez hello.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:22 PM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

scody, tell jonson yhbc sez his pugs are ugly mutants.
posted by yhbc at 8:25 PM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

scody tell jonson I miss him.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:27 PM on May 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hey guys hey guys hey guys! Guess who's back!

Yay!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:28 PM on May 27, 2010

scody, tell jonson that I said his name because it makes me laugh because jonson means penis
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:36 PM on May 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

scody tell jonson I miss him.


tell n_o_d
posted by klangklangston at 9:54 PM on May 27, 2010

scody, tell jonson that little timmy is stuck in the well!
posted by not_on_display at 9:56 PM on May 27, 2010

klang, tell jessamyn i miss jonson, too. via scody, when she comes back from telling jonson that little timmy's in the well.

never mind I will tell her tomorrow evening!

klang, go out and get everyone ice creams!
posted by not_on_display at 10:00 PM on May 27, 2010

i mean seriously

how did they get that past the censors
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:02 PM on May 27, 2010

lassie is that you?

Help help I'm in a well!
posted by klangklangston at 10:09 PM on May 27, 2010

Censors too busy with new GOP honeypot
posted by klangklangston at 10:09 PM on May 27, 2010

ICE CREAM PARTY!
posted by The Whelk at 10:13 PM on May 27, 2010

I WANT SPRINKLES
posted by The Whelk at 10:13 PM on May 27, 2010

scody, tell jonson that I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
posted by armage at 10:31 PM on May 27, 2010

*sprinkles The Whelk*
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:32 PM on May 27, 2010

I miss evanizer.
/old school

Speaking of evanizer, whatever happened to unclefes?
posted by armage at 10:34 PM on May 27, 2010

What ever happened to Eddie?
posted by not_on_display at 4:00 AM on May 28, 2010

i mean seriously

how did they get that past the censors
posted by cortex at 12:02 AM on May 28 [+] [!]

i think metafilter is ready for a user named "Heywood Jablome"
posted by lester's sock puppet at 5:08 AM on May 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

or "what's the problem you can't face?"
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:16 AM on May 28, 2010

I miss Jim Jones and his tomfoolery. Some people don't need to contribute a lot to leave a big impression.
posted by caddis at 6:24 AM on May 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

> I'll tell him folks miss him

Please include languagehat in that. He can even call me languagefat amirite if he'll come back!
posted by languagehat at 10:50 AM on May 28, 2010

Hey, my first ever and longstanding BBS handle was Jim Jones! Neato. It eventually morphed into Rev. Jim Jones until around 1990 when I went offline for a few years.

That has to be the best MeTa thread ever.
posted by not_on_display at 10:58 AM on May 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

so... apparently Brandon Blatcher pushed the button today, or maybe yesterday.

that sucks. please come back BB. you are a good dude.
posted by shmegegge at 10:08 AM on May 29, 2010

. . . what? No! That sucks! Come back!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:13 AM on May 29, 2010

SOMEONE GET THE STICKY GUN
posted by The Whelk at 10:14 AM on May 29, 2010

WTF? BB was one of the first contacts I added, so I could keep track of the great advice. Based on recent comments, there wasn't a precipitating even in his leaving, either.

Please return?
posted by Night_owl at 10:37 AM on May 29, 2010

WTF? His last comment here was "Yeah, once you get that Blue in you, you can't ever quit it. He was psoting in the Softball thread 2 hours ago. Maybe he meant to click the "Export your comments" button & missed. Perplexing.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:37 AM on May 29, 2010

Which brings me to a small pony request. If one of our contacts disables their account, can we get a notification on the sidebar? If that is there for contacts' notable activities on the site, which I think it is, then something as notable as their (official button-pushing) departure should be included.
posted by Night_owl at 10:40 AM on May 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

I need all the spouses I can get. I hope he returns.


Come back soon, O Great Espousenator!
posted by readery at 10:43 AM on May 29, 2010

maybe he doesn;t want to be MetaTempted on this, Our Weekend Of Memory.
posted by The Whelk at 10:44 AM on May 29, 2010

If one of our contacts disables their account, can we get a notification on the sidebar?

Not going to happen. This is one of the weirder parts about what people call "community management," dealing with people leaving. Sometimes we have more information about why someone left, and sometimes we don't. Sometimes people leave for good reasons and sometimes they leave for bad reasons. Whatever happens, they're not here to speak to why they left themselves and rarely do people leave someone around to explain it all.

So, sometimes we-as-mods know, but usually don't feel okay passing it on. Sometimes other people were in a thread where some user may have been acting weird or behaving badly and that might come up as some sort of "maybe this is why..." sort of thing. In any case, I know it's a little tough to deal with, the not knowing, but the best approach is maybe to try to get real-world contact information for real-world people you might want to stay in touch with. Brandon Blatcher, for example, I know is on facebook under his real name. Maybe you could ping him there? If people want to IM or email us [not MeMail please] and ask about someone, they're more than welcome to. We often have no extra information but if we do have any we're definitely not going to put it in a MeTa thread. Don't know what's up with Brandon Blatcher, for example.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:47 AM on May 29, 2010

It might be sort of nice if people could put up the equivalent of a "gone fishing" sign on their profile when they close their account, to head off some of the inevitable speculation about the reasons for their departure.

On the other hand, I can imagine the kind of thing some people might post there as part of an angry flame-out, which then they can't change because their account is disabled. So... maybe not.
posted by FishBike at 11:07 AM on May 29, 2010

NOOOOOO. I do not approve. COME BACK BB.
posted by elizardbits at 12:19 PM on May 29, 2010

But if Brandon leaves Metafilter, how will he know what white people think about the issues of the day?

(Come back, Brandon!)
posted by klangklangston at 12:25 PM on May 29, 2010

Was about to merrily post that we got the bagelboy back.

Then I come here and see we lost BB. Feeling kinda gutpunched around now.

(Come back, Brandon!) x1000
posted by hangashore at 12:35 PM on May 29, 2010

Night_owl writes "Which brings me to a small pony request. If one of our contacts disables their account, can we get a notification on the sidebar?"

jessamyn writes "In any case, I know it's a little tough to deal with, the not knowing, but the best approach is maybe to try to get real-world contact information for real-world people you might want to stay in touch with."

I don't think Night_owl was requesting explanation; just notification. IE: a contact disables their account and you get "The account FooBar has been disabled" on your side bar. If that wasn't Night_owl's intention then I'd like to request the pony I outlined. If only so that one knows to try contacting that person via back channels.
posted by Mitheral at 12:56 PM on May 29, 2010

Yeah I think I was responding to that and maybe skipping a few steps btu I thinkt hat what would happen was that people would then open a Meta thread "why did soandso leave?" and I'd be afraid that if we knew we couldn't tell someone [or it would be an icky personal thing, now elevated to a lot of people looking] and if we didn't know there would be a lot of "oh NOOOOOOO" sort of things which is... sort of weird for MetaTalk. I'm aware that this is a sort of community thing, keeping an eye on members, making sure peopel are okay, but I think a sidebar notification would lead to a lot of MeTa questions that don't really belong here.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:01 PM on May 29, 2010

Since this seems to be the thread for it, I'll mention that I've been wondering where Sidhedevil went.
posted by restless_nomad at 6:54 PM on May 29, 2010

Mitheral: “I don't think Night_owl was requesting explanation; just notification. IE: a contact disables their account and you get "The account FooBar has been disabled" on your side bar. If that wasn't Night_owl's intention then I'd like to request the pony I outlined. If only so that one knows to try contacting that person via back channels.”

Yes, it would be wonderful to be notified every time someone disabled their metafilter account. Because I honestly don't have enough reminders throughout the day that everyone is disappearing from my life, that every good friendship I've ever had is coming to a dismally sudden end, and that the only real recourse is to hide in the bathroom stall at work and sob silent sobs.
posted by koeselitz at 11:53 PM on May 29, 2010

If one of our contacts disables their account, can we get a notification on the sidebar?

Not going to happen.

What about adding an option to send a MefiMail to all your contacts when you disable your account? That way if someone wanted to let their contacts know that they were leaving and why, they could do it in one easy step. But it would be their choice.
posted by homunculus at 9:48 AM on May 30, 2010 [3 favorites]

Since it's possible to send a mefimail out to a few people just before you deactivate your account - people just don't do it - maybe the solution is to add a note to the "disable account" screen, to the effect of: "You bastard, if you're actually going to leave us like this, the least you can do is tell us why, so MefiMail all of us or else we'll track you down and choke you on your own guilt."
posted by koeselitz at 9:58 AM on May 30, 2010

BB left Metafilter? fuckity fuck fuck.

That really sucks.

Plus, who is going to support all of his spouses now?
posted by misha at 1:12 PM on May 30, 2010 [2 favorites]

Plus, who is going to support all of his spouses now?

Class action alimony suit.
posted by amyms at 3:18 PM on May 30, 2010

BB left Metafilter? fuckity fuck fuck.

This is probably the 2nd leaving that has genuinely distressed me. The other one was kathrenig but it turned out that she was just saving Russians under a different name and hadn't really left.

So maybe Brandon is just doing that?
posted by shakespeherian at 4:34 PM on May 30, 2010

Reading this thread makes me wish I had posted more over the years. No one ever misses a lurker. We're sorta like the Metafilter Grues.
posted by Windigo at 8:36 PM on May 31, 2010

Much as I miss a lot of the inactive people, I'm with jessamyn in thinking that allowing people to disable their accounts quietly is a good thing. There are myriad reasons why people would choose to disable their accounts, and I suspect a minority of those reasons have to do with what's actually going on on the site. A lot of times there is a "precipitating event," and those are often very visible. But think of all the other reasons people may disable their accounts: someone is stalking them weirdly. Someone in their family got sick and they need to take care of them. They've become concerned about their internet habit and are taking steps to change their behavior. They've been spoken to at work about goofing off online and need to curtail it. They're working on a long-term creative project or job search and don't want the temptation. They're temporarily irritated with the whole enterprise but at some point will reconsider.

When users disable their accounts, I'd like to see them entitled to do it privately and with a minimum of fuss and drama. They certainly do have the ability to MeMail individuals before they leave. I've been on the receiving end of just a couple of those - and they, in fact, say things like "I just need to pay more attention to real-life stuff and MeFi is a distraction, so I'm going to be lying low for a while, but just wanted to say bye." I think being able to post a reason for leaving in your profile is iffy - I could see that evolving into a place for LAST WORD HA! as a nice cherry on the top of the occasional flounce-out. "I regret I can no longer stay on MeFi because the jackbooted thugs insist upon silencing me!" etc. I don't know that we need the Final Soapbox.
posted by Miko at 6:09 AM on June 1, 2010

"I regret I can no longer stay on MeFi because the jackbooted thugs insist upon silencing me!"

Hey! That's exactly what I was gonna write when I push the red button! Now I'll have to think of something else so it won't look like I'm copying you! Thanks a lot Miko!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:11 AM on June 1, 2010

I haven't even been around for three years but I've already ducked out more or less completely a few times (work, family, ease of online access as factors). But I've yet to find it necessary to actually close my account, just kinda faded away for a while.

And the fade outs have been good, a reminder that forty odd years of life preceded any involvement at all with MetaFilter and, more importantly, thirty odd years preceded any involvement at all with this thing called the internet. Call me cold and heartless but I like the fact that there's a community I'm part of (to which I contribute with a fair amount of passion on a more or less daily basis) that I can just disappear from for a while with no reasons given, no questions asked and (in all probability) no notice taken. If anything, this speaks to the strength of the community. All my egoistic imaginings aside, it just carries inimitably on (compelling, beguiling, frustrating, evolving) much as I trust the world will once I finally kick off for good.

METAFILTER: a metaphor for life itself.
posted by philip-random at 7:40 AM on June 1, 2010

Thanks a lot Miko!

SILENCE!
posted by Miko at 8:12 AM on June 1, 2010

You look damn good in those jackboots, Miko, I gotta say...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:20 AM on June 1, 2010

Hi, BB here. Having typed up a kinda longish explanation laced with comedic elements, it all feels weird and strange now as if too much time and thought has been devoted to this, but what the hell. Thanks for all the kind words and thoughts.

I totally meant to leave a note with the mods when checking out, just to let them know everything is cool. We're married, I wouldn't just up and leave and take the liquor cabinet without a note, ok?

But the password box to actually finally close your account is BEFORE the box that explains why you're going. So what do you do after typing a password? You hit enter, almost without thinking, right? It's almost like muscle memory, I swear.

So, there you are, you've checked out, you've bot the liquor cabinet and all the petty cash for the household and you can't explain why because of a stupid reflex. Do you then take the time to email the mods, saying "Hey, if anyone is wondering, it's cool, I just want to hang back for a bit, probably the holiday weekend, so no worries, ok?" Doesn't that sound kinda, well, arrogant? Sorta full of yourself? It seemed like it, so I just went about my day(1), activated a sockpuppet(2) and generally cut back on Mefi usage for the US centric holiday (Shout out to the Aussies!).

But there was discussion I had commented in and wondered if there had been follow-up, couldn't remember the url, so I searched for my name and discovered Jessamyn commenting about me and checking out and also noting I could be found on Facebook. Ok, weird, but if it's an issue people know where to reach me, no one did, so woo hoo, no issue

Then I check back later and it is a bit of an issue and when I ask for my account to be re-activated, there's a gentle request from a mod about a long term member taking off with no explanation and maybe, please, could you, let us know what's up so we could avoid drama if someone asks?

It was the muscle memory, dude and dudettes, blame it on the muscle memory. Or maybe the liquor cabinet, I dunno.

Finally (he said, in casual and friendly manner), please keep in mind that if a person has disabled their account, it may be to relieve stress and then having to come back and kinda sorta explain things can be a bit stressful(3).

(1) The irony of now taking the time to explain is not lost on me.

(2) The sockpuppet was the equivalent of road trip to a city where no one knows your name and you just want to be anonymous for bit, while still having the freedom to use the site while avoiding ads.

(3) It may help to avoid this stress if you don't search for you name on Mefi. It could lead down a dark road (4).

(4) Stressed out again. Maybe I need another Mefi vacation.(5)

(5) Kidding. Sorry about the liquor cabinet. Kinda. Are you going to restock it? When?!


posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:51 PM on June 1, 2010 [7 favorites]

It's all good, dude. Let's eat oysters and recall mussel memories.
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:55 PM on June 1, 2010

Hey, that's all great, Brandon. Now, could you step aside just a bit? You're blocking my view of Miko in those jackboots.

Thanks, man.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:56 PM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

yay
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 5:27 PM on June 1, 2010

BB glad you didn't stomp off over tomfoolery or dunderheaded boorishness. It was a scratcher, though. Me, I left for over 6 months and didn't even log out. Of course, I wrote a lengthy, self-obsessed MeTa about why I was going away, which you managed to avoid doing (cooler heads, &cetera), but ultimately, you had to write a three-paragraph explanation when you showed back up, anyway. Just goes to show-- leaving simply doesn't work.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:47 PM on June 1, 2010

METAFILTER: a metaphor for life itself.

Metaphortafilter? Metaphortler? MeTaFiPhor?

Dammit, nothing's just rolling off the tongue, here.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:50 PM on June 1, 2010

Just goes to show-- leaving simply doesn't work.

This is like the 5th or 6th time I've disabled my account and also the shortest. It's never been an issue before, just happened to come up this time.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:01 PM on June 1, 2010

I just told my real life spouse how happy I was that you were back. I then had to explain who you were, which was annoying (because how does one explain Brandon Blatcher to a mostly-non-mefite? Also, I had to fight the urge to call you "Brandon Blancher" when saying the name aloud, which is how your name is pronounced in my head), but still . . . yay!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:42 PM on June 1, 2010

Don't be coy, Brandon. We all know it was the threat of a class action alimony suit that brought you back! Now, we can put this behind us and forget it ever happened if you'll just pony up for flowers and chocolates for all of us.
posted by amyms at 8:25 PM on June 1, 2010

Oops, nevermind. I just checked my contacts and Brandon is no longer my spouse. Hmmph! Well, he can buy flowers and chocolates for everyone else then.
posted by amyms at 8:27 PM on June 1, 2010

yay!
posted by The Whelk at 8:58 PM on June 1, 2010

Leaving is easy. Just pull a 1/3 Betelgeuse like your old pal ND¢. Stop commenting cold turkey. No need to push the button, no need to make a MeTa post about leaving, no need to even log out. Just silence. Mysterious. Sexy. Then continue to visit the site and read the links and comments and search for your name eight times a day. Every time it doesn't appear think "These people don't appreciate me! They don't deserve me!" Lament how much the site has gone down hill since x. Wonder if anyone is wondering about where you are. Scream and cry in the night about how you gave years of your life to that site thinking all this time it was a community and you were a valued part of it and then you come to find out that you could just disappear and no one would care or even notice. Decide that all this time all it was was just lights on a screen. There are no people involved. Communication is impossible. We are all just monkeys playing our hierarchical games and a civilized being would see all our attempts at language as either "Validate me, listen to me, reassure me" or "Yes I validate you. Now validate listen to and reassure me!" Nothing is communicated. It is just chimps making alternating needy or soothing sounds while grooming each other. There is no connection possible between people. Just one bundle of flailing scared psychosis bumping up against another. We are all hopelessly alone. It's all empty. Just empty.

Once someone comments on your absence you come back. Easy peasy.
posted by ND¢ at 7:12 AM on June 2, 2010 [5 favorites]

Great. Now how do we get ND¢ to shut up again?

Naw seriously, glad you're back. I was worried about the state of this state since I'm planning on leaving soon. But if you're still here (and propagating!) it's in good hands.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 8:22 AM on June 2, 2010

MetaFilter: Chimps making alternating needy or soothing sounds while grooming each other.
posted by not_on_display at 9:24 AM on June 2, 2010 [4 favorites]

Yay this. Mah gut feels suddenly unpunched.
posted by hangashore at 4:32 PM on June 2, 2010

ND¢, that was so beautiful I wept. Or terrifying. Maybe it was so terrifying I wept.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:48 PM on June 2, 2010

BB's back !! Yaaaaaayyyyy !!
posted by marsha56 at 9:05 AM on June 3, 2010

To be fair, ND¢, you've come up at meet ups.

Though not as frequently as It's Raining Florence Henderson.

And now you're both back!
posted by klangklangston at 7:51 PM on June 4, 2010