We hold their wonderfulness to be self-evident...

August 27, 2010 10:07 AM

Who are the patron saints of MetaFilter?

There seems to be a set of certain prominent individuals who have had more than their fair share of front page posts made about them, and about whom there is an almost universal site-wide consensus that they are awesome. Off the top of my head, I can think of three: Jim Henson, Stanley Kubrick, and Mister Rogers. These I consider the patron saints of MetaFilter.

Who are some other MeFi guiding spirits?

posted by Atom Eyes to MetaFilter-Related at 10:07 AM (260 comments total)

Roger Ebert, as much as I'm not personally a fan. And Lady Gaga, before the backlashening.
posted by hermitosis at 10:09 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Bill Watterson & Roger Ebert.
posted by Gator at 10:09 AM on August 27, 2010 [6 favorites]

David Foster Wallace, mostly.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:11 AM on August 27, 2010 [6 favorites]

Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Oolong.
posted by carsonb at 10:12 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Long Dong Silver
posted by Burhanistan at 10:12 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Ayn Rand
posted by found missing at 10:14 AM on August 27, 2010 [4 favorites]

Atom Eyes: Jim Henson, Stanley Kubrick, and Mister Rogers

Follow that with "walk into a bar..." and you've got the makings of a great joke. Or it could be the punchline to a Carnac the Magnificent gag.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 10:15 AM on August 27, 2010

Hedonismbot.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:15 AM on August 27, 2010 [18 favorites]

Russell A. Kirsch, the leader of the team that constructed the first digital scanner.
posted by Plutor at 10:15 AM on August 27, 2010

As an atheist, I find your use of "saints" offensive.
posted by Eideteker at 10:16 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Douglas Hofstadter
posted by Burhanistan at 10:17 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Lovecraft.
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:18 AM on August 27, 2010 [8 favorites]

Avril Incandenza
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:18 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Feynman. Sagan.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:18 AM on August 27, 2010 [6 favorites]

James Brown : The patron Saint of simultaneous posts
posted by hortense at 10:19 AM on August 27, 2010 [5 favorites]

The Chuck Wagon dog.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 10:19 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Amanda Palmer seems to be one of those people that gets mentioned a lot and it is assumed that everyone knows who she is and loves her unconditionally. Ditto her hubby/fiance Neil Gaiman.

Weird Al. There's no possible way anyone could dislike him or anything about him.
posted by bondcliff at 10:20 AM on August 27, 2010 [6 favorites]

I dislike his lack of mustache. It's like he sold out.
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:22 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Steve Mobs.
posted by special-k at 10:22 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Bush lied for his sins.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:22 AM on August 27, 2010

Manu
posted by muddgirl at 10:23 AM on August 27, 2010

David Simon gave us The Wire, the only show we can all agree upon.
posted by Gary at 10:23 AM on August 27, 2010 [6 favorites]

quonsar's definitely beautified.
posted by infinitewindow at 10:23 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Stephen Fry.

Kris Kristofferson.
posted by ambrosia at 10:24 AM on August 27, 2010

Iain M. Banks
posted by adamdschneider at 10:24 AM on August 27, 2010

Weird Al. There's no possible way anyone could dislike him or anything about him.

Truer words. . . . oh wait. Much more truer words have been spoken.
posted by crush-onastick at 10:25 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

James Brown : The patron Saint of simultaneous posts

.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:25 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Who invented anime?
posted by philip-random at 10:25 AM on August 27, 2010

Truer words. . . . oh wait. Much more truer words have been spoken.

What, do you hate the way he changes the words to all those popular songs?
posted by bondcliff at 10:27 AM on August 27, 2010

John Hodgeman
posted by bonehead at 10:27 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Richard Dawkins.

Probably.
posted by Decani at 10:27 AM on August 27, 2010

The Earl of Sammiches
posted by iconomy at 10:27 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

John Hodgeman

Who? There is no such person.
posted by hippybear at 10:29 AM on August 27, 2010

Griphus
posted by griphus at 10:31 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Shit, wrong account.
posted by griphus at 10:31 AM on August 27, 2010 [30 favorites]

There is no god but asavage, and mathowie is his prohpet.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 10:32 AM on August 27, 2010 [10 favorites]

Haruki Murakami. Comes up in every "What should I read next?" AskMe. Mostly from me.

Anytime Oliver Sacks has a cool article, I feel like I usually see it linked. That could also be confirmation bias, though.

Mythbusters.
posted by supercres at 10:35 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Steven Slater, now get me a beer.
posted by effluvia at 10:35 AM on August 27, 2010

hortense: "James Brown : The patron Saint of simultaneous posts"

Don't you have to be dead to be a saint?
posted by roll truck roll at 10:35 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Justice Ginsburg.
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:35 AM on August 27, 2010

Cats.
posted by Forktine at 10:36 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Lady Gaga.
posted by octobersurprise at 10:36 AM on August 27, 2010

Alton Brown
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:37 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

The Lone Gunmen.
posted by Smart Dalek at 10:37 AM on August 27, 2010

Martin Gardner
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:37 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Jim Henson, Stanley Kubrick, and Mister Rogers walk into a bar.
Bartender says: "What is this?... Some kind of joke?"
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 10:38 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hayao Miyazaki
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:38 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Rick Astley
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:39 AM on August 27, 2010

Felicia "Snoop" Pearson

Deserve ain't got nuthin' ta do wit it.
posted by bondcliff at 10:39 AM on August 27, 2010 [4 favorites]

Felicia "Snoop" Pearson
posted by bondcliff

Did you see the Baltimore episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations where he hangs out with her? It was...strange.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:41 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Jim Henson, Stanley Kubrick, and Mister Rogers walk into a bar.

Who knew there was drinking in the afterlife?
posted by hippybear at 10:41 AM on August 27, 2010

Did you see the Baltimore episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations where he hangs out with her? It was...strange.

Shit, no. But now I'll have to. She doesn't cover him in quicklime and leave him in a vacant, does she?
posted by bondcliff at 10:43 AM on August 27, 2010 [7 favorites]

Now I'm just picturing Kermit the Frog and Mr. McFeely surfing out of an elevator on a river of blood.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:45 AM on August 27, 2010

Fallen saint: Adam Baldwin.

Also: this guy.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:46 AM on August 27, 2010

Weird Al. There's no possible way anyone could dislike him or anything about him.

UHF was pretty great but his music does nothing for me; it's not a passionate hatred but I can certainly say I dislike it.

You may think this is impossible, but any sufficiently advanced dislike of Weird Al is indistinguishable from magic.

I'm not really sure what I mean by that.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 10:47 AM on August 27, 2010

Did you see the Baltimore episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations where he hangs out with her? It was...strange.

Anthony Bourdain usually has such an impervious poker face. He's eaten some pretty unpleasant things over the years without the slightest grimace, but his body language during that segment gave it all away- he was afraid of her.
posted by ambrosia at 10:50 AM on August 27, 2010

Shit, no. But now I'll have to.
posted by bondcliff

Just looked it up, it's actually the episode called "Rust Belt," 5x13.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:51 AM on August 27, 2010

Weird Al. There's no possible way anyone could dislike him or anything about him.

Truer words. . . . oh wait. Much more truer words have been spoken.

Yeah, if somehow it was true that Weird Al was a patron saint here, well, it would IN NO WAY raise my opinion of the place. I can't even explain it, and since this is only the gray I don't feel an urgent need to, but I really really don't like that man.
posted by kingbenny at 10:52 AM on August 27, 2010

Bill Hicks?
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:53 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Jonathan Coulton. For some reason.
posted by dhammond at 10:54 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I think Steve Wozniak has a special place in people's hearts.
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:55 AM on August 27, 2010 [7 favorites]

St. Dismas.
posted by clavdivs at 10:55 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

and Mercury
posted by clavdivs at 10:55 AM on August 27, 2010

Yeah, if somehow it was true that Weird Al was a patron saint here, well, it would IN NO WAY raise my opinion of the place.

I dunno, it just seems that every thread about him (and there have been a few) is filled with people praising him, and he's not so polarizing a person where those who don't care for his music would foul up a thread. Compare a Weird Al thread with, say, a Lady GaGa or Bono thread.
posted by bondcliff at 10:57 AM on August 27, 2010

but I really really don't like that man.

Well, I don't particularly like Palmer or Gaiman for that matter, and they were elected Prom Queen and King!
posted by muddgirl at 10:57 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Amanda Palmer seems to be one of those people that gets mentioned a lot and it is assumed that everyone knows who she is and loves her unconditionally.

What? No. Honestly, shit like that and a lot more is starting to taint my previous unconditional love for Neil.

Back on topic, and just to annoy Astro Zombie: Charles Manson.
posted by kmz at 10:58 AM on August 27, 2010

James Brown is dead?
posted by shakespeherian at 11:01 AM on August 27, 2010

I don't particularly like Palmer or Gaiman for that matter

I was throwing it out there, because they seem to be well liked around these parts. I don't really care for Ms. Palmer, personally. I mean, nobody from Lexington sounds like that. WTF?

I'm reading my first Gaiman book right now and it's not doing anything for me, but that's more a matter of me not caring for the genre. It's obvious he's a talented writer.

I don't think there's been a name mentioned yet that hasn't been spoken of negatively by someone. Hell, I even referred to Mr. Rogers as "kinda creepy", I believe. Of course later that night I was taken into a dark alley and beaten with a model trolley.
posted by bondcliff at 11:03 AM on August 27, 2010

Almighty and eternal God,

who has created us in Thy image

and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful,

especially in the divine person

of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

grant we beseech Thee that,

through the example of Saint Isidore, bishop and doctor,

during our journeys through the Internet

we will direct our hands and eyes

only to that which is pleasing to Thee

and treat with charity and patience

all those souls whom we encounter.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:04 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

I'm not the first, but Mr. Rogers is not only a saint of MeFi, but one of mine. I just teared up again reading that entry and the one about the statue.
posted by Xoder at 11:04 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Brandon Bird.
posted by argybarg at 11:06 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

David Mitchell.
posted by questionsandanchors at 11:08 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

This guy.
posted by felix betachat at 11:09 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

I don't think there's been a name mentioned yet that hasn't been spoken of negatively by someone.

Yeah, sorry, I was trying to make the same point but I was probably too concise.
posted by muddgirl at 11:11 AM on August 27, 2010

Real Doll Z/24-F359
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:12 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Roberto Bolaño comes up a lot in AskMe and has been posted about on the Blue a few times.

What do you mean half of all that is just me? I like his writing! Is that a crime? I ask you, is that a crime?!
posted by Kattullus at 11:17 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm not the first, but Mr. Rogers is not only a saint of MeFi, but one of mine. I just teared up again reading that entry and the one about the statue.

That's my reaction to Henson. Carry on.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 11:19 AM on August 27, 2010

As an atheist, I find your use of "saints" offensive.

As an agnostic, I find your arrogant presumption to know there is no God offensive!
posted by nomadicink at 11:19 AM on August 27, 2010 [5 favorites]

Joss Whedon?
posted by empath at 11:23 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Terry Pratchett.

(And if anybody here has something bad to say about pTerry, I will cut you. Yes, through the Internet.)
posted by kmz at 11:25 AM on August 27, 2010 [9 favorites]

Dolly Parton.

Oh wait. That was Fametracker.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:26 AM on August 27, 2010

As an atheist, I find your use of "saints" offensive.

As an agnostic, I find your arrogant presumption to know there is no God offensive!

As a follower of Mister Rogers, I understand that you both have very strong feelings and you disagree, and I wanted to remind you that that's okay. I love you both just the way you are.

(Followers of Mister Rogers are casually known as "Neighbors.")
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:27 AM on August 27, 2010 [40 favorites]

Joss Whedon?

Ha, as much as I love Joss, he's at best polarizing on Metafilter. I wouldn't be surprised if more people hated Joss than even liked him here. But that's alright, he's done a lot of iffy stuff and made serious missteps, so it's understandable.
posted by kmz at 11:29 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

The Muppets.
posted by nevercalm at 11:30 AM on August 27, 2010

Freddie. Mercury.
posted by toodleydoodley at 11:30 AM on August 27, 2010 [8 favorites]

Werner Herzog posts always seem to go well.
posted by Emanuel at 11:35 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Jim Henson, Stanley Kubrick and Mister Rogers walk into a bar. All three order milk, finish their drinks, and eventually leave the bar a bit better place than they found it.
posted by davejay at 11:37 AM on August 27, 2010 [14 favorites]

Zombocom
posted by CunningLinguist at 11:39 AM on August 27, 2010 [5 favorites]

As I have personally discovered, you shall not speak ill nor make light of Andrew W.K. But now I have seen the truth and shall never do so again.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 11:41 AM on August 27, 2010

Saint Alfonzo
posted by Splunge at 11:46 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

The saint who walks among us: David St. Hubbins (we thank you for all the quality footwear)
posted by ColdChef at 11:49 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Yeah, if somehow it was true that Weird Al was a patron saint here, well, it would IN NO WAY raise my opinion of the place.

I dunno, it just seems that every thread about him (and there have been a few) is filled with people praising him, and he's not so polarizing a person where those who don't care for his music would foul up a thread.

If I wasn't such a thoughtful, rational, mature, charitable citizen, I'd have fouled up all manner of Weird Al threads. Because he's just not that funny. I sort of put him with the early SNL crowd (Belushi, Akroyd etc) -- funny in a LOUD and obvious high school sort of way. Just doesn't translate into higher, broader, deeper, more sophisticated learning ... (for the most part anyway, I'm mainly just familiar with his more popular stuff).

And umm, what's with the 'stache? Oh, I get it. That's part of what makes him weird. Whereas, Andy Kaufmann was just weird, didn't have to spell it out for us.
posted by philip-random at 11:55 AM on August 27, 2010

Mustaches are hot.
posted by muddgirl at 11:56 AM on August 27, 2010

There are a surprising number of FPPs about Bender.
posted by arianell at 11:58 AM on August 27, 2010

Harold Gerber
Anslem Doughhetee
Viktor Slibovitz
posted by slogger at 12:00 PM on August 27, 2010

St. Thomas. You all ruined that "Guy going through the hay baler" with the need to stick your fingers in holes that aren't yours.

And I am the same way. Take that as you like.
posted by yerfatma at 12:00 PM on August 27, 2010

Sometimes a mustache is just a mustache, philip-random.
posted by griphus at 12:00 PM on August 27, 2010

Hedo Rick.
posted by gman at 12:06 PM on August 27, 2010

Tracy Morgan
posted by defenestration at 12:10 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Mister Rogers, definitely.
posted by zarq at 12:11 PM on August 27, 2010

Cthulhu.
posted by elder18 at 12:11 PM on August 27, 2010

Bertrand Russell
posted by defenestration at 12:11 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hypnotoad.

ALL HAIL THE HYPNOTOAD
posted by backseatpilot at 12:13 PM on August 27, 2010 [4 favorites]

....of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
grant we beseech Thee that,
through the example of Saint Isidore, bishop and doctor,
during our journeys through the Internet
we will direct our hands and eyes
only to that which is pleasing to Thee
and treat with charity and patience
all those souls whom we encounter.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Um yeah, no. Not in my name, thanks.
posted by zarq at 12:16 PM on August 27, 2010

I can't speak to patron saints, but I like to think of myself as one of the cavorting demons here.
posted by quin at 12:23 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Roman Polanski.
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 12:29 PM on August 27, 2010

Wwwaaaaallllllttttttt!
posted by mannequito at 12:31 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

bondcliff: "I don't really care for Ms. Palmer, personally. I mean, nobody from Lexington sounds like that. WTF?"

Sure they do. It's a common dialect known as 'Theatre Wanker.'
posted by kuujjuarapik at 12:36 PM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Bill Murray
Christopher Walken
posted by fyrebelley at 12:36 PM on August 27, 2010

That Glenn Beck fellow seems nice.
posted by mccarty.tim at 12:38 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Wanda Sykes, Tina Fey, Amy Sedaris? (Trying to think of the laydeees...)

I don't really read his column, but Dan Savage is referred to constantly.
posted by taz at 12:41 PM on August 27, 2010

Sometimes a mustache is just a mustache, philip-random.

Okay, I withdraw the mustache part of the comment. Al (who is weird) hasn't suddenly gotten any funnier.
posted by philip-random at 12:47 PM on August 27, 2010

Jerry Orbach, for sho!
posted by jasper411 at 12:48 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Gallagher
posted by Burhanistan at 12:48 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

H.P. Lovecraft.
posted by argybarg at 12:49 PM on August 27, 2010

Terry Pratchett.

(And if anybody here has something bad to say about pTerry, I will cut you. Yes, through the Internet.)

No Pratchett, thanks. And no Gaiman for that matter, either. A genetically engineered hybrid, however...
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 12:50 PM on August 27, 2010

Leeeeeeeeeroy Jenkins!!!!!!!
posted by Carbolic at 12:51 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Alex Mortgens
Ray McCulloch
Jack Martin
posted by slogger at 12:54 PM on August 27, 2010

Can't believe we went through three other Futurama characters before someone mentioned:

Zoidberg!


Me, I'm much more a Nibbler guy
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 12:56 PM on August 27, 2010

WWTWCCD?
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 12:57 PM on August 27, 2010

Lina Keenan
Billy Steen
Barb Kavorczak
posted by slogger at 1:00 PM on August 27, 2010

Jim Henson, Stanley Kubrick, and Mister Rogers...
Follow that with "walk into a bar..." and you've got the makings of a great joke. Or it could be the punchline to a Carnac the Magnificent gag.

*holds envelope to forehead*

Mister Rogers, Jim Henson, Stanley Kubrick.

*opens envelope, removes card*

Name a guy who talked to puppets, a guy who talked through Muppets, and a guy who got to pull Tom Cruise's strings.
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:01 PM on August 27, 2010 [11 favorites]

I'm too old to have watched Mister Rogers as a kid, and I confess that I'm one of those who once upon a time found his manner with children just a bit off. But having witnessed the heaps of love bestowed upon him by his many adoring fans on MeFi, I now regard Fred Rogers as a saint not just to MeFites but to me as well and I'm truly embarassed that I ever thought differently.
posted by marsha56 at 1:03 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Dov Charney
posted by TrialByMedia at 1:04 PM on August 27, 2010

Metafilter prays to the God Apple®.
posted by caddis at 1:05 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I hereby declare this to be the very last time Fred Rogers and Dov Charney are ever juxtaposed in any fashion. So let it be written; so let it be done.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:05 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Godwin
posted by rosswald at 1:08 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Phil Hartman
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:15 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Look up. Look waaaay up.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 1:17 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I will never be able to find this ancient AskMe thread - at least, I think it was AskMe - but the question was something like "name some people or cultural products that are deemed to be very good by near-universal acclaim from people of widely ranging ages and backgrounds." It was a great discussion which I know included Bugs Bunny. Beyond that, I remember little specifics.
posted by Miko at 1:21 PM on August 27, 2010

san dimas high school football rules!
posted by sanko at 1:21 PM on August 27, 2010

I hate Mr. Rogers. There. I said it. Always have. Even as a child, I found the Land of Make Believe to be insufferable and trite, especially that stupid Daniel puppet who I would like to punch in the mouth.

I know, I know. The stoning. And then the drawing and the quartering and the ceremony during which my membership is ritualistically burned and fed to the wolves.

(The actual dude, Fred Rogers? Admittedly a saint. I just hated the damned show.)
posted by sonika at 1:24 PM on August 27, 2010

Dorothy Fiverly
Todd Blankenship
Chloris France
posted by slogger at 1:25 PM on August 27, 2010

and Ruth Buzzy
posted by clavdivs at 1:29 PM on August 27, 2010

Charlie Brooker.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:32 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Wile E. Coyote.

[I mean, we try sooo hard all the time]
posted by Namlit at 1:35 PM on August 27, 2010

sonika: FWIW, I have always felt exactly the same way about Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:35 PM on August 27, 2010

Cookie monster.
posted by sciencegeek at 1:38 PM on August 27, 2010

Everybody loves creepy banjo guy!
posted by chrisamiller at 1:41 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Paul Pena
posted by Burhanistan at 1:45 PM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Everybody loves creepy banjo guy!

...don't forget about the fedora fella.
posted by griphus at 1:45 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Douglas Adams and Carlos Queveda
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:45 PM on August 27, 2010

Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer.

Yes, I'm afraid he's been a saint since 2000. Don't look at me, I'm just the messenger.
posted by languagehat at 1:45 PM on August 27, 2010

I hate Mr. Rogers. There. I said it. Always have. Even as a child, I found the Land of Make Believe to be insufferable and trite, especially that stupid Daniel puppet who I would like to punch in the mouth.

I'm right there with you. And, as a bonus, my parents tell me that while I had all kinds of time for Sesame St, I simply had no truck with Mr Rogers. they said I just wouldn't sit still for him.
posted by nevercalm at 1:46 PM on August 27, 2010

Felicity Megdenhardt
Chris Powers
Tonya Thorpe
posted by slogger at 1:49 PM on August 27, 2010

Thom Dorotis
Carson Reilly
Peterson Bleigh
posted by slogger at 1:52 PM on August 27, 2010

Allen Rumslaugh
Chrissy Trikes
Nikita Solkov
posted by slogger at 1:54 PM on August 27, 2010

Conan O'Brien
posted by Burhanistan at 1:54 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Paula Poundstone
posted by slogger at 1:55 PM on August 27, 2010

1. David Foster Wallace
2. Lady Gaga
posted by anniecat at 1:56 PM on August 27, 2010

Craig Ferguson

Garak
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 1:59 PM on August 27, 2010

Johnny Depp, although it goes so deep we never have to talk about it. And when I say "we" I mean me.
posted by thinkpiece at 2:01 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

MC Hammer
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:02 PM on August 27, 2010

I hate Mr. Rogers. There. I said it. Always have. Even as a child, I found the Land of Make Believe to be insufferable and trite, especially that stupid Daniel puppet who I would like to punch in the mouth.


yeah... me too. I'll stand next to you when the stoning begins.
posted by patheral at 2:12 PM on August 27, 2010

Cory Doctorow.
posted by crunchland at 2:13 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

That guy who does that offbeat and kind of edgy thing but is still normal enough to be mainstream because he's passably good looking and gives good interviews.
posted by Burhanistan at 2:15 PM on August 27, 2010 [5 favorites]

D.F.W.
Dr. Feynman
Brian Eno/Quincy Jones
posted by From Bklyn at 2:16 PM on August 27, 2010

As a human, I'm pretty fond of that Oxygen element. And carbon's been really good to me.
posted by mccarty.tim at 2:17 PM on August 27, 2010

That guy who does that offbeat and kind of edgy thing but is still normal enough to be mainstream because he's passably good looking and gives good interviews.

Steve Buscemi?
posted by shakespeherian at 2:17 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I said good looking.
posted by Burhanistan at 2:18 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Amanda Palmer seems to be one of those people that gets mentioned a lot and it is assumed that everyone knows who she is and loves her unconditionally.

Ewww. No no no no no noooooo.


Mr Rogers?

Hell to the yes!
posted by Windigo at 2:21 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Danny Trejo?
posted by shakespeherian at 2:22 PM on August 27, 2010

Tommy Douglas.
posted by Sys Rq at 2:25 PM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Erme Andtvoorts
posted by slogger at 2:29 PM on August 27, 2010

And, as a bonus, my parents tell me that while I had all kinds of time for Sesame St, I simply had no truck with Mr Rogers. they said I just wouldn't sit still for him.

Same.

I love Sesame Street with a fervor that's almost religious. It pains me that the family I work for won't allow it into their homes for reasons beyond my comprehension. Think about this! These people do not allow their preschool aged children to watch Sesame Street! They do, unfortunately, allow other - inferior (well, let's face it, all other programming is inferior) - children's shows into the house, but no Sesame Street. They also love Jim Henson. But not Sesame Street.

I both seriously wonder what Big Bird ever did to them and also seriously just don't want to ask. I'm betting dollars to donuts that the answer is "Elmo" - and I can kind of grok that. Still, I don't mind Elmo and I'll take that particular red monster over Muno from Yo Gabba Gabba any day of the week thankyouverymuch. I don't question other people's parenting choices, but man, this one makes me want to bend that particular policy.

SNUFFLEUPAGUS 4EVA.
posted by sonika at 2:37 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Joey Joe Joe Jr. Shabadoo.
posted by arto at 2:38 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Jaltcoh. Oh wait, griphus already did that joke.
posted by jejune at 2:39 PM on August 27, 2010

Wanda Sykes, Tina Fey, Amy Sedaris? (Trying to think of the laydeees...)

Now that's the soft bigotry of low expectations, right there! (Yes, to quote a certain former president who's definitely not a patron saint of Metafilter.)
posted by jejune at 2:42 PM on August 27, 2010

Cormy Grenth
posted by slogger at 2:44 PM on August 27, 2010

While chasing some google searches from this thread around I happened upon this crazy contraption.
posted by Burhanistan at 2:45 PM on August 27, 2010

I haven't noticed that Kubrick gets a striking amount of praise here. I'm sure he's often recommended, but isn't that just: there are plenty of movie questions on AskMe, and Kubrick is one of the greatest -- or, certainly one of the most interesting -- directors?
posted by jejune at 2:45 PM on August 27, 2010

A lot of the authors in this thread, especially (of ones who haven't been mentioned here yet) Dale Carnegie, Jared Diamond, Howard Zinn, and David Burns. When it comes to food: Deborah Madison, Mark Bittman, and Michael Pollan.
posted by jejune at 2:49 PM on August 27, 2010

not_on_display's Trailer Park Boys post is the one that has made my $5 signup pay for itself a hundred times over.
posted by Elmore at 3:01 PM on August 27, 2010

Carmichael Hense (pronounced "hen-see")
posted by slogger at 3:03 PM on August 27, 2010

Gavin DeBecker, author of The Gift of Fear. Saint patron of Relationshipfilter.
posted by clearlydemon at 3:05 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Not that I personally agree, but everyone else here seems to love Bukowski.
posted by Danf at 3:24 PM on August 27, 2010

This far and nobody mentioned Vonnegut? He can be kind of polarizing, I guess, but that obit thread was huge.
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 3:37 PM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Wil Wheaton?
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 3:37 PM on August 27, 2010

Neil Patrick Harris.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 3:46 PM on August 27, 2010

Quonsar
posted by Joseph Gurl at 3:49 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

CTRlL+F The Whe-

Ah fuckmonster.
posted by The Whelk at 4:03 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Raymond Luxury Yacht.
posted by jbickers at 4:05 PM on August 27, 2010

A while back, Obama. But now we're seeing a backlash due to the lack of hovercars and jetpacks.
posted by djgh at 4:06 PM on August 27, 2010

Eddie Izzard.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:08 PM on August 27, 2010

de soto
posted by clavdivs at 4:25 PM on August 27, 2010

Berke Breathed

Neal Stephenson

Stephin Merritt
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:27 PM on August 27, 2010

> Quonsar

If quonsar were here he'd make you fry and eat that capital Q.
posted by languagehat at 4:58 PM on August 27, 2010

Skeletor.
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:00 PM on August 27, 2010

techno viking. who doesn't love him?
posted by madamjujujive at 5:02 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Gary Gygax.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:20 PM on August 27, 2010

quonsar's definitely beautified.

Hanging some bulk-purchased geranium baskets from his protuberances gets you nowhere with the Pope, man. NOWHERE.
posted by Sallyfur at 5:26 PM on August 27, 2010

Gary Gygax

I wrote the other day that I thought it was GRAR-y
posted by Namlit at 5:37 PM on August 27, 2010

Handsome Dick Manitoba. Richard Price. Joey Ramone. Napoleon XIV. Lester Bangs.
posted by jonmc at 6:39 PM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

The New Yorker magazine
posted by rfs at 6:42 PM on August 27, 2010

Ah fuckmonster.

Several people have already covered Gaga.
posted by Babblesort at 6:43 PM on August 27, 2010

and yo mama.
posted by jonmc at 6:46 PM on August 27, 2010

I am concerned that I thought of the Meat Puppets in response to the Henson et al in a bar joke.
posted by effluvia at 6:55 PM on August 27, 2010

Herbert Kornfeld.
posted by homunculus at 6:57 PM on August 27, 2010

I can't believe that this thread has almost 200 comments and nobody has mentioned Gene Ray yet.
posted by Balonious Assault at 7:09 PM on August 27, 2010

Tony Danza.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 8:09 PM on August 27, 2010

James Randi, Martin Gardner
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 8:22 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Jeff Lebowski
posted by Meatbomb at 8:58 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Meatbomb
posted by Eideteker at 9:20 PM on August 27, 2010

Eideteker
posted by The Whelk at 9:22 PM on August 27, 2010

All the love for Mr. Rogers, none for Captain Kangaroo?

And no one calls him Lebowski. It's just the Dude. Or Duderino. His Dudeness is also acceptable.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:28 PM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

David Bowie.
posted by nikitabot at 9:28 PM on August 27, 2010

(oh, damn. Preview)

The Whelk.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:29 PM on August 27, 2010

Six Colors
posted by Duke999R at 9:36 PM on August 27, 2010

Miguel Cardosa.

Seriously.
posted by crunchland at 9:42 PM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Dolf Lundgren
posted by TungstenChef at 11:39 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

- Todd Lokken
posted by maxwelton at 11:40 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

>Miguel Cardosa.

Seriously.

Crunchlond is right on this one.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:14 AM on August 28, 2010

Doctor Who.
posted by nimsey lou at 5:58 AM on August 28, 2010

Maria Bamford seems to come up all the time lately.
posted by tomcooke at 6:40 AM on August 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm imagining her reading this list aloud right now.
posted by The Whelk at 7:18 AM on August 28, 2010

I would nominate "The Gift of Fear" as more of the holy text of AskMetafilter.
posted by fermezporte at 7:19 AM on August 28, 2010

Felicia Day.
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 8:04 AM on August 28, 2010

Your mama.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:08 AM on August 28, 2010

Warren Ellis and Paul Graham. Apparently they've been posted a lot.

Re: Holy Texts of Ask MetaFilter, The Five Love Languages is mentioned all the time.
posted by limeonaire at 9:32 AM on August 28, 2010

sockpuppets
posted by adamvasco at 10:08 AM on August 28, 2010

Kiki and Bubu.
posted by homunculus at 10:59 AM on August 28, 2010

Ralph Wiggum.
posted by bayliss at 1:13 PM on August 28, 2010

Am I the only person who doesn't like Kubrik (aside from Dr. Strangelove)?
posted by jokeefe at 4:06 PM on August 28, 2010

Ricky Jay
posted by Obscure Reference at 4:27 PM on August 28, 2010

Taz is right. Dan Savage has to be high on the list, especially over at Ask. The number of times the answer to a relationship question is "DTMFA" is reason enough for his canonization, and that's not even getting into the referrals to Savage Love or references to being GGG...
posted by coppermoss at 6:10 PM on August 28, 2010

Technically, I think St Isidore of Seville is the patron saint of computers, computer users and the internet.
posted by plinth at 6:56 PM on August 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Fuck those guys.
posted by nevercalm at 6:59 PM on August 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Am I the only person who doesn't like Kubrik (aside from Dr. Strangelove)?

Nope.
posted by zarq at 10:21 PM on August 28, 2010

I thought Ada Lovelace was the patron saint of computers. Who is Isidore of Seville?
posted by homunculus at 10:27 PM on August 28, 2010

Christ
the asshole
posted by philip-random at 10:39 PM on August 28, 2010

Hipsters.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 4:23 AM on August 29, 2010

St Brigid of Ireland -- the patron saint of poets, dairymaids, blacksmiths, healers, cattle, fugitives, Irish nuns, midwives, and new-born babies.

Most notable for the time a bunch of priests showed up to a party where there was nothing to drink, so Brigid turned bathwater into beer.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:18 AM on August 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Also: your patron saint sucks.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:28 AM on August 29, 2010

Zombies
posted by lordrunningclam at 5:34 AM on August 29, 2010

The Patron saint if Metafilter is clearly St. Expidite
posted by The Whelk at 6:43 AM on August 29, 2010

Jorge Billafungo
posted by slogger at 8:10 AM on August 29, 2010

DeForest Navarro
posted by slogger at 8:12 AM on August 29, 2010

Diego Maradona
posted by Dr. Zira at 9:49 AM on August 29, 2010

Ceiling Cat
the XKCD guy
posted by misha at 10:28 AM on August 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Quincy "Chops" Muttons
posted by slogger at 11:42 AM on August 29, 2010

Akasha Szenzei
posted by slogger at 6:21 PM on August 29, 2010

Tim Skentz
posted by slogger at 6:22 PM on August 29, 2010

Hammond Berg
posted by slogger at 6:25 PM on August 29, 2010

Yvgeney Martinez-Bravo
posted by slogger at 6:26 PM on August 29, 2010

Amanda Grable
posted by slogger at 6:47 PM on August 29, 2010

Adrianna Leth
posted by slogger at 6:48 PM on August 29, 2010

Jet Crawford
posted by slogger at 6:50 PM on August 29, 2010

Jans Crumroy
posted by slogger at 6:54 PM on August 29, 2010

James Crumley
posted by box at 7:14 PM on August 29, 2010

Jack Vance, Gene Wolfe, Bob Dylan, Noam Chomsky, R. Crumb, Harvey Pekar, Sheldon Cooper.
posted by y2karl at 7:22 PM on August 29, 2010

Oh, and Stephanie Courtney, too.
posted by y2karl at 7:25 PM on August 29, 2010

And Skip James and Thora Birch.
posted by y2karl at 7:27 PM on August 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Jim Collins
posted by slogger at 7:29 PM on August 29, 2010

Skylar Parent
posted by slogger at 7:30 PM on August 29, 2010

Bruce Campbell is more like a demigod than a saint...
posted by Mister_A at 9:40 AM on August 30, 2010

I'm thinking a combination of The Dude and Ceiling Cat.
posted by arcticseal at 1:26 AM on August 31, 2010

The Ceiling Dude? No way!

I hired that guy to install a stained-glass lamp over the pool table in my rec room. He showed up three days late, drank all my Kahlua and, well, let's just say that when somebody invites you to a jay-off, it's not necessarily a joint-rolling contest.
posted by box at 6:29 AM on August 31, 2010

Yip Yips
posted by homunculus at 10:28 AM on August 31, 2010

Jude.
posted by cog_nate at 8:08 PM on September 16, 2010

how obscure.
posted by The Whelk at 6:01 AM on September 17, 2010