Sidebar post nomination?

October 10, 2010 10:17 PM

Perhaps sidebarable, Bwithh's comment on the Simpsons Banksy thread offers a fascinating look into animation in both Koreas, with several great links on N. Korea's relationship with the industry.

While it would likely be wholly inappropriate to bolt this on to the more inside of the post itself, I thought this was well-formed and really insightful, since the timbre of the thread turned towards animation sweatshops and Rough Draft Korea.

posted by disillusioned to MetaFilter-Related at 10:17 PM (112 comments total)

I think the flagging selection "fantastic post" should be changed to "fantastic post for the sidebar".
posted by peacay at 11:19 PM on October 10, 2010

It's a good comment, but I would actually encourage Bwithh (or somebody) to flesh it out and make it into a great FPP.
posted by mykescipark at 12:06 AM on October 11, 2010 [5 favorites]

and sell the new KIM3 dolls
posted by clavdivs at 1:22 AM on October 11, 2010

The Simpsons has, for a long time, had animation work done in South Korea, where work conditions and pay are probably relatively good.

That and a link to the NYT to show what an insular totalitarian society North Korea is are the bars that need hurdling to qualify as 'well-informed' these days?

*makes note*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:42 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

Not to say it wasn't a fine addition to the thread: just not all that super-duper, I don't think.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:48 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

This comment is also perhaps sidebarable. link
posted by carsonb at 4:16 AM on October 11, 2010

Not speaking to the issue of sidebarring, I kind of agree with stavrosthewonderchicken. Building on what he said and in a different direction, the animation industry inside DPRK is interesting, but so is the international tourism industry.

Work conditions in ROK vs. DPRK isn't really a fair comparison to make-- no one knows about the work conditions inside DPRK and whatever they are sure they suck. But we do know a lot about ROK work conditions and they aren't great evaluated on their own terms. Labor history of ROK is pretty anti-worker.

NYT and blogs focused on reunification don't do justice to the social, political and IR problems within ROK.

Also, take books with "secret" or "hidden" with a grain of salt.
posted by vincele at 5:07 AM on October 11, 2010

It's a nice informative comment, but it doesn't have that transformative personal anecdote-ness that makes sidebar comments earn their place.
posted by Burhanistan at 7:12 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

Also, I'm surprised that any MeTa about that post isn't about all the jackasses bitching about it being a single link. Quit being jackasses, you jackasses. One link is fine. You can Google it if you don't already know about a popular topic. Metafilter doesn't have to be a comprehensive, one-stop resource. You know this, so stop bitching about posts with only one link.
posted by Burhanistan at 7:16 AM on October 11, 2010 [9 favorites]

There's so much Grar going around in that thread, thanks for pointing out that great comment, I probably wouldn't have found it otherwise.
posted by hellojed at 7:30 AM on October 11, 2010

That thread lost me at the second comment: "If he made any political statement at all, it struck me as a conservative one."

This one, too: "...but then the dolphin head and animals etc. seem to shift it from being a problem of the system to animal rights abuse which is typically leveled at asian countries instead..."

And then: "I have to admit, I was somewhat offended that the three dominant and distinct East Asian groups were conflated so cavalierly."

DUDE.

I mean ... it's just ... but ... with the thing ... and ... but ... sputter ...

Sometimes I wonder what it must be like to be a bacterium in the bean sauce that's on the plate. Can you ever really know it's a plate? A plate of beans?

But then I have another cocktail, I feel better about it and I change the channel.

"Gilligan!"

Mmm. Good cocktail.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:42 AM on October 11, 2010

Yeah, thinking about art is for nerds.
posted by empath at 7:44 AM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

There's thinking about art, and there's seeing things you want to see, and not seeing things you don't want to see.

The biggest animation franchise in television history just gave over the reins of its now-classic opening sequence to an artist that 99.9 percent of its audience has never even heard of. It deserves acclaim and conversation. Not hurling of epithets and taking imaginary offense.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:52 AM on October 11, 2010

an artist that 99.9 percent of its audience has never even heard of

Are you joking?
posted by enn at 7:55 AM on October 11, 2010

> There's thinking about art, and there's seeing things you want to see, and not seeing things you don't want to see.

Sorry, were you trying to make a dichotomy there?
posted by Burhanistan at 7:57 AM on October 11, 2010

> an artist that 99.9 percent of its audience has never even heard of

Are you joking?

Oh for God's sake. So maybe it's only 92%; the point is undeniable. This kind of pointless petty sniping is killing MetaFilter. That and the jackasses bitching about posts with only one link.
posted by languagehat at 8:09 AM on October 11, 2010 [7 favorites]

Quit being jackasses, you jackasses

You have a low bar for jackassery.
posted by smackfu at 8:09 AM on October 11, 2010

The biggest animation franchise in television history just gave over the reins of its now-classic opening sequence to an artist that 99.9 percent of its audience has never even heard of. It deserves acclaim and conversation. Not hurling of epithets and taking imaginary offense.

I didn't take offense. I was genuinely confused by what he was getting at. He was being ambiguous, and intentionally so.
posted by empath at 8:10 AM on October 11, 2010

Oh for God's sake. So maybe it's only 92%; the point is undeniable.

It seems pretty fucking deniable to me. I'd be amazed if any significant portion of the Simpsons audience doesn't know who Banksy is. He's not exactly a fringe figure these days.

This kind of pointless petty sniping is killing MetaFilter.

OH NO
posted by enn at 8:13 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

He's not exactly a fringe figure these days.

This is the problem with spending too much time on the internet. You lose perspective. What exactly would have prompted the average joe to learn who Banksy is?
posted by smackfu at 8:17 AM on October 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

Oh, I don't know, maybe the half dozen times he's done stuff on walls here and it's been in the media? Or one of the many, many profiles that have been done of him over the years in major newspapers and magazines? Or the coverage of the prices his pieces get at auction? Come on.
posted by enn at 8:20 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I just think it's like most people have never even heard of The Wire.
posted by smackfu at 8:22 AM on October 11, 2010

Also, I'm surprised that any MeTa about that post isn't about all the jackasses bitching about it being a single link. Quit being jackasses, you jackasses. One link is fine. You can Google it if you don't already know about a popular topic. Metafilter doesn't have to be a comprehensive, one-stop resource. You know this, so stop bitching about posts with only one link.

It doesn't help that empath has decided to moderate his own thread on the issue, while attacking another member who isn't a prolific poster for daring to offer criticism. As if the volume of posts gorgor_balabala's made somehow should be the determining factor to whether he has a right to voice his opinion.
posted by zarq at 8:29 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'd be amazed if any significant portion of the Simpsons audience doesn't know who Banksy is.

Your amazement threshold is pretty low. We could do a survey, get some data. Not everyone who watches the Simpsons reads the MetaFilter, nor reads the papers, nor has much of a care for the art world in general.

Anyway, here are two data points:

1. I only know who Banksy is because of this site.
2. My kids have no idea who Banksy is, and they loved the opening.
posted by Mister_A at 8:29 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

What exactly would have prompted the average joe to learn who Banksy is?

This isn't the average joe, this is Metafilter. There have been twenty posts about Banksy on here. What good does a link to wikipedia do?

Plus, there are two parts to that post: Banksy, and Simpsons opening. If you aren't familiar with either, the post probably doesn't interest you and can be skipped. Otherwise you are using a web browser with several different search bars you could throw his name into and get the basic information you need.

This post was way less cryptic than a lot of SLYT posts we get.
posted by graventy at 8:30 AM on October 11, 2010

Not everyone who watches the Simpsons reads the MetaFilter, nor reads the papers, nor has much of a care for the art world in general.

OK, but all of them watch television, where Banksy has received considerable attention. Please, do a survey. I think people underestimate the ubiquity of their favorite corners of pop culture. It's still pop culture and it's still something millions and millions of other people know just like you do.
posted by enn at 8:33 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm sure, by the way, that many people who never heard of Banksy before yesterday evening were googling him during the commercial break after the opening.
posted by Mister_A at 8:33 AM on October 11, 2010

It doesn't help that empath has decided to moderate his own thread on the issue, while attacking another member who isn't a prolific poster for daring to offer criticism.

Whatever. The bitching shouldn't be in the thread to begin with.
posted by empath at 8:35 AM on October 11, 2010

Is there some sort of reluctance to use MeTa lately?

Or is it just that people already know the answer to their problems (the thread is fine FIAMO) and just want to shit up the thread anyway?
posted by graventy at 8:35 AM on October 11, 2010

I would certainly be reluctant to post anything to Meta, considering how its always a pile on.
posted by smackfu at 8:36 AM on October 11, 2010

> I'd be amazed if any significant portion of the Simpsons audience doesn't know who Banksy is.

You need to get out more.
posted by languagehat at 8:37 AM on October 11, 2010 [5 favorites]

Whatever. The bitching shouldn't be in the thread to begin with.

So you decided to make things worse by attacking your critics back, rather than diverting what was bothering you into a MeTa discussion that wouldn't derail your thread. Oh, bravo.
posted by zarq at 8:44 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

You need to get out more.

But then I might run across one of the several Banksy pieces — not to mention the countless Banksy pastiches — around my city and totally invalidate your blinkered thesis.
posted by enn at 8:45 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Let's have a post and we can all fight each other!
posted by Burhanistan at 8:46 AM on October 11, 2010

For those quibbling about percentages ... just, wow ... I mean, pull your head out of the Utne Reader for a moment and take a look around. Compared to the worldwide recognition of the Simpsons franchise, Banksy is the fringe of the fringe.

Data would be unavailable, but I would totally put down my money on the 99.9 figure. Your grandma knows who the Simpsons are. You think grandma has her finger on the pulse of the British arts scene?

There's a reason it's called mass media. Flyover country is bigger (and dumber) than you think it is. Good for Fox to have the stones for allowing the Simpsons to do this. I'm just saying, let's not get all antsy that it wasn't done just right for everyone's tastes and political sensibilities.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:47 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Let us continue to argue, without facts, about just how many people know who Banksy is. Those are the best arguments of all.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:47 AM on October 11, 2010 [9 favorites]

Them's fightin' words, Burhanistan!
posted by Mister_A at 8:47 AM on October 11, 2010

I think the point is that no one we should care about doesn't know who Banksy is. Or, to put it more simply, if you don't know who Banksy is, you are probably Christine O'Donnell.*


*Not a witch!
posted by Mister_A at 8:49 AM on October 11, 2010

Let us continue to argue, without facts, about just how many people know who Banksy is. Those are the best arguments of all.

I think 80% of those arguments are the best arguments of all, but definitely not 100% of them.

Just to continue the slide into pointless debate: I would wager that Banksy is not well known outside of people who follow a lot of pop-culture. A figure in the 90% range wouldn't surprise. Since no-one can prove me wrong until a peer-reviewed survey has been performed, I will assume I'm correct.
posted by Think_Long at 8:54 AM on October 11, 2010

FYI- the contact form at the bottom of every page is a better way to nominate things for the sidebar. It also helps prevent shitstorms like this idiotic thread.
posted by slogger at 8:56 AM on October 11, 2010

These sort of arguments wouldn't happen if there were more sock hops in the world.
posted by nomadicink at 9:03 AM on October 11, 2010

Google search trends: banksy, simpsons
posted by smackfu at 9:17 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Somebody drop me a line when the thread has moved on to determining the number of piano tuners in NYC. That one's been bugging me for years.
posted by kaibutsu at 9:19 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

D'오!
posted by clavdivs at 9:19 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

So you decided to make things worse by attacking your critics back, rather than diverting what was bothering you into a MeTa discussion that wouldn't derail your thread. Oh, bravo.

Again, whatever. The post is still there. Mefites are capable of carrying on more than one conversational thread simultaneously.
posted by empath at 9:21 AM on October 11, 2010

The data aren't in for 10.10 yet, smackfu; all your chart indicates is that UP UNTIL THAT TIME, there were 20 times as many searches for the Simpsons compared with Banksy. So whatever, man!
posted by Mister_A at 9:22 AM on October 11, 2010

this just in: Exactly 93.7 percent of the Simpsons audience do not know who Banksy is.

I would reveal my sources but that would only serve to undermine my position.
posted by philip-random at 9:22 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

90% of the google searches for Banksy today are because I didn't link to the wikipedia article in the original post.
posted by empath at 9:24 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I mean, maybe more people are searching for the Simpsons compared with Banksy because EVERONE ALREADY KNOWS ALL ABOUT BANKSY!!! HAVE YOU EVEN THOUGHT OF THAT?

On a tangential note, we need a new case besides uppercase - superior case or something. I'd have preferred to write HAVE YOU EVEN THOUGHT OF THAT? in this third case; it would have been much more effective. It would have said, "I AM SHOUTING EVEN MORE SHOUTILY THAN PREVIOUSLY!" which is something that regular ole' upper case really doesn't convey very well. I guess there's always !!!!!!!11! but that seems a little 2004 to be honest.
posted by Mister_A at 9:27 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

also, as someone who would otherwise have needed to own a TV to know what the hell was going on Simpsons land, I thank empath for making the post. that opening's a darned fine bit of Simpsons-ness. one kind of wishes they'd give him an entire episode.
posted by philip-random at 9:28 AM on October 11, 2010

one kind of wishes they'd give him an entire episode.

Banksy that is, not empath. Although maybe empath could get one, too.
posted by philip-random at 9:29 AM on October 11, 2010

little known fact: I ghost wrote the monorail episode for conan.
posted by empath at 9:30 AM on October 11, 2010

Again, whatever. The post is still there. Mefites are capable of carrying on more than one conversational thread simultaneously.

Of course they are. That's not my point. But hey, feel free to be deliberately obtuse in order to defend your actions.
posted by zarq at 9:41 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Jesus, people. Get on with your life.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:47 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Frankly, despite the fact that I know about The Simpsons and I know who Banksy is, I thought the post could have used more context because I had no idea what the hell it was. Did Banksy make that intro by himself and release it on the internet? Was it a fan-made creation, sort of a what-if mashup scenario? Did it actually air on the actual show? I had no idea because none of this was in the post, which it could have used.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:49 AM on October 11, 2010 [5 favorites]

But hey, feel free to be deliberately obtuse in order to defend your actions.

Defend my actions? Seriously? It's a post about a cartoon, dude. Maybe you should take a walk outside or something.
posted by empath at 9:50 AM on October 11, 2010

Maybe you should take a walk outside or something.

I don't know. I'm hesitant. Is there the Internet outside?
posted by Skot at 9:54 AM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

Defend my actions? Seriously? It's a post about a cartoon, dude. Maybe you should take a walk outside or something.

This from the guy who took on all comers? That's rich.
posted by zarq at 9:55 AM on October 11, 2010

Also, rather hilarious: If you don't know who Banksy or the Simpsons are, and why this would be interesting, then I don't know how you managed to find metafilter.
posted by zarq at 9:57 AM on October 11, 2010

That comment has far more favorites than the one that prompted this thread. MeFi prefers snark!
posted by smackfu at 10:03 AM on October 11, 2010

This from the guy who took on all comers? That's rich.

Internets is serious business.
posted by empath at 10:07 AM on October 11, 2010

Yes, they do.

I'm truly sympathetic to what empath is feeling. I even made a comment in-thread asking people to move their complaints to MeTa. But the larger point I was making is simply that starting an argument over site policy in the comments of a thread by launching personal attacks on other members is really a dick move.
posted by zarq at 10:11 AM on October 11, 2010

Pointing out that the guy has been here 5 years and only made one post when he's trying to tell me how to make a FPP is completely relevant and hardly constitutes an attack. But it was a derail and both his comment and mine got deleted, so again, whatever.
posted by empath at 10:14 AM on October 11, 2010

Pointing out that the guy has been here 5 years and only made one post when he's trying to tell me how to make a FPP is completely relevant and hardly constitutes an attack.

It's absolutely not relevant.

He's a member here, and his opinion shouldn't matter more or less because you happen to think he hasn't made enough of a contribution.
posted by zarq at 10:17 AM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

I'm truly sympathetic to what empath is feeling.

Also, you have no idea what I'm feeling. I believe I posted a grand total of 3 responses to people bitching about my post (one of which was deleted, one of which has a few dozen favorites now), then said it should be in metatalk. That hardly constitutes taking on all comers. I expected and was amused by the complaints. The only comment that really pissed me off, I didn't respond to, and it got deleted.
posted by empath at 10:20 AM on October 11, 2010

Whatever. The bitching shouldn't be in the thread to begin with.

Probably so, however you are seriously making MeTa and MeFi worse by being super crabby with people who are in some way critical of you.

It would be nice if you could ease up on that some or at least realize that it's causing site problems whether or not it causes a problem for you personally. I'm not sure why you seem to take critiques of your [often excellent] contributions here so personally, but it would be nice if you could keep the pointed barbs to MetaTalk and even nicer if you could keep them off the site to begin with.

All it takes it two irritable people to dig in and not let up and we've got a mod headache on our hands. Lately you have been one of those two people more than usual.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:21 AM on October 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

He's a member here, and his opinion shouldn't matter more or less because you happen to think he hasn't made enough of a contribution.

What are you talking about? He was giving me advice on making FPP's, when he's made a grand total of one. I found that funny. Would you take driving advice from someone who has only driven a car once around the block?
posted by empath at 10:23 AM on October 11, 2010

Wow, the old "if you can't do it, you can't criticize it" line of reasoning. Made famous by sports fans everywhere!
posted by smackfu at 10:24 AM on October 11, 2010

Lately you have been one of those two people more than usual.

Fair enough. I'll knock it off.
posted by empath at 10:25 AM on October 11, 2010

Also, you have no idea what I'm feeling.

Fair enough. My links tend to have a lot of links, and sometimes people don't like that. I do find it frustrating when they complain about this in the comments of my threads. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it can be annoying.
posted by zarq at 10:25 AM on October 11, 2010

(i'm probably a bit crankier than usual today because i am going off 3 hours sleep and dealing with the repercussions of a 3am chili dog that sounded like a good idea at the time)
posted by empath at 10:29 AM on October 11, 2010

1am is the cut off point for chili dogs.
posted by nomadicink at 10:31 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

> dealing with the repercussions of a 3am chili dog that sounded like a good idea at the time

Now it's probably making all kinds of sounds and smells.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:32 AM on October 11, 2010

Actually age 35 years is the cut-off.
posted by Mister_A at 10:32 AM on October 11, 2010

What are you talking about? He was giving me advice on making FPP's, when he's made a grand total of one. I found that funny. Would you take driving advice from someone who has only driven a car once around the block?

This isn't like driving.

As a member of metafilter who reads and comments, his opinion of a post's utility shouldn't be considered less valid because of lack of posting experience. There are plenty of long-term members who use this site who do not create FPP's.
posted by zarq at 10:34 AM on October 11, 2010

Fair enough. I'll knock it off.

Didn't preview. Okay.
posted by zarq at 10:35 AM on October 11, 2010

I'm as sick of people calling eponysterical on empath's comments as the next guy, but given that this actually came from zarq, I think it's worth repeating:

I'm truly sympathetic to what empath is feeling.

And I like this too:

My links tend to have a lot of links

This is my contribution to the thread.
posted by SpiffyRob at 10:36 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

I believe I posted a grand total of 3 responses to people bitching about my post (one of which was deleted, one of which has a few dozen favorites now)

Yeah, you got dozens of faves for one of your responses, but in a weird, uniquely Metafilter way, that just amplifies things in the wrong direction. If I've learned anything about defending my posts here, it's not to. Certainly, not immediately. It's just way better to hang tight and let somebody else make your point for you, even if they don't make it as succinctly as you might have; something to do with the nature of community, I guess.

That is, you may have made the post, but as soon as it's posted, it's everybody's. So let it go. Trust the community. If it fails, then go Meta. But in this particular case, given the number of faves you got, I can't imagine that someone else wouldn't have stepped in and offered a comment reflecting a similar sentiment ... and, if so, I doubt we'd still be here jawing about this.
posted by philip-random at 10:39 AM on October 11, 2010

More than 89% of people on MetaFilter agree with you, philip-random.
posted by Mister_A at 10:40 AM on October 11, 2010

This is my contribution to the thread.

I been misunderestimated. It's all part of my master strategery! :D
posted by zarq at 10:43 AM on October 11, 2010

around my city and totally invalidate your blinkered thesis.

Heh.
posted by Chuckles at 10:46 AM on October 11, 2010

1am is the cut off point for chili dogs.
posted by nomadicink at 1:31 PM on October 11 [+] [!]

Actually age 35 years is the cut-off.
posted by Mister_A at 1:32 PM on October 11 [+] [!]

Yeah, right now, I feel like I'm getting punished for both.
posted by empath at 10:56 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

I bet that 99.9% of people who have heard of Banksy don't even know what he looks like.
posted by barrett caulk at 11:10 AM on October 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

He's a guy in a hoody. What else do I need to know?
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:18 AM on October 11, 2010

Whether or not the hoodie was made in a sweatshop, I suppose.
posted by barrett caulk at 11:28 AM on October 11, 2010

I suspect it's hemp.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:34 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

No matter what, I stopped watching the Simpsons years ago and like Banksy, so thanks empath for making that post.

(Also, the person who commented and had made one post violated the guidelines with that one post AND tried to sneak in a referrer code in one of the links. Just sayin.)
posted by nevercalm at 11:35 AM on October 11, 2010

Frankly, despite the fact that I know about The Simpsons and I know who Banksy is, I thought the post could have used more context because I had no idea what the hell it was.

This is a very good point: I'm not a fan of wikipedia-style FPPs by any stretch, and there is a kind of FPP that benefits from the element of surprise, but a good post includes enough information so the reader can get a feel for what's going on.

On a tangential note, we need a new case besides uppercase - superior case or something.

StudlyCaps WorK Great fOr OutraGed inDignaTion.
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:38 AM on October 11, 2010

TPB;DR (too pointlessly/pathetically bitchy; didn't read):

Has this pose been taken? "I liked Banksy long before most of you ever heard of him; but he sold out years ago and this is more of the same."

Because it isn't, I'm claiming it. And then I'm going to sit here and preen so hard that Jesus himself would want to punch me in the face.
posted by George_Spiggott at 11:55 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

On a tangential note, we need a new case besides uppercase - superior case or something.

Gilded-Case. Outlines all of your letters in gold and places a jaunty top-hat and monocle on all your 'O's
posted by empath at 12:40 PM on October 11, 2010

This from the guy who took on all comers?

At least they always come at you one by one; in that way, Metafilter is much like a Steven Seagal movie.
posted by mannequito at 12:57 PM on October 11, 2010

Metafilter is much like a Steven Seagal movie

Metafilter: Under Siege: A former SEAL, now cook, is the only person who can stop a gang of terrorists when they sieze control of a US Navy battleship. But have the terrorists heard of Banksy? If so, what percentage of them? Is it even fair to call this a group of terrorists? I mean, really, they seem more economically than ideologically driven. How would Banksy repurpose this battleship to give it a satirical edge? Maybe that means Banksy is working with the Navy, not against them. Is Banksy the Man? Don't blame me, you're the one who voted for Nader.
posted by Think_Long at 1:34 PM on October 11, 2010 [9 favorites]

> At least they always come at you one by one; in that way, Metafilter is much like a Steven Seagal movie.

Sometimes, it's more like a Zucker brothers movie.
posted by Burhanistan at 1:43 PM on October 11, 2010

Cool Papa Bell:Flyover country is bigger (and dumber) than you think it is.

Elitist much?
posted by futz at 2:46 PM on October 11, 2010

Is this the thread we abuse the panda in?
posted by davejay at 2:49 PM on October 11, 2010

I think it's entirely possible to lead a satisfying and intellectually stimulating life without ever hearing about Banksy, really.
posted by Burhanistan at 2:49 PM on October 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

Exit Through the Gift Shop was hilarious.
posted by adamdschneider at 3:29 PM on October 11, 2010

Here's the difference. If someone asked me "Ever heard of Banksy?" I'd take the question at face value. ("Yeah — graffiti artist, right?")

If someone asked me "Have you ever heard of The Simpsons?" then I'd probably start looking for a hidden meaning. (Is this a rhetorical question? A trick question? Are they insulting me — calling me out of touch or something? Maybe they're talking about something else. Could there be a band called the Simpsons? Or what if I just misheard them....)

Because it's just too weird otherwise — like asking "You know what a T-shirt is?" or "Have you heard of indoor plumbing?" or something.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:05 PM on October 11, 2010

Frankly, despite the fact that I know about The Simpsons and I know who Banksy is, I thought the post could have used more context because I had no idea what the hell it was. Did Banksy make that intro by himself and release it on the internet? Was it a fan-made creation, sort of a what-if mashup scenario? Did it actually air on the actual show? I had no idea because none of this was in the post, which it could have used.

Yes, exactly!

Also, SLYTs are killing metafilter

Also, I find the snark entertaing--am I bad person?
posted by flotson at 4:20 PM on October 11, 2010

I think it's entirely possible to lead a satisfying and intellectually stimulating life without ever hearing about Banksy, really.

I had done so, up to now. Well, I'd *heard of* him, but for whatever reason hadn't been interested in or motivated enough to seek out his work. Perhaps I'll do that now. The Simpsons bit was OK.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:31 PM on October 11, 2010

He's basically exactly like that opening flapjax: he makes a pretty obvious and radical political point but with just enough elements of surprise to appeal to the snickering 14 year old anarchist in everyone's heart. LOL unicorn slavery! A neat trick, imo.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:08 PM on October 11, 2010

Statistics. That's where I'm a Viking!
posted by louche mustachio at 7:11 PM on October 11, 2010

10/10/10 was my birthday too. Happy Birthday, Matt. I was born in 1955, and now I'm 55. I hope all the numbers are good luck. I need it.
posted by wv kay in ga at 10:27 PM on October 11, 2010

I had no idea because none of this was in the post, which it could have used.

This statement is weird. When I am curious about something that's mentioned in a post I do a google search. That seems like the obvious thing to do. Doesn't everyone have at least six tabs open at any one time? I'm guessing 99.2% of Firefox users do.
posted by h00py at 12:00 AM on October 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

I only heard of Bansky a few months ago, on Metafilter. I'd bet a lot of money that a lot of the diehard Simpsons fans I know in Pakistan have never ever ever heard of Bansky. Most of them probably don't even know that "graffiti artist" is a widely used term.

In other news, the YouTube linke to the sequence is now down. So I can't comment on whether I like it or not.
posted by bardophile at 3:14 AM on October 12, 2010

This is the problem with spending too much time on the internet. You lose perspective. What exactly would have prompted the average joe to learn who Banksy is?

Seinfeld is barely known over here. Curb is big, but Seinfeld was never really shown, so those who have seen it had to catch it on DVD years later. However, I gather it was a pretty popular show and some people watched it. Same with Banksy. Globally, we see references to things in US sitcoms that don't mean one thing outside the lower 48. You know what I do? I either look it up (what IS that big jug that crashes through walls in Family Guy? Oh, it's an American type of squash) oir just wait for the next gag. I'm sure nobody was hurt if they didn't get it.

Come on, Jim flippin' Jarmusch and Thomas Pynchomn were in a Simpsons episodes, and I'd argue Banksy is as least if not more well-known.
posted by mippy at 3:29 AM on October 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

Jim Jarmusch's and Thomas Pynchon's cameos on the Simpsons weren't presented as SLYTs without context.

As far as I'm concerned, Banksy's kind of over-rated*, and his participation in a Simpsons opening long after the show jumped the shark puts him in the same category as Ke$ha. Good for him.

*His work's actually quite enjoyable, but his messages are always extremely ham-fisted and obvious. It gets tiresome that someone with little more talent than a lot of other street artists gets labeled "genius" so often. A 4/5 is "overrated" if people consistently rate it 5/5.
posted by explosion at 4:42 AM on October 12, 2010

what IS that big jug that crashes through walls in Family Guy? Oh, it's an American type of squash

Initially I was amused that you thought the koolaid guy was a garden vegetable. Upon looking up other meanings for "squash", I find that apparently that's what some of you people call fruit juice.

What
the
fuck
not-America?
posted by Think_Long at 5:59 AM on October 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

Squash is not fruit juice. It is to fruit juice as a frozen nugget is to delicious roast chicken.

Jim Jarmusch's and Thomas Pynchon's cameos on the Simpsons weren't presented as SLYTs without context.


Point is, a lot of, say, Family Guy is just like that to me, because it's made for an audience that know what the Kool Aid jug and Rush Limbaugh and Celebrity Squares all mean and why it's funny when the dumb girl says 'Pe-opple magazine'. Many people here know of Banksy - you can bet if context was given there'd be a MeTa about how patronising it is.
posted by mippy at 6:45 AM on October 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Squash really is a good equivalent term for kool aid, although squash usually comes in a bottle of concentrate, which you dilute with water, rather than a packet of crystals. More like lemonade concentrate than frozen OJ, but usually not sold frozen, at least not in Pakistan.
posted by bardophile at 7:29 AM on October 12, 2010

The squash thing was funnier when I thought she was talking about a vegetable. He does look like a giant gourd!
posted by Mister_A at 10:58 AM on October 12, 2010

I thought racquetball was american squash. Stop being so confusting with your words.
posted by Barry B. Palindromer at 1:01 AM on October 13, 2010