Hi there! June 8, 2011 2:13 PM Subscribe
Scifi novelist and screenwriter Steven Barnes has joined an interesting discussion about one of his articles.
We're still awaiting word as to his certificate of genius.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:27 PM on June 8, 2011
posted by Navelgazer at 2:27 PM on June 8, 2011
Why does this get a meta? Is that like traditional or something? I don't get it.
posted by neuromodulator at 2:43 PM on June 8, 2011
posted by neuromodulator at 2:43 PM on June 8, 2011
You don't mess with tradition.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:46 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:46 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
I do, but no one likes me.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:47 PM on June 8, 2011
posted by shakespeherian at 2:47 PM on June 8, 2011
I guess "the meta is to warn us about the hypnotherapy" makes sense.
posted by neuromodulator at 2:51 PM on June 8, 2011
posted by neuromodulator at 2:51 PM on June 8, 2011
EVERYBODY LOVES HYPNOTOAD
posted by crush-onastick at 3:00 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by crush-onastick at 3:00 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
neuromodulator: "Why does this get a meta? Is that like traditional or something? I don't get it."
Precedent.
posted by zarq at 3:00 PM on June 8, 2011
Precedent.
posted by zarq at 3:00 PM on June 8, 2011
phaedon: "Pointless, self-indulgent precedent."
How exactly is creating a meta post alerting folks in the community who might be interested that the subject of a post has shown up in a thread, "self-indulgent?"
posted by zarq at 3:11 PM on June 8, 2011 [9 favorites]
How exactly is creating a meta post alerting folks in the community who might be interested that the subject of a post has shown up in a thread, "self-indulgent?"
posted by zarq at 3:11 PM on June 8, 2011 [9 favorites]
To whom is it self-indulgent? I always find it interesting when the subject of a thread shows up. Moreover, these threads are always a good reminder of exactly why you might not want to call the subject of the thread an asshole (not that I'm trying to start that debate back up).
posted by Bookhouse at 3:12 PM on June 8, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by Bookhouse at 3:12 PM on June 8, 2011 [9 favorites]
Posting in MeTa raises awareness to other members of the site who may not have gotten into the discussion; if they know he's participating, they may be interested in asking questions or something.
Moreover, these threads are always a good reminder of exactly why you might not want to call the subject of the thread an asshole (not that I'm trying to start that debate back up).
That too. I think that when a prominent outsider appears in a thread, it's always good to tip off the community and the mods.
Also, if Kathleen Turner ever showed up in a MeFi thread, and I didn't find out about it because no one posted about it anywhere, I'd be PISSED...
posted by hermitosis at 3:16 PM on June 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
Moreover, these threads are always a good reminder of exactly why you might not want to call the subject of the thread an asshole (not that I'm trying to start that debate back up).
That too. I think that when a prominent outsider appears in a thread, it's always good to tip off the community and the mods.
Also, if Kathleen Turner ever showed up in a MeFi thread, and I didn't find out about it because no one posted about it anywhere, I'd be PISSED...
posted by hermitosis at 3:16 PM on June 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
Steven Barnes is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.
posted by crunchland at 3:44 PM on June 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by crunchland at 3:44 PM on June 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
Fair enough, this post should stand. I guess what irked me is I didn't feel the original thread needed a meta link here. In that context, not only was it redundant - as the author announced his presence two comments earlier - but as MeTa can sometimes be a place where people entertain slightly more offensive tangents, it might stifle further contributions from said subject. *slinks away*
posted by phaedon at 4:05 PM on June 8, 2011
posted by phaedon at 4:05 PM on June 8, 2011
phaedon: "Fair enough, this post should stand. I guess what irked me is I didn't feel the original thread needed a meta link here."
Oh, that's just site etiquette. I only put the link there because it's polite to let people know they're being talked about in MeTa. Had no nefarious intentions, I promise. :)
posted by zarq at 4:22 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh, that's just site etiquette. I only put the link there because it's polite to let people know they're being talked about in MeTa. Had no nefarious intentions, I promise. :)
posted by zarq at 4:22 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
ZARQ HAS BEEN HYPNOTOADED. REPEAT: ZARQ IS COMPROMISED.
posted by neuromodulator at 4:39 PM on June 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by neuromodulator at 4:39 PM on June 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Oh my god, this is the gentlest MeTa thread I have ever seen in which someone said "why this thread" and someone else said "here's why" NO ONE RUIN IT. Also thanks zarq. I had been reading the thread but didn't comment so I wouldn't have noticed Mr. Barnes' coming in in my Recent Activity or anything like that.
posted by sweetkid at 5:06 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by sweetkid at 5:06 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
you noobs and your Hypnotoads. I give all my favorites to the Brain Slug Planet.
posted by The Whelk at 5:08 PM on June 8, 2011
posted by The Whelk at 5:08 PM on June 8, 2011
Also, if Kathleen Turner ever showed up in a MeFi thread, and I didn't find out about it because no one posted about it anywhere, I'd be PISSED...
hermitosis, do you need the kiss of Kathleen Turner right now?
posted by hippybear at 5:19 PM on June 8, 2011
hermitosis, do you need the kiss of Kathleen Turner right now?
posted by hippybear at 5:19 PM on June 8, 2011
I wonder if these announcements, made while a thread is going on, are necessarily a good thing for the quality of that thread. If a discussion of something Steven Barnes said doesn't attract the right people in the first place, will an announcement that the author himself has shown up bring them in? Or will it just bring in more commenters who weren't interested until the famous guy showed up?
(Please note that I am in fact asking if this as a question, and not entirely rhetorically. The last time I asked "I wonder if X" here at least one person here flipped out as if I were asserting "X is a fact and don't even think of denying it!")
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:28 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
(Please note that I am in fact asking if this as a question, and not entirely rhetorically. The last time I asked "I wonder if X" here at least one person here flipped out as if I were asserting "X is a fact and don't even think of denying it!")
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:28 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
if Kathleen Turner ever showed up in a MeFi thread, and I didn't find out about it because no one posted about it anywhere, I'd be PISSED
Threads would solve this problem.
posted by ericost at 6:01 PM on June 8, 2011
Threads would solve this problem.
posted by ericost at 6:01 PM on June 8, 2011
He truly is a nice person.
If he weren't, he probably wouldn't get up early for two days of a long convention and patiently teach Tai Chi to bleary-souled speculative fiction fans.
'Course, that would be the perfect opportunity to hypnotise them into buying his books when the dealer's room opens, but...nah. He's just a nice guy.
posted by batmonkey at 12:48 AM on June 9, 2011
If he weren't, he probably wouldn't get up early for two days of a long convention and patiently teach Tai Chi to bleary-souled speculative fiction fans.
'Course, that would be the perfect opportunity to hypnotise them into buying his books when the dealer's room opens, but...nah. He's just a nice guy.
posted by batmonkey at 12:48 AM on June 9, 2011
Steven Barnes is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.
So, Dave Faris was a sockpuppet of Larry Niven, then ?
posted by y2karl at 8:31 AM on June 9, 2011
So, Dave Faris was a sockpuppet of Larry Niven, then ?
posted by y2karl at 8:31 AM on June 9, 2011
Hey, y2karl. Why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?
posted by crunchland at 10:10 AM on June 9, 2011
posted by crunchland at 10:10 AM on June 9, 2011
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posted by phaedon at 2:20 PM on June 8, 2011 [4 favorites]