Favorites premium earned

June 9, 2011 12:35 PM

Well I now have 2000 favorites.

I would like the luggage set, please, in Chestnut Brown. Monogram EJB. Thank you.

I hope to meet some of you in the future in Lounge 5000.

posted by longsleeves to Uptime at 12:35 PM (200 comments total)

I'll trade you 500 more for 18 best answers.
posted by Mister_A at 12:38 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Make that 2001.
posted by klausman at 12:38 PM on June 9, 2011

You have to devalue the tehloki favorites by 5/8 of a favorite.
posted by Curious Artificer at 12:40 PM on June 9, 2011 [11 favorites]

2048
posted by dfriedman at 12:43 PM on June 9, 2011

I'm sorry, you're going to need at least a 2:1 ratio (received/given) to get the luggage set. But perhaps a set of coasters?
posted by blue_beetle at 12:43 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

The relevant ratio is "received/posted" not "received/given".
posted by The Bellman at 12:46 PM on June 9, 2011 [5 favorites]

Save your points. The MeFi paint job on the Harrier jet is worth the wait.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:46 PM on June 9, 2011 [5 favorites]

Who favorited the most comments by longsleeves in MetaFilter?

...
4 arcticwoman
4 koeselitz
4 longsleeves
4 drjimmy11

SCANDAL
posted by Rhaomi at 12:46 PM on June 9, 2011 [63 favorites]

I think once you make a MeTa announcing how many favorites you have your favorite count drops to zero the next time you walk away from your computer. Go ahead....walk away.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 12:48 PM on June 9, 2011 [4 favorites]

I remember back when I hit 2000 favorites. My brothers and I wanted to trade them in for a rowboat, but my sisters wanted a sewing machine. We settled it the way we always have settled all gender-based disputes since our parents' marriage set up our blended family -- COMPETITIVE HOUSE OF CARDS BUILDING!

We lost but our sisters, being of kind souls and hair of gold, traded in the stamps for a color TV that we could all share.

Good times.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:50 PM on June 9, 2011 [18 favorites]

Boom 3072, with a 2:1 fav/comment ratio. Not that I sit here and reload my profile all day ( I have an sms alert when I get a fav).

I don't want to trade them in, I am having them bronzed to hang on the wall of my rumpus room.
posted by Ad hominem at 12:51 PM on June 9, 2011

I hit the 2k favorites mark after transcribing that Oprah show, mostly I feel guilty that I have a ratio of 1:10 favorites given/received.
posted by hellojed at 12:52 PM on June 9, 2011

SCANDAL

That was from my learning curve, show some love!
posted by longsleeves at 12:53 PM on June 9, 2011

I'm at 6454, which I think makes me upper-middle class. But everyone thinks they're upper middle class, right?
posted by Bookhouse at 12:53 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

Enough. We cannot continue going on like this. Soon we will exceed the number of favourites available on the server. Of course, we could ask Matt to buy more servers, which would extend the "favourite-ceiling." But how would he pay for such a thing? Increased membership fees? Unacceptable. I would not support extending the favourite-ceiling without significant comment cuts.
posted by smorange at 12:55 PM on June 9, 2011 [8 favorites]

I think once you make a MeTa announcing how many favorites you have your favorite count drops to zero the next time you walk away from your computer. Go ahead....walk away.

Oh, OK. *Sigh.*

/not passive-aggressive-ist
posted by longsleeves at 12:57 PM on June 9, 2011

Enough. We cannot continue going on like this. Soon we will exceed the number of favourites available on the server

I propose we devalue current favorites by dividing all current favorite counts by 100, each future favorite will be worth 1/100 of a favorite until we can establish the true market value of a favorite. Are there any economists who would model this for us?
posted by Ad hominem at 12:59 PM on June 9, 2011

And overhead, without any fuss, the stars were going out.
posted by stavrogin at 1:00 PM on June 9, 2011 [10 favorites]

Is this where I line up for my share of the trickle down?
posted by Stagger Lee at 1:00 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

Aww, that's nice, dear.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:03 PM on June 9, 2011 [7 favorites]

I think New Favorites = Log(Old Favorites + 1) sounds like a reasonable model. This would make up for the old days when you got 100 favorites just for signing up. I'd still be close to zero.
posted by klausman at 1:04 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

*looks at self, stays very quiet*
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:06 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

We're revaluing favorites to align with bitcoins, so you'll want to keep an eye on your balance.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:08 PM on June 9, 2011 [10 favorites]

The problem began when Matt decided to no longer have one favorite worth one ounce of gold. Favorites could no longer be traded in for something of real value, they only had the value of what the economy thought they were worth. Try taking your favorites out of MetaFilter - they're worthless! I used to be able to buy ten upvotes on Reddit with one MetaFilter favorite. Now I have to spend my whole wad just to register my approval there.

Worst of all, Reddit has been buying our favorites for years and has them stockpiled, keeping their relative value artificially inflated. If they ever decide to sell their favorites off the MetaFilter economy will collapse completely. I've got some diggs from Goldline that I ordered while watching Glenn Beck, so I'll be okay, but poor bastards like Astro Zombie will be left holding a massive back of nothing!

GOOGLE RON PAUL, PEOPLE!
posted by charred husk at 1:08 PM on June 9, 2011 [11 favorites]

Amatuer.
posted by The Deej at 1:09 PM on June 9, 2011

cortex: "We're revaluing favorites to align with bitcoins"

favnards.

Mebÿts.

Mathalers.
posted by boo_radley at 1:10 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

...
posted by boo_radley at 1:11 PM on June 9, 2011

I thought I was supposed to bring donuts, but I brought crumb cake instead. I misconstreuseled the request.
posted by boo_radley at 1:11 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

Ad hominem writes "I propose we devalue current favorites by dividing all current favorite counts by 100, each future favorite will be worth 1/100 of a favorite until we can establish the true market value of a favorite."

I say we cap favourites at 2000. Anything more and your profile just says Thousands.
posted by Mitheral at 1:13 PM on June 9, 2011 [8 favorites]

I felt really bad about my win/loss kill/death favorites/favorited ratio, then I saw ThePinkSuperhero's. You can't take them with you, ya know!
posted by 2bucksplus at 1:14 PM on June 9, 2011

On a related note, I've sometimes wondered if certain members post questions purely to bait favorites. Looking through histories, I've suspected it before.

It's like converting to Judaism purely for the jokes.
posted by litnerd at 1:16 PM on June 9, 2011

2bucksplus: I felt really bad about my win/loss kill/death favorites/favorited ratio, then I saw ThePinkSuperhero's. You can't take them with you, ya know!

Her ratio is made worse by one stalker in particular.

Who favorited the most comments by ThePinkSuperhero in Ask MetaFilter?
3275 davey_darling

Who favorited the most comments by ThePinkSuperhero in MetaFilter?
1481 davey_darling

Who favorited the most comments by ThePinkSuperhero in MetaTalk?
3204 davey_darling
posted by gman at 1:19 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

BILLIONS AND BILLIONS SERVED
posted by mintcake! at 1:20 PM on June 9, 2011

Was I supposed to do this?

If you have 2,000 favourited-by-others (2,000 favourites of your own is not exactly a big deal) you haven't been whoring hard enough.

Also, how about how Apple ripped off Comic Sans - here's an obscure Appalachian folk tune on a wax cylinder about the subject.
posted by GuyZero at 1:22 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

*notices some activity outside the crystal plated Golden Platium Infinity Class VIP Excutive Full Service Favorites Lounge and Grill*

Oh look, the little people are celebrating again. Quaint.

*returns to MFMA hookah and collection of unpublished novels and eel-based foot massage*

*then Astro Zombie beats me bloody with his drinking stick for using his dodo-fur fez*
posted by The Whelk at 1:25 PM on June 9, 2011

Wait, I can spend favorites?

Please bring me three solid gold The Whelks filled with coke and hookers. Except hold the coke and hookers and replace the solid gold Whelks with cheeseburgers and a strawberry milkshake. Oh, and some fries.
posted by loquacious at 1:29 PM on June 9, 2011

Dude, you're supposed to wait until you hear your name three times before you show up like that!
posted by loquacious at 1:30 PM on June 9, 2011

I don't even have eel-based feet.
posted by Wolfdog at 1:31 PM on June 9, 2011

Her ratio is made worse by one stalker in particular.

This goes back to TPS accepting his offer back in 2007, in case anyone was wondering.
posted by burnmp3s at 1:31 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

I'm willing to fill myself with cheeseburgers and milkshakes.
posted by The Whelk at 1:34 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

oh, we know, sweetie. we know.

* worried glance towards the window
posted by boo_radley at 1:37 PM on June 9, 2011

Can somebody favorite this comment three times? Three is all I'm asking for.
posted by Rory Marinich at 1:37 PM on June 9, 2011 [6 favorites]

today
posted by Rory Marinich at 1:38 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

I'm willing to fill myself with cheeseburgers and milkshakes.

WHERE THE FUCK ARE MY FRIES!?

*calls 911*
posted by loquacious at 1:40 PM on June 9, 2011

Thanks, guys, that's great.

Now if 2000 people would just favorite this comment, I'll disable hermitosis's account.
posted by Rory Marinich at 1:41 PM on June 9, 2011 [5 favorites]

Done *puff* what do I get? I was admiring a crushed velour garden robe....
posted by The Whelk at 1:41 PM on June 9, 2011

See, my 3-y.-o. keeps favorites in perspective for me: "Mama, you are my favorite and my best...when Daddy isn't here."
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:41 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

Her ratio is made worse by one stalker in particular.

How dare! It's love. LOVE.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:48 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

I'm at 6454, which I think makes me upper-middle class. But everyone thinks they're upper middle class, right?

DAMMIT
posted by shakespeherian at 1:48 PM on June 9, 2011

You keep running the rat race for favorites, hoping to make the Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Crystal-plated Golden Platinum Infinity class sequentially. Dreaming about making a sidebar-worthy comment.

Then, out of the Blue, Matt decides to change the system to Genius Index based tiers. Just like that, some 95% of favorites become worthless because they are below the threshold. The important thing now is the X number of contributions you've made that have X or more favorites.

Gentlemen, Ladies, $GENDER_IDENTITIES, the only winning move is not to play.
posted by vidur at 1:52 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I've got 970.
Clearly, not enough of you are listening to my songs.

Kidding, of course!
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 1:53 PM on June 9, 2011

Um.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:00 PM on June 9, 2011

Astro Zombie: Um.

Yes, you do win a prize for worst received/given ratio.
posted by gman at 2:05 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

I thought I left these sorts of fucking popularity contests back at high school, dammit.
posted by crunchland at 2:13 PM on June 9, 2011

So what does 6230 get me?
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:16 PM on June 9, 2011

Ad hominem: I propose we devalue current favorites by dividing all current favorite counts by 100, each future favorite will be worth 1/100 of a favorite until we can establish the true market value of a favorite.

Wait, I remember how this goes.

Gretchen: What was Astro Zombie's favorite share diluted down to?
Eduardo Saverin: It wasn't.
Gretchen: What was The Whelk's favorite share diluted down to?
Saverin: It wasn't.
Gretchen: What was Ad hominem's favorite share diluted down to?
Saverin: It wasn't.
Gretchen: And what was your favorite share diluted down to?
Saverin: .03 percent.

posted by dmit at 2:17 PM on June 9, 2011 [4 favorites]

You have 2000 favorites, but I have 963 favorites... and a bowl-full of freshly cut pineapple, and a bag of shrimp chips, and some tea steeping.

BEAT THAT.
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:17 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

az is like this evil favourites overlord sitting in his giant lair of doom constructed upon the skeletons of dead favourites and the souls of flagged as fantastics.
posted by elizardbits at 2:18 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

St. Alia of the Bunnies: So what does 6230 get me?

Are we talkin' favourites or spouses?
posted by gman at 2:19 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

what does 6230 get me?

A blowjob, same as in town.

Wait, I think I did that wrong.
posted by Curious Artificer at 2:21 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

Wait, I remember how this goes.

Obviously some contributors are too big to fail. Matt will have to allow them access to the discount window, a few key contributors go down and we are looking at systemic failure.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:23 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

It's not the quantity, it's the quality. And I've got some quality favorites to sell you!
posted by blue_beetle at 2:34 PM on June 9, 2011

I just realized something really surprising. In the 19 months since I closed my "wendell" account and started using "oneswellfoop" (which I had opened in the early $5 days just to make sure nobody else used the ID that was my blog's url), I have been given MORE favorites (4230 vs. 4111) than under my old name! When did Favorites start? Mid-2006? Is the rate of Favorite-ing accelerating in the MetaVerse or is it just me?
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:47 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Curious Artificer: "what does 6230 get me?

A blowjob, same as in town.

Wait, I think I did that wrong"

yeah, it's 311.5 blowjobs, obviously
posted by idiopath at 2:48 PM on June 9, 2011

Given the exchange rate, were only giving out favors in the form of quarter-hand jobs.

Save wisely.
posted by The Whelk at 2:54 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

You have 2000 favorites, but I have 963 favorites... and a bowl-full of freshly cut pineapple, and a bag of shrimp chips, and some tea steeping.

BEAT THAT.

You win.

I google imaged shrimp chips. They look tasty. Have you tried the Pringles ones?
posted by longsleeves at 2:55 PM on June 9, 2011

2bucksplus: I felt really bad about my win/loss kill/death favorites/favorited ratio, then I saw ThePinkSuperhero's.

But she's a superhero! Everyone loves a superhero (well, except villains, supervillains, and their underlings, though I think some underlings are actually rooting for the good guy, given the way some villains treat their lackies).
posted by filthy light thief at 3:02 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

You must have a FavoritesReceived/TotalContributionsMade of over 2 to ride this ride.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:07 PM on June 9, 2011

I wish to cash in my favorites for a large doughnut like the one cortex had that one time.
posted by everichon at 3:13 PM on June 9, 2011

Since when to they give away a luggage set at the Skee-ball concession?

And don't try to tell me this MetaFilter thing isn't one big giant Skee-ball game. 'Cause it just IS.
posted by not_on_display at 3:15 PM on June 9, 2011

Some of us are standing on the ramp, shoving balls into the 100 point hole.
posted by The Whelk at 3:23 PM on June 9, 2011

oneswellfoop, we're all just getting better at favorite whoring. Sarah Palin is dumb. Doctor Who tattoos tumbler.
posted by stavrogin at 3:26 PM on June 9, 2011

oh. oops, SPOILERS IN DOCTOR WHO LINK! SPOILERS IN DOCTOR WHO LINK!
posted by stavrogin at 3:28 PM on June 9, 2011

DANGER! DANGER!
posted by The Whelk at 3:29 PM on June 9, 2011

I've got over 6,000, and that's almost entirely without any Ask participation. Which makes it much harder.

It's like playing MeFi on Hard Mode.
posted by Eideteker at 3:34 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

It took you 6 friggin' years to get them... what, were you sleeping or just posting crap???
posted by tomswift at 3:37 PM on June 9, 2011

3027
kinda strange what gets favorited and what doesn't. Best way to bump up your count is say something everyone will agree with in a controversial thread
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 3:43 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

And do it near the top of the thread.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 3:44 PM on June 9, 2011

Can somebody favorite this comment three times? Three is all I'm asking for.

Rory, just assume that if I haven't Favorited one of your comments it's because I haven't read it yet.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 3:47 PM on June 9, 2011

Who dies with the most favorites, wins.
posted by Trurl at 3:52 PM on June 9, 2011

Someone the other day was asking about MeFites having an actual physical fight? Keep an eye out for that in couple months when I finally catch up to ThePinkSuperhero in favorites.
posted by hermitosis at 3:53 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

4 hours and holding at 2001.
The Whelk gets that in week.
posted by clavdivs at 3:55 PM on June 9, 2011

Herm, you and TPS are like three feet apart in size. If it's not a ninja umbrella night I want no part in it.
posted by The Whelk at 3:56 PM on June 9, 2011

It becomes more and more clear every week that favorites have not had a positive impact on Metafilter.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 4:00 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I just invent favorite counting metrics until I find one where I am number one. For instance, I bet I have the most favorited contributions of any member who posts under their whole real name.

I'M NUMBER ONE!
posted by ChrisHartley at 4:07 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I have 481. 481! I can't believe it! I thought this day would never come! I'd like to thank my Mum and Dad and my children for keeping me humble. And you. Yes, you know who you are.
posted by h00py at 4:09 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

18,347

This is better than a family. No one around here asks me for my damn bone marrow.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:10 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

oneswellfoop, we're all just getting better at favorite whoring. Sarah Palin is dumb. Doctor Who tattoos tumbler.

Oh yeah? Well...bicycles, Linux, Toronto, Morse code, knitting, Dennis Kucinich, bacon.

Unicorns? CBT, Stephen Hawking, cat pictures.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:10 PM on June 9, 2011

Make that 18,348, bizzatches.

Ferris Bueller and Tyler Durden have been very good to me.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:11 PM on June 9, 2011

It's not how many favorites you have it's how you use them.
posted by The Whelk at 4:14 PM on June 9, 2011

I'm so humble I don't even know how many favorites I have. I once got a medal for being the most humble member of Metafilter, but the mods took it from me when I tried to put it on.
posted by marxchivist at 4:15 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

"It becomes more and more clear every week that favorites have not had a positive impact on Metafilter."

In my quest to destroy Metafilter, I favorited that.
posted by tomswift at 4:20 PM on June 9, 2011 [5 favorites]

I'm so humble I don't even know how many favorites I have. I once got a medal for being the most humble member of Metafilter, but the mods took it from me when I tried to put it on.

Nice try, but I'm not going to give you a favorite for that.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 4:22 PM on June 9, 2011

MetaFilter: One big giant Skee-ball game.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:23 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Well Mister Fabulous, I guess I'd have to know how many favorites I have to see if you carried through with your threat.

But I would like to know who it was who unfavorited me sometime between 1PM and 1:12PM last Tuesday.

Shit....
posted by marxchivist at 4:25 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I just can't believe that after ten years on the site my most-favourited comment is a Human Centipede gag.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 4:30 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm just happy my most favorites comment isn't an obtuse recipe for roast duck anymore.
posted by The Whelk at 4:32 PM on June 9, 2011

I've given out 3700 favorites since January.

I like that stat better than my favorites received. ;)
posted by zarq at 4:39 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

Yeah, I like to reset my profile after I hit 9000 favourites, otherwise it's just not fair on anybody else. Sure there are people out there with more than 9000, but the difference is that they write better and have more intelligent and/or funny things to say, which is basically hacking.
posted by tumid dahlia at 4:40 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I have over 11000 favorites. I'll have someone's first born.
posted by jonmc at 4:44 PM on June 9, 2011

When someone gives me a favorite, they have 24 hours to redeem it for sexual intercourse.
posted by perhapses at 4:51 PM on June 9, 2011

I say we cap favourites at 2000. Anything more and your profile just says Thousands.

That's a fantastic idea. Only thing I'd change is making the threshold something more like 200.

Well, no... The thing I would change is eliminating favourites all together, but that isn't happening.
posted by Chuckles at 4:53 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

jonmc: I'll have someone's first born.

That's a pretty nice offer, but you'd have to give up drinking if you intend to get pregnant.
posted by gman at 4:54 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I bet you don't want to eliminate that favourite, Chuckles!
posted by tumid dahlia at 4:57 PM on June 9, 2011

I say we cap favourites at 2000. Anything more and your profile just says Thousands.

If somebody writes a Greasemonkey script to do this, I will favorite the hell out of it.
posted by box at 4:59 PM on June 9, 2011

Sorry, longsleeves, but Flooz went out of business.
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:02 PM on June 9, 2011

That's a pretty nice offer, but you'd have to give up drinking if you intend to get pregnant.

Nonsense, we'll build the brat's tolerance up prenatally.
posted by jonmc at 5:09 PM on June 9, 2011

Make that 18,348, bizzatches.

Yeah, but that's from fluffing. Sorry, don't mean to knock your hobby.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:11 PM on June 9, 2011

2000, sheesh..'taint nothin', child.

I've got 5642, and I'm an old white guy.
posted by HuronBob at 5:11 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

So am I.
posted by jonmc at 5:21 PM on June 9, 2011

Well I'm not.
posted by Think_Long at 6:20 PM on June 9, 2011

I'm getting there.
posted by stavrogin at 6:38 PM on June 9, 2011

I love that a site that mostly hates Facebook has Like buttons on every comment and thread.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:38 PM on June 9, 2011

I don't think that's what people hate about facebook.
posted by stavrogin at 6:41 PM on June 9, 2011

Lovecraft In Brooklyn: I love that a site that mostly hates Facebook has Like buttons on every comment and thread.

Other similarities include the ability to log in and out, a private messaging system, and the option to list one's marital status in their profile.
posted by gman at 6:49 PM on June 9, 2011

I don't think this is a site that mostly hates Facebook.
posted by box at 6:54 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

idiopath writes "yeah, it's 311.5 blowjobs, obviously"

Is that no happy ending or some freaky downtown technique?
posted by Mitheral at 6:56 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I couldn't resist.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 6:58 PM on June 9, 2011 [4 favorites]

Did someone say Facebook? That website is the pure distilled evil of Hitler's pineal gland and injected into a genetically engineered shark-bull wearing lederhosen tanned from the hides of a million starving children on fire!

GOOGLE MARSHALL MCLUHAN!
posted by loquacious at 7:00 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

I don't do this for the favorites.

I do it for the free drugs.

I'm starting to get impatient.
posted by jonmc at 7:00 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Hi loquacious. How you doing buddy?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:01 PM on June 9, 2011

I don't think this is a site that mostly hates Facebook.

I'm trying as hard as I can to convert people, but saving souls is a tough gig and I'm only one person.

Also, I was was rather pleased when I finally crossed the 2 ratio, Fv Rec./Contrib. Made.

Shamefully pleased.
posted by Diablevert at 8:08 PM on June 9, 2011

My favorite favorite is the one I got from you. It meant a lot to me. Thanks.
posted by maryr at 8:39 PM on June 9, 2011 [4 favorites]

I thought I left these sorts of fucking popularity contests back at high school, dammit.

Ohohoho, a bold attempt to garner anti-favorite favorites! Cunningly played, sirrah!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:01 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

OH YEAH I GOT A FAVORITE
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:22 PM on June 9, 2011

So, uh, it's my birthday... Any birthday favorites?

^{This is the thread for shameless favorite begging, right?}
posted by Ghidorah at 9:23 PM on June 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

Yes, you do win a prize for worst received/given ratio.

Um.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:25 PM on June 9, 2011

Sometimes I think that the dumber a comment I make, the more favorites it gets. If I try to get all serious and philosophical I get nothin'. But a lame and obvious They Live reference gets me 19 favorites.
posted by octothorpe at 9:27 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

That's my favorite rule: He who has the favorites makes the rules.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:31 PM on June 9, 2011

It took you 6 friggin' years to get them... what, were you sleeping or just posting crap???

Many simply do not understand.
posted by longsleeves at 9:36 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

How much I sleep and waste time.
posted by longsleeves at 10:00 PM on June 9, 2011

and, with that favorite... the pattern is complete...

congrats, longsleeves... 2,000 is a good number! :)
posted by tomswift at 10:08 PM on June 9, 2011

Um.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe

Sorry, ROU_Xenophobe, your ratio is NAN, so you are disqualified.
posted by StickyCarpet at 10:10 PM on June 9, 2011

Sometimes I think that the dumber a comment I make, the more favorites it gets. If I try to get all serious and philosophical I get nothin'. But a lame and obvious They Live reference gets me 19 favorites.

The Tracey Morgan homophobia thread is good for that. Just drop in a 30 Rock reference everyone loves.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 10:12 PM on June 9, 2011

135 comments and nobody has thrown in an "OVER 9000" reference yet?

not cortex? not Blazecock? not jonmc? not The Whelker or loc or Brandon or TPS or zarq or BOP or even CPB? not Freaking Astro Zombie??
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:25 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

marxchivist: "I'm so humble I don't even know how many favorites I have. I once got a medal for being the most humble member of Metafilter, but the mods took it from me when I tried to put it on."

Think you're really righteous, think you're pure in heart? Well, I know I'm a million times as humble as thou art.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:40 PM on June 9, 2011

A while back I got all excited that I had 666 favorites. Then I felt really stupid for a number of reasons.
posted by brundlefly at 11:44 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I make notes of palindromes in my favorited by others count. I'm 4 shy of 5885 right now.
posted by idiopath at 12:16 AM on June 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

A while back I got all excited that I had 666 favorites. Then I felt really stupid for a number of reasons.

I get excited about every milestone. When I got to 888 comments on the blue recently I wanted to stop posting for a while and just bask in it.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 12:54 AM on June 10, 2011

135 comments and nobody has thrown in an "OVER 9000" reference yet?

What's the reference?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:12 AM on June 10, 2011

I guess I will step into the breach, over 9000.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:22 AM on June 10, 2011

Ok, what's the good and meaningful reference?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:31 AM on June 10, 2011

That is the reference, it is a reference to Dragonball Z.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:58 AM on June 10, 2011

On certain sites, it just means a hell of a lot.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:01 AM on June 10, 2011

grats
posted by cj_ at 3:01 AM on June 10, 2011

Best way to bump up your count is say something everyone will agree with in a controversial thread

Actually, the best way is to say something that exactly half the people will agree with in a controversial thread.

Also, I am creeping up on 30,000 favorites.
posted by empath at 4:34 AM on June 10, 2011

Also, I am creeping up on 30,000 favorites.

HR wants to talk to you.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:55 AM on June 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

empath: "Actually, the best way is to say something that exactly half the people will agree with in a controversial thread."

Rats, I was hoping that being a smart-ass would get me by.

Now I'm gonna have to become all obsequious and shit.
posted by bwg at 4:55 AM on June 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

empath: "Actually, the best way is to say something that exactly half the people will agree with in a controversial thread."

I propose to put that to a test, starting here.


...

Favorites are stupid.

Favorites are not stupid.
posted by rudster at 5:05 AM on June 10, 2011 [3 favorites]

Rats, I was hoping that being a smart-ass would get me by.

It's worked for me.
posted by jonmc at 5:07 AM on June 10, 2011

This discussion has turned out to be just the nudge I needed to switch my profile preference from 'Show Favorite Counts' to 'Hide Favorites'.' Time will tell whether I stick with it.
posted by box at 6:22 AM on June 10, 2011

I try not to get too worked up by favorites, but I admit to getting a ridiculous thrill when I get a palindrome number. I once managed it, without trying, with both given and received. I did no work for the rest of the afternoon; I just stared at my profile page and glowed. Then I remembered to refresh the page, and was reminded that all things are transient. A harsh lesson but a good one.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:24 AM on June 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Some of us are standing on the ramp, shoving balls into the 100 point hole.

What I love about MeTa is the occasional glimpses into The Whelk's personal life.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:25 AM on June 10, 2011 [3 favorites]

"It took you 6 friggin' years to get them... what, were you sleeping or just posting crap???"

_CHOOSE YOUR OWN RESPONSE_

A) We've had favorites for 6 years?
B) Yes, and yes.
C) I mainly post near the end of threads. Most people haven't even seen my brilliance. If everyone went back and read every comment I've made since joining the site, I'd have soooo many favorites.
D) Meh. I like that most of my comments get 1 or 2 favorites. It's like sharing a private joke with one or two users. Those are the people who get it. They're my people.

Choose wisely. And then, once you've chosen, turn to page 53.


(p. 53)
You have died.
posted by Eideteker at 6:28 AM on June 10, 2011 [4 favorites]

I bet you don't want to eliminate that favourite, Chuckles!

Which favourite?
posted by Chuckles at 6:42 AM on June 10, 2011

Eideteker: "D) Meh. I like that most of my comments get 1 or 2 favorites. It's like sharing a private joke with one or two users. Those are the people who get it. They're my people."

Joel Hodgson: “When we write a joke, we never ask, ‘Who’s gonna get this?’ We always say, ‘The right people will get this’.”
posted by Chrysostom at 7:20 AM on June 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

Meh. I like that most of my comments get 1 or 2 favorites. It's like sharing a private joke with one or two users. Those are the people who get it. They're my people."

I"m pretty sure that if you graphed your comments out, you'd see the normal power law distribution. You've got a few comments with 100+ favorites and a shitload with 1 or 2.

I really like the 'genius rating' as a metric -- Sort your comments by most favorited and count down until the number of favorites of a comment is lower than it's position on the list. Mine's 49 (I have 49 comments with 49 or more favorites) -- Astro Zombie's is 68.
posted by empath at 7:50 AM on June 10, 2011

If the right way to get favorites is to loudly make a statement that about 50% of logged in users will agree with in a controversial thread (and when I look at the comments I have made which get shitloads of favorites that absolutely holds to be true), then the favorites system is bad for MetaFilter.

I absolutely get that favorites end up acting as a virtual approval pellet, and each one feels like an affirmation that you are not alone and people respect your insight. But the behaviors that get favorites the most efficiently make MetaFilter a worse place. I don't come here for talking points, I don't come here to be pandered to.
posted by idiopath at 10:28 AM on June 10, 2011

If the right way to get favorites is to loudly make a statement that about 50% of logged in users will agree with in a controversial thread

The comments I have that have the most favorites aren't that way (you have to go 3 pages down the list of my most favorited contributions before you get into anything political), but you can pretty reliably get some favorites that way, depending on the thread.
posted by empath at 11:22 AM on June 10, 2011

I don't come here to be pandered to

Too bad because I'm mostly here to pander to everyone.
posted by GuyZero at 11:24 AM on June 10, 2011

I have a pandering panda who brings me things.

Oh here he is again! A Liberty's tie? for me? You shouldn't have.

Just less drool next time, k?
posted by The Whelk at 11:26 AM on June 10, 2011

empath: I really like the 'genius rating' as a metric

That's not what I undertsand a genius rating to be but if you like that, great.
posted by longsleeves at 11:53 AM on June 10, 2011

Pander bear.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:01 PM on June 10, 2011

That's not what I undertsand a genius rating to be but if you like that, great.

I don't remember who posted it here first, but it was adapted from something to do with cites in scientific papers.
posted by empath at 12:04 PM on June 10, 2011

Metafilter users are brilliant and beautiful, and I agree with each of you.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 12:05 PM on June 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

This thread is strong evidence that favorites are a blight infesting Metafilter. Favorite me if you agree!!!!!11!111!!!11!!
posted by Justinian at 12:12 PM on June 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

I don't remember who posted it here first, but it was adapted from something to do with cites in scientific papers.

I'm pretty sure the first person to mention the "genius index" thing was Rhaomi, a couple years ago in this comment from an Infodump thread. References a Wired article.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:14 PM on June 10, 2011

Pander bear?
………………….._,,-~’’’¯¯¯’’~-,,
………………..,-‘’ ; ; ;_,,---,,_ ; ;’’-,…………………………….._,,,---,,_
……………….,’ ; ; ;,-‘ , , , , , ‘-, ; ;’-,,,,---~~’’’’’’~--,,,_…..,,-~’’ ; ; ; ;__;’-,
……………….| ; ; ;,’ , , , _,,-~’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ¯’’~’-,,_ ,,-~’’ , , ‘, ;’,
……………….’, ; ; ‘-, ,-~’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’’-, , , , , ,’ ; |
…………………’, ; ;,’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’-, , ,-‘ ;,-‘
………………….,’-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’’-‘ ;,,-‘
………………..,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;__ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘-,’
………………,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘’¯: : ’’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; _ ; ; ; ; ;’,
……………..,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;| : : : : : :| ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-‘’¯: ¯’’-, ; ; ;’,
…………….,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘-,_: : _,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; | : : : : : :| ; ; ; |
……………,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ¯¯ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’-,,_ : :,-‘ ; ; ; ;|
…………..,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,,-~’’ , , , , ,,,-~~-, , , , _ ; ; ;¯¯ ; ; ; ; ;|
..…………,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,’ , , , , , , ,( : : : : :) , , , ,’’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;|
……….,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’, , , , , , , , ,’~---~’’ , , , , , ,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’,
…….,-‘’ ; _, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘’~-,,,,--~~’’’¯’’’~-,,_ , ,_,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘,
….,-‘’-~’’,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; | ; ; | . . . . . . ,’; ,’’¯ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,_ ; ‘-,
……….,’ ; ;,-, ; ;, ; ; ;, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘, ; ;’, . . . . .,’ ;,’ ; ; ; ;, ; ; ;,’-, ; ;,’ ‘’~--‘’’
………,’-~’ ,-‘-~’’ ‘, ,-‘ ‘, ,,- ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘, ; ; ‘~-,,,-‘’ ; ,’ ; ; ; ; ‘, ;,-‘’ ; ‘, ,-‘,
……….,-‘’ ; ; ; ; ; ‘’ ; ; ;’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘’-,,_ ; ; ; _,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ;’-‘’ ; ; ; ‘’ ; ;’-,
……..,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;¯¯’’¯ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’’-,
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:32 PM on June 10, 2011

If the right way to get favorites is to loudly make a statement that about 50% of logged in users will agree with in a controversial thread

Another right way to get favorites is to write good posts and comments, which get reposted or linked to years in the future. It's like earning interest income on that bank account that Granny set up for you when you were a wee one.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:44 PM on June 10, 2011

Another right way to get favorites is to write good posts and comments, which get reposted or linked to years in the future.

Blazecock Pileon has spoken.
posted by longsleeves at 2:05 PM on June 10, 2011

I really like giving favorites. Reaching out into the void and letting someone know that they've been heard and for some reason someone out there wants to remember what they've said. Every time I give a favorite, it makes me smile.
posted by stoneweaver at 2:06 PM on June 10, 2011 [5 favorites]

I am thinking of doing a post.
posted by Mister_A at 2:47 PM on June 10, 2011

Pander bear up there looks a bit too much like pedobear.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:52 PM on June 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

The best way to get favorites is by making a front page post that many people like. You'll get 10 times more favorites for a really great post than you'll get for almost any comment.
posted by crunchland at 3:02 PM on June 10, 2011

You can also get favorites for a non-sequitur image of a kittycat wearing a tie.
posted by idiopath at 3:06 PM on June 10, 2011

The best way to get favorites is by making a front page post that many people like. You'll get 10 times more favorites for a really great post than you'll get for almost any comment.

Actually I debate that. I've seen comments in the 500-1000 fave range. No one plans comments to get that sort of response, but it happens. I don't think I've seen posts with fave counts like that.

I mean, if I look at the "Popular" list right now, the top post has 162 faves, the top comment comment has 384.

Then again, of my top six most-faved-by-others things, it's a 3/3 split on posts/comments.
posted by GuyZero at 3:10 PM on June 10, 2011

I see your kittycat wearing a tie and raise you a dog and a fawn.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:15 PM on June 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Well, I did say "almost any comment." There are comments that garner a ton of favorites, but many comments get none at all. Virtually all front page posts get some favorites.

I guess it depends on what kind of a betting man you are. You could put your money down on the horse with average odds, or you can put it down on a longshot and hope for a big payday, though you probably won't get it.
posted by crunchland at 3:17 PM on June 10, 2011

I just spray my keyboard with oil of aberglow and let nature take care of the rest.
posted by The Whelk at 3:21 PM on June 10, 2011

You could put your money down on the horse with average odds, or you can put it down on a longshot and hope for a big payday, though you probably won't get it.

I think of myself as the Barry Bonds of Metafilter.

Well, ok, without any actual home runs, but still.
posted by GuyZero at 3:26 PM on June 10, 2011

You're a drugged up liar?
posted by gman at 3:29 PM on June 10, 2011 [4 favorites]

GuyZero: "I think of myself as the Barry Bonds of Metafilter."

THANKS FOR BLOWING THE 1992 NLCS, YOU PIECE OF SHIT.

Ain't NEVER forgiving that.
posted by Chrysostom at 3:35 PM on June 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

I think of myself as the Barry Bonds of Metafilter.

I'm more the Pete Rose, making the absolute most of a minimal amount of talent.
posted by jonmc at 4:42 PM on June 10, 2011

You wouldn't believe what kind of performance enhancing drugs I take to comment on Metafilter.
posted by GuyZero at 5:20 PM on June 10, 2011

marxchivist: "I'm so humble I don't even know how many favorites I have. I once got a medal for being the most humble member of Metafilter, but the mods took it from me when I tried to put it on."

Chrysostom: Think you're really righteous, think you're pure in heart? Well, I know I'm a million times as humble as thou art.

I'm much more humble than botha y'all.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 8:36 PM on June 10, 2011

Have you ever noticed that a comment you made will get no favorites for hours, then someone will favorite and all of a sudden it'll get 10 more favorites? It's like nobody wants to be the first person to favorite something, or people are more likely to favorite a comment other people have favorited.

I bet you could kick start a favorite fest by favoriting your own comment, then unfavorite it as soon as you got an actual favorite, if you were so inclined.
posted by nathancaswell at 11:12 AM on June 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

then someone will favorite and all of a sudden it'll get 10 more favorites? --- "Sheeple."
posted by crunchland at 1:15 PM on June 11, 2011

As I always say, you need to keep the sheep in line with the hive-mind, because a sheep swimming free of the school will roost rotten eggs.
posted by idiopath at 1:44 PM on June 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

nd that's bad for the flock.
posted by idiopath at 1:49 PM on June 11, 2011

I am not a 19th century slave!
Free tehloki!
posted by tehloki at 2:16 PM on June 11, 2011

"Have you ever noticed that a comment you made will get no favorites for hours, then someone will favorite and all of a sudden it'll get 10 more favorites? It's like nobody wants to be the first person to favorite something, or people are more likely to favorite a comment other people have favorited."

I wonder if that is a result of people scanning older threads with their favorites option on "Has Favorites," which will indicate whether a post is has been favorited, even if just once. Maybe that makes them read the post and they find it favoriteworthy themselves and a cascade of favorites ensues. Just a guess.
posted by longsleeves at 3:36 PM on June 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

Usually it's because someone linked the thread or comment in another thread.
posted by empath at 3:50 PM on June 11, 2011

The relevant ratio is "received/posted" not "received/given".

A relevant ratio would be "giver-received/giver-given." The average of giver ratios a poster receives for each favorite can then be multiplied by their total to establish a relative value, ignoring their number of posts entirely. The reasons for eliminating everything but the currency itself is important for relevance. Briefly, if favorites were somehow the same value, like a dollar, then poster A who posted a thousand times and got 11 favorites, still has more than poster B who posted a hundred times and got 10 favorites. But all favorites are not the same value to the giver. Favorites received can be weighted by the rate at which the favorite givers like to give favorites in relation to how many they get. In that case, a favorite given casually is far less relevant than one given by someone who rarely gives them and who also receives them. In other words, what may have appeared to be a 10 to 1 favorites ratio to poster B, may in fact be 100 to 1, the same as A, when adjusted for giver value. The conservation of value is demonstrated by the fact that sock puppets cannot increase their ratios by trading favorites with another account.
posted by Brian B. at 3:54 PM on June 11, 2011

Favorites are like Facebook friends. They don't really mean anything, but having a lot makes you feel better about yourself. You feel sad for people without many favorites. Some people favorite everyone they have ever met and some prefer to only favorite the ones they really like and agree with.
posted by maryr at 6:17 PM on June 11, 2011

And when your Dad start getting favorites, it's all gone to hell.
posted by maryr at 6:18 PM on June 11, 2011

Free* tehloki!

* with purchase of one tehloki at regular price
posted by Curious Artificer at 8:14 PM on June 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm at 6454, which I think makes me upper-middle class.

It does if you've posted 500 comments. If you've posted 24,000 comments, it makes you one of the homeless.

I say we cap favourites at 2000. Anything more and your profile just says Thousands Arselicker.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:21 AM on June 12, 2011

Well, let's see here, empath, it's not working out too well for me so far so I ...

... will agree with in a controversial thread...

aw crap
posted by rudster at 3:55 PM on June 14, 2011

I'm oddly pleased that very few of my favorites have come in MeTa. I think I'd feel like a better contributor if more came in AskMe.
posted by Nabubrush at 3:54 AM on July 5, 2011

Favorites in AskMe are satisfying, Nababrush. So are Favorites in the blue. For some of us, so are even-numbered comments.
posted by longsleeves at 11:52 PM on July 5, 2011