Favorites-related comment was not favorited July 18, 2011 12:11 PM   Subscribe

There was a comment in MeTa a little while back about what the amount of favorites on a post/comment signifies. "0-7: no one actually noticed your comment." Maybe a month back? Anyone see this?
posted by Chrysostom to MetaFilter-Related at 12:11 PM (90 comments total)

I have not seen this. Are you sure it was here?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:12 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Pretty sure. It was just a jokey aside in a thread that didn't even start out about favorites, if I recall correctly.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:17 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


This?
posted by John Cohen at 12:21 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


John Cohen: "This?"

Hmm, no. It was snarkier, and not more than three months old, I think.

Sorry this is seemingly tricky.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:29 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Either way, it's a false metric. I write tons of comments that get between 0 and 7 favorites, and I know that each an every one of them was deeply loved by hundreds, if not thousands of people who had just happened to run out of favorites for the day and unfortunately didn't have any left for my comment.

That's the only possible explanation.
posted by quin at 12:35 PM on July 18, 2011 [36 favorites]


I'd assert, on the other hand that a comment with 0-7 favorites means that "At least 0-7 people actually noticed your comment."
posted by chimaera at 12:43 PM on July 18, 2011 [13 favorites]


I thought the favorites count was just people telling me they want to be my favorite.
posted by katillathehun at 12:44 PM on July 18, 2011 [6 favorites]


I never realized that 0-7 was equivalent to "no one." Fascinating.
posted by blucevalo at 12:50 PM on July 18, 2011 [4 favorites]


No-one thinks this comment is remotely enlightening and yet it's got more than 7 favorites.
posted by MuffinMan at 12:52 PM on July 18, 2011 [14 favorites]


If only Microsoft had gone with "bookmarks" instead of "favorites," the same prescident would have been set here and the toxic Favorite Culture would never have arisen.

Oh, who the fuck am I kidding? Everyone is just going to "WARK! WARK!" until they get their fish, no matter what we name them.
posted by absalom at 12:54 PM on July 18, 2011 [12 favorites]


It was SOMETHING like that. I can't remember the exact wording, else I'd be able to find it!
posted by Chrysostom at 12:54 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


I never realized that 0-7 was equivalent to "no one." Fascinating.

Not anyone who counts, dahling. (Sips martini with gloved hand, puffs on three-foot-long cigarette holder.)
posted by griphus at 12:55 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


Is this the the appropriate venue to brag about hitting the 5000-favorite mark in fewer than 365 of your Earth days? Ha ha ha ha!
posted by theodolite at 12:56 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


I think this is the comment; it's not quite as pessimistic as Chrysostom described, though.
posted by Rhaomi at 12:56 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Everyone is just going to "WARK! WARK!" until they get their fish

Wait... is that a thing? Because it sounds way easier that what I've been doing:


WARK! WARK!

WARK!

WARK! Motherfucker! WARK!!
posted by quin at 12:57 PM on July 18, 2011 [17 favorites]


Is 'wark! wark!' the sound a seal makes?
posted by box at 12:59 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


(From Rhaomi's linked comment):

[+ 51 favorites or more]: Oh happy day! You have ... posted here for the first time as an already-famous person

And, of course, the exception who broke that rule made Internet History.
posted by griphus at 12:59 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Rhaomi: "I think this is the comment; it's not quite as pessimistic as Chrysostom described, though."

That's it! Thank you, Rhaomi!
posted by Chrysostom at 1:00 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


And, of course, the exception who broke that rule made Internet History.


This is referring to . . . ?
posted by Think_Long at 1:03 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

                                       ___
                                     //   \\
                                    ||=====||
                                     \\___//
                                      ./O
                                  ___/ //|\\
 WARK!                           / o    /}
     WARK!                     (       /
          WARK!                \      /
                                |     (
                                |      \
                                )       \
                               /         \
                             /            )
                           /              |
                         //             / /
                       /       ___(    ,| \
                     /       /    \     |  \
                    (      /  /   /\     \  \
                    \\   /___ _-_//'|     |  |
                     \\_______-/     \     \  \
                                      \-_-_-_-_-
posted by dunkadunc at 1:05 PM on July 18, 2011 [25 favorites]


Wark.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:05 PM on July 18, 2011 [5 favorites]


I never realized that 0-7 was equivalent to "no one." Fascinating.

This is why I always say "none" in response to the question "How many one-night stands did you have last week?"
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:07 PM on July 18, 2011 [8 favorites]


I want fish.


Wait! I mean: WARK! WARK!
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 1:08 PM on July 18, 2011 [5 favorites]


Fish is vile, can I have a taco for my warkings?
posted by elizardbits at 1:10 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Wark, please. (C'mon, I'm at 1199, it's driving me crazy.)
posted by The otter lady at 1:12 PM on July 18, 2011 [4 favorites]


This is why I always say "none" in response to the question "How many one-night stands did you have last week?"

It comes up a shocking amount.

Also, glad to help out, otter lady.
posted by Navelgazer at 1:15 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Fish is vile, can I have a taco for my warkings?

Sure, but we're out of everything except for fish tacos.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 1:16 PM on July 18, 2011 [5 favorites]


For a brief moment here I was afraid this post was about Astro Zombie's favorite to favorited ratio.
posted by charred husk at 1:22 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Is this the the appropriate venue to brag about hitting the 5000-favorite mark in fewer than 365 of your Earth days? Ha ha ha ha!

Yes, and you can stop and tell random people on the street, too. And work it into conversations at MENSA meetings. You can spraypaint it on buildings as well.
posted by longsleeves at 1:25 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


I wish eyeballkid was here. He'd know just the right thing to say in this thread.
posted by crunchland at 1:27 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


I hope that everybody remembers this thread when I show up on the mefi front page shouting "WARK WARK WARK."
posted by Stagger Lee at 1:32 PM on July 18, 2011 [8 favorites]


quin: "WARK! WARK!"

The Penguin has ruined for me songs sung by Americans with Certain Accents that repeat the words walk or work a lot. There's a beautiful Kristin Hirsch song that just makes me laugh when it gets to the Penguin bit now.

true fact: I originally typed "beautifin" without meaning to. I think I may be broken.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 2:21 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


I was going to favorite quin's comment, but I am out for the day.
posted by cjorgensen at 2:23 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


quin: "Either way, it's a false metric. I write tons of comments that get between 0 and 7 favorites, and I know that each an every one of them was deeply loved by hundreds, if not thousands of people who had just happened to run out of favorites for the day and unfortunately didn't have any left for my comment.

That's the only possible explanation.
"

That's it! Thanks for the explanation, quin. I knew there had to be a reason that so many of my oh-so-awesome comments are ignored.

*sells stock in Kimberly-Clark*
posted by deborah at 2:37 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


"I only wish I had such eyes," the King remarked in a fretful tone. "To be able to see 0 to 7 nobodies! And at that distance too! Why, it's as much as I can do to see real people, by this light!"
posted by Babblesort at 2:39 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


arck-arck

(seal with a cold)
posted by clavdivs at 2:42 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


Ho Ho Ho! Wark!

(Christmas seal)
posted by Splunge at 2:43 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


Wahk. Wahk.

(Boston Seal)
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:45 PM on July 18, 2011 [11 favorites]


More seals, please!!!
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:58 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Drip. Drip. Drip.

(Leaky seal)
posted by carsonb at 2:59 PM on July 18, 2011 [9 favorites]


Going once. Going twice. Sold!

(Deal seal)
posted by carsonb at 3:00 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


If you don't want your favorites, give them to me. I have loads but I'll take more, any time.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:02 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


...holy fuck, that's a lot of favourites.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 3:05 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


*pop* (fresh food seal)

*pop-pop-pop-pop-pop* (Navy SEAL)
posted by Rhaomi at 3:16 PM on July 18, 2011 [4 favorites]


WORK! WORK! (drag queen seal)
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 3:21 PM on July 18, 2011 [4 favorites]


Sure, but we're out of everything except for fish tacos.

you monster
posted by elizardbits at 3:40 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


Baa da daa bah da baa daa dah daa
baa dah daa

(Kiss From a Rose - Seal)
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 3:43 PM on July 18, 2011 [12 favorites]


Fish is vile

No it's not, you should try my Fishy Honky Pie.
posted by Hoopo at 3:45 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


"Look what they've done, Michael. Look what the homosexuals have done to me." (Lucille Bluth)

*chomp* (loose seal)
posted by villanelles at dawn at 4:06 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


This is why I always say "none" in response to the question "How many one-night stands did you have last week?"

If you fly west enough times during the week it is actually possible to have eight one-night stands.
posted by madcaptenor at 4:30 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


I always assume "favorites" equals "bookmarking for later reference."
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:32 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


true fact: I originally typed "beautifin" without meaning to. I think I may be broken.

"Beautifin" is just beautiful in relation to fish. That's all. You're not broken, you're just housebroken.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:34 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


I always assume "favorites" equals "bookmarking for later reference." --- Naw. If that were true, they'd be called "bookmarks," and they'd be visible only to you.
posted by crunchland at 4:35 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


BABOOM

(Space Shuttle seal)
posted by obiwanwasabi at 4:37 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


I think we're getting a little oversealous here.
posted by griphus at 4:41 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


"arf? arf?"

(misplaced zeal)
posted by villanelles at dawn at 4:48 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


*THUD*

(baby seal)
posted by Splunge at 4:50 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Kiss From a Rose

(famous seal)
posted by Splunge at 4:52 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


I just want to be side barred. With 0 to 7 comments
posted by infini at 4:54 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Respectfully re-submitted.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:21 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


Metafilter's but a texty shadow, a group weblog
That snarks and frets its decade on the stage,
And is heard evermore. It is a site
made by the Googlebot, full of bookmarks and favorites,
Signifying nothing
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:02 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


Hey Mods, serious question : can I please opt out of favorites?

What I'm asking for is this :

1) My favorite count is set to zero, permanently
2) I don't care if other people can still favorite my contributions, just as long as I don't see any of the totals and can't appear on any of the high score lists

I would prefer if nobody could favorite any of my contributions, but I realize that may be too much to ask.

I want out of the Skinner box. No more foodpellets.
posted by Afroblanco at 6:02 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


*photoshops 'Favorites Liberation Front' on old FMLN posters from the '80s, starts movement*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:05 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


There was a comment in MeTa a little while back about what the amount of favorites on a post/comment signifies. "0-7: no one actually noticed your comment." Maybe a month back? Anyone see this?

I am wondering what kind of fool would confuse quantity for quality when it comes to measuring somebody versus nobody special.
posted by Brian B. at 6:11 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Hey Mods, serious question : can I please opt out of favorites?

No. You can set them to not be visible in your preferences. You can quit looking at your own profile or set up a Greasemonkey script to hide them from yourself. You can stop reading MetaTalk, a completely optional part of ths site, or find another way to just not let this stuff bother you as much.

After the favorites experiment thing in 2009 we determined that we were drastically overestimating the numbers of people who were vehemently anti-favorites because the people who do feel this way are so vocal in MetaTalk. We read through an awful lot of feedback from the survey we did afterwards and while we sympathize for people who feel that the presence of favorites on this site diminishes their enjoyment of the place or just makes hte place suck more, it's been five years and we're asking you to make your peace with it or find your own technological solution, or move on. We're unlikely to make any additional changes to how favoriting works here. We are also, however, unlikely to build any more features on top of the favoriting feature if that's helpful.

I know this isn't the answer you were looking for, but it's honest and it's accurate. I feel that we've been pretty clear about why the feature exists and people have various responses to how favorites have changed the culture here, but it's a genie that's not going back in the bottle. I turned mine partway off using a one-some-most Greasemonkey script and I've found that it's made the site seem calmer to me, people are going to have to do whatever works for them and take responsibility for their own emotional responses to them.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:12 PM on July 18, 2011 [7 favorites]


No.

Okay, that's your call. I've had favorites turned off as long as that option has been available, but I always thought that having the favorite count remain on your profile was sort of an oversight.

You can stop reading MetaTalk, a completely optional part of ths site

I wasn't just talking about MetaTalk. I don't like them anywhere on the site.
posted by Afroblanco at 6:27 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


I think she's talking about favorites-centric discussions of the sort that might e.g. aggravate you into making unrealistic requests in random threads.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:34 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


having the favorite count remain on your profile was sort of an oversight. -- Any chance we could get the section of the profile page that displays them surrounded with a do-nothing span tag to facilitate hiding them with a user script?
posted by crunchland at 6:34 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I do not like them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like favorites.
I do not like them, jessamyn.
posted by carsonb at 6:35 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


aggravate you into making unrealistic requests in random threads.

Didn't seem that unrealistic to me. And I don't feel particularly aggravated.

But wow. Okay. Looking at the language in your and Jessamyn's comments, I clearly struck a nerve.

Jeez, forget I said anything. I wasn't trying to pick a fight.
posted by Afroblanco at 6:42 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


Any chance we could get the section of the profile page that displays them surrounded with a do-nothing span tag to facilitate hiding them with a user script?

Just do a regex on the word "Favorites".
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:44 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


(and I don't mean that to sound disingenuous. if I pissed y'all off, I really am sorry. it's something I've been thinking for a while but didn't feel like it warranted its own pony request thread)
posted by Afroblanco at 6:44 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


If you were as secure in your witlessness as I am, you would see accumulating favorites as draining the beast and robbing fools of a scarce resource.

I KID I KID PEOPLE PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR [how has this not been said?] SEAL OF APPROVAL IT FEEDS MY LIFE FORCE.

wark
posted by psoas at 6:51 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Not pissed off, for what it's worth, more just like, yes, this is an unrealistically specific request that is very much in "figure out some greasemonkey" territory and it feels like you're maybe over-responsive to the favorites stuff in Metatalk because they bug you. It's cool if they bug you, it's cool if you want to find some way to more thoroughly remove them from your personal Metafilter experience, but it's pretty much a DIY thing if it needs to go above and beyond the accommodation we already made back in late '09.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:06 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Fishy Honky Pie

See also Stargazy Pie. A funny-looking pie with a great story.

I understand they do something similar in Alaska, with salmon and rice in a pastry crust.
posted by ryanrs at 7:08 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


At least we can all agree that favorites are scorecarding, at least to a non-trivial degree.

I'm unlikely to make my peace with them, but I'm quite fine with the knowledge that my opinions don't outweigh others' and that the best I can do is be a squeak of dissent in the back row.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:11 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


amount of favorites

Number.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 7:23 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


I wasn't trying to pick a fight.

Oh please. Of course you were, and your disingenuous little "gosh I guess I struck a nerve, huh?" crack is a second attempt.
posted by dersins at 7:25 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


Okay, that's your call.

I think it's actually the call of a shitload of people on metafilter, if the Great Favorites Wars of 2009 or Whenever They Were are anything to go by.
posted by rtha at 7:31 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Afroblanco: I will remove my favorites from your comments for a price. I need papers to leave MetaFilter for a short time. As you know the authorities have restricted air travel. I have, a need to be elsewhere for a short time. And I know that you have the ability to allow me to... disappear.

I'll be at Rick's Cafe. You know my table. I'll have a cognac and a pack if your favorite Gitanes waiting.

Be there at nine. And be alone.
posted by Splunge at 7:41 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


At least we can all agree that favorites are scorecarding

I disagree.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:50 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


As a member that mostly lurks, rarely comments due to my job and fear of snark, I very much appreciate favorites. It lets me know that when I do comment, sometimes what I say actually resonates with other members or is helpful. I don't consider them a popularity contest, but a small note of "hey, yeah, I agree fyrebelley, right on!" Or, as a place marker for a good question/interesting thought. I have few comments, but I read metafilter multiple times nearly every day.

I'll proudly take my 0-7.
posted by fyrebelley at 7:59 PM on July 18, 2011 [5 favorites]


Imho, favorites are very much like bookmarks, well bookmarks you'll never check. I'll give an fpp favorites for almost anything I might actually want to read. I'll give a comment favorite for wit that amuses me.
posted by jeffburdges at 8:53 PM on July 18, 2011


Again! Favorites.
A contentious talking point.
Seal said Wark! Wark! Wark!
posted by edgeways at 9:32 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


SNARK! SNARK!


Metafilter seal.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:07 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


Zzzzzzzz...
posted by homunculus at 10:49 PM on July 18, 2011


"Ackackackack!" - Kitteh, desiring avian food sources

*crash*kathud*purr* - Kitteh desiring human-provided aquatic food sources found in cans labeled "tuna", running through pots, jumping onto the counter, and then pretending to be affectionately interested in said human – not the can, of course – in order to achieve tuna-centric goal
posted by fraula at 5:22 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


male seal (100% fish compensation)
------------
female seal (75% fish compensation)

= Wark discrimination and the glass fish sealing
posted by iamkimiam at 6:11 AM on July 19, 2011 [5 favorites]


As a member that mostly lurks, rarely comments due to my job and fear of snark

pssh, yeah, that's a really valid concern. Not!
posted by Think_Long at 6:16 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


You hit your favorite limit for the day.

Damn it.
posted by loquacious at 3:18 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


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