Why, cortex, why?? September 8, 2011 7:21 PM   Subscribe

I have no desire to contact the mods, or use the contact form, I just want to ask people a question, and have them answer it. But whenever I do so, my posts are deleted. Can I get my five dollars back?

I posted AskMetafilter 195587 and just as I predicted, it was immediately deleted. It really is an important meta-meta-question, but since it was deleted instantly no one can ever discuss it and no one will ever know. I was told to come here. Why should I be here? Can't you see that the problem is with the entire culture of MetaFilter?

Then why do I keep coming back, you ask, if my questions are so clearly unwanted? Or am I some kind of sadistic troll, trolling for abuse and even more deletion?

Why is the discussion over on reddit allowed to thrive and evolve, but here on metafilter it is immediately censored based on arcane unwritten rules that nobody knows?
posted by shipbreaker to MetaFilter-Related at 7:21 PM (128 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite

How is it possible you've been around since 2005?
posted by gman at 7:25 PM on September 8, 2011 [15 favorites]


Your question was about MetaFilter. So it belongs here. Why not ask it here?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:26 PM on September 8, 2011


shipbreaker, perhaps if you posted some of your previous questions for us, we could brainstorm why they have been deleted?

Your most recent question was deleted because questions about metafilter do not belong in ask metafilter. They belong in metatalk.

Next, please!
posted by phunniemee at 7:27 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


deletion != censorship
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:27 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


It is really too late for me to pop the popcorn, but I will...
posted by tomswift at 7:28 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


http://ask.metafilter.com/195587
Do you think if a question is easily Googlable, then it doesn't belong in AskMetafilter?

Many of you know exactly why I am asking this question, now. I am counting the seconds until cortex and/or jessamyn decide to delete my question-of-the-week. Why they do so, I never know.

Perhaps because there is an unspoken unwritten rule: If a question can be answered using a few Google searches, it counts as an "Answerable Question" and should not be in AskMetafilter.

Is that the rule?
posted by shipbreaker to technology (15 answers total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: Site questions don't go on AskMe. If you really need a public discussion of this stuff, the place to bring it up is Metatalk; otherwise, just drop us a line via the contact form. -- cortex
posted by theora55 at 7:28 PM on September 8, 2011


You have asked fifty questions since you joined, forty-four of which stood and six of which were deleted. The deleted questions were all chatfilter (FAQ) stuff or things that didn't really make any sense on AskMe at all, including the one you posted today, which should have been asked here because it's a question about the site itself, something that has been discussed many times in Metatalk and which is reiterated at the top of the Askme posting page itself:
If your question is about MetaFilter, MetaTalk, or Ask MetaFilter, please post it to MetaTalk, which is designed for questions about the site itself.
It's okay if you don't know how part of the site works, but in this case its stuff that is, in fact, clearly documented.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:29 PM on September 8, 2011 [20 favorites]


That's right. No one can ever discuss it. Ever. If only there were a sub-site specifically for discussing this sort of question, this question could be discussed. But now no one ever can.

Snark aside, which discussion do you want to have here?
If you want to have the discussion about easily googleable questions on AskMeFi, maybe you should have put that in your post. Otherwise I think people are going to have the "Why did you post a site question to Ask" discussion.

Or do you want to have the "why aren't we allowed to have discussions on metafilter" discussion? Because that seems--well--what's the opposite of begging the question?
posted by agentofselection at 7:30 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


cortex owes me a coke
posted by theora55 at 7:30 PM on September 8, 2011


- If you've been here a while, then you must know ChatFilter belongs here in MeTa, if anywhere.

- Why do you care if some folks ask us instead of Google? Sometimes personal experiences that come with links in AskMe answers are more useful than a straight up Google search.

- What other types of questions besides the most recent have been deleted from AskMe?
posted by jbenben at 7:31 PM on September 8, 2011



"Why is the discussion over on reddit allowed to thrive and evolve, but here on metafilter it is immediately censored based on arcane unwritten rules that nobody knows? "

Because this isn't Reddit and we do things differently? You've been here longer than Reddit has been around; it is surprising you are asking these questions. Also the rules here aren't arcane or even secret and most of the policy is well hashed in the FAQ, on the wiki and in past MetaTalks.
posted by Mitheral at 7:31 PM on September 8, 2011


arcane unwritten rules that nobody knows? --- CALVINBALL!
posted by crunchland at 7:32 PM on September 8, 2011 [14 favorites]


SILENCED ALL MY LIFE.

Silenced is a great word.
For the same low down payment, you can also get:

Licensed all my life!
Declines all my life!
Scene lid all my life!
Lice ends all my life!
Iced lens all my life!
Nice sled all my life!

And much, much more!
posted by phunniemee at 7:34 PM on September 8, 2011 [23 favorites]


TINCC (there is not Calvinball Cabal)
posted by crush-onastick at 7:34 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


Can I get my five dollars back?

Send me your MeMail address and I will send you five dollars. I think cortex answered your other questions.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:39 PM on September 8, 2011 [52 favorites]


Or am I some kind of sadistic troll, trolling for abuse and even more deletion?

There's a MeFi group on Fetlife.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:39 PM on September 8, 2011 [10 favorites]


what the what
posted by nathancaswell at 7:41 PM on September 8, 2011


NO ONE CAN EVER DISCUSS IT AND NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:42 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


shipbreaker: "It really is an important meta-meta-question, but since it was deleted instantly no one can ever discuss it and no one will ever know. I was told to come here. Why should I be here? "

If it's a question about MetaFilter itself, it belongs here. That's why it's called MetaTalk.

Also, when you go to post a question, the first thing on the page is a large highlighted bar that says:
If your question is about MetaFilter, MetaTalk, or Ask MetaFilter, please post it to MetaTalk, which is designed for questions about the site itself.
Hardly an "arcane unwritten rules that nobody knows." Just read the posting guidelines if you don't want your questions deleted.
posted by Rhaomi at 7:44 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


arcane unwritten rules that nobody knows

Dude, the rule you're referring to was staring you in the face directly above where you were typing your question.

If you think this was subtle, boy do I have some investment schemes to sell you.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 7:45 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


Can't you see that the problem is with the entire culture of MetaFilter?

Oh, honey.
posted by scody at 7:47 PM on September 8, 2011 [50 favorites]


Why, cortex, why??
posted by crunchland at 7:49 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


This will wendell.

I kid, I kid.
posted by deezil at 7:49 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


It's a sliding scale, so, based on the amount you've used the site.... (let me pull out the abacus).... you can still get (at a prorated scale.... account for inflation.... carry the one...)................. $.12 back.
posted by starman at 7:49 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


Rye, corte, rye!!!

With extra pickle.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:50 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


Also, I don't get the comparisons to Reddit. I use that site, too, and the mods of various subreddits delete threads all the time when they're posted inappropriately.
posted by Rhaomi at 7:51 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


That's OK, people. I've been used to having ALL MY POSTS DELETED.
posted by shipbreaker at 7:51 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


I have no desire to contact the mods, or use the contact form

Why not? The mods are pretty responsive, and will typically answer questions in clear English. They will often even help you to reform your questions into more appropriate formats so that they don't get deleted, or redirect the questions to the appropriate subsites, as they did in this case.

But yeah - this site isn't like Reddit.

Which reminds me - If a MetaFilter mod MeMails or e-mails me the brand and year, I will send them the price of their favorite scotch.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:51 PM on September 8, 2011 [17 favorites]


As far as I can tell from the deleted threads blog, you've only had one other question deleted in the past 12 months, which was Will it rain in Minneapolis?. Coming in like you're being constantly silenced is so much of an overstatement that I don't even know what to say.
posted by donnagirl at 7:52 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


I'll email five bucks to anyone in this thread that disables their account right now.
posted by gman at 7:53 PM on September 8, 2011 [7 favorites]


A Endemic Yell Fills, Anemic Filled Yells; Cinema Felled Silly, Malice Snidely Fell.
Iceman Felled Silly. Lace Infidel Smelly, Called Felines Limy.

Medical Elfin Yells, Called Lifelines, My;
Acidly Feline Smell,
Called Feline Slimy,
Called Senile Filmy,
Called Nee Flimsily-
Cleanly Elides Film,
Called Elfin Smiley
Called Finely-Miles
Cleanly Filed Limes
Called Finely Smile


(Sidenote; Evolution doesn't mean 'progressing from slime mould towards cognizant human-walker'... in fact, the vast majority of things that "Evolve" go extinct.)
posted by infinite intimation at 7:54 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


You do know that I have, like, 5000 accounts that I could disable RIGHT NOW!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:55 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


ALL MY POSTS DELETED.

This word you keep using, "all"... Can you say a little more about it?
posted by salvia at 7:55 PM on September 8, 2011


shipbreaker, cortex said 6 out of 50 have been deleted. 6/50 =/= ALL. Math, dude.
posted by deezil at 7:56 PM on September 8, 2011 [9 favorites]


That's OK, people. I've been used to having ALL MY POSTS DELETED.

Well, that's good. Just come to enjoy it, keep ignoring "arcane rules", and you'll be set!
posted by supercres at 7:56 PM on September 8, 2011


because fuck you is why
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 7:57 PM on September 8, 2011 [36 favorites]


You could do the "MetaFilter: ______" thing for pretty much any five contiguous words of this post and it would be awesome.
posted by brain_drain at 7:58 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


MetaFilter: because fuck you is why
posted by mmmbacon at 7:59 PM on September 8, 2011 [66 favorites]


Metafilter: Why should I be here?
posted by MaryDellamorte at 8:02 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


That's OK, people. I've been used to having ALL MY POSTS DELETED. --- I think we should close this one, too, so this little troll can stop getting the attention, and he can go get his jollies over at reddit.
posted by crunchland at 8:02 PM on September 8, 2011 [7 favorites]


MetaFilter: five contiguous words of this
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:02 PM on September 8, 2011 [16 favorites]


I was pretty peeved to see that the young rope rider made the SILENCED ALL MY LIFE joke already. YOU WEREN'T EVEN HERE THEN AND YOU HAVE MORE PRECIOUS FAVORITES THAN ME. DAMN YOUR EYES
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:02 PM on September 8, 2011 [17 favorites]


MetaFilter's cigar-smoking, endlessly patient (pun), similarly-colored grandfather, the good Dr. Sbaitso will see you now.
posted by obscurator at 8:04 PM on September 8, 2011


Fully one fifth of my FPPs have been deleted, can I have $1 back ?
posted by Ad hominem at 8:05 PM on September 8, 2011


Does the 'red box' show up on MetaTalk like it does on AskMeFi?
posted by Telpethoron at 8:05 PM on September 8, 2011


The first rule about Ask MeFi is don't ask about Ask MeFi.

The second rule about Ask MeFi is don't ask about Ask MeFi!
posted by mazola at 8:05 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


I was pretty peeved to see that the young rope rider made the SILENCED ALL MY LIFE joke already. YOU WEREN'T EVEN HERE THEN AND YOU HAVE MORE PRECIOUS FAVORITES THAN ME.

Dude you answered your own question.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:05 PM on September 8, 2011


MetaFilter: You could do the "MetaFilter: ______"
posted by pickinganameismuchharderthanihadanticipated at 8:06 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


the good Dr. Sbaitso will see you now.

Man, that really takes me back. I'd forgotten all about that thing. My friends and I got plenty amusement out of it back in the day.
posted by Maximian at 8:06 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


It's a really answered Metafilter question, that's for sure.

You've posted and had answers to 44 questions since 2005, so I think you've got your five bucks worth. In fact, since you've never participated in anyone else's threads, I think the balance of benefit to your $5 investment is solidly tipped in your favour.

Hint 1: Taking an interest in threads that are not all about you will give you a better sense of the site's culture.

Hint 2: THE CAPS, THEY ARE NOT SO MUCH USED. Your questions are not more important than anyone else's and there is no need to shout.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:07 PM on September 8, 2011 [24 favorites]


What's all this? I'm just looking for a good used car.
posted by The Deej at 8:07 PM on September 8, 2011 [8 favorites]


my question actually is more important than anyone else's because my question is OKAY GUYS WHO WANTS FREE TACOS AND BEER AND ALSO A PONYROCKET AND SOME ICE CREAMS

beeeeer
posted by elizardbits at 8:09 PM on September 8, 2011 [17 favorites]


Ponyrocket?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:09 PM on September 8, 2011


SILENCED ALL MY LIFE.
posted by the young rope-rider at 7:29 PM on September 8 [2 favorites +] [!]

That's OK, people. I've been used to having ALL MY POSTS DELETED.
posted by shipbreaker at 7:51 PM on September 8 [+] [!]

Hella prescient.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 8:09 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


BUT HE NEVER FOUND OUT IF IT WAS GOING TO RAIN !!!!1!
posted by secretseasons at 8:10 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


Wait let's not be too hasty here. Someone said tacos.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:11 PM on September 8, 2011 [7 favorites]


my question is OKAY GUYS WHO WANTS FREE TACOS AND BEER

I do? How does this work?
posted by villanelles at dawn at 8:11 PM on September 8, 2011


Please do not define ponyrocket for me. Please.
posted by blurker at 8:12 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


I made tacos tonight. They were amazing.
posted by deezil at 8:12 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


Please do not define ponyrocket for me. Please.

Don't need to. My ponyrocket is already well defined.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:13 PM on September 8, 2011 [30 favorites]


The ponyrocket, we wants explanations. Videos if you have them.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:13 PM on September 8, 2011


a ponyrocket is like rainbow dash with a jetpack OBVIOUSLY
posted by elizardbits at 8:14 PM on September 8, 2011 [5 favorites]


I'll have a pony taco, please. With extra cilantro.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 8:15 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


OH DON'T YOU START
posted by shakespeherian at 8:16 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


If the tacos make me sick, would it be ok if I changed my diaper on that table in the backroom off the restaurant?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:17 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


I've heard of fish tacos, but pony tacos are new to me. Wonder what they go well with?
posted by Telpethoron at 8:17 PM on September 8, 2011


With a dusting of grated narwhal.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 8:17 PM on September 8, 2011 [5 favorites]


I only posted 1 question. Some people said I was ugly, some people offered to have sex with me. Where is my sex, have I been friendzoned by AskMe ? I want at least $4 back.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:18 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


4 dollars? What the hell are you going to do with 3 dollars?
posted by nathancaswell at 8:19 PM on September 8, 2011 [5 favorites]


Put $2 towards a more attractive sock puppet.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:20 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


pony tacos are new to me. Wonder what they go well with?

¡Horsechata!
posted by carsonb at 8:22 PM on September 8, 2011 [45 favorites]


There's no such thing as an attractive sock puppet.
posted by Telpethoron at 8:22 PM on September 8, 2011


This may just make up for my disappointment in missing the Swans show tonight....
got plenty of beer in the fridge
posted by zoinks at 8:24 PM on September 8, 2011


I feel like people in this thread are not taking you seriously, so I will try to answer some of your questions here.

Then why do I keep coming back, you ask, if my questions are so clearly unwanted? Or am I some kind of sadistic troll, trolling for abuse and even more deletion?

I need some clarification though, did you mean "masochistic" troll?

Because if you meant to say masochistic, then the answer is yes, you are probably a masochistic troll.

If you truly meant "sadistic troll". I have no answer for you.
posted by jeremias at 8:25 PM on September 8, 2011 [5 favorites]


Serious meta lulz, I might dip in to the 4loco to keep it rollin' but alas, I have too many episodes of voyager to watch.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:26 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


It's really hard to make reddit look worse in the eyes of some MeFites. And yet...
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:26 PM on September 8, 2011


To win a $5 prize, arrange these words into a well known phrase or saying!

screen door the hit ass don't your let out the way on
posted by unSane at 8:27 PM on September 8, 2011 [9 favorites]


How is it possible that you keep asking for answers in a textual format but that you completely lack any reading comprehension? Have you read the rules about Ask Metafilter? Which ones are somehow unclear?
posted by GuyZero at 8:28 PM on September 8, 2011


icanhasgrarnow?
posted by J. Wilson at 8:29 PM on September 8, 2011


Harder than stone is the flesh and bone
of a Troll that sits on the internet all alone
posted by drjimmy11 at 8:30 PM on September 8, 2011 [8 favorites]


Don't let the ass screen hit way out on your door? What? That doesn't even make sense, bro.
posted by phunniemee at 8:30 PM on September 8, 2011 [6 favorites]


Dude with your cleaned up mustache from that Ask.me you kind of look like a thinner Andy Reid!!!
posted by nathancaswell at 8:30 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


All the rules that don't involve jokes about poop, I'm guessing!
posted by Wuggie Norple at 8:30 PM on September 8, 2011


also, is "you probably think I'm a troll" the new post-modern trolling?

You probably think I'ma troll, but Obama hates white peoples.
posted by GuyZero at 8:35 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


Here's the answer to your deleted question?
posted by Ardiril at 8:37 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


You guys prolly think imma troll, but I'd rather eat you than let you cross this bridge.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 8:37 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


Just so we're all clear, ALL MY POSTS DELETED is the new SILENCED ALL MY LIFE, right?
posted by grapesaresour at 8:38 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


Silent troll is now silent...
posted by Telpethoron at 8:39 PM on September 8, 2011


I can make motorboat noises with my mouth
posted by killdevil at 8:39 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


[NOT TROLLING]
posted by zoinks at 8:39 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


If you truly meant "sadistic troll". I have no answer for you.

I dunno, I found this thread pretty painful.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:42 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


What's all this? I'm just looking for a good used car.

I'ma let you get back to your post in just a minute, but Fred was the GREATEST TROLL OF ALL TIME!
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:43 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


I am getting closer

Please send my five dollars to
posted by shipbreaker at 8:44 PM on September 8, 2011


great answers everybody!, keep 'em coming.
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 8:46 PM on September 8, 2011 [9 favorites]


I am getting closer

Please send my five dollars to


My sock puppet's college tuition fund?
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 8:49 PM on September 8, 2011


There was this magician who had a job on a cruise liner, entertaining the passengers with a nightly show. He was very successfull in his job and there was always a full house at all his performances. Life was sweet. The money was rolling in, he had one of the best cabins, ate the best food, mixed with the best people. All was fine until one day the captain bought a parrot.

The highlight of the parrot's day was going along to see the magician in action in the evening. During the magician's performances, the parrot would watch him very carefully during each trick, and immediately after the magician had completed the trick the parrot would call out in a loud squark, "It's up his sleeve, it's up his sleeve," or, "It's down his trousers, it's down his trousers," each time ruining the magician's trick.

Well life was no longer as sweet and the magician started to struggle to satisfy the passengers. The magician naturally got very tired of the parrot and longed to kill it.

Then one night in the middle of the magician's performances, the ship hit an iceberg and sank. That's right, the ship was broken. Everyone was killed except for the magician and the parrot. The magician managed to swim to a piece of wreckage, climbed aboard and collapsed. The parrot flew towards the magician and perched on the edge of the makeshift raft and stared at the magician.

For a whole day the magician was unconscious, and all this time the parrot did not take his eyes off him. Eventually the magician started to stir, and looked up not really knowing where he was or what had happened. He eventually found enough energy to sit up. He then noticed the parrot, who had not stopped focusing his eyes on him all this time.

"Alright I give up ..." chirped the parrot, "... what have you done with the ship?"
posted by netbros at 8:50 PM on September 8, 2011 [58 favorites]


somebody's drunk.

maybe it's me!
posted by chimaera at 8:50 PM on September 8, 2011


Hi, I heard people are handing out money in this thread? I'm here for the free money, thanks.
posted by michaelh at 8:51 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


So that's what the red button does.
posted by iamabot at 8:53 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


Few who have pressed the red button have returned to report on it.
posted by killdevil at 8:54 PM on September 8, 2011


I can report that on the other side of the button is a lot of craft beer.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:57 PM on September 8, 2011


this is some weird performance art thing, right?
posted by juv3nal at 8:59 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


http://ask.metafilter.com/193690/CAN-A-LEVER-LONG-ENOUGH-REALLY-MOVE-THE-WORLD

ALL THE THREADS (except the 44 that weren't).
posted by freezer cake at 9:00 PM on September 8, 2011


icanhasgrarnow?

I initially read that as icanhasgrassnow? which would make this thread even more fun!
posted by 6550 at 9:02 PM on September 8, 2011


freezer cake, did you also notice how the headlines on the 44 questions are all in yelling caps? I did, and that's awesome.
posted by deezil at 9:02 PM on September 8, 2011


good point. grass too.
posted by J. Wilson at 9:05 PM on September 8, 2011


No, not all of the question titles are in all caps. Let's be fair here.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:06 PM on September 8, 2011


Sometimes Metatalk is very much like what I imagine goes on inside the brain of a crazy person.

Is it still OK to say crazy person? I don't even.

Or maybe like two AIs talking to each other in the midst of heavy sunspot activity.

Either way, equal parts woohoo! and WTF, which is pretty much the way I roll.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:08 PM on September 8, 2011 [5 favorites]


i don't want to be fair tho. i want to be a drunken cake despot.
posted by elizardbits at 9:09 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


I kinda like reddit. Especially the "Today I Learned" subreddit. Cuz I either learn stuff or I have the opportunity to feel superior to people who've just learned stuff I already knew.

It baffles me that anyone would be cranky with the mods here, though. They do an excellent and even-handed job, and I say that even though my recent response to the person who came into an unexpected $1000 was deleted. I thought telling them to spend it all on weed was genuinely good advice.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:09 PM on September 8, 2011 [16 favorites]


i want to be a drunken cake despot

You're already a false taco prophet.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 9:10 PM on September 8, 2011 [9 favorites]


ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED

where is my +20 moustache of fiesta
posted by elizardbits at 9:11 PM on September 8, 2011 [11 favorites]


In my dorm room, armed with some 3x3 and 4x4 Rubik's Cubes, Pythagoras's theorem, knowledge of how Pythagorean triples like 5-12-13 work, with delusions of grandeur and time on my hands, I tried to solve Fermat's Last Theorem. I failed.

It has always haunted me, that maybe he had some simple and incredible insight on the very day he scribbled in the margin, that no one else for five hundred years has been able to see since then.

And that, one day, some kid much like Coppola's fat girl from Ohio with her father's camcorder, is going to see the EASY way to solve it, the one that can be done with just a few lines of proofs. And centuries worth of mathematicians will gasp and scream, D'OH!!! !!!!

And my Ask MetaFilter question is, what are some examples from history of the biggest D'OH!s ever, in which an invention innovation or discovery is revealed, and literally millions of people howl in anguish --- That's so obvious! Why didn't I think of that!?? Examples I can think of to get this one rolling: Xerographic photocopying, lawn/leaf garbage bags with giant orange pumpkins on them, POKEMON or MAGIC THE GATHERING cards, patenting the XOR operation, using solar energy to desalinate sea water, selling junk bonds and collecting the brokerage fees, putting colored sugar water into bottles and selling them... .... .....

WHY, CORTEX, WHY ???
posted by shipbreaker at 9:12 PM on September 8, 2011 [7 favorites]


As always I'm amazed by the Patience of the Mods. I can't believe they haven't taken gman's buyout offer and run for the hills.
posted by donnagirl at 9:16 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


Y'all crackaz postin in a troll thread.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 9:16 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


Nice sled all my life!

…Rosebud…
posted by hattifattener at 9:16 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


Talk about inversely proportional entertainment value.
posted by Telpethoron at 9:17 PM on September 8, 2011


Patent XOR? I patented left shift, bitch.
posted by GuyZero at 9:17 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


I've been treated with scrupulous fairness by the mods and community, but if there's five bucks going, any chance of tagging along for the sweet moolah ride?
posted by Abiezer at 9:18 PM on September 8, 2011


LOL
posted by 1000monkeys at 9:19 PM on September 8, 2011


Pokemon cards were nothing new.
posted by longsleeves at 9:19 PM on September 8, 2011


Please send my help to
posted by shipbreaker at 9:21 PM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]


Damn. We could have used that $5 to download documents from PACER.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 9:22 PM on September 8, 2011 [4 favorites]


lawn/leaf garbage bags with giant orange pumpkins on them

I have never seen this on a list of Greatest Inventions before and now it seems like a huge oversight.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:23 PM on September 8, 2011 [5 favorites]


Why is the discussion over on reddit allowed to thrive and evolve, but here on metafilter it is immediately censored based on arcane unwritten rules that nobody knows?

Five minutes in the comments section on Reddit is usually sufficient to remind me of why I happily put up with the idiosyncrasies of the Metafilter moderation system and the strange congregation it attracts.

this is some weird performance art thing, right?

I'd pegged it as some kind of "drunk" thing but "performance art" probably works just as well.
posted by nanojath at 9:32 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


Or am I some kind of sadistic troll, trolling for abuse and even more deletion?

I was thinking 'idiot', but whatever.
posted by pompomtom at 9:37 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]


what is happening
am i drowning?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:38 PM on September 8, 2011


Get some sleep, shipbreaker. If your goal is not to convince us that you're intentionally fucking around with the site, you need to work on this stuff.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:38 PM on September 8, 2011 [15 favorites]


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