Mr. Fireman, bet you couldn't put me out if you tried. September 14, 2011 1:10 PM   Subscribe

Pony: most comments by a single user.

Sometimes the comments on a popular FPP will start out promising and then go rapidly downhill, as a few users dominate the thread with escalating back-and-forth. I occasionally find contention and voluble disagreement frustrating, tedious, and sad. There are times I want to read something interesting on Metafilter, but avoid popular topics because they might be depressing.

Proposed solution: next the total number of comments, display the maximum number of comments by a single user. I would guess that thread-sitting is a reliable indicator of contention.

If that's too obtrusive to have on every FPP, only display this number when it goes over some reasonable threshold.

Alternatively, display a small icon, like a red circle or a flame icon when a thread meets some set of criteria (e.g., over N comments, n% of which are by a single user).

The overall idea is to find a way to reliably avoid threads that don't qualify for FIAMO, but are still sordid and unpleasant.

(The original idea belongs to stroke_count, who is too shy to post.)
posted by Nomyte to Feature Requests at 1:10 PM (70 comments total)

This sounds like a job for [dun dun DUNNNN] GREASE MONKEY!
posted by exogenous at 1:15 PM on September 14, 2011


This is not something we are going to support on the site. As exogenous said, a greasemonkey script or other third party solution is probably practical to implement if someone wants to do it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:20 PM on September 14, 2011


Ew no. Especially no flame icons.

I would guess that thread-sitting is a reliable indicator of contention.

I don't think so at all. There could be someone providing updates to a situation, uniquely qualified or educated to respond to questions, or writing funny responses because of how familiar they are with the situation. It could be someone like ericb, constantly posting new articles and information regarding a developing situation.

At the point you get to the back-and-forth, either read around those comments, or unfortunately, just move on (is my feeling).

Just please no flame icons.
posted by cashman at 1:20 PM on September 14, 2011 [5 favorites]


One person's sordid & unpleasant is another's stimulating & engaging.
posted by Edogy at 1:21 PM on September 14, 2011 [5 favorites]


...said the Countess to the Vicar.
posted by elizardbits at 1:24 PM on September 14, 2011 [12 favorites]


I would guess that thread-sitting is a reliable indicator of contention.

...or that the Whelk is really bored.

I kid because I love.
posted by griphus at 1:25 PM on September 14, 2011 [12 favorites]


Additionally, as in this recent example, sometimes thread-sitting prevents you from having a new Doctor Who post every week. The people who want to talk and spoil keep doing so and there rest of you are spared room on the front page.
posted by maryr at 1:25 PM on September 14, 2011


Ew no. Especially no flame icons.

But what if it was tastefully animated?
posted by Nomyte at 1:29 PM on September 14, 2011 [4 favorites]


Some would no doubt consider higher counts (and indeed the highest count per thread) a badge of honor to be attained.

Those who are disturbed by threadmodding would use the counts as a way to further attack other users in MeTa.

To no end, since the usual suspects don't give a shit and obviously don't care to "read the room" in that way. If they did, they wouldn't continue to thread sit even after multiple complaints.

Alternatively, display a small icon, like a red circle or a flame icon when a thread meets some set of criteria (e.g., over N comments, n% of which are by a single user).

You would need a threshold number of comments before this kicks in, because every first few commenters would probably have a flame icon next to their names.

Also, agree with cashman. No flame icons, please. Horrible idea.
posted by zarq at 1:31 PM on September 14, 2011


Also, agree with cashman. No flame icons, please. Horrible idea.

Maybe a cute little wooden box with "SOAP" written on it?
posted by griphus at 1:34 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


Maybe in addition to the flame icons we could have the sound effects from NBA Jam?

"He's heating up..."
"He's on fire!"
"Boom! Shakalaka!"
posted by 2bucksplus at 1:40 PM on September 14, 2011 [22 favorites]


There are times I want to read something interesting on Metafilter, but avoid popular topics because they might be depressing.

Try MyMefi to filter out topics that you find depressing. But really, just go outside.
posted by desjardins at 1:40 PM on September 14, 2011 [5 favorites]


Maybe a cute little wooden box with "SOAP" written on it?

If griphus gets a soap bar, I hereby request a blinking swear jar.
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:41 PM on September 14, 2011


If griphus gets a soap box, and MonkeyToes, gets a swear jar, can I please have my potato?
posted by donnagirl at 1:50 PM on September 14, 2011


But what if it was tastefully animated?

Very important to be tasteful.
posted by cashman at 1:54 PM on September 14, 2011


MetaFilter: frustrating, tedious, and sad.
posted by Splunge at 2:07 PM on September 14, 2011


Whoa, MyMefi knows me better than I know myself, it suggested I am interested in

nyc food Google video microsoft wikileaks hacking security film history YouTube music art internet NewYork reddit 4chan politics Gaming games videogames usa facebook minecraft cooking

Time to update my OkCupid profile. (I'm going to leave in music and art and cooking, they make me seem more well rounded, thanks MyMefi!)
posted by Ad hominem at 2:07 PM on September 14, 2011


donnagirl: "If griphus gets a soap box, and MonkeyToes, gets a swear jar, can I please have my potato?"

Potato.
posted by Splunge at 2:14 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


I AM THE GOD OF HELLFIRE! AND I...

Oh, sorry. Wrong thread.
posted by Trurl at 2:15 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


Alternatively, display a small icon, like a red circle or a flame icon when a thread meets some set of criteria

Nuke it From orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
posted by The Deej at 2:19 PM on September 14, 2011


On a side-note, I just want to say that it's really, really obnoxious when people try to make hay in-thread about how a particular user is making lots of comments. "You're making too many comments here" is just a fancy way of saying "I don't like you and want you to shut up." It's not constructive, it doesn't engage anyone, and it certainly doesn't move the discussion forward.

And I wish people would get over the ridiculous notion that the quality of one's comments and number of comments per thread is in some inverse relationship. Many, many threads are dominated by people with thoughtful comments; and that's never a bad thing.
posted by koeselitz at 2:21 PM on September 14, 2011 [4 favorites]


Many, many threads are dominated by people with thoughtful comments

cite
posted by hermitosis at 2:24 PM on September 14, 2011 [4 favorites]


On a side-note, I just want to say that it's really, really obnoxious when people try to make hay in-thread about how a particular user is making lots of comments. "You're making too many comments here" is just a fancy way of saying "I don't like you and want you to shut up." It's not constructive, it doesn't engage anyone, and it certainly doesn't move the discussion forward.

Well, it can be unconstructive and jerkish certainly, but it's not necessarily so (though mostly if that hay needs making it should be taken over to Metatalk on the double). There's commenting a bunch because you're engaged substantively in a great-for-all-involved way on a topic you have a lot to contribute to, and there's commenting a bunch because you're in an argument with four or five people in the thread or even with people who aren't in the thread or are maybe just bored at work/home/wherever.

Commenting a bunch is neither inherently good nor inherently bad and depends a lot on the context, basically. There've been plenty of threads where someone dropped a bunch of really great science on a thread or opened up about a personal experience over a series of comments, and that's great. On the other hand, we've had to specifically talk to people on occasion about laying off one topic or another because their tendency to overengage had gone past merely kind of obnoxious to being actively problematic in a recurring way.

There's no reasonable way to make a straight correlation from comment density/frequency to any specific metric of good or bad, since it doesn't represent a single monolithic phenomenon, which is a big part of why the requested feature is a total non-starter. It's a mix of good and bad and neutral behaviors which in many cases don't have much to do with each other.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:28 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


me: “Many, many threads are dominated by people with thoughtful comments”

hermitosis: “cite”

Try this one.
posted by koeselitz at 2:29 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


cite

You spelled 'kite' wrong.

AND HERE YOU GO
                                                /\
                                               '\/
                                              '  +
                                             '     +
                                           '      +
                                         '         +
                                       '             +
                                     '                  +
                                   '
                                 '
                               '
                             '
                           '
                        '
                    '
                '
__          '
\o  .   '
 \\/
 /\
/ /
posted by shakespeherian at 2:33 PM on September 14, 2011 [18 favorites]


One of the standard Greasemonkey scripts both tallies the number of comments a user deposits in a thread as well as lets you jump from one to the next. Over time, I've noticed that if I see one or two users with what I think of as spectacularly high single-thread comment totals, I usually head for the popcorn cabinet. Or just click out of the thread.
posted by nevercalm at 2:51 PM on September 14, 2011


Many, many threads are dominated by people with thoughtful comments

hermitosis: cite

ericb and homunculus got recognized for just this sort of thing, continuing to update threads with ongoing news.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:58 PM on September 14, 2011 [2 favorites]


I am going to make it my personal mission to have the most comments in this thread.
posted by Eideteker at 3:00 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


nevercalm: "One of the standard Greasemonkey scripts both tallies the number of comments a user deposits in a thread as well as lets you jump from one to the next. "

This one (MeFi Navigator). It's very cool and unobtrusive.
posted by dg at 3:06 PM on September 14, 2011


I want certain words and phrases to be automagically replaced with a pile of shit icon so I can see graphic representations of threadshits.
posted by nathancaswell at 3:47 PM on September 14, 2011


"You're making too many comments here" is just a fancy way of saying "I don't like you and want you to shut up."

The most obnoxious thing is "why are you still posting?"
posted by empath at 3:56 PM on September 14, 2011 [2 favorites]


MetaFilter: Why are you still posting?
posted by luckynerd at 4:05 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


Also, agree with cashman. No flame icons, please. Horrible idea.

Shit, no. The entire background of the page should turn into fire!
posted by furiousthought at 4:10 PM on September 14, 2011



I would guess that thread-sitting is a reliable indicator of contention.

...or that the Whelk is really bored.


Also there was that one time I was a text adventure game.
posted by The Whelk at 4:23 PM on September 14, 2011


We could also have little tags next to the fpps on the front page, like "Weird, "Scary", "Obvious", and "Oh no you di-int".
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 4:24 PM on September 14, 2011


At first, I thought you were asking for the person with the highest number of comments of all time, but then I read again and understood what you're looking for, so I'ma let you finish.
posted by davejay at 4:28 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'm gonna sit on this thread til it cries uncle
posted by The Whelk at 4:44 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


The problem with this kind of thing is that it can be counterproductive. For certain kinds of people it acts as a lure, not as a deterrent, and encourages bad behavior.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:51 PM on September 14, 2011


Fine, how about most comments by a married user?
posted by mullacc at 4:56 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'm gonna sit on this thread til it cries uncle

Oh, I know what Whelk's uncles were like.

This will take forever.
posted by hippybear at 4:57 PM on September 14, 2011


Hey ... post title! You a fan? What's the secret handshake?
posted by woodblock100 at 5:10 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


I want an animated beach ball to balance on my nose.

What's next, WeeMees?
posted by arcticseal at 5:41 PM on September 14, 2011


(ノ ゜Д゜)ノ ~~~~

Thread tossing.
posted by The Whelk at 5:58 PM on September 14, 2011 [2 favorites]


I want a flame icon as an indicator that I am possibly on fire. If you see the flame icon next to any of my comments, please send me a memail asking if I am on fire. If I reply and let you know that I am, in fact on fire, please alert the proper authorities. If the proper authorities can not be contacted, please memail me and I will respond with geolocation information. Once that is received, please meet me with a bucket of water.
posted by to sir with millipedes at 5:59 PM on September 14, 2011 [3 favorites]


MetaFilter is not a contest.
posted by deborah at 6:01 PM on September 14, 2011


that sounds like the talk of someone who is losing the game.
posted by The Whelk at 6:07 PM on September 14, 2011 [2 favorites]


i always lose the alphabet game. DAMN I DID IT AGAIN
posted by not_on_display at 6:26 PM on September 14, 2011


Ah
posted by The Whelk at 6:27 PM on September 14, 2011


Better just do like Fark does and tag every post with something like "Interesting" or "Florida".
posted by drinkyclown at 6:33 PM on September 14, 2011


I Am Curious Florida.
posted by The Whelk at 6:38 PM on September 14, 2011


You could also just circumvent this whole pony and put the flame icons next to the people that deserve them. Pretty much everyone knows who does this on a regular basis. It's always the same handful of people.

Or maybe this could be a fund raiser. Put up a couple thousand icons and let people add them after their usernames, like achievements, but you have to pay for these.

I'd spring for a silver interrobang icon if it cost me $10. Maybe $25 for a green penguin. Mostly I'd want these just to show I support the site. Sort of like being listed in the arts program at a play as a donor. People can at a glance tell that I've shelled out more than just $5! $15 gets you a rainbow. $5 a country flag. $50 a jackass.

Of course people that are in the $500+ club get into the VIP room at all the meet ups and we're allowed to comment in deleted threads, but other than this we'd be like all the rest of the plebeians.

Just try to figure out if I am joking.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:49 PM on September 14, 2011


Yes, there is at least one greasemonkey Metafilter killfile you could install. It doesn't go "plonk" though. Plonk!
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 6:58 PM on September 14, 2011


Put up a couple thousand icons and let people add them after their usernames, like achievements, but you have to pay for these.

We can improve on that: add the icons after the usernames by default, and give people the ability to remove them one at a time at $5 an icon.
posted by Nomyte at 7:32 PM on September 14, 2011


I yi yi. Can we just call this koeselitz's corner and be done with it?
posted by stinkycheese at 8:07 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


FLAME ON oh shit the drapes
posted by loquacious at 8:20 PM on September 14, 2011 [3 favorites]


zarq: "Also, agree with cashman. No flame icons, please. Horrible idea."

I agree with Howard Johnson.
posted by Splunge at 8:27 PM on September 14, 2011


I Am Curious Florida.

NO ONE HAS SEEN THESE MOVIES THEY JUST SAW A SIMPSONS EPISODE GAAAAAAARRRRR
posted by shakespeherian at 8:39 PM on September 14, 2011


Oh, and your position is that Scandanavian proto-porn should have a wider audience?
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 8:49 PM on September 14, 2011


Roger Ebert called from 1969. He wanted to know how to make love detumescently.
posted by Nomyte at 8:56 PM on September 14, 2011


I the fact that people get passionate enough to debate in the threads. It is better than people who drop in with quick one liner to garner favorites or people who talk about how shitty the post is.

Obviously threading would keep debates contained, but that doesn't seem like it is in the cards.

Here is another idea that can use the current metafilter setup. Top level comments become new posts, now bear with me, they don't show up in the front page , but show up on the "more inside", all you need is to add a parent column to the FPP table.

Each of those posts is not threaded, but each is contained. So when I show up and post a new top level post like "trolololololol more like do be evil amiright?" anyone who want to call me an idiot can do so without disturbing everyone else.
posted by Ad hominem at 9:36 PM on September 14, 2011


Offer to program it and say it'll be easy. You forgot that part.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:26 PM on September 14, 2011


What about Troll icons? Their hair color could be used to indicate the severity of the trolling. Red could be the most severe, green could be used for minor threadshitting or something.
posted by MattMangels at 10:31 PM on September 14, 2011


Dropping in with a quick one liner is all I've got!
posted by arcticseal at 4:30 AM on September 15, 2011


I want a flame icon as an indicator that I am possibly on fire. If you see the flame icon next to any of my comments, please send me a memail asking if I am on fire. If I reply and let you know that I am, in fact on fire, please alert the proper authorities. If the proper authorities can not be contacted, please memail me and I will respond with geolocation information. Once that is received, please meet me with a bucket of water.

I only have this bucket with holes in it...
posted by maryr at 7:19 AM on September 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Dear Liza, a hole.
posted by The Whelk at 9:11 AM on September 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Offer to program it and say it'll be easy. You forgot that part.

I already did all the work! The programmer just needs to type it in.
posted by Ad hominem at 9:12 AM on September 15, 2011


There are interesting posts with only a few comments that are still really cool posts. There are posts that don't appeal to a mass audience, but are a cool link. Quantity of verbiage != quality of post, or quality of verbiage.

We don't need more gimmicks; we need more people being witty, thoughtful, informed, interesting, provocative, smart, funny, well-read and less ass-hattery.
posted by theora55 at 10:41 AM on September 15, 2011



I Am Curious Florida.

NO ONE HAS SEEN THESE MOVIES THEY JUST SAW A SIMPSONS EPISODE GAAAAAAARRRRR


NO ONE HAS SEEN THESE SIMPSONS EPISODES THEY JUST SAW A METAFILTER COMMENT REFERENCING THE EPISODES GAAAAAAARRRRR

posted by TwelveTwo at 11:06 PM on September 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


But seriously, I Am Curious is a great pair of movies that exist in a relationship to one another that I've never seen anyone else attempt.
posted by shakespeherian at 4:51 AM on September 16, 2011


Oh, corteeeeeeex?

I know who the owner of that helpful dog is... I KNOW WHERE YOUR BUCKET IS.
posted by likeso at 2:07 PM on September 17, 2011


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