Friendly-Reminder: SLYT 101

September 30, 2011 4:37 PM

I am publicly turning in my FPP homework assignment.
Ahem.
I would like to think I purposely make dumb FPP mistakes so the newer members are less intimidated to post.
However, thank you rouftop for pointing out the obvious also everyone who applauded him.

SLYT = WTF?
Pronounced "SLIT"
Urban Dictionary: slyt
Via Mathowie: Single Link You Tube
People use it as a pre-emptive warning that yeah, their entire post hinges on a video you have to watch, but hopefully they provide enough of a description and reason why you'd want to devote time to watching it to make it worthwhile

The hive-mind is exceptionally fluent in telling you what SLYT does NOT mean:
Suck Less, You Tool
It's a shortened version of SLYTPTYDHTBWUIANPS
Seven Little Yellow Taxis
Some Lasagna? Yes, Terrance.
... and on and on.

Where I went wrong:
Why YES! All four of my FPP SLYT links were in fact a series of SINGLE links to a You Tube video. I assumed it as a tag warning in lieu of allowing your browser to tell you with a mouseover. Also I am aware of the YT doublers so you can see how I might be easily confused even if I was aware of the correct acronym.

Even so, facepalm and if I am still learning, there are others like me that may appreciate my hard-learned lesson.

posted by TangerineGurl to Etiquette/Policy at 4:37 PM (62 comments total)

No problem, all is forgiven.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:38 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

That's no portobello.
posted by Edogy at 4:44 PM on September 30, 2011 [4 favorites]

Needs more warm yella kewl aid.
posted by KokuRyu at 4:45 PM on September 30, 2011

What is this I don't even...
posted by Splunge at 4:51 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

It's not so tough to make an FPP.
posted by Horselover Phattie at 5:08 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

Clearly, SLYT is pronounced "slight."
posted by nevercalm at 5:27 PM on September 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

It's not a very useful acronym for people who can count to one, it confuses people who are new to the site, and even people who aren't new to the site manage to achieve a large fraction of the 24 possible permutations of the letters and don't seem to really understand the significance of them anyway.

Go team.
posted by Wolfdog at 5:27 PM on September 30, 2011

This is a well-researched MetaTalk thread, and you are a good sport to make it. Well done.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:29 PM on September 30, 2011 [17 favorites]

I'm tired of these call outs.

Seriously though, that was a great post. It made me laugh.
posted by cjorgensen at 5:46 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

I made a SLYT post today but the More Inside contained another link to a YouTube video. I put the SLYT in there just as a bit of a warning but I sort of felt dirty about it since in the end there were two YouTube videos total. However, both videos were to Guy On A Buffalo so I figured I could put whatever the hell I wanted in the post and nobody would complain because, you know, IT WAS A GUY ON A BUFFALO!
posted by bondcliff at 5:49 PM on September 30, 2011

No problem, all is forgiven.

Although, being Metafilter, never forgotten. If youa re lucky, it could become a thing.

But, yes, the post made me laugh as well.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:54 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yes, can we ALL just come clean and share the homework?

"I made a SLYT post today but the More Inside contained another link to a YouTube video. I put the SLYT in there just as a bit of a warning but I sort of felt dirty about it since in the end there were two YouTube videos total. However, both videos were to Guy On A Buffalo so I figured I could put whatever the hell I wanted in the post and nobody would complain because, you know, IT WAS A GUY ON A BUFFALO!"

Metafilter: If you can be called out, rest-assured they will find you.
posted by will wait 4 tanjents at 5:57 PM on September 30, 2011

Metafilter: If you can be called out, rest-assured they will find you. And you will feel dirty.
posted by will wait 4 tanjents at 5:58 PM on September 30, 2011

Ah, thank you for this MeTa; it appears that I've been doing it wrong. I thought the acronym was Straight Link to YouTube, which serves to warn lurkers (who do not have the inline player icon) that this link in particular is a video that informs the rest of the post.

Still, though, I think it is a useful signifier that helps lurkers navigate links, and I'll probably continue to "do it wrong" for their benefit.
posted by troll at 5:59 PM on September 30, 2011

and I'll probably continue to "do it wrong" for their benefit.

Yeah, look, I get it. Who could get mad at any feature of that Bill Nye post? And more or less I'm actually on your side on this. But that's going to go over exceedingly poorly.
posted by penduluum at 6:03 PM on September 30, 2011

will wait 4 tanjents: Metafilter: If you can be called out, rest-assured they will find you. And you will feel dirty.

I find it kinda weird that you made this MeTa under one username and you're posting comments under another.
posted by gman at 6:09 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

@troll
.. funny thing is I considered leaving them out because they seemed to take over the post in a way I found visually disturbing.
posted by TangerineGurl at 6:09 PM on September 30, 2011

...or both.
posted by gman at 6:12 PM on September 30, 2011

I was feeling dirty when I posted under my newer username because it was not intentional.
I'm digitally all-over-the-place and again easily confused.

..and thank you for solidifying my tagline. ADD IT TO THE LIST!
Everyone must be warned.
posted by TangerineGurl at 6:12 PM on September 30, 2011

I was feeling dirty when I posted under my newer username because it was not intentional.

No big problem, but we need to be clear: we need you to basically have one username/persona on the site. People are more than welcome to have a secondary account that they use occasionally for AskMe stuff or other comments that they need a little personal distance from, but we generally expect one user:one account unless there's something extreme going on. No big deal here, but since it came up I figured I'd trot out Official Policy.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:16 PM on September 30, 2011 [2 favorites]

I would favorite something here, but I'm afraid of being called out on in in a weird way.
posted by hal_c_on at 6:17 PM on September 30, 2011

bondcliff: "10I made a SLYT post today but the More Inside contained another link to a YouTube video. I put the SLYT in there just as a bit of a warning but I sort of felt dirty about it since in the end there were two YouTube videos total."

You could always use MLYT as a warning. The "M" stands for multiple.
posted by zarq at 6:20 PM on September 30, 2011

I don't know what a YouTube doubler is. Awwwwww man I'm so gonna fail. Anyone got notes I can copy?
posted by yellowbinder at 6:35 PM on September 30, 2011

MetaTalk: trotting out Official Policy
posted by TangerineGurl at 6:41 PM on September 30, 2011

Metafilter: I would favorite something here, but I'm afraid of being called out in a wierd way
posted by killdevil at 6:59 PM on September 30, 2011

MetaFilter: I was feeling dirty when I posted
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:11 PM on September 30, 2011 [2 favorites]

I recognize that these are English words, but I don't really get what this is about
posted by chinston at 7:26 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

penduluum: But that's going to go over exceedingly poorly.

I'm lucky to have not been called out, but you're correct -- it will ruffle some feathers. I do think, however, that it's worth it. Our lurker brethren aren't represented in these discussions, and I think they'd appreciate the courtesy. As a recent initiate, I remember how annoying it was to parse videos from a wall of links without the help of the inline icon.

Now that I know the true acronym, I'm less inclined to use it for this purpose, but still think that something needs to signify a video link. A special character (▶), perhaps? A new acronym (vl: Video Link)? A non-functioning inline icon for non-members that displays "join MetaFilter to watch this embedded video" on hover?

I'll probably try a new acronym in my next FPP (with this comment linked in small script) and wait for the MeTa backlash. For the lurkers!

TangerineGurl: funny thing is I considered leaving them out because they seemed to take over the post in a way I found visually disturbing.

Which is why I use small script -- it's less obtrusive.

hal_c_on: I would favorite something here, but I'm afraid of being called out on in in a weird way.

It's ok, hal, I know you're a fan.
posted by troll at 7:33 PM on September 30, 2011

I recognize that these are English words, but I don't really get what this is about

TangerineGurl noticed someone pointing out that she misused the label SLYT in her post. So she found a Metatalk thread explaining the ins and outs of the SLYT designation an then decided to post her favorite comments from that thread. I think she means it as a cautionary note.

Yellowbinder, YouTube doubler lets you play two YouTube videos simultaneously.

Here, somebody made Usher do a duet with a goat.
posted by nanojath at 7:38 PM on September 30, 2011 [8 favorites]

Did the same.

Was called on it.

Survived.

(On preview, Usher + Goat = me laughing just remembering the time I first watched it and cried with laughter for about 5 minutes straight.)
posted by benito.strauss at 7:42 PM on September 30, 2011

Ohhh Benito! HippyBear called you out.
(bows)
Your kung-fu is better!
posted by TangerineGurl at 7:50 PM on September 30, 2011

Wow, those were pretty funny videos. At least the Perry one was, I haven't watched the other one yet. I normally dislike the SLYT or MLYT posts, but this one was good because those vids keep getting recommended to me by YT and I haven't clicked on them because I didn't know what they were and I'm not at all interested in US politics (I don't even know who this Perry dude is, but I assume he'll be running against Obama?).

Anywho, no worries about the acronym misunderstanding, it was still a good post IMO :-)
posted by 1000monkeys at 7:59 PM on September 30, 2011

I was dirty when I posted
So sue me if I go 2 fast.
If U use 2 handles
This Meta party will not last.
posted by mintcake! at 8:05 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

Whatevs, I marked a single link youtube post (slty). In the grand scheme of bad things you can do, posting the wrong way is way down there next to maybe jaywalking.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:06 PM on September 30, 2011

I'll probably try a new acronym in my next FPP (with this comment linked in small script) and wait for the MeTa backlash.

With respect, can you maybe not do that? This community has evolved the patterns it has after years of gradual evolution. Doing something that you think will provoke that strong a reaction is maybe not the best way to go about it and I really wouldn't go "The lurkers support me in email!" route. Got an idea? Here's the thread where we're all talking about things, let's talk about it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:08 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

People using SLYT in their posts is annoying in any context and I wish people would stop using it entirely.
posted by empath at 8:09 PM on September 30, 2011 [5 favorites]

People using SLYT in their posts is annoying in any context and I wish people would stop using it entirely.

It is the metafilter version of "In before", kinda like making fun of yourself for being fat so nobody else has a chance to.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:12 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm not entirely sure why I expected the doubler to work properly on my iPhone. (/boggle)
But I'd never heard of it, so thanks!
posted by ApathyGirl at 8:22 PM on September 30, 2011

Yeah, it's kind of redundant and unnecessary ;-) I think we are all smart enough to tell if a post has a single youtube link or not.

Also, check out BadLipDubs other videos--the music videos are hilarious and in most cases, the dubbers are better singers than the originals! (see: Miley Cirus and Justin Bieber).
posted by 1000monkeys at 8:22 PM on September 30, 2011

I'm to drunk to help out here. Also I've got a devil in my corner sharpening his knife. Also Do the right thing for Christ sake. Also can you spare a dime? I miss you all, and I hope you're doing well. Also . . .
posted by nola at 8:30 PM on September 30, 2011

I'm smoking crack all night long and listening to John Denver LPs.
posted by Horselover Phattie at 8:36 PM on September 30, 2011 [2 favorites]

Now that I know the true acronym, I'm less inclined to use it for this purpose, but still think that something needs to signify a video link.

People sometimes use [video] or [YouTube] or even [YT], but in general I'm opposed to the "what this is a link to" notations. Remember when Wikipedia carets were a thing^?
posted by Rock Steady at 8:37 PM on September 30, 2011

Is this the thread where I mention that Berry Burst Ice Cream Oreos (tm) are perhaps the greatest new food introduced this century? Goes great with Pinot!
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:49 PM on September 30, 2011

I haven't seen those yet.
posted by longsleeves at 10:03 PM on September 30, 2011

MetaFilter:jessamyn: "I figured I'd trot out"
posted by Splunge at 2:02 AM on October 1, 2011

Shhh, in the other thread I am trying to get jessamyn and cortex a raise, I might bump up the stakes and demand equity for them. I think they need about 5% of MetaFilter Network Inc. each. Anyone know how many shares were created and the par value on the articles of incorporation?
posted by Ad hominem at 2:53 AM on October 1, 2011

1000 shares, 0 par value, interesting, some states don't allow no-par-value. But I guess Oregon does, what does the charter look like. Who is on the board.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:11 AM on October 1, 2011

I'll take 5000 shares at today's value. And I mean I'm in. Who do I send my credit card info to?
posted by Splunge at 4:32 AM on October 1, 2011

That is to say that I haven't slept in over 48 hours due to personal stuff. Make that 10,000 shares and sell when it splits.
posted by Splunge at 4:34 AM on October 1, 2011

They would have to issue new class b shares. I obviously haven't slept either. Yo splurge, Where you live in Kensington. I lived on Church and Dahill for quite a few years.
posted by Ad hominem at 4:43 AM on October 1, 2011

Sorry, Splunge. I just remember you making a comment one time about Beefsteak Charlie's, that might be the most New York comment I have seen on this site. And it will be until someone brings up Nellie Bly or something.
posted by Ad hominem at 4:58 AM on October 1, 2011

MetaFilter: Unlimited beer, wine or sangria.
posted by mintcake! at 6:41 AM on October 1, 2011

Ohhh Benito! HippyBear called you out.
(bows)
Your kung-fu is better!

I am hurriedly reading through the "Body, as Fist" thread and will soon challenge him to a post-off.
posted by benito.strauss at 6:52 AM on October 1, 2011

I am confused.
posted by box at 7:21 AM on October 1, 2011

I can't even tell whether or not I'm confused.
posted by dg at 7:32 AM on October 1, 2011

also its sytl single youtube link, or some young toddlers laughing
posted by Namlit at 10:17 AM on October 1, 2011

If nothing else, this thread has made me aware of BadLipReading, the President talking about tricking bridesmaids and thick Spartan women and goats singing Usher and I laughed so hard at each one and that triggered two horrible sneezing fits that scared the cats which is just to say I have a terrible cold and I hate it so but laughing makes things better so it's not that terrible. Yes.
posted by deborah at 11:31 AM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]

sylt is an island
posted by From Bklyn at 1:38 AM on October 2, 2011

mlyt is not a thing.
posted by Segundus at 5:08 AM on October 2, 2011

I think it might be.
posted by box at 7:41 AM on October 2, 2011 [1 favorite]

all this time i thought SLYT was a way of tacitly acknowledging "yes, i know you are going to say that a single link to a youtube video does not make a good post, but i want you to know that i understand it normally doesn't...but here, i think it does."

YIKYAGTSTASLTAYTVDNMAGPBIWYTKTIUINDBHITIT
posted by davejay at 12:53 PM on October 2, 2011

YIKYAGTSTASLTAYTVDNMAGPBIWYTKTIUINDBHITIT! Unite!

FPP was tagged with the mlyt, because I wanted to be EXTRA careful not to ruffle feathers.
posted by TangerineGurl at 11:03 PM on October 2, 2011