Apologies for the apologies...

March 22, 2012 10:44 AM

This is just to say / the best deletion reason / I have ever read / was in this post / forgive me / for posting it / it was fantastic / cortex / have my manbabies
posted by WinnipegDragon to MetaFilter-Related at 10:44 AM (94 comments total)

I just called
to say
I love you

I just called
to say
how much I
care

I just called
to say
I love you
and I mean it from the bottom of my heart
posted by griphus at 10:49 AM on March 22, 2012 [15 favorites]

So I'm tempted to be a big whiny baby here but I'll just say I'm sincerely surprised it got flagged.
posted by GuyZero at 10:49 AM on March 22, 2012 [5 favorites]

Didn't you write the book GuyZero? That's how the post read to me.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 10:52 AM on March 22, 2012

Well, honestly, the post is "here's an Amazon page for a book, and a short review of that book that is notable primarily for mentioning Metafilter", which is not generally speaking the makings of a Metafilter post. I have great affection for the thing you did, but it needed deleting.

Mentioning the geekdad review here in the first place would have been totally fine in a "hey, something metafilter-related" sort of way, fwiw.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:53 AM on March 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

This is just to say
I had no idea
about this
awesome blog

which I have
probably ripped
a hole
in the space-time continuum by mentioning

Forgive me
it was necessary
so sweet
and so meta
posted by c'mon sea legs at 10:54 AM on March 22, 2012

Via Projects, by the way.
posted by Curious Artificer at 10:56 AM on March 22, 2012

I liked chaotic neutral cortex better than lawful good cortex.
posted by GuyZero at 10:58 AM on March 22, 2012 [11 favorites]

Poetry is so over you guys. I mean, I was in to poetry before it got big and everyone got in to it, but now it's just lame. It totally sold out. All the cool kids are in to single words now.
posted by fuq at 10:59 AM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

Which is to say, the reasonable guyzero sees why it was deleted although I hoped it wouldn't be, but flags? Flags?
posted by GuyZero at 11:00 AM on March 22, 2012

This is just to say.
Foo. Semantic palindrome!
Filler. Just sayin'.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:01 AM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

I don't think I've ever hear anyone say 'trope' aloud.
posted by jonmc at 11:01 AM on March 22, 2012

And forgive me but the poem is written in first person even if the post doesn't work that way, etc.
posted by GuyZero at 11:01 AM on March 22, 2012

And I should have read your first comment, sorry GuyZero.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 11:02 AM on March 22, 2012

Poetry is so over you guys. I mean, I was in to poetry before it got big and everyone got in to it, but now it's just lame. It totally sold out. All the cool kids are in to single words now.

wherefore
posted by griphus at 11:02 AM on March 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

Poetry is so over you guys. I mean, I was in to poetry before it got big and everyone got in to it, but now it's just lame. It totally sold out. All the cool kids are in to single words now.
posted by fuq at 12:59 PM on March 22 [+] [!]


Agreed.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 11:03 AM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

Which is to say, the reasonable guyzero sees why it was deleted although I hoped it wouldn't be, but flags? Flags?

Yes, it breaks the guidelines.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:04 AM on March 22, 2012

I suppose this just goes to show that I have not abandoned metafilter but that metafilter has abandoned me.
posted by GuyZero at 11:04 AM on March 22, 2012

I liked chaotic neutral cortex better than lawful good cortex.

Hey, now, I was just tweeting about My Little Pony porn a few minutes ago. I am a river, man. Eddies. Oxbows. Traditional alignment systems are reductionist and limiting to truly dynamic gameplay narratives.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:05 AM on March 22, 2012 [26 favorites]

but flags? Flags?

Somebody asked for a flag? Okey-dokey.
posted by maudlin at 11:08 AM on March 22, 2012

jonmc: I don't think I've ever hear anyone say 'trope' aloud.

Just two days ago I had a conversation with a friend where the word "trope" was used many times. To be fair, after the first time it was used, all the other times were in the context of us trying to remember what the fuck the word for "trope" was in Icelandic.
posted by Kattullus at 11:08 AM on March 22, 2012 [7 favorites]

Oh, man, I love oxbows. The range is great and they do 3x on crit.
posted by griphus at 11:09 AM on March 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

So uh... what is the word for "trope" in Icelandic? Because....
posted by zarq at 11:10 AM on March 22, 2012

Brandon Blatcher: " Yes, it breaks the guidelines."

Which guideline?

I don't know of a guideline which tells us we shouldn't make Metafilter-related posts to the Blue, although it's perfectly possible it's there and I missed it. Could you please point it out?

If one doesn't exist, perhaps that's something Team Mod could consider making more explicit for users under this FAQ entry or the posting guidelines page?
posted by zarq at 11:18 AM on March 22, 2012

So I'm tempted to be a big whiny baby here but I'll just say I'm sincerely surprised it got flagged.

I see you've decided to do both.
posted by dirtdirt at 11:19 AM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

This is just to say

that I looked
at that blog
that collected parodies
of this poem

and was surprised
not to see
any of the many
I had done

I forgive you
for the oversight
but jeez
that's so cold
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:21 AM on March 22, 2012 [8 favorites]

Hey, now, I was just tweeting about My Little Pony porn a few minutes ago.

Why do you tempt me like this when I'm at work?
posted by radwolf76 at 11:25 AM on March 22, 2012

It has a subreddit.
posted by Artw at 11:26 AM on March 22, 2012

Can we have a chart or something for this explaining the multiple levels of reference, self-reference and meta-ness like they made for "Inception"? It really will help.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:28 AM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

So, anyway, what's all this Skillrex nonsense and why does it sound like a bunch of well worn DJ tricks from 20 years ago?
posted by Artw at 11:29 AM on March 22, 2012

You're going to kick a man when he's down, dirt dirt?

Clearly you're blind to the difference between being whiny and being self pitying.

OH MY PAIN
posted by GuyZero at 11:30 AM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

a bunch of well worn DJ tricks

ITYM "a wub of wub wub DJ wubs", HTH
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:31 AM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

This reminds me that I wanted to ask for favourites bookmarks for the deletion reasons
posted by criticalbill at 11:31 AM on March 22, 2012

All the cool kids are in to single words now.

Huh.*

*Uttered in such a way as to imply "dude, monosyllabic grunts are where it's at!"
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:34 AM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

This reminds me that I wanted to ask for favourites bookmarks for the deletion reasons

And can they tagged, please?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:42 AM on March 22, 2012

Ha! Just came here to somehow express my need to favorite that deletion comment.

Relatedly, I feel like I need to post that WCW poem on my fridge with a blank for the food item & grease pencil so I can assuage my guilt when I eat all of everything all the time.
posted by activitystory at 11:43 AM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

I always forget that I made this thing.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:44 AM on March 22, 2012 [23 favorites]

zarq: So uh... what is the word for "trope" in Icelandic?

Well, we didn't have much trouble thinking of the word for "trope" as in "figure of speech." That's "stílbrögð." The problem was thinking of the word for "trope" as in "artistic or plot device." I know it exists, but I'll be damned if I can recall it. The embarrassing thing is that we're both novelists with degrees in literature (though he's also a professor of Icelandic literature, so I feel slightly that the onus was on him to remember =) ).
posted by Kattullus at 11:44 AM on March 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

I have broken
the contacts
that were across
the ditch

and which
you were probably
reading
for Batman

Forgive me
they were foregoing
so outstanding
and so foregoing

It was for Batman you heartless monster!
posted by Artw at 11:47 AM on March 22, 2012

Oh cortex This is great!

This Is Just To Say

I have slain
the men
that were near
the vortex

and which
you were probably
slaying
for Ragnarok

Forgive me
they were animated
so voiceless
and so common
posted by Night_owl at 11:52 AM on March 22, 2012

I can understand the post getting flagged for abusing so much front page real estate. And since Metafilter does poetry about as well as it does having nuanced discussions about abortions, I'm sort of relieved it was nipped in the bud, except for the fact that the battered poet's baton is being picked up here.
posted by crunchland at 11:54 AM on March 22, 2012

I have fought
the helicopters
that were around
the beans

and which
you were probably
bending
for deification

Forgive me
they were aromatic
so curious
and so energetic


But they were around the beans, man. I had to do something.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:54 AM on March 22, 2012

I think Jessamyn needs to sue cortex for plagiarism, but maybe it falls under fair use?
posted by LionIndex at 11:57 AM on March 22, 2012

but flags? Flags?

Somebody asked for a flag? Okey-dokey.
posted by maudlin at 1:08 PM on March 22 [+] [!]


Do you have a flag?
posted by patheral at 12:03 PM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh wow, mine is at the top of that blog! Look at me everyone, I'm famous on the Internet!
posted by borkencode at 12:22 PM on March 22, 2012

I have eaten
the beans
that were on
the plate

and which
you were probably
saving
for overthinking

Forgive me
they were simple
quite tasty
and so filling
posted by philipy at 12:22 PM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 12:24 PM on March 22, 2012

The Wikipedia 'Interpretations' section for This is Just to Say is delightful:

In another light, the poem was written from Williams to his wife. He ate her plums from the ice box and proceeded to write a small apology in the form of poetry on a napkin.
posted by grapesaresour at 12:25 PM on March 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

Anyone who wants to take over the upkeep of that Tumblr site is very welcome to mefi-mail me. I haven't updated it in fwigging years.
posted by Jofus at 12:28 PM on March 22, 2012

For realsies.
posted by Jofus at 12:31 PM on March 22, 2012

I have felt
the potatoes
that were beneath
the airplane

and which
you were probably
misapprehending
for Christmas

Forgive me
they were zany
so godly
and so helpless


Food for thought.
posted by likeso at 12:45 PM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

"come on people. theyre just boobs, right?! or are they?"

...OR ARE THEY?
posted by griphus at 12:51 PM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

and a self-link to a pair of breasts?

Hilarious.

I had never ever examined any deletion reasons before. Now I'm thinking there needs to a compilation of Cortex's Best Deletion Reasons.
posted by philipy at 12:56 PM on March 22, 2012

This is just one
Of the strangest sites
I've ever seen
In some time

I have no idea
How these people
Got their cats wedged
Into their scanners

Or why.

Does anyone read
The posts down here?
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:02 PM on March 22, 2012 [6 favorites]

This is just to say

I have eroded
the statue
that was in
the desert

and which
you were probably saving
as a lasting monument
to your works

Forgive me
the irony was obvious
the sands so lone
so level
posted by Iridic at 1:15 PM on March 22, 2012 [13 favorites]

I don't know of a guideline which tells us we shouldn't make Metafilter-related posts to the Blue

I would figure it's part and parcel of the "MetaFilter-related posts belong in MetaTalk" guideline that's often mentioned. Also, if you remove the "meta" element then it's just an FPP advertising a product. Generally speaking I would figure that you're in weak territory if your main link is to an Amazon page, MetaFilter-related or not.
posted by cribcage at 1:18 PM on March 22, 2012

I really hate these parodies of that poem. It seems like every time someone finds it, the first thing they do is a parody of it.

After seeing the poem in an NYC subway car, and a parody of it scratched into the metal of the wall underneath, it loses its appeal really fast.

*hamburger grumpus*
posted by mephron at 1:30 PM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

If one doesn't exist, perhaps that's something Team Mod could consider making more explicit for users

The FAQ is literally for stuff that is asked frequently. And we try to keep the posting guidelines as short as possible in the hopes that people will actually read them. So I know that getting a post deleted stings, but some stuff is actually learn as you go here. Where this comes up a lot [in AskMe] it's actually in the posting guidelines page.

cortex only mentioned flags because it scanned well in context. Since he's got his haircut, his actions have been suspect, as you know.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:55 PM on March 22, 2012 [5 favorites]

IT'S GROWING BACK. Slowly.

So slowly.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:02 PM on March 22, 2012 [4 favorites]

Suspiciously it's a different shade.
posted by Artw at 2:03 PM on March 22, 2012

Suspiciously it's a different shade.

His thoughts are darker these days.
posted by maudlin at 2:03 PM on March 22, 2012 [4 favorites]

jonmc: "I don't think I've ever hear anyone say 'trope' aloud."

Sailors say it all the time. "Toss me t'end a t'rope."
posted by Splunge at 2:07 PM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

I end up saying "tropish" in conversation now and then. I can try and make it "trope-y" just for you if we end up discussing narrative structure some time, jonmc.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:09 PM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

You know cortex, you're only about 60 seconds and a sink away from swapping from the Short Boxed for the Klingon.

Please?
posted by lazaruslong at 2:42 PM on March 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

Metafilter: great affection for the thing you did, but it needed deleting.
posted by chavenet at 2:46 PM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

This is what I got when I used cortex's WCW generator. I think it's perfect.

I have shrunk
the bananas
that were beside
the couch

and which
you were probably
stealing
for [the] Rapture

Forgive me
they were lively
so penitent
and so frequent

[the] added for better scansion and/or meaning.
posted by ocherdraco at 3:01 PM on March 22, 2012

I have tasted
The maggots
In the mind of
The universe

And I was not offended
For I knew
I had to rise
Above it all

Or drown
In my own shit
So what
And so there
 
posted by Herodios at 3:02 PM on March 22, 2012

Some of us have thought it might be a nice idea to start a dialogue about maybe dialing back the fucking WCW poetry mmkay? So if you want to just go ahead and stop doing that it would be great.
posted by Meatbomb at 4:52 PM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

Gawd you are such a downer lately.
posted by lazaruslong at 4:59 PM on March 22, 2012

I have eaten
the meat
that was in
the bomb

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast.

Forgive me
it was delicious
so astral
and so mod.

td;ds: too delicious; didn't save
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:05 PM on March 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

Manbabies.

Manbabies?
posted by koeselitz at 5:25 PM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

Manbabies.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:36 PM on March 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

Meatbomb: “Some of us have thought it might be a nice idea to start a dialogue about maybe dialing back the fucking WCW poetry mmkay? So if you want to just go ahead and stop doing that it would be great.”

Seriously? Complaining about the WCW thing is like saying "they don't play music videos on MTV anymore!" That is, my dad was rolling his eyes when my grandpa was complaining about that in roughly 1908.
posted by koeselitz at 5:36 PM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

With WCW

With WCW maketh no man a comment of his own
each word chosen and well fitting
that favorites might cover his profile,

with WCW

hath no man an original form in his recent activity
<img> et <blink>
or where $5 n00b receiveth mefi mail
and banter projects from a professional white background

with WCW

seeth no man cortex his heirs and his concubines
no comment is made to endure nor to be sidebarred
but it is made to be flagged and be flagged quickly

with WCW, sin against poetry,
is thy creativity ever more of stale lines
is thy creativity stale as old bread,
with no mountain wheat, no strong flour

with WCW the flameout rages

with WCW is no clear demarcation
and no man can find site for his FPP
Troll is kept from his trolling
Meat is kept from his bomb

WITH WCW
posted by kenko at 5:37 PM on March 22, 2012

This is the way that breakfast ends
This is the way that breakfast ends
This is the way that breakfast ends
Not with a plum but an icebox
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:42 PM on March 22, 2012 [6 favorites]

I do not mean to imply by juxtaposition that Meatbomb is a troll.
posted by kenko at 5:42 PM on March 22, 2012

Nor I that William Carlos Williams' wife was T. S. Eliot.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:43 PM on March 22, 2012

Your lawn
I am on It

Playing my ukulele
with your Ox Bow

Eating the Liver of Prometheus
Ever regenerating

Blood
Plant
Earth
Sound
Blood

Fingers.
posted by effluvia at 6:14 PM on March 22, 2012

Limerick thread was way more fun.

Just sayin'.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 6:39 PM on March 22, 2012

Nor I that William Carlos Williams' wife was T. S. Eliot.

I have heard the MeFites beanplate, each to each
I do not think that they will favorite me.
posted by gingerest at 6:54 PM on March 22, 2012 [4 favorites]

Nobody expects the Eliot Favoritism.
posted by likeso at 7:06 PM on March 22, 2012

cortex the musician, a fortnight shorn,
Forgot the smell of plums, and the icebox chill
And the breakfast and loss.

A flagged post in the blue
Piqued his brain in whimsy. As he wrote and clicked
He passed the stages of his age and youth
Entering the reason.

User or Mod
O you who write the post and look to MeTa,
Consider cortex, who was once as newbish and green as you.
posted by infinitewindow at 7:16 PM on March 22, 2012

The pilot was
a loaf of bread
which is why
all perished

when the plane
fell into the Atlantic
crashing
so tragic

Forgive us
he seemed so confident
during
pre-flight
posted by wobh at 8:07 PM on March 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

cortex: "IT'S GROWING BACK. Slowly.

So slowly."

It only took you two days to answer, yay!
posted by deborah at 8:44 PM on March 22, 2012

This is just to whine^*

I have viewed
the limerick thread
that you referred to
in your comment

and which
you were probably
fond of
etc.

Forgive me
it sucked
so painful
and so dull
posted by not_on_display at 9:38 PM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

*intended for comedic purposes only. contents of poem do not reflect the true feelings of its author. if irritation persists, oh well.
posted by not_on_display at 9:40 PM on March 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

Some of those are quite evocative.

This Is Just To Say

I have chosen
the babies
that were in
the window

and which
you were probably
meeting
for Ragnarok

Forgive me
they were eager
so imperfect
and so fragile
posted by flabdablet at 1:28 AM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

WCW poetry? Written by Vince McMahon himself? I'd read that right up.
posted by kingbenny at 9:02 AM on March 23, 2012

I liked chaotic neutral cortex better than lawful good cortex.

Six of one, twelve dozen of the other.
posted by y2karl at 11:45 AM on March 23, 2012

I really hate these parodies of that poem. It seems like every time someone finds it, the first thing they do is a parody of it.

After seeing the poem in an NYC subway car, and a parody of it scratched into the metal of the wall underneath, it loses its appeal really fast.

To be fair, Paterson is something like 250 pages long, I'm not sure a parody of it will fit in this comment box.
posted by juv3nal at 12:08 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

Do I know yo friend who?
At a club
Who was there?
Girl I wasnt...
Wait a minute calm down,I was at a club with who?
Get the fuck...man

U kno what, girl im not about to sit up here, and argue about whose to blame, or call no names

...REAL TALK...
posted by Naberius at 1:30 PM on March 23, 2012

Does anyone read
The posts down here?

YES WE DO in the middle of the lonely night when there's no one awake to notice or care or favorite us...
posted by a humble nudibranch at 9:44 PM on March 23, 2012 [4 favorites]

These verses which are no longer verses to amuse
but merely sticks to beat the horse
the horse which is now thoroughly dead and flat
flatter and deader than the joke--
I tried to care, I really tried to care.
.....ah well, no, not really.

I kid! But some TS Eliot parodies are irresistible.
posted by clavier at 10:22 PM on March 23, 2012

Two threads diverged at a yellow link
And sorry I could not read them both
And keep one tab open, I did think,
Then read down one to the just the brink
of where the FAQ was quoth.

Then scanned the other, just as grating
(Though having perhaps the better snark)
Because it was declaw debating;
Though as for that, the beanplating
Had won it many a "bookmark".

And both that morning drew equal irk
In Meta where a mod could slack.
Ah, I kept the first for after work!
(Yet knowing how I tend to lurk,
Recent Activity would bring me back)

I won't reclaim, heaven forbid,
My long lost five dollar expense:
Two threads diverged at a link, and, I—
I took the one less favorited,
And that has made all the difference.

Rhyming is hard.
posted by maryr at 6:58 PM on March 24, 2012 [6 favorites]

And I have known the trolls already, known them all—
The trolls that vex you with a button-pushing phrase,
And when I am aggravated, spoiling for a fight,
When I'm enraged by scribblings on my wall,
Then can I see the light
And wipe off all the BUTTS LOL from my days and ways?
 Just flag them and move on?
posted by flabdablet at 7:38 PM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]