There is no Lacuna Cabal, kid. May 18, 2012 8:18 AM Subscribe
Author Sean Dixon is now a Grand Poohbah of Metafilter, thanks to this post. Also, a comment in that thread from suburbanbeatnik was quoted in a Globe and Mail article about the incident.
There is no Lacuna Cabal.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:35 AM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by cjorgensen at 8:35 AM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
begin the sensual pagan ritual
posted by The Whelk at 8:41 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 8:41 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Since we're talking MeFi's Own™ Novelists, the film rights to Hugh Howey's novel WOOL went to Ridley Scott and the 20th Century Fox a few days ago.
posted by elgilito at 8:47 AM on May 18, 2012 [15 favorites]
posted by elgilito at 8:47 AM on May 18, 2012 [15 favorites]
I know we like to brag about MeFi's Own™, but I'm a bit sad that so few of those who show up to comment on the post related to their project stick around chime in every now and again, like most of our famous members.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:49 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 9:49 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
They didn't become famous writing MetaFilter comments.
posted by pracowity at 9:55 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by pracowity at 9:55 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
But one could always try getting famous writing Metafilter comments.
posted by Namlit at 10:00 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Namlit at 10:00 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
They didn't become famous writing MetaFilter comments.
Theres a first time for everything
posted by The Whelk at 10:12 AM on May 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
Theres a first time for everything
posted by The Whelk at 10:12 AM on May 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
maybe fame is relative, because I read that list wondering WTF are these people ? (yeah, I followed the wiki links, it answers my question, but doesn't.. OK, I know who woz is .. )
posted by k5.user at 10:15 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by k5.user at 10:15 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 MeFites.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 10:31 AM on May 18, 2012 [27 favorites]
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 10:31 AM on May 18, 2012 [27 favorites]
I think we should promote 6 degrees of matthowie as the new metric.
posted by arcticseal at 10:41 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 10:41 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
I got on CNN and Good Morning America for writing a MetaFilter comment.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 10:50 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 10:50 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 MeFites.
I know you just fell into it, but that right there is some brilliant.
posted by Chuckles at 11:06 AM on May 18, 2012
I know you just fell into it, but that right there is some brilliant.
posted by Chuckles at 11:06 AM on May 18, 2012
I got on CNN and Good Morning America for writing a MetaFilter comment.
I’m sorry for you, but I don’t what can be done to stop that.
posted by bongo_x at 11:06 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I’m sorry for you, but I don’t what can be done to stop that.
posted by bongo_x at 11:06 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I also don't what.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 11:08 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 11:08 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
They didn't become famous writing MetaFilter comments.
Theres a first time for everything
If The Whelk can't do it, nobody can.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:09 AM on May 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
Theres a first time for everything
If The Whelk can't do it, nobody can.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:09 AM on May 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
Eh, just wait until the IBM team behind "THE WELK" step out of the shadows to accept their laurels. It'll kind of count, but not entirely.
posted by Atreides at 11:13 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Atreides at 11:13 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
There is only one Grand Poobah.
Unless I'm missing something, Mr. Dixon is just another Water Buffalo.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:14 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Unless I'm missing something, Mr. Dixon is just another Water Buffalo.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:14 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Blue Beetle got kinda famous posting on Metafilter.
posted by to sir with millipedes at 11:26 AM on May 18, 2012
posted by to sir with millipedes at 11:26 AM on May 18, 2012
They didn't become famous writing MetaFilter comments.
My username has been recognized more than once in completely non-metafilter-related contexts online. I can imagine it's happened to others on here, too.
posted by empath at 11:30 AM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
My username has been recognized more than once in completely non-metafilter-related contexts online. I can imagine it's happened to others on here, too.
posted by empath at 11:30 AM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
So has mine.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:45 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:45 AM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
empath: " My username has been recognized more than once in completely non-metafilter-related contexts online. I can imagine it's happened to others on here, too."
Were they saying "eponysterical" at the time? :D
posted by zarq at 12:01 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Were they saying "eponysterical" at the time? :D
posted by zarq at 12:01 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
I need to read the titles.
posted by cjorgensen at 12:22 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by cjorgensen at 12:22 PM on May 18, 2012
I became so famous on Metafilter that they named a monster in a Tales from the Darkside episode The Grither. And then some dudes decided to name a band after me, too.
posted by Grither at 12:29 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by Grither at 12:29 PM on May 18, 2012
But one could always try getting famous writing Metafilter comments.
That's always been my plan, and so far, it's... not working.
posted by k8lin at 1:01 PM on May 18, 2012
That's always been my plan, and so far, it's... not working.
posted by k8lin at 1:01 PM on May 18, 2012
Oh my, I'm quoted in a MetaTalk post! I'm so pleased! And I have a novel coming out this fall. Does this mean when that happens I can join the MeFi's Own™ Novelist club?
posted by suburbanbeatnik at 1:24 PM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by suburbanbeatnik at 1:24 PM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
They didn't become famous writing MetaFilter comments.
They don't get favorites for doing things outside Metafilter, though! they just get... well, adulation and money, I suppose, which is like favorites, but, without the little [+], really, it must be hollow.
This is what I choose to believe.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:34 PM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
They don't get favorites for doing things outside Metafilter, though! they just get... well, adulation and money, I suppose, which is like favorites, but, without the little [+], really, it must be hollow.
This is what I choose to believe.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:34 PM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Metafilter: lacuna matata.
posted by tzikeh at 2:02 PM on May 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by tzikeh at 2:02 PM on May 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
Wait, other people can read our comments?
posted by joe lisboa at 2:20 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by joe lisboa at 2:20 PM on May 18, 2012
I once got asked to write an article for Salon because of a comment of mine. Of course, once they found out I was on vacation back home for a week, they pulled the offer. Then I got food poisoning from some bad tacos al pastor.
It all makes sense now.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:47 PM on May 18, 2012
It all makes sense now.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:47 PM on May 18, 2012
They don't get favorites for doing things outside Metafilter, though! they just get... well, adulation and money, I suppose, which is like favorites, but, without the little [+], really, it must be hollow.
Just wait until someone creates an exchange market between Favorites and real money. Then soon the site will be inundated with comments from chinese favorite farmers. Presumably those comments will mostly be cat related non sequiturs and...uh other popular things.
As an aside, has anyone ever done some keyword based analysis of popular comments? What are the most frequent things that come up in popular comments? (I say this out of pure curiosity, not out of any base desire to boost my favorite count, because no one keeps track of that right, because its not an effective karma meter.)
posted by Chekhovian at 2:56 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Just wait until someone creates an exchange market between Favorites and real money. Then soon the site will be inundated with comments from chinese favorite farmers. Presumably those comments will mostly be cat related non sequiturs and...uh other popular things.
As an aside, has anyone ever done some keyword based analysis of popular comments? What are the most frequent things that come up in popular comments? (I say this out of pure curiosity, not out of any base desire to boost my favorite count, because no one keeps track of that right, because its not an effective karma meter.)
posted by Chekhovian at 2:56 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Wait, other people can read our comments?
Yeah, it's like the opposite of a hellban. Twisted, huh?
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:58 PM on May 18, 2012
Yeah, it's like the opposite of a hellban. Twisted, huh?
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:58 PM on May 18, 2012
like most of our famous members.
stevewoz's posts to favorites ratio is legendary
posted by nathancaswell at 3:02 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
stevewoz's posts to favorites ratio is legendary
posted by nathancaswell at 3:02 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yeah, it's like the opposite of a hellban. Twisted, huh?
If I could read your comments, I would totally concur.
posted by joe lisboa at 3:03 PM on May 18, 2012
If I could read your comments, I would totally concur.
posted by joe lisboa at 3:03 PM on May 18, 2012
Does this mean when that happens I can join the MeFi's Own™ Novelist club?
Well you have to take The Hero's Journey* first.
note using foreknowledge of the hero's journey in order to be genre savvy will result in scorpions
posted by The Whelk at 3:22 PM on May 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
Well you have to take The Hero's Journey* first.
note using foreknowledge of the hero's journey in order to be genre savvy will result in scorpions
posted by The Whelk at 3:22 PM on May 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
Lawks! I posted something some people liked!
posted by scruss at 4:01 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 4:01 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ghidorah: "I once got asked to write an article for Salon because of a comment of mine."
Neat!
Oddly, I've been asked to be interviewed for articles twice. Once by a reporter at the NY Times for an AskMe question I had posted regarding a friend who had passed away, and Facebook. Another by a freelancer for a parenting magazine regarding an AskMe post I'd made about separation anxiety and my kids.
In both cases the reporters found out I was a publicist (I was up front about it) and quickly pulled the invitation. Conflict of interest concerns. Which was totally understandable. I could conceivably be pitching them a story one day.
posted by zarq at 4:10 PM on May 18, 2012
Neat!
Oddly, I've been asked to be interviewed for articles twice. Once by a reporter at the NY Times for an AskMe question I had posted regarding a friend who had passed away, and Facebook. Another by a freelancer for a parenting magazine regarding an AskMe post I'd made about separation anxiety and my kids.
In both cases the reporters found out I was a publicist (I was up front about it) and quickly pulled the invitation. Conflict of interest concerns. Which was totally understandable. I could conceivably be pitching them a story one day.
posted by zarq at 4:10 PM on May 18, 2012
I checked our shelves. We have one of his titles. I can't remember which.
posted by jonmc at 6:19 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by jonmc at 6:19 PM on May 18, 2012
I doff my cap to the beatnik.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:34 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:34 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
You know the Grand Poobah is the Lord High of Everything Else, and represents somebody with no real power but a lot of titles to make him feel good about himself. If somebody is really important, they're the Mikado.
(Gilbert and Sullivan pedantry ... OFF AGAIN.)
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:34 PM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
(Gilbert and Sullivan pedantry ... OFF AGAIN.)
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:34 PM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
The closest I come to fame is having cookies with the guy who hit Nancy Kerrigan. We also spied on the nude beach at Cock Rock with his telescope. I also offered to mow his lawn, but we couldn't figure out how to start the mower.
posted by Brocktoon at 6:35 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by Brocktoon at 6:35 PM on May 18, 2012
note using foreknowledge of the hero's journey in order to be genre savvy will result in scorpions
And you don't want that. There may be no one like you, but when the winds come up and rock you like a hurricane, you won't be able to take those big city nights anymore, and all those bad boys running wild will only remind you of those winds of change that blew through your world.
posted by hippybear at 6:45 PM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
And you don't want that. There may be no one like you, but when the winds come up and rock you like a hurricane, you won't be able to take those big city nights anymore, and all those bad boys running wild will only remind you of those winds of change that blew through your world.
posted by hippybear at 6:45 PM on May 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
*blacks out*
posted by jonmc at 7:27 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jonmc at 7:27 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Jonmc is the form of the destructor.
posted by The Whelk at 7:31 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 7:31 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
I told you empty your head, don't think of anything. We only had one shot at this.
posted by Chekhovian at 8:35 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Chekhovian at 8:35 PM on May 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
The world is developing these weird little specialized fame islands. A few months ago, I went for a haircut, and the girl cutting my hair asked what I I did, I said I was a screen printer, & she said "oh, like the shirt your wearing by that local photographer? I've seen his stuff on the web!"
Then last week, I had an obviously nervous kid hand me an invite to an opening he has some prints in, saying "I wanted to invite you because I really like your art."
It was kinda weird, both times.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:39 PM on May 18, 2012
Then last week, I had an obviously nervous kid hand me an invite to an opening he has some prints in, saying "I wanted to invite you because I really like your art."
It was kinda weird, both times.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:39 PM on May 18, 2012
In the future, we'll all be famous for fifteen meters.
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:56 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:56 PM on May 18, 2012
Instead of 15 minutes, we're all famous to 1,500 people.
posted by The Whelk at 9:24 PM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:24 PM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
And we'll all be famous at exactly the same moment.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 10:02 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 10:02 PM on May 18, 2012
And then the Sensory Milieu is formed and peace is brought to the thinking ones.
posted by The Whelk at 10:25 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by The Whelk at 10:25 PM on May 18, 2012
Can I have Metafilter's autograph please? It's not for me you understand, just make it out to Billy. Yes, it's spelled a-r-t-i-...
posted by arcticseal at 10:26 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by arcticseal at 10:26 PM on May 18, 2012
I'm missing FAMOUS MONSTER in this thread. Maybe it can't write.
posted by Namlit at 2:06 AM on May 19, 2012
posted by Namlit at 2:06 AM on May 19, 2012
You know the Grand Poobah is the Lord High of Everything Else, and represents somebody with no real power but a lot of titles to make him feel good about himself. If somebody is really important, they're the Mikado.
Really? He performs all the executive functions in Titipu save Lord High Executioner. For example, he controls the budget for the festivities for the Lord High Executioner's wedding. That's not "no real power". Sure, he's not an "Oriental despot" (to use the language of the time), but that's not the point.
The comedy of his role is that he has SO MANY roles. He is both the town tax inspector and the town off-shore accountant. The Chief of Police and the leader of the anarchist commune. The Bishop and the Dawkins Professor For The Ridiculing Of Religion. And he plays them all, smoothing the conflicts with corruption and empty, hollow pride.
posted by alasdair at 3:53 AM on May 19, 2012
Really? He performs all the executive functions in Titipu save Lord High Executioner. For example, he controls the budget for the festivities for the Lord High Executioner's wedding. That's not "no real power". Sure, he's not an "Oriental despot" (to use the language of the time), but that's not the point.
The comedy of his role is that he has SO MANY roles. He is both the town tax inspector and the town off-shore accountant. The Chief of Police and the leader of the anarchist commune. The Bishop and the Dawkins Professor For The Ridiculing Of Religion. And he plays them all, smoothing the conflicts with corruption and empty, hollow pride.
posted by alasdair at 3:53 AM on May 19, 2012
Dear The Globe and The Mail,
Please do your Celebrity Photo thing EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
Signed,
Tod Lokken Everyone, Everywhere
posted by GuyZero at 1:06 PM on May 19, 2012
Please do your Celebrity Photo thing EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
Signed,
posted by GuyZero at 1:06 PM on May 19, 2012
He performs all the executive functions
Sure. A lot of responsibility, limited authority. That's why they give him all those exalted titles. It's like calling a middle-level manager who is responsible for restocking merchandise Vice President in Charge of Acquisitions.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 1:23 PM on May 19, 2012
Sure. A lot of responsibility, limited authority. That's why they give him all those exalted titles. It's like calling a middle-level manager who is responsible for restocking merchandise Vice President in Charge of Acquisitions.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 1:23 PM on May 19, 2012
Writer Ian McEwan describes the odd experience of helping his son with an A-level essay about one of his novels. (short youtube)
posted by four panels at 5:20 PM on May 19, 2012
posted by four panels at 5:20 PM on May 19, 2012
I got a fan email a few weeks ago from someone who liked a bass track I played on an Iain Matthews album 20 years ago. It was really weird to finally have one person notice that after all this time. Made my day. I might have been an actual famous bassist in another lifetime - let's just say I have regrets - but having one actual fan will do for now.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:24 PM on May 19, 2012
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:24 PM on May 19, 2012
If that's you on "Back of the Bus," it's one of the great mandolin/bass duets.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 7:36 PM on May 19, 2012
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 7:36 PM on May 19, 2012
Gosh, now I am inspired to track down whoever did the upright bass on Greg Brown's album "In the Dark With You" and tell them they have been in my head for 20 years.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 7:40 PM on May 19, 2012
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 7:40 PM on May 19, 2012
John Angus Foster. He doesn't seem to have a web page. John, if you are googling yourself, holy crap, the bass, fiddle, and harmonica section in "Where Do the Wild Geese Go" is mind-blowing. It's like folk psychedelia.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 7:42 PM on May 19, 2012
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 7:42 PM on May 19, 2012
If that's you on "Back of the Bus," it's one of the great mandolin/bass duets.
Nah, I just played on two tracks on Pure and Crooked.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:55 PM on May 19, 2012
Nah, I just played on two tracks on Pure and Crooked.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:55 PM on May 19, 2012
Gonna track em down and listen to them!
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 8:05 PM on May 19, 2012
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 8:05 PM on May 19, 2012
Dunno if this is where I leave this but Dmitry (not Dimitry) Samarov, the blogger I posted about yesterday, has joined the thread and is cool.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:00 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:00 PM on May 20, 2012
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posted by zarq at 8:30 AM on May 18, 2012 [4 favorites]