So what brings you to post 117949?

September 6, 2012 2:39 PM

Is it cool to ask people why they are discovering a post or comment months after it was made?

This post of mine suddenly received 6 favorites in a cluster a little over a month after it was made. Which makes me think elsewhere on the site people are talking about the topic (which I'm obviously interested in too). So is it cool to ask one of them what brought them to my post at that time? Or is that overstepping the bounds?

posted by 2bucksplus to Etiquette/Policy at 2:39 PM (63 comments total)

Totally fine to ask as far as I am concerned, I often find weird old things favorited for no reason and I'm often curious. I saw this from a few months ago, I think that was what did it for you this time. You can google for

link:link:http://www.metafilter.com/117949/A-Culture-of-Clutter

And sometimes find this stuff.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:46 PM on September 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Ta-dah!
posted by phunniemee at 2:47 PM on September 6, 2012 [7 favorites]

why do you need two link:'s?
posted by aspo at 3:36 PM on September 6, 2012

What I always do is use the site search and look for the thread # (in this case 117949) which will turn up any posts or comments which link to that thread. A lot of the time no one linked to that particular comment but the thread was linked and then a few people read down to your thing that got favorited.
posted by shakespeherian at 3:38 PM on September 6, 2012 [3 favorites]

Woah...it's like, a filtering process ... but, like, with ... data inside computers, man!
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:39 PM on September 6, 2012

You can also just do a site search for the comment id or, barring that, the thread id and usually track down onsite links. I went into a little more detail here last month; maybe we should add it to the FAQ.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:40 PM on September 6, 2012 [4 favorites]

I usually find I can figure it out with the search tools described above. If not, there's no reason not to send a MeMail to ask.
posted by grouse at 4:05 PM on September 6, 2012

If not, there's no reason not to send a MeMail to ask.

Welllllll, sorta. There is a small but grumpy continent of folks on here who not only hate favorites but will get extremely grary at anyone who mentions them. Ironically, a few of these folks use favorites on the site.

I'm not ashamed to say that I pay attention to the number of favorites I get, and I like getting them (I would suggest renaming them from "favorites" to "warm&fuzzies"). If I happen to notice when I hit a nice round number or something fun like 8888 I'll send a memail to the favoriter and say "hey lookit this cool thing thanks!"

Twice I've gotten responses along the lines of "favorites are bad and you should feel bad for paying attention to them." So you run the risk (though small) when sending out an exploratory memail that someone will poop in your cornflakes.

And no one likes poopy cornflakes.
posted by phunniemee at 4:11 PM on September 6, 2012 [25 favorites]

why do you need two link:'s?

You do not, I have a copy/paste problem, clearly.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:13 PM on September 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

small but grumpy continent of folks

Those darn Australians!
posted by trip and a half at 4:23 PM on September 6, 2012 [18 favorites]

If I happen to notice when I hit a nice round number or something fun like 8888 I'll send a memail to the favoriter and say "hey lookit this cool thing thanks!"

Some people actually use favorites to mean 'bookmarks' and others, I swear to pb, use favorites to mark comments they hate. I can imagine being one of either of those groups and being irked that someone actually notices who favorites them.

Personally, I track which of my comments are favorited but I don't track which comments I don't make get favorited. It helps both my self-esteem and my sanity.
posted by muddgirl at 4:42 PM on September 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

I do occasionally get curious about why someone has favorited one of my old comments or posts, and, correspondingly, I would have no objection to someone asking me why I've done the same.
posted by Anything at 4:52 PM on September 6, 2012

I added it to the FAQ. That seem okay?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:22 PM on September 6, 2012

Thanks jessamyn!
posted by 2bucksplus at 5:26 PM on September 6, 2012

why do you need two link:'s?

LINKCEPTION.

BWOOOMMMMMMMM
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 5:43 PM on September 6, 2012 [6 favorites]

This thread is serendipitous! I was just marveling at this comment from sometime back that got a favorite, wondering how it came up again. Now I know. Thanks muddgirl! Thanks Plutor!
posted by carsonb at 6:50 PM on September 6, 2012

Yeah, I do what shakespeherian does, and it tends to turn up whatever it is, provided that there is a new cluster of favorites around an old comment.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:57 PM on September 6, 2012

You can search links by ID? Wow. Cool.
posted by Artw at 8:29 PM on September 6, 2012

How to get lots of MeMail

1. Click random
2. favorite post.
3. get your sockpuppet to also favorite same post.
3. repeat.
posted by special-k at 10:07 PM on September 6, 2012 [4 favorites]

For the record, if anyone wants to memail me about why/when/what I favorited your whatsit you totally can and I will not be a mean memailer in response. AKA I promise not to poop in your cornflakes*.

*A phrase I am totally using in the future.
posted by grapesaresour at 10:14 PM on September 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

"Is it cool to ask people why they are discovering a post or comment months after it was made?"

Perhaps they are new to Metafilter, have you considered that? Also, what would make asking such a question impolite (or, in laymen terms, "not cool")?

[P. S. I mean no real offense by the ironic condescension: I'm an aspiring comic, I can't help it]
posted by SarcasticSeraph at 10:20 PM on September 6, 2012

*layman
posted by SarcasticSeraph at 10:22 PM on September 6, 2012

I like to send angry MeMails to people who don't favourite my comments.

You've been warned.
posted by pipeski at 3:56 AM on September 7, 2012 [8 favorites]

I take it it'd be a wrong pony request to ask for the 'flag comment' button to be renamed 'poop in poster's cornflakes', right?
posted by ambrosen at 5:11 AM on September 7, 2012 [3 favorites]

Twice I've gotten responses along the lines of "favorites are bad and you should feel bad for paying attention to them." So you run the risk (though small) when sending out an exploratory memail that someone will poop in your cornflakes.

Huh, I send memails like that, too, but have never received a grumpy response. No response, sure, but not grumpy.

Reminds me of Michael Lewis describing his first year working for an investment bank in the 1980's in Liar's Poker when, as a newly hired analyst, he described attempting to talk to veteran traders and it went something like this:

"Many, many traders were polite and if I attempted to speak with one they would simply ignore me. Occasionally, though, I would step on a landmine. 'Who the fuck are you? Get out of my way. Nice tie, asshole'."
posted by mlis at 7:29 AM on September 7, 2012

So you run the risk (though small) when sending out an exploratory memail that someone will poop in your cornflakes.

And no one likes poopy cornflakes.

Well, as I always say, "when life poops in your cornflakes, make lemonade!"

Addendum 1: I have never actually said this.
Addendum 2: You cannot make lemonade from poop or cornflakes.
Addendum 3: This is probably not good advice.
Addendum 4: Were you guys raised in barns? Stop pooping in the cornflakes! Geeze!
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:29 AM on September 7, 2012 [3 favorites]

You folks should just store your cornflakes in a plastic tupperware, that generally keeps things that poop from getting in to them.
posted by maryr at 8:31 AM on September 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

I can open plastic tupperware.
posted by Consonants Without Vowels at 8:48 AM on September 7, 2012 [5 favorites]

Since paying my US$5 I have fave'd a bunch of old threads, either things I remember, or things I want to make posts of but which are Previously enough that I cannot.
posted by Mezentian at 9:01 AM on September 7, 2012

How to get lots of MeMail

1. Click random
2. favorite post.
3. get your sockpuppet to also favorite same post.
3. repeat.


This would be a great plan but I fear that my (currently non existent) sock puppet would get lots of replies but my main account would get ignored, and then I'd have to be weirdly insecure around my own sock puppet, and then I've created a new problem.

So that's why I don't talk to people.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:14 AM on September 7, 2012 [3 favorites]

Clearly you'd just have your sockpuppet reliably inform folks that actually they got passed the link by MCMikeNamara and isn't he smart and handsome and cool and your sockpuppet didn't really know what loving living meant until he knew you, etc. And be like vaguely inappropriate with the sockpuppet so that that person contacts you directly to say thanks and also be like "hey your friend is kind of weird" and you can be all like "yeah, I know, but he's okay, you just have to cut folks a little slack sometimes because we've all got our struggles" and they'll be like, man, great taste in posts and empathetic, swoonesville
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:22 AM on September 7, 2012 [20 favorites]

I would have no problem with someone politley asking me why I'd favourited something.

swoonesville

Speaking of struggles, where did that first "e" come from? Or have I been spelling Swoonsville incorrectly all these years?
posted by arcticseal at 12:31 PM on September 7, 2012

spell fail: politely.
posted by arcticseal at 12:41 PM on September 7, 2012

Swoonesville is in North Carolina. Swoonsville is over the border in South Carolina.
posted by maryr at 1:10 PM on September 7, 2012 [5 favorites]

But like Carowinds, they are the same place.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:25 PM on September 7, 2012

I have trouble spelling things sometimes, though MCMikeNamara is always willing to give me a hand when I ask.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:40 PM on September 7, 2012 [3 favorites]

But the North Carolina one is pronounced Shelbyville.
posted by arcticseal at 3:49 PM on September 7, 2012

cortex is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 4:05 PM on September 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

Cortex and MCMikeNamara both need a hug.

And maybe a room.
posted by double block and bleed at 4:25 PM on September 7, 2012 [4 favorites]

cortex: "MCMikeNamara is always willing to give me a hand when I ask."

What a difference a letter makes.
posted by Riki tiki at 5:50 PM on September 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

What's the word that means 'noticing when someone clearly misses a cultural reference?'
posted by crunchland at 6:40 PM on September 7, 2012

Grunking.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:32 PM on September 7, 2012

Personally I use favorites as a way of administering the highest of fives via the Internet to people I find clever or terribly eloquent. My way of saying, "Dudebro, way awesome."
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 9:01 PM on September 7, 2012

MCMikeNamara is always willing to give me a handjob when I ask.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:27 PM on September 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

As long as you don't ask too often.
posted by louche mustachio at 11:49 PM on September 7, 2012

I don't even need to ask, the dude just knows.
posted by maxwelton at 11:50 PM on September 7, 2012

I also promise not to poop in anyone's cornflakes.






I have cats to do that for me.
posted by louche mustachio at 11:50 PM on September 7, 2012 [3 favorites]

So if favorites are handjobs, if I favorite myself, is it masturbation? Only one way to find out.
posted by maxwelton at 11:55 PM on September 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

Sign in via Facebook to use the new app that will tell you when someone UNfavorites you.
posted by dhartung at 2:21 AM on September 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

Easily pleased seal
posted by WalkingAround at 3:45 AM on September 8, 2012

Metafilter: administering the highest of fives
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:33 AM on September 8, 2012

maryr: "Swoonesville is in North Carolina. Swoonsville is over the border in South Carolina."

As luck would have it, I have been doing some stuff with a geocoding API for work, so I think I can help out here (for the non clojure users, I have made the queries bold and left system printouts in a system font, it should be somewhat intelligible even to a non-programmer):

user=> (clojure.pprint/pprint (geo/geocode "swoonesville"))
nil({:country {:name "United States", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "us"},
  :city "Chadwick",
  :location {:latitude 36.878693, :longitude -93.0157282},
  :street-name "Swansville Rd",
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code "65629",
  :region "Missouri"})

other results which a 12 year old would probably find interesting:

user=> (clojure.pprint/pprint (geo/geocode "bumfuck"))
({:country {:name "United States", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "us"},
  :city "Raymond",
  :location {:latitude 43.0584728, :longitude -71.1790556},
  :street-name "Bumscuff St",
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code "03077",
  :region "New Hampshire"})

user=> (clojure.pprint/pprint (geo/geocode "vagina"))
nil({:country {:name "Solomon Islands", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "sb"},
  :city nil,
  :location {:latitude -7.445492499999999, :longitude 157.7735206},
  :street-name nil,
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code nil,
  :region nil}
 {:country {:name "Russian Federation", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "ru"},
  :city "Vagina",
  :location {:latitude 56.7377, :longitude 68.6122},
  :street-name nil,
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code nil,
  :region "Tyumenskaya oblast"})

user=> (clojure.pprint/pprint (geo/geocode "penis"))
({:country {:name "Spain", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "es"},
  :city "Vigo",
  :location {:latitude 42.2261957, :longitude -8.6691796},
  :street-name "Calle de Penis",
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code nil,
  :region "Galicia"}
 {:country {:name "Japan", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "jp"},
  :city "Komaki",
  :location {:latitude 35.3158303, :longitude 136.9414226},
  :street-name nil,
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code "485-0004",
  :region "Aichi Prefecture"})
nil


user=> (clojure.pprint/pprint (geo/geocode "dong"))
({:country {:name "Cameroon", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "cm"},
  :city nil,
  :location {:latitude 3.950512799999999, :longitude 13.914399},
  :street-name nil,
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code nil,
  :region "East"}
 {:country {:name "Rwanda", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "rw"},
  :city nil,
  :location {:latitude -1.9174872, :longitude 30.4357631},
  :street-name nil,
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code nil,
  :region "East"}
 {:country {:name "Vietnam", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "vn"},
  :city nil,
  :location {:latitude 22.8351068, :longitude 106.5335011},
  :street-name "Đông",
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code nil,
  :region "Cao Bang"}
 {:country {:name "Thailand", :iso-3166-1-alpha-2 "th"},
  :city "Khanu Woralaksaburi",
  :location {:latitude 16.0224402, :longitude 99.74934999999999},
  :street-name nil,
  :street-number nil,
  :postal-code "62140",
  :region "Kamphaeng Phet"})
nil

I need to do what I can to keep things interesting puerile while working on the backend.
posted by idiopath at 6:06 AM on September 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

working on the backend

How much do you charge for that?
posted by stebulus at 9:31 AM on September 8, 2012 [3 favorites]

SAIT
posted by idiopath at 10:09 AM on September 8, 2012

Does your server ever go down?
posted by stebulus at 11:04 AM on September 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

It's work for clients, so I push things up to someone else's server*. But my projects don't have any trouble with uptime, if catch my drift, nudge nudge, wink wink.

*I think that makes me a top?
posted by idiopath at 11:39 AM on September 8, 2012

RAM
posted by stebulus at 11:54 AM on September 8, 2012

You have been granted permissions and have no trouble with performance?
posted by Artw at 11:57 AM on September 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh yeah, they have me on a JVM platform, so I do tend to use a lot of RAM. So much so that for my development environment I had to farm the meat of the work off to a slave machine to keep my desktop performing with the heavy loads of testing and running interactive commands. I know there are a few kinky innuendos to be found in all that somewhere. Something something mount fsck spawn something big data something.
posted by idiopath at 11:59 AM on September 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

WalkingAround: "Easily pleased seal"

Yes, yes I am.
posted by arcticseal at 5:13 PM on September 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

*looks around*

huh, guess I fat-fingered that link

*leaves*
posted by ninjew at 9:56 PM on September 8, 2012

This topic has taken a weirdly sexual turn. I heartily approve.
posted by Doleful Creature at 9:34 AM on September 9, 2012

And maybe a room.

And a video camera!
posted by loquacious at 11:21 AM on September 9, 2012