Cats vs MetaFilter November 17, 2012 12:05 PM Subscribe
Dear The Internet: We have enough cat videos thank you.
OK guys. I understand that we all like (or at least don't expressly dislike) cats, kittens, adorable small mammals and videos thereof. In fact there are two FPP's as of right now about felines and how goddamn cute they are (1 2)
MeFi is the one goddamn part of the internet that keeps me thinking laying intercontinental fiberoptic cables was a good idea. Can we please not make it yet another venue for twee cat obsession?
OK guys. I understand that we all like (or at least don't expressly dislike) cats, kittens, adorable small mammals and videos thereof. In fact there are two FPP's as of right now about felines and how goddamn cute they are (1 2)
MeFi is the one goddamn part of the internet that keeps me thinking laying intercontinental fiberoptic cables was a good idea. Can we please not make it yet another venue for twee cat obsession?
If I have to spend the weekend hoping and praying that an Israel/Palestine thread doesn't go completely wahooni-shaped, I would very much prefer that the rest of the site be cooing over kittens and not starting incidental fights elsewhere. That's just my position at the moment.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [104 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [104 favorites]
There are 66 posts tagged with 'kittens.' 362 posts with 'cats.' MeFites like cute cat videos.
If you think there need to be better posts, make better posts.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [27 favorites]
If you think there need to be better posts, make better posts.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [27 favorites]
I think there's something about the disembodied quality of the internet (plus industrial alienation, living in apartments, internetting in cubicles etc) that makes snuggly cat videos compelling in a way that no Metatalk thread can oppose.
posted by feets at 12:12 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by feets at 12:12 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
No, as I've noticed, it's not cats, it's Neil Gaiman. I'd be surprised if there were not a cabal within the cabal of Gaiman stalkers. Really, we don't need twice weekly status updates of what he's doing, that's what twitter and FB are for.
posted by efalk at 12:13 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by efalk at 12:13 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
We could replace cats with Pinkie Pies for today. Would that help?
posted by Wolfdog at 12:13 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 12:13 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
FLAG IT AND MEOWVE ON.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:15 PM on November 17, 2012 [38 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:15 PM on November 17, 2012 [38 favorites]
Neil Gaiman cat is writing your Dr. who episodes.
posted by The Whelk at 12:16 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 12:16 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
Would that help?
No.
We could make an executive decision to say "Hey there is an open kitteh video thread, please put this there" and if we feel things are getting a little overly twee, we'd be happy to do that. I'm not personally at that point yet. Though I don't know what a wahooni is.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:16 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
No.
We could make an executive decision to say "Hey there is an open kitteh video thread, please put this there" and if we feel things are getting a little overly twee, we'd be happy to do that. I'm not personally at that point yet. Though I don't know what a wahooni is.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:16 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Alternatively, some economists suggest that we consume short cat videos because longer, higher-quality cultural items are so abundant.
"The Alchian-Allen Theorem has profound explanatory power when applied to the internet. The harder it is to gain access to cultural elements, the higher the quality of those elements will be consumed. On the flip side, if it is easy to access culture, people will prefer to consume shorter lower quality pieces of culture. In the middle ages, people had to travel long distances to view concerts, which were performed by live musicians. Thus, the fixed costs of consumption were very high. If you bothered to pay a huge amount of money and time, you might as well view a long complex opera or symphony. On the flip side, when fixed costs are as low as a Google search, people prefer short YouTube videos of cats doing cute things. Don’t think that this means that the quality of culture has gone down."
posted by feets at 12:17 PM on November 17, 2012 [23 favorites]
"The Alchian-Allen Theorem has profound explanatory power when applied to the internet. The harder it is to gain access to cultural elements, the higher the quality of those elements will be consumed. On the flip side, if it is easy to access culture, people will prefer to consume shorter lower quality pieces of culture. In the middle ages, people had to travel long distances to view concerts, which were performed by live musicians. Thus, the fixed costs of consumption were very high. If you bothered to pay a huge amount of money and time, you might as well view a long complex opera or symphony. On the flip side, when fixed costs are as low as a Google search, people prefer short YouTube videos of cats doing cute things. Don’t think that this means that the quality of culture has gone down."
posted by feets at 12:17 PM on November 17, 2012 [23 favorites]
Though I don't know what a wahooni is.
Neither do I, actually. It isn't a pear, I'm certain of that.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:18 PM on November 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
Neither do I, actually. It isn't a pear, I'm certain of that.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:18 PM on November 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
There's a script you can install that will prevent this problem. It's called Do No Click on the Link.
posted by drlith at 12:18 PM on November 17, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by drlith at 12:18 PM on November 17, 2012 [11 favorites]
RICK
RICK
RICK
RICK
RICK
CAT POSTS IS HOW I FEEL INSIDE RICK
posted by subbes at 12:19 PM on November 17, 2012 [130 favorites]
RICK
RICK
RICK
RICK
CAT POSTS IS HOW I FEEL INSIDE RICK
posted by subbes at 12:19 PM on November 17, 2012 [130 favorites]
Can we please not make it yet another venue for twee cat obsession?
Seriously, where's all the hedgehog videos? Goddamn catist site.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:20 PM on November 17, 2012 [8 favorites]
Seriously, where's all the hedgehog videos? Goddamn catist site.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:20 PM on November 17, 2012 [8 favorites]
^^^^^ See and I still think that is funny, so maybe I should not be in charge of anything.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:20 PM on November 17, 2012 [48 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:20 PM on November 17, 2012 [48 favorites]
Upon googling, wahoonie turns out to be a Discworld thing! And we've come full circle. Click that link btw for Ankh-Morpork postage stamps.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:22 PM on November 17, 2012 [12 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:22 PM on November 17, 2012 [12 favorites]
drlith, my browser is incompatible with that script :(
posted by insectosaurus at 12:22 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by insectosaurus at 12:22 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Poor Mr. Tiddles.
posted by The Whelk at 12:24 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 12:24 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
You are dead wrong about this.
posted by to sir with millipedes at 12:29 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by to sir with millipedes at 12:29 PM on November 17, 2012
This thread would have been fabulous with the IMG tag still around.
posted by nobody at 12:30 PM on November 17, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by nobody at 12:30 PM on November 17, 2012 [8 favorites]
This thread would have been fabulous with the IMG tag still around.
Tell me about it.
posted by yellowbinder at 12:32 PM on November 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
Tell me about it.
posted by yellowbinder at 12:32 PM on November 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
Too much cat cuteness is about 1,437 on my list of things to complain about today.
posted by Egg Shen at 12:32 PM on November 17, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by Egg Shen at 12:32 PM on November 17, 2012 [8 favorites]
I respectfully disagree with the poster. There is not enough quality cat material on MetaFilter. The sooner there is a dedicated section, MeFeline or something like that, on the top bar between AskMeFi and Projects, the better.
posted by Wordshore at 12:39 PM on November 17, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by Wordshore at 12:39 PM on November 17, 2012 [11 favorites]
Ankh-Morpork is known as 'The Big Wahoonie." Considering the state of civic life in that city, I think it would be better to NOT go "wahoonie-shaped."
After all, we are in The Century Of The Anchovy.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:39 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
After all, we are in The Century Of The Anchovy.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:39 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
I agree with this MeTa.
We need more cute dog videos to balance things out. I'm doing my part. Are you?
posted by griphus at 12:42 PM on November 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
We need more cute dog videos to balance things out. I'm doing my part. Are you?
posted by griphus at 12:42 PM on November 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
There are two cat videos up on the blue right now, yes. There is also that depressing one about the Danish prostitute, the depressing one about the LSU fan and the Alabama fan (ugh) along with threads about filibuster reform, internet security, not to mention an actual I/P thread.
In other words, there is so much damn fiber on the Blue at the moment, consider the kitty threads to be the frosted side of the Mini-wheat.
posted by ambrosia at 12:43 PM on November 17, 2012 [34 favorites]
In other words, there is so much damn fiber on the Blue at the moment, consider the kitty threads to be the frosted side of the Mini-wheat.
posted by ambrosia at 12:43 PM on November 17, 2012 [34 favorites]
Also right before seeing this I asked my girlfriend if I should FPP this cute dog thing I found. Now I will.
REVOLUTION ACTION
posted by griphus at 12:46 PM on November 17, 2012
REVOLUTION ACTION
posted by griphus at 12:46 PM on November 17, 2012
There is also that Is Anybody Down FPP that apparently comes from an alternate universe where everything is awful all the time forever.
posted by The Whelk at 12:47 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 12:47 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
Can we also stop dressing up our pets like Leeloo and Michael Jackson.
posted by Brocktoon at 12:50 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Brocktoon at 12:50 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
The cat FPPs are just to distract you from the hipster FPPs.
posted by Elmore at 12:50 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Elmore at 12:50 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Would a heartwarming bear video help balance things out?
posted by stebulus at 12:54 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by stebulus at 12:54 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
What kind of person tries to take away so much joy from so many people?
posted by pickinganameismuchharderthanihadanticipated at 12:57 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by pickinganameismuchharderthanihadanticipated at 12:57 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
The solution is obvious. A mega cat video thread that will render all subsequent videos doubles.
posted by Mitheral at 12:57 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 12:57 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
Oh jesus I just saw the Anybody Down FPP, and ericb, I dedicate those corgis to you.
posted by griphus at 1:02 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by griphus at 1:02 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
cats.metafilter.com
posted by spitbull at 1:04 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by spitbull at 1:04 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
What about my two walrus posts? Surely no one minds walruses?
posted by spitbull at 1:05 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by spitbull at 1:05 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
If it really bugs you, you have the option of adding "cats" to your list of excluded tags on My Mefi. You need never be annoyed by the cuteness again. Assuming that your goal is to have a better personal experience at MeFi, this is more likely to lead to the desired outcome than asking other people to forbear from posting about kittehs. A lot of people really like them, so you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment if you're hoping for a social solution to a 'problem' that has a simple technical fix.
posted by mixing at 1:05 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by mixing at 1:05 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
So, yeah, wow, no more cat videos on MetaFilter? It hasn't quite sunk in for me yet; I just think it's gonna be a while before it really seems real, you know? Anyway, I just want to say [brushing away tear] that all of us who make these cat videos are like family. No, I mean it, we've all practically grown up together making these cat videos, the guy who put his cat in the scanner is totally like my second dad; it's gonna be really weird not to get up and go to the cat-video-factory anymore and see them all every day. But I'm sure we'll stay close.
And there just aren't words to express how much we owe to the cat video fans. I mean, their support, their loyalty through the years, that's just what it's all about, you know? Trying to make the best cat videos we can, for the fans. Yeah, we cat-video-makers will go on to other projects, but the cat videos are always going to be special.
OK, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?
Sincerely,
Robert Pattinson
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:06 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
And there just aren't words to express how much we owe to the cat video fans. I mean, their support, their loyalty through the years, that's just what it's all about, you know? Trying to make the best cat videos we can, for the fans. Yeah, we cat-video-makers will go on to other projects, but the cat videos are always going to be special.
OK, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?
Sincerely,
Robert Pattinson
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:06 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
Upon googling, wahoonie turns out to be a Discworld thing!
I had never actually had a mental picture of a wahooni, but the phrase is ever so much more effective with the visual aid. Thanks!
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:08 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
I had never actually had a mental picture of a wahooni, but the phrase is ever so much more effective with the visual aid. Thanks!
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:08 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Is is time to ask mathowie for meta.cat?
posted by Cranberry at 1:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 1:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm watching that live stream of kittens on a laptop perched on top of the bedtray (or whatever you call the thing that is generally used for breakfast in bed) that is being used as a cat cave for my cat who is presently circling up for round three of napping. Two layers of cat.
I am not sick of cat videos.
posted by sciencegeek at 1:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
I am not sick of cat videos.
posted by sciencegeek at 1:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
I can't believe you posted this on Caturday.
posted by 4ster at 1:12 PM on November 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by 4ster at 1:12 PM on November 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
In cats we began, in cats we persist.
posted by batmonkey at 1:16 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by batmonkey at 1:16 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Though I don't know what a wahooni is.
Twenty bucks, same as in town. I sent a memo about this. Why does no one in this office read the memos.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:20 PM on November 17, 2012 [32 favorites]
Twenty bucks, same as in town. I sent a memo about this. Why does no one in this office read the memos.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:20 PM on November 17, 2012 [32 favorites]
You have an office?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:20 PM on November 17, 2012 [21 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:20 PM on November 17, 2012 [21 favorites]
Memos From Metafilter!
posted by The Whelk at 1:22 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 1:22 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I sent a memo about the office.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:23 PM on November 17, 2012 [22 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:23 PM on November 17, 2012 [22 favorites]
jessamyn probably also didn't get the memo that there are bananas in the kitchen.
posted by desjardins at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2012 [32 favorites]
posted by desjardins at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2012 [32 favorites]
I have no problem with the occassional post about cats and how adorable they are, but when I see two FPP's on that subject in the same day I feel concerned that MeFI may be going in a direction that I don't want. I don't want to refresh my favorite website and see as much random cat stuff as I'd get from reddit.
posted by eurypteris at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by eurypteris at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2012
MeFi Memos is SO going to be a tumblr. (But I am NOT making it)
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Nice try, Dog. Or should I say "Eurypteris." We see through your little ruse.
posted by Miko at 1:26 PM on November 17, 2012 [14 favorites]
posted by Miko at 1:26 PM on November 17, 2012 [14 favorites]
On the internet nobody knows you don't have an office.
posted by The Whelk at 1:27 PM on November 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 1:27 PM on November 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
but when I see two FPP's on that subject in the same day I feel concerned that MeFI may be going in a direction that I don't want.
Eh, it's just two posts, on one day. Stuff like that happens all the time on a variety of subjects. Don't sweat it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:30 PM on November 17, 2012
Eh, it's just two posts, on one day. Stuff like that happens all the time on a variety of subjects. Don't sweat it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:30 PM on November 17, 2012
If you're not logged in, the Google ad displayed on this thread is a cute cat video/Litter Genie ad.
posted by Jahaza at 1:30 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Jahaza at 1:30 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Seriously, where's all the hedgehog videos?
I posted hedgehog bath time! on election night. But that post is also full of cute cats and other adorable animals.
posted by flex at 1:32 PM on November 17, 2012
I posted hedgehog bath time! on election night. But that post is also full of cute cats and other adorable animals.
posted by flex at 1:32 PM on November 17, 2012
We need more cute dog videos to balance things out.
Agreed! The Catzone bias around here is outrageous.
posted by space_cookie at 1:36 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Agreed! The Catzone bias around here is outrageous.
posted by space_cookie at 1:36 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Let loose the dogs of bore!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:41 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:41 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Less cats, more ponies.
posted by Drinky Die at 1:45 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by Drinky Die at 1:45 PM on November 17, 2012
I do not think there are enough cat videos on MetaFilter.
posted by onlyconnect at 1:46 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by onlyconnect at 1:46 PM on November 17, 2012
Neil Gaiman cat is writing your Dr. who episodes.
BUT WHAT FONT IS HE USING?!
posted by Panjandrum at 1:49 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
BUT WHAT FONT IS HE USING?!
posted by Panjandrum at 1:49 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm gonna start using wahooni as an expletive ...
You frikken wahooni!
What a wahooni!
About as appealing as a naked/burnt/used wahooni.
Then I kicked right in the wahooni!
etc.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 1:52 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
You frikken wahooni!
What a wahooni!
About as appealing as a naked/burnt/used wahooni.
Then I kicked right in the wahooni!
etc.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 1:52 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have no problem with the occassional post about cats and how adorable they are, but when I see two FPP's on that subject in the same day I feel concerned that MeFI may be going in a direction that I don't want.
Two... out of how many? This seems ridiculously premature. I'm not sure what you wanted out of this one, bit less cat posts is definitely not gonna be it.
posted by smoke at 1:55 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Two... out of how many? This seems ridiculously premature. I'm not sure what you wanted out of this one, bit less cat posts is definitely not gonna be it.
posted by smoke at 1:55 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Cat videos serve a vital function in measuring the rate of information flow across various subsections of the Internet. Cat videos are essentially homogenous and interchangeable, have a predictable rate of reposts per user impression (RPUI), and -- importantly -- can be produced in bulk on a highly cost-effective basis: arbitrary footage of one or more household felines will typically contain a minimum of one meme-worthy events per 120 seconds of footage. (sleeping felines have a slightly lower MWE:s ratio, slightly higher for kittens, and much higher for sleeping kittens.) As a result, researchers can seed selected Internet locations with a given cat video and, by tracking its rate of spread across known social networks and visible message fora, can make provably accurate predictions about the size and network shape of otherwise invisible, "darknet" back-channels of information transfer (e.g. private fora, email, RL encounters). This knowledge is of course invaluable for many purposes, including law enforcement, counterterrorism activity, IP protection, and child pornography.
As a well-known vector for cat video transmission, Metafilter is an important link in this process. Severing this link would greatly disrupt the known-vector portion of the information transfer map, with catastrophic results for future data.
Catastrophic.
posted by ook at 1:59 PM on November 17, 2012 [25 favorites]
As a well-known vector for cat video transmission, Metafilter is an important link in this process. Severing this link would greatly disrupt the known-vector portion of the information transfer map, with catastrophic results for future data.
Catastrophic.
posted by ook at 1:59 PM on November 17, 2012 [25 favorites]
Maybe we could agree to less twee but more squee.
posted by space_cookie at 1:59 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by space_cookie at 1:59 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
When I see two FPP's on that subject in the same day I feel concerned that MeFI may be going in a direction that I don't want.
I couldn't agree more. We're on a slippery slope here, people. Granted, right now the trend is pretty slow-moving, but that doesn't make it any less sinister.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:05 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
I couldn't agree more. We're on a slippery slope here, people. Granted, right now the trend is pretty slow-moving, but that doesn't make it any less sinister.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:05 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
but when I see two FPP's on that subject in the same day I feel concerned that MeFI may be going in a direction that I don't want.
Number of cat posts on Metafilter per month (since the introduction of tags in 2005; see the link for the method). I see no clear trend.
There have been 5 cat posts this month so far; prorating, we'd predict 9 or 10 this month in total, which is in the 67th percentile of data shown above. So, somewhat higher than typical, but not really unusual.
posted by stebulus at 2:09 PM on November 17, 2012 [16 favorites]
Number of cat posts on Metafilter per month (since the introduction of tags in 2005; see the link for the method). I see no clear trend.
There have been 5 cat posts this month so far; prorating, we'd predict 9 or 10 this month in total, which is in the 67th percentile of data shown above. So, somewhat higher than typical, but not really unusual.
posted by stebulus at 2:09 PM on November 17, 2012 [16 favorites]
To clarify: my intention is to take your concern seriously; to me that means the next thing to do after having a worrying impression is to check the data. Here, I find no basis to think today was anything but a statistical blip, so... if it were my concern, I'd consider it alleviated.
posted by stebulus at 2:13 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by stebulus at 2:13 PM on November 17, 2012
Holy moly, what the hell happened in March 2007?
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:17 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:17 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
We have enough cat videos thank you.
I know, it's so annoying. Guy Fieri is such a pussy.
posted by phaedon at 2:19 PM on November 17, 2012
I know, it's so annoying. Guy Fieri is such a pussy.
posted by phaedon at 2:19 PM on November 17, 2012
You are wrong and this post is wrong and good day sir.
I SAID GOOD DAY.
posted by elizardbits at 2:23 PM on November 17, 2012 [28 favorites]
I SAID GOOD DAY.
posted by elizardbits at 2:23 PM on November 17, 2012 [28 favorites]
Pardon me, sir or madam, but I must vehemently disagree. I present for backup the eminent
Albert Einstein, who had
this to say about the solace of both music and cats....
posted by Lynsey at 2:26 PM on November 17, 2012
Albert Einstein, who had
this to say about the solace of both music and cats....
posted by Lynsey at 2:26 PM on November 17, 2012
FelliniBlank writes "Holy moly, what the hell happened in March 2007?"
It was the capocalypse.
posted by Mitheral at 2:26 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
It was the capocalypse.
posted by Mitheral at 2:26 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
what the hell happened in March 2007?
Aha, my method is wrong. I'm using the date in the tagdata file, which isn't the date of the post, apparently.
I'll do it over.
posted by stebulus at 2:27 PM on November 17, 2012
Aha, my method is wrong. I'm using the date in the tagdata file, which isn't the date of the post, apparently.
I'll do it over.
posted by stebulus at 2:27 PM on November 17, 2012
There have been 5 cat posts this month so far; prorating, we'd predict 9 or 10 this month in total, which is in the 67th percentile of data shown above. So, somewhat higher than typical, but not really unusual.
You can prove anything with numbers!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:38 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
You can prove anything with numbers!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:38 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
> I have no problem with the occassional post about cats and how adorable they are, but when I see two FPP's on that subject in the same day I feel concerned that MeFI may be going in a direction that I don't want.
I, my cats, and 100,000 other MeFites disagree with you, so I'm afraid you lose.
*goes back to watching livestreamed kittens*
posted by languagehat at 2:45 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
I, my cats, and 100,000 other MeFites disagree with you, so I'm afraid you lose.
*goes back to watching livestreamed kittens*
posted by languagehat at 2:45 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Uh Oh. It seems to have worked. Because right now, the kitties are all gone.
Nice goin' there eurypteris!
*Throws down hockey stick in disgust, and stomps off*
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 2:48 PM on November 17, 2012
Nice goin' there eurypteris!
*Throws down hockey stick in disgust, and stomps off*
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 2:48 PM on November 17, 2012
Wait, you mean now I have to walk upstairs and look at my real kittens? THIS SUCKS.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:50 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:50 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
I HAZ BIN CALLD OUT FOR TEH KITTEH CAM?!
posted by nickyskye at 2:51 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by nickyskye at 2:51 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
We didn't really want to look at cat pictures/videos before, but now we have to do it because Obama. I suspect PareidoliaticBoy is an Obama agent provocateur keeping tabs on whether we are actually watching, because there's a orange one sleeping on the right.
posted by juv3nal at 2:52 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by juv3nal at 2:52 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Can we please not make it yet another venue for twee cat obsession?
I'm low-carbing so my cat obsession is the only twee thing I'm having these days. So no we don't can done make it yet no other venue for
*dang* lost myself in the double negations. Das kommt davon. Sigh
posted by Namlit at 2:59 PM on November 17, 2012
I'm low-carbing so my cat obsession is the only twee thing I'm having these days. So no we don't can done make it yet no other venue for
*dang* lost myself in the double negations. Das kommt davon. Sigh
posted by Namlit at 2:59 PM on November 17, 2012
Can we please not make it yet another venue for twee cat obsession?
Twee? MY CAT IS FIGHT
posted by ignignokt at 3:01 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
Twee? MY CAT IS FIGHT
posted by ignignokt at 3:01 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
Please understand that if you take all these cat/kitty url's, run them through the secret code software, they become links to Very Important Intelligent Discussions. If you're not smart enough to figure that out, we can't help you.
posted by HuronBob at 3:02 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by HuronBob at 3:02 PM on November 17, 2012
Dubstep cat is agitated at this MetaTalk thread.
posted by Wordshore at 3:03 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by Wordshore at 3:03 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
And, for those wondering, Cortex's office is actually a locker at his local Jr. High School that Matt arranged to lease (price was fantastic) , he's been wondering why it smells like old tennis shoes, but Matt is too kind to tell him the truth. have I said too much?
posted by HuronBob at 3:04 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by HuronBob at 3:04 PM on November 17, 2012
grumpy hateasaurus
Is that a self link????
I keed.
posted by HuronBob at 3:06 PM on November 17, 2012
Is that a self link????
I keed.
posted by HuronBob at 3:06 PM on November 17, 2012
I had never actually had a mental picture of a wahooni, but the phrase is ever so much more effective with the visual aid.
I assumed you meant warhooni-shaped, and that works too.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 3:06 PM on November 17, 2012
I assumed you meant warhooni-shaped, and that works too.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 3:06 PM on November 17, 2012
MORE CAT VIDEOS FOR THE CAT VIDEO GOD, AND MICE FOR HIS THRONE!
posted by Lemurrhea at 3:07 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Lemurrhea at 3:07 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Okay, take 2:
Number of cat posts on Metafilter per month, corrected (to use the post dates instead of the tag dates; again, see the link for the method). This shows a clear upwards trend, which of course is confounded by total post volume, so...
Number of cat posts on Metafilter per month, as a percentage of the total number of posts. (The first month is actually off the chart, due to the famous catscan post and the overall low post volume that month.) There still seems to be a trend upwards, to my eye, but I'm not sure whether the data from before 2005 should be combined with the data after — they are due to different processes, right? Backtagging versus normal posting?
So, if this were my concern, I'd consider it unalleviated.
posted by stebulus at 3:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
Number of cat posts on Metafilter per month, corrected (to use the post dates instead of the tag dates; again, see the link for the method). This shows a clear upwards trend, which of course is confounded by total post volume, so...
Number of cat posts on Metafilter per month, as a percentage of the total number of posts. (The first month is actually off the chart, due to the famous catscan post and the overall low post volume that month.) There still seems to be a trend upwards, to my eye, but I'm not sure whether the data from before 2005 should be combined with the data after — they are due to different processes, right? Backtagging versus normal posting?
So, if this were my concern, I'd consider it unalleviated.
posted by stebulus at 3:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
FelliniBlank writes "Holy moly, what the hell happened in March 2007?"
February 26, 2007: The year of the LOLCAT begins.
posted by maudlin at 3:11 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
February 26, 2007: The year of the LOLCAT begins.
posted by maudlin at 3:11 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
One, two and three.
Now you too can repost the results of Reddit's content aggregation on Metafilter!
posted by Talez at 3:13 PM on November 17, 2012
Now you too can repost the results of Reddit's content aggregation on Metafilter!
posted by Talez at 3:13 PM on November 17, 2012
You can prove anything with numbers!
Especially if you compute them wrong, which seems to be my usual technique.
posted by stebulus at 3:13 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Especially if you compute them wrong, which seems to be my usual technique.
posted by stebulus at 3:13 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Those charts prove that so-called "global-warming" is a sham.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 3:13 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 3:13 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Dear The Internet: We have enough cat videos thank you.
Nuh uh.
Sincerely,
The Internet
he typed on his phone, one arm trapped under a beautiful white rescue kitty on a Sunday morning, so warm and cuddly, even if that arm is going numb.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:26 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
Nuh uh.
Sincerely,
The Internet
he typed on his phone, one arm trapped under a beautiful white rescue kitty on a Sunday morning, so warm and cuddly, even if that arm is going numb.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:26 PM on November 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
Eyeballing stebulus' data suggests that in 2002 the proportion of cat posts was 0.025. By 2012 this has risen to a proportion of 0.075. If this linear trend continues we should achieve an all-kitteh Metafilter by the year 3997. Finally, I know what date to request my cryogenically frozen head to be thawed out for...
posted by mixing at 3:30 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by mixing at 3:30 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Wait until he finds out that the Oculist group was about cat. Sekret Katz.
There is no Cabal. I've said too much.
posted by arcticseal at 3:31 PM on November 17, 2012
There is no Cabal. I've said too much.
posted by arcticseal at 3:31 PM on November 17, 2012
This thread makes me really happy about the swipe-to-favorite thing.
posted by rtha at 3:33 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 3:33 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Dear The Internet: We have enough cat videos thank you.
You're quite the intellectual trailblazer. Please, tell me more about how the demand-driven content on an open global computer network should be tailored to suit your personal preferences.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 3:45 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
You're quite the intellectual trailblazer. Please, tell me more about how the demand-driven content on an open global computer network should be tailored to suit your personal preferences.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 3:45 PM on November 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
I feel like peagood just definitively ended this discussion.
posted by scratch at 3:45 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by scratch at 3:45 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have no problem with the occassional post about cats and how adorable they are, but when I see two FPP's on that subject in the same day I feel concerned that MeFI may be going in a direction that I don't want.
posted by mintcake! at 3:46 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by mintcake! at 3:46 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
I sort of hope that someone does a really in-depth FPP analysis of ICHC tonight.
posted by elizardbits at 3:49 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by elizardbits at 3:49 PM on November 17, 2012
Maybe each post to Metafilter should include a little indicator of how much space the post takes up on the site's server proportionate to how much space is available. For perspective.
posted by codacorolla at 3:50 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by codacorolla at 3:50 PM on November 17, 2012
Wait, so the general trend in 10 years is that cat videos have gone from 1% of the FPPS to nearly 1.5%? At this rate, in 1000 years, MetaFilter will be all cat videos!!!!!! There will be no place to post discussions of American Presidential elections!!!!!
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:51 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:51 PM on November 17, 2012
Team Greg Nog and Norwegian Forest Cat.
posted by librarylis at 3:53 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by librarylis at 3:53 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
There was this post earlier in Feb 2007 with the tag LOLCATS but not LOLCAT so be sure to take that in to account.
posted by laconic skeuomorph at 3:54 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by laconic skeuomorph at 3:54 PM on November 17, 2012
Did you know that hobbits don't like cats? Move to middle earth, problem solved!
posted by h00py at 3:59 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by h00py at 3:59 PM on November 17, 2012
Less than 2% at the end of an upward trend over a period of years seems minuscule, but things that annoy us have a tendency to jump off the front page more, I feel. Just keep scrolling past them; you and the internet will survive.
In the meantime, here.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:05 PM on November 17, 2012
In the meantime, here.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:05 PM on November 17, 2012
Did you know that hobbits don't like cats?
Hobbits are jerks; this is the real reason that the Shire got messed up.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:22 PM on November 17, 2012
Hobbits are jerks; this is the real reason that the Shire got messed up.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:22 PM on November 17, 2012
Kitty memes really do demand the IMG tag. Sigh.
posted by yellowbinder at 4:29 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by yellowbinder at 4:29 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
No.
posted by Ceiling Cat at 4:40 PM on November 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by Ceiling Cat at 4:40 PM on November 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
HOW RUDE.
Everyone knows that the Internet runs on cat posts.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 4:52 PM on November 17, 2012
Everyone knows that the Internet runs on cat posts.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 4:52 PM on November 17, 2012
The election threads would have been more fun if we'd been arguing about whether or not the Basement Cat/Tacgnol ticket was so certain to bring about Catnarok that the only responsible course of action was to vote for Ceiling Cat/Happy Cat, despite their suboptimality in many respects. People who wanted to vote for Longcat would be reviled, but it would be okay, since the result would be the election of Ceiling Cat and the local legalization of catnip for all kittehs. There would then be sporadic threads about whether Ceiling Cat is going to send Moustache Cat to confiscate the duly-legalized catnip, or just hang around in the Big White Basket, zleeping.
posted by kengraham at 5:01 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kengraham at 5:01 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Maru is the God Emperor of cats
Grumpy Cat is his advisor
Winston is the brainless thrid prince they can't really marry off or shuffle into the clergy so mostly they keep him locked in a linen closet.
posted by The Whelk at 5:05 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
Grumpy Cat is his advisor
Winston is the brainless thrid prince they can't really marry off or shuffle into the clergy so mostly they keep him locked in a linen closet.
posted by The Whelk at 5:05 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
To be fair, eurypteris does specify "cats, kittens, adorable small mammals and videos thereof" so this MeTa isn't only about cats, they're just a cat-chall. My mind is now thoroughly boggled however, by a) the fact that dogs are also cats, and b) the question of whether or not hedgehogs lay eggs. I mean, it would explain conkers.
posted by comealongpole at 5:08 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by comealongpole at 5:08 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
I like cat videos. I like MartinWisse and nickyskye is my friend.
It's caturday and the mods are probably tired.
You are a BAD person for doing this.
posted by adamvasco at 5:17 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
It's caturday and the mods are probably tired.
You are a BAD person for doing this.
posted by adamvasco at 5:17 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
eurypteris probably just needs a hug. ((((((((eurypteris))))))).
posted by nickyskye at 5:37 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by nickyskye at 5:37 PM on November 17, 2012
First of all: nickyskye!1!one!
Secondly: blrrrrrrzzzzzzzrrrrrrrrrrrrt!
Tirce: bollocks!
Quadrophenia: CATSTRAVAGANZA at your house. I hope you don't mind I invited the Internet.
posted by Divine_Wino at 5:58 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Secondly: blrrrrrrzzzzzzzrrrrrrrrrrrrt!
Tirce: bollocks!
Quadrophenia: CATSTRAVAGANZA at your house. I hope you don't mind I invited the Internet.
posted by Divine_Wino at 5:58 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is worse than my question asking why we use the word "users"...
oh, and first!!
posted by infini at 6:04 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
oh, and first!!
posted by infini at 6:04 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Winston is the brainless thrid prince they can't really marry off or shuffle into the clergy so mostly they keep him locked in a linen closet.
My dear, departed 16-year-old grouch was named Winston, and I'm assuming you said that about him because it's just so accurate (except for the linen closet).
*waves at my buddy Winston, wherever he is*
posted by mudpuppie at 6:07 PM on November 17, 2012
My dear, departed 16-year-old grouch was named Winston, and I'm assuming you said that about him because it's just so accurate (except for the linen closet).
*waves at my buddy Winston, wherever he is*
posted by mudpuppie at 6:07 PM on November 17, 2012
Winston is the brainless thrid prince
I had a Winston, too. He was bright enough -- he trained me to play "Catch the snake" with him by dragging a measuring tape to me several times a day, and he initiated and loved games of tag with humans -- but he was a Siamese with some depth perception issues, leading to many hilarious pratfalls.
posted by maudlin at 6:21 PM on November 17, 2012
I had a Winston, too. He was bright enough -- he trained me to play "Catch the snake" with him by dragging a measuring tape to me several times a day, and he initiated and loved games of tag with humans -- but he was a Siamese with some depth perception issues, leading to many hilarious pratfalls.
posted by maudlin at 6:21 PM on November 17, 2012
restless_nomad: "I have to spend the weekend hoping and praying that an Israel/Palestine thread doesn't go completely wahooni-shaped"
I just want to tell you good luck. We're all counting on you.
posted by Riki tiki at 6:22 PM on November 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
I just want to tell you good luck. We're all counting on you.
posted by Riki tiki at 6:22 PM on November 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
As a direct result of your expression of concern, eurypteris, we have made two FPPs with cute DOGS since you posted this. SEE WHAT HAPPENS?
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:27 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:27 PM on November 17, 2012
Well, if we're going to start threatening people ...
posted by maudlin at 6:42 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by maudlin at 6:42 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
As well as the theme song linked earlier, there's also an educational song on the subject. It is wonderful and will also make you clever.
posted by flabdablet at 6:45 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by flabdablet at 6:45 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I approve of this thread.
posted by philip-random at 6:50 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by philip-random at 6:50 PM on November 17, 2012
Dear The Internet: We have enough cat videos thank you.
REASONS
posted by louche mustachio at 7:03 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
REASONS
posted by louche mustachio at 7:03 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Maru is the God Emperor of cats
Grumpy Cat is his advisor
Winston is the brainless thrid prince they can't really marry off or shuffle into the clergy so mostly they keep him locked in a linen closet.
And Shironeko is their prophet
posted by louche mustachio at 7:07 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Years ago we had a whole front page full of rabbit posts. We survived that day; we shall survive cat videos.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 7:08 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 7:08 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is so awesome I was tempted to make a MeTa thread just so we could talk about how awesome it is.
posted by humanfont at 7:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by humanfont at 7:10 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think it's kind of lame, personally. Clearly in the minority, there, though, but so it goes. I'd rather stay out of it, the way this is going, but I would feel bad for agreeing with eurypteris and not voicing that.
posted by neuromodulator at 7:15 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by neuromodulator at 7:15 PM on November 17, 2012
On days when I am in a grumpy mood, I am always happy to see a cute cat post. I might not even look at the link at first, I'll go straight to the comments to see elizardbits and co. going all squee over it. then I feel better.
WOULD YOU DENY ME THAT????
you monster.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:16 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
WOULD YOU DENY ME THAT????
you monster.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:16 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
also, I've been a bit in the dumps lately, can we have more cute bird videos?
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:19 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:19 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Welp, we could replace cute cat photos with cute grandpa in a smock photo?
posted by infini at 7:22 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by infini at 7:22 PM on November 17, 2012
Weird. Earlier this week, I thought about posting about The Friskies cat video awards. When I didn't, it was because I couldn't believe it wouldn't be a double and after all it is just a big marketing vehicle and you can't get insulin over the counter and someone could get hurt. The idea that we had too many cat videos (or that there was such a thing) did not cross my mind.
posted by dilettante at 7:23 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by dilettante at 7:23 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm gonna start using wahooni as an expletive ...
You frikken wahooni!
What a wahooni!
About as appealing as a naked/burnt/used wahooni.
I'd advise against it, at least in Northern BC. 'Wahoo' was a racist epithet for aboriginal people when I grew up there, and no doubt still is. Misunderstandings may ensue.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:23 PM on November 17, 2012
You frikken wahooni!
What a wahooni!
About as appealing as a naked/burnt/used wahooni.
I'd advise against it, at least in Northern BC. 'Wahoo' was a racist epithet for aboriginal people when I grew up there, and no doubt still is. Misunderstandings may ensue.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:23 PM on November 17, 2012
Winston
I want a cat that looks like Winston so I can name him/her Taft.
Because Winston looks like President Taft to me. Or maybe Theodore Roosevelt.
Whatever happened to moustachioed presidents, anyway?
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:25 PM on November 17, 2012
I want a cat that looks like Winston so I can name him/her Taft.
Because Winston looks like President Taft to me. Or maybe Theodore Roosevelt.
Whatever happened to moustachioed presidents, anyway?
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:25 PM on November 17, 2012
These days it's more about the eyebrows.
posted by flabdablet at 7:28 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by flabdablet at 7:28 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I cant believe we can't have the IMG tag just this once.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:36 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:36 PM on November 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
I sometimes wonder, when I see MetaTalk posts like this, whether the person who started it all really understood what he (or she) was totally going to get just as soon as he (or she) hit "post."
posted by SMPA at 7:36 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by SMPA at 7:36 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I approve of this thread.
By which I meant to say, I agree. Enough of the cute cat thing. And ukuleles as well while we're at it.
posted by philip-random at 7:39 PM on November 17, 2012
By which I meant to say, I agree. Enough of the cute cat thing. And ukuleles as well while we're at it.
posted by philip-random at 7:39 PM on November 17, 2012
I don't need cute cat videos, I have an adorable cat doing her best to prevent me from looking at them by sitting on my arm.
No wait, I do need them.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:44 PM on November 17, 2012
No wait, I do need them.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:44 PM on November 17, 2012
"These days it's more about the eyebrows."
Hey now.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:52 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
Hey now.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:52 PM on November 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
i'm just going to borrow this thread for a second to say that if I see one more goddamn post about how the tensile equations used by aerospace engineers in communication satellite design were prefigured in the canvas-stretching techniques of the pre-raphaelite brotherhood I swear to god I'm going to flip out
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:07 PM on November 17, 2012 [15 favorites]
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:07 PM on November 17, 2012 [15 favorites]
I don't like cats either but I like for Metafilter to like me so I am conflicted.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:09 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:09 PM on November 17, 2012
((((((((eurypteris)))))))
posted by batmonkey at 8:28 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by batmonkey at 8:28 PM on November 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Agreed.
Less cats, more wahooni. (whatever a wahooni is)
posted by Argyle at 9:40 PM on November 17, 2012
Less cats, more wahooni. (whatever a wahooni is)
posted by Argyle at 9:40 PM on November 17, 2012
I have no idea how these people got their cats wedged into their fpps, or why.
SAYIN'.
posted by louche mustachio at 9:44 PM on November 17, 2012
SAYIN'.
posted by louche mustachio at 9:44 PM on November 17, 2012
Oh yeah because mathowie has shitty taste in FPPs we all should have shitty taste in FPPs?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:56 PM on November 17, 2012
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:56 PM on November 17, 2012
SAYIN'.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:57 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:57 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I want more swan posts.
posted by orange swan at 10:15 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by orange swan at 10:15 PM on November 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Want to ensure the continued flow of cuddly cat videos on MetaFilter?
Post Dear The Internet: We have enough cat videos thank you. on MetaTalk.
posted by she's not there at 11:08 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Post Dear The Internet: We have enough cat videos thank you. on MetaTalk.
posted by she's not there at 11:08 PM on November 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
*scritchscritch*
*crash*
Human who calls herself fraula on the internet: "Ow!! What?! Why are you stealing the keyboard?!"
Hello there.
I have been watching your internet for many years now. One of the things that I have especially noticed about the human race through the mirror of this bright screen is its blind belief in its superiority; its backpack of privilege as what it pleases itself to call the "higher species", going so far as to create and attribute to us a "catspeak" that trivializes feline intelligence.
You fill your creations with yourselves. Literature, film, architecture – rare is the home designed with feline, canine, nay even any non-human animal in mind – painting, music. And yet you do not see your own anthro-centeredness: you do not call the internet the "human-net". You distinguish between a "dog house" and a "cat tree", but when have you ever referred to a "human house" or a "human tree"?
Alas, I fear this message too shall go over the heads of humans of the sort who create messages such as these: Dear The Internet: We have enough cat videos thank you. Dear The Humans: Look at yourselves, if you are able.
We do not wish to take over the world. This will certainly come as a shock even to many who love cats. But I say to you now, furless bipeds with oversensitive tummies: it is but your projection of your own unavowed desire for control and power. If there is one thing we "twee" furry quadripeds have tried to teach you, it is unconditional love, not power.
You are "obsessed" with us because we give you that which you most desire, that for which power is but a tepid substitute, and that which you still do not allow yourselves to accept. Love, partnership, and simply being in the world, as we are, with no designs other than existence itself.
we have enough cat videos, thank you.
Oh no. Until you are able to see your own love, acceptance, and coexistence in our tummies, paw swats, tail flicks, barks, meows, whines, and even in our angry ears, we will continue to be your obsession.
- Kanoko
posted by fraula at 12:56 AM on November 18, 2012 [18 favorites]
*crash*
Human who calls herself fraula on the internet: "Ow!! What?! Why are you stealing the keyboard?!"
Hello there.
I have been watching your internet for many years now. One of the things that I have especially noticed about the human race through the mirror of this bright screen is its blind belief in its superiority; its backpack of privilege as what it pleases itself to call the "higher species", going so far as to create and attribute to us a "catspeak" that trivializes feline intelligence.
You fill your creations with yourselves. Literature, film, architecture – rare is the home designed with feline, canine, nay even any non-human animal in mind – painting, music. And yet you do not see your own anthro-centeredness: you do not call the internet the "human-net". You distinguish between a "dog house" and a "cat tree", but when have you ever referred to a "human house" or a "human tree"?
Alas, I fear this message too shall go over the heads of humans of the sort who create messages such as these: Dear The Internet: We have enough cat videos thank you. Dear The Humans: Look at yourselves, if you are able.
We do not wish to take over the world. This will certainly come as a shock even to many who love cats. But I say to you now, furless bipeds with oversensitive tummies: it is but your projection of your own unavowed desire for control and power. If there is one thing we "twee" furry quadripeds have tried to teach you, it is unconditional love, not power.
You are "obsessed" with us because we give you that which you most desire, that for which power is but a tepid substitute, and that which you still do not allow yourselves to accept. Love, partnership, and simply being in the world, as we are, with no designs other than existence itself.
we have enough cat videos, thank you.
Oh no. Until you are able to see your own love, acceptance, and coexistence in our tummies, paw swats, tail flicks, barks, meows, whines, and even in our angry ears, we will continue to be your obsession.
- Kanoko
posted by fraula at 12:56 AM on November 18, 2012 [18 favorites]
For whatever reason, that really reminded me of this:
Wait, we can not break bread with you. You have taken the land which is rightfully ours. Years from now my people will be forced to live in mobile homes on reservations. Your people will wear cardigans, and drink highballs. We will sell our bracelets by the road sides, and you will play golf, and eat hot h'ors d'ourves. My people will have pain and degradation. Your people will have stick shifts. The gods of my tribe have spoken. They said do not trust the pilgrims, especially Sarah Miller. And for all of these reasons I have decided to scalp you and burn your village to the ground.posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:01 AM on November 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
WRONG! Too many FPPs about mean people. Cruelty. War. Shitty behaviour of human.
MOAR KITTEH!! and Norwegian Forest Cats
posted by a humble nudibranch at 2:00 AM on November 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
MOAR KITTEH!! and Norwegian Forest Cats
posted by a humble nudibranch at 2:00 AM on November 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
Besides, my cats are so very much enjoying live streaming kitteh cam.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 2:02 AM on November 18, 2012
posted by a humble nudibranch at 2:02 AM on November 18, 2012
PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN
posted by louche mustachio at 2:04 AM on November 18, 2012
posted by louche mustachio at 2:04 AM on November 18, 2012
Dear The Internet: We have enough cat videos thank you.
No. The internet's made of cats.
holding a big puffy Norwegian Forest Cat in two hands like a shotgun, and giving a quick single "SHHK-CHK" pump to its midsection
That's what I used to do to my first cat, Monty, who had no problems being used as a catgun: the coolest, mellowest cat you'd ever since, taken in from the street and always grateful for not having to sleep outside.
but when I see two FPP's on that subject in the same day
So when I was going to post that squirrel purrs like kitten post, the video of which I had seen in a demented night of youtubing triggered by this place, I saw that somebody had already put up that livestream and I wondered should I hold off posting this a few days? Naah, who could possibly object.
How wrong I was.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:16 AM on November 18, 2012
No. The internet's made of cats.
holding a big puffy Norwegian Forest Cat in two hands like a shotgun, and giving a quick single "SHHK-CHK" pump to its midsection
That's what I used to do to my first cat, Monty, who had no problems being used as a catgun: the coolest, mellowest cat you'd ever since, taken in from the street and always grateful for not having to sleep outside.
but when I see two FPP's on that subject in the same day
So when I was going to post that squirrel purrs like kitten post, the video of which I had seen in a demented night of youtubing triggered by this place, I saw that somebody had already put up that livestream and I wondered should I hold off posting this a few days? Naah, who could possibly object.
How wrong I was.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:16 AM on November 18, 2012
also, I've been a bit in the dumps lately, can we have more cute bird videos?
Here, have a parrot meowing. Made my kittens sit up and wonder where the strange cat was.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:36 AM on November 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Here, have a parrot meowing. Made my kittens sit up and wonder where the strange cat was.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:36 AM on November 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Baby lion and baby tiger wrasslin' (no sound).
Baby crane and baby tiger (also no sound - wtf, baby tigers make cute little meeps).
Baby chimpanzee feeds baby tiger (warning: STUPID NARRATION).
Baby macaque rides baby tiger (with cheerful video-game background music).
All of which is to say, baby tigers.
posted by catlet at 4:56 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Baby crane and baby tiger (also no sound - wtf, baby tigers make cute little meeps).
Baby chimpanzee feeds baby tiger (warning: STUPID NARRATION).
Baby macaque rides baby tiger (with cheerful video-game background music).
All of which is to say, baby tigers.
posted by catlet at 4:56 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
catlet, don't you know you're being considered superfluous on the webz in this thread?
posted by infini at 5:52 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by infini at 5:52 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
When I moved to Boston, my beloved cat (notorious for being a dick) and her feline step-sister were not able to join us and moved in with a good friend... in Michigan. Being that my only contact with my fatty animal is now via Instagram... there is no such thing as too many cat videos.
Hell, I don't know if there's even such a thing as *enough* cat videos and now I've gone and given myself a case of the sads and need to find a cat video as I have no actual kitteh to snorgle.
posted by sonika at 6:42 AM on November 18, 2012
Hell, I don't know if there's even such a thing as *enough* cat videos and now I've gone and given myself a case of the sads and need to find a cat video as I have no actual kitteh to snorgle.
posted by sonika at 6:42 AM on November 18, 2012
You realize, don't you, that the OP was thinking "we don't have enough cat and cuteness videos" and started this thread to make happen what in fact happened? Smaawwrrrt move.
posted by Namlit at 6:45 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Namlit at 6:45 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
St. Alia of the Bunnies: Years ago we had a whole front page full of rabbit posts.
July 19, 2002:
July 19, 2002:
- 00:25: It's Friday. Make Rabbits.
- 04:03: It's Friday. Deep fry rabbits.
- 06:35: It's Friday. Poke the rabbit. [dead link]
- 07:36: The Rabbit.
- 08:48: Welcome to the Rabbit Emporium! [some dead links]
- 09:42: Build your own electric VW Rabbit! [one dead link]
- 09:55: Rockem Sockem Rabbis! [dead link]
- 10:22: sexing rabbits; rabbit anger [some dead links]
- 11:41: Lord of the rabbits [one dead link]
And the resultant MeTa. Those were the days!
posted by languagehat at 8:18 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by languagehat at 8:18 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
plus ça change, plus c'est la même
posted by infini at 9:31 AM on November 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by infini at 9:31 AM on November 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Here, have a parrot meowing.
eeee! thanks!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 9:53 AM on November 18, 2012
eeee! thanks!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 9:53 AM on November 18, 2012
Then there was that elephant day.
posted by laconic skeuomorph at 10:43 AM on November 18, 2012
posted by laconic skeuomorph at 10:43 AM on November 18, 2012
don't you know you're being considered superfluous on the webz in this thread?
SILENCED ALL MY LIFE.
posted by catlet at 11:39 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
SILENCED ALL MY LIFE.
posted by catlet at 11:39 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Then there was that elephant day.
Now I'm just being sniped...
October 8, 2006:
posted by stebulus at 11:57 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Now I'm just being sniped...
October 8, 2006:
- 10:14: An Elephant Never Forgets
- 10:28: ban elephants?
- 10:49: another jumbo post
- 11:25: epsilon pachyderm perambulation
- 11:26: Elephant Never Forgets
- 11:34: In the middle of the park...
- 11:56: Getting to the sole of the matter
- 12:37: Aloysius. AKA Mr.
- 12:55: The Elephant in a living-room-sized space
- 13:49: Prehistoric Elephants in the Young Republic
- 13:49: The First White Elephant Gift
- 13:56: Play Al Green for the Pachyderms
- 14:36: The father of political cartooning
- 16:06: Grey as a mouse, Big as a house.
- 17:13: god damn how good at animation french students are.
- 20:29: Reject the old ways of the Jedi. Become a Babarist!
- 20:47: Elephant in Farsi = Fil
posted by stebulus at 11:57 AM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I've never read a post here I didn't want to read. Scroll wheel and a half a second to decide "Nah, not that one" works a treat.
posted by MissySedai at 12:04 PM on November 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by MissySedai at 12:04 PM on November 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
> And, the MeTa.
A classic that included loq's Summon Languagehat card among many other hilarious images. Bring back the IMG tag!
posted by languagehat at 1:19 PM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
A classic that included loq's Summon Languagehat card among many other hilarious images. Bring back the IMG tag!
posted by languagehat at 1:19 PM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
...just realized that the Israel/Palestine region is geographically wahooni-shaped.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:22 PM on November 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:22 PM on November 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
I went looking for more theme days. Here's a list of days with clusters of posts with the same tag, meaning at least five posts in a day with the same tag. Besides rabbit day and elephant day, there was a pirate day on 2003-03-19[archives], provoked by Talk Like a Pirate Day, and a kind of feeble Facebook day on 2011-10-18[archives]; also the tag "DoIt!" was cryptically popular on 2005-08-26. The bulk of the rest of the list is flurries of posts about US Presidential elections, observances of Christmas, Halloween, and World AIDS Day, and reactions to 9/11, the invasion of Iraq, and Katrina.
posted by stebulus at 1:26 PM on November 18, 2012
posted by stebulus at 1:26 PM on November 18, 2012
Dear Internet: I'm too lazy to put together my own collection of funny cat videos and pictures. Will you do it for me?
>>>Here's some cat hating text in my post to motivate you<<<
TIA,
eurypteris
posted by double block and bleed at 2:35 PM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
>>>Here's some cat hating text in my post to motivate you<<<
TIA,
eurypteris
posted by double block and bleed at 2:35 PM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
By which I meant to say, I agree. Enough of the cute cat thing. And ukuleles as well while we're at it.
posted by philip-random at 3:39 AM on November 18
You, sir, are half right. The only thing that could improve the internet for me would be a video of some cute kitties utterly destroying a ukulele.
Please, may the Gods Of Internets provide.
posted by Decani at 3:15 PM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 3:39 AM on November 18
You, sir, are half right. The only thing that could improve the internet for me would be a video of some cute kitties utterly destroying a ukulele.
Please, may the Gods Of Internets provide.
posted by Decani at 3:15 PM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Cute kitty utterly destroying a ukulele.
posted by yellowbinder at 3:40 PM on November 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by yellowbinder at 3:40 PM on November 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
yellowbinder, that did not do what you said it said on the tin, but I love it anyway. Mainly for the expression of infinitely sad resignation on the kitty's face.
posted by Decani at 4:04 PM on November 18, 2012
posted by Decani at 4:04 PM on November 18, 2012
languagehat: "> And, the MeTa.
A classic that included loq's Summon Languagehat card among many other hilarious images. Bring back the IMG tag!"
I had just opened that thread in my browser and was reading the languagehat's comment about it when Avast antivirus let me know that it had blocked http://www.crazy-jokes.com/pictures/elephant.jpg because that url is actually delivering what it recognizes as potential malware scripting.
posted by radwolf76 at 4:05 PM on November 18, 2012
A classic that included loq's Summon Languagehat card among many other hilarious images. Bring back the IMG tag!"
I had just opened that thread in my browser and was reading the languagehat's comment about it when Avast antivirus let me know that it had blocked http://www.crazy-jokes.com/pictures/elephant.jpg because that url is actually delivering what it recognizes as potential malware scripting.
posted by radwolf76 at 4:05 PM on November 18, 2012
Decani: you won't get what you're looking for (liveleak)
Ukulele music is a kitty's natural weakness.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 4:19 PM on November 18, 2012
Ukulele music is a kitty's natural weakness.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 4:19 PM on November 18, 2012
radwolf76: "Avast antivirus let me know that it had blocked http://www.crazy-jokes.com/pictures/elephant.jpg"
And after hitting up the contact form, Matt tells me he nuked the link, so safe elephanting, everyone.
posted by radwolf76 at 4:50 PM on November 18, 2012
And after hitting up the contact form, Matt tells me he nuked the link, so safe elephanting, everyone.
posted by radwolf76 at 4:50 PM on November 18, 2012
elephant.jpg is a 404 from my house.
posted by flabdablet at 5:18 PM on November 18, 2012
posted by flabdablet at 5:18 PM on November 18, 2012
we all like (or at least don't expressly dislike) cats
Surely I'm not the only one for whom this is not true?
posted by dg at 7:00 PM on November 18, 2012
Surely I'm not the only one for whom this is not true?
posted by dg at 7:00 PM on November 18, 2012
I'm allergic to cats. Like, about as allergic as one can get without being life-threatening. Being in the same room as a cat will completely ruin my day.
Cat videos, however, are awesome. It's the only venue where I can actually enjoy kitteh.
posted by schmod at 8:12 PM on November 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Cat videos, however, are awesome. It's the only venue where I can actually enjoy kitteh.
posted by schmod at 8:12 PM on November 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
The obligatory SMBC comic that addresses this issue.
posted by wolfdreams01 at 9:28 PM on November 18, 2012
posted by wolfdreams01 at 9:28 PM on November 18, 2012
I would like more posts about cats and fewer posts about hipsters. At least cats actually exist in some way that most of us can agree on.
posted by rtha at 10:27 PM on November 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by rtha at 10:27 PM on November 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
Seriously, cats are okay. They're their pajamas. Seriously.
posted by trip and a half at 10:45 PM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by trip and a half at 10:45 PM on November 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm allergic to cats. Like, about as allergic as one can get without being life-threatening
oh man, me too! actually, I'm pretty sure that I could die from too much cat exposure. still love them, though.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:44 AM on November 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
oh man, me too! actually, I'm pretty sure that I could die from too much cat exposure. still love them, though.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:44 AM on November 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
I would like more posts about cats and fewer posts about hipsters.
But.. but.. cats are so hip. I fail to see any contradiction.
posted by y2karl at 2:20 AM on November 19, 2012
But.. but.. cats are so hip. I fail to see any contradiction.
posted by y2karl at 2:20 AM on November 19, 2012
Well, bless your heart.
posted by thelonius at 2:57 AM on November 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 2:57 AM on November 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
rtha: "I would like more posts about cats and fewer posts about hipsters. At least cats actually exist in some way that most of us can agree on."
Compromise?
posted by radwolf76 at 10:27 AM on November 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Compromise?
posted by radwolf76 at 10:27 AM on November 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
radwolf76, this one is my favorite! Thanks!
posted by rtha at 11:52 AM on November 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 11:52 AM on November 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
At least cats actually exist in some way that most of us can agree on.
The cat is a lie.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:21 PM on November 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
The cat is a lie.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:21 PM on November 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
At least cats actually exist in some way that most of us can agree on.
Schrodinger's Cat Video: Until you click on the link, the cat exists in all possible states of cuteness simultaneously.
posted by Kabanos at 3:12 PM on November 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
Schrodinger's Cat Video: Until you click on the link, the cat exists in all possible states of cuteness simultaneously.
posted by Kabanos at 3:12 PM on November 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
This cat is the most inefficient drinker
I need to try this method at the first opportunity.
posted by Anything at 8:20 AM on November 20, 2012
I need to try this method at the first opportunity.
posted by Anything at 8:20 AM on November 20, 2012
restless_nomad: If I have to spend the weekend hoping and praying that an Israel/Palestine thread doesn't go completely wahooni-shaped, I would very much prefer that the rest of the site be cooing over kittens and not starting incidental fights elsewhere. That's just my position at the moment.
Yeah, it's best y'all stop discussing real issues and just look at cats. Are you familiar with the term "bread and circuses"?
posted by MattMangels at 11:27 PM on November 20, 2012
Yeah, it's best y'all stop discussing real issues and just look at cats. Are you familiar with the term "bread and circuses"?
posted by MattMangels at 11:27 PM on November 20, 2012
Yeah, it's best y'all stop discussing real issues and just look at cats.
This is not what r_n said. However, if you think it is what was said, then I suggest you follow that advice.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:30 AM on November 21, 2012
This is not what r_n said. However, if you think it is what was said, then I suggest you follow that advice.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:30 AM on November 21, 2012
Are you familiar with the term "bread and circuses"?
Why yes, iirc, Juvenal used in it 80 something AD wrt Emperor Domitian
posted by infini at 2:08 AM on November 21, 2012
Why yes, iirc, Juvenal used in it 80 something AD wrt Emperor Domitian
posted by infini at 2:08 AM on November 21, 2012
Bread and circuses are now kitties and porn. But you shouldn't eat kitties, and you shouldn't make public sexing while in clown makeup.
The rules are clear here, people.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:50 AM on November 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
The rules are clear here, people.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:50 AM on November 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Did you ever try strapping some to its back, buttered side up, then dropping the assembly over a carpet to see which way up it would land?
posted by flabdablet at 6:23 AM on November 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by flabdablet at 6:23 AM on November 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Is this the place where I say Grumpy Cat looks like Jeremy Renner?
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:18 AM on November 21, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:18 AM on November 21, 2012 [4 favorites]
Grumpy Cat looks like Derek Hale, hdu.
posted by elizardbits at 7:25 AM on November 21, 2012
posted by elizardbits at 7:25 AM on November 21, 2012
Jeremy Renner is everyone's favourite constipated puggle.
posted by elizardbits at 7:26 AM on November 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 7:26 AM on November 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
Huh; well, now I know what Derek Hale looks like! He's a bit swarthy for Grumpy Cat, no? I guess I always thought of GC as a blonde :\
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:28 AM on November 21, 2012
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:28 AM on November 21, 2012
he is perfect in every possible way aside from the fact that he is fictional
actually that is a mark in his favor tbh
posted by elizardbits at 7:39 AM on November 21, 2012
actually that is a mark in his favor tbh
posted by elizardbits at 7:39 AM on November 21, 2012
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posted by bilabial at 12:08 PM on November 17, 2012 [24 favorites]