When I was your age, this space was for jokes.

February 7, 2013 7:35 AM

I like the sidebar on the front page, and how it shows nifty stuff and contact activity. When I'm on my phone, I don't have that, and it makes me feel sad inside. Would the powers that be consider adding a line to the menu on the mobile site that would link to the sidebar content? In my head, this looks exactly like what we have on the front page, except tinier and by itself.
posted by phunniemee to Feature Requests at 7:35 AM (84 comments total)

Bookmark it!
posted by m@f at 7:38 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

Lifehack: Add yourself as a contact and you can see your own activity on the sidebar.

Lifehack #2: When you wash your hands, use soap instead of old milk, this will leave them smelling fresher.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:39 AM on February 7 [12 favorites]

Lifehack: Add yourself as a contact and you can see your own activity on the sidebar.

You doubt my narcissism. I was the first contact I ever had. ALSO THE BEST CONTACT.
posted by phunniemee at 7:41 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]

phunniemee: "ALSO THE BEST CONTACT."

*sniffle*
posted by zarq at 7:45 AM on February 7

Don't worry zarq you'll always be number two in my book.

giggle
posted by shakespeherian at 7:45 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]

The mobile menu is already very long so we're hesitant to add any more. There's already a link to "Best Of" in the menu and that covers everything on the sideblog. (If you're more attached to the sideblog view, you can bookmark it as m@f mentioned.) If you click the "Recent Activity" menu item, you'll get a sub-menu on the next page that includes "Recent Activity: My Contacts". You can tap that to see your contact activity, or you can bookmark it for quick access.
posted by pb (staff) at 7:46 AM on February 7

LOL
posted by zarq at 7:47 AM on February 7

I loved Star Trek: Best Contact!
posted by griphus at 7:50 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

The mobile menu is already very long so we're hesitant to add any more.

I just had a thought, and as my knowledge of how to make things happen on the internet stops and ends at the blink tag, I have no idea how difficult this would be to implement, BUT:

Is it even remotely possible or something you'd consider doing to have some sort of check box thing in preferences to toggle what items you see in the mobile menu? Like, I never use the My Ask or My MeFi, and I don't ever hang out in Music, so having the option to hide those would declutter things. (And free things up for a sidebar link, bwa ha ha.)

Adding a bookmark to the stuff I want to see seems like a perfectly fine workaround, though.
posted by phunniemee at 7:53 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

Is it even remotely possible or something you'd consider doing to have some sort of check box thing in preferences to toggle what items you see in the mobile menu?

We're super wary of making the user preferences page into a morass of checkboxes. So while this is totally technically possible, the thought of adding more checkboxes is not something we'd consider unless it solves a fairly big problem.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:55 AM on February 7

It would solve the problem of the world not working exactly in all the little ways that I want it to, though. But at-home birthday-cake-for-breakfast delivery would solve a lot of those, too.

Also: lol morass

Seriously, though, that's totally fine. I hadn't even considered bookmarking links.
posted by phunniemee at 7:58 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

Lifehack: Add yourself as a contact and you can see your own activity on the sidebar.

Why would I want to do this ? I drink to forget what I've done.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:03 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]

When you were my age, a joke was a saber tooth tiger in your cave. It killed a lot of people, but hey, screw 'em if they can't take a joke, right?
posted by boo_radley at 8:08 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]

I drink to forget what I've done.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 11:03 AM on February 7 [+] [!]

I drink to forget what you've done as well.
posted by OmieWise at 8:19 AM on February 7 [4 favorites]

Do what I do: never use the awkward mobile site and instead view the beautiful full site on your awkward yet beautiful handheld device.
posted by item at 8:48 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

One day you will all drink to forget what I have done.
posted by item at 8:49 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]

"One day".
posted by boo_radley at 8:58 AM on February 7

If grape soda is involved, make it two days.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:19 AM on February 7

If grape soda is involved, I'd be grateful if someone scrapes me off the ceiling after the sugar rush subsides.
posted by arcticseal at 9:34 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

Speaking of the mobile site, in my Android browser the top post on the Blue right now is cutting off the rightmost letters in the blockquote on the front page, but not on the post page itself.


I can double tap to zoom out, so it's no big deal or anything. Anyone else getting this?
posted by ODiV at 9:43 AM on February 7

If the lack of a sidebar makes someone feel "sad inside", how does this person get through the day? Geeze.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:45 AM on February 7

Probably with wit and a penchant for colorfully describing their desires and concerns.
posted by OmieWise at 9:49 AM on February 7 [7 favorites]

How do so many people manage to misspell 'jeez'?
posted by shakespeherian at 9:53 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

how does this person get through the day?

I get sad inside when I'm out of lemon juice or when I trip over the carpet or when people are being mean to each other on the internet. Sometimes February is just like that. Taking swipes at people trying to solve problems for themselves and others is not helping.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:53 AM on February 7 [16 favorites]

Anyone else getting this?

It should look better now. A post further down the page was pushing the margin out a bit.
posted by pb (staff) at 9:58 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

If the lack of a sidebar makes someone feel "sad inside", how does this person get through the day? Geeze.

Imagine how your comment makes them feel.

Go ahead, IMAGINE IT!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:02 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]

Ideefixe's face makes me feel sad inside.
posted by phunniemee at 10:06 AM on February 7

Comment. I meant comment.
posted by phunniemee at 10:06 AM on February 7 [9 favorites]

I love how the presence and non-use of the edit window allows for more interesting nuances of expression. I am now happy inside.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:24 AM on February 7 [4 favorites]

I feel dark and squishy inside.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:32 AM on February 7

Is it even remotely possible or something you'd consider doing to have some sort of check box thing in preferences to toggle what items you see in the mobile menu? Like, I never use the My Ask or My MeFi, and I don't ever hang out in Music

ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT MUSIC. ATTEMPT NO POSTING THERE.

*cries a little bit at the truth & beauty & sadness*
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:42 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

I feel dark and squishy inside.

Get your hand out of there! Sheesh!
posted by carsonb at 10:51 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

Lifehack: Add yourself as a contact and you can see your own activity on the sidebar.

This is not as easy as it would seem at first. You can't just visit your own profile page and click 'Add as a contact'. Instead, go to any other user's profile and click 'Add as a contact'. Then look to the URL—at the very end of it is the user who you've chosen's user number. Delete that and replace it with your own user number. Press Enter, and select your relationship(s) to yourself, and click the 'Add Contact' button. Boom.
posted by carsonb at 10:54 AM on February 7

When carsonb says "Boom" he means there should be a small explosion when you do this. If there isn't, set one off. Otherwise it doesn't work.
posted by griphus at 10:57 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]

Or a large explosion. Don't be picky.
posted by carsonb at 10:59 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

Then you should have used "BOOM" or possibly "Boom". It's like you didn't even read the manual.
posted by griphus at 11:00 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]

The manual wasn't the only thing lost in the explosion... about half my spouses went up in smoke too.
posted by carsonb at 11:02 AM on February 7

Can we have 'BOOM' added as one of the contact detail options?
posted by shakespeherian at 11:04 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]

Gender: BOOM
posted by boo_radley at 11:12 AM on February 7 [4 favorites]

Genderboom is best boom.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:29 AM on February 7

Enough small boom let's boom the boom.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:30 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]

Actually given the room and what we're doing here, a lapel mic might work better.
posted by carsonb at 11:36 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]

Enough small boom let's boom the boom.

The mere fact that you call it that tells me you're not ready.
posted by phunniemee at 11:38 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]

I am glad I am not the only one who pictures MeTa as the upstairs bedroom of the cocktail party host.
posted by griphus at 11:40 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]

Wow that came out completely wrong. And in reply to a completely different thing.
posted by griphus at 11:40 AM on February 7

griphus, do you know the secret to good comedy?
posted by boo_radley at 11:46 AM on February 7

A pile of coats in a chilly room?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:47 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]

Ghostbusters 2. The secret to good comedy is Ghostbusters 2.
A pile of coats in a chilly room is also Ghostbusters 2.
posted by carsonb at 11:50 AM on February 7

jessamyn: "A pile of coats in a chilly room?"

Once again, metafilter is responsible for me having inappropriate laughter times at work.
posted by boo_radley at 11:51 AM on February 7

TIM












ing.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:51 AM on February 7

TIM






TAMS
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:56 AM on February 7 [4 favorites]

You guys are genius. Totally starting a twitter for shakespeherian's cat.
posted by carsonb at 12:00 PM on February 7

I am glad I am not the only one who pictures MeTa as the upstairs bedroom of the cocktail party host.

Random trivia: While Neil Armstrong was busy trying to land on the moon, his wife was upstairs in their bedroom, siting on their bed with one of their sons with a giant map of the moon and William Anders, another astronaut. Anders was there talking her through all the mission sequences as Neil flew the lunar module to that historic landing. Downstairs, the house was full of guests.

Anders was said to have gleefully noted that he was in bed with Armstrong's wife when Neil and Buzz landed on the moon.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:01 PM on February 7 [6 favorites]

...which is an anagram of "cheapskate's hernias."
posted by griphus at 12:02 PM on February 7

I've never had one of comments summed up so succinctly and correctly.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:04 PM on February 7 [4 favorites]

Anders was in bed with Armstrong's wife? Mr. Gorsky was getting oral sex?

Apparently, everybody except for the astronauts was (not really) doing it during the moon landing .
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:30 PM on February 7

You guys are genius. Totally starting a twitter for shakespeherian's cat.

You got me a cat?!
posted by shakespeherian at 12:41 PM on February 7 [1 favorite]

TIM












TIM







TIM


ING
posted by carsonb at 1:07 PM on February 7

shakespeherian: " You got me a cat?!"

That's a possum, and you probably need to see a doctor.
posted by boo_radley at 1:10 PM on February 7

"My computer is broken, so please fix your website."
posted by DU at 2:03 PM on February 7

What's wrong with your computer, DU?
posted by shakespeherian at 2:07 PM on February 7

It's a possum.
posted by phunniemee at 2:13 PM on February 7

That's not a possum, that's the coat I left upstairs.
posted by arcticseal at 2:22 PM on February 7

Please bring it back, it's chilly up here with this astronaut.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:23 PM on February 7 [3 favorites]

♪ This is user base to jessamyn, you've really made the grade
and the bloggers want to know whose coats you wear ♩
posted by griphus at 2:29 PM on February 7 [5 favorites]

Heeeeeeeeeere am I deleting a grarfest
Faaaaaaaaaaaaar from the topic
The front page is blue
And there's stuff in the flag queue
posted by shakespeherian at 2:32 PM on February 7 [4 favorites]

TAMS

Tim Tams exist in the northern hemisphere? YAY.

I suppose you've already tried biting both ends off and sucking coffee/tea through it and then shoving the whole biscuit into your mouth to let it dissolve into chocolate loveliness?
posted by Sparx at 5:14 PM on February 7

Sparx: " Tim Tams exist in the northern hemisphere? YAY."

You can get them in grocery stores all over Manhattan. Tuck Shop also used to sell them.
posted by zarq at 5:23 PM on February 7

Timtams are branded by Pepperidge Farms in the US. My wife buy s them in bulk at King Soopers.
posted by boo_radley at 5:37 PM on February 7

The Pepperidge Farms Tim Tams are delicious cookies, but Not The Same.

Cardullo's in Harvard Square sells real Australian Tim Tams, or used to. I don't look at the cookie shelves anymore because it makes me weep big gluten-free tears.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:04 PM on February 7 [1 favorite]

Fun tip. If, say, all you have is a warm bottle of a knock-off brand of Irish Creme (St. Carolans or some such), and it's nigh undrinkable as is, ice cold grape soda makes an excellent, excellent chaser.

Just don't try mixing them. It will look and taste like floam.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:11 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

...shoving the whole biscuit...

Hey, that's what I call it too!
posted by Chichibio at 3:02 AM on February 8 [2 favorites]

You know tears are naturally gluten free. That's why they're so delicious.
posted by maryr at 1:27 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Boom.
posted by maryr at 1:28 PM on February 8

Once again, belly laughs in my meta. I am fulfilled on this very snowy night.
posted by Hobgoblin at 8:24 PM on February 8

Fun tip. If,say,all you have is a warm bottle of a knock-off brand of Irish Creme (St. Carolans or some such),and it's nigh undrinkable as is,ice cold grape soda makes an excellent, excellent chaser.

Just don't try mixing them. It will look and taste like floam.

None of my MetaFilter contacts are spouses, so this is the closest thing I've known to an online proposal.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:46 PM on February 8

Check your lease, Mike, because you're living in Fuck City.
posted by SpiffyRob at 10:21 AM on February 14 [1 favorite]

Check your lease, Mike, because you're living in Fuck City.

Is...is this a thing people say?
posted by phunniemee at 11:18 AM on February 14

Who said that? Was it a ghost?
posted by shakespeherian at 11:34 AM on February 14

Ghosts can still type.
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:47 AM on February 14

Check your lease, Mike, because you're living in Fuck City.

Is...is this a thing people say?


If they want to propose to me, they do.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:30 PM on February 14 [1 favorite]

I thought ghosts lived in cell phones.
posted by maryr at 9:40 AM on February 16

Am I the only one who isn't fond of the new trend of linking from the sidebar to bestof instead of to the original comment/thread?
posted by grouse at 2:45 PM on February 16

No, a few other people have mentioned it as well. This is a compromise position though to make updating BestOf easy enough so that we'll do it and integrating it with the sidebar. There may be a way to do this differently on the sidebar RSS feed (and not the BestOf feed) and we'll look into that.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:52 PM on February 16