Hoping to avoid a derail

January 21, 2014 8:00 AM

In the recent Archer thread, the following exchange took place: paper chromatographologist: This is something I really loved about Trailer Park Boys. The last couple of seasons seemed to be largely driven off of random, possibly improvised insults thrown by J-Roc a couple seasons earlier. gucci mane: Whoa whoa whoa, as excited as I am for new Archer, I really need to know about this. I've seen every TPB episode at least 10 times and I never picked up on this fact. Give me examples!

It's a derail there, but I too am extremely curious about this and want to hear more. So I would like to take it to MetaTalk.

posted by jsturgill to MetaFilter-Related at 8:00 AM (66 comments total)

You should probably mention in that thread that you created this thread.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:06 AM on January 21, 2014

I don't think a Tangent is a Derail. If you're talking about TV show X and Y comes up, and you have a congenial and non-argument inducing question about Y I think it belongs in that thread. Not that there's anything wrong with this Meta but, couldn't OP have just asked over on the Filts?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:12 AM on January 21, 2014 [5 favorites]

I posted this meta in the Archer thread.

This meta could have also gone in that thread. Is this an abuse of MetaTalk, or inappropriate? I don't know. I thought it possible that people would be more free to have a non-Archer discussion here.
posted by jsturgill at 8:52 AM on January 21, 2014

This seems like a highly problematic way to run a metatalk thread in my mind (not to derail this one). I suppose I could open another meta to discuss the idea of spin-off metas, but honestly, I don't see why one user's curiosity merits a meta. Seriously, this seems like a perfect use for memail. There's often been an out and out ban on having discussions by proxy in meta (usually in relation to deleted threads). I don't see this as much different.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:52 AM on January 21, 2014 [4 favorites]

While we are fine with people opening a MeTa thread where they maybe need to have a conversation that is off-topic and problematic for the original thread, I'm not sure this is that MeTa. The indicator that there is a thread for side discussion is still in that thread, unclear as to its purpose and I'm not sure any of the original commenters even know why this is here, much less need it to be here. It's certainly not a problem, per se, but maybe a MeMail might be a good alternative?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:00 AM on January 21, 2014

I would also like an explanation, with citations, of this phenomena.

Edit: I have seen all of them plus the films, hence my interest.
posted by marienbad at 9:01 AM on January 21, 2014

Asked and answered. I'll bow out now, and let the discussion reign!
posted by cjorgensen at 9:02 AM on January 21, 2014

Even more problematically, it almost seems like Ask would have been the more appropriate place for the derail.
posted by Curious Artificer at 9:03 AM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]

Is this an abuse of MetaTalk, or inappropriate?

It's...silly? Is about where I'd put it, as well-meaning things trying to abide by the guidelines go. Abuse would be intentionally being a pain about it. What Jess says, basically; I don't think this needs to be a Metatalk thread for any clear reason, and a side-conversation about a light-hearted entertainment topic in a thread about another light-hearted entertainment topic isn't really what usually falls under the penumbra of problematic derail situations. If that side conversation was somehow actively disrupting the thread, that'd be a different issue (and still at that email/mefimail would probably be the better direction to take it).
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:06 AM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

It could be worse. At least it's not a call-out or flame-out from an ugly I/P or cat declawing post.
posted by double block and bleed at 9:11 AM on January 21, 2014

It's not that big a derail. The Trailer Park Boys were in an episode of Archer, after all.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:13 AM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

(BTW, the answer to the question, I think, is "Reveen.")
posted by Sys Rq at 9:16 AM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Pretty sure the properresponse to this MeTa are various quips by Pam from Archer.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:18 AM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Bear claw!
posted by The Whelk at 9:27 AM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

It could be worse. At least it's not a call-out or flame-out from an ugly I/P or cat declawing post.

I'm flexible.
posted by jsturgill at 9:48 AM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]

Well you didn't ask, but I think that small digressions aren't a problem. Also, the problem with derails is that they bulk up the thread and make it harder for people interested in the primary topic to keep up, but the Archer thread had already petered out, so that issue was moot.
posted by JHarris at 9:50 AM on January 21, 2014

So long as this is here, I think we should put it to some real use. Archer sucks, MetaFilter is materially harmed by posts and comments about Archer, and people who post posts and comments about Archer are probably lactose intolerant. Discuss.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:51 AM on January 21, 2014 [3 favorites]

I am indeed lactose intolerant.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:57 AM on January 21, 2014

Bumper!
posted by Hoopo at 9:58 AM on January 21, 2014

Your premise is false. I like Archer and I eat cheese with minimal side effects. The side effect is an increasing intolerance for foods not as good as cheese.
posted by bswinburn at 10:00 AM on January 21, 2014 [3 favorites]

My mistake. Thought we were talking about Arthur.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:02 AM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]

This discussion is exactly why we need a meta-MetaTalk; a "PataTalk", if you will. Vote #1 quidnunc kid for an infinitely-ascending hierarchy of sur-sites, and finally we'll be "up where we belong".
posted by the quidnunc kid at 10:05 AM on January 21, 2014 [18 favorites]

Maybe we need a meta about the 'problematic' nature of this meta
posted by subbes at 10:07 AM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

It's Raining Florence Henderson: people who post posts and comments about Archer are probably lactose intolerant.

Just the tip?
posted by Rock Steady at 10:14 AM on January 21, 2014

and people who post posts and comments about Archer are probably lactose intolerant

Maybe you should flaunt your lactose privilege somewhere else. Like a dairy farm.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:18 AM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

My invisible backpack is made out of swiss cheese holes. I use it carry more cheese.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:23 AM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Such beans!
posted by Grangousier at 10:27 AM on January 21, 2014

It's Raining Florence Henderson is my doctor. I knew it.

By which I mean I had no idea, and probably still don't.
posted by Etrigan at 10:52 AM on January 21, 2014

...people who post posts and comments about Archer are probably lactose intolerant.

You stay the hell out of my cabinets, you hear?
posted by griphus at 11:15 AM on January 21, 2014

...a "PataTalk", if you will...

That's where we can discuss the fever dream that is Archer Roi, right?

Someone please make Archer Roi.
posted by griphus at 11:17 AM on January 21, 2014 [7 favorites]

griphus: Someone please make Archer Roi.

Splooshr!
posted by Rock Steady at 11:24 AM on January 21, 2014

people who post posts and comments about Archer are probably lactose intolerant.

That and I hear they are classless thugs to boot.
posted by k5.user at 11:34 AM on January 21, 2014

UGGs to boot.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:41 AM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

I just watched the new episode of Archer an hour ago. I like the show and enjoy some things about it, think it's clever at times, but I honestly don't get all the love that many people have for it.

Well, except for Pam. I understand why people love Pam.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 11:56 AM on January 21, 2014

It's immature but smart, with plenty of side quips that only the educated get. Which allows people, including me, to forgive its outrageous, outlandishedges. Hell, it might help enjoy them.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:03 PM on January 21, 2014

I would not enjoy it if it did not allow me to feel superior to the uneducated.
posted by The White Hat at 12:17 PM on January 21, 2014

I just watched the new episode of Archer an hour ago. I like the show and enjoy some things about it, think it's clever at times, but I honestly don't get all the love that many people have for it.

Not since S.J. Perelman has there been a comedic voice capable of swiftly transitioning from a joke about hookers in Bangkok to one about Für Elise and having both be funny. Maybe Tom Lehrer, but there ain't much of him. True, Archer 'a about 70% hooker to 30% composer, but tis a heady mix and I like it.
posted by Diablevert at 12:36 PM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

I also get the same feeling that I get with Achewood, it has such a distinctive, personal voice that it burrows into your head and starts to effect the way you talk.
posted by The Whelk at 12:41 PM on January 21, 2014

Achewood: Onstad's choice to slowly conflate the animal-and-stuffed-animal world with that of humans has ultimately proved problematic. Discuss.
posted by clockzero at 12:47 PM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

It also helps that literally every noise H. Jon Benjamin makes is funny.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:51 PM on January 21, 2014 [3 favorites]

There just like this ...faint whisper of a huffy, teenage contempt in Archer's reactions to things that just makes everything he says wonderful.
posted by The Whelk at 12:52 PM on January 21, 2014

Metafilter: about 70% hooker to 30% composer.
posted by chavenet at 1:14 PM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Hasn't anyone looked up the insults and compared them to plot points yet? What am I hanging around here for, if you all won't do my work for me?
posted by komara at 1:26 PM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

This thread reminded me that I haven't caught up with Achewood since The Hiatus, so in that respect it was a worthy use of MeTa.
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:46 PM on January 21, 2014

LANA!
posted by Annika Cicada at 1:59 PM on January 21, 2014

This doesn't really seem like the kind of thread appropriate for Metatalk, however this comment is the type of comment which is appropriate for Metatalk despite being in this thread.
posted by Justinian at 2:29 PM on January 21, 2014 [4 favorites]

Annika Cicada: "LANA!"

I know, right? She has one baby and suddenly it's "marry me Lana" this, "marry me Lana" that. Ugh. Wasn't even her birthday.
posted by Malory Archer at 2:47 PM on January 21, 2014

Hasn't anyone looked up the insults and compared them to plot points yet? What am I hanging around here for, if you all won't do my work for me?

I know, right?
posted by jsturgill at 2:58 PM on January 21, 2014

YOU'RE NOT MY SUPERVISOR
posted by The Whelk at 3:00 PM on January 21, 2014

The Whelk: "Bear claw!"

Please. It's "Bear claw - RAWR!"
posted by Chrysostom at 3:32 PM on January 21, 2014 [5 favorites]

It also helps that literally every noise H. Jon Benjamin makes is funny.

Which is problematic for his sex life, I can imagine.

but I wont
posted by davejay at 4:16 PM on January 21, 2014

Is this an abuse of MetaTalk, or inappropriate?

Either?
posted by davejay at 4:18 PM on January 21, 2014

Sooooo... back to the TPBoys. What was that about plot points?
posted by five fresh fish at 4:22 PM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

It also helps that literally every noise H. Jon Benjamin makes is funny.

Which is problematic for his sex life, I can imagine.

I dunno, I wouldn't mind having sexual relations with his voice.
posted by littlesq at 5:06 PM on January 21, 2014

So... you've been having sex with H. Jon Benjamin's... voice?
Yeah. Three or four years, now.
What's it like?
I dunno... It's a laugh, innit?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:17 PM on January 21, 2014

This Ain't Jon Benjamin Has a Van XXX
posted by griphus at 5:32 PM on January 21, 2014

It makes me sad when people are talking about one thing but then some of them start talking about another similar thing and people are sad that people are talking about different things so they talk about where people should talk about the second thing, whether they should be talking about the second thing at all together or separately from the first thing, how sad they are, and whether we should be talking about people talking about different things.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 8:15 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]

Every word cow drunker from elbow spatula a green.
posted by this is a thing at 10:02 PM on January 21, 2014 [9 favorites]

This MeTa is meta.

Or is that a derail?

Time for a meta-meta-MeTa discussion!
posted by yohko at 10:07 PM on January 21, 2014

what number was the lobster-leiderhosen thing on?
posted by Meatbomb at 10:47 AM on January 22, 2014 [1 favorite]

107
posted by From Bklyn at 10:57 AM on January 22, 2014

63 comments and I still don't know what's up with the Trailer Boys. God damn it, people.
posted by chunking express at 11:41 AM on January 22, 2014 [2 favorites]

Yeah, well, I watched all 7 seasons and both movies and I still don't know what's up with the Trailer Park Boys.

It is ineffable, yo
posted by hobo gitano de queretaro at 12:30 PM on January 22, 2014

Hah-la-peen-o.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:04 PM on January 22, 2014

I stopped by a greasy local burger joint here and ordered a half-pound cheeseburger with jalapeños and large fries. The young woman at the counter repeated my order back and pronounced it juh-LAP-in-ohs. I said, "Oh, is that how you say it here?" And she gave me a look and said that she was joking. I replied that this is Missouri, so I figured that anything was possible.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:40 PM on January 22, 2014 [1 favorite]

I just started watching Archer because I wanted to know how long it takes to hem a pair of pants.




Not that I would ever do such a thing. I just cut them off and let them fray like a goddamn animal. I just wanted to know for science.
posted by louche mustachio at 4:42 PM on January 22, 2014