Maybe enough Trump for a while? September 8, 2015 12:10 PM Subscribe
It seems to me like there's been more than enough Trump stuff being FPP'd. I get the rubbernecking and trainwreck-watching urge, don't get me wrong, it's just feeling like there's kind of an excess. And I do also get that the US election next year is important, and the candidates are important. Still, maybe it's time to ixnay the umptray for a while? Thoughts?
So, after looking at the most recent posts, I've deleted this one. The most recent ones were posted Aug 13 (closer topic match to this one) and Aug 24. We've had several other very long threads on him in the last couple of months.
I know Trump is kind of the hot topic in the US election story right now, and it's understandable there are good articles coming out on him and people want to talk about it but still, election season is long and I think it's good to kind of hold the line a bit on this stuff.
But interested to hear what other folks think on this.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:25 PM on September 8, 2015
I know Trump is kind of the hot topic in the US election story right now, and it's understandable there are good articles coming out on him and people want to talk about it but still, election season is long and I think it's good to kind of hold the line a bit on this stuff.
But interested to hear what other folks think on this.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:25 PM on September 8, 2015
Remember how fun all Palin all the time was? Let's do that again.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:29 PM on September 8, 2015 [23 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:29 PM on September 8, 2015 [23 favorites]
The less Trump in my life, the better.
Remember how fun all Palin all the time was?
Well, that was really entertaining. But Trump's nowhere near the showman she is.
posted by Miko at 12:31 PM on September 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
Remember how fun all Palin all the time was?
Well, that was really entertaining. But Trump's nowhere near the showman she is.
posted by Miko at 12:31 PM on September 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
But interested to hear what other folks think on this.
Yeah, that one wasn't really adding anything that couldn't have just gone in either of the other threads.
posted by Etrigan at 12:33 PM on September 8, 2015
Yeah, that one wasn't really adding anything that couldn't have just gone in either of the other threads.
posted by Etrigan at 12:33 PM on September 8, 2015
Is it me, or does it feel like there have been a number of thin FPPs lately? Just me? Okay. Grump, grump, grump.
(I think one Trump post, with numerous links, every thirty days, is perfectly acceptable.)
posted by Going To Maine at 12:52 PM on September 8, 2015
(I think one Trump post, with numerous links, every thirty days, is perfectly acceptable.)
posted by Going To Maine at 12:52 PM on September 8, 2015
Hey, lobstermitten - where was the second link in the deletion reason supposed to go?
posted by zamboni at 12:53 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by zamboni at 12:53 PM on September 8, 2015
I think your link to the cuckservative thread in the deletion reason is broken.
posted by andoatnp at 12:55 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by andoatnp at 12:55 PM on September 8, 2015
Yeah I get flagging, it's just that it's opaque and doesn't allow for the community to weigh in on whether there are too many Trump FPPs or not. And this MeTa gives the mods a community consensus to point to if someone is upset about a deletion. (If, indeed, the consensus goes that way.)
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 12:57 PM on September 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 12:57 PM on September 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
Fixed the broken link; thanks.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:57 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:57 PM on September 8, 2015
I think one Trump post, with numerous links,
Numerous links to crap still adds up to crap, however, so please don't confuse quantity with quality.
posted by Wolfdog at 12:58 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Numerous links to crap still adds up to crap, however, so please don't confuse quantity with quality.
posted by Wolfdog at 12:58 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
But interested to hear what other folks think on this.
It seems to me that the amount of Trump and US political coverage being FPP'd is just fine. I see shit on the front page that I don't like or care about nearly every day. I skip it. Others could do the same.
And this leads me into maybe have a Mefi Politics subsite? Has that been discussed? The subsite color could be red.
posted by Rob Rockets at 1:25 PM on September 8, 2015 [9 favorites]
It seems to me that the amount of Trump and US political coverage being FPP'd is just fine. I see shit on the front page that I don't like or care about nearly every day. I skip it. Others could do the same.
And this leads me into maybe have a Mefi Politics subsite? Has that been discussed? The subsite color could be red.
posted by Rob Rockets at 1:25 PM on September 8, 2015 [9 favorites]
"American Berlusconi" is a nice line, even tho I think of him as more of a Mickey Mouse Putin, viz.,
posted by octobersurprise at 1:25 PM on September 8, 2015 [13 favorites]
"Donald J. Trump, who received draft deferments through much of the Vietnam War, told the author of a forthcoming biography that he nevertheless “always felt that I was in the military” because of his education at a military-themed boarding school."I admit I thought it would be difficult to one-up GWB in the cost-free-ways-to-play-soldier stakes, but Trump, as he regularly insists, is #1.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:25 PM on September 8, 2015 [13 favorites]
Trump the Trump posts!
posted by nubs at 1:26 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by nubs at 1:26 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
the man of twists and turns: "Remember how fun all Palin all the time was? Let's do that again."
My favorite post of my own was a Palin post. It got deleted. (I have too much ennui right now to insert a mod joke here; go ahead and make up your own.)
I don't want Metafilter to be all Trump all the time but:
posted by double block and bleed at 1:28 PM on September 8, 2015 [6 favorites]
My favorite post of my own was a Palin post. It got deleted. (I have too much ennui right now to insert a mod joke here; go ahead and make up your own.)
I don't want Metafilter to be all Trump all the time but:
- We have so few sympathetic outlets for our frustration here in Red State America
- The reader is always welcome to skip posts they don't like
posted by double block and bleed at 1:28 PM on September 8, 2015 [6 favorites]
I don't think Trump has it in him to rival the massive Palin megathread.
posted by charred husk at 1:33 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by charred husk at 1:33 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Maybe enough Trump for a while?
Part of the problem is that he doesn't get it.
posted by Namlit at 1:34 PM on September 8, 2015
Part of the problem is that he doesn't get it.
posted by Namlit at 1:34 PM on September 8, 2015
The reader is always welcome to skip posts they don't like
There are a lot of things we range from disallowing to strongly discouraging even though people could just skip them if they don't like them. "Just skip it if you don't like it" doesn't contribute much to these kinds of discussions.
posted by Wolfdog at 1:36 PM on September 8, 2015 [6 favorites]
There are a lot of things we range from disallowing to strongly discouraging even though people could just skip them if they don't like them. "Just skip it if you don't like it" doesn't contribute much to these kinds of discussions.
posted by Wolfdog at 1:36 PM on September 8, 2015 [6 favorites]
Remember how fun all Palin all the time was?
Palin was dumb but she didn't have the streak of cruelty or arrogance that runs through Trump.
That's why you could watch her and laugh, whereas you watch Trump and cry.
posted by Sangermaine at 1:38 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Palin was dumb but she didn't have the streak of cruelty or arrogance that runs through Trump.
That's why you could watch her and laugh, whereas you watch Trump and cry.
posted by Sangermaine at 1:38 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
New flag request, please: "Not this again."
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:47 PM on September 8, 2015 [27 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:47 PM on September 8, 2015 [27 favorites]
"Cry" doesn't even
The difference between the Palin thing and this is that I begin asking me "is is safe to snark"? I mean, scary, right?
posted by Namlit at 1:48 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
The difference between the Palin thing and this is that I begin asking me "is is safe to snark"? I mean, scary, right?
posted by Namlit at 1:48 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Trump talk can be wearying and unpleasant, yes, but that was a pretty meaty post, and the dynamics around trump's popularity are both important and interesting. Could we instead get to a generally-acceptable trump level perhaps by being zealous about disallowing outrage bait?
posted by The Gaffer at 1:49 PM on September 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by The Gaffer at 1:49 PM on September 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
That's going to be hard, where Trump's concerned. The man himself is outrageous.
posted by merelyglib at 1:53 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by merelyglib at 1:53 PM on September 8, 2015
palin absolutely had/has a capacity for cruelty and she's shown it many times. at least with trump we're not involved in endless arguments about whether or not sexist insults are ok against really awful people.
posted by nadawi at 1:54 PM on September 8, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 1:54 PM on September 8, 2015 [8 favorites]
Can we maybe not rehash arguments about Palin and Trump in here and stick to the issue at hand? Both of them have already had more than their fifteen minutes of MetaFilter elsewhere.
posted by scrump at 2:34 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by scrump at 2:34 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Remember how fun all Palin all the time was? Let's do that again.
Hell, all-Nader-all-the-time was also a real blast!
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 2:40 PM on September 8, 2015
Hell, all-Nader-all-the-time was also a real blast!
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 2:40 PM on September 8, 2015
On a tangent: I'd be perfectly happy never to see the word "cuckservative" on this site again. Regardless of the disgusting racist and sexist connotations, on a purely aesthetic level, it's just a plain ugly word.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:45 PM on September 8, 2015 [24 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:45 PM on September 8, 2015 [24 favorites]
It might only be magical thinking, believing that if we all just ignore Trump and stop saying his name, he'll disappear from American politics forever, but my God I'd still like to give it a try.
posted by thetortoise at 2:45 PM on September 8, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by thetortoise at 2:45 PM on September 8, 2015 [6 favorites]
on a similar topic i've been flagging comments that mention various candidates in threads that have nothing to do with them. i encourage others to join me.
posted by nadawi at 2:48 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 2:48 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
It's also worth considering that he's running a campaign which is thriving on the negative attention as much as the positive, and in fact the latter feeds on the former. So while we're a small corner of the internet, I can't help but feel like Metafilter being obsessed with Trump analyses is playing into the media machine that is responsible for this entire phenomenon.
posted by naju at 3:24 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by naju at 3:24 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's also worth considering that he's running a campaign which is thriving on the negative attention as much as the positive, and in fact the latter feeds on the former. So while we're a small corner of the internet, I can't help but feel like Metafilter being obsessed with Trump analyses is playing into the media machine that is responsible for this entire phenomenon.
Where's Paul Anka when you need him most?
posted by Ufez Jones at 3:53 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Where's Paul Anka when you need him most?
posted by Ufez Jones at 3:53 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
on a similar topic i've been flagging comments that mention various candidates in threads that have nothing to do with them. i encourage others to join me.
A: How is that related to this MeTa?
B: If it really is related to the question of the appropriate number of FPPs on a particular subject (the ostensible topic of this MeTa), care to explain what you mean by this?
posted by Xavier Xavier at 4:03 PM on September 8, 2015
A: How is that related to this MeTa?
B: If it really is related to the question of the appropriate number of FPPs on a particular subject (the ostensible topic of this MeTa), care to explain what you mean by this?
posted by Xavier Xavier at 4:03 PM on September 8, 2015
I don't much care what other people post but my own personal dream would be a single consistent tag for all Election 2016 and Election 2016-adjacent stuff so that I could then flush any related FPP from my feed like the proverbial bathwater, baby and all.
posted by griphus at 4:05 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by griphus at 4:05 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
I phrased that inartfully. I guess I mean: ok, that's great. But what does that have to do with a proposed moratorium on new FPPs pertaining to Trump?
posted by Xavier Xavier at 4:15 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by Xavier Xavier at 4:15 PM on September 8, 2015
Trvmped.
posted by clavdivs at 4:15 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by clavdivs at 4:15 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
I think there is a lot of really interesting stuff going on with Trump right now. He is breaking many of the rules of American politics in some really strange ways and in ways Sarah Palin definitely did not. He has held his lead a lot longer than any of the flash in the pan not-Romney's did last time around and the establishment candidates are not in as strong a position as Romney always maintained in the background. It may be a historic moment. So, I do want to talk about it on the Blue. I was considering posting the Krugman link today about how Trump is right on economics, especially in comparison to his Republican rivals. I'm also interested in the content of the deleted post. But, obviously, historic or not we can't have that much Trump.
So, I think the best way forward is for flaggers and mods to keep in mind there is a lot to talk about here so maybe there are going to be enough posts to make some of you sick, but at the same time submitters should probably not make a new Trump post unless you have a lot more to bring to the table than a single link.
posted by Drinky Die at 4:23 PM on September 8, 2015 [22 favorites]
So, I think the best way forward is for flaggers and mods to keep in mind there is a lot to talk about here so maybe there are going to be enough posts to make some of you sick, but at the same time submitters should probably not make a new Trump post unless you have a lot more to bring to the table than a single link.
posted by Drinky Die at 4:23 PM on September 8, 2015 [22 favorites]
Seconding Drinky Die.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 4:29 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 4:29 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
I find the preponderance of Trump threads a little tiring - but then I find the preponderance of US politics threads a little tiring as a non-American, in general. I just skip em, but, no biggie.
posted by smoke at 4:33 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by smoke at 4:33 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think, from my point of view as a Mainer, Trump's popularity is indicative of what we have been experiencing here with our governor. That is, why is he so popular? Why do people vote for him? What is going on in America that these blowhards get to the voter base, when it is apparently against their own interest? It's damaging. It's not just damaging in "oh, we're talking about politics again," but their policies are damaging real lives, and if Trump gets elected, he could cause real damage to millions of people, much like our governor, a similar blowhard, who got elected a second time, could do.
I am interested in that. I am following it. I am really sorry if the rest of you treat it as a "ha-ha" moment or a chance to make fun of Trump again, but I really do want to know what is going on.
Not disagreeing with the deletion, I am just saying that it can happen in your neighborhood, and maybe we should talk about it. I have no idea why Trump has gotten so much airtime or approval, obviously I am not in his demographic, but I had no idea why LePage had gotten so much approval, yet here we are.
I would like to know why people support Trump, and I would like to figure that shit out, and maybe a thread on him would help me with that. Sorry I missed the other ones, but I just read today that Palin wants in and I am like, okay. I want more information, and maybe a new Trump thread would provide me with that.
I guess what I am saying is these things affect real people in my neighborhood. Me and my neighbors. Not just a chance to laugh at a buffoon. We have a buffoon as a governor and he has done some real damage here, so I do liked to watch candidates and see what is going on, and I do respect Metafilter members to comment on it and tell it like it is. I wish we could just stop going, I don't like this, because I don't like it either, you see? I don't like it at all? And it's not just "oh too much Trump!" It's our future, and I want to read about it with people whose opinions I respect. I think you are from Canada, FFFM, and maybe you don't get how much it hits home that we could really get a bad leader here (or maybe you do). But when I want quality information, I turn to Metafilter, over NPR, or any other news station.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:00 PM on September 8, 2015 [14 favorites]
I am interested in that. I am following it. I am really sorry if the rest of you treat it as a "ha-ha" moment or a chance to make fun of Trump again, but I really do want to know what is going on.
Not disagreeing with the deletion, I am just saying that it can happen in your neighborhood, and maybe we should talk about it. I have no idea why Trump has gotten so much airtime or approval, obviously I am not in his demographic, but I had no idea why LePage had gotten so much approval, yet here we are.
I would like to know why people support Trump, and I would like to figure that shit out, and maybe a thread on him would help me with that. Sorry I missed the other ones, but I just read today that Palin wants in and I am like, okay. I want more information, and maybe a new Trump thread would provide me with that.
I guess what I am saying is these things affect real people in my neighborhood. Me and my neighbors. Not just a chance to laugh at a buffoon. We have a buffoon as a governor and he has done some real damage here, so I do liked to watch candidates and see what is going on, and I do respect Metafilter members to comment on it and tell it like it is. I wish we could just stop going, I don't like this, because I don't like it either, you see? I don't like it at all? And it's not just "oh too much Trump!" It's our future, and I want to read about it with people whose opinions I respect. I think you are from Canada, FFFM, and maybe you don't get how much it hits home that we could really get a bad leader here (or maybe you do). But when I want quality information, I turn to Metafilter, over NPR, or any other news station.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:00 PM on September 8, 2015 [14 favorites]
I am interested in that. I am following it. I am really sorry if the rest of you treat it as a "ha-ha" moment or a chance to make fun of Trump again, but I really do want to know what is going on.
Right, I mean if we want to talk about thin Trump posts, think this one. I get it, people think it's fun to mock him for his physical appearance, but we don't need a whole thread for that sort of thing.
posted by Drinky Die at 5:06 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Right, I mean if we want to talk about thin Trump posts, think this one. I get it, people think it's fun to mock him for his physical appearance, but we don't need a whole thread for that sort of thing.
posted by Drinky Die at 5:06 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
I can see Marie Mon Dieu and Drinky Die's points. I would be okay with occasional posts on Trump that had links to substantive political analysis, but I loathe Trump-as-meme and giving him publicity just for the sake of it.
posted by thetortoise at 5:11 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by thetortoise at 5:11 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
I am eagerly awaiting the Trump recipes thread.
Chicken with Trumplings
Trump L'Orange
Gilded Pheasant with Trump Nuggets
Fried Trump L'Oleil
Trump Tofu In Hoison Sauce
Popcorn Trump and Dipping Sauces
Make it happen, people.
posted by zarq at 5:18 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Chicken with Trumplings
Trump L'Orange
Gilded Pheasant with Trump Nuggets
Fried Trump L'Oleil
Trump Tofu In Hoison Sauce
Popcorn Trump and Dipping Sauces
Make it happen, people.
posted by zarq at 5:18 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
I've lost interest in the doings and undoings of T. rump, but I see no reason others shouldn't continue to enjoy periodic visits to Jerk-assic Park.
posted by jamjam at 5:45 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by jamjam at 5:45 PM on September 8, 2015
I think you are from Canada, FFFM, and maybe you don't get how much it hits home that we could really get a bad leader here (or maybe you do).
I am, and I do--see also Rob Ford. It's just reaching this kind of stultifying saturation literally everywhere, and Mefi isn't USA-only, so I feel like taking it down a few notches might be beneficial.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 6:07 PM on September 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
I am, and I do--see also Rob Ford. It's just reaching this kind of stultifying saturation literally everywhere, and Mefi isn't USA-only, so I feel like taking it down a few notches might be beneficial.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 6:07 PM on September 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
I have a lot of thoughts about this whole thing, but I would rather give big hugs to FFFM and talk about cooking. We all have to eat, and apparently I need more cooking skills and would love to learn from my MeFi brother.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:10 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:10 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't need to come here to find eyerolling and clever takes on Trump. But I do find good analysis on US elections and policy-making scarce, and Mefi often turns up fascinating stuff, like in the recent threads on poverty. I love the discussion that comes from a good dialogue around policy.
Trump may be offering policy proposals, or at least creating conversations in the mainstream that others are responding to with good research, history and analysis, and those are the kinds of posts i expect to be best of the web. As to the ongoing performance of his presidential bid, I'm not that interested.
If I want to watch lolRepublicans, there are no shortage of those opportunities. Mefi could choose to be one of the places that changes the way we do "politics."
posted by salishsea at 6:15 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Trump may be offering policy proposals, or at least creating conversations in the mainstream that others are responding to with good research, history and analysis, and those are the kinds of posts i expect to be best of the web. As to the ongoing performance of his presidential bid, I'm not that interested.
If I want to watch lolRepublicans, there are no shortage of those opportunities. Mefi could choose to be one of the places that changes the way we do "politics."
posted by salishsea at 6:15 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
All these posts on Trump and not one on Peegate?
posted by grouse at 6:34 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by grouse at 6:34 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Thirding Drinky Die.
If the post is a total retread, well duh, but quite surreal surprisingly there seems to be new and "valid" topics in the Trumpverse.
posted by sammyo at 6:45 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
If the post is a total retread, well duh, but quite surreal surprisingly there seems to be new and "valid" topics in the Trumpverse.
posted by sammyo at 6:45 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Donald Trump is the white Al Sharpton. Pseudo populist proclamations, unabashed sleaziness, and bad hair. There ya go.
posted by jonmc at 6:48 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jonmc at 6:48 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
grouse: "All these posts on Trump and not one on Peegate?"
We're talking about it here.
posted by Mitheral at 7:02 PM on September 8, 2015
We're talking about it here.
posted by Mitheral at 7:02 PM on September 8, 2015
OK, message received. People want all Larry Lessig all the time. Time to start posting!
posted by univac at 7:06 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by univac at 7:06 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Thanks, did not know! But surely it deserves its own post. I'm thinking one of those megaposts with dozens of links, putting things in proper context for those who don't follow Canadian electoral politics as closely as we do.
posted by grouse at 7:07 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by grouse at 7:07 PM on September 8, 2015
Seen on Instagram, singer-songwriter Jason Isbell posted this note on his wife's hospital room after their baby was born:
There is a person in this room who has never heard of Donald Trump. Let's keep it that way.posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:26 PM on September 8, 2015 [8 favorites]
--Jason
If it really is related to the question of the appropriate number of FPPs on a particular subject (the ostensible topic of this MeTa), care to explain what you mean by this?
the topic of the meta is specifically if there are too many trump posts which to me is just as much about the encroaching presidential election as it is about fpps. so, i'm saying that not only am i flagging excessive posts when i catch them, i'm also flagging comments to try to keep mefi from being all election all the time and i hope others are doing the same because i love our flagging mechanism as a way to tell the mods "please, less of this." i'm not sure why you're confused so maybe you can explain...
posted by nadawi at 7:56 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
the topic of the meta is specifically if there are too many trump posts which to me is just as much about the encroaching presidential election as it is about fpps. so, i'm saying that not only am i flagging excessive posts when i catch them, i'm also flagging comments to try to keep mefi from being all election all the time and i hope others are doing the same because i love our flagging mechanism as a way to tell the mods "please, less of this." i'm not sure why you're confused so maybe you can explain...
posted by nadawi at 7:56 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Donald Trump is the white Al Sharpton. Pseudo populist proclamations, unabashed sleaziness, and bad hair.
Please. If we must make such comparisons, then he's the white Don King.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:58 PM on September 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
Please. If we must make such comparisons, then he's the white Don King.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:58 PM on September 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
because i love our flagging mechanism
In fact I'm flagging right now.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:00 PM on September 8, 2015
In fact I'm flagging right now.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:00 PM on September 8, 2015
Today I learned something that seems very relevant... When Obama made the announcement that his Seal Team had killed Osama Bin Laden... he did it on prime time TV... pre-empting Donald Trump's "Apprentice" show... So this whole campaign... it's all about a grudge, and one TV "Personality"'s desire to not be pre-empted and have the power to pre-empt others! NOW it makes sense.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:14 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:14 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
he did it on prime time TV... pre-empting Donald Trump's "Apprentice" show...
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Donald Trump believes this, but the rest of us recall that the announcement was definitely post-prime time (EST, at least). As I say, tho, I won't be surprised to discover that Trump is campaigning against the tyranny of time zones. They are out to get him, or so I hear.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:33 PM on September 8, 2015
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Donald Trump believes this, but the rest of us recall that the announcement was definitely post-prime time (EST, at least). As I say, tho, I won't be surprised to discover that Trump is campaigning against the tyranny of time zones. They are out to get him, or so I hear.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:33 PM on September 8, 2015
he did it on prime time TV... pre-empting Donald Trump's "Apprentice" show...
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Donald Trump believes this, but the rest of us recall that the announcement was definitely post-prime time (EST, at least). As I say, tho, I won't be surprised to discover that Trump is campaigning against the tyranny of time zones. They are out to get him, or so I hear.
I would suspect that Trump is more miffed about Obama’s jabs at him during the correspondents’ dinner. (To Trump’s face, I should add.)
posted by Going To Maine at 9:13 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Donald Trump believes this, but the rest of us recall that the announcement was definitely post-prime time (EST, at least). As I say, tho, I won't be surprised to discover that Trump is campaigning against the tyranny of time zones. They are out to get him, or so I hear.
I would suspect that Trump is more miffed about Obama’s jabs at him during the correspondents’ dinner. (To Trump’s face, I should add.)
posted by Going To Maine at 9:13 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
"For the second debate on 16 September in California, CNN is asking $200,000 (£130,000), 40 times its normal rate, for a 30-second prime-time spot. TV advertising strategists say it is hard to quantify Trump’s value to the media, or the value of non-stop free media attention to Trump’s commanding lead over the Republican field, but CNN’s ad price is a good indicator."
If MetaFilter was seeing a financial windfall from covering Trump, it would be easier to justify, but that's not how this tiny sliver of the internet works.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:15 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
If MetaFilter was seeing a financial windfall from covering Trump, it would be easier to justify, but that's not how this tiny sliver of the internet works.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:15 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Trump talk can be wearying and unpleasant, yes, but that was a pretty meaty post, and the dynamics around trump's popularity are both important and interesting.
If you like the Vox piece, John Cassidy has an article in last week's New Yorker that makes the same point (but with fewer words).
posted by Nevin at 9:27 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you like the Vox piece, John Cassidy has an article in last week's New Yorker that makes the same point (but with fewer words).
posted by Nevin at 9:27 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Trump is anti comedic, like a villain in a Batman movie. He is hurriedly inventing his credentials, but good God, surely he has a mega-closet somewhere, full of still-red skeletons? C'mon, somewhere in between and among his marriages, and whatever the Trump lifestyle really is, surely there are at least fourscore and seven unpresidential goings on. Sadly he is the Republican candidate, taking the heat for now. Meanwhile no matter what the field is up to, their money can't buy any attention. I think it is not good they are out of sight. He so destabilizes the extreme right, pulling the whole thing in from the religious crazies, seeming almost centrist, the rest is insubstantial emotion and smoke to cover his vapidity. The emergence of the succubus Palin as Trump ally, and would be hate muse, puts the whole candidacy a step back, to Green Acres, Dallas at best.
He could win. Better start telling him what we want. Right now he is emerging from the second dimension.
Mefi should endorse substantive dialogue about the election, or else it is just more cacophony. Crazy noise might make crazy candidate, seem the norm.
posted by Oyéah at 9:44 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
He could win. Better start telling him what we want. Right now he is emerging from the second dimension.
Mefi should endorse substantive dialogue about the election, or else it is just more cacophony. Crazy noise might make crazy candidate, seem the norm.
posted by Oyéah at 9:44 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Trump will toodle his horn for a while and then the real electioneering starts and he'll fade away, having gathered and inspired the dregs of the barrel to vote for whomever he recommends.
Good job, Trump!
yuck
posted by From Bklyn at 10:17 PM on September 8, 2015
Good job, Trump!
yuck
posted by From Bklyn at 10:17 PM on September 8, 2015
"When its raining, when its snowing
Will the hair piece be a–blowing
Not a speck of scalp is showing
So the polls must be growing
Are the barbers of Hell a–glowing
Will the grisly hair need mowing"
posted by clavdivs at 10:49 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Will the hair piece be a–blowing
Not a speck of scalp is showing
So the polls must be growing
Are the barbers of Hell a–glowing
Will the grisly hair need mowing"
posted by clavdivs at 10:49 PM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Like Perot, he will back away after not getting the kind of attention he wants.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 10:57 PM on September 8, 2015
posted by Mr. Yuck at 10:57 PM on September 8, 2015
He could win. Better start telling him what we want. Right now he is emerging from the second dimension.
Mefi should endorse substantive dialogue about the election, or else it is just more cacophony. Crazy noise might make crazy candidate, seem the norm.
I agree that substantive coverage of the election -including Trump- would be useful. But as we are still ~400 days away from the election, it’s hard to see most any of the coverage of a candidate outside the norm as anything but spectacle and pageview-hunting. Which is fine, if we want good entertainment and general musings on the horribleness of the far right. I think I’m okay with those kinds of flip posts so long as they occur, say, at the same rate as Mallory Ortberg posts.
(It’s telling, for instance, that we’ve seen a recent Hillary Clinton thread about the gefilte fish email, but not one about how the emails have been found to contain top secret information, or how she has made her first apology about hosting them. We’re in carnival mode, be-horrified-at-the-right mode, not serious-election-coverage-mode.)
posted by Going To Maine at 11:03 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Mefi should endorse substantive dialogue about the election, or else it is just more cacophony. Crazy noise might make crazy candidate, seem the norm.
I agree that substantive coverage of the election -including Trump- would be useful. But as we are still ~400 days away from the election, it’s hard to see most any of the coverage of a candidate outside the norm as anything but spectacle and pageview-hunting. Which is fine, if we want good entertainment and general musings on the horribleness of the far right. I think I’m okay with those kinds of flip posts so long as they occur, say, at the same rate as Mallory Ortberg posts.
(It’s telling, for instance, that we’ve seen a recent Hillary Clinton thread about the gefilte fish email, but not one about how the emails have been found to contain top secret information, or how she has made her first apology about hosting them. We’re in carnival mode, be-horrified-at-the-right mode, not serious-election-coverage-mode.)
posted by Going To Maine at 11:03 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
I agree that substantive coverage of the election -including Trump- would be useful. But as we are still ~400 days away from the election
We are 144 days from the Iowa Caucus. And then there will be a lot more election days. That's kind of the thing with American elections, it's a season not a day. Metafilter isn't really built to handle it, we just muddle through as best we can each time around.
posted by Drinky Die at 11:41 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
We are 144 days from the Iowa Caucus. And then there will be a lot more election days. That's kind of the thing with American elections, it's a season not a day. Metafilter isn't really built to handle it, we just muddle through as best we can each time around.
posted by Drinky Die at 11:41 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
And also, the early primary season is when there is the most interesting to talk about. Once the nominations are in most people go into lesser of two evils mode and that's where it really just comes down to the horserace stuff. Hillary v. Sanders and Trump v. Everyone has a lot more going on.
posted by Drinky Die at 11:47 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Drinky Die at 11:47 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
My feeling is let's try to have one (maaaybe two, depending) main, substantive post(s) / discussion(s) of him going on at a time, with exceptions for very significant new news.
In the event the most recent active discussion thread closes (or is about to close), and someone posts a "haha funny meme making fun of Trump's hair" post or a sort of relatively slight news or opinion link ("Trump Insults Someone" or "People Are Supporting Trump Because They're Bad People / Fed Up With [Thing]") I'd be inclined to say, "hey, let's wait and include this in the next substantive Trump post" rather than have "Trump's hair meme" (or whatever) become the de facto "new Trump post."
For background, here is the situation so far, since Trump announced:
June 17: “And I promise, I will never be in a bicycle race—that I can tell you.”
July 23: Senator, please be careful of the backdrop... uh, nevermind.
August 2: Don't worry, you probably won't be secretly murdered if you watch this.
August 4: What Kind of Person Would Vote For Donald Trump? These People.
August 8, deleted:Battle of the Hellclowns
August 24: Donald Trump, possibly upsetting Fox News' role in Republican politics
August 29, deleted:Fair and balanced trumpeters
September 8, deleted:Trump, White nationalism, and the cracks in the Conservative movement
posted by taz (staff) at 1:19 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
In the event the most recent active discussion thread closes (or is about to close), and someone posts a "haha funny meme making fun of Trump's hair" post or a sort of relatively slight news or opinion link ("Trump Insults Someone" or "People Are Supporting Trump Because They're Bad People / Fed Up With [Thing]") I'd be inclined to say, "hey, let's wait and include this in the next substantive Trump post" rather than have "Trump's hair meme" (or whatever) become the de facto "new Trump post."
For background, here is the situation so far, since Trump announced:
June 17: “And I promise, I will never be in a bicycle race—that I can tell you.”
July 23: Senator, please be careful of the backdrop... uh, nevermind.
August 2: Don't worry, you probably won't be secretly murdered if you watch this.
August 4: What Kind of Person Would Vote For Donald Trump? These People.
August 8, deleted:
August 24: Donald Trump, possibly upsetting Fox News' role in Republican politics
August 29, deleted:
September 8, deleted:
posted by taz (staff) at 1:19 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
surely he has a mega-closet somewhere, full of still-red skeletons?
Don't bank on them coming out soon, though. The British press, especially Private Eye, was obsessed with Robert Maxwell for years. I got really sick of reading in detail about his every fart. But the real story, that he was broke and had stolen everybody's pensions: not a peep about that, not a whisper, until he was dead.
posted by Segundus at 2:41 AM on September 9, 2015
Don't bank on them coming out soon, though. The British press, especially Private Eye, was obsessed with Robert Maxwell for years. I got really sick of reading in detail about his every fart. But the real story, that he was broke and had stolen everybody's pensions: not a peep about that, not a whisper, until he was dead.
posted by Segundus at 2:41 AM on September 9, 2015
trump.metafilter.com
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 3:23 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 3:23 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm ok with less Trump. I see quite enough of him on social media. Some occasional post of actual substance is fine so long as there isn't already a thread about him, but I don't want him sucking all the oxygen out of this place. The man is a clown, and his impact is largely perpetuated by a tautology, and having money. Less is more as I see it.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 4:03 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 4:03 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
The shrill, do-nothing party of proudly ignorant racist, sexist wealthy old White guys, clinging bitterly to their guns, religion, warmongering and a mythical vision of the good ol' days when their polished loafers were firmly placed on the backs of everyone who threatened the status quo, may be poised to nominate an egomaniacal leader who represents them all too well.
Half the country is terrified he'll survive and win the nomination. The other half is praying he takes the nomination and the Dems win in a landslide. Welcome to "Must-See TV."
posted by zarq at 4:08 AM on September 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
Half the country is terrified he'll survive and win the nomination. The other half is praying he takes the nomination and the Dems win in a landslide. Welcome to "Must-See TV."
posted by zarq at 4:08 AM on September 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sure, but let's stick to discussing standards for posts about Trump on the site in this thread rather than general Trumpish discussion.
posted by taz (staff) at 4:22 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by taz (staff) at 4:22 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
The election is in a year. People are simultaneously horrified and astonished by Trump's success and what it means in a meta context for American politics, and naturally want to discuss that. The architecture of the front page is such that new posts get knocked off and effectively become invisible to the majority of the userbase after ~48 hours. Every suggestion that has been posed in Metatalk in the past to increase the visibility of politics posts, from adding a link in the sidebar to a banner at the top of the site, has been shot down by the mod team precisely because y'all don't want to increase the visibility or accessibility of potentially contentious threads.
We already have a standard, and it works. I see no reason why we need to set up additional parameters beyond what we have now. "There already is a thread on this topic." If a post is different enough and can branch a conversation in a sufficiently unique direction then let it stand. The whole point of deleting posts is so two extremely similar conversations aren't happening at once, bifurcating the discussion. Not because people are incapable of skipping a thread they don't want to participate in.
posted by zarq at 4:53 AM on September 9, 2015 [4 favorites]
We already have a standard, and it works. I see no reason why we need to set up additional parameters beyond what we have now. "There already is a thread on this topic." If a post is different enough and can branch a conversation in a sufficiently unique direction then let it stand. The whole point of deleting posts is so two extremely similar conversations aren't happening at once, bifurcating the discussion. Not because people are incapable of skipping a thread they don't want to participate in.
posted by zarq at 4:53 AM on September 9, 2015 [4 favorites]
Just for comparison, we've had a little less than 10 (depending on how one counts) Obama threads in that same time period (many about relatively fluffy topics like his preferences in music and literature and Alaskan vacation that have little to do with his important governance position as president). Although, the Trump threads do tend to get many more comments. Some topics just happen to get much more play than others do on the Blue.
I agree with Drinky Die, I'm not in favor of a blanket ban on any topic, including this one. Trump is very much a phenomenon worth discussing. But if we do go with a ban, perhaps some other leitmotifs should be first on the chopping block.
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 5:17 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I agree with Drinky Die, I'm not in favor of a blanket ban on any topic, including this one. Trump is very much a phenomenon worth discussing. But if we do go with a ban, perhaps some other leitmotifs should be first on the chopping block.
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 5:17 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I don't think we are talking about a ban here, I think FFFM just meant it's been a bit much for now and maybe tone it down for a little while.
And just as a random point, I think FFFM has a really great track record on the metas he makes. I definitely don't always agree with his conclusions, but he is always bringing up very valid points that are worth a good discussion.
posted by Drinky Die at 5:24 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
And just as a random point, I think FFFM has a really great track record on the metas he makes. I definitely don't always agree with his conclusions, but he is always bringing up very valid points that are worth a good discussion.
posted by Drinky Die at 5:24 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think FFFM just meant it's been a bit much for now and maybe tone it down for a little while
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that sounds like another way of saying "temporary ban."
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 5:30 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that sounds like another way of saying "temporary ban."
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 5:30 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Personally I hope that the moderators will keep the total number of US election threads under control. Trump is the flavor of the moment, but soon enough there will be a scandal or a breaking news story and then it will be something else. I live in the US and care about politics here, but that isn't the only thing I care about reading here, or usually the most interesting.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:34 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Dip Flash at 5:34 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Please flag posts if you think they should be deleted. That's the most helpful immediate gauge we have of when people are thinking "not this again."
I would argue a MetaTalk post such as this one is pretty close to a pre-requisite before we should see significant flagging. Unless they're actual duplicate posts, there's nothing wrong with each individual post, so why would people flag them?
But once we've had a discussion like this one, assuming the result leans towards "maybe not so many of these", I think that's the backup people need to feel like there is a reason to flag these.
So we should not interpret lack of flagging to mean there's no problem, it may just mean there's not been a discussion like this one yet, where we could agree there's a problem.
posted by FishBike at 5:45 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I would argue a MetaTalk post such as this one is pretty close to a pre-requisite before we should see significant flagging. Unless they're actual duplicate posts, there's nothing wrong with each individual post, so why would people flag them?
But once we've had a discussion like this one, assuming the result leans towards "maybe not so many of these", I think that's the backup people need to feel like there is a reason to flag these.
So we should not interpret lack of flagging to mean there's no problem, it may just mean there's not been a discussion like this one yet, where we could agree there's a problem.
posted by FishBike at 5:45 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
noisy pink bubbles: Correct me if I'm wrong, but that sounds like another way of saying "temporary ban."
More like, "can we set the bar a little lower for deletions, because this can go in the existing thread." There's ample precedent for it.
posted by zarq at 5:57 AM on September 9, 2015 [4 favorites]
More like, "can we set the bar a little lower for deletions, because this can go in the existing thread." There's ample precedent for it.
posted by zarq at 5:57 AM on September 9, 2015 [4 favorites]
Unless they're actual duplicate posts, there's nothing wrong with each individual post, so why would people flag them?
I flag fpps that are gross or spamy, but if it is boring, like yet another election post, I just skip it. I'm not sure flagging is always going to be the right metric for something like this, though I know different people use flags very differently.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:22 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I flag fpps that are gross or spamy, but if it is boring, like yet another election post, I just skip it. I'm not sure flagging is always going to be the right metric for something like this, though I know different people use flags very differently.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:22 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Jeez, guys. You're deleting harmless links to images now? Wow. You have officially entered the no-fun zone.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:32 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by octobersurprise at 6:32 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sorry for being no so fun, but while people are actively discussing the post, let's defer posting the trump hair meme macros
posted by taz (staff) at 6:39 AM on September 9, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 6:39 AM on September 9, 2015 [3 favorites]
I apologize for making light of serious business, taz.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:09 AM on September 9, 2015
posted by octobersurprise at 7:09 AM on September 9, 2015
Going To Maine: We’re in carnival mode, be-horrified-at-the-right mode, not serious-election-coverage-mode
This is still the ramp-up to the election season, when there are a lot of people making really bold/stupid statements to win their tickets. Especially with a Republican field this broad, it's more about the pop media/noise aspects than it is about real politics. Everyone vying for their party tickets try to out-strut their opponents, and in the smaller soundbites the better. That's not politics, that's a popularity contest (OK, that's also part of politics, but you get where I'm going with this). Actual political discussions come when the party candidates debate each-other.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:20 AM on September 9, 2015
This is still the ramp-up to the election season, when there are a lot of people making really bold/stupid statements to win their tickets. Especially with a Republican field this broad, it's more about the pop media/noise aspects than it is about real politics. Everyone vying for their party tickets try to out-strut their opponents, and in the smaller soundbites the better. That's not politics, that's a popularity contest (OK, that's also part of politics, but you get where I'm going with this). Actual political discussions come when the party candidates debate each-other.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:20 AM on September 9, 2015
Also, for anyone counting Trump posts in the recent past, I'd suggest you add at least one more thread to the list from taz: Let the games begin! Er, continue! 17 GOP candidates enter ... It was about the GOP debate on Fox, where Trump was a major part of the discussion in the thread, especially with the post-debate brouhaha around Trump's sexist remarks.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:25 AM on September 9, 2015
posted by filthy light thief at 7:25 AM on September 9, 2015
"...we just muddle through as best we can each time around."
In all fairness, the mods did a great job of funneling stuff into the mega/master election threads for 2012 and I hope they use the same recipe for 2016.
posted by klarck at 7:43 AM on September 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
In all fairness, the mods did a great job of funneling stuff into the mega/master election threads for 2012 and I hope they use the same recipe for 2016.
posted by klarck at 7:43 AM on September 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
I agree. I meant muddle through as in they kind of have to make a bunch of improvised individual judgement calls as they come up with all these crazy situations the Mefi format isn't really adapted too, not as in they muddle it up with bad judgments.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:57 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Drinky Die at 7:57 AM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that sounds like another way of saying "temporary ban."
Ok. You're wrong. I'm talking about setting the bar higher for a while. That's all.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:23 AM on September 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
Ok. You're wrong. I'm talking about setting the bar higher for a while. That's all.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:23 AM on September 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
ixnay the umptray
Your phrasing is intriguing to me and I wish to purchase that T-shirt.
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:43 PM on September 9, 2015
Your phrasing is intriguing to me and I wish to purchase that T-shirt.
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:43 PM on September 9, 2015
I see an image with an X, and a head on a platter. Just so you know.
posted by Oyéah at 3:24 PM on September 9, 2015
posted by Oyéah at 3:24 PM on September 9, 2015
Are Marius analogies allowed?
posted by clavdivs at 5:23 PM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 5:23 PM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Are Marius analogies allowed?
Piling extremely strained analogy onto extremely strained analogy, I believe this makes Ivanka Julius Caesar.
posted by Copronymus at 8:30 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Piling extremely strained analogy onto extremely strained analogy, I believe this makes Ivanka Julius Caesar.
posted by Copronymus at 8:30 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I was thinking of the fortune teller who "told him that great and wonderful things were presaged to him that he might therefore pursue whatever designs he had formed trusting to the gods for success, and that he might try fortune as often as he pleased for that all his undertakings would prosper."
I don't think Donald married her for money. And that's the scary because Donald doesn't need money.
posted by clavdivs at 10:23 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't think Donald married her for money. And that's the scary because Donald doesn't need money.
posted by clavdivs at 10:23 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
As it happens, the new Trump post hasn't been flagged by anybody yet. I was just now looking at the dates on the previous ones to see whether this one merited a delete.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:12 PM on September 8, 2015