This post ruled January 21, 2016 7:30 AM Subscribe
I would like to call attention to this post, which links to a single comment in a youtube video thread, about one person's experience watching a teenage sword-wielder doing "moves" to a Sabbath song in 1979. I think it's a stellar post.
The post seems to be so thin that I'm surprised it wasn't deleted; it is small and weird and lacking any real "point". I love it.
Mefites (particularly new mefites) have frequently expressed anxiety about about doing the very best they can when they craft an FPP. This is a fine impulse, sure, it's good, we're a community of people who want to introduce each other to interesting things, and it's a kindness to put a lot of thought into FPPs sometimes. Those of you who make huge megaposts and exhaustively-researched nests of hyperlinks, you keep on doing that, if that's what you're into!
But one of the first things that really drew me to mefi were how often FPPs seemed completely opaque in any kind of purpose. A single link, dropped on the front page like a mysterious shitty bauble you come across in a landfill.
So much of the now-heavily-monetized web in 2016 is about aggressively pointing people in certain directions: buy our product, feel this emotion to boost our pageviews, support this political position. And we, likewise, have lots of posts where the underlying emotional thrust has a kind of unspoken-but-pre-laid-out Upworthy-esque trajectory: You Will Find This Cute, You Will Find This Informative, You Will Get Mad About This Injustice, You Will Be Proud Of This Act Of Compassion. That's not a bad thing, of course; many of these kinds of posts are wonderful.
But! Metafilter is currently unique among large public sites in that I feel like it's one of the last bastions of the kind of aesthetic that first drew me to the internet, back like 20something years ago: a lot of small, weird, human moments with no real "point" at all.
If you're reading this, and you've ever felt the thought "this is an extremely bizarre little thing I came across on the internet, but I doubt it's enough for an FPP" -- I encourage you to remember this MetaTalk in the future. You don't need to pad the thing with unnecessary links. You don't need to come back into the thread to justify it. Some people will hate your strange pointless single-link flake of idiosyncrasy. They'll hate on it in-thread, even. That's fine!
Please: post the tiny weird thing you found. There are members of the site who will love it. Your FPP doesn't need to be a book report or a doctoral thesis. Show us the shitty bauble, my friend.
The post seems to be so thin that I'm surprised it wasn't deleted; it is small and weird and lacking any real "point". I love it.
Mefites (particularly new mefites) have frequently expressed anxiety about about doing the very best they can when they craft an FPP. This is a fine impulse, sure, it's good, we're a community of people who want to introduce each other to interesting things, and it's a kindness to put a lot of thought into FPPs sometimes. Those of you who make huge megaposts and exhaustively-researched nests of hyperlinks, you keep on doing that, if that's what you're into!
But one of the first things that really drew me to mefi were how often FPPs seemed completely opaque in any kind of purpose. A single link, dropped on the front page like a mysterious shitty bauble you come across in a landfill.
So much of the now-heavily-monetized web in 2016 is about aggressively pointing people in certain directions: buy our product, feel this emotion to boost our pageviews, support this political position. And we, likewise, have lots of posts where the underlying emotional thrust has a kind of unspoken-but-pre-laid-out Upworthy-esque trajectory: You Will Find This Cute, You Will Find This Informative, You Will Get Mad About This Injustice, You Will Be Proud Of This Act Of Compassion. That's not a bad thing, of course; many of these kinds of posts are wonderful.
But! Metafilter is currently unique among large public sites in that I feel like it's one of the last bastions of the kind of aesthetic that first drew me to the internet, back like 20something years ago: a lot of small, weird, human moments with no real "point" at all.
If you're reading this, and you've ever felt the thought "this is an extremely bizarre little thing I came across on the internet, but I doubt it's enough for an FPP" -- I encourage you to remember this MetaTalk in the future. You don't need to pad the thing with unnecessary links. You don't need to come back into the thread to justify it. Some people will hate your strange pointless single-link flake of idiosyncrasy. They'll hate on it in-thread, even. That's fine!
Please: post the tiny weird thing you found. There are members of the site who will love it. Your FPP doesn't need to be a book report or a doctoral thesis. Show us the shitty bauble, my friend.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble
I think this is a nice MeTa, thank you!
To be honest, one of my favorite posts was that one about the fish playing Street Fighter. I loved how seriously people took this crazy nonsense. My husband (who, in fairness, made the post) and our roommate would get into these intense discussions at dinner about how awful Aquarius was and how Robert the Bruce represented all that was good in the world, and every time one of the fish "selected" Zangief the chat would flood with Russian speakers who were excited about this. There was fantastic analysis of the intimidation techniques deployed by the fish when the characters would just jump up and down at each other like they were doing a Haka. The whole thing was this amazing facade of brilliant nonsense taken very seriously and I enjoyed it immensely. It might not have been the most impressive post ever, and I don't know that it took a ton of work, but I really enjoy stuff that just makes you go "uh, what?".
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:02 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
To be honest, one of my favorite posts was that one about the fish playing Street Fighter. I loved how seriously people took this crazy nonsense. My husband (who, in fairness, made the post) and our roommate would get into these intense discussions at dinner about how awful Aquarius was and how Robert the Bruce represented all that was good in the world, and every time one of the fish "selected" Zangief the chat would flood with Russian speakers who were excited about this. There was fantastic analysis of the intimidation techniques deployed by the fish when the characters would just jump up and down at each other like they were doing a Haka. The whole thing was this amazing facade of brilliant nonsense taken very seriously and I enjoyed it immensely. It might not have been the most impressive post ever, and I don't know that it took a ton of work, but I really enjoy stuff that just makes you go "uh, what?".
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:02 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
(Sorry, just to be clear, I totally didn't mean to derail or anything, just to support the notion that if something is weird and interesting it's almost certainly worth posting, especially in a case like this where it's not making fun of anyone.)
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:04 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:04 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I did one of these recently; a woman dancing to an old hit. I thought it would get deleted but to my delight it did not! (It might've helped that it was on a Friday? I think.) I just really loved it and her complete self-assurance and the WTFery of it all. The video was longish, but she keeps it up the entire time - that's dedication! And eccentric as hell. (My previous oddball that I loved was similar: Funky Town was the song but unfortunately that link is broken now.)
Hooray for the odd, gloriously offbeat internet stuff.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 8:07 AM on January 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Hooray for the odd, gloriously offbeat internet stuff.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 8:07 AM on January 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I totally support this, as I literally just hit total election/outrage filter fatigue last week and have been scrolling past an awful lot of posts.
posted by Think_Long at 8:09 AM on January 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Think_Long at 8:09 AM on January 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
One thing I absolutely love about MetaFilter: you can post a single YouTube video or if you want to post a "book report or a doctoral thesis". Variety is the spice of life.
posted by Fizz at 8:12 AM on January 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 8:12 AM on January 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
I agree with this so much I'm gonna make a FPP about this MeTa.
posted by bondcliff at 8:20 AM on January 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 8:20 AM on January 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
Funnily enough, I have been mulling over whether to write almost the polar opposite post to Meta Talk.
This was the FPP which got me hooked on Metafilter, I love a well crafted, multi link post and I feel like there is becoming less and less distinction between all the SL** posts on the Blue and other sites which churn clickbait fodder.
As Fizz says, "vive la difference": I tend to skip over the single links...
posted by SpacemanRed at 8:20 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
This was the FPP which got me hooked on Metafilter, I love a well crafted, multi link post and I feel like there is becoming less and less distinction between all the SL** posts on the Blue and other sites which churn clickbait fodder.
As Fizz says, "vive la difference": I tend to skip over the single links...
posted by SpacemanRed at 8:20 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Variety is the spice of life.
Yeah, recently there was a run of Very Serious Topics. And then: WAFFLE POOTS. So ridiculous. Just what I needed after so much bad news.
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:24 AM on January 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
Yeah, recently there was a run of Very Serious Topics. And then: WAFFLE POOTS. So ridiculous. Just what I needed after so much bad news.
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:24 AM on January 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
Shitty little baubles are sometimes the greatest delights, on and off metafilter.
(ie, here, here!)
posted by ldthomps at 8:30 AM on January 21, 2016
(ie, here, here!)
posted by ldthomps at 8:30 AM on January 21, 2016
aaaahhahahohohohoho how did I miss the waffle poots, thank you MonkeyToes
posted by barchan at 8:35 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by barchan at 8:35 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
wait why would you link something called waffle poots when I'm in class and can't click on the video
WHAT ARE WAFFLE POOTS
*nose pressed up against the metaphorical glass*
posted by sciatrix at 8:41 AM on January 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
WHAT ARE WAFFLE POOTS
*nose pressed up against the metaphorical glass*
posted by sciatrix at 8:41 AM on January 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
WHAT ARE WAFFLE POOTS
a) Well, sciatrix, I gotta tell ya: You only get one opportunity in life to think to yourself, "I hope this is a video of waffle farting."
b) Waffle poots is replacing my standard reply to any shitbird emails by shitbirds disagreeing with the conclusions of my journal articles for shitbird reasons like they only read the abstract.
posted by barchan at 8:54 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
a) Well, sciatrix, I gotta tell ya: You only get one opportunity in life to think to yourself, "I hope this is a video of waffle farting."
b) Waffle poots is replacing my standard reply to any shitbird emails by shitbirds disagreeing with the conclusions of my journal articles for shitbird reasons like they only read the abstract.
posted by barchan at 8:54 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
I just found the waffle poots. I am so happy.
posted by Sophie1 at 8:56 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Sophie1 at 8:56 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I found it baffling and kinda 420-ish but whatevs, I didn't dislike it or flag it.
A more surreal Metafilter is definitely preferable to a more shouty hatey indignant Metafilter regurgitating the same dozen political/social/media talking points over and over again.
bring on the wee voices
posted by sidereal at 9:14 AM on January 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
A more surreal Metafilter is definitely preferable to a more shouty hatey indignant Metafilter regurgitating the same dozen political/social/media talking points over and over again.
bring on the wee voices
posted by sidereal at 9:14 AM on January 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
just so you all know I'm playing it on loop now and giggling into my laptop
posted by sciatrix at 9:27 AM on January 21, 2016
posted by sciatrix at 9:27 AM on January 21, 2016
My most popular FPP was the Peter Dinklage GoT theme song, accompanied by an animation of a Tyrion Lannister figurine rotating in place. Heck, my very first FPP was an interactive Flash thing of food talking in French. It was totally dumb and reminded me of late-90s-internet, where these kinds of sites were almost an art.
This reminds me of a weird-ass website that my dad and I stumbled on in 1997 or 98, with crudely drawn vegetables and comments about them, such as "Pees: they luk like littl green balls" and "Pirates lik to eet kabbage", as well as a section about a funnel, a cone, and a spike. I would probably pay good money to know what the hell that was.
posted by chainsofreedom at 9:34 AM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
This reminds me of a weird-ass website that my dad and I stumbled on in 1997 or 98, with crudely drawn vegetables and comments about them, such as "Pees: they luk like littl green balls" and "Pirates lik to eet kabbage", as well as a section about a funnel, a cone, and a spike. I would probably pay good money to know what the hell that was.
posted by chainsofreedom at 9:34 AM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
My most popular FPP was the Peter Dinklage GoT theme song
and rightfully so because it was GLORIOUS
posted by poffin boffin at 9:40 AM on January 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
and rightfully so because it was GLORIOUS
posted by poffin boffin at 9:40 AM on January 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
I made a single link post today and the first couple of comments (now deleted) were
"wgat"
and
"zarq did your account get compromised?"
ಠ_ಠ
posted by zarq at 9:48 AM on January 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
"wgat"
and
"zarq did your account get compromised?"
ಠ_ಠ
posted by zarq at 9:48 AM on January 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
Your post today is totally different from the thing Greg Nog is talking about, though. It's a useful site, so it makes sense why it seemed like a good thing to post, but the post presentation sounds a bit like an advertisement, which is what people were reacting to.
Very different from a single link to a small, totally oddball thing with zero utility and zero possible marketing angle.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:52 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Very different from a single link to a small, totally oddball thing with zero utility and zero possible marketing angle.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:52 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, and thank you for those comment deletions. (Assuming that was you!)
posted by zarq at 9:54 AM on January 21, 2016
posted by zarq at 9:54 AM on January 21, 2016
Yeah, there's something nice about that fpp even if it was just about a youtube comment.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 10:02 AM on January 21, 2016
posted by Foci for Analysis at 10:02 AM on January 21, 2016
I love a well crafted, multi link post and I feel like there is becoming less and less distinction between all the SL** posts on the Blue and other sites which churn clickbait fodder.
As Fizz says, "vive la difference": I tend to skip over the single links...
In response, this makes me think about three things I love about MetaFilter:
1) I don't really browse clickbait sites (or content aggregators of any other sort, to be honest), so MetaFilter is my internet filter - some MeFite liked it enough to share, and I appreciate that
2) Even on clickbait-ish posts, the comments here are still better than most of the internet, so I can read the comments to see if other found value/ amusement/ distraction from the links
3) You can always find something you love, and if the front page is stale, there are more than 150,000 posts to browse.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:15 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
As Fizz says, "vive la difference": I tend to skip over the single links...
In response, this makes me think about three things I love about MetaFilter:
1) I don't really browse clickbait sites (or content aggregators of any other sort, to be honest), so MetaFilter is my internet filter - some MeFite liked it enough to share, and I appreciate that
2) Even on clickbait-ish posts, the comments here are still better than most of the internet, so I can read the comments to see if other found value/ amusement/ distraction from the links
3) You can always find something you love, and if the front page is stale, there are more than 150,000 posts to browse.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:15 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
zarq: "I made a single link post today and the first couple of comments (now deleted) were
"wgat"
and
"zarq did your account get compromised?"
ಠ_ಠ"
Yeah, your post was mystery meat that LOOKED LIKE AN AD. Sorry I didn't share in the pure unadulterated joy of TEXTBOOKS AT LOW PRICES texbookly textbooks college money save cost economy savings resource aggregator shopping DWISOTT
posted by boo_radley at 10:20 AM on January 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
"wgat"
and
"zarq did your account get compromised?"
ಠ_ಠ"
Yeah, your post was mystery meat that LOOKED LIKE AN AD. Sorry I didn't share in the pure unadulterated joy of TEXTBOOKS AT LOW PRICES texbookly textbooks college money save cost economy savings resource aggregator shopping DWISOTT
posted by boo_radley at 10:20 AM on January 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
I won't argue with "looked like an ad." I disagree but okay.
It's not mystery meat. The title of the post literally says exactly what the site does. No more, no less. Which is why I included the acronym for 'does what it says on the tin' in the tags.
posted by zarq at 10:25 AM on January 21, 2016
It's not mystery meat. The title of the post literally says exactly what the site does. No more, no less. Which is why I included the acronym for 'does what it says on the tin' in the tags.
posted by zarq at 10:25 AM on January 21, 2016
No one's saying it was mystery meat. It definitely looked like an ad. Which doesn't mean it was bad in and of itself, but yeah, I did a double-take too.
posted by Etrigan at 10:28 AM on January 21, 2016
posted by Etrigan at 10:28 AM on January 21, 2016
No one's saying it was mystery meat.
Read boo_radley's comment again.
posted by zarq at 10:29 AM on January 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Read boo_radley's comment again.
posted by zarq at 10:29 AM on January 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ah, you're right. But the "LOOKED LIKE AN AD" part was, I think, the more important part, and frankly, yes, that was one seriously Pepsi Blue-looking SL FPP.
posted by Etrigan at 10:35 AM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 10:35 AM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I did and it's still a pretty big mystery as to why it's worth anybody's time instead of bigwords, textsurf or bookfinder or the other sites in that space. But it's ok; you had a title.
posted by boo_radley at 10:39 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by boo_radley at 10:39 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Again, Etrigan, I disagree but whatever.
If only there were a place set aside on the site to complain about such things.
Perhaps a contact form, so one could reach the mods directly.
Or an entire subsite.
Or even a way to alert the mods about potential guideline violations.
Rather than cluttering up the damned thread.
posted by zarq at 10:43 AM on January 21, 2016
If only there were a place set aside on the site to complain about such things.
Perhaps a contact form, so one could reach the mods directly.
Or an entire subsite.
Or even a way to alert the mods about potential guideline violations.
Rather than cluttering up the damned thread.
posted by zarq at 10:43 AM on January 21, 2016
Gently, this is getting pretty far off the track of "fun little odd posts we like" here.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:45 AM on January 21, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:45 AM on January 21, 2016 [19 favorites]
Not sure if this is too far from the post here (ie, favorite odd MF post), but I really liked this MeFi Music post because of the story/comment that went along with the song.
posted by Wolfster at 10:55 AM on January 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Wolfster at 10:55 AM on January 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I always feel guilty when I post single-link FPP's. Doesn't stop me, but the guilt is there.
This post gives me hope that someday that feeling will be reduced to a mere guilty pleasure.
posted by Mchelly at 11:10 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
This post gives me hope that someday that feeling will be reduced to a mere guilty pleasure.
posted by Mchelly at 11:10 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
ok this finally prompted me to post my very first FPP, which, although it's just a single-link kinda throwaway thing, is on a topic very near and dear to my heart
posted by burgerrr at 11:17 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by burgerrr at 11:17 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Why don't you post about the mystery meat
I want more posts about the mystery meat
I wish you'd post them
'Cause they're strange and deranged and they don't need to change
You could do it some more and I'd be satisfied
You can do it some more and I'm still satisfied
posted by benito.strauss at 11:23 AM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I want more posts about the mystery meat
I wish you'd post them
'Cause they're strange and deranged and they don't need to change
You could do it some more and I'd be satisfied
You can do it some more and I'm still satisfied
posted by benito.strauss at 11:23 AM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Do any old-schoolers remember hama7?? Strange character, his/her whole shtick was extremely minimal "mystery meat" posts and they were usually delightful. Example. hama7 was a big reason why I started reading this site! I didn't know until later that people were actually complaining about it.
posted by naju at 11:35 AM on January 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by naju at 11:35 AM on January 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
Stuff like Greg Nog's example falls squarely into the "cool stuff on the web" box which I see as part of Metafilter's core mission. If it's cool and you found it on the web, it's probably worth putting it up on the Blue. If people hate on it in the thread, those comments will hopefully be deleted. If nobody likes it, the post will be deleted! Which is no big deal for a little one-off post that didn't require much thought. So count me among those who are in favor of this kind of thing.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 11:36 AM on January 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 11:36 AM on January 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Pretty sure mystery meat causes waffle poots.
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:36 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:36 AM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
I just really really wish we could have a SLYT of the martial artist performing to Supernaut, too.
posted by notyou at 11:53 AM on January 21, 2016
posted by notyou at 11:53 AM on January 21, 2016
This is an excellent MeTa and I could not agree more. I love that the megaposts get a lot of respect and appreciation, but the weird single-links are the reason I keep coming back to MetaFilter.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:58 AM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 11:58 AM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Yaaaaaaaay! [imaginary gif of wAvey-arms Kermit]
posted by Diablevert at 11:59 AM on January 21, 2016
posted by Diablevert at 11:59 AM on January 21, 2016
The washing machine on a trampoline single link FPP cured me of the post-holiday blues.
posted by Kabanos at 12:20 PM on January 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 12:20 PM on January 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
hama7
I'll confess I love me some mystery meat post from a trusted source. And hama7 was one I knew I could rely on.
This was also beautiful. Though like notyou I'm waiting, some variety of patience, for that video. It's out there. I know it is.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:28 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'll confess I love me some mystery meat post from a trusted source. And hama7 was one I knew I could rely on.
This was also beautiful. Though like notyou I'm waiting, some variety of patience, for that video. It's out there. I know it is.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:28 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
YES almost all of my top favourite posts of all time fit under the "wtf is this ridiculous thing" category
Agreed, breadface is in that category for me... I still think about it's absurdity from time to time and have to stifle a giggle. I actually showed it to someone recently and the totally aghast wtf look they gave me just added to my merriment.
posted by JenMarie at 12:34 PM on January 21, 2016
Agreed, breadface is in that category for me... I still think about it's absurdity from time to time and have to stifle a giggle. I actually showed it to someone recently and the totally aghast wtf look they gave me just added to my merriment.
posted by JenMarie at 12:34 PM on January 21, 2016
I must note that my most Favorited FPP since mid-last-year was a SLMVMP (Single Link Medium Via MeFi Projects) by GregNog himself that I just beat 23 other MeFites from posting. Today's (and Many Other Days') Lesson: Listen to GregNog. To paraphrase Kahlil Gibran: “Half of what he says is meaninglessridiculous; but he says it so that the other half may reach you.”
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:45 PM on January 21, 2016
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:45 PM on January 21, 2016
Metafilter: like a mysterious shitty bauble you come across in a landfill.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
FREE HAMA7!
posted by klangklangston at 1:17 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by klangklangston at 1:17 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I like the shitty bauble too.
posted by Annika Cicada at 1:17 PM on January 21, 2016
posted by Annika Cicada at 1:17 PM on January 21, 2016
Honestly, small FPPs with few links are often better. While I appreciate the big FPP's sometimes, especially if they are archival in nature, Metafilter is a distraction, not a lifestyle, for me -- so I end up being overwhelmed and skipping them (e.g. "read later" where "later" = forever) most of the time. Not to mention the temptation to editorialize is a lot stronger with more FPP text.
posted by smidgen at 1:42 PM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by smidgen at 1:42 PM on January 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
> Do any old-schoolers remember hama7?? Strange character, his/her whole shtick was extremely minimal "mystery meat" posts and they were usually delightful. Example. hama7 was a big reason why I started reading this site! I didn't know until later that people were actually complaining about it.
Yes, yes, and yes! I was always annoyed by the complaints, and that's one reason I tend to get unnecessarily tetchy about people praising megaposts. I mean, I like some of 'em myself, and lots of people like lots of 'em, and it's all good, but I have this automatic equation of "Big posts good = little posts bad!" and I go NO NO NO and make a querulous comment defending little posts. Which we need more of. In other words:
> Honestly, small FPPs with few links are often better.
posted by languagehat at 1:59 PM on January 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yes, yes, and yes! I was always annoyed by the complaints, and that's one reason I tend to get unnecessarily tetchy about people praising megaposts. I mean, I like some of 'em myself, and lots of people like lots of 'em, and it's all good, but I have this automatic equation of "Big posts good = little posts bad!" and I go NO NO NO and make a querulous comment defending little posts. Which we need more of. In other words:
> Honestly, small FPPs with few links are often better.
posted by languagehat at 1:59 PM on January 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've always been fond of this one: Feet meat.
Mystery meat, indeed.
Well, not really. Does what it says on the tin.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:01 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mystery meat, indeed.
Well, not really. Does what it says on the tin.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:01 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Show us the shitty bauble, my friend
My shit actually comes out as tiny little baubles - but the "no self linking" rule means the "mods" won't even let me post a picture. I guess this is just another example of quidnunc kid being the most silenced minority EVER. Or that he should be ... it's your "vote", I guess.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 2:16 PM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
My shit actually comes out as tiny little baubles - but the "no self linking" rule means the "mods" won't even let me post a picture. I guess this is just another example of quidnunc kid being the most silenced minority EVER. Or that he should be ... it's your "vote", I guess.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 2:16 PM on January 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Bauble is needed after so many grim FFP. The posts about the suicide stalker and prisoners in a bus crash made me depressed all day.(Good posts but so tragic.) I NEED bauble.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 2:21 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 2:21 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
how is baubble formed?
posted by generalist at 3:21 PM on January 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by generalist at 3:21 PM on January 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
I appreciate this post :) I'm definitely gonna go for it! I find so many cool, interesting posts, but I find myself beset by a weird inertia for being unable to share it. Looking forward to sharing more!
posted by yueliang at 4:31 PM on January 21, 2016
posted by yueliang at 4:31 PM on January 21, 2016
Also in this category: crazy with stars' post about famous TV couples from a few hours ago. Looks boring and/or stupid, is actually delightful, would never have encountered without MetaFilter.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 4:34 PM on January 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 4:34 PM on January 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Agree with everything about this post.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:23 PM on January 21, 2016
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:23 PM on January 21, 2016
The follow up will be sword swallowing set to "Snowblind"
posted by clavdivs at 5:27 PM on January 21, 2016
posted by clavdivs at 5:27 PM on January 21, 2016
Weird little stuff is great, I heartily encourage it. Like a lot of other folks have said, the odd "where did you even find this?" posts are among my favorite things on the site, and I'd love to see more of 'em.
Every now and then we delete something for being thin, which in select cases collides with the previous in a sort of de gustibus, which-way-is-the-wind-blowing-that-day way but that's life on the weirdscape. The good news is getting deleted is no big deal there.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:01 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Every now and then we delete something for being thin, which in select cases collides with the previous in a sort of de gustibus, which-way-is-the-wind-blowing-that-day way but that's life on the weirdscape. The good news is getting deleted is no big deal there.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:01 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
The post demonstrates how the first comment or two really sets the thread down a certain path. I think the WTF why-is-this-here was understood but tacit, the comments just came easy and kind.
posted by klarck at 6:08 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by klarck at 6:08 PM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
"I just really really wish we could have a SLYT of the martial artist performing to Supernaut, too."
I was certain that googling would immediately return such a thing, but apparently not. I am sad. It's time to watch more waffle poots.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 6:44 PM on January 21, 2016
I was certain that googling would immediately return such a thing, but apparently not. I am sad. It's time to watch more waffle poots.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 6:44 PM on January 21, 2016
Oh man, more than a decade later, I still remember one of Metafilter's best shitty baubles: "Do you want to see a photo of Tony Danza in the nude? It's from when he was younger... and he's uncut. Ok, talk to you later."
The nonchalant perfection of "Ok, talk to you later." Ugh, I still think about it every now and then.
(Warning: The link in the original post no longer goes to Danza dick, but is definitely NSFW.)
posted by flod at 9:59 PM on January 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
The nonchalant perfection of "Ok, talk to you later." Ugh, I still think about it every now and then.
(Warning: The link in the original post no longer goes to Danza dick, but is definitely NSFW.)
posted by flod at 9:59 PM on January 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
My shit actually comes out as tiny little baubles - but the "no self linking" rule means the "mods" won't even let me post a picture. I guess this is just another example of quidnunc kid being the most silenced minority EVER. Or that he should be ... it's your "vote", I guess.
This may be the only time we are encouraged to vote #2 quidnunc kid.
posted by Errant at 7:55 AM on January 22, 2016 [10 favorites]
This may be the only time we are encouraged to vote #2 quidnunc kid.
posted by Errant at 7:55 AM on January 22, 2016 [10 favorites]
I'm a huge fan of the succinct, even mystery meat posts. The best of the web is often one-shot nonsense, and it restores my sense that we aren't all completely up ourselves around here whenever I see one.
On the rare occasion that I don't bounce right off the mega posts there's good stuff in them, but they're typically asking a lot more out of me than I can give.
posted by Kreiger at 8:49 AM on January 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
On the rare occasion that I don't bounce right off the mega posts there's good stuff in them, but they're typically asking a lot more out of me than I can give.
posted by Kreiger at 8:49 AM on January 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
KEEP METAFILTER RANDOM.
posted by Strange Interlude at 9:30 AM on January 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Strange Interlude at 9:30 AM on January 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
I agree 100%. I swear half of the FPP topics/links on Metafilter I saw on Reddit earlier in the week. I don't think I'm exaggerating.
posted by LoveHam at 9:35 AM on January 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by LoveHam at 9:35 AM on January 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Just wanted to say that I decided to reverse my decision not to post Don Martin's soundwords in Mad Magazine because GregNog made this post, and I'm so glad I did for many reasons but especially for the two people who just commented on how strongly and positively they felt about having it in their lives.
I loved it, but other people loved it more, which is probably the ideal response I'd want from a post.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:44 AM on January 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
I loved it, but other people loved it more, which is probably the ideal response I'd want from a post.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:44 AM on January 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
This post is an FPP version of the type of comment that keeps this site great, and is therefore also a great post.
I love little stories like this.
posted by emptythought at 6:13 PM on January 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love little stories like this.
posted by emptythought at 6:13 PM on January 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Just wanted to say that I decided to reverse my decision not to post Don Martin's soundwords in Mad Magazine because GregNog made this post,
I did the same with the snow penis, but someone else best me to it. And I loved the Don Martin post!
posted by Room 641-A at 6:20 PM on January 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
I did the same with the snow penis, but someone else best me to it. And I loved the Don Martin post!
posted by Room 641-A at 6:20 PM on January 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
LoveHam: "I swear half of the FPP topics/links on Metafilter I saw on Reddit earlier in the week. I don't think I'm exaggerating."
Just a friendly reminder that not everyone looks at Reddit, so if they are The Best of The Web, keep posting those Reddit links here. Thanks!
posted by Rock Steady at 6:29 AM on January 25, 2016 [5 favorites]
Just a friendly reminder that not everyone looks at Reddit, so if they are The Best of The Web, keep posting those Reddit links here. Thanks!
posted by Rock Steady at 6:29 AM on January 25, 2016 [5 favorites]
not everyone looks at Reddit
Or Facebook, or Twitter....
posted by Room 641-A at 7:06 AM on January 25, 2016
Or Facebook, or Twitter....
posted by Room 641-A at 7:06 AM on January 25, 2016
FYI, here's the original page for the tony danza link. They took the picture down, but the link still exists.
You're fucking welcome.
posted by shmegegge at 1:20 AM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
You're fucking welcome.
posted by shmegegge at 1:20 AM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
This post has inspired me to change my Twitter header photo to something that about 3 people will enjoy.
posted by duffell at 2:39 PM on February 2, 2016
posted by duffell at 2:39 PM on February 2, 2016
But those three people will enjoy it immensely.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:30 AM on February 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by benito.strauss at 8:30 AM on February 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by poffin boffin at 7:52 AM on January 21, 2016 [3 favorites]