post it! July 7, 2016 1:20 PM Subscribe
You should post that.
That link you saw would make a good post - you even said so.
Post it!
Making front page posts is pretty simple. The hardest part is finding a link, and you already found one. A post needs only one link.
You should post it.
Making front page posts is pretty simple. The hardest part is finding a link, and you already found one. A post needs only one link.
You should post it.
And don't worry about what people think after you make the post. If the fear of judgement, criticism, or getting something wrong are holding you back, don't worry! Once you submit the post to MetaFilter, it is no longer yours. It is now part of the community, for others to chime in, discuss, riff on, enjoy and critique.
So make your post and set it free, and try again with something else later!
posted by filthy light thief at 1:30 PM on July 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
So make your post and set it free, and try again with something else later!
posted by filthy light thief at 1:30 PM on July 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
After 7 years of seeing lots of things that would make good posts and never doing it, lots of encouragement and motivation from events like JulyByWomen, I finally finally finally posted a thing this year, threw the computer across the room, and ran away expecting to die. From what, I have no idea. Social anxiety, maybe. Perhaps the MeFi Ogre of Shame would sneak into my room at night and jeer in my ear, you're a failure, a failure, and then stab me with the red hot poker of embarrassment. Or throw a whole bag of ticks on me. Something like that, I guess.
But I didn't die! No MeFi ogre at our house. It was all fine.
You should totally post the thing!
posted by barchan at 1:52 PM on July 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
But I didn't die! No MeFi ogre at our house. It was all fine.
You should totally post the thing!
posted by barchan at 1:52 PM on July 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
Do it! Post the thing!
OK
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:53 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
OK
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:53 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
I posted the thing a few times in the last year instead of thinking I should and making a note or bookmark that would never be read again. I'm glad I did and I also had some weird anxiety a few times but it somehow didn't kill me.
So post the thing! I'm saying this as much to myself as everybody else.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 1:56 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
So post the thing! I'm saying this as much to myself as everybody else.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 1:56 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Just recently I posted the thing and it went very not the way I wanted it to...and I'm still here! And have not been ostracized, publicly or personally!
Post it!
posted by Fig at 2:06 PM on July 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Post it!
posted by Fig at 2:06 PM on July 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
cortex: Do it! Post the thing!
It's Raining Florence Henderson: OK
No, you're doing it wrong!
the man of twists and turns: You should post it.
- and -
Fig: Post it!
Like this!
posted by filthy light thief at 2:31 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's Raining Florence Henderson: OK
No, you're doing it wrong!
the man of twists and turns: You should post it.
- and -
Fig: Post it!
Like this!
posted by filthy light thief at 2:31 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's helpful to keep in mind:
1. Receiving few comment about the post does not mean it was a bad post.
2. A one-link post with good content is not inferior to longer multi-link posts.
3. Having your post deleted because it is accidentally a repost, or because the post could use some tweaking, does not make you a bad person or make others think less of you.
4. People being critical in the first few comments does not confer universal agreement about your posting judgment.
5. There is no obligation to defend your post. Once it's posted, it's a grown adult and has moved out to fend for itself.
6. You are a good person, we like you, and you should try and make a post.
posted by SpacemanStix at 2:32 PM on July 7, 2016 [20 favorites]
1. Receiving few comment about the post does not mean it was a bad post.
2. A one-link post with good content is not inferior to longer multi-link posts.
3. Having your post deleted because it is accidentally a repost, or because the post could use some tweaking, does not make you a bad person or make others think less of you.
4. People being critical in the first few comments does not confer universal agreement about your posting judgment.
5. There is no obligation to defend your post. Once it's posted, it's a grown adult and has moved out to fend for itself.
6. You are a good person, we like you, and you should try and make a post.
posted by SpacemanStix at 2:32 PM on July 7, 2016 [20 favorites]
I recently posted something that was, for the lack of a better word, savaged in the comments. In retrospect, proooooooobably deservedly so. I've never had an FPP that wasn't eventually deleted go so badly. It's in my posting history if you want to look! I'm sure you can easily figure out which one it was.
Now, if you have no idea what I'm talking about because you don't keep up with all the dumb shit I post (because I mean why would you) and have no interest in crawling through my history to find out what it was, then there's your reason for posting any damn thing you want. Even if it goes real bad, no one will remember in a week's time. If you don't post very often, be assured that you have to really, really put in a lot of hard work at being shitty about what you post and why and to whom to not get a general tabula rasa treatment for what you post. And there's always tomorrow to try again.
posted by griphus at 2:41 PM on July 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Now, if you have no idea what I'm talking about because you don't keep up with all the dumb shit I post (because I mean why would you) and have no interest in crawling through my history to find out what it was, then there's your reason for posting any damn thing you want. Even if it goes real bad, no one will remember in a week's time. If you don't post very often, be assured that you have to really, really put in a lot of hard work at being shitty about what you post and why and to whom to not get a general tabula rasa treatment for what you post. And there's always tomorrow to try again.
posted by griphus at 2:41 PM on July 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Let me chime in that I too have made some terrible posts and yet lived to make better posts. Hell, one of my posts is in Comic Sans. So someday you too could come back from a shitpost to make interweb history.
posted by GuyZero at 2:46 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by GuyZero at 2:46 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also, I should note, it's actually pretty hard to make a post that's actually bad. like 95% of posts are between fine and amazingly good.
posted by GuyZero at 2:49 PM on July 7, 2016
posted by GuyZero at 2:49 PM on July 7, 2016
90% of the time, when I think I should post something, I wait and someone else posts it first. But maybe I will go ahead and post the thing about how the gymternet is revolutionizing coverage of women's gymnastics, because it was pretty cool.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 2:58 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 2:58 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
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Was that the kissing one? People didn't like it, but I think you reading that as savaged highlights one of the central anxieties over this — that other people have the same level of investment in the FPP content as the person making it. Just thinking back and being like, "That wasn't a savaging, lemme show you some times people have savaged my FPPs!" and seeing that it's not actually all that different.
That aesthetics (especially as they're conflated with liberal identity) are prone to mistakenly being considered as objective arguments — that people would actually enjoy the things I did if they just had them properly explained is one of the manifestations — can amp up that ego attachment. What tends to help me come out the other side is telling myself that I read through and researched whatever, and that if people disagree it's because they have shitty taste and will regret not properly appreciating my tasteful genius later, likely recanting their snark on their deathbeds. I imagine quite a few people's final laments will focus on not providing me with enough respectfully appreciative plaudits over FPPs I've made.
"If only there was more time," they'll say, frantically tapping their withered fingers on their tablets, "I can still favorite one or two more."
posted by klangklangston at 3:08 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
That aesthetics (especially as they're conflated with liberal identity) are prone to mistakenly being considered as objective arguments — that people would actually enjoy the things I did if they just had them properly explained is one of the manifestations — can amp up that ego attachment. What tends to help me come out the other side is telling myself that I read through and researched whatever, and that if people disagree it's because they have shitty taste and will regret not properly appreciating my tasteful genius later, likely recanting their snark on their deathbeds. I imagine quite a few people's final laments will focus on not providing me with enough respectfully appreciative plaudits over FPPs I've made.
"If only there was more time," they'll say, frantically tapping their withered fingers on their tablets, "I can still favorite one or two more."
posted by klangklangston at 3:08 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
There seems to be a postal route that still uses mules.
Would you like to know more?
posted by clavdivs at 5:00 PM on July 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Would you like to know more?
posted by clavdivs at 5:00 PM on July 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
YES I WOULD, clavdivs. (I still love that the legendary Pony Express was a short-lived money pit.)
Also, the peer pressure in this joint is outrageous.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:03 PM on July 7, 2016
Also, the peer pressure in this joint is outrageous.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:03 PM on July 7, 2016
I just made my first ever fpp. It was just one link and it went fine. Nobody yelled at me or called me stupid, and since the fpp was about the movie Cars, I am as surprised as anyone that people actually commented on it.
posted by Literaryhero at 5:49 PM on July 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Literaryhero at 5:49 PM on July 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
The/A thing has been posted. And with post history!
posted by filthy light thief at 6:21 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 6:21 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sadly all the cool things I am seeing right now I'm involved in so I can't! But this applies for everyone else :)
posted by corb at 6:36 PM on July 7, 2016
posted by corb at 6:36 PM on July 7, 2016
I posted the thing.
posted by vrakatar at 7:07 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 7:07 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's Thursday Thingday!!!
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:21 PM on July 7, 2016
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:21 PM on July 7, 2016
I won't post the thing because then everyone will like it and it won't be cool anymore.
Who am I kidding? I don't know any cool things.
posted by bongo_x at 7:56 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Who am I kidding? I don't know any cool things.
posted by bongo_x at 7:56 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Don't make a comment, though. Leave that to the professionals.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:07 PM on July 7, 2016
posted by Chrysostom at 9:07 PM on July 7, 2016
Reasons for not making a post should be run through the traditional CBT cognitive distortions checklist.
posted by HuronBob at 9:10 PM on July 7, 2016
posted by HuronBob at 9:10 PM on July 7, 2016
My first FPP was DELETED and I lived to tell the tale. I limp a bit in damp weather, but otherwise I'm fine.
Also, don't be drunk when you make your first post. Wait until you have a reputation to ruin.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:01 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also, don't be drunk when you make your first post. Wait until you have a reputation to ruin.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:01 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sadly all the cool things I am seeing right now I'm involved in so I can't! But this applies for everyone else :)
Then get to projects!
posted by filthy light thief at 10:11 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Then get to projects!
posted by filthy light thief at 10:11 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm pretty in favor of people making posts, and think they should do it often and with vigor.
I DO WISH, however, that when people are making comments... if what they have to say is something that is really negative, or even just snarky-negative... that they would not make that the FIRST comment on a post. Your negativity or snark can wait. Let 3 or 4 other comments be made first, THEN post your snark/negativity.
A negative comment as the first comment can do more to start the toilet-bowl-swirl for a post than nearly anything other than the actual content of the post being truly shitty.
That said, DO IT! POST THAT THING!
posted by hippybear at 1:04 AM on July 8, 2016 [12 favorites]
I DO WISH, however, that when people are making comments... if what they have to say is something that is really negative, or even just snarky-negative... that they would not make that the FIRST comment on a post. Your negativity or snark can wait. Let 3 or 4 other comments be made first, THEN post your snark/negativity.
A negative comment as the first comment can do more to start the toilet-bowl-swirl for a post than nearly anything other than the actual content of the post being truly shitty.
That said, DO IT! POST THAT THING!
posted by hippybear at 1:04 AM on July 8, 2016 [12 favorites]
the traditional CBT cognitive distortions checklist
☐ my balls hurt and I can't think
☐ my dick hurts and I can't think
☐ my entire junk hurts and I like it
I mean, the checklist goes on, but you get the idea.
posted by hippybear at 1:09 AM on July 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
☐ my balls hurt and I can't think
☐ my dick hurts and I can't think
☐ my entire junk hurts and I like it
I mean, the checklist goes on, but you get the idea.
posted by hippybear at 1:09 AM on July 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think there is a big difference between people being negative about the subject of a post, and people being negative about the post itself. Unless the post is about itself, of course.
It's entirely possible to like the fact that somebody posted about a thing that you in itself dislike. Or the way that they posted about it. griphus, I liked your post about the kissing project, and also I disliked the kissing project.
posted by Too-Ticky at 4:18 AM on July 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's entirely possible to like the fact that somebody posted about a thing that you in itself dislike. Or the way that they posted about it. griphus, I liked your post about the kissing project, and also I disliked the kissing project.
posted by Too-Ticky at 4:18 AM on July 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's funny, my job means I put thousands of words online every week (some bylined, some not). I know my stuff is very widely read but I don't give any of it a second thought. Yet when it comes to FPPs, I've been a bundle of nerves the once or twice I've posted. I think I accidentally elevated y'all to hero status in my mind.
posted by _Mona_ at 5:25 AM on July 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by _Mona_ at 5:25 AM on July 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
Goddamnit hippybear it's a good thing my office mate is out right now or I would be having a very akward conversation about why I'm chuckling at my desk.
posted by Uncle at 8:02 AM on July 8, 2016
posted by Uncle at 8:02 AM on July 8, 2016
> I think there is a big difference between people being negative about the subject of a post, and people being negative about the post itself.
Yeah, there is, but people should remember that the poster is almost certain to take criticism personally, even if they don't say so in the thread; if you have something not-nice to say, try to be reassuring to the poster while you're saying it, especially if it's early in the thread!
posted by languagehat at 8:23 AM on July 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
Yeah, there is, but people should remember that the poster is almost certain to take criticism personally, even if they don't say so in the thread; if you have something not-nice to say, try to be reassuring to the poster while you're saying it, especially if it's early in the thread!
posted by languagehat at 8:23 AM on July 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
I guess I would say: post the thing, or don't post the thing, or decide later about whether to post the thing -- whatever works best for you! I trust you to make informed choices about posting (and commenting) based on your own goals, preferences, and comfort level.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:44 AM on July 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:44 AM on July 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I DO WISH, however, that when people are making comments... if what they have to say is something that is really negative, or even just snarky-negative... that they would not make that the FIRST comment on a post. Your negativity or snark can wait. Let 3 or 4 other comments be made first, THEN post your snark/negativity.
Well, I just took my own advice above and posted a thing and the very first comment (from someone) took a snarky-negative shot at the few words I actually wrote myself in the very short post. As the first comment. But I'll live to receive your snark another day. So keep on posting MeFi.
To be clear I have no problem with the comment or commenter. I just thought it was funny.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 2:36 PM on July 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Well, I just took my own advice above and posted a thing and the very first comment (from someone) took a snarky-negative shot at the few words I actually wrote myself in the very short post. As the first comment. But I'll live to receive your snark another day. So keep on posting MeFi.
To be clear I have no problem with the comment or commenter. I just thought it was funny.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 2:36 PM on July 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Thanks for posting the thing, Clinging to the Wreckage. It provided some cheerfulness on an awful day for all of us, and that's really valuable.
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:17 PM on July 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:17 PM on July 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
I would be having a very awkward conversation about why I'm chuckling at my desk.
Do tell: is it your balls, your dick, or your entire junk?
posted by ambrosen at 11:31 AM on July 9, 2016
Do tell: is it your balls, your dick, or your entire junk?
posted by ambrosen at 11:31 AM on July 9, 2016
Clinging to the Wreckage: I am now sufficiently called out and am reexamining all my actions here.
Thank you for keeping me honest and centered. I give you hugs and apologies.
posted by hippybear at 6:52 PM on July 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
Thank you for keeping me honest and centered. I give you hugs and apologies.
posted by hippybear at 6:52 PM on July 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yeah, there is, but people should remember that the poster is almost certain to take criticism personally, even if they don't say so in the thread; if you have something not-nice to say, try to be reassuring to the poster while you're saying it, especially if it's early in the thread!
Yeah! And, one of the ways to do this - let's take a single-link article post as an example - is to quote directly from the article, and then direct your negative/critical/snarky comment at that quote. You're then attacking something that came up in the article itself, and not by implication attacking the poster/FPP directly (even if you don't mean to imply that). It also means you RTFA. And by "you" I mean "me" and I should make sure to follow my own advice at all times.
And the occasional "Thanks for posting this!" doesn't hurt - a little nice in someone's day is a bit of good thrown out there in the world. If you've never done it, try it - perhaps you'll brighten somebody's day.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:41 PM on July 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yeah! And, one of the ways to do this - let's take a single-link article post as an example - is to quote directly from the article, and then direct your negative/critical/snarky comment at that quote. You're then attacking something that came up in the article itself, and not by implication attacking the poster/FPP directly (even if you don't mean to imply that). It also means you RTFA. And by "you" I mean "me" and I should make sure to follow my own advice at all times.
And the occasional "Thanks for posting this!" doesn't hurt - a little nice in someone's day is a bit of good thrown out there in the world. If you've never done it, try it - perhaps you'll brighten somebody's day.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:41 PM on July 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
This motivated me to post the thing even though I felt it was a bit thin, and then it got many favourites so evidently it was not too thin.
posted by solarion at 8:38 PM on July 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by solarion at 8:38 PM on July 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
In the past couple weeks a thread I'd posted in was deleted because a male mod decided there'd been a lot of that feminist issue discussed already. Then a comment I made in another thread, different topic, didappeared, no explanation, of course.
So lately it's not fellow posters but over-moderation that discourages me from posting and also has me vsiting less often. (Why waste time writing comments and even developing threads that might be erased.)
posted by NorthernLite at 11:04 PM on July 11, 2016
So lately it's not fellow posters but over-moderation that discourages me from posting and also has me vsiting less often. (Why waste time writing comments and even developing threads that might be erased.)
posted by NorthernLite at 11:04 PM on July 11, 2016
Why waste time writing comments and even developing threads that might be erased.
Which has been possible since the site launched.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:58 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Which has been possible since the site launched.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:58 AM on July 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Things I have briefly considered and then not posted recently:
Something about hybrid animals, inspired by this Ya Meraktan video. But I couldn't find any good links about the narluga.
Twink, "the toy piano band." Already posted, in 2002.
Some other odd thing found somewhere around here, but I can't remember what it was.
Haylee's World of Go/Baduk, which is astoundingly good if you're a go player, probably not so interesting if you aren't. I assume all the go players are already aware of it by now.
A link to something cool on ctheory.net would be nice to see some day, but I couldn't find anything. It doesn't seem to be as cool as I remember from the 90's. Should've posted it sooner, I guess.
posted by sfenders at 2:01 PM on July 12, 2016
Something about hybrid animals, inspired by this Ya Meraktan video. But I couldn't find any good links about the narluga.
Twink, "the toy piano band." Already posted, in 2002.
Some other odd thing found somewhere around here, but I can't remember what it was.
Haylee's World of Go/Baduk, which is astoundingly good if you're a go player, probably not so interesting if you aren't. I assume all the go players are already aware of it by now.
A link to something cool on ctheory.net would be nice to see some day, but I couldn't find anything. It doesn't seem to be as cool as I remember from the 90's. Should've posted it sooner, I guess.
posted by sfenders at 2:01 PM on July 12, 2016
sfenders: If you could put in some context for the World of Go then I'd be interested, and I don't really play it.
posted by solarion at 10:35 PM on July 12, 2016
posted by solarion at 10:35 PM on July 12, 2016
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Plus this made me think of a fun comment from overeducated_alligator about Post It note colors, so hey, I will share the fun thing.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:30 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]