Links do improve and furnish a comment

February 27, 2003 12:23 PM

Links do improve and furnish a comment: When people do a little research before they comment and include a helpful or amusing link (and some users, like sheauga and madamjujujive put in almost as much work as they do in their posts), threads gain a new life and go off in all sorts of interesting directions. Sometimes deliciously and all at once. Some more threadbare posts, like the Libeskind one, are actually repaired and rehabilitated by the ensuing links. For some, linky comments may be a pain - do many actually click on them, given that a few don't even read the main links? - but I, for one, think they're dandy and would like to see more of them.
posted by MiguelCardoso to MetaFilter-related at 12:23 PM (31 comments total)

how much of that rubbing alcohol did you swig, miguel?
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 1:17 PM on February 27, 2003

".....threads gain a new life and go off in all sorts of interesting directions."

Thank you Captain Obvious.

"For some, linky comments may be a pain"

Huh? How is that possible? If you get into the thread and actually read the comments then you have some interest and want to learn/discuss.

[sigh] Another "searching for a reason to post" post from Miguel (who I find much more interesting these days).

So..... what you're asking is, "Are helpful links helpful???"

Yes. Yes they are.
posted by y6y6y6 at 1:18 PM on February 27, 2003

Threads with a lot of links and different directions are more difficult to read and follow - that's what I meant.

The WTC thread I linked, unlike Skallas's post, was actually filled out and re-railed by all those who searched and posted additional links - a good example, I think, of what should be done when a post is less substantial than it could be, instead of whining about it in-thread or even bringing it to MeTa.

Many times a post has a good idea or point in it but is insufficiently fundamented. Repair work - i.e. helping, with links - is good. That's all I'm saying. The effort to add to a post, with fresh links, is worth it. Lazy commenting isn't.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 1:29 PM on February 27, 2003

This post is a good example of linky comments.
posted by Orange Goblin at 1:53 PM on February 27, 2003

Threads with a lot of links and different directions are more difficult to read and follow - that's what I meant.

The WTC thread I linked, unlike Skallas's post, was actually filled out and re-railed by all those who searched and posted additional links - a good example, I think, of what should be done when a post is less substantial than it could be, instead of whining about it in-thread or even bringing it to MeTa.

Many times a post has a good idea or point in it but is insufficiently fundamented. Repair work - i.e. helping, with links - is good. That's all I'm saying. The effort to add to a post, with fresh links, is worth it. Lazy commenting isn't.
posted by Stan Chin at 1:58 PM on February 27, 2003

Clean-up in aisle Chin!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 2:00 PM on February 27, 2003

" The effort to add to a post, with fresh links, is worth it."

And who doesn't already know that and agree? It's like saying, "A series of well thought out comments leads to a good discussion."

Or are you lobbying for a ban on comments that are less than top drawer? Commenters need to try harder?
posted by y6y6y6 at 2:06 PM on February 27, 2003

you know, y6y6y6, not to derail this thread, but i've always found that fresh, wholesome ingredients make for better-tasting meals. it's funny--but it's true.
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 2:21 PM on February 27, 2003

Thank you Captain Obvious.


Damn you, y6y6y6; those were the exact words that came out of my mouth when I saw this post on the MeTa front.

Wouldn't consistently high quality of argumentation help a thread as much (or more) than just a loada links? Of course it would, and can, and sometimes does. If someone can show that comment links causally improve a thread, then we've got a talking point. Otherwise this is simply an observation of coincidence (hey, I've noticed that links can improve a thread, how neat is that!), I, also wonder exactly what the point of this thread is supposed to be.

On preview, _sirmissalot_, I don't think you're giving Kraft Macaroni and Cheese nearly enough credit.
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:28 PM on February 27, 2003

BTW, y6y6y6, you don't mind that I verbalize your nick as "YIKES" do you?
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:30 PM on February 27, 2003

T o o. m a n y. l i n k s. s u x.
‹/sarcasm›
(Okay, they're all just repeats from my profile. And Miguel beat me to the joke.)
posted by Shane at 2:33 PM on February 27, 2003

y6y6y6: "Are helpful links helpful?"

Absolutely, But as Stan points outs sometimes too many links can be a real pain in the ass, in the original post or in a comment (at least I think that was what Stan was pointing out, I didn't know where to start reading his comment so I skipped it.)

admittedly this FPP was weak, my first thought was "what is the design, damnit" and thankfully someone helped out and posted it.

IMO I think it comes down to whether "its all about the link" or "it's all about the links". Some posters continually post to the "blue" a series of links that could be considered a blog entry on their own, usually the poster who does this has no blog (at least in their user profile).

All things in moderation I'd say
posted by DBAPaul at 2:38 PM on February 27, 2003

Okay. It's me.
posted by y6y6y6 at 2:49 PM on February 27, 2003

Great leapin' links!! That comment by Stan must have taken hours!

Just imagine it on the front page though. Scroll central.

All things in moderation I guess, with notable exceptions.
posted by hama7 at 3:15 PM on February 27, 2003

miguel, could you please post these constant "my thought for the day" posts on your own website instead of posting them to metatalk?

thanks.
posted by kv at 3:28 PM on February 27, 2003

Great leapin' links!! That comment by Stan must have taken hours!

Or, he could have just grabbed links from Google, which is what I fear many posters do to create such a collection of clickishness.
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:29 PM on February 27, 2003

he grabbed a fine picture of a delectable lady with a pumpkin ,who will be my true love this week.
god bless you, stan !
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:48 PM on February 27, 2003

Patting yourself on the back, Miguel?
posted by languagehat at 5:20 PM on February 27, 2003

Yeah, a bit - I often do that. So do you, languagehat!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 5:38 PM on February 27, 2003

oops--I mean stan beat me to it
posted by Shane at 8:13 PM on February 27, 2003

Metafilter: Commenters need to try harder.
posted by eddydamascene at 9:48 PM on February 27, 2003

i've never been harder.
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:16 PM on February 27, 2003

Stan, are you teasing me? I think you're teasing me. :-)

Yes, I'm kidding. No, I don't really think its all about me (although Stan's post looks like something I would do)
posted by anastasiav at 10:17 PM on February 27, 2003

I find Miguel's observations to be brilliant and astute, as usual.

Miguel, I can't find that damn paypal link on your site, must be all that damn foreign language, remind me again where it is?
posted by madamjujujive at 10:37 PM on February 27, 2003

...he used the word 'dandy' tee hee.
I DON'T NEED NO STNKIN LINKS.
migsy' got pay pal?

Migs, up for some poker saturday night. I'll find a passable Port for you...soda for me. get us some cubans. (cigars you sillies, not the people)

ah...the executive game.
posted by clavdivs at 9:41 AM on February 28, 2003

Safety First!
---------------
Mefi Days without a (time off) accident:
492
Mefi Days without a Miguel Meta Post:
1
Mefi Days without a violent snarkfest:
0

Keep working at it, people!

Thank you,
HaugheyCo.
posted by Shane at 10:20 AM on February 28, 2003

Metafilter: such a collection of clickishness

: >
posted by amberglow at 10:31 AM on February 28, 2003

That's all I'm saying. The effort to add to a post, with fresh links, is worth it. Lazy commenting isn't.

I agree.
posted by webmutant at 10:57 AM on February 28, 2003

ok amberglow - about : > --- is that two eyes and a goatee? someone with a sharp and pointed smile? a distress flag? a woman in a string bikini? a secret sanskrit code? I am emoticon challenged. It's like mime to me - I usually never quite get it!
posted by madamjujujive at 1:44 PM on February 28, 2003

Tough crowd.
posted by The God Complex at 2:43 PM on February 28, 2003

Miguel, please do not restrict your thoughts for the day to your own website. Dull as I am, I have never quite mastered Portugese, nor English for that matter.
posted by Fat Buddha at 6:58 PM on February 28, 2003