Why was a post deleted that a dozen or so people were actively discussing?

May 15, 2003 12:08 PM

I'm a relative newbie, so forgive me: Someone earlier today posted about Jack Russell Terriers. A useful (to me) discussion ensued. That thread has since been deleted for some reason. How can I retrieve it? There was some important information in that thread that I need to convey to my parents, who are buying a new dog. Why was a post deleted that a dozen or so people were actively discussing? Isn't that just cruel?
posted by dougb to etiquette/policy at 12:08 PM (38 comments total)

Uh, I use google for information. Great search engine.
posted by konolia at 12:10 PM on May 15, 2003

The thread is here, and I deleted it because it was a post with two fluff links that was just there so everyone could talk about a dog breed. Essentially it was one member using the site to solve their personal dilema, and is not something I want to encourage others to copy, so it was axed.
posted by mathowie at 12:14 PM on May 15, 2003

Doug: here it is. I drafted that post for my friend Carlos. It was deleted because it was a personal request for information. Basically he wanted to buy a dog. The discussion was very good though, I agree. All deleted posts can still be read - along with the reasons for their deletion - on lofi MetaFilter.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:18 PM on May 15, 2003

Talk about a quick reply! Here's the lofi MetaFilter link I bungled above.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:26 PM on May 15, 2003

Thank you for your lightning fast responses, Matt/Miguel.

kanolia, the post was from this morning. Google's good, but they don't [yet] index [all] web pages instantaneously.

Could users be permitted to continue discussions in deleted threads? Or is the reason for deleting things more than just to keep the front page clean of inappropriate threads? Or has this all been discussed before? Please don't delete me.
posted by dougb at 12:30 PM on May 15, 2003

kanolia, the post was from this morning. Google's good, but they don't [yet] index [all] web pages instantaneously.

Oh, hon, I'm so bad at snark. What I MEANT was you should look up the subject on Google without worrying about the thread. But at least you found out about lofi, and that comes in handy.
posted by konolia at 12:33 PM on May 15, 2003

Google's good, but they haven't [yet] completely obviated the need to discuss things with other people. In this case no Google search could have returned the personalized advice I got from a user here.

But then, you're just being snarky again, aren't you? God I'm gullible. I'm going back to the main page, where things are more straightforward. Thank you all.
posted by dougb at 12:54 PM on May 15, 2003

MetaFilter: Where Things Are More Straighforward.

MetaTalk: I'm Going Back To The Main Page.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:58 PM on May 15, 2003

I drafted that post for my friend Carlos.

WTF?
posted by machaus at 1:01 PM on May 15, 2003

I deleted it because it was a post with two fluff links that was just there so everyone could talk about a dog breed. Essentially it was one member using the site to solve their personal dilema, and is not something I want to encourage others to copy, so it was axed.

/coughchilithread
/cough
posted by thirteen at 1:19 PM on May 15, 2003

Are you Being snarky, dude?

I don't even know anymore...
posted by Space Coyote at 1:36 PM on May 15, 2003

Could users be permitted to continue discussions in deleted threads?

That would defeat the purpose of deleting them in the first place. I may add a new feature called "Ask MetaFilter" (I've talked about this for two years), where someone ponies up a couple bucks to ask a question, and the best answer gets half/most of it. Basically Google Answers, but here, with these members.
posted by mathowie at 1:53 PM on May 15, 2003

Ask MetaFilter

Q: George Bush: threat or menace.
A: Both, of course.

Q: Just how evil is the Republican party.
A: Evil through and through.

Q: How much should I pay for the music I want to listen to?
A: Nothing.

Q: Matrix or Lord of the Rings?
A: Why choose?
posted by timeistight at 2:13 PM on May 15, 2003

I drafted that post for my friend Carlos.

WTF?

That reminds me. Shadowkeeper has a gold star? WTF?
posted by soyjoy at 2:35 PM on May 15, 2003

timeistight: Thank you, that'll be $12 for the questions, you'll get your $6 for the answers ASAP. Please pay for your questions within 5 business days.
posted by fvw at 2:40 PM on May 15, 2003

but his answers suck! he didn't even mention jack valenti!
posted by quonsar at 2:51 PM on May 15, 2003

OK, here is my first MetaFilter question:

What
The
Fuck
OW!, who threw that!
posted by dg at 3:21 PM on May 15, 2003

neither jack nor hilary

and no I/P, religion, weight issues, SUVs either
posted by matteo at 3:22 PM on May 15, 2003

I can't afford to ask all those questions. I spent all my money on my "Don't mention the war" textad.
posted by timeistight at 3:31 PM on May 15, 2003

MetaFilter, will you sleep with me?
posted by xmutex at 3:48 PM on May 15, 2003

My question is:

Does Jon Carroll of SFGate.com have the right to call MetaFilter a "blog of blogs"?
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:49 PM on May 15, 2003

I drafted that post for my friend Carlos.

I want to believe.
posted by whatnot at 4:02 PM on May 15, 2003

west highland terriers are the cutest !
post about these and it wont be deleted.
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:52 PM on May 15, 2003

*Hands Sarge the Black & White whisky bottle.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 5:02 PM on May 15, 2003

*And furthermore, now that he's at it, breaks open the bubbly and celebrates his MetaTalk 100 posts/2000 comments milestone!* :)

* Valid for, oh, three minutes or so.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 5:37 PM on May 15, 2003

dougb: You've been a member since Dec02, and you still think you're a newbie?
posted by rhapsodie at 5:56 PM on May 15, 2003

Send me $5 via PayPal and I'll answer any question you can think up. No need to get Matt involved.
posted by vraxoin at 7:10 PM on May 15, 2003

Hey, dougb, I got so caught up in the silliness here I forgot to offer my answer to your first question. "Lofi" is the standard answer, but I can never remember the exact punctuation for the address, and am too lazy to bookmark it, so here's the thing: If it's a thread you're interested in, it's probably one you've commented on (and in this case, it is), and so you can just jump to it from here, which is linked from the number on your user page that says how many MetaFilter comments you've made. If you didn't comment on it, then, um... lofi.

And rhapsodie, you meant Dec01, of course. I thought it sounded odd to be questioning whether six months was still a "newbie." But it looks like dougb went away a while and came back, is what.
posted by soyjoy at 8:28 PM on May 15, 2003

dougb: You've been a member since Dec02, and you still think you're a newbie?

Dec01, in fact. I meant MetaTalk newbie, I guess. I'm a veteran MetaFilter lurker, but I didn't dare to wade into these snarky waters until something finally irritated me enough to complain about it!
posted by dougb at 8:57 PM on May 15, 2003

Does anyone else think the terrorists are using Metafilter to send encoded messages to their cabal? Ah ha; a post on Jack Russell terriers, that means the operation is go. Had the post been about Himalyan cats the operation would have been cancelled. My question is: is Mathowie working for or against them by deleting the post? Have the terrorists already won? Are they among us?
posted by blue_beetle at 9:25 PM on May 15, 2003

Can we please get back on topic here? The point has to be addressed - can anyone here say that they have seen Miguel and Carlos in the same room together? I think we should be told.
posted by muckybob at 12:08 AM on May 16, 2003

* Valid for, oh, three minutes or so.

Fie, Miguel. I reckon you should aim to stop there until your MeFi count reaches 300/3000, and then have your user page bronzed.
posted by rory at 4:14 AM on May 16, 2003

ill go to lisbon for the european championships and ill even take a photo of the two of them !
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:42 AM on May 16, 2003

Sargent-you need to take a mirror with you most likely. Unless Carlos turns out to be Miguel's evil twin.
posted by konolia at 6:01 AM on May 16, 2003

The Jack Russell's a ventriloquist.
posted by Kafkaesque at 8:55 AM on May 16, 2003

No, konolia. Miguel has no reflection.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:15 AM on May 16, 2003

That reminds me. Shadowkeeper has a gold star? WTF?

I make a mean tamale pie.
posted by Shadowkeeper at 9:40 AM on May 16, 2003

And rhapsodie, you meant Dec01, of course.

Of course.
posted by rhapsodie at 11:59 AM on May 16, 2003