June 20, 2003

11:03 AM

"On the other hand, this girl just might wake up with a sore pussy the next day and not even worry about it..." Delmoi's post is offensive, disgusting, insulting, demeaning to women, really creepy, and IMHO, is simply beyond the pale of acceptable comments. I know you should be able to say what you want, but the thread just keeps getting worse and worse. And it's not just Delmoi who's being sickening. Shouldn't this thread be deleted? What's the policy on really offensive stuff?
posted by aacheson to etiquette/policy at 11:03 AM (540 comments total)

get a grip. he's ticking off possibilities, and you have siezed upon one you find offensively worded. tough shit. there's nothing sacred about your pussy, you know.
posted by quonsar at 11:06 AM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

and if you find what someoine writes on a goddam discussion board to be so friggin' offensive, then you seriously need to pull your head out of the sand.
posted by quonsar at 11:08 AM on June 20, 2003

I don't like his opinion.

Please make him change his opinion.

And if he doesn't change his opinion, get rid of his opinion.

etc, etc, etc.
posted by SweetJesus at 11:13 AM on June 20, 2003

jesus quonsar, relax. I agree with aacheson that it's a pretty offensive comment, but I didn't think the person saying it was serious, they were just taking an extreme opposite position.
posted by mathowie at 11:17 AM on June 20, 2003

jesus quonsar. recognition at last!
posted by quonsar at 11:22 AM on June 20, 2003

No need to attack me personally, quonsar. My point has NOTHING to do with my pussy (as you so nicely put it) and everything to do with the fact that he is basically saying that women regularly wake up sore, after a night of drinking, don't remember what they did, and flippantly say "oh well. Who cares? Happens all the time." It insults every single woman out there and is disgustingly flippant and savage about rape, to boot.

Quonsar, you need to tone down the vitriol, by the way. I'm offended by the posting but not nearly as angry as you are about mine. As you said "and if you find what someoine writes on a goddam discussion board to be so friggin' offensive, then you seriously need to pull your head out of the sand." Sounds like a good idea for you, too.
posted by aacheson at 11:39 AM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

you have to admit that thread is pretty full of disappointingly misogynistic comments though. I wouldn't suggest deletion, but it's still kind of a sad representation of the community. I mean, I wouldn't be one to argue that rape is inherently as life-changing an event as some people make it out to be (I think that's at least partly a cultural thing), but people here are obviously trying to push buttons.
posted by mdn at 11:43 AM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

mdn: have you ever been raped? (rhetorical question)
posted by dash_slot- at 11:54 AM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

what an offensive way to make my point.

I'm sorry. What I want to say is: how can we know (those of us who havent been assaulted in that way - assumptions acknowledged) how life-changing it may or not have been?
posted by dash_slot- at 12:06 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

he is basically saying that women regularly wake up sore, after a night of drinking, don't remember what they did, and flippantly say "oh well. Who cares? Happens all the time."

I think you misread his comment. I read it to simply say that a rapist might believe that the chances of getting away with his crime were worth taking with a lower penalty, and not worth taking--therefore encouraging him to kill his victim so as not to leave a potential witness to testify against him later--if the penalty were significantly higher.

Not endorsing this view, but that's what the comment says to me. FWIW, I found it unfortunately worded myself.
posted by rushmc at 12:11 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

Yeah, that's the thing, though, rushmc - it wasn't just unfortunately worded, it was aggressively worded, which is what makes it a little difficult to figure out where he is coming from. This was very deliberate. Why?
posted by taz at 12:16 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

I like how son_of_minya explained that it's chivalrous to stick blacks in prison.
posted by NortonDC at 12:20 PM on June 20, 2003

Is there anyone here who can't easily think of 50 better ways delmoi could have worded his statement?
posted by Shane at 12:26 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

Rape is bad. No argument there. For 120 years, though, you might as well kill the chick and bury her body in the woods. If I knew I would get 120 years for raping one woman, I would go rape 20 more just to be sure I was getting value for my time. And I would kill all of them.

Not to detract from any discussion of delmoi, but I'm still shaking off the shivers from this statement by son_of_minya. I know this is meant to be a straightforward logical analysis, and all that. But geez, I sure do wish s_o_m was trolling.
posted by clever sheep at 12:30 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

i just received quite a nasty email from minya threatening to kick my ass. i personally think he is posessed by the gay alter ego's of jerry lewis and rain man.
posted by quonsar at 12:34 PM on June 20, 2003

You can't possess the willing, quonsar.
posted by WolfDaddy at 12:37 PM on June 20, 2003

The solution, of course, is to kick his ass first. And 20 more people too, just to be sure you're getting value for your time.
posted by rocketman at 12:40 PM on June 20, 2003

COMMON GODDAMN SENSE 101:

1. Gee, is rape a sensitive topic?

2. Gee, should we watch how speak in a discussion of rape?
posted by Shane at 12:40 PM on June 20, 2003

LOL rocketman!
posted by Shane at 12:40 PM on June 20, 2003

What I wrote in the thread before I realized we were metaing:

Before we call out the feminism police on delmoi, I think s/he was paraphrasing what Luster might have been thinking - not delmoi's own opinion. I would imagine that was exactly what was going through Luster's mind. It did give me a startle when I read it, though.
posted by widdershins at 12:44 PM on June 20, 2003

aacheson,

bad taste is not illegal. delmoi is entitled to his -- admittedly ugly, maybe half-serious -- comment.

Shouldn't this thread be deleted?
if one ugly comment warrants an entire thread's deletion, mathowie here is going to _really_ have to work overtime

What's the policy on really offensive stuff?
that the administrator didn't find, as he has explained here, the comment to be offensive enough. and it's up to him to decide
posted by matteo at 12:48 PM on June 20, 2003

any minute he'll be in here explaining how imprisoning blacks is needed so that rain man can understand other cultures and play thier rock music videos. assuming of course, that some gay feminist version of jerry lewis doesn't ruin it for us.
posted by quonsar at 12:48 PM on June 20, 2003

quonsar: why does s_o_m want to kick your ass? More than usual, I mean?
posted by widdershins at 12:50 PM on June 20, 2003

The mullet, people. Focus on the mullet.
posted by yhbc at 12:50 PM on June 20, 2003

Interesting, I didn't think that he was describing it from the view of a rapist, rushmc and widdershins. That's a good point.

Matteo, thank you. Yes, I noted Matt's posting about it, and whether or not to delete it is his call, of course. I was just calling attention to it. Point is made and taken, and I guess this didn't cross the line as I thought it did.
posted by aacheson at 12:52 PM on June 20, 2003

I am never going to the reptile house with quonsar.

"Sir, please! The sign clearly says 'DO NOT TAP ON THE GLASS'."
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 12:55 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

Darn, I posted before I was done...

Matteo, I didn't think just that quote was offensive-just the worst of a whole line of aggressive and tasteless postings. There are a lot of not-very-nice statements in the posting and it was appearing that the whole thread was going quickly downhill into just spewing vitriol and hatred. That's why I brought attention to it.
posted by aacheson at 12:56 PM on June 20, 2003

quonsar: why does s_o_m want to kick your ass?
he finds me charming, and i remind him of rain man. i think it's the k-mart underpants.
posted by quonsar at 12:58 PM on June 20, 2003

and aacheson, i also jumped the gun. i should have known there was some fundamental misunderstanding as to how delmoi's comment could be read. i just assumed my reading was correct and couldn't understand what could possibly have upset you other than his use of the p word.
posted by quonsar at 1:02 PM on June 20, 2003

I took the delmoi thing the way widdershins did, but I had to read it twice, it was jarring.

...um mdn,...if you were walking down the street and someone jumped you, held a knife to your throat, and at the point of abject terror, forced you to perform degrading sex acts, keeping you in fear for your very life throughout, you think that might not be life changing? Do you really think that culture would determine how you felt about that? It may not be permanantly life-parlyzing or disabling, but you most certainly wouldn't be the same person again. Cripes, I had my apartment broken in on once and it took me years to shake the feeling of violation and regain a sense of safety, and that was just things.

Rape is a violent, frightening, horrifying, degrading event...and it is occasionally enraging to me when someone is flip about it, so I understand aacheson's point. I'm not all that easily offended, (witness: quonsar is my friend) but every now and again, a bad attitude can bring the lorena bobbit out in me. delmoi's comments didn't trigger that, but the thread as a whole is beyond creepy, clever sheep nails it. The person who shall remain nameless lest I be stalked with vituperative e-mails is definitely someone I will be avoiding.
posted by madamjujujive at 1:07 PM on June 20, 2003

Aaah. See how nice we can all be? Maybe we should invite s_o_m to the lovefest - sounds like he could use it. And aacheson, don't feel too bad - at least this post pushed the pettygrudgefilter post further down the list. Just one more MeTa post, guys, just one more...
posted by widdershins at 1:10 PM on June 20, 2003

Pussy
posted by Witty at 1:14 PM on June 20, 2003

oh, minya is at this very moment describing email WHICH I NEVER SENT TO HIM in #mefi. it is friggin hilarious. he cant see me cuz he's got me on ignore.
son of minya is a lying sack of jerry lewis shit.
posted by quonsar at 1:14 PM on June 20, 2003

aacheson,

it's clear why you brought attention to the thread.
it's natural to be upset for a flippant, ugly comment about rape. we feel bad when people here dis our beloved Macs, of make fun of Steve Jobs's peculiarly scatological language. don't worry -- feeling bad about a rape joke is perfectly alright
posted by matteo at 1:21 PM on June 20, 2003

Son of Minya probably wants to kick quonsar's ass because quonsar is being abusive.

Can we please fucking stop it with this GrudgeFilter shit?
posted by dgaicun at 1:25 PM on June 20, 2003

dgaicun, thats not abusive, that's a reference to some remarkable, scary, ludicrous comments made by minya in various places over the last several weeks.
posted by quonsar at 1:43 PM on June 20, 2003

... or months.
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:45 PM on June 20, 2003

I don't think the post should be deleted, it showed me how ignorant people can be to drugs. If you take drugs know what they do, please. Especially when mixed. GHB was a supplement that abused with alcohol, kills. Unfortunately some who've lived through the experience also have a deeper secret, RAPE. In most cases where someone OD on this crap and they did not take it voluntarily they were raped while near death. Your body can only do so much while trying to survive, so it can't recall all in its memory. I hear the drug called a date rape drug yet it kills more than are rape. This drugs effects with alcohol is really lifelessness.
posted by thomcatspike at 1:53 PM on June 20, 2003

Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.

Getting to know you,
Putting it my way,
But nicely,
You are precisely,
My cup of tea.

Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say

Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day .. by ... day.
posted by y2karl at 2:00 PM on June 20, 2003

how can we know (those of us who havent been assaulted in that way - assumptions acknowledged) how life-changing it may or not have been?

Try going to sleep next to someone who's been through it. Try living through their anniversary of the event every year. Try having a normal sex life with them once they associate certain positions, words, motions with an episode where they were forced to get some psychotic asshole's rocks off under threat of being killed. Ever get mad when someone cuts you off on the hgihway

I wouldn't be one to argue that rape is inherently as life-changing an event as some people make it out to be (I think that's at least partly a cultural thing)

If the personal experience you're basing this on is zilch, mdn, I'd encourage you to pluck up the courage to not form an opinion. It is possible to reserve judgement in the case of zero evidence.
posted by scarabic at 2:07 PM on June 20, 2003

New levels of nastiness. If it was my site I'd delete that thread and this one and hum softly until the memories faded. Some people in here just don't get along well with others and ought to go away. Not banned, necessarily, just go away.
posted by norm at 2:20 PM on June 20, 2003

"Reserving judgement is a matter of infinite hope."
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.

Oh the irony.
posted by dazed_one at 2:20 PM on June 20, 2003

An observation that some seem to be oblivious to:

There are multiple kinds of rape, with somewhat different consequences. Violent stranger-rape is one of them, but not all rapes are of that particular kind. And not all rapes, even of a particular kind, have the same effects and long-term consequences for everyone that undergoes them.

I know (and in some cases, have been sexually intimate with) several women that have been raped. While they were mostly collegiate date-rape situations, none of them have had any kind of major long term negative effects.

Some clarity of terms is probably a good thing in this situation.
posted by fnord23 at 2:23 PM on June 20, 2003

dash_slot, madam, scarabic, I didn't mean to be flippant or offend you; I just sometimes think that rape is given a higher "trauma" count than other things which could be similarly scarring just because of the sexual innocence thing in our culture. Is rape worse than prolonged assault? Is it worse than surviving a terrible disease or disaster? I'm just not sure it is. But you're right, I don't have direct evidence.

People often say that women who've worked in the sex industry are scarred for life too, which I think stems from the same cultural thing that nudges rape / sexual abuse up an additional notch as a trauma.

To be clear: I am not disagreeing that it's terrible and traumatic, just that it's inherently more so than other terrible but survived events.
posted by mdn at 2:26 PM on June 20, 2003

Erm..just to be clear, in:

"I know (and in some cases, have been sexually intimate with) several women that have been raped. While they were mostly collegiate date-rape situations, none of them have had any kind of major long term negative effects."

"they" refers to the rapes that were experienced by the women I know, not to any of the sexual intimacy that I may have shared with them.

I'd hope to be given the benefit of the doubt in the ambiguous wording, but it never hurts to clarify. ;)
posted by fnord23 at 2:35 PM on June 20, 2003

Too late fnord. The police are on their way.
posted by dazed_one at 2:36 PM on June 20, 2003

Well defended mdn.

The older I get, the more shocked I am at how many women I meet that have suffered from some form of sexual assault. It's horrifying really. That doesn't count how many I've met that just haven't divulged that information (understandably so). Makes me angry just thinking about it.
posted by Witty at 2:40 PM on June 20, 2003

aacheson - c'mon, delete the thread?

Perhaps delete the message, if it has no relevance to the topic.

But censorship because you're offended? No way. I'm offended too, but this isn't ashcroftfiler . . .
posted by jdaura at 2:41 PM on June 20, 2003

It's Matt's site, so if he got offened by the comment, I'd understand if he deleted it, but if anyone else got offened, would we have to vote to delete or keep it?
posted by dazed_one at 2:45 PM on June 20, 2003

would we have to vote to delete or keep it?

No, the accepted procedure is to bring said comment we want deleted into its own thread, where it will be seen by many more people and argued over continuously. Plus you get the requisite grudges and personal attacks. It's a beautiful system, really.
posted by Space Coyote at 2:49 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

But censorship because you're offended? No way. I'm offended too, but this isn't ashcroftfiler

I'd censor the damn thing because it reflects negatively on us as a community. Then again, I'm not the censor.
posted by norm at 2:49 PM on June 20, 2003

clever sheep:

Only if I were a rapist. I'm not a rapist. I do wish I was just trolling, too, though. It is scary, but these are the questions serial rapists must ask themselves. It's why so many volunteer for hormone therapy -- not just because they can get a lighter sentence.

I also responded in the thread, which is where this should have stayed; but I was stalled because I spent the last hour wasting my time trying to argue with quonsar on irc.

quonsar:

dgaicun, thats not abusive, that's a reference to some remarkable, scary, ludicrous comments made by minya in various places over the last several weeks.

Look, I love gay people. I have tried to explain that to you and others over the past several months. You just can't let it go. I think gay sex is gross, so I'm a fucking monster. You make comments that are even more offensive to an individual than anything I ever wrote, and that also should be offensive to the gay community as a whole. Is it right to use "gay" as an insult? That's what you did!

Not only that, but you deny ever responding to any e-mail I ever sent you; and you've sent me two. I don't care if I can prove it or not. You know the truth, and I know the truth. You know that you're not a man, and that you have harassed me to a point where I should perfectly justified in hating you. That's all that matters to me.
posted by son_of_minya at 2:57 PM on June 20, 2003

...
posted by quonsar at 2:59 PM on June 20, 2003

You know what's the problem with this site? People seldom think before posting. First, concerning language, it should suffice to say this is not, as far as I'm aware, a gansgta rap/South Park message board. Cursing progressively dulls and dumbs the discussion down to a point where you perceive nothing but fuming aggression; the ideas are gone.

Second, rape is an unforgivable crime. Being glib and dismissive about it is absurd. Attempting to downplay it is beyond repulsive and sick if not literally criminal.

Next time we ask ourselves why there's such a lack of women here, I suggest rereading some of the comments on the "bounty hunter a go-go" thread.
posted by 111 at 3:07 PM on June 20, 2003

no, i think i will respond.

you wandered into #mefi, didn't see me, and proceeded to spew lies about a fictitious email i never sent to you TODAY. a dozen people saw that too. they also saw you suddenly discover that you had deleted the email when i called you on it. you are a liar.

i did not deny ever sending you email. in a discussion of TODAY's email, you asked if i had EVER sent you email. my response, seen by a dozen people because i refused to respond to you via PM, was "yes. no. maybe."

i am what i am. hundreds of people know me here. some like me, some despise me, i deal with it. you have been posting insane shit about homosexuality, feminism, jerry lewis, rain man, horse cocks, your self-imagined "genius", other people thinking you "look gay", raping and killing women and other morbidities for months, as noted by Wolfdaddy above. getting a reaction? deal with it.
posted by quonsar at 3:12 PM on June 20, 2003

THANK YOU, 111. Well put. That was my point.
posted by aacheson at 3:34 PM on June 20, 2003

quonsar:

I put you on ignore long ago, so I obviously did not care about your comments in #mefi.

You can call me a liar as much as you want to, but both of us know the truth.

If you don't know the truth, then find out who sent that e-mail.

On second thought: You just admitted that you are a liar. So suck dese nuts, biatch.

111:

Rape is an unforgivable crime, in that there is no excuse for it. There are many unforgivable crimes, in this sense. What's your point?

I didn't want to post this in the blue, but: Should we obtain a sperm sample at puberty and then castrate all males? They have nothing to lose by submitting to this -- they can still have children. So, why don't we do that to eliminate all rape?

We don't do that because it would be cruel and unusual punishment.

I do believe in punishment. I believe that if a woman neutered a man who had raped her, she should not face any jail time. That is completely different from saying the State should sentence anyone who is found guilty of rape to life imprisonment!

I did ask that everyone think, and take five deep breaths, and there was a fucking good reason. Offensive does not equal illegal, unless you're a Christian Conservative. You aren't Christian Conservatives, are you? You could never be dogmatic?

As for quonsar, he has already admitted to me that he was lying. Believe what you will, but do not believe the unsubstantiated words of any asshole.
posted by son_of_minya at 3:37 PM on June 20, 2003

how did i admit lying? minya, you are simply insane.
posted by quonsar at 3:44 PM on June 20, 2003

Well defended mdn

I am hearing you, mdn, that you agree rape is terrible.

But what are we to think of someone who joins a conversation about rape, and immediately begins pointing out that it's not as bad as cancer ? What is your goal in de-emphasizing the psychological impact of rape? And why do you feel the need to compare and contrast the degrees of pain and suffering of various life disasters? I think that's just morbid and insensitive.
posted by scarabic at 3:45 PM on June 20, 2003

S_O_M, most of that last post here belongs in the Metafilter post, not here. Here we are discussing your, Quonsar, Delmoi, and other people's misogynistic and flippant remarks about rape and whether or not I was right to ask for its' deletion due to the nastiness in the thread.

We get it that you and quonsar hate each other and think each other are liars. You two need to take it off line. I'm sick of reading you two sniping back and forth at each other (although I totally understand feeling the need to have the last comment and not leave a point unargued..god know's I've done it too.) Sometimes you just have to walk away and start ignoring someone. May I suggest now would be a good time for both of you?
posted by aacheson at 3:47 PM on June 20, 2003

that post was about Mad Dog's mullet. You guys are focused on precisely the wrong point.

However, when Mad Dog gets out of his mexican prison cell, I'm going to hire him to hunt quonsar and son of minya down and break all their typing fingers.

THAT will bring the women back to mefi, I am very sure.
posted by jdaura at 3:49 PM on June 20, 2003

quonsar made no flippant remark about rape in ANY thread. if you can produce one, i would certainly appreciate your doing so. thank you for your cooperation!
posted by quonsar at 3:51 PM on June 20, 2003

It's a beautiful system, really.
posted by Space Coyote at 2:49 PM PST on June 20

It is indeed. It brings a tear to my eye.

Oh wait... nope, sorry, the stench of all the poo that people are flinging is just making my eyes water.
posted by dazed_one at 3:52 PM on June 20, 2003

And I thought the mullet was cool.

I mean not cool. Yes. That's it.
posted by dazed_one at 3:53 PM on June 20, 2003

i'm still waiting, aacheson. where is the misogynistic, flippant remark i made about rape?
posted by quonsar at 3:55 PM on June 20, 2003

ah. perhaps it went the way of the email i supposedly sent to minya. maybe there was a strange mefi glitch which inadvertently deleted it.
posted by quonsar at 3:59 PM on June 20, 2003

no, you sent it to _me_ instead, quonsar. got the wrong adress.

I had never been called a penguin-fucker before
posted by matteo at 4:04 PM on June 20, 2003

rofl!
posted by quonsar at 4:06 PM on June 20, 2003

aacheson:

S_O_M, most of that last post here belongs in the Metafilter post, not here. Here we are discussing your, Quonsar, Delmoi, and other people's misogynistic and flippant remarks about rape and whether or not I was right to ask for its' deletion due to the nastiness in the thread.

First of all, I have never made a misogynistic remark. Flippant, maybe.

I respect your opinion. I apologize for dragging my own personal business into it. I just think that it's important to know who was really wrong. Who pushed it across the line from sentencing to personal attacks?

IMHO, it was quonsar. You need only look at his comments within this very thread to see that he holds a personal grudge against me and had attempted to inject that into a legitimate thread. I am not asking for his comments or this thread to be deleted, though.
posted by son_of_minya at 4:13 PM on June 20, 2003

aacheson:

Look, quonsar may deny it as much as he wants to, but he told me not to e-mail him again. I would really like to take this to e-mail, but he directly told me not to. I will respect his wishes, no matter how much he denies it.

That is why I must comment here, or not comment at all.

I'm better than quonsar, see, because I told him to stop with the gay jokes, and he didn't stop.

I don't care how many lies he tells about me. This, right here, is my word. My word stands for everything I am, and my word says quonsar is a liar.
posted by son_of_minya at 4:31 PM on June 20, 2003

I think all quonsar and s_o_m need is some crazy make up sex, just like rushmc and jonson in this thread.
posted by dazed_one at 4:35 PM on June 20, 2003

this, right here, is my HORSE COCK. my HORSE COCK stands for everything that i am, and my HORSE COCK says minya, STFU.
posted by quonsar at 4:36 PM on June 20, 2003

Well, there's the cock... now all we need is the other half and we've got crazy make up sex!
posted by dazed_one at 4:40 PM on June 20, 2003

You know what's the problem with this site?

We think beyond the crust of life as members but forget our eating preferences differ between each member's slice of life pie.
posted by thomcatspike at 4:43 PM on June 20, 2003

But what are we to think of someone who joins a conversation about rape, and immediately begins pointing out that it's not as bad as cancer ? What is your goal in de-emphasizing the psychological impact of rape? And why do you feel the need to compare and contrast the degrees of pain and suffering of various life disasters? I think that's just morbid and insensitive.

who are you talking about? I didn't even comment on the original thread, and my post here was to say that I thought the comments made there were depressingly insensitive. I only added the thing about not being one to hold rape as intrinsically worse than other trauma to clarify that my disgust with the comments in the thread could not be linked to personal sensitivity to the issue at hand, but just a common sense of respect and coherence in discussion.

I apologize to any who were offended, but this is a discussion board, and I'm presenting my opinions with care and respect, so I don't think I'm being "morbid and insensitive" - I'm just bringing up a cultural issue that seems interesting to me. Do you think women who work in the sex industry are scarred? It seems to me that if they are, it is because of the stigma and social reaction more than the work itself. It doesn't seem unlikely to me that that's part of the issue with rape, as well.

Maybe this kind of intellectual curiosity is insensitive since it doesn't matter to the person who's undergoing the trauma what the actual source of it is, but I'm participating in a forum, not counseling a survivor, so I think it's within reasonable bounds, no?
posted by mdn at 4:48 PM on June 20, 2003

welcome to the jonson school of metatalk.
posted by crunchland at 4:53 PM on June 20, 2003

I'm better than quonsar, see
rofl!

aacheson, I wouldn't lump quonsar in with s_of_m and delmoi, though I can understand the temptation. They're all given to making provocative and annoying comments. The difference (as I eventually discovered) is that when quonsar flings poo at people, they generally deserve it; when he makes a mistake, as he did with you, he's willing to apologize, which is a rare commodity around here. quonsar is basically 1) enjoying himself, 2) giving the bad guys (as he sees them) a hotfoot, and 3) entertaining those who have a meepzorp kind of attitude. If you don't like it, best to ignore it.

Others, however... how can I put this? I don't think they're bad people, I don't think they're trying to make MetaFilter a worser place, but they have such a high opinion of their own ideas and reasoning and such a low opinion of most other people (and such a low boiling point) that they deliberately use "shocking" analogies or turns of phrase, confident that everyone with any sense will see their point and chuckle at their daring; then when they're called on it (usually with more outrage than is really sensible, given that this is MetaFilter and not the Oxford Union) they in turn get outraged and defensive and start accusing people of all manner of misfeasance. They can't just let it go. It doesn't do any good to tell them that being flip about rape, mutilation, &c. is a bad idea—it just makes them feel like Socrates being hemlocked for an opinion. There is no solution. But these MeTa threads are a hoot.
posted by languagehat at 4:56 PM on June 20, 2003 [2 favorites]

Reading this thread is about as close to the feeling of rape as I hope I'll ever get.
posted by adampsyche at 5:02 PM on June 20, 2003

Look, I agree I was insensitive. I can't speak for anyone else. The question is: If being insensitive is necessary to the discussion, shouldn't one be insensitive?

this, right here, is my HORSE COCK. my HORSE COCK stands for everything that i am, and my HORSE COCK says minya, STFU.

That's incredibly insensitive, and quonsar is (allegedly) on the opposite side of this issue as I am. Why does he appear to be so much more insensitive?

The reason: Because he's bringing up some argument that was settled six months ago. I'm sick of it, and I won't tolerate it anymore. That argument was bullshit, and it's bullshit to hold on to it for so long. It's over, so get the fuck over it!

languagehat:

I've apologized more than any person here. While I agree with you, I don't think quonsar should be your hero.
posted by son_of_minya at 5:02 PM on June 20, 2003

Calm down, quonsar. Give me time to do some work and get home. I guess I don't live for metafilter and check back every 4 minutes like you expect me to!!

The "there's nothing sacred about your pussy, you know" wasn't about rape, but it certainly was a mildly misogynistic, flippant remark. But you're right, you didn't remark in the Metafilter post-you did that here. My mistake.
posted by aacheson at 5:03 PM on June 20, 2003

For what it's worth, I found the comments in the thread pretty nasty too. Heaven forbid that anyone around here stop for one single moment and think about how their comments may sound to someone else. And yes, this is only a website, blah blah blah it's not real cakes, but I really wonder if any of you act like this with people you know face to face. And if not, then why do you feel that it is appropriate to do so here?
posted by eilatan at 5:07 PM on June 20, 2003

son_of_minya, this is the second time this week that you've been embroiled in a dust up that spilled from MetaFilter to MetaTalk, and I don't think the last one involved quonsar. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why this keeps happening?
posted by timeistight at 5:15 PM on June 20, 2003

Maybe this kind of intellectual curiosity is insensitive since it doesn't matter to the person who's undergoing the trauma what the actual source of it is, but I'm participating in a forum, not counseling a survivor, so I think it's within reasonable bounds, no?

I vote yes.
posted by rushmc at 5:20 PM on June 20, 2003

son_of_minya - you are a microbe. Please go and find somewhere more compatible with your self-confessed "borderline psychotic" nature.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:25 PM on June 20, 2003

this, right here, is my HORSE COCK. my HORSE COCK stands for everything that i am, and my HORSE COCK says minya, STFU

Why limit yourself to horse cocks, when there are so many more exotic things out there? I can think of a couple of members who may be interested in WOP-10 in particular.
posted by TedW at 5:26 PM on June 20, 2003

timeistight:

This is an ongoing argument, going back at least six months.

While I do hold myself to account, the blame here is not on me. While it is constructive to look within for the cause of one's problems, that is not always the actual source. It is only a useful self-help tool.

Quonsar and WolfDaddy have a personal grudge against me, and intentionally provoke me. Anyone else, I'll give at least three posts in a thread to form an opinion that I can respond to.

I have also been wrong in times past. Soyboy and Ed were not entirely irrational. I may have disagreed with them, but they were smart, and convinced me that they were smart. Quonsar and Crustaceanrub, on the other hand, are just jackasses.

BUT... I have forgiven quonsar, for at least the second time, and will stop bad-mouthing him. I just ask that he stops bad-mouthing me.

Show me a rape victim, I will try as hard as I can to make her feel better. Show me someone who intentionally messes with me, I'll laugh at him. I apologize if I have given a mixed message.
posted by son_of_minya at 5:26 PM on June 20, 2003

Show me a rape victim, I will try as hard as I can to make her feel better

On a more serious note than my last comment, as this thread shows, not all rape victims are "her"
posted by TedW at 5:35 PM on June 20, 2003

TedW: Thank God you said that, because I'm not allowed to.
posted by son_of_minya at 5:41 PM on June 20, 2003

the thread was pretty informative IMO, but it was kinda sad to see people (s_o_m, et.al) get flak for stating their own honest beliefs - in a fairly reasonable manner - from the majority of the others in the blue and in here just because those opinions didn't precisely jive with the ethics of others.

hey, like horse cock said: "and if you find what someoine writes on a goddam discussion board to be so friggin' offensive, then you seriously need to pull your head out of the sand."

quonsar is basically 1) enjoying himself, 2) giving the bad guys (as he sees them) a hotfoot, and 3) entertaining those who have a meepzorp kind of attitude. If you don't like it, best to ignore it.

quonsar likes to jerk off with that big fat ego horsecock and cum all over the faces of his whores as his crowd cheers him on... sometimes quonsar apologizes for cumming on his whores.
posted by poopy at 5:42 PM on June 20, 2003

mdn, just to clarify - you didn't offend me in the least, and yes, you have every right to discuss your viewpoint and you do so reasonably and well. I don't think you are morbid and insensitive - I just felt that I had to challenge your statement.

I would probably engage further, but I think this thread is too much of a trainwreck to engage in a serious discussion. I just didn't want to leave that issue open - please be assured that I certainly have no bad feelings about you!

And also for the record, I would not delete the other thread even tho much of it is offensive to me.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:44 PM on June 20, 2003

I just think that it's important to know who was really wrong

And see, that's just not at all true.
posted by padraigin at 5:46 PM on June 20, 2003

I only added the thing about not being one to hold rape as intrinsically worse than other trauma to clarify that my disgust with the comments in the thread could not be linked to personal sensitivity to the issue at hand

Ok, mdn, fair enough. Perhaps instead of calling you morbid and insensitive, I should have just said "What an irrelevant distinction."

I think you're pointing out that social stigma adds to the pain of the rape survivor. And this is certainly true.
posted by scarabic at 6:03 PM on June 20, 2003

That is why I must comment here, or not comment at all.

I vote option B. Time out, everyone. Back to your corners. Step away from the keyboard. Deep breath. Let this blow over. In two days it won't even matter any more -- except maybe that "sore pussy" will probably eventually take its place in the MeFi lexicon alongside "horse cock" (or, in my case, "little camper").
posted by mcwetboy at 6:04 PM on June 20, 2003

Trainwreck, or no, I think son_of_minya has a point. My personal view is that, yes, he was being an intentional idgee-it. But there appears to be a point behind it. Rape is fantasized, mythologized, and general seen as different from other crimes. I agree that his arguments were insensitive, but not together all that shallow. When we send big hero Dawgs after those "unclean" rapist types, don't most of us cheer a little louder than we do for the same person nabbing a drunk driver? That query is terribly insensitive to any who've been hurt by a DUI or DUI accident. That doesn't make the question any less valid. Many in the thread chose to attack the insensitivity, rather than just answer the question. That just backs minya's point ... many of us take rape more seriously for reasons we'd rather not devulge.

All that having been said, s_of_m did go over the top with the ignorance display, and forgot that he was talking to humans and not Vulcans. As with the homosexual thread long ago, would you please try and have a thought once you posit the first one, son_of_minya?

quonsar, is it bed-time yet? You're a little out of control tonight, my friend.
posted by Wulfgar! at 6:06 PM on June 20, 2003

I don't think quonsar should be your hero.

Don't worry, he's not. But he makes me laugh, and that's worthwhile. If you were funny, your obnoxiousnous would be more forgivable. Keep it short and funny, that's the ticket.

Quonsar and WolfDaddy have a personal grudge against me, and intentionally provoke me

Well, you don't have to respond to the provocation, you know. Self-restraint can be remarkably productive.
posted by languagehat at 6:09 PM on June 20, 2003

If you don't like it, best to ignore it.

No, best that you all be asked (or forced) to leave. This site seems to be worse for the presence of those with "a meepzorp kind of attitude", and it's a damned shame you all abuse Matt's generosity with things like this idiotic MetaTalk thread and the referenced disgusting MetaFilter thread.

Keep your foolish personal arguments in email where theyr'e not happening on someone else's dime, and try to be at least a crude facsimile of human if it's past your abilities to be sensitive to others. Even better, try to discuss things like the posts made on the main site, instead of foisting your not-very-clever "cleverness" on others.
posted by anildash at 6:13 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

Who exactly are "you all," anildash? I haven't abused anything.
posted by timeistight at 6:45 PM on June 20, 2003

What Anil said, in spades.

Also

You know what's the problem with this site? People seldom think before posting.

This is not always true, but it is certainly closer to true than once it was, which is a pity, because that's one thing that made this site special, for me at least.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:06 PM on June 20, 2003

oh no, its not close the site down time again is it ?
your'e the one that posts when he's pished stav.
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:10 PM on June 20, 2003

This whole train wreck, driver included, is not worth my time. I pay it mind because I'm bored.

What is worth noting is that the cocksuckers (or cocksucker) in #mefi BANNED ME over it. I wasn't even talking about this bullshit, but the fucker banned me. I wrote, "You believe I would have cut my right hand off, right?" (or something like that), and the mother fucker BANNED ME.

For the record, I bet my right hand against quonsar's lies. Under any amount of torture, he will break first, because he is lying. If I break first, I will surrender my right hand.

I agreed to stop talking about quonsar and his lies, though. I instead asked, "You believe I would surrender my right hand, right?" I WAS THEN BANNED.

Say what you will about chat rooms in general, but #mefi is definitely full of shit. Bunch of in-crowd mother fuckers, who have no use for reason whatsoever. The individuals among them, I will forgive, but as a whole I consider the venture a whole bunch of bullshit.

To all you fucking worthless pieces of shit in #mefi: Ask yourself who went too far. You are not all worthless, but one of you has given you that reputation.
posted by son_of_minya at 7:13 PM on June 20, 2003 [19 favorites]

youre not as bad as this though, ill give you that stav , and youre cuddly . bye minya.
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:16 PM on June 20, 2003

I lurked on metafilter quite a while before I became a member. What drew me in was the wit and intellegence, as well as the general respect that the posters demonstrated. I wanted to become a part of that. I know my posts in this thread, and in many others, have not been the most constructive, but they were used to try and lighten up a rather dark and all too nasty conversation. Unfortunately, the tone of metafilter and MeTa has become altogether petty and spite filled; the wit and intelligent banter seems to have disappeared. I'd say that because of that I'm going to leave, but a) no-one would care and b) FPPs made by members such as miguel, mjjj and plep, as well as a few others, still make this site worthwhile to visit. I guess I'd just like to say that it's a pity things seem to be going downhill. I hope this is merely a slump, and that things will return to normal, and posters such as quonsar, s_o_m et al will rediscover the qualities that used to make this site so fabulous. Keep up the good work, those who remember what it used to be all about, and to those who have forgotten; I hope it comes back to you.
posted by dazed_one at 7:19 PM on June 20, 2003

On preview: bye minya.
posted by dazed_one at 7:20 PM on June 20, 2003

son_of_minya: "For the record, I bet my right hand against quonsar's lies."

Do you have any idea how ridiculous this sounds? At the risk of repeating a cliche, it's just a website.

Step away from the monitor, go get some fresh air and fer cryin' out loud, give it a rest before the Gods become angry and rain frogs or something down on us all. Your treading on pretty thin ice here and nothing good can come of perpetuating this.

BTW, thank you for respecting my wishes regarding email.
posted by cedar at 7:22 PM on June 20, 2003

your'e the one that posts when he's pished stav.

Bullshit. Speak for yourself. But, despite the fact that this is the third time I've noticed you attempt to backhandedly slur me in Meta that way, I won't get sucked into the kind of histrionic pissing match already in progress here. That would be too self-referentially funny. If you want to argue about it, sgt.serenity, you can take it to email.

[/aside]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:27 PM on June 20, 2003

right, ok,i drop it.
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:29 PM on June 20, 2003

Re: "bye minya"

I'm the one disappointed with people. It may be a bunch of morons on a website, but I still hold human beings to a certain level of responsibility.

Insulting me was extremely offensive, but the #mefi crowd has sunk at least one level below that. Due to the action of one person, I think they're all scum.

A real man would say, "Take a knife, quonsar, and face Minya to the death." If they would not say that, they could at least say, "We'll shock both of you with electiricity until quonsar admits his lies." I would accept either decision.

What I cannot accept is being pushed around because I refuse to accept the lies of a liar. Much less, being pushed around because people think I'm arguing with a liar. I was doing nothing anything like that when that mother banned me! I can do without #mefi and their ways.
posted by son_of_minya at 7:34 PM on June 20, 2003 [3 favorites]

s_o_m: then start walking the talk and drop it.
posted by jmd82 at 7:44 PM on June 20, 2003

> Due to the action of one person, I think they're all scum.
Can you please give me an irrevocable licence to put that on t-shirts. I plan on retiring by the time I'm five minutes older.

> I refuse to accept the lies of a liar.
No, you must accept the lies of a liar. It's expected of you (to accept the lies of a liar).
posted by holloway at 7:47 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

thankyou minya , i was unable to see how quonsar had ruined my very existence until you posted these last comments, i stand in awe of your genius and i must humbly beg your forgiveness, if only we had more in metafilter like you , we could invade poland.
posted by sgt.serenity at 8:06 PM on June 20, 2003

minya, what is up with you this week?

I don't always agree with your point of view, fine, no big deal, but this, whatever the hell it is that you're doing, this is not acceptable. Your juvenile high school put-yer-dukes-up, fight-like-a-man, cut off my right hand is so far beyond left field that I don't even know what to say to you. Here goes anyway.

Instead of doing the mature thing by walking away from a pissing match that nobody can win, and yes, that's a reference to the previous thread you started, you brought it back, you brought it to #mefi and you are not only making yourself look stupid, but you are making this site and all of its members look stupid. Just stop. Make your own blog at Blogspot and rant on all you want. Hell, give away the password so that anybody can comment, just stop dragging everybody thru the mud with you. If quonsar is lying, it doesn't matter whether we believe you or not, since the only two people who really matter already know the truth. Minya, you obviously feel that your honour has been hurt. I can appreciate that, but in all seriousness, you will be seen as the most honourable if you simply back away from it all. Really. Just stop posting here for a while. Stop visiting, even, if you find that you're getting upset about stuff.

If you want respect, respect those who don't deserve your respect, if that makes any sense.
posted by ashbury at 8:11 PM on June 20, 2003

sgt. serenity: don't mention the war!
posted by timeistight at 8:17 PM on June 20, 2003

My whole point is to make the site and its members look stupid. This whole thing is stupid. Nobody should even pay attention to it, but they do; and I got got banned from #mefi after I had stopped talking about it.

I just made on innocent comment about cutting my right hand off, and BAMM! I was banned. That is not fair, when the person who told lies and pushed an issue far beyond reason is still welcome there.

What you do have to realize is that I like Japanese TV shows because I am a Japanese TV show character. I have the best of intentions, but I am completely unreasonable. I realize that.

I just can't reconcile with someone who is completely unreasonable and has bad intentions. I'm going to walk away, but it is out of disappointment, and not out of an effort to establish any kind of image.
posted by son_of_minya at 8:32 PM on June 20, 2003 [1 favorite]

My whole point is to make the site and its members look stupid.

As this thread progresses, that's not who's looking stupid.
posted by Vidiot at 8:39 PM on June 20, 2003

vidiot:

One pulls the others down with him.

Everyone looks stupid from this. Especially considering that I'm right.

I don't care what any of you think about me. You should care what others think about you.
posted by son_of_minya at 8:41 PM on June 20, 2003

Why do I get the feeling that s_o_m's comments would fit really well in giant letters, centered on a page, running all the length of a single-page website with white on black text and liberal use of <b> tags?
posted by Space Coyote at 8:50 PM on June 20, 2003

Some of the more memorable flameouts on this site have occurred when the person involved didn't have the good sense to shut up for their own sake. Regardless of whether they were right or wrong, they were not helping their own case.

(Hint.)
posted by mcwetboy at 8:51 PM on June 20, 2003

Space Coyote:

That is because you are insane.

I don't know how else to say this. I am nobody. I'm just some person who expressed an opinion. It's the community that suffers from harshly judging people who have opinions.

If you remember, or scroll up a little, this thread is not about me. It was about someone called delmoi. I just happen to think it's petty to make these judgements.

When someone engages in lies and petty battles for popularity, judge them. When they just state an opinion, try to understand them.

I have no case. I have nothing to defend. I'll leave everyone alone as soon as they get it.
posted by son_of_minya at 8:54 PM on June 20, 2003

Oh son-of-minya, from a waterfall, I'm calling you who-who-who...
posted by MiguelCardoso at 8:56 PM on June 20, 2003 [3 favorites]

This site seems to be worse for the presence of those with "a meepzorp kind of attitude"

Wow. I think several thousand madamjujujive fans would beg to differ.
posted by padraigin at 8:57 PM on June 20, 2003

minya, go for a walk. Give it a rest. You win, okay?
posted by ashbury at 8:59 PM on June 20, 2003

That's awesome, Miguel. That'll be useful for pointing lots of different folks towards.

What happened to BoozeDoctor?
posted by Vidiot at 9:05 PM on June 20, 2003

s_o_m, it might lend some credibility if you nested you rants inside of 40,000 [small] tags and removed all the line breaks. The Yakuza will accept just a pinkie— is MetaFilter so badass we need a hand? Why not go the full route and commit sepuku? Then we'll all believe you.

Also, what anil said
posted by yerfatma at 9:05 PM on June 20, 2003

I don't care how many lies he tells about me. This, right here, is my word. My word stands for everything I am, and my word says quonsar is a liar.

Everyone looks stupid from this. Especially considering that I'm right.

That is because you are insane.

A real man would say, "Take a knife, quonsar, and face Minya to the death." If they would not say that, they could at least say, "We'll shock both of you with electiricity until quonsar admits his lies." I would accept either decision.

I think son_of_minya is the Iraqi Information Minister.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 9:15 PM on June 20, 2003

Either that, or the new White House press secretary.
posted by Vidiot at 9:17 PM on June 20, 2003

yerfatma:

If that's what it takes, I'll do it. I'm not kidding.

I also agree with "what anil said," but as I've repeated many times, quonsar would not allow it. Scroll up a little to see who introduced this bullshit to the gray screen.

I will burn quonsar in his tank, and fire will eat his stomach. In the meantime, I'm going to go to bed, disgusted.
posted by son_of_minya at 9:21 PM on June 20, 2003 [3 favorites]

Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he's in.
posted by y2karl at 9:23 PM on June 20, 2003

I AM BATMAN!!!
posted by padraigin at 9:29 PM on June 20, 2003

this always happens when school lets out.
posted by crunchland at 9:35 PM on June 20, 2003

I don't care what any of you think about me. You should care what others think about you.

Leading by example, this is called:

Who gives a shit what you say? Why don't you listen to what I have to say, instead?

Your criticism is completely indifferent to me. You should pay more attention to my criticism of you.

I refuse, as a matter of principle, to make love to myself. You , however, should all go fuck yourselves.

Catchy, isn't it?
posted by MiguelCardoso at 9:35 PM on June 20, 2003

I mean, really, who needs TV? ;-P
posted by mischief at 9:41 PM on June 20, 2003

sarge: your'e the one that posts when he's pished stav.

stavros: Bullshit. Speak for yourself. But, despite the fact that this is the third time I've noticed you attempt to backhandedly slur me in Meta that way, I won't get sucked into the kind of histrionic pissing match already in progress here. That would be too self-referentially funny. If you want to argue about it, sgt.serenity, you can take it to email.

stav, evidently a photographic memory is a curse, 'cuz I could swear I remember you saying you were "a great proponent of PUI (posting under the influence)."
posted by Shane at 9:42 PM on June 20, 2003

hey, guys? heads up: I love you all. let's stop fighting. cheers.
posted by fishfucker at 9:47 PM on June 20, 2003

(because this is really all about me.)
posted by fishfucker at 9:47 PM on June 20, 2003

[Dr. Nick] Happy Solstice Everybody! [/Dr. Nick]
posted by y2karl at 9:51 PM on June 20, 2003

show me the fire eating your stomach.
posted by quonsar at 9:52 PM on June 20, 2003

Was that a metaphorical fire? if so I want my money back for these ringside seats I bought.
posted by Space Coyote at 9:56 PM on June 20, 2003

Whoops! My photo-memory forgot to remind me that stavros gets oddly and very vocally irritable when anyone suggests he's been drinking and posting. Guess I better drop it before it kicks this thread's comment count up even further : )
*backs away toward rear door, hopes nobody's waiting in the alley*
posted by Shane at 10:01 PM on June 20, 2003

dear god: send metafilter more lithium.
posted by crunchland at 10:05 PM on June 20, 2003

Let's hunt down and kill William Ray Cyrus
posted by y2karl at 10:07 PM on June 20, 2003

Let's hunt down and kill William Ray Cyrus

Deja vu noted. I'm shutting up now.
posted by Shane at 10:09 PM on June 20, 2003

has anyone seen the bridge? i'm looking for the confounded bridge.
posted by quonsar at 10:11 PM on June 20, 2003

rape is bad
posted by crunchburger at 10:14 PM on June 20, 2003

Let's hunt down and kill William Ray Cyrus

Or Morton Kondracke--I'm flex...
posted by y2karl at 10:19 PM on June 20, 2003

Are there any psychologists in the house? I really want to ask some questions about this phenomenon. There's a PhD in this for someone, I'm sure.
posted by Fabulon7 at 10:19 PM on June 20, 2003

See, now, THIS, this here is some serious unpleasantness. That other stuff, a few days ago... not so much, really.
posted by jonson at 10:31 PM on June 20, 2003

Can I burn quonsar? i mean out of curiosity. i love the guy/gal, but I really love burning shit.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 11:26 PM on June 20, 2003

I say ban the motherfucker.
posted by four panels at 12:48 AM on June 21, 2003

Shane : stav, evidently a photographic memory is a curse, 'cuz I could swear I remember you saying you were "a great proponent of PUI (posting under the influence)."

Which is not to say that I do it (anymore), or am required by law not to joke about it, for chrissakes.

Shane : My photo-memory forgot to remind me that stavros gets oddly and very vocally irritable when anyone suggests he's been drinking and posting.

Yes, I do, at times, for good reasons that I can't be bothered to go further into to satisfy your curiosity (beyond saying I was made to feel unwelcome in another mefi-related online community), you annoying little person. I took some deserved shit around here for PUI years back, and so I stopped.

But thanks for hounding me about it, and being part of the personal-attack problem around here recently, though.

At least sgt.serenity had the grace to withdraw his comment and apologize via email almost immediately after the fact. (Thanks, sarge.)

The first comment of mine you link to was a joke, son. The second comment of mine you link to was in a very nasty argument between y2karl and I about unrelated matters, since patched up, and my ire at what I perceived as a pointless dig (mis-perceived, actually, and for which y2karl gracefully and unnecessarily apologized later via email, despite the fact that it was my mistaken understanding that led me to fly off the handle) was only tangentially as a result of the comment in question. What your point in bringing up old wounds might be, particularly in the context of this nasty cesspool of a thread, is a mystery to me. But I reckon you're truly an asshole for doing it, given the implication I assume you're making.

You want a piece of me, I suggest you take it to email, as I suggested to the sarge, or kindly piss off.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:53 AM on June 21, 2003

There's a PhD in this for someone, I'm sure.

No, Fabulon7, I can categorically assure you that there isn't.
posted by Sonny Jim at 1:23 AM on June 21, 2003

I awoke in the Midsummer not to call night, in the white and the walk of the
morning:
The moon, dwindled and thinned to the fringe of a finger-nail held to the
candle,
Or paring of paradisaical fruit, lovely in waning but lustreless,
Stepped from the stool, drew back from the barrow, of dark Maenefa the mountain;

A cusp still clasped him, a fluke yet fanged him, entangled him, not quite
utterly.
This was the prized, the desirable sight, unsought, presented so easily,
Parted me leaf and leaf, divided me, eyelid and eyelid of slumber.

-- Gerard Manley Hopkins
posted by y2karl at 1:30 AM on June 21, 2003 [1 favorite]

Euclid alone has looked on Beauty bare.
Let all who prate of Beauty hold their peace,
And lay them prone upon the earth and cease
To ponder on themselves, the while they stare
At nothing, intricately drawn nowhere
In shapes of shifting lineage; let geese
Gabble and hiss, but heroes seek release
From dusty bondage into luminous air.
O blinding hour, O holy, terrible day,
When first the shaft into his vision shone
Of light anatomized! Euclid alone
Has looked on Beauty bare. Fortunate they
Who, though once only and then but far away,
Have heard her massive sandal set on stone.

Edna St. Vincent Millay
posted by y2karl at 1:36 AM on June 21, 2003 [1 favorite]

Consider the difference
in our actions and God's actions.

We often ask, "Why did you do that?"
or "Why did I act like that?"

We do act, and yet everything we do
is God's creative action.

We look back and analyse the events
of our lives, but there is another way
of seeing, a backward-and-forward-at-once
vision, that is not rationally understandable.

Only God can understand it.
Satan made the excuse, "You caused me to fall,
whereas Adam said to God, "We did this
to ourselves." After this repentance,
God asked Adam, "Since all is within
my foreknowledge, why didn't you
defend yourself with that reason?"

Adam answered, "I was afraid,
and I wanted to be reverent."

Whoever acts with respect will get respect.
Whoever brings sweetness will be served almond cake.
Good women are drawn to be with good men.

Honour your friend.
Or treat him rudely,
and see what happens!

Love, tell an incident now
that will clarify this mystery
of how we act feely, and are yet
compelled. One hand shakes with palsy.
Another shakes because because you slapped it away.

Both tremblings come from God,
but you feel guilty for the one,
and what about the other?

These are intellectual questions.
The spirit approaches the matter
differently. Omar once had a friend, a scientist,
Bu'l-Hakam, who was flawless at solving
empirical problems, but he could not follow Omar
into the area of illumination and wonder.

Now I return to the text, "And He is with you,
wherever you are," but when have I ever left it!

Ignorance is God's prison
Knowing is God's palace.

We sleep in God's unconsciousness.
We wake in God's open hand.

We weep God's rain.
We laugh God's lightning.

Fighting and peacefulness
both take place within God.

Who are we then
in this complicated world-tangle,
that is really just the single, straight
line down at the beginning of ALLAH?

Nothing.
We are
emptiness.

----

When you are with everyone but me,
you're with no one.
When you are with no one but me,
you're with everyone.

Instead of being so bound up with everyone,
be everyone.
When you become that many, you're nothing.
Empty.

-- Jalaluddin Rumi
posted by y2karl at 1:39 AM on June 21, 2003

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.

-- William Butler Yeats
posted by y2karl at 1:43 AM on June 21, 2003

posted by y2karl at 1:56 AM on June 21, 2003

yay! Yeats/Millay/Rumi! Nicely put.
posted by Vidiot at 2:02 AM on June 21, 2003

Phew! that was close! nearly had a really pointless thread there....
posted by dash_slot- at 3:09 AM on June 21, 2003

To have his beautiful poem associated with such drivel (as this thread) I'm sure Yeats is rolling over in his grave.
posted by Dennis Murphy at 3:29 AM on June 21, 2003

i don't think the poetry is necessary. it is rather boring and uses up too much space. the bunnies are good. son_of_minya's lunacy is unexpected and gives a frisson of genuine excitement! his comment about burning quonsar in his tank is hilarious and shows that he may be a real person after all. jonson makes a brief cameo but senses that here, son_of_minya's virtuoso performance has taken things to the next level. could do with more swearwords, and perhaps a sub-plot. one hopes for more of the same, soon.
overall: 7.5
posted by mokey at 4:32 AM on June 21, 2003

Rex the leech,
rolled onto the beach
looking for something to suck.

A tit would be nice,
but I'll take a slice
of anything other than muck.

But the beach was deserted.
No corpuscles flirted.
Poor Rex was down on his luck.

'Til a lizard walked by,
and to Rex's eye -
what a good thing on which to get stuck!

So stick him he did
like popping the lid
of a jar full of cranberry snapple.

But soon Rex grew groggy
and trembly and foggy
and fell like a worm off an apple.

The lizard turned round.
with a lizardy sound
that sounded to Rex like gay laughter.

"What were you thinking?"
The lizard asked blinking -
"What in the world were you after?"

"Some refreshment," Rex said,
with a feeling of dread,
"now why don't you leave me alone?"

"But I might've died,"
the lizard replied,
"had you sucked me right down to the bone."

"Lucky for one of us
I am quite poisonous
else one of us might've run dry."

"As it is," said the Liz,
"It's time to get biz,
And show you that you can fly."

He aimed his eye
at the poor little guy
and his tongue snapped out like a whip.

And the leech flew south
right into his mouth.
"Taste's like English clam dip!"

But as Rex was flying,
soon to be dying,
he had a thrilling last hunch:

The lizard is deadly,
but I sucked a medly
of lizard juice for my lunch.

So though he might eat me
he cannot defeat me -
death shall have no dominion!

His own toxicity,
sweet synchronicity,
will kill him and that's my opinion.

--written on the back of a Burger King
time card, circa 1994, author anonymous, but
there were some strong suspicions...
posted by Opus Dark at 4:42 AM on June 21, 2003

I once swallowed a post from Nantucket
with thread too long to up-suck it;
the question was valid
but the comments were rabid
and if I could, I'd gladly upchuck it.
posted by taz at 5:11 AM on June 21, 2003

Metafilter: You want a piece of me?
posted by rushmc at 5:56 AM on June 21, 2003

Metafilter: Could do with more swearwords.
posted by dazed_one at 6:23 AM on June 21, 2003

Metafilter: serious unpleasantness.
posted by dash_slot- at 6:46 AM on June 21, 2003

A/S/L check ...
posted by rcade at 6:54 AM on June 21, 2003

y2karl, you got the wrong Gerald Manley Hopkins. The applicable poem is clearly "As posters catch fire, commenters draw flames"
posted by yerfatma at 6:59 AM on June 21, 2003

ooh, nice, yerfatma.

Well, everyone was being so nasty--it gets so tiresome when it's not your ego that's involved. I thought I'd put some space between that and whatever came next.

A heads up--the current Jonathan Richman tour schedule, starting from today:

Sat 06/21/03 Northampton, MA Pearl Street

Mon 06/23/03 New York, NY Knitting Factory

Tue 06/24/03 New York, NY Knitting Factory

Wed 06/25/03 Asbury Park, NJ The Saint

Thu 06/26/03 New Brunswick, NJ Court Tavern

Fri 06/27/03 Philadelphia, PA North Star

Sat 06/28/03 Rehoboth Beach, DE Dogfish Head Brew. Co.

Then there is this story regarding him from the Boston Phoenix--
DEPT. OF LABOR
Jonathan Richman and the Pissed Off Projectionists
BY CAMILLE DODERO

Labor struggles are steely-eyed showdowns, but the ongoing battle between Somerville Theatre management and its camp of picketing projectionists has recently broken into a bare-knuckle beat down. Four of the picture palace's seven part-time projectionists went on strike May 1, a day after demanding that the theater recognize their desire to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 182; the demand was a bid to secure an increase from their $6.75-an-hour minimum wage. Now more than a month later - after the self-declared " Pissed Off Projectionists " offered to return to work unconditionally; after they haven't been scheduled for shifts; after the reel spinners went to labor court to contest the movie house's assertion that managers would be eligible to vote in an upcoming union election
because they'd been running the projectors since the strike; after an unknown vandal shattered the Somerville Theatre's front ticket window and the projectionists publicly swore they didn't know who was responsible - the conflict has become a sanguinary slugfest with indie-rock progenitor Jonathan Richman standing in the Pissed Off
Projectionists' corner.

Last week Richman moved his show from the Somerville Theatre to the Middle East Downstairs in support of the locked-out projectionists, but won't get into specifics about what factors led him to the decision. " While I disagree with the management of the Somerville Theatre on this particular issue, " Richman says over the phone from a tour stop in Toronto, " they've always been great when we played there - and I'd gladly play at the Somerville Theatre again. "

Richman admits he discussed the dispute with both sides for weeks and still isn't sure he understands who's to blame. " I don't think this is black and white, " Richman says. " I don't want anyone to look like the
enemy. " Nevertheless, the decision to pull out of the venue " was the conclusion I came to. I told both parties that I wasn't sure it was even the right decision, but this is how it looked to me. " He adds, " In the middle of what seems to be an honest labor dispute, I just figured that
it's not the time to play the theater. "

This past Monday, Richman's name still appeared on the Davis Square cinema's neon marquee, even though he'd yanked the engagement days earlier. As for the Somerville Theatre's stance, a female voice answering the phone for its executive office offered, " We have no comment. " And who is this? " Doesn't matter. Pretty much anyone you
talk to around here, this is what you're going to get. " ...


Me?

"I'm a union man all the way..."

The Band
King Harvest Will Surely Come

[Dr. Nick] Happy Solstice Everybody! [/Dr. Nick]
posted by y2karl at 7:36 AM on June 21, 2003

Get your own weblog, fuc...

Oh it's you, y2karl ;)

I really wish you would get your own weblog. If you make it, we will come. Pretty please?
posted by iconomy at 8:05 AM on June 21, 2003

dear god: send metafilter more lithium.

Right? I go away for a few weeks and it's like alla y'alls went off your meds and the whole place has gone decidedly sideways.

The creeps are creepier, the usually level-headed sorts have turned all humorless and preachy, and the XX/XY ratio seems worse'n ever. What on earth happened?
posted by adamgreenfield at 8:24 AM on June 21, 2003

"you annoying little person"

"son"

"But I reckon you're truly an asshole for doing it"

"or kindly piss off"

I stand speechless and overwhelmed by your wit, intellect, charm, and substantive arguments, stavrosthewonderchicken.

You want a piece of me

I want no part of you. Carry on. I will not presume to match words with you again.
posted by Shane at 8:40 AM on June 21, 2003

and you wonder why I post poems sometimes...


Aurora

Of bronze and blaze
The north, tonight!
So adequate its forms,
So preconcerted with itself,
So distant to alarms, -
An unconcern so sovereign
To universe, or me,
It paints my simple spirit
With tints of majesty,
Till I take vaster attitudes,
And strut upon my stem,
Distaining men and oxygen,
For arrogance of them

My splendors are menagerie;
But their completeless show
Will entertain the centuries
When I am, long ago,
An island in dishonoured grass
Whom none but the daisies know.


Emily Dickinson
posted by y2karl at 8:44 AM on June 21, 2003

Wow, that came off as bitter and pissed off in an already lousy thread. Time to turn the box off for a while. Let's just shake it off, stavros. In 2 days none of us will remember this thread.

I will apologize: to aacheson for making her thread even worse.
posted by Shane at 8:50 AM on June 21, 2003

The creeps are creepier, the usually level-headed sorts have turned all humorless and preachy, and the XX/XY ratio seems worse'n ever. What on earth happened?

Schooooool is out . FOR. THE. SUMMER.

Shoooooool is out. FOR. EVER.

Although I'm not really sure how that would effect things negatively.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 9:00 AM on June 21, 2003

four panels:

I say ban the motherfucker.

I agree, quonsar should be banned.

stavrosthewonderchicken:

You want a piece of me, I suggest you take it to email, as I suggested to the sarge, or kindly piss off.

What do you do when that happens three times, and you try taking it to e-mail, but the person directly tells you not to e-mail them? Then you take it to irc, but the person quotes every word you write to him in PM over to the public chat?

This is a perfect example of why I am so angry at the little jackass quonsar, and why everyone should empathize. If you scroll up, you'll see that he's admitted all but one claim I made against me, and that your anger towards shane was validated just a few comments down.

rcade:

A/S/L check...

Age: Bigger than you.
Sex: More of a man than you.
Location: If you come here, you won't make it out alive, so don't fucking ask!

(The above is sarcasm, for any possible jackasses who may misinterpret it and then try to insult me.)

You may be upset that this shouting match took place in public, but you have only quonsar to blame. He repeatedly harassed me, and repeatedly refused to give any explanation in private. The only explanation he's given in public is "he deserved it!"

You think this is ugly -- just think how lucky you are that none of you have blood on your clothes. If MetaFilter were, say, a University debate club which also uses e-mail and bulletin boards in addition to public meetings -- then this argument would be taking place in person. If this argument were taking place in person, everyone would have blood on their clothes. A man does not engage in the kind of behavior quonsar has without getting bloody.
posted by son_of_minya at 9:10 AM on June 21, 2003

Note for the reading impaired: stavrosthewonderchicken was not arguing with me. He was arguing with a person named shane who did the right thing and apologized, though it was a fairly slippery apology.
posted by son_of_minya at 9:11 AM on June 21, 2003

Twatbadger.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:23 AM on June 21, 2003

I think it's time to make up.

*gives s_o_m a big sloppy wet kiss on the cheek.*
posted by Space Coyote at 9:25 AM on June 21, 2003

I'll calm down as soon as I get my apology.

And I want one from WolfDaddy, too.

(Not a kiss, an apology.)
posted by son_of_minya at 9:28 AM on June 21, 2003

Stop it, stop it, stop it. Minya, quonsar, and whoever else who is throwing crap- we don't care who started it, we don't care who is right and who is wrong, and speaking for me at this point I can't even tell you apart in this sea of vitriol. Go find a Usenet thread if you want to continue to rip each others' throats out. This is NOT the appropriate place for your tantrums.
At the rate this is going, I would not blame Matt if he threw the Mefi server into the Pacific ocean!
posted by konolia at 9:29 AM on June 21, 2003

Everyone, I sincerely apologize for starting this thread. This is the FIRST and LAST time I do a FPP to Metatalk. I had no idea that it would turn into a massive hate-fest and an excuse for so many people with personal issues to once again, bring it all up.

I am so over this thread. And to summarize, I do now believe that Delmoi's post in the Metafilter thread was done to shock, but from the rapist point of view. (And for learning that I am glad I brought this over here.) I do believe that there are some sadly misogynistic postings in the Metafilter thread-but am happy to move on and ignore them now. But more importantly, I believe that there is way too much hatred and anger and obsession on the part of some people here. (And I'm not just talking about one person, there are a few of them.)

People, let's not post any more to this thread. Let's let it die a death it should have died a long time ago when we stopped talking about the posting in metafilter and moved on to more personal issues. Please. I beg you. JUST STOP NOW.
posted by aacheson at 9:31 AM on June 21, 2003

JUST STOP NOW.

Nope, I'll post once more to apologize.

though it was a fairly slippery apology.

No, s-o-m, that was no apology at all : )

stavros, I apologize for dredging up the past, which was the wrong thing to do. You're touchy about the drinking issue and you flew off about it w/ sarge, causing me to say, WTHell is he going on about again? But what I said didn't make anything better. I do think you fly off a little easily over perceived slights and Mefi-cop issues, which ticks me off, but that's as much my problem as yours : ) I should have e-mailed you or said nothing at all.

Everyone, I sincerely apologize for starting this thread. This is the FIRST and LAST time I do a FPP to Metatalk.

No, aacheson! --you did the right thing by bringing up this issue here. I'm very glad you addressed it. I sincerely hope you aren't cowed from further posts, when you feel the need.

We should all take a lesson here. When delmoi has an opinion to express on a sensitive subject, he should express it tactfully, in my opinion (as should everyone else). We should all take into consideration the fact that certain subjects like rape will always be combustible, and with good, painful reason for all parties, even ones peripherally involved.

And when something sets me off, I shouldn't opine in a way that makes it worse, as I did with stavros. When something sets any of us off, we should consider whether what we say next will make things any better or add any value to the discussion or atmosphere of discussion. Just say No to More Petrol on the Fire.

Have a good day. Sincerely. This shite isn't what we're here at Mefi for.
Sorry, aacheson, but I hope that was a good reason to disregard your request to STOP, heh.

In the interest of Peace,
posted by Shane at 10:09 AM on June 21, 2003

aache: Trying to deny misogyny is like trying to deny religion. Neither should exist, but both do exist, and very little can be done about eliminating either.

Some people cannot handle the reality of humanity, but that is what is good about communities like MeFi, this exposure of the true human condition.
posted by mischief at 10:26 AM on June 21, 2003

if he threw the Mefi server into the Pacific ocean

that would take a hell of a lot of work. the server's located in the East Coast, you know
posted by matteo at 10:38 AM on June 21, 2003

off with his head.
posted by angry modem at 10:57 AM on June 21, 2003

Good God, y'all. What is this good for?
posted by namespan at 11:11 AM on June 21, 2003

aacheson -- MeTa has a purpose: discussions of threads in the blue. That was achieved in this thread, before the tailspin started. (Although really, this thread's been better than cable TV lately.) Don't let the implosion/devolution/whatever of this particular thread completely put you off Metatalk...for all the pissing matches and grudgefests that go on here, it does continue to serve a useful purpose, and your instinct to bring your concerns here was a good one.
posted by Vidiot at 11:39 AM on June 21, 2003

namespan:

This is the third thread in as many days, and some people still don't get it. MetaFilter needs a serious shake-up. You can't just close your ears and shut it out, people. The problem will only get worse.

I really would have liked to have a reasonable discussion about this, but it can't be done. What you have to realize is that WolfDaddy and quonsar are like terrorists. They will stop at nothing short of the complete destruction of Minya. There is no negotiating with them, and no reasoning with them.

The first e-mail I sent quonsar was actually pretty reasonable. This was over a week ago. I basically asked him, "What was that all about?" His response: "Hi didle di hi diddle doo," or something almost exactly like that. Before admitting he sent that one, he had denied sending any e-mail.

How do you reason with a person like that? How do you reason with a person who wrote the first two comments in this thread, and yet also has a personal war against you because he was offended by something you wrote over six months ago???

For the record (though the record already is clear if you scroll up to the top), quonsar brought me into this thread. He mentioned me specifically, and he carried his dirty laundry in from irc.

matteo:

I do have a possible solution I'd like to recommend: Delete the accounts of quonsar, WolfDaddy, and son_of_minya. To get rid of those assholes, I will gladly volunteer my account for deletion. Unless, of course, they apologize publicly within 24 hours.

BTW, I encourage everyone to check the MetaTalk archives for the exact thread these fucking punks are still obsessed over. You'll see how pathetic and misguided they are.
posted by son_of_minya at 11:40 AM on June 21, 2003

Damnit, that was sloppy.

Name is similar, but matteo is obviously not the person to tell that idea to. I'm always mixing them up.

You get the idea.
posted by son_of_minya at 11:45 AM on June 21, 2003

Son_of_Minya, I have no axe to grind with you, but I need to tell you that if you were willing to step away from this thread, and away from this petty feud with these other posters, things would die down. You are becoming obsessed with defending yourself, but it isn't helping because if you keep stirring it, it will keep stinking.

As I have said before to someone here (forgot where and who) there is nothing you can do to fix this by posting more and more. The only thing that will help is backing off and taking a break. I promise you that if you do that almost all of us will forget all this mayhem and then later you can get back to having a normal Mefi experience.
posted by konolia at 11:56 AM on June 21, 2003

konolia:

This never has died down. It's escalated. It needs to end here, right now.

Some history may be helpful, so here goes...

Original 11/20/02 MetaTalk thread, in which WolfDaddy shows a complete lack of reasoning capability.

WolfDaddy fucks with Minya on 6/12

WolfDaddy barges in on Minya's 6/15 FPP, writing completely off-topic to fuck with me.

Quonsar butts in on a discussion between two other people, for the specific purpose of fucking with me, and finally sets off this timebomb.

This is not every instance. There have been many more. It's gotten especially bad over the past week, though. What I have laid out above is WolfDaddy and quonsar's deliberate pattern of harassment against me, which I will no longer put up with. If their behavior is acceptable, then I don't know what is...

Frankly, this type of bullshit makes MetaFilter unworthy of spending any time on. It can't be tolerated, and if I have to be the loudest, worst example of bad behavior to get something done about bad behavior, then so be it. Just fucking do something!
posted by son_of_minya at 12:05 PM on June 21, 2003

Minya, have you tried emailing Matt? I don't think he shows up here much on weekends, but still...he should have been your court of first resort.

I have emailed you.
posted by konolia at 12:13 PM on June 21, 2003

I hope for all of our sake that Matt doesn't poke his head in here again. I'm feeling very voyeuristic doing so myself. Like bringing popcorn to the asylum.
posted by Space Coyote at 12:29 PM on June 21, 2003

Frankly, this type of bullshit makes MetaFilter unworthy of spending any time on.

No one's keeping you here.

You obviously don't seem to be getting what you want. It doesn't look, from your posts, that you're even likely to get what you want. As the chorus of members keeps saying, why not move on...either from this issue or the site itself?

I can't speak for Matt, but if you really feel that you "have to be the loudest, worst example of bad behavior to get something done about bad behavior", I'm guessing that any action taken will be against the person who's stirring the pile...i.e., you.

I really like this site, and your comments in this thread have made me agree with those who wouldn't blame Matt if he pulled the plug. I don't want that to happen, and I think it would be good -- for the site and its members, for the people reading this thread, the people named in your arguments, quite possibly for you yourself -- if you just gave it a rest for a while.
posted by Vidiot at 12:40 PM on June 21, 2003

Minya, like so many here have said, just walk away for a few days. Relax. Watch the sunset. Eat a good meal. This is just a website, after all, though some do use it as a playground. Quonsar and Wolfdaddy are never going to apologize to you as long as you keep getting upset and ranting all over the place. Watching you rant is entertaining, you see, and they're just pushing your buttons and laughing at you. It's part of growing up to realize life isn't fair, no one cares about honor anymore and some people, no matter what you do, are going to give you a hard time or say things you don't like. One can't go through life reacting to every slight, it'll wear you down to a bitter nub of a man if you do. Think of all the energy you've expended on MeFi and MeTa in the last few days trying to defend yourself and try to apply it to something positive.
posted by elwoodwiles at 12:45 PM on June 21, 2003

the first line
posted by lazaruslong at 12:49 PM on June 21, 2003

That was way too melodramatic. What I meant to relay, to s_o_m, wolfie, quonsar, et al, is just that there are too many important ideas and topics that would benefit from the dialectic I know this website is capable of offering. We should be ashamed for spending so much energy on things as petty as this. That's not to marginalize anyone's hurt feelings here, but rather just to say that those feelings just need to reside beneath some thicker skin.

Metafilter: Just try applying us to something positive.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:53 PM on June 21, 2003

I think it's time for some crazy make-up sex.
posted by Stan Chin at 12:56 PM on June 21, 2003

*hands minya sombrero*
posted by sgt.serenity at 1:03 PM on June 21, 2003

Stan Chin's lost his gold star? How did that happen?
posted by Space Coyote at 1:13 PM on June 21, 2003

how you gonna be a bounty hunter now stan ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 1:19 PM on June 21, 2003

Matt got pissed with everyone asking how Stan got the gold star so he got rid of them.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 1:28 PM on June 21, 2003

Everyone always ruins everything.
posted by elwoodwiles at 1:31 PM on June 21, 2003 [1 favorite]

I've removed son_of_minya's posting rights, as the original crappy thread and this pointless, petty, personal screed in MetaTalk certainly warrants some forced time outs.

quonsar, I'm going to take your rights away too, because over the past few months you've grown increasingly personal and crude in your quips on the site. Seriously, calm down, take a breather, and email me when you want back in.

Let's remember to act like adults to others and think before we post? Sound good?
posted by mathowie at 1:45 PM on June 21, 2003

It's not MetaFilter without quonsar, Matt.

He stands for freedom and quirkiness and "live and let live", against whining, censorship, self-rightheousness, bullshit, posturing, weak arguments, hypocrisy, lack of a sense of humour. He is the defender of the different, the non-fashionable, the outsiders. Quonsar is the real Left. We need him.

I'll gladly swop my membership for his, honestly. The fact that he criticizes you too should be cause for rejoicing, not concern. Plus, he's certainly MetaFilter's funniest and most apposite poster.

If you equate him with crazy son_of_minya (who, notwithstanding, seems an equally honest and forthright member, even though his opinions are unpopular) what sort of message are you sending? That we all should "fall in" with some pc line, sensitive to everything under the sun?

Please reconsider. You sound like the head teacher who condemns the two kids fighting, without bothering to find out who was right. Quonsar was right. SOM was wrong. So what?

MetaFilter is great because it's inclusive; not because it's exclusive. Quonsar is probaby our most valuable poster, politicalkly and morally, right now. He stands up for the underdog. He stands up for MetaFilter.

I think you are being very unjust and I beg you to reread the thread and identify who's prevaricating and provoking and who isn't.

SOM's banning is defensible, though I think he constantly tried to justify his position to the community - grounds enough, IMHO, for not banning. Quonsar's is just lazy thinking, no disrespect.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 11:51 PM on June 21, 2003

/me Wonders if he can start another official Lets Ban Miguel from MetaTalk thread now

I'm going to say this about the recent bannings and brouhaha... if you prescribe to the concept that It's Only A Website then you really shouldn't care who (or if you) get banned.
posted by Stan Chin at 12:00 AM on June 22, 2003

Can't we all just get along?

It's only words... I always hoped nobody takes stuff written on the 'net all this personally... I guess you're all proving me wrong.
posted by shepd at 12:03 AM on June 22, 2003

No, shepd - you're absolutely right, as usual.

Stanchin - you must know by now what an "old joke" means. Are you trying to get us both banned or what? ;)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:07 AM on June 22, 2003

Stanchin - you must ...

I'm about to open a whole can of cardosoesque "MetaTalk post about proper netiquette involving capitalization and separation of multiworded user names" on your ass, miguel Cardoso.
posted by Stan Chin at 12:15 AM on June 22, 2003

Not that!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:18 AM on June 22, 2003

I love you all.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:27 AM on June 22, 2003

It's an awesome spectacle. An audacious display of seething opponents once again parallel in an obstinate attempt to prove superiority of the roads unequaled in our lifetime. The crowds swell with anticipation as the lights turn green!
posted by Ljubljana at 12:27 AM on June 22, 2003

Whew! That was cathartic, now wasn't it.
Someone, please light a match (or something).
posted by mischief at 12:29 AM on June 22, 2003

I love you all.
I hate you all.
posted by jmd82 at 12:37 AM on June 22, 2003

Banned?
Aw, c'mon... it's quonsar.
Bad vibes.
posted by dong_resin at 1:13 AM on June 22, 2003

You know what? Stop acting like clowns.
posted by jdaura at 1:31 AM on June 22, 2003

i miss dong_resin. comment more!
posted by rhyax at 1:56 AM on June 22, 2003

I think you're mistaken here, Migs. A cooling out period seems like a very good thing for both.
posted by timeistight at 1:56 AM on June 22, 2003

Apology accepted, Shane. I do have a tendency to fly off the handle at perceived slights, it's true, but I'm workin' on it.

Buy you a beer?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:41 AM on June 22, 2003

Time in the penalty box never hurt anybody.
posted by konolia at 2:54 AM on June 22, 2003

(I'd also like to clarify my comment above : when I mentioned, tangentially, that a couple of years back I began to feel unwelcome at another community site because of a brouhaha over the PUI issue, primarily, it was not a vibe I got from all of the members of that community, by any means, most of whom I love in that special iNtarWEb way that you can love people you've never even met, but from one participant there who made me feel uncomfortable enough that I chose not to participate any more. (Not to rule out the occasional special guest appearance!) Because I got an email about it today, and I'd hate to think that I've inadvertently painted all those folks with the same broad and only very mildly resentful brush. I wouldn't want there to be misunderstandings about it.)

Apologies for being offtopic for everyone but myself, perhaps.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:58 AM on June 22, 2003

Quonsar is probaby our most valuable poster, politicalkly and morally, right now.

been heavily testing some Martini links for future threads, huh?

very often I find quonsar to be very funny, but the fact that you apparently consider him "the real left" tells us more about your politics than your telegraph/spectator/wsj links and occasional, shy "I like Bush" comment. really. if quonsar is the real left, then hama7 is the "real right", isn't he?


also, I don't exactly get the point of your usual "please Matt reconsider" comment right after Matt bans someone. it's his decision, his website, his house. you obviously like polls, but it's not that the community has the power to ban or readmit users here. Thank God, by the way. imagine if the whole community had the power to vote and ban certain not universally popular members, miguel. maybe not even your fan club could save your account from being deleted by the vox populi
posted by matteo at 3:36 AM on June 22, 2003

Yeah, we all know it's Matt's house, but seeing as this is primarily a place of reading, petitioning to not have one of the more popular authors banned is one of the few discussions back here that isn't mindless wanking, matteo.

Also, thanks rhyax.
posted by dong_resin at 4:01 AM on June 22, 2003

A bit of dirt adds to the soup, a spider to the dough.

Then again:

Dont mistake the bone for meat, nor a sheep's head for a roasted turnip.

I'm finnished.
posted by Opus Dark at 4:18 AM on June 22, 2003

Miggy, with all due respect, Matts probly been watching this for the last couple of days, hoping it winds down to the usual group hugs of meta threads past. It didnt happen, did it?
Now, I speak up for the underdog wherever necessary, but darling quonsar is no underdog. I look forward in anticipation for his return, as The Worlds Most Surreal And Satirical Poster, and the hiatus of his absence will be as short as possible, mehopes.

But please don't plead for special rights when a poster is sin-binned: it was clearly given due consideration by The Bloke with the Power To Act, who doesent take impetuous decisions. I, like I suspect many others, just wanted this all to stop, way up there. It didnt: and that's probly why we wont see S_O_M ever again, whereas Q will return (won't you, Q?). Just having a breather, ok? Besides, special pleading reflects poorly on you, me old mucker: when it fails, you lose a little of your magical powers, too. Let it be - and maybe raise a glass. It suffices.
posted by dash_slot- at 4:22 AM on June 22, 2003

sdid I miss something?
posted by niceness at 5:46 AM on June 22, 2003

Miguel is the woman shouting, "Won't someone think of the children!"
posted by crunchland at 6:03 AM on June 22, 2003

minya will be back the moment quonsar posts again. Minya feels that he has been deeply wronged, to the point that it's a kill or be killed position. I really think that if they lived even remotely close to each other, s_o_m would head over to quonsar's place and try to kill him.

Anyway, a time out is good for the both of them. Miguel, you know that quonsar can sometimes go overboard. This certainly isn't his first loss of posting rights. I agree with you that quonsar adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the place, but he'll be back. (To be truthful, I couldn't stand his irreverent attitude to the point that I, too, wanted him banned, but then suddenly I got it. Quonsar is good people. Speaking of good people, Mr. dong_resin, you post far too infrequently. I have missed your unique viewpoint and fantastic sense of humor. Please, post more regularly. Please?)

Can we call a moratorium on all the pettiness that has been happening for the last week?
posted by ashbury at 6:14 AM on June 22, 2003

Apologies for being offtopic for everyone but myself, perhaps.

{stav}
posted by claxton6 at 7:57 AM on June 22, 2003

Say, thanks ashbury.
I have a blog now, you know. I even write stuff for it now that my sex gimp is in a coma.
posted by dong_resin at 7:59 AM on June 22, 2003

In January, Q will be a Grampa-sar--then he'll be another old coot shouting : HEY, YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN! Please make a note of it.
posted by y2karl at 8:04 AM on June 22, 2003

y2karl:

Can we hate each other? All the vitriol is gone from this thread, and now I am confused. There was this one time when it took you awhile to respond to a personal email from me, so I will spill your blood and burn your body atop a crooked pedestal.

I will feed on your organs and soul.

This is all y2karl's fault.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 8:28 AM on June 22, 2003

I miss quonsar.

I don't miss son_of_minya.
posted by languagehat at 8:38 AM on June 22, 2003

it's only been a few hours people...and the site was down last night too....

q has stuff to do anyway, in real life. There are cookies, milk and all kinds of drugs in his time-out corner, so don't be too worried.

I personally hope they both come back.
posted by amberglow at 8:50 AM on June 22, 2003

Quonsar is probaby our most valuable poster, politicalkly and morally, right now.

Quonsar is good people.

The guy's incorrigible . I kinda like him, admittedly, but let's not pretend he isn't in dire need of a time out most of the time.
posted by rcade at 8:53 AM on June 22, 2003

I agree with Matt to ban them both. It is obvious that S_O_M is unhinged, but quonsar was clearly egging him on, confident in his knowledge that:

1. If he's banned, it's only temporary

2. You all support him because he's been here so long.

Quonsar sometimes has some good points, but he was getting extremely malicious and aggressive and simply wouldn't stop egging someone on until they reached their own destruction.

Additionally, (I can't believe I'm sticking up for S_O_M-cuz I certainly DON'T agree with him....) it's not fair to ban S_O_M and then leave quonsar able to post to continue saying awful things about him, but S_O_M isn't able to refute them, and you know that would be happening right now had his rights not been taken away.

Go Matt. If I ever get banned, I have no doubt I will deserve it like these two did.

(I sincerely hope I"m not on quonsar's shit-list now...I'd hate to be on the receiving end...)
posted by aacheson at 8:53 AM on June 22, 2003

You all support him because he's been here so long.

No, we all support him because he's the fucking Don.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:41 AM on June 22, 2003

quixote ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:12 AM on June 22, 2003

Miguel, I think your (addmittedly laudable) desire to see the best in everyone fails you here. To me, Quonsar is the kid who trips everyone coming onto the bus. When he catches Matt's (or a similarly high-profile ankle), you see it as an Act of Sacred Cow Tipping. The truth of the matter is he sticks his foot out reflexively for everyone. I'm not immune to laughing when he catches someone I want to see fall, but the Anglacized term for that behavior is "asshole."

If the theoretically New Visitor wandered into this thread their first time, would they think "Hmm, that poster deserves what they're getting"? At the risk of defending the s_o_b, no one deserves what happened in that thread.
posted by yerfatma at 10:15 AM on June 22, 2003

well im glad quonsar is gone , i never liked the ****,
now us good christians can unleash the barrage of evangelical fpp's and stories about dubyas love for puppies that this communist neo - satanist was constantly derailing. the only problem i have with this ban is that it will give quonsar more time for devil worship and child sacrifice .
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:19 AM on June 22, 2003

Q's never given me trouble, yerfatma.

As I've said, it's all words. If you have a problem with someone on #mefi, email them.

If they don't respond nicely, there's better ways to deal with it than this, IMHO. Why not do what I did?

I miss both of them. Without someone to stir up the proverbial sh*t, it's going to get boring here, FAST.

I've always wondered what the purpose of trolls was... I guess I'll soon find out.
posted by shepd at 10:59 AM on June 22, 2003

Admittedly it doesn't say much for my use of leisure time but I've been following this from the beginning of the rape thread. I was one of the more aggressive posters in that regrettable thread and called s_o_m on his misogynist nonsense -- repeatedly-- which in retrospect may not have been such a good idea. Regardless of how distasteful I find his posting hisory, the longer this goes on the more sympathy I'm finding for him.

There is an element of schoolyard bullying here and continuously pushing the deluded fools buttons until he flames himself into the MeFi canon smacks of beating up on the handicapped. Clearly Matt had little choice, but before we pat ourselves on the back it may be worth considering how this could have been handled better.
posted by cedar at 11:12 AM on June 22, 2003

Okay kids, time to turn off the computer and go outside and play.
posted by konolia at 11:25 AM on June 22, 2003

I get up, and nothing gets me down.
You got it tough. I've seen the toughest around.
And I know, baby, just how you feel.
You've got to roll with the punches to get to what's real
Oh can't you see me standing here,
I've got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen.
Oh can't you see what I mean?
Might as well jump. Jump!
Might as well jump.
Go ahead, jump. Jump!
Go ahead, jump.
Aaa-ohh Hey you ! How said that?
Baby how you been?
You say you don't know, you won't know
until we begin.
Well can't you see me standing here,
I've got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen.
Oh can't you see what I mean?
Might as well jump. Jump!
Go ahead, jump.
Might as well jump. Jump!
Go ahead, jump.
[guitar solo]
[keyboard solo]
Might as well jump. Jump!
Go ahead, jump.
Get it and jump. Jump!
Go ahead, jump

- Mr. David Lee Roth

I Want My Hour Back ;/
posted by Dreamghost at 11:32 AM on June 22, 2003

Mathowie acted entirely appropriately here, IMO. I only wish he would do so more often. Look what an uproar a couple of timeouts for egregious and anti-community behavior provoke, because we are more accustomed to seeing beyond-the-pale behavior winked at. Some people instinctually know how to behave toward other people; some need an occasional verbal nudge; and a few need a timeout wake-up call before they "get it" (I've seen more than one long-term participant admit that it took just that for them). I'd rather everyone here fit easily into the first category, but they don't, so what do you do, just let them run rampant all over the site unchecked?

And I also agree with cedar's most recent comment, that all too often a mild "cool it, dude" turns into a pile-on. "We're all in this together," remember? Let's not act like piranha.
posted by rushmc at 11:39 AM on June 22, 2003

Let's not act like piranha.

new tagline
posted by matteo at 11:44 AM on June 22, 2003

It's not MetaFilter without quonsar, Matt.

The is not now nor has there ever been any single user who has defined MetaFilter. MeFi's changed from even Matt's original vision by the time I showed up. I highly doubt quonsar's gone for good, but even if he were, the site would continue and in three weeks he'd be mostly forgotten about.

There have been numerous cycles of personality. Things change, people come and go, MetaFilter's still blue.
posted by cCranium at 12:05 PM on June 22, 2003

Say, was you ever bit by a dead bee?
posted by y2karl at 1:54 PM on June 22, 2003

So, let's see - there's rape, obesity, abortion, feminism, pornography, politics, war, race, religion. . . .

. . .What topics do we do well with again?
posted by dgaicun at 2:23 PM on June 22, 2003

Beer?
posted by lazaruslong at 2:37 PM on June 22, 2003

Right... wrong... Who cares. I got what I wanted, a Quonsar-free MetaFilter. I neither know nor care what events transpired to get son_of_minya so worked up, but if the net result is no more tossing of juvenalia left over from his blog into unrelated discussions, I'm happy.

I'll take two, please, lazaruslong...
posted by JollyWanker at 3:05 PM on June 22, 2003

more Jolly, Less Wanker.
posted by scottymac at 4:57 PM on June 22, 2003

Wow, a lot can happen over a weekend. Don't take too long e-mailing your repentance, will you quonsar?
posted by dg at 5:00 PM on June 22, 2003

You're right lazaruslong, we do beer threads well. And what's the worst argument you can get into? "Its better tasting!" "No, its less filling!"
posted by philcliff at 6:13 PM on June 22, 2003

Buy you a beer?

Sure, stav, but I imagine the postage from Korea would be killer ; )

s_o_m, I'm pretty sure you're reading this: when you get back, please try to realize when someone is baiting you. I enjoy quonsar, but I somehow have little doubt he was doing exactly this. Next time don't fall for it, as it's really just a waste of your time. Just step away. It's tough advice to follow for me too, but it's the only way.
posted by Shane at 6:24 PM on June 22, 2003

I simply have to weigh in as a character witness for my good friend quonsar. I do well know that he is the fly in the ointment for some here, and also that his comments can sometimes be over the top...but I must say, I see an awful lot of crude, rude personal stuff on mefi, it is the site's sad dark underbelly. I am not going to fault matt in anyway for calling a time out, but I think this should be a wake up call to the many, because if the crime is "crude and personal" quonsar is not alone.

One point of difference in this thread - and in the one that was recently expunged with eustacescubb - was the violent and threatening statements that s.om. made, the extremely violent imagery....blood, knives, cutting off arms, electric shocks - quonsar was an egger-on perhaps, but eustacescrubb was a drive by shooting victim, and neither warranted threats of violence. This blood spilled stuff was something new and quite disturbing, and I hope s.o.m. will please get help, and I do not mean that unkindly.

Well anyway, I well know that q can be irreverent, crude and reactionary at times, but let me go on record with the other side...smart, funny, and as large-hearted and generous as they come....friend or foe, if you needed help, q would be at the front of the pack. You might discount what I say thinking "oh she is a friend" but I have never actually met q, we live 1500 miles apart...I came to know him via e-mails and IMs much in much the same way I am coming to know know some of you. I would bet that the # people were surprised in learning what a kind old softie q really is, our mefi persona often doesn't match up with who we are as people. I say all this to support a friend, but also to suggest that there are few among us who don't need to think how our written word can misrepresent us, wound others or be wielded in haste....q may be the one in the doghouse, but this should serve as a cautionary tale for us all.
posted by madamjujujive at 6:29 PM on June 22, 2003

s_o_m is the most fucked-up person I've seen here in a long while. Seems like he could have used a friend too. Not what he got though.
posted by yerfatma at 6:36 PM on June 22, 2003

wow
posted by folktrash at 6:44 PM on June 22, 2003

in general (i'm thinking particularly of that really freaky case, much worse than this, you know who, but it seems to be a general rule, too) when someone flips out the people who jeer and goad them on are left uncriticised. that's always seemed unfair to me.

in this case i think it's broadly accepted that s_o_m is the flippee and that quonsar's been the main flipper.

given that the flippee has been flipped, calling out the flipper seems like a good thing - matts response looks (to me) fairer than its been in the past. the whole flipping mess is ugly - this may act as a deterrent to future flippers.
posted by andrew cooke at 6:46 PM on June 22, 2003

s_o_m is the most fucked-up person I've seen here in a long while. Seems like he could have used a friend too. Not what he got though.

I tend to disagree with that. I'm sure there's a lot of people here who are more fucked up than s_o_m. Maybe his button got hit just right to set him off, or possibly something happened in his life recently and this was kinda' his venting. Granted, it was some shittyass ranting, but the one difference b/w s_o_m and the other fuck ups is s_o_m spoke his mind, which I actually commend in my own little way.
posted by jmd82 at 6:48 PM on June 22, 2003

I just want to second what mjjj said about quonsar. He is one of the nicest people I've met online. I've seen him protect people by changing topics when just about everyone is talking about something that is making one person very uncomfortable. I've seen him side with the unpopular but correct side. The quonsar that most people know on MeFi might be the 13 year old inside him, but the real man behind the persona is a gem. I am sure quonsar will return eventually, he loves MeFi enough to not walk away from it.
posted by riffola at 6:50 PM on June 22, 2003

Yes, but cautionary tales don't serve--no shirt, no shoes, etc--anyone here so, um, let that be a cautionary tale to you.

All Cretans Are Liars.
posted by y2karl at 6:54 PM on June 22, 2003

Well, that was in response to mjj--boy, this is a busy bus station waiting room...
posted by y2karl at 6:58 PM on June 22, 2003

MetaFilter: It's Like Being Home For Christmas--No, I mean really...
posted by y2karl at 7:00 PM on June 22, 2003

What madamjujujive and riffola said. There is a 13-year old inside all of us, but some let him/her out to play more than others. Which is best? I too was concerned about the specific nature of some of the comments by son_of_minya and hope that they are just the result of some unhappy times at the moment and not something worse.

Personally, I usually appreciate quonsar's comments despite frequently being off-topic and irreverent. When they are like that, they are usually short and easily ignored if you are of such a mind. It is your loss if you do so, as there is often a kernel of gold in there if you read them. Well, sometimes, anyway.

*sits down to await quonsar's return*
posted by dg at 7:20 PM on June 22, 2003

I'm awaiting quonsar's return also. I keep meaning to ask him exactly why everlasting blort's cheese is twice the fencepost, and why it's always copiously bewailing all my expectancies.
posted by iconomy at 7:45 PM on June 22, 2003

hey konolia , what did you email to son of minya ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:57 PM on June 22, 2003

why do you ask?
posted by konolia at 8:02 PM on June 22, 2003

I'd like to second (third? fourth?) what MadamJuJuJive and riffola said. (and I certainly do hope s_o_m gets some help and some rest from this joint; the violence of his rhetoric was indeed disturbing.)

I think our friend -- and I do mean friend -- Quonsar was getting a bit cruder than his usual jocular self lately, and maybe he needs some time away from this place. (don't we all?) But he's a super-nice guy whose comments aren't necessarily the poo-flinging non sequiturs they appear to be on first glance...he uses them to puncture overinflated egos, play devil's advocate, and make neglected points. I, for one, eagerly await his return.

Plus, the backrubs he gives are simply divine.
posted by Vidiot at 8:39 PM on June 22, 2003

quonsar is an evil person who should never be let near a computer. keep him forever removed from this fine news outlet.
posted by angry modem at 9:07 PM on June 22, 2003

Quonsar is like a rock in a bag of marshmallows.
Or like being home for Christmas.
Really, he's kind of like the wierd uncle who's always just a little off-color and unpredictable, who keeps a fifth of Jim Beam hidden in the lower branches of the Christmas tree and sips off of it when he's sure that only the kids are watching. And then he'll tell dad that the tie he gave to mom is really fucking ugly.

Really, I'm just adding my hot air to the longest MeTa thread I've seen in a while.
posted by kaibutsu at 10:53 PM on June 22, 2003

I think something is seriously up with my eye. a pretty impressive bug flew into it ages ago and ever since it's had a real lightning-bolt looking cut on it. I can see out of it just fine but still, I wonder...
posted by mcsweetie at 11:35 PM on June 22, 2003

"I simply have to weigh in as a character witness for my good friend quonsar.... [O]ur mefi persona often doesn't match up with who we are as people."

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." --Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night

Nothing personal against you or quonsar, but that defense of him just didn't sit well with me. I have no problem believing that he can be as great as you say he is, but if he only acts that way towards you and a select group of others, what are people outside of that circle supposed to think of him?

After trying to think about the whole thing neutrally, I found that my sympathies lay more with son_of_minya on this one. He put up a pretty fair defense of himself as someone repeatedly heckled by quonsar and WolfDaddy-- and the unnecessary "heh heh, he's probably gay" jabs they dropped on him in these threads did nothing but bolster his claims.

I also think it should be noted that over in the Metafilter side of this mess clever sheep and thomcatspike managed to get son_of_minya to clarify his position by asking him reasonable questions. Much more effective than attacking his character, don't you think?

Look, I'm not saying he's faultless. I'd be willing to bet that some version of "What are you talking about, son_of_minya?" has been posted at various times by dozens of different users: Hell, I'm in that club. But I find it really intellectually dishonest to play this incident up as if he's some sort of unreasonable gibbering psychopath. Granted, I wouldn't have chosen to run a rapist/bounty hunter thread off into a tangent about the eighth amendment and sentence proportionality, and he could've been a lot more graceful and tactful with his arguments once he started, but I also think other people could've worked harder to separate the arguments from the person. And implying that minya's some sort of racist? Unfair. Really. As far as I can tell, if you question him rationally, he is perfectly capable of responding rationally, and he doesn't deserve the blanket censure he seems to be getting from some people in here.

Still, that's not much excuse for what took place in this thread. Sometimes you just have to know when to back away.

I hope the whole thread-to-thread skirmish thing is over now: that kind of thing gets very dull very fast. And I hope both posters get reprieves soon. I doubt I'm seen as a friend by either one of them, but what bearing does that have on when/if they're let back in? Let's just learn from it and move on.

(wanders away spent)
posted by tyro urge at 11:35 PM on June 22, 2003

On the other hand, it is entirely possible the quonsar is actually a 13 year-old girl posing as a 40 year old man, who is pretending to be a 13 year-old boy. If this is the case, it would explain a lot, I guess.
posted by dg at 11:47 PM on June 22, 2003

languagehat said it.
I believe it.
And that settles it.

oh, yeah, and more dong_resin, please, kthxbye
posted by Slithy_Tove at 12:38 AM on June 23, 2003

tyro urge, I have been away--playing with new chat toy in IRC--but upon return, I must note, as Jack Vance would say, your concept has merit. Concepts. It's food for thought. quonsar is the object of much affection here but baiting is baiting. And demonizing is demonizing. son_of_minya went off the rails--but not in a vacuum.

As I was discussing with kmellis, possible soon to be member, it seems to be a guy thing, whether cultural or biological, I don't know, but it is very hard for guys to admit fault, for one thing, and to not attack, escalate and end up mano a mano, for another.

It's like the virtual equivalent of grade school at recess--there are lots of fights, but no one ever beats the other guy up enough for the other guy to say uncle. So all fights tend to go dormant and unresolved, only to flare up again. At least on the playground, losers were treated with some respect if they acquitted themselves according to form. There would be handshakes and slaps on the back--total humiliations were not the rule as I recall.

The funny thing is that in real life we are all grown ups, more or less, who wouldn't dream of hurting people's feelings if we were in the same room. But then the level of rapport is so much lower on line--it's easy to read insult into anything written. Still, who has such over stuffed pride in the real world where they feel it incumbent upon themselves to meet each and every perceived slight with some comment. It's like the virtual gloves are being slapped across the virtual cheek every other minute. Sir, I demand satisfaction!.

And this is a more decorous and well mannered forum than most--that is scary...

Of course, if we could kill each other, or at least inflict physical pain, online, we'd all be walking on eggshells. We guys, that is--which would not necessarily be a bad thing.

Women don't seem to have this problem with dueling egos. Or if they do, it's handled on a level of imperceptible subtlety. That is a scary thought, too.
posted by y2karl at 2:07 AM on June 23, 2003

Women don't seem to have this problem with dueling egos

y2k, are you a monk? ;-P
posted by mischief at 2:26 AM on June 23, 2003

y2k, are you a monk? ;-P

This problem with endless stentorian lethal insult flameouts herein, to be sure. Egos comes standard with all models, of course.
posted by y2karl at 3:45 AM on June 23, 2003

I hope both our fellows come back, but I understand a time-out.

The problem with grudge filter (as jonson pointed out in his earlier thread, and then proceeded to painfully demonstrate), is that the rest of us don't remember or care about the original squall, and when it's pointed out to us, it usually just seems silly. I wish somebody would actually create grudgefilter.com, and everybody really, seriously "wanting a piece" of somebody else would deal with it there. But this wouldn't happen, because dedicated grudge match participants want the vindication of being judged "right" by the rest of us innocent bystanders.

Flare ups, outbursts, snipes and snarks in the course of posting are fine, a part of the whole give and take, but these imbedded feuds that obfuscate, distract, derail (or outright hijack) multiple threads remind me of parasite-ware. They initially present themselves as something else entirely, and once they get a foot in the door they do all kinds of damage and are hard as hell to get rid of. I feel like a sucker every time I participate in a thread that ends up this way. Bite-me filter.
posted by taz at 3:58 AM on June 23, 2003

more Jolly, Less Wanker.

It's been said.
posted by yerfatma at 4:14 AM on June 23, 2003

I agree with tyro urge. Well said.

Also, just because some people may enjoy acting like a "13-year-old boy" doesn't mean that it is appropriate behavior in every public forum (the U.S. Congress notwithstanding).
posted by rushmc at 4:54 AM on June 23, 2003

*sigh*

Doesn't Samsara suck?

Screw this... I'm going to the Zendo.
posted by kaibutsu at 5:05 AM on June 23, 2003

Women don't seem to have this problem with dueling egos. Or if they do, it's handled on a level of imperceptible subtlety. That is a scary thought, too.

I'm assured that the later is true by a fair number of women. My own strained (but possibly real) faculties for subtlety seem to verify this.
posted by namespan at 5:39 AM on June 23, 2003

I simply have to weigh in as a character witness for my good friend quonsar.

Oh, MJJ, I think I've made it known on Mefi too many times that I get a huge kick out of quonsar. I'm just sayin', he was no doubt baiting s_o_m and laughin' his ass off. I've baited people from one coast to the other at different websites, way back in the day.

*smiles guiltily remembering the vengeful satisfaction of a young gunslinger*

I like to think I wouldn't bait or manipulate anymore unless I had a serious philosophical or "political" point to get across, in a gentle manner and allowing face to be saved.

But, temptation is always there, eh?

And now I really think I need a break for a while.
*rides off into sunset*
(There's a wee joke in there somewhere.)
posted by Shane at 5:54 AM on June 23, 2003

Okay, I'll bite:

Come back, Shane!
posted by Vidiot at 6:59 AM on June 23, 2003

Doesn't Samsara suck?

Now wait just a minute there pal!
posted by samsara at 7:14 AM on June 23, 2003

vidiot:

: )
</metaphor>
posted by Shane at 7:16 AM on June 23, 2003

Can I just pop in, at this point of the proceedings, to say that we'll never reach 300? No? Oh well.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:42 AM on June 23, 2003

I'm touched that this thread shares my user number. What an honor!
posted by turaho at 7:49 AM on June 23, 2003

/drops a virtual black ball on quonsar.
posted by thirteen at 7:58 AM on June 23, 2003

shane's supposed to be dead at the end.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:15 AM on June 23, 2003

You know, just the other day I was thinking about how we hadn't had a hell-hath-no-fury Metatalk shitstorm in quite a while.

Just like I was thinking about how I hadn't won the lottery or had a busload of cheerleaders break down outside my house.

*waits*
posted by Cyrano at 8:26 AM on June 23, 2003

Count me in as a Quonsar supporter. I used to think he was "rough around the edges", but got past the prejudice while chatting with him on #Mefi. How many others have tried to get to know people they have problems with? In a chat room, you can sometimes get a better "feel" for people. Their sense of humor, what makes them "tick". Now, S_O_M is a different story. I have tried to understand, I have chatted with him on #Mefi. He's a rude, crass bully. Wish he was permanently banned.
posted by RunsWithBandageScissors at 8:37 AM on June 23, 2003

Who cares really?
posted by walrus at 8:57 AM on June 23, 2003

Maybe I'm mis-reading matt's statement above, but I thought Quonsar was free to come back whenever he wanted, he just needed to email matt & request it (with, I assume, some assurances of dialing it down a notch). No need to get all fired up, I'm sure he'll be back just as soon as he wants to be. Also, I very much second what RunsWithBandageScissors says, take some time either via email or #mefi to get to know your fellow mefites, it's only healthy.
posted by jonson at 9:03 AM on June 23, 2003

If people can't play nice then they should go away. Thanks Matt.
posted by norm at 9:04 AM on June 23, 2003

As a disinterested bystander with nothing against either quonsar or S_o_M, I think that the double time-out was well advised, but S_o_M was much more out of line. I have no doubt that Quonsar was baiting him, but I think that S_o_M was the one who pushed it from a stupid squabble into theater of the absurd. I mean, he did post five times and for a full 14 hours after quonsar's last post.

Just doing my part, Miguel.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 9:15 AM on June 23, 2003

Dear jonson,

Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.

Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy.
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say.
Haven't you noticed?
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy,
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day.
posted by iconomy at 9:16 AM on June 23, 2003

Get your own thread, fuckwi--

Oh hi, iconomy! Double post!

There's a bright golden haze on the Meezorp
There's a bright golden haze on the Meezorp
Shit's higher than an elephant's asshole
And it looks like the flamewar is out of control...

Oh, what a beautiful mornin'
Oh, what a beautiful day
I got a beautiful feelin'
Ev'rything's goin' my way...
posted by y2karl at 9:36 AM on June 23, 2003

Standing to one side, a devata addressed the Blessed One with a verse:

Living in the wilderness,
staying peaceful, remaining chaste,
eating just one meal a day:
why are their faces
so bright & serene?

[The Buddha:]
They don't sorrow over the past,
don't long for the future.
They survive on the present.
That's why their faces
are bright & serene.

From longing for the future,
from sorrowing over the past,
fools wither away
like a green reed cut down.
posted by kaibutsu at 9:40 AM on June 23, 2003

For moments like this only Kelly Clarkson and her photoshopped derriere will do. This is for you, y2karl.

If I told you it was all meant to be,
Would you believe me
Would you agree
It's almost that feeling that we met before
So tell me that you don't think I'm crazy
When I tell you love has come here and now

A moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this
Some people search forever
For that one special kiss
Oh I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

Everything changes but beauty remains
Something so tender
I can't explain
Well I may be dreaming but till I awake
Can we make this dream last forever
And I'll cherish all the love we share

A moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this
Some people search forever
For that one special kiss
Oh I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this

Could this be the greatest love of all
I wanna know that you will catch me when I fall
So let me tell you this
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this

Some people wait a lifetime
For the moment like this
Some people search forever
For that one special kiss
Oh I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this

Oh Oh like this

Oh Oh Oh Oh
Some people search forever, oh yeah yeah
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this

Oh like this
posted by iconomy at 9:50 AM on June 23, 2003

I used to think he was "rough around the edges", but got past the prejudice while chatting with him on #Mefi. How many others have tried to get to know people they have problems with? In a chat room, you can sometimes get a better "feel" for people.

That's certainly true. But Metafilter is not a chat room. There is no requirement to visit a chat room to participate in Metafilter. If someone chooses to participate in Metafilter, then they need to do so on the site's terms, and within the parameters of the dominant site culture (and mathowie's edicts). I've got nothing against pushing the envelope a bit from time to time—that's how growth emerges. But blatantly egregious behavior, especially when repeated, should not be tolerated, no matter how much of a good guy/gal someone may be in other forums.
posted by rushmc at 9:54 AM on June 23, 2003

Get your own thread, fuckwi--

Bad Karl! :)

As The President of The Bring Back Cult Threads Society I declare this comment, however inane, it may be, number 301.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 9:54 AM on June 23, 2003

Word.
posted by soyjoy at 10:00 AM on June 23, 2003

You guys might be interested to learn this: BSD is dying.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 10:14 AM on June 23, 2003

take some time either via email or #mefi to get to know your fellow mefites

Wait, there are just under 20,000 members on MeFi now. Am I supposed to make personal contact with each one to see if they're actually mean and infantile, or just seem like it in their posts? It's nice that some of y'all chat on #mefi, but MetaFilter people shouldn't be expected to hang out on IRC before they're considered to have an informed opinion of a user.

(Or, on preview, what rushmc said.)
posted by jess at 10:15 AM on June 23, 2003

fwiw, I agree with the verdict and it seems as fair as possible given all of the circumstances.

That said, since he can't do it and I've never seen a more appropriate time....





Fwappa fwappa fwappa.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:17 AM on June 23, 2003

I tried emailing quonsar recently using the address listed on his userpage. I got a bounced message.

Anyway, I'm sure all this is moot: grandparenthood will transform quonsar into a total sweetheart, like it did to me.
posted by timeistight at 10:24 AM on June 23, 2003

And here I thought we were doing so well.

I do agree w/Matt - both deserved a time out here. I hope s_o_m understands that this whole thing is completely unimportant and not worth cutting off bodyparts for. And I hope quonsar comes back soon. He's always amusing and sometimes I even agree with him.
posted by widdershins at 10:24 AM on June 23, 2003

I just discovered that y2karl is weaving and sometimes hiding "hi, iconomy!" comments throughout metafilter and metatalk. Here, here, here, here, and here in this very thread. He's probably wondered why it's taken me so long to figure this out ;)

C'mere and let me give you some noogies, you crazy guy.
posted by iconomy at 10:25 AM on June 23, 2003

I still hate every single one of you.
posted by eyeballkid at 10:42 AM on June 23, 2003

shepd - I always hoped nobody takes stuff written on the 'net all this personally... I guess you're all proving me wrong.

shepd, you make me laugh.
posted by NortonDC at 10:49 AM on June 23, 2003

oh remember me my darlin' when spring is in the air
and the bald-headed birds are whisperin' everywhere
you can see them walking southward in their dirty underwear-

That's the Tennesee birdwalk!
posted by konolia at 10:54 AM on June 23, 2003

1)Thanks Konolia. Thanks a lot. It's been far too long since the last time I had that song stuck in my head for days at a time.

2)Stephen King, author, dead at 54.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 11:00 AM on June 23, 2003

I saw a robin today.
posted by namespan at 11:15 AM on June 23, 2003

Bad Karl! :)

Ahem...
posted by y2karl at 11:18 AM on June 23, 2003

I saw a robin today.

You mean you actually go outside and breath in fresh air smog?
posted by jmd82 at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2003

Happy talk, keep talking happy talk
Talk about things you like to do
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?

Talk about the moon floating in the sky
Looking at a lily on the lake
Talk about a bird learning how to fly
Making all the music he can make!

Happy talk, keep talking happy talk
Talk about things you like to do
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you come not have a dream come true?

...We'll never reach 400.
posted by languagehat at 1:45 PM on June 23, 2003

languagehat: are you being pessimistic or optimistic? I can't tell anymore.
posted by Space Coyote at 1:47 PM on June 23, 2003

I'm looking over
My dead dog Rover
That I overran with my power mower
one leg is missing
the other is gone
The third one is scattered
All over the lawn,
No complaining, the one remaining
is there on the carport floor
I'm looking over
My dead dog Rover
That I overlooked beeeeee-fooooooore.......
posted by konolia at 1:57 PM on June 23, 2003

You mean you actually go outside and breath in fresh air smog?

Ah, fall in LA, when the birds turn brown and fall out of the trees.

(OK, I guess the smog really hits as it gets warm, but since the smog persists through November)
posted by namespan at 2:04 PM on June 23, 2003

Ammari sowasowa shinaide.
Anata wa itsudemo kyorokyoro.
Yosomi o suru no wa yamete yo!
Watashi ga dare yori ichiban
Suki yo... suki yo... suki yo!
suki yo... suki yo... suki yo...
suki yo... suki yo... suki yo...
suki yo... suki yo... suki yo!
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 2:04 PM on June 23, 2003

Please, folks, remember what happened after '9622', et al: the 30-day archive limit.

Do we need to encourage each other to post doggerel, just to have another software solution handed down from Mount Sinai Haughey?
posted by dash_slot- at 2:15 PM on June 23, 2003

The funny thing is, konolia, that sick and twisted bit of, er, doggerel is really appropriate. I just can't believe that there are people that want to elevate this thread to immortality by posting more to it.

(sinks in)


D'OH!
posted by norm at 2:18 PM on June 23, 2003

You guys might be interested to learn this: BSD is dying.

That's funny, he hasn't mentioned it on his blog.
posted by Mid at 2:26 PM on June 23, 2003

I saw your mommy and your mommy's dead
I saw her lying in a pool of red
I think it's the greatest thing I'll ever see
Your dead mommy lying in front of me
I'll always remember her lying dead on the floor
I hope she dies twenty times more
I saw your mommy and your mommy is dead!
I saw your mommy and your mommy is dead!
posted by homunculus at 2:47 PM on June 23, 2003

there are lots of fights, but no one ever beats the other guy up enough for the other guy to say uncle. ...total humiliations were not the rule as I recall.
You obviously went to a different school to me. In my day, a fight was not over until blood had been spilled and it did not matter a bit whose blood it was. The loser was generally required to be beaten to a point where he was in a ball on the floor sobbing his heart out (just to add to the humiliation). That is why I learned to run fast.

hi iconomy!
posted by dg at 3:09 PM on June 23, 2003

My god. This is an insane discussion. There are some seriously wigged-out people on MeFi. Has someone poisoned the water supply?
posted by five fresh fish at 3:32 PM on June 23, 2003

languagehat: are you being pessimistic or optimistic? I can't tell anymore.

I can't either, god help me.

hi iconomy!
posted by languagehat at 3:40 PM on June 23, 2003

none of you care about my eye?

callous bastards! if it were up to me, you'd all be in time out.
posted by mcsweetie at 3:54 PM on June 23, 2003

Oh, I care, mcsweetie. I was just too busy nursing my renewed cyber-crush on y2karl for quoting Gerard Manley Hopkins.
posted by scody at 4:23 PM on June 23, 2003

What is all this juice and joy? (speaking of GMH..)
posted by namespan at 4:43 PM on June 23, 2003

I have a sneaking suspicion that I know son_of_minya personally, if not particularly well. First name Ben, maybe 35, works/worked construction, self-reportedly occasionally does smack, used to be one of the finest Amiga crackers in the world, ashamed to admit that he once kissed a black girl, insane family featuring wealthy father, a huge age difference between mother and father, and at least one occasion of the mother stabbing the father...

If s_o_m is Ben, what I want to know is where the fuck is rob ghoul?
posted by NortonDC at 5:13 PM on June 23, 2003

probably would have been better to ask that before he'd been banned, if you wanted an answer.
posted by crunchland at 6:27 PM on June 23, 2003

scody re y2karl and gmh:
Then there's a pair of us?
Don't tell! they'd advertise---you know!

I am nearly religious when I hear this one:

Glory be to God for dappled things
For skies of couple color as a brindled cow;
For rosemoles all in stipple upon trout that swim
Fresh firecoal chestnut falls; finches' wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced fold, fallow and trim.
Glory be to God for dappled things
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
with swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim
He fathers forth whose beauty is past change;
Praise him
posted by madamjujujive at 6:27 PM on June 23, 2003

He can still mail me.
posted by NortonDC at 6:27 PM on June 23, 2003

NortonDC: Unless I'm missing something here, you're way out of line, posting that kind of personal detail without s_o_m's consent. Don't you have any respect for privacy?
posted by gd779 at 6:50 PM on June 23, 2003

Re-adjusting my bet on whether we'll make 400 as of gd779's comment...
posted by Space Coyote at 7:04 PM on June 23, 2003

Am I missing something madamjujujive, or did you mean Dickinson? And mcsweetie, as Einstein once said, "Don't trouble me with your eye problems. I assure you mine are far worse."
posted by yerfatma at 7:13 PM on June 23, 2003

Let us go then, you and I
As the evening is spread out against the sky...
posted by konolia at 7:13 PM on June 23, 2003

1) Objectively, the odds are low that it's really who I think it is.

2) None of that info was shared in confidence, it was done in an open forum on a high-traffic, high-membership BBS.

3) Even if he confirmed it to me, what makes you think that any of you would necessarily hear about it?

and
4) I left out the really alarming stuff.
posted by NortonDC at 7:13 PM on June 23, 2003

I am such a joiner, and a piler-on.

In no particular order, then:

I like quonsar. Particularly in the leopard-skin leotard he fills out so well.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe.
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mame raths outgrabe.
'Beware the Jabberwock, my son,
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch.
Beware the jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious bandersnatch.'

Oh, and I hate eyeballkid. But only eyeballkid. The depth of my loathing for eyeballkid knows no bounds, and will outlast the mountains. Verily.

The rest of you are okay, but some of you can be pretty bitchy at times.

um .... that's it.
posted by yhbc at 7:51 PM on June 23, 2003

---------------------------------------
Tell me when will you be mine
Tell me quonsar quonsar quonsar
We can share a love divine
Please don't make me wait again

I can't wait a moment more
Tell me quonsar quonsar quonsar
Say it's me that you adore
And my darling tell me when
----------------------------------------

/bans self
posted by iconomy at 8:36 PM on June 23, 2003

as befitting this irwin allen-ish thread:
; >

There's got to be a morning after
If we can hold on through the night
We have a chance to find the sunshine
Let's keep on looking for the light

Oh, can't you see the morning after?
It's waiting right outside the storm
Why don't we cross the bridge together
And find a place that's safe and warm?

It's not too late, we should be giving
Only with love can we climb
It's not too late, not while we're living
Let's put our hands out in time

There's got to be a morning after
We're moving closer to the shore
I know we'll be there by tomorrow
And we'll escape the darkness
We won't be searching anymore

There's got to be a morning after
(There's got to be a morning after)
(repeat and fade out)

oh, Norton? not cool spreading shit about people who can't respond.
posted by amberglow at 8:45 PM on June 23, 2003

Whatever. You people are seeing malice where there is only amazement.
posted by NortonDC at 9:07 PM on June 23, 2003

yerfatma, indeed the first two lines were from the Belle of Amherst herself, but the longer poem is "Pied Beauty" by Hopkins. Good identification. :-)
posted by madamjujujive at 9:40 PM on June 23, 2003

The only reasonable way to handle NortonDC's vile behavior is to ban Miguel.

I like that Maroon 5 band. That one song that is supposedly on the radio some....not so much. But the rest of the CD is fun, kinda different. I might think about buying that CD and then eating it. Over the weekend I went to Mammoth Springs, Arkansas. Beautiful place. I took 261 pictures over one and a half days. I like digital cameras, you whores.
posted by bargle at 9:40 PM on June 23, 2003

oh, Norton? not cool spreading shit about people who can't respond.
And i'm sure he's never come up in discussion where he wasn't around...
posted by jmd82 at 9:48 PM on June 23, 2003

This is sortof a shame. mjjj had pretty much redeemed this thread with a new-to-me Hopkins poem that made me want to go write music or something, plus I sortof thought jonson's thread deserved to really be the 400 comment monster.

Not that I'm helping. But maybe I can elicit a petty grudge. It seems to be in, and all I've got are these bell-bottomed jeans...
posted by namespan at 9:53 PM on June 23, 2003

It is this deep blankness is the real thing strange.
     The more things happen to you the more you can't
          Tell or remember even what they were.

The contradictions cover such a range.
     The talk would talk and go so far aslant.
          You don't want madhouse and the whole thing there.

               Let It Go -- William Empson
posted by y2karl at 10:08 PM on June 23, 2003

I sortof thought jonson's thread deserved to really be the 400 comment monster

Hey, at least my thread didn't involve rape or hand removal. Certainly no one reading this thread thought the participants were joking around.
posted by jonson at 10:12 PM on June 23, 2003

Yeah I gotta agree with amberglow....spreading shit, and especially saying " I might know who this guy is in real life, here's what I have heard" is not cool a'tall. I seem to recall a big battle about this with s@l a while ago...that's what these handles are supposed to be for. Controlled anonymity. If it was posted to some other board or blog, then it was posted there. No reason to track bad habits from place to place....
posted by lazaruslong at 11:02 PM on June 23, 2003

they just had a really good thread on athiesm with no naughtyness as far as i can see.....
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:33 AM on June 24, 2003

The Kwans are tranquil,
silent in s_o_m nabulist's
ninja spider dreams.
posted by Opus Dark at 4:23 AM on June 24, 2003

I can't believe I was late for this party.
posted by Frasermoo at 5:24 AM on June 24, 2003

Can I hear more about how wonderful Quonsar is in every forum other than Metafilter?
posted by rcade at 6:29 AM on June 24, 2003

sure. just call him an annoying twat somewhere else.
posted by Frasermoo at 7:15 AM on June 24, 2003

quonsar has fixed the email problem I reported here yesterday.
posted by timeistight at 9:11 AM on June 24, 2003

What's the MetaTalk thread comment record? Anybody know?
posted by dgaicun at 9:20 AM on June 24, 2003

This is the song that never ends,
yes it goes on and on my friends,
some people started singing it not knowing what it was
and now continue singing it just because
this is the song that never ends...
posted by dazed_one at 9:37 AM on June 24, 2003

yes it goes on and then it stops.



No, seriously. That's the fourteenth verse.
posted by cortex at 9:51 AM on June 24, 2003

Hee, Icunumy!
C'mere-a und let me-a
geefe-a yuoo sume-a nuugeees,
yuoo crezy gel.
um de hur de hur de hur
--Getteeng tu knoo yuoo,
Getteeng tu feel free-a und iesy
Vhee I em veet yuoo,
Getteeng tu knoo vhet tu sey
--I vundered vhy it's tekee yuoo
su lung tu feegoore-a it oooot...
(teke-a thet steeck oooot
ooff yuoor boott, croonchlund
Geme-a oofer, mun! Geme-a oofer!)
Bye-a Icunumy!
Bork Bork Bork!
posted by y2karl at 10:18 AM on June 24, 2003

Scrolling down through this thread is like watching an animation of an exploding star. At first, great intensity and drama--later, the dimming remnants: great plumes of hot, expelled gas.
posted by tss at 11:08 AM on June 24, 2003

Surprised to see this posted on quonsar's site.
May I eat my pie now, please.
posted by thomcatspike at 11:55 AM on June 24, 2003

I am nearly religious when I hear this one

I'm right there with you, madamjujujive! The only time I ever yearn for my lost faith is when I read Hopkins.

And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
posted by scody at 12:01 PM on June 24, 2003

The road goes ever on and on...
posted by konolia at 1:20 PM on June 24, 2003

Scrolling down through this thread is like watching an animation of an exploding star. At first, great intensity and drama--later, the dimming remnants: great plumes of hot, expelled gas.

Actually, I've seen quite a few human conflicts end in random discussions about things irrelevant to said conflict. Maybe changing the subject is a natural distraction/cooling technique, or maybe realizing how pointless the conflict seem naturally leads to going off on tangents. Discussing things that you may have in common, like GMH.

Hey, any of you GMH fans also cummings fans? I wonder if there's a correlation.
posted by weston at 1:21 PM on June 24, 2003

The 400 comment marker is on the horizon. Just trying to do my part.
posted by ashbury at 2:29 PM on June 24, 2003

Found this on rec.humor.funny last night:

Cosmetics heir and fugitive rapist Andrew Luster, great-grandson of makeup legend Max Factor, was captured in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico yesterday by a bounty hunter. Luster had jumped a $1 million bail and fled the US during his trial for drugging and then raping three women. He was sentenced to 124 years in prison, a sentence he began serving today.

The rest of the Factor family was said to be in hiding, avoiding all contact with the press, deeply embarrassed by having such a bad heir day.

It's not a sore pussy joke, I know, but it's almost topical :)
posted by Space Coyote at 2:44 PM on June 24, 2003

If you can't eat you got to

smoke and we aint got
nothing to smoke:come on kid

let's go to sleep
if you can't smoke you got to

Sing and we aint got

nothing to sing;come on kid
let's go to sleep

if you can't sing you got to
die and we aint got

Nothing to die,come on kid

let's go to sleep
if you can't die you got to

dream and we aint got
nothing to dream(come on kid

Let's go to sleep)

- e. e. cummings
posted by madamjujujive at 2:54 PM on June 24, 2003

Oh, now, if we're going to do cummings, it's more appropriate to give this to the thread, wouldn't you agree?

the boys i mean are not refined
they go with girls who buck and bite
they do not give a fuck for luck
they hump them thirteen times a night
one hangs a hat upon her tit
one carves a cross on her behind
they do not give a shit for wit
the boys i mean are not refined

they come with girls who bite and buck
who cannot read and cannot write
who laugh like they would fall apart
and masturbate with dynamite

the boys i mean are not refined
they cannot chat of that and this
they do not give a fart for art
they kill like you would take a piss

they speak whatever's on their mind
they do whatever's in their pants
the boys i mean are not refined
they shake the mountains when they dance

--

But whatever, I just finished Harry Potter's latest adventure. *blinks* what'd I miss?
posted by WolfDaddy at 3:12 PM on June 24, 2003

r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r
   who
a)s w(e loo)k
upnowgath
 PPEGORHRASS
    eringint(o-
aThe):l
 eA
   !p:
S    a
 (r
rIvInG .gRrEaPsPhOs)
   to
rea(be)rran(com)gi(e)ngly
,grasshopper;
posted by languagehat at 3:28 PM on June 24, 2003

Not nearly enough conversations begin with "As I was rolling around in my own feces, it suddenly dawned on me...."

I think we should endeavour to change this sad fact of life.
posted by Dark Messiah at 3:32 PM on June 24, 2003

When I get to a party, To get it started
I grab tha microphone and rock it cold hearted
Go behind tha curtains while my fanz they point
You know what Loc's doin', I'm blazin a joint
Cause it seems a lot of times, I'm at my best
After some methical or a bowl of sense.
I'm creatin', multiplyin', big time supplyin'
Enuff bud to keep tha whole party high on
I might get ill and roll an 8th in one hooter
Park my Benz or cold jet it on my scooter
Bail to tha coast, take a head of this Skunk
Twist up a big bomb of this serious dope
Smoke it down to tha dub or roach tip
So much damn resin it's startin' to drip
It ain't harmful like heroin, this stuff's cheap
That's why I'm glad that I got this......

Man, Don't cha hate it when you ain't go no weed
It seems about tha time you really feel tha need
To get high, get full, you know get blasted
Keep ya singin' tha high it really lasted
Rollin' around tryin' not to get stopped
By tha boyz tha pigs you know tha cops
Pull into one spot to see what they're all about
Suckers noddin' their head, tellin' you they're all out
You go back to tha crib, Pick up tha telephone
You try it so I guess they saw you got home
Cause I can buy it O.Z. or go buy dime
I get cash for her I can get it on time
It really makes no difference long as I get lit
Roll it in my Zig Zag take a big bone hit
Cause after tha bud, My rhymes start flowin'
Never gettin' short of uh uh, The always knowin'
I'm maxin', relaxin', but never taxin'
No need for you to keep on askin'
If tha It is tha It, If tha Shit is tha Shit
Cause when it comes to smokin' cheeba
You know my shit is legit
Your tha student, And I'm tha teacher
I'm not a minister, Reverent or Preacher
So excuse me while I call time
Cause I'm gonna take a few hitz
in tha middle of this rhyme.....

One day I was coolin' with my homeboy seal, chill
Gettin' fucked up in his coupe de ville, still
I wasn't to high to know what I was doin'
Went to tha store and got some more brew in
Came back to tha car, Try'd to be a winner
Rolled up all my roaches, they bearly made a Pinna (Pin)
I wasn't upset I had more at tha house
I was savin' it for later, When I get with my spouse
Cause when we're together, blazin' tha cheeba
She does things to me that you wouldn't believe
I'm not talkin' freaky or nothin' obscene
But it's not far off if you know what I mean
She'll take me upstairs, lay me down on tha bed
Pull off tha Fila shorts n start givin' me hizead (head)
If I was boo I'd do tha same
She must love it, She ain't never complained
They'll be moanin', kickin' a lot of screamin'
I work it so hard she starts steamin'
You know how it is after a couple of wooers
She was subject and I am tha Ruler
She's my freak y'all, but she's no skeeza
One thing for sure, Tha girl's always got that.....

Two weeks ago when I was writin' this rhyme
I had some hydroponic, Boy that shit was fine
I had two joints, One for me and my homie
After half tha show, He didn't even know me
His eyes were tight, they turned red
He could bearly hold them up, They where heavy as lead
An hour went by, He said Loc I'm kinda hungry
I said oh shit! This brothers got tha munchies
Got off my couch, put my Gucci's on my feet
Went to tha Seven Eleven at tha top of tha street
I ordered everythin' edible off tha shelf
He thought it was sad, I ate it all myself
When we got back to tha car, Headed north then south
I needed a drink I had a cotton mouth
We had so much food didn't know where to start
At tha Hagan Daas or Kelloggs Pop Tarts
Big bags of chips, gallons of dips
It took me weeks to get tha taste of my lips
I ate so much miserable is how I felt
Almost busted out my pants had to loosen my belt
Kickin at the tube, wathin' none better than
You know tha king of late night, Yeah Dave Letterman
Not to hilarious jokes kinda plain
But everythin' is funny when your smokin' Mary Jane.....

-- Tone-Loc
posted by Witty at 3:35 PM on June 24, 2003

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair
Fuzzy Wuzzy wuzzn't fuzzy, wuzzy?
posted by iconomy at 4:08 PM on June 24, 2003

I'm angry like two old
balcony Muppets
I'm outta clean socks so I'm
wearing sock puppets
posted by cortex at 4:30 PM on June 24, 2003 [1 favorite]

A peanut sat on a railroad track
Its heart was all a-flutter.
Along came a train-the 9:15-
Toot toot!
Peanut butter.
posted by konolia at 4:45 PM on June 24, 2003

You know, Delmoi never even commented in this thread.
posted by Mid at 4:47 PM on June 24, 2003

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands
–LVII

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;
and for everything
which is natural which is infinite
which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;
this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings:
...
may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it's sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right
they are not young
and may my self do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there's never been
quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile

–i thank you god
posted by weston at 5:15 PM on June 24, 2003 [1 favorite]

I'm angry like two old
balcony Muppets
I'm outta clean socks so I'm
wearing sock puppets

Possibly the best poem I've ever seen.

Cortex, I demand attribution for this.
posted by padraigin at 6:39 PM on June 24, 2003

It's Minya! Stay out of his way
He'll stalk and kill if you call him gay,
After one monster thread,
so lightly we tread
t'ward 400 posts in less than a day.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:09 PM on June 24, 2003

I have a question.

Do you people actually hand count these posts-or are they numbered somehow, and I am just too dense to find the info?
posted by konolia at 8:14 PM on June 24, 2003

Never mind-I found it.

There is hope for me after all....
posted by konolia at 8:15 PM on June 24, 2003

Alright konolia, I have no choice but to interpret that as you trying to artificially inflate the comment numbers.

Don't game the system lest you gonna get gamed.
posted by dgaicun at 8:29 PM on June 24, 2003

Alright konolia, I have no choice but to interpret that as you trying to artificially inflate the comment numbers.

Not me, I'm not into metafilterian numerology. I seriously didn't know where they were getting the numbers.

Having said that, I am quite sure that those whose fondest wish is to see the odometer roll up to 400 will be along presently.
posted by konolia at 8:39 PM on June 24, 2003

KONOLIA IS SPAMMING THE THREAD!!!

;)
posted by Space Coyote at 8:51 PM on June 24, 2003

Ok gang, son_of_minya isn't Ben, he's not the guy I thought I might have recognized, but either way he felt attacked by my comment so I'm apologizing for having made it because he did feel attacked by it and that wasn't what I was after.
posted by NortonDC at 9:23 PM on June 24, 2003

I'm confused... if son_of_minya isn't Ben, then is quonsar Ben? Or delmoi? aacheson? Goddamit, just when I thought I understood this thread.

And before anyone else says it:

Ben, the two of us need look no more...
posted by jonson at 9:38 PM on June 24, 2003

madamjujujive and Wolfdaddy, it was fun to see those two Cummings poems one after the other - I set both of those to music on a tape of songs I did in the mid-eighties. Good times.

If I find a way to digitize the signal, I'll put 'em up on MeFiMusic. I think you'd get a kick out of 'em.

languagehat, I considered trying to do that one too, but it was beyond me.
posted by soyjoy at 9:59 PM on June 24, 2003

"One must be for ever drunken: that is the sole question of importance. If you would not feel the horrible burden of Time that bruises your shoulders and bends you to the earth, you must be drunken without cease. But how? With wine, with poetry, with virtue, with what you please. But be drunken. And if sometimes, on the steps of a palace, on the green grass by a moat, or in the dull loneliness of your chamber, you should waken up, your intoxication already lessened or gone, ask of the wind, of the wave, of the star, of the bird, of the timepiece; ask of all that flees, all that sighs, all that revolves, all that sings, all that speaks, ask of these the hour; and wind and wave and star and bird and timepiece will answer you: "It is the hour to be drunken! Lest you be the martyred slaves of Time, intoxicate yourselves, be drunken without cease! With wine, with poetry, with virtue, or with what you will."

-Charles Baudelaire
posted by squirrel at 11:31 PM on June 24, 2003

Take This Waltz

Now in Vienna there's ten pretty women
There's a shoulder where Death comes to cry
There's a lobby with nine hundred windows
There's a tree where the doves go to die
There's a piece that was torn from the morning
And it hangs in the Gallery of Frost
Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay
Take this waltz, take this waltz
Take this waltz with the clamp on its jaws
Oh I want you, I want you, I want you
On a chair with a dead magazine
In the cave at the tip of the lily
In some hallways where love's never been
On a bed where the moon has been sweating
In a cry filled with footsteps and sand
Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay
Take this waltz, take this waltz
Take its broken waist in your hand

This waltz, this waltz, this waltz, this waltz
With its very own breath of brandy and Death
Dragging its tail in the sea

There's a concert hall in Vienna
Where your mouth had a thousand reviews
There's a bar where the boys have stopped talking
They've been sentenced to death by the blues
Ah, but who is it climbs to your picture
With a garland of freshly cut tears?
Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay
Take this waltz, take this waltz
Take this waltz it's been dying for years

There's an attic where children are playing
Where I've got to lie down with you soon
In a dream of Hungarian lanterns
In the mist of some sweet afternoon
And I'll see what you've chained to your sorrow
All your sheep and your lilies of snow
Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay
Take this waltz, take this waltz
With its I'll never forget you, you know!

This waltz, this waltz, this waltz, this waltz ...

And I'll dance with you in Vienna
I'll be wearing a river's disguise
The hyacinth wild on my shoulder,
My mouth on the dew of your thighs
And I'll bury my soul in a scrapbook,
With the photographs there, and the moss
And I'll yield to the flood of your beauty
My cheap violin and my cross
And you'll carry me down on your dancing
To the pools that you lift on your wrist
Oh my love, Oh my love
Take this waltz, take this waltz
It's yours now. It's all that there is .

Leonard Cohen

We all have a job to do. Let's hit that 400. Now hop to it!
posted by dazed_one at 11:55 PM on June 24, 2003

Johnathin W. Astor was a master dancing man.
He danced the day that he was born, his parents thought it grand.
The tango and the samba he did with great alarum...
But most he liked to dance the waltz until the break of dawn.

I like the waltz,
It has its faults,
Lo there are some
Dances more fancy.
I like the waltz,
Simply because
It makes me feel
So da-a-ancy...

-Mason Williams
"The Last Great Waltz"
(first verse)
lyrics not available online, I'm kind of shocked I remember the whole first verse...
posted by wendell at 12:27 AM on June 25, 2003

And this thread would be closer to 400 if Matt hadn't deleted a comment I made that apparently had some accidental spoiler content...

BTW, WolfDaddy, who does get killed off in the new Harry Potter book...?

It does almost appear that this thread is still going to be growing when some people finish their "MetaTimeOuts"...
posted by wendell at 12:34 AM on June 25, 2003

No, seriously.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:40 AM on June 25, 2003

Or, as evanizer put it :

"I was brainwashed into posting to cult threads when I first joined here. Luckily I have been deprogrammed and now see them as the pointless, unfunny wastes of time they are. Of course they used to be more creative. Now they resemble the most banal of IRC."
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:47 AM on June 25, 2003

[/spoilsport]

...and yes I am aware of the irony. All part of the game, Mr. Bond.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:50 AM on June 25, 2003

but 3344.org is taken! NO WAY this can be a true cult thread.

Oh, and wendell, it was Irving Wafflebeak that bought it. Like we didn't see that one coming since book 2, eh?
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:51 AM on June 25, 2003

Mmmm... wafflebeak.
posted by squirrel at 1:56 AM on June 25, 2003

398
posted by Frasermoo at 2:50 AM on June 25, 2003

399
posted by Frasermoo at 2:51 AM on June 25, 2003

400

i win now go home.
posted by Frasermoo at 2:51 AM on June 25, 2003

Fair enough, but my boss isn't going to like it.
posted by walrus at 4:15 AM on June 25, 2003

500?
posted by mischief at 4:32 AM on June 25, 2003

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong

Under the shade of a coolibah tree

And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled

You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me


Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda You'll come a waltzing matilda with me And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me

Down came a jumbuck to dri-ink at that billabong

Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee

And he sang as he stuffed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag

You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me


Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred

Up rode the troopers, one, two, three

"Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?"

You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me


Up jumped the swagman and sprang into that billabong

"You'll never take me alive!", said he

And his ghost may be heard as you pa-ass by that billabong

You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me
posted by konolia at 4:41 AM on June 25, 2003

500?

Don't push your luck.

450, tops.

Perhaps another limerick is in order.

All these users are getting quite brash.
Posting poetry, after the clash.
One can see very plainly
A thread so ungainly
Is one best left out in the trash
posted by Space Coyote at 5:00 AM on June 25, 2003

Cortex, I demand attribution for this.

padraigin: that'd be an original. You may now cause me to become rich and famous.
posted by cortex at 5:25 AM on June 25, 2003

excellent job, cortex! (maybe we shd start a mefipoems page?)
posted by amberglow at 5:49 AM on June 25, 2003

It's about a boy and his pet prairie dog...and the special love that they shared.
posted by dangerman at 6:41 AM on June 25, 2003

this metafilter's a fine place!

- 'Tis.
posted by johnnyboy at 7:08 AM on June 25, 2003

Shoot the damn dog. PLEASE.
posted by rushmc at 8:09 AM on June 25, 2003

My dog has died.
I buried him in the garden
next to a rusted old machine.

Some day I'll join him right there,
but now he's gone with his shaggy coat,
his bad manners and his cold nose,
and I, the materialist, who never believed
in any promised heaven in the sky
for any human being,
I believe in a heaven I'll never enter.
Yes, I believe in a heaven for all dogdom
where my dog waits for my arrival
waving his fan-like tail in friendship.

Ai, I'll not speak of sadness here on earth,
of having lost a companion
who was never servile.
His friendship for me, like that of a porcupine
withholding its authority,
was the friendship of a star, aloof,
with no more intimacy than was called for,
with no exaggerations:
he never climbed all over my clothes
filling me full of his hair or his mange,
he never rubbed up against my knee
like other dogs obsessed with sex.

No, my dog used to gaze at me,
paying me the attention I need,
the attention required
to make a vain person like me understand
that, being a dog, he was wasting time,
but, with those eyes so much purer than mine,
he'd keep on gazing at me
with a look that reserved for me alone
all his sweet and shaggy life,
always near me, never troubling me,
and asking nothing.

Ai, how many times have I envied his tail
as we walked together on the shores of the sea
in the lonely winter of Isla Negra
where the wintering birds filled the sky
and my hairy dog was jumping about
full of the voltage of the sea's movement:
my wandering dog, sniffing away
with his golden tail held high,
face to face with the ocean's spray.

Joyful, joyful, joyful,
as only dogs know how to be happy
with only the autonomy
of their shameless spirit.

There are no good-byes for my dog who has died,
and we don't now and never did lie to each other.

So now he's gone and I buried him,
and that's all there is to it.

~Pablo Neruda
posted by madamjujujive at 8:35 AM on June 25, 2003

fuck
posted by Frasermoo at 8:53 AM on June 25, 2003

I would to heaven that I were so much clay,
As I am blood, bone, marrow, passion, feeling —
Because at least the past were passed away —
And for the future — (but I write this reeling,
Having got drunk exceedingly today,
So that I seem to stand upon the ceiling)
I say — the future is a serious matter —
And so — for God's sake — hock and soda water!

— George Gordon, Lord Byron (found scribbled in the ms. of Don Juan)
posted by Slithy_Tove at 9:26 AM on June 25, 2003

We'll never get back to 400.
posted by soyjoy at 10:17 AM on June 25, 2003

In a thread that refuse-ed to end,
I found myself reading again.
But when I went to go post
And that button I pushed,
I heard a cute dog die in pain.
posted by kaibutsu at 10:41 AM on June 25, 2003

I've developed carpal tunnel syndrome scrolling through this epic.

But, man, it sure was worth it.
posted by debralee at 11:04 AM on June 25, 2003

There's an old Australian stockman, lying, dying,
and he gets himself up on one elbow,
and he turns to his mates,
who are gathered 'round him and he says:

Watch me wallabys' feed, mate.
Watch me wallabys' feed.
They're a dangerous breed, mate.
So watch me wallabys' feed.
Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport,
tie me kangaroo down.
Tie me kangaroo down, sport,
tie me kangaroo down.

Keep me cockatoo cool, Curl,
keep me cockatoo cool.
Don't go acting the fool, Curl,
just keep me cockatoo cool.
Altogether now!

Take me koala back, Jack,
take me koala back.
He lives somewhere out on the track, Mac,
so take me koala back.
Altogether now!

Let me Abos go loose, Lou,
let me Abos go loose.
They're of no further use, Lou,
so let me Abos go loose.
Altogether now!

Mind me platypus duck, Bill,
mind me platypus duck.
Don't let him go running amok, Bill,
mind me platypus duck.
Altogether now!

Play your digeridoo, Blue,
play your digeridoo.
Keep playing 'til I shoot thru, Blue,
Play your digeridoo.
Altogether now!

Tan me hide when I'm dead, Fred,
tan me hide when I'm dead.
So we tanned his hide when he died, Clyde,
And that's it hanging on the shed.
Altogether now!

~Rolf Harris

I think that pretty much sums it all up.
posted by wendell at 11:17 AM on June 25, 2003

Self-love is love of oneself and of all things with regard to oneself; it makes men worshippers of themselves and would render them tyrants over others if fortune gave them the means; it never regards anything outside itself and never settles on anything else except as bees settle on flowers, to extract from them what is needed. Nothing is so impetuous as its desires, nothing so hidden as its designs, nothing so cunning as its methods; its versatility cannot be encompassed, its transformations exceed those of metamorphosis, its complexities those of chemistry. One can neither sound its depths nor penetrate the darkness of its abyss. It is composed of every contrary: it is imperious and obsequious, sincere and dissimulating, compassionate and cruel, timid and audacious; it has different inclinations according to temperament, in some being devoted to glory, in others to wealth, in yet others to pleasures; it changes according to our age, our fortune and our experiences; it matters not whether it has one desire at a time or several, because it can divide its attention or concentrate on one object when necessary, as it pleases. It is inconstant, and . . . subject to an infinitude of changes from within; . . . it is capricious, and one sometimes sees it striving with the utmost urgency and with incredible laboriousness to obtain things which are not at all advantageous, or are even harmful, but which it pursues simply because it wishes to. It is peculiar, and often devotes itself entirely to the most frivolous activities; it finds all its pleasure in doing the most vapid, and conserves its pride in doing the most despicable, things. Such is the portrait of amour-propre, whose whole life is one great long agitation: it may be likened unto the sea, the continual ebb and flow of whose waves is a faithful image of its turbulent succession of thoughts and restless movements.

Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales
François, duc de La Rochefoucauld

No, that sums it up...

short form: what the unexcluded stavros said
posted by y2karl at 11:23 AM on June 25, 2003

my sorry point being Enough!
posted by y2karl at 11:27 AM on June 25, 2003

Where's Miguel?
posted by konolia at 11:52 AM on June 25, 2003

Oh, yeah, 420.
posted by WolfDaddy at 12:19 PM on June 25, 2003

this thread needs the two main protagonists readmitted.
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:47 PM on June 25, 2003

This thread is kind of like the upcoming season of "The Practice" without Dylan McDemott and Lara Flynn Boyle.
(Don't try to imagine which one is quonsar)
posted by wendell at 7:22 PM on June 25, 2003

BTW, when is the RIAA going to come down on our asses for copying song lyrics? (You know mathowie is going to give us up if he gets subpoenaed)
posted by wendell at 7:25 PM on June 25, 2003

A burden indeed
are the five aggregates,
and the carrier of the burden
is the person.
Taking up the burden in the world
is stressful.
Casting off the burden
is bliss.
Having cast off the heavy burden
and not taking on another,
pulling up craving,
along with its root,
one is free from hunger,
totally unbound.
posted by kaibutsu at 3:18 AM on June 26, 2003

Good night, John Boy.
posted by konolia at 6:20 AM on June 26, 2003

For a brief, shining four-and-a-half-hour moment there, it looked like we all were really going to do the right thing and let this thread sit at 420. That would have been really cool. Now it's just an embarrassment to the world at large.

Additionally: We'll never make 500.
posted by soyjoy at 9:45 AM on June 26, 2003

Ya gotta believe!
posted by languagehat at 1:27 PM on June 26, 2003

We'll never make 429.
posted by Space Coyote at 2:30 PM on June 26, 2003

Let the sun set on this thread.
posted by bargle at 3:23 PM on June 26, 2003

One more new thread in metatalk, and this appalling pus bucket of self-indulgence will fall into the abyss. Come on, Miguel, surely you can dredge up some new load of crap to save us.
posted by crunchland at 4:29 PM on June 26, 2003

crunchland: ...in...this...bucket of...Come...Miguel...can...crap...

You saw it here first, folks.
posted by cortex at 5:07 PM on June 26, 2003

If this were my site, I would delete son_of_minya's account and be done with it. Threats of physical violence (like those that s_o_m levied against quonsar) simply have no place here.

Oh, and I'd probably suspend posting abilities for quite a few of the rest of you, too. What a waste!
posted by UrbanFigaro at 12:38 AM on June 27, 2003

Sorry, UrbanFigaro -- the statute of limitations for on-topic-ish social commentary is 96 hours. You must now quote from a cult film.
posted by cortex at 5:29 AM on June 27, 2003

flash , i love you , but we only have 4 minutes to save the earth !
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:49 AM on June 27, 2003

All right, sonny. That's enough. Just pack that in.
posted by soyjoy at 7:27 AM on June 27, 2003

right, thats it , im posting 1 comment every day till this hits 500 .
posted by sgt.serenity at 8:08 PM on June 27, 2003

Anybody know how to get to Shell Beach?
posted by weston at 12:32 AM on June 28, 2003

I couldn't read this thread through to the end, but I would like to thank all prior castmembers in this little sketch entitled "Parody of a Perfect Messageboard Blow Up" for a wryly humorous hour or so of reading.

Splendid performance, all. The only things missing, unless they found their way into the story somewhere past the point where I stopped reading, are a couple of moniker suicides and someone to make the snide observation that the whole spectacle was (is) a fabulous parody.
posted by syzygy at 8:53 AM on June 28, 2003

we dont do snide observations on metafilter.
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:36 AM on June 28, 2003

i take exception to that statement, and all previous statements in this thread. i challenge everyone who has posted in this thread to an out-an-out heated discussion! right now, damn it!
i particularly take exception to those sentiments expressed via the medium of verse!! now fight!
posted by mokey at 12:47 PM on June 28, 2003

take your head out of the sand , buddy .
I cant wait to see how you people will react to george bush being re-elected once they find those wmds.
I would have commented earlier but i was getting used to driving my suv back from the pro- life demonstration, of course godless sinners like you guys are far too busy playing with your far inferior apple macs to spend time on a thread like this , a thread that acknowledges the zionist right to own the biblically ordained land of israel in its totality a thread that realises the futility of affirmative action , political correctness and any other feminist bullcrap you care to mention, i am a bannana.
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:24 PM on June 28, 2003

sgt. serenity your banana comment is totally out of line!!! it's people like you who give bananas and the banana-loving people of this world a bad name! if you would just grow up and accept bananas as a normal part of everyday life and stop your hate-mongering on the subject of bananas i think we'd all be a lot happier.
posted by mokey at 5:14 AM on June 29, 2003

I am gross and perverted. I'm obsessed and deranged.
I have existed for years, but very little has changed.
I'm the tool of the Government, and Industry too,
for I am destined to rule and regulate you.
I may be vile and pernicious, but you can't look away.
I make you think I'm delicious with the stuff that I say.
I'm the best you can get. Have you guessed me, yet?
I'm the quons oozing out from your MeFi set.
posted by quonsar at 10:26 AM on June 29, 2003 [1 favorite]

Yay! quonsar's back!
posted by UrbanFigaro at 11:28 AM on June 29, 2003

And this time - it's personal kinda Gothic!
posted by dash_slot- at 11:46 AM on June 29, 2003

He's got a car bomb. He puts the key in the ignition and
turns it-- the car blows up. He gets out. He opens the
hood and makes a cursory inspection. He closes the
hood and gets back in. He turns the key in the ignition.
The car blows up. He gets out and slams the door shut
disgustedly. He kicks the tire. He takes off his jacket
and shimmies under the chassis. He pokes around. He
slides back out and wipes the grease off on his shirt. He
puts his jacket back on. He gets in. He turns the key in
the ignition. The car blows up, sending debris into the
air and shattering windows for blocks. He gets out and
says, Damn it! He calls a tow truck. He gives them his
AAA membership number. They tow the car to an Exxon
station. The mechanic gets in and turns the key in the
ignition. The car explodes, demolishing the gas pumps,
the red-and-blue Exxon logo high atop its pole bursting
like a balloon on a string. The mechanic steps out. You
got a car bomb, he says. The man rolls his eyes. I know
that, he says.

-Mark Leyner
from My Cousin, my Gastroenterologist
posted by elwoodwiles at 12:28 PM on June 29, 2003

Yay!

That's for quonsar the magnificent, not the car bomb.
posted by languagehat at 12:50 PM on June 29, 2003

why , what you got against car bombs , huh ?
welcome back konse !
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:44 PM on June 29, 2003

This is the point in this Very Special Episode of MetaTalk, when the scene fades out to canned applause, then one of the central characters (quonsar, in this case) steps out of character and talks directly to the camera with a spiel for some related hotline service or semi-worthy charity with an 800 number transposed over the bottom of the screen. In this case, I think it would be the "Committee to Save the Movie 'Anger Management' from Being Totally Forgotten" or something. Then a beer commercial.
posted by wendell at 3:54 PM on June 29, 2003

Yay, everyone! Calculon's back!

Still never make 500 though.
posted by WolfDaddy at 4:26 PM on June 29, 2003

when you walk ....through the storm....
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:19 PM on June 29, 2003

How long till Godzilla's grandchild finds a way back? Are we ready for that?
posted by dash_slot- at 5:28 PM on June 29, 2003

hold your head........up high......
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:35 AM on June 30, 2003

Free the Metafilter 500! Just thought I'd add my name to this historic thread.
posted by Joeforking at 5:22 AM on June 30, 2003

Welcome Back
Your dreams were your ticket out
Welcome Back
To the same old place that we laughed about.
Uh...

I don't remember the rest, thank god.

dash: shhhhhhhhh.
posted by soyjoy at 8:21 AM on June 30, 2003

      A     A
       ____
      .. † ..

>>Sore Pussy<<
posted by dgaicun at 8:33 AM on June 30, 2003

                  ,
                 / \,,_  .'|
              ,{{| /}}}}/_.'
             }}}}` '{{'  '.
           {{{{{    _   ;, \
        ,}}}}}}    /o`\  ` ;)
       {{{{{{   /           (
       }}}}}}   |            \
      {{{{{{{{   \            \
      }}}}}}}}}   '.__      _  |
      {{{{{{{{       /`._  (_\ /
       }}}}}}'      |    //___/
       `{{{{`       |     '--'
        }}}`
 

      .".".".
    (`       `)               _.-=-.
     '._.--.-;             .-`  -'  '.
    .-'`.o )  \           /  .-_.--'  `\
   `;---) \    ;         /  / ;' _-_.-' `
     `;"`  ;    \        ; .  .'   _-' \
      (    )    |        |  / .-.-'    -`
       '-.-'     \       | .' ` '.-'-\`
        /_./\_.|\_\      ;  ' .'-'.-.
        /         '-._    \` /  _;-,
       |         .-=-.;-._ \  -'-,
       \        /      `";`-`,-"`)
        \       \     '-- `\.\
         '.      '._ '-- '--'/
           `-._     `'----'`;
               `"""--.____,/
                      \\  \
                      // /`
                  ___// /__
                (`(`(---"-`)

posted by dgaicun at 9:06 AM on June 30, 2003

aacheson: Shouldn't this thread be deleted?

One could make a compelling argument.
posted by trharlan at 12:02 PM on June 30, 2003

Apropos of nothing, I think the phrase "WTF? No, really: WTF?" has real potential to become a new MeFi catchphrase.
posted by turaho at 12:51 PM on June 30, 2003

I dunno, I think "Jesus H. What. The. Fuck." may beat that one.
posted by soyjoy at 1:08 PM on June 30, 2003

       A  ,, A.
      ' _,__  `-.
     (.. † ..  )     ".
         "".     '      '.
        { :       }      ".
        '    Y        ;      '.
         |   :        '         ;
       {...}{...} ... }}  /
      ========    | ''. ===
                              \ \
                                | |
                               /  /
                              (,,


Ok, this sour puss is better. And just in case anybody ASCIIs, this one is un-plagiarized, unlike the pony-rooster.
posted by dgaicun at 2:02 PM on June 30, 2003

dgaicun: there's nothing sacred about your pussy, you know.
posted by soyjoy at 2:24 PM on June 30, 2003

   \      |      /
\                    /
  {*******}
    `*****`
       A  ,, A.
      ' _,__  `-.
     (.. † ..  )     ".
         "".     '      '.
        { :       }      ".
        '    Y        ;      '.
         |   :        '         ;
       {...}{...} ... }}  /
      ========    | ''. ===
                              \ \
                                | |
                               /  /
                              (,,




How about now?
posted by dgaicun at 2:43 PM on June 30, 2003

and dont , be afraaaaid of the daaaarrrkk ...............
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:41 PM on June 30, 2003

    < )
    ( \
    X
8====D
posted by quonsar at 4:08 PM on June 30, 2003

""""""
o o
^
~
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:27 PM on June 30, 2003

       _ ' ' _

   /               \
  |                  |
  |
MM     ( o )  (o )
 C                 _ )
   |       /          \
   |              ___
   |          \      /


Mmmmm.....MeFi
posted by dgaicun at 12:53 AM on July 2, 2003

That's good. I like the way "MM" is woven into the actual graphic.
posted by soyjoy at 7:41 AM on July 2, 2003

Mmmmm... ASCII Art...
I don't want to start any blasphemous rumors, but check out the address on that gif
posted by wendell at 2:09 PM on July 2, 2003

What the hell is MetaLifter?
posted by dgaicun at 4:30 PM on July 2, 2003

atttt theee eennnnnndddd offf the threeaaaaadddd......
posted by sgt.serenity at 6:25 PM on July 2, 2003

I claim this thread and all its riches for myself and my descendents in perpetuity.

Sarge, yer getting a little off key.
posted by languagehat at 5:08 PM on July 3, 2003

*gargles*
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:21 PM on July 3, 2003

*spits*
posted by quonsar at 1:09 PM on July 4, 2003

*swallows*

_{. . . an African swallow maybe, but not a European swallow.}
posted by dgaicun at 2:19 PM on July 4, 2003

*barfs*
gotta keep these brief, this page is over 400k already and I'm browsing on a United CheapoNet dial-up...
posted by wendell at 4:13 PM on July 4, 2003

*plays violin*
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:38 PM on July 4, 2003

*plays tennis*
posted by wendell at 7:08 PM on July 4, 2003

(it's a love match)
posted by wendell at 7:10 PM on July 4, 2003

*pops a Qualude*

_{Alright, to be honest, I haven't the foggiest idea what a Qualude is.}
posted by dgaicun at 12:41 AM on July 5, 2003

Alright, everybody, good work. Same time next week?
posted by weston at 3:09 AM on July 5, 2003

Stunning.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:54 AM on July 5, 2003

Qualude, wasn't he the lead singer for the Tubes?

*pops a bag of microwave popcorn*

mmmmm, buttery...

Stunning? No, punning.
posted by wendell at 11:50 AM on July 5, 2003

konse , sure is good to see you back
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:09 PM on July 5, 2003

I'm helping this thread get to 500, and THAT'S IT.

Honest.

No more after that.

Really.

REALLY!

yeah.
posted by wendell at 12:43 AM on July 6, 2003

are we anywhere near 500 ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:12 AM on July 7, 2003

500th post! Whoo-hoo!

What? ... huh? Oh. Never mind.
posted by soyjoy at 10:30 AM on July 7, 2003

501?

ah, the glory that could have been mine.
posted by widdershins at 12:55 PM on July 7, 2003

psssst... widdershins.... it still could be...
posted by soyjoy at 1:05 PM on July 7, 2003

hey what are you guys doing still hanging out in here and spray painting the walls? I'm telling.
posted by madamjujujive at 7:31 PM on July 7, 2003

shhh !
posted by sgt.serenity at 6:50 AM on July 8, 2003

I've got a secret for everybody. If you go to Google and type in....um, like 'Saddam Hussein' backwards or something, something funny happens. I forget what. Trust me, it kicks ass.
posted by dgaicun at 8:28 AM on July 8, 2003

Whoo-hoo! 500th po -

whoops. Sorry again.

Man, I gotta see a doctor about this...
posted by soyjoy at 8:49 AM on July 8, 2003

Whoo-hoo! 494th post!
posted by wendell at 1:54 PM on July 8, 2003

And 495th.
posted by dash_slot- at 2:01 PM on July 8, 2003

496th.
posted by dash_slot- at 2:02 PM on July 8, 2003

497th.
posted by dash_slot- at 2:02 PM on July 8, 2003

498th.
posted by dash_slot- at 2:03 PM on July 8, 2003

499th.

Our long national nightmare of bandwidth hogging and lameness is nearly over.
posted by dash_slot- at 2:03 PM on July 8, 2003

500.
posted by soyjoy at 2:20 PM on July 8, 2003

Oh, sweet release!

Ooops. Sorry.
posted by soyjoy at 2:21 PM on July 8, 2003

Stick a fork in it, matt.

It's done.
posted by dash_slot- at 2:32 PM on July 8, 2003

theres a golldennn light.....
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:56 AM on July 9, 2003

*picks self up from pile of midgets, 300-pound transvestites and toothless hookers, adjusts sports jacket, takes microphone and says...*

And now, my final thoughts: I think we have learned here the value of putting our differences aside and working together to...

*struck in head by folding chair*
posted by wendell at 5:52 AM on July 9, 2003

woogah !
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:55 PM on July 10, 2003

God Dammit Sarge! Can't you just the blog die already?

_{or, at the very least, post some amusing ascii art}
posted by dgaicun at 1:12 PM on July 11, 2003

double woogah !
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:44 PM on July 11, 2003

thank you for your kind wiglompus.
take two of these and call me a
mink badger baking hoop.

posted by quonsar at 11:58 PM on July 11, 2003

is anyone here ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 1:17 PM on July 12, 2003

nobody but us mink badger baking hoops.
posted by quonsar at 3:20 PM on July 12, 2003

I'm hiding out here until the "most embarrassing moment on MeFi" thread dies out. I gave it some thought and decided I might as well just link my "All Posts by Wendell" page.

Okay, quonsar, you're a mink badger baking hoop. Do you have a random word generating program? If not, how do you achieve such incredible non-sequiturity? Now don't turn this into an argument or we'll both get a forced MetaTimeout.

(yep, this one goes on the embarrassing moment list too... Geez, I'm depressing myself.)
posted by wendell at 3:54 PM on July 12, 2003

i do not 'achieve' incredible non-sequiturity.

i AM incredible non-sequiturity.
posted by quonsar at 10:44 PM on July 12, 2003

ah , hello chaps !
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:32 PM on July 13, 2003

 ..  -                      -   ,,
  "|     \ \ - ''`'"- / /     |"
    ` \/.,      -      ,.\/ '
               ( o )
        |       .-- .      |
         \    /_ , _ \  /
              LlLlLlLl
              ''\_-_/''
posted by dgaicun at 4:22 AM on July 14, 2003

they were so ....quiet about it...

then the next thing ya know ......................
posted by sgt.serenity at 11:47 AM on July 14, 2003

All your mink badger baking hoops are belong to me and my descendents!

We'll never reach 600....
posted by languagehat at 8:22 AM on July 15, 2003

it was a dark , stormy night ...................
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:13 PM on July 15, 2003

Just doing my part.

on preview: I can't believe someone else posted to this recently enough to catch it on preview.
posted by widdershins at 2:15 PM on July 15, 2003

We'll never reach 600....

81 non-ban worthy comments in 4 days. Fuh-gehd-a-bowd-itt.

Ready to up your contribution index again Sarge?

. . .You gotta take one for the team.
posted by dgaicun at 11:04 PM on July 15, 2003

Oh yeah, and suck it, Space Coyote.
posted by dgaicun at 11:10 PM on July 15, 2003

i fear the wrath of matt..............
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:36 AM on July 16, 2003

I was bitten by a black widow spider on July 4th.

Like you lot care.
posted by WolfDaddy at 11:04 AM on July 16, 2003

of course we care....

is the spider ok ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:03 AM on July 17, 2003

hmmm , does this thread close on the 20th ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:18 AM on July 18, 2003

Yup. That's why it's so hard to get a good cult thread going these days. But keep singing, sarge! You'll never walk post alone!
posted by languagehat at 7:46 AM on July 18, 2003

nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo
nom yo ho ringay kyo

posted by quonsar at 9:11 AM on July 18, 2003

Since it was (with obvious justice) deleted from the FP.
posted by dgaicun at 9:20 AM on July 18, 2003

group hug !
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:58 PM on July 18, 2003

jamming a pair of scissors repeatedly into your crotch
posted by quonsar at 8:24 PM on July 18, 2003

group scissor-jam!
posted by languagehat at 11:47 AM on July 19, 2003

You just can't find a decent pair of scissors when you need one.
posted by wendell at 5:05 PM on July 19, 2003

mmmmmm.... feels good lorena ................
posted by sgt.serenity at 6:17 PM on July 19, 2003

I think sgt.serenity has just been promoted to cap'n crotch...

When you think about it, a Bobbit/crotch reference kinda brings this thread around full circle, in an offensive, disgusting, kinda creepy way. ("On the other hand, this guy just might wake up with a sore...") Just don't tell aacheson.
posted by wendell at 9:26 PM on July 19, 2003

Arghh! The 20th approachetheth...eth. Now where are those scissors?
posted by dgaicun at 10:07 PM on July 19, 2003

Would I get kicked off if I tried to make a perfectly reasonable post about how I wanted to cut off my hand?

I'm just asking.
posted by interrobang at 10:56 PM on July 19, 2003

Does this thread close at the strike of midnight like in some crazy fairy-tale, or do we have to wait all the way until 11:03 A.M. for this horrible mess to end?
posted by dgaicun at 12:17 AM on July 20, 2003

Shit. What clock was I looking at?
posted by dgaicun at 12:18 AM on July 20, 2003

my pussy hurts ,

especially when she sits on my lap and digs her nails in.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:00 AM on July 20, 2003

have you ever been raped?

what an offensive way to make my point.

I'm sorry.
posted by languagehat at 7:21 AM on July 20, 2003

Is it just me or is the most offensive part of Delmoi's post really the extraordinary density of his spelling errors?:
posted by dgaicun at 9:36 AM on July 20, 2003