NYT quotes AskMe - I think

February 5, 2004 6:02 AM

Hey, doesn't the following quote from this article in today's NYT (reg. req., etc.) come from MeFi? Or AskMe? Searching isn't doing it for me.

"I like a lot of the names I see on spam e-mails because they're completely abstract, with little conception of culture or traditional sounds," said a posting by someone using the name Oissubke, a self-described fiction writer. "They jump out. They're memorable. They may not work for Grisham or Shakespeare, but they're ideal for my own writing style."
posted by Prospero to MetaFilter-Related at 6:02 AM (59 comments total)

Here
posted by blue mustard at 6:26 AM on February 5, 2004

the whole jist of the article's came from ozzy's question , come out , come out , wherever you are .............
posted by sgt.serenity at 6:31 AM on February 5, 2004

So, then, wouldn't proper journalistic etiquette at least mention the site where the author of the article found the quote, even it the person quoted is using a pseudonym?
posted by Prospero at 6:50 AM on February 5, 2004

Well what do you expect from the Soviet Times? News? We should be thankful she didn't just make the whole thing up. Oh, that's right, she did, in a typical, inventively appropriative way. Etiquette shmettiquette from the jackbooted newsless magicians.

The original thread was interesting though.
posted by hama7 at 7:11 AM on February 5, 2004

Random Name Generator is a good too.
posted by hama7 at 7:19 AM on February 5, 2004

it seems only fair to link to the registration and advert free version.
posted by andrew cooke at 7:40 AM on February 5, 2004

I notice she misspelled oissubke's username, too (she's just lucky she didn't do it to quonsar). And "self-described fiction writer" is a nice snarky touch. Lisa (or should I say "lisa"), you self-described reporter, you!
posted by languagehat at 8:04 AM on February 5, 2004

Well what do you expect from the Soviet Times? News?

Soviet Times? - thanks hama7 - I spit a little coffee on that one. But just because I feel the need to come to the defense of my flawed yet ultimately lovable Pravda, errr, NYT, the "Circuits" section is certainly not the place to find "news" - think of it as a sometimes entertaining, often banal lifestyles section for technical neophytes. Though David Pogue is an excellent columnist.
posted by jalexei at 8:22 AM on February 5, 2004

hama7, grow up already. I generally suffer your silly insults in silence, but this is the proverbial straw.

Have you ever actually lived under a totalitarian society? Do you have any idea of the expanse of the freedom the liberalism you so hate affords you? I would love - love - for you to live in the society you dream about and advocate. A loudmouth like you wouldn't last a minute.

And before you go off on one of your "latte-sipping, tree-hugging" tears, remember who you're talking to. Apropos of another recent thread, it says "honorable" on my DD214. What the hell do you have to show by way of proof of commitment, for all your egregious sounding off? Fuck on off now, please.
posted by adamgreenfield at 8:33 AM on February 5, 2004

Apropos of another recent thread, it says "honorable" on my DD214. What the hell do you have to show by way of proof of commitment, for all your egregious sounding off?

There are several members here from the 1st Armored Barcaloungers to whom that statement could be made, and of whom that question could be asked, as well... So feel free to repeat them often, adamgreenfield
posted by y2karl at 8:47 AM on February 5, 2004

what on earth is a DD214?
posted by andrew cooke at 9:00 AM on February 5, 2004

A DD214 is the form one is given upon discharge from military service.
posted by scottymac at 9:21 AM on February 5, 2004

Lisa (or should I say "lisa")

lisa looked quite fetching in her self-proclaimed writers smock, perched upon the prow of her pseudo-journalist gondola.
posted by quonsar at 9:53 AM on February 5, 2004

*hugs latte, sips tree*
posted by jonmc at 10:05 AM on February 5, 2004

But let's get back on topic (Wendell's saying that? I MUST be off my meds...):

I have my own anti-New York Times bias (not political, just part of a general disdain for New York City and a good relationship with the Los Angeles Times), and I want to know if we an get a couple NYT editors fired over this...?
posted by wendell at 10:13 AM on February 5, 2004

part of a general disdain for New York City and a good relationship with the Los Angeles Times

you poor thing you (grin)
posted by jalexei at 10:16 AM on February 5, 2004

Please, don't start with these east coast vs west coast things, because us west coasters will kick your trash.
posted by namespan at 10:33 AM on February 5, 2004

ah. thanks. so does honourable mean you're a hero or just didn't screw up?

and do you have compulsory service there? or is the idea that hama7 should shut up because adamgreenfield is the kind of person who thinks killing people is fun? (ok, i debated not hitting the post button but anyone who quotes from zarathustra, well, who can resist poking an uberego?)
posted by andrew cooke at 10:34 AM on February 5, 2004

We totally need a MeFi mod for Quake.
posted by y6y6y6 at 10:54 AM on February 5, 2004

Please, don't start with these east coast vs west coast things, because us west coasters will kick your trash.

Ah, the people in New York's westernmost suburb- I mean Los Angeles- are reprezentin'.

Ain't that cute.
posted by jonmc at 11:03 AM on February 5, 2004

Ya'll know the South is just waiting for you to take each other out so we can rise again, right?
posted by Cyrano at 11:06 AM on February 5, 2004

And then when the South implodes, Canada walks in and makes things all better by running the show.
posted by ashbury at 11:30 AM on February 5, 2004

per the DD214....

you can't spell dishonorable without honorable.

</homerism>
posted by taumeson at 11:50 AM on February 5, 2004

"We totally need a MeFi mod for Quake."

I'll be the one in the pony skin weilding the pancake gun. Camping.
posted by dazed_one at 11:57 AM on February 5, 2004

Alaska can come too.
posted by WolfDaddy at 12:16 PM on February 5, 2004

because us west coasters will kick your trash.

You'll take out our trash? Cool, thanks! I'll drop off my laundry tomorrow.
posted by jalexei at 12:18 PM on February 5, 2004

omigod, what have I started here?

Nothing against the rest of the world, but personally, I have been
Rollin' down Imperial Highway
With a big nasty redhead at my side
and, totally unsarcastically, I love it!

Correct me if I'm wrong (I usually am), but wasn't the L.A. MeetUp the first to get attendence in the double digits? (We reserved TWO tables)

I'll drop off my laundry tomorrow.
I'll put it in the same machine with Kramer's.
(the possibilities for Seinfeld references are infinite!!!)

::flees site to hide in Orkut::
posted by wendell at 12:41 PM on February 5, 2004

Correct me if I'm wrong (I usually am), but wasn't the L.A. MeetUp the first to get attendence in the double digits? (We reserved TWO tables)

Yes and it was all male, IIRC. It took us MeFiNY studs to bring out the babes.
posted by jonmc at 12:55 PM on February 5, 2004

Yeah, well, you're all still Americans.
posted by The God Complex at 1:02 PM on February 5, 2004

WRONG MEETUP, MCHAMMERHEAD.

the people in New York's westernmost suburb-
New Yorkers can't draw maps.

Ya'll know the South is just waiting for you to take each other out so we can rise again, right?
The South will need Viagra, Levitra AND Cialis...

And then when the South implodes, Canada walks in and makes things all better
I hope the Candians bring candy...
see Pizza Party thread for obscure reference

Alaska can come too
Ah'll-ask-'er...

*hugs latte, sips tree*
last seen at emergency room with scalded chest and splinters in lips...

And you can't spell New York without EW...

::Holsters his 100MM Tread Killer Gun and rides into the sunset on dazed_one_pony::
posted by wendell at 1:02 PM on February 5, 2004

andrew_cooke, there are a great many other reasons to serve other than "thinking killing people is fun." I happen to think that, if trigger-happy reactionaries are the only ones who volunteer, than society will have a military composed solely of trigger-happy reactionaries.

Rather tautological, isn't it? I think - since we'll never be without a military - people who want to see a different sort of military in a civil society should be willing to put their bodies on the line.

Thanks for the snarkload, though. We now return you to your regularly-scheduled thread.
posted by adamgreenfield at 1:06 PM on February 5, 2004

Pal, every NYC meetup has attendance in the double digits. And lots of pictures. Take that to your freeway overpass and smoke it.

On preview: jon, if you will examine the one (1) picture from the fabled LA meetup, you will see that half the attendance was female. And a lovely lot they are too. (*waves at Space Kitty*)

That notwithstanding, LA is a nice place to change planes in.
posted by languagehat at 1:09 PM on February 5, 2004

That notwithstanding, LA is a nice place to change planes in.

You've actually seen their airport, right? It's anything but!
posted by The God Complex at 1:10 PM on February 5, 2004

"...every NYC meetup has attendance in the double digits. And lots of pictures"

Even MeFiBoston I cracked the double-digit mark, and you know how snotty THOSE people are.

:)
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:18 PM on February 5, 2004

note to self: 100MM Thread Killer Gun not effective on Veterans

Sorry, all my MeTa searches found lots of pictures, but couldn't assemble more than 8 total names/handles attached to any set of pics. Will retract (and pay penance in the form of an Orkut Testimonial) if provided with link to gallery...

LA is a nice place to change planes in.
Even I don't think our airport is one of L.A.'s best features...
posted by wendell at 1:19 PM on February 5, 2004

Aw, quit bragging about yer meetups. Everytime I log on here it's as close to a Carolina meetup as I'm going to get.
posted by konolia at 1:20 PM on February 5, 2004

Gallery: 1, 2. (I think there was at least one other, but this should be good enough for a Testimonial.)

Even I don't think our airport is one of L.A.'s best features

What can I say? I have fond memories from childhood of that wacky futuristic building in the middle. And the palm trees always give me a pleasant frisson.
posted by languagehat at 1:28 PM on February 5, 2004

...and you know how snotty THOSE [Boston] people are.

Oh I'll attest to that - we're really rather proud of being snotty. It may be a provincial, racist, self-loathing, small-town-pretending-to-matter type of place, but it's our provincial, racist, self-loathing, small-town-pretending-to-matter type of place, and we love it like you do an annoying little brother.

And LA has...ummm, ...better Mexican.
posted by jalexei at 1:31 PM on February 5, 2004

LA has Santa Barbara.

Neener neener neener.
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:34 PM on February 5, 2004

great tv show.
posted by sgt.serenity at 1:53 PM on February 5, 2004

Okay, hatman, the Testimonial is in the e-mail.

And Wolf, I thought Santa Barbara had publicly denied any connection to L.A.
Of course, I give "Southern California" everything from San Luis Obispo downcoast...

And the best thing about L.A. is... its total inconsistency.
Some places brag "if you don't like the weather, wait a half-hour; it'll be different".
For L.A., if you don't like the (San Fernando) Valley, try the West Side, the East Side, the South Bay, Pasadena, Hollywood or (if you're desperate) Orange County. In fact, suburbs of L.A. have more spirited rivalries than other cities have with L.A. It is "100 Suburbs in Search of a City", at least half of which are quite livable, thank you. And the weather's damn good.

Now, what was this thread about?
posted by wendell at 1:54 PM on February 5, 2004

Now, what was this thread about?

Yellow air, I think.
posted by The God Complex at 2:02 PM on February 5, 2004

And Wolf, I thought Santa Barbara had publicly denied any connection to L.A.

Yes. Publicly.

But, dude, Oprah lives here. We're just frontin'
posted by WolfDaddy at 2:16 PM on February 5, 2004

We totally need a MeFi mod for Quake.

Well, Q3, maybe. Anyway, I withdraw my contention that y6 is full of shit.

Weblog as warfare. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:05 PM on February 5, 2004

On, topic, and I think it's an interesting one, we have yet to hear from oissubke about whether he was contacted about this. I'd be interested to find out.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:06 PM on February 5, 2004

*gauntlets the wonderchicken*

HUMILIATION !!!!
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:07 PM on February 5, 2004

On preview: jon, if you will examine the one (1) picture from the fabled LA meetup, you will see that half the attendance was female. And a lovely lot they are too. (*waves at Space Kitty*)

Maybe, but the first MeFiLA meetup was all male, y6 and eyeballkid can verify this. So we definetly win in the babestakes. And you know east coast girls are hip, I really dig those styles they wear...
posted by jonmc at 5:53 PM on February 5, 2004

And the Southern girls with the way they talk, they knock me out when I'm down there.

By the way, I forgot to link to the picture.
posted by languagehat at 6:20 PM on February 5, 2004

YOU wish they all could be California Girls...

BTW, My link to the picture is better (you can tell I have a nose in this one)

And formal correction for jonmc: change any reference I made to "the" L.A. MeetUp to "my" L.A. Meetup...
posted by wendell at 6:44 PM on February 5, 2004

Do I have to explain everything?!?
posted by wendell at 6:45 PM on February 5, 2004

LA is a nice place to change planes in.

Beats the crap outof JFK. LAX actually has a coherent traffic scheme.

Offset by the horrors of the 405, yes, but, you know. Also, LA never gets 5 feet of snow, but if we want it, we can drive to actual mountains. The beaches aren't to frigid for actual swiming.
posted by namespan at 7:49 PM on February 5, 2004

(*waves at Space Kitty*)

Uh, no offense, but why is you-all making such a fuss about that one girl, like a bunch of dork-tied teeners who'd never gotten it on? It's embarrassing to me!

I mean, she's pleasant looking, but I sure hope she's a great conversationalist or a top neurosurgeon for all that you're carrying on about her.
posted by adamgreenfield at 8:01 PM on February 5, 2004

LA is a nice place to change planes in.

Yesssss..... continue your petty coastal squabbles, while we who train in the high altitudes bide our time to descend and conquer you all.

/pets long haired cat, adjusts monocle
posted by weston at 8:04 PM on February 5, 2004

adamgreenfield: It's a continuation of a jokey exchange from MonkeyFilter. Sorry it ruined your day. I'll try to keep all comments serious and on topic from here on out.
Jesus.
posted by languagehat at 8:29 AM on February 6, 2004

adam:

(1) At MY MeetUp, Space Kitty was quite delightful. Reminded me of Elaine in the early Sienfeld episodes with less neuroses and better hair.

(2) Making MonkeyFilter member Space Kitty a 'running joke' at MeFi is actually a secret viral marketing camaign to get Matt to let Monkeys into MetaFilter... (DON'T TELL MATT!!!)

on preview: languagehat, if you start keeping all your comments serious and on topic, I'm withdrawing my Orkut Testimonial.
posted by wendell at 8:39 AM on February 6, 2004

Would that make him a monorkut?

HAW!
posted by adamgreenfield at 10:34 AM on February 6, 2004

I've already coined the term "Orcock" to refer to Orcut abusers...

Excuse me, but one more time: what is this thread supposed to be about?

And is it me, or have things getting weird here lately?
posted by wendell at 10:43 AM on February 6, 2004

Pony request, Matt: Add "Orkut" to the Spell Check...
posted by wendell at 10:44 AM on February 6, 2004

Oh, and Matt, don't look at my 8:39AM comment. Thanks.
posted by wendell at 10:45 AM on February 6, 2004