Build your own threadjack March 6, 2004 10:59 AM   Subscribe

Bloody Hell. Talk about threadjack.
posted by Blue Stone to Etiquette/Policy at 10:59 AM (50 comments total)

I wanted to read about Mesh's reputation, not a bunch of self-build evangelising [time & place and all that.]
posted by Blue Stone at 11:02 AM on March 6, 2004


I wanted
Huh?... Ask and ye shall receive.
posted by thomcatspike at 11:21 AM on March 6, 2004


I thought Orange Goblin all ready did.
posted by Blue Stone at 11:23 AM on March 6, 2004


Yes, being Orange Goblin's question, you may not know his solution(s)?
posted by thomcatspike at 11:30 AM on March 6, 2004


To be fair, Askfilter is still in it's "early stages". There are areas that may change and or become more proper once Matt has caught up with his initial layout of it.
posted by thomcatspike at 11:35 AM on March 6, 2004


but mesh computers are a generic "cheap assembled" computer. so there's a direct mapping from "is mesh ok?" to "is cheap assembled ok?". qed.
posted by andrew cooke at 12:13 PM on March 6, 2004


Man, I haven't checked MT in forever ... checked on a whim. What a treat to not only be mentioned on that visit, but also to be labelled a threadjacker (TM, I assume)!

For what it's worth, I've asked a number of questions in AM and the rules, such as they are, seem much different so I doubt anyone thought too terribly much about etiquette.

The real answer, however, is that there was no thread to jack. No one had any experiences with Mesh to speak of. The ongoing conversation there didn't increase the S/N ration, since there wasn't really an S to begin with. Does it really make any difference if people talk about something (somewhat indirectly) related instead of not talking at all?

Move along people ...
posted by Sinner at 1:27 PM on March 6, 2004


By the way, can't resist giggling over the blustery melodrama: "Bloody Hell"? Sorry, but you're kidding, right?
posted by Sinner at 1:31 PM on March 6, 2004


I was going to comment but by the time I found the thread it had ballooned to a near unsustainable 6 comments.
posted by mcsweetie at 1:44 PM on March 6, 2004


the first time was to put a pointer to this thread (something the people complaining weren't considerate enough to do). the second time was because, well, Sinner's not that smart.

but unless you think it was a deliberate mistake in the url it's not uncalled for. in fact i'm kind of pissed that people whine here without flagging to people in the relevant thread that they've been called out.

so can we delete this nonentity of a thread now?
posted by andrew cooke at 2:41 PM on March 6, 2004


This is the second MeTa thread in a row to mention the poster's semi-pathetic lifestyle.
posted by eastlakestandard at 3:23 PM on March 6, 2004


trharlan: Well, Sinner, I reckon most would (grudgingly) tolerate your minor threadjack, but pissing twice more in the thread is uncalled for.


Did you really just say people would "(grudgingly) tolerate [my] minor threadjack?" As if I were the crazy uncle who accidentally pissed in the wedding punch? The only thing requiring any tolerance, gruding or otherwise, is the absolute lunacy of the MT post and its few supporters.

Now, as andrew said, I was simply placing an in-thread pointer and entered the wrong link. I hope that you can grant me your (grudging) benediction for that grievous sin, my horrifying use of the word "retard" and while we're at it, for the remainder of my (semi-?) pathetic life.

trharlan: You're being an ass.

For that offense -- with added care to not link inaccurately -- I've already repented.

Also, who in this thread said they were semi-pathetic? Was it me? I thought I just said I was retarded. (Oops... am I in trouble again?)
posted by Sinner at 4:45 PM on March 6, 2004


We're all wanting a weekend meta punch up and this is the best you can come up with ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 6:44 PM on March 6, 2004


An superfluous metatalk thread and then some juvenile posturing by the offender. All systems go.
posted by The God Complex at 8:22 PM on March 6, 2004


So practically no one has experience with Mesh Computers and you'd rather no one comment then get advice from people who deal with purchasing computers all day? Perhaps your answer on how good Mesh is lies in the fact that no one uses it. And there's a reason people are "evangelizing" home-built computers, because they think if you're on a budget that you'd rather build it then buy a cheap piece of hardware.

If your question is so specific (a particular brand in a country where most users on Mefi are not from), you're not going to get what you're looking for, which was probably "I use Mesh computers all the time, I love them".

I agree with the commentary that suggest going to usenet for such specific questions. A quick groups.google.com search reveals Mesh computers suck, it seems like this is your gut feeling and are being a cheapskate wanting to justify a purchase.
posted by geoff. at 8:30 PM on March 6, 2004


Building your own thread is not the good deal it was back in the day.
posted by littlegreenlights at 9:31 PM on March 6, 2004


While we're on the subject...

Bloody hell. Talk about threadjack.

Not worth starting a new thread over, but WTF?
posted by PrinceValium at 10:14 PM on March 6, 2004


Perhaps the topic wasn't well put or not really pertinent? I mean, I know what I meant to discuss but already a few fellow members whose contributions I really respect have gone off at tangents, so I must conclude my post wasn't well made, even if I took some time over it and included six links.

It's really a question of luck or serindipity - threads are built by those who comment - but I'm still convinced that the way you phrase the initial post is important. Mine was perhaps too diffuse and (I suspect) uninteresting, given its European focus.

In any case, Prince Valium, thanks - I did try and it is a little disheartening but, in the end, if a poster is boring or unclear, can he or she really blame those who try to respond to it in a lively way? I think not. My bad, all things considered. Really. :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:26 PM on March 6, 2004


The God Complex: An superfluous metatalk thread and then some juvenile posturing by the offender. All systems go.

Sigh... I hate when I can't tell if I'm the butt of the joke -- Am I the posturing offending juvenile? Or are we talking down to someone else (my vote is for the latter!)
posted by Sinner at 10:36 PM on March 6, 2004


Miguel: the thread was an interesting topic I felt - but what, really, was there to say? The implication is that we should discuss how Europe's views on the American candidates affects the race - and the answer is that to the extent it does affect it (not much) it hurts our man (this site being 99% liberal), The End.

The topic wasn't too diffuse or uninteresting, it just wasn't a viable conversation - nor at the very least a good argument waiting to happen like the better Bushfilter posts - so nothing came of it.
posted by Ryvar at 10:43 PM on March 6, 2004


I absolutely agree, Ryvar - thanks for pinning the problem after my fumbling diagnostic, so alike the post itself. On the button! :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:55 PM on March 6, 2004


Where's the 'nobody gives a shit what part of New York you are from?' sub-meta-jack?
posted by Space Coyote at 7:06 AM on March 7, 2004


Miguel: Furthermore, I'm quite certain you've brought up this "Europe loves Kerry, hey, what do you all think about that!" meme before at least once (on AskMe?), though it's not worth the trouble to search out the link, so it may not have had that oven-fresh quality.

And I'm glad PrinceValium brought that thread up here, because I don't want to derail Migs' thread any further, but I do want to get this off my chest: interrobang was being a complete asshole for no reason at all—jonmc is perhaps the most "Noo Yawk" of anyone at MeFi, and one of the nicest MeFites I've met. He doesn't deserve to be taking shit from somebody who (I can only presume) is so full of rage at having to live in Madison, WI that he's eaten up with jealousy at someone who gets to hang out on the Lower East Side.
posted by languagehat at 7:12 AM on March 7, 2004


Geez, re: jonmc v. interrobang, I'm glad languagehat got here, 'cause he made the three points that needed to be made, and with far more class than I would've been able to summon. I'll leave it like that.
posted by attackthetaxi at 7:48 AM on March 7, 2004


jonmc is perhaps the most "Noo Yawk" of anyone at MeFi, and one of the nicest MeFites I've met. He doesn't deserve to be taking shit from somebody who (I can only presume) is so full of rage at having to live in Madison, WI that he's eaten up with jealousy at someone who gets to hang out on the Lower East Side.

Thanks languagehat. I'm only "Noo Yawk," cause I love the city is all.

I didn't want that thread to be about me, but now it's become a discussion of my character, at least somewhat. The only thing that irked me ultimately was this statement:

Aside from the fact that jonmc plays the part constantly of the character who's so outside of things that he doesn't bother to vote

It's no part, I feel alienated from politics and a lot of the rhetoric surrounding it. I'm perfectly entitled to voice that opinion. And I don't claim any more authority than anyone else. I just try to back up my opinions with my own experiences is all.


FWIW, the discussion about Europe and Kerry is somewhat interesting, even if it's just because it got us discussing American's traditional ambivalence about Europe.
posted by jonmc at 8:01 AM on March 7, 2004


Ah, but who posts more comments on the topic of himself per capita per thread and whose anti-elitist elitism has long since worn thin? Frankly, I find languagehat's self-appointment as MeFi moral arbiter more annoying--what's so classy about making a cheap shot like so full of rage at having to live in Madison, WI that he's eaten up with jealousy at someone who gets to hang out on the Lower East Side and calling someone a complete asshole? Not pot-kettle much.
posted by y2karl at 8:03 AM on March 7, 2004


Karl, I have no idea why you've gotten a bug in your ass about me lately—I thought we were pals, and as far as I know I've never expressed anything but appreciation for your contributions to MeFi. But if you want to take interrobang's side in this, more power to you.
posted by languagehat at 8:10 AM on March 7, 2004


Point taken karl, but in this particular instance, I didn't bring up the issue. All I did was make a joke about french fries and included the link to Pommes Frites to make the punchline.

As far as anti-elitist elitism goes, It's a hobbyhorse I'll admit. People say shit that sticks in my craw sometimes and I'll react. I've been trying to lay back on it. But we all have aour buttons that get pushed, I guess.

FWIW, I have a few internet buddies who live in Wisconsin. From their descripton, it's sounds like a pretty cool place.
posted by jonmc at 8:13 AM on March 7, 2004


I was almost about to enter an opinion here, but then I looked at everybody who already has, which inspired me to implore you, "please don't turn upon yourselves!"

Just about everybody commenting here holds a fond place in my heart (even you, jonmc, who is most likely to hate every single item that I might ever even think about posting!). This MetaTalk thread has travelled far from its roots, and has spawned some some weird shit. I'm just saying: Guys, before you go go off on somebody... take a moment, please.
posted by taz at 9:04 AM on March 7, 2004


like anyone cares....

Routines cannot be declared more than once.
The routine "balanceTags" has been declared twice in different templates.

Please try the following:
Enable Robust Exception Information to


um, someone cares.

weird can be good.
posted by clavdivs at 9:50 AM on March 7, 2004


anti-elitist elitism goes
i say we call it gadfly or watchdog. stick with tradition
posted by clavdivs at 9:52 AM on March 7, 2004


I have a few internet buddies who live in Wisconsin. From their descripton, it's sounds like a pretty cool place.

I'm sure it is. Just to clarify: I wasn't snarking at Madison, which I have no reason to do, but at interrobang, paying him back in his own coin.

weird can be good.

Truer words were never spoke.
posted by languagehat at 10:01 AM on March 7, 2004


Karl, I have no idea why you've gotten a bug in your ass about me lately--

Your opinions on topics in which you are interested or with which you are conversant or for which you passionately care about are of interest to me. Your personal potshots at other members are not. You have been taking more shots at more members here at MetaTalk than most members--or so it seems to me. To top it off, you, yourself, are extremely thin skinned at taking criticism. Goose/gander: either learn to take it or stop dishing it out so much.

Another explanation is I have something else very worrisome and upsetting on my mind, which is my business alone. Something similar is no doubt quite often behind many an outburst here on anyone's part.

Someone can make too many comments more on the topic of his or her self than any given topic at hand and, eventually, a second someone can get up on the wrong side of bed and, with inappropriate harshness, take that first someone to task for it. Rather than contributing to popularity cointest pileons about such outbursts, it might help to consider that people can lash out for reasons not related to the issue or person at hand and just let it go every so often. As no doubt I should have done here.
posted by y2karl at 11:00 AM on March 7, 2004


This thread about threadjacking has been threadjacked. I love the interaweb.
posted by Sinner at 11:06 AM on March 7, 2004


What's the matter Sinner, not getting enough attention?
posted by cedar at 12:32 PM on March 7, 2004


I'm sorry.
posted by interrobang at 2:27 PM on March 7, 2004


I'd be sorry too, if I lived in Madison, WI.
posted by eastlakestandard at 3:07 PM on March 7, 2004


How about some waffles, fellows?
posted by five fresh fish at 3:43 PM on March 7, 2004


*shuffles frantically about in the wastepaper basket looking for the crumpled, signed photograph of interrobang grinning next to a big green John Deere tractor, holding up a big ear of corn and a bottle of moonshine while bikini-clad, ponytailed farm girls jive pleasingly all around; smooths it out carefully and sticks it back on the wall, thinking it looks better and more authentic, now that's it's been distressed, through the MeFi mill and back*

Welcome back, interrobang! :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 5:05 PM on March 7, 2004


Don't sweat it man. I'm sorry too.
posted by jonmc at 5:06 PM on March 7, 2004


WTF? Not you too, man!

Now, Jon - have you secretly been out to watch The Passion or something? I thought you behaved beautifully, actually addressing interrobang's silly irritation, while still making important points to the "other" thread. Damn, I loved ya when you were on the juice but I love you even more since you've been off it. It's now given to us to see what your mother saw in you in those long pre-beer years! :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 5:14 PM on March 7, 2004


Man, the only thing harder than getting someone to own up to a large offense is getting them to own up to a small one.

Sinner, you're less the crazy uncle who pissed in the punch and more the bratty nephew who pissed his pants in the car on the way. And then shit the back seat.
posted by scarabic at 8:13 PM on March 7, 2004


scarabic said:
Sinner, you're less the crazy uncle who pissed in the punch and more the bratty nephew who pissed his pants in the car on the way. And then shit the back seat.


Aw, man, and here I was happy to let cedar have the last word - he had me dead to rights with the "not enough attention" line. On a slow, ponderous working weekend punctuated by idle chatter and frequent refreshes, I was guilty as charged.

But then you have to get all nasty, even when the topic was all but dead, and I have to respond. So, to your point, I actually wasn't the person who derailed the previous thread, I simply responded to another poster's point (with a pretty reasonable disclaimer and apology at the beginning of my post that it was off-topic).

Regarding my other posts in that Ask.Me thread (since removed), I simply provided pointers to this thread (which, in its original form, remains one of silliest I've seen, thanks mostly to its mere existence but made worse by the hyperbole bequeated upon it by its author).

And, to be frank, there was really nothing quite so bad about my previous post in this MT thread, which simply noted the irony implicit in watching as a thread about derailing threads derailed, itself.

So, as to owning up to small offenses, well, yes, I may have posted a time or two more than I would have had I not been bound to my computer for the day. But, unlike you and the original poster, I have enough of a sense of humor to know what an idiotic waste of time it is to police such trivial "offenses."
posted by Sinner at 11:29 PM on March 7, 2004


Don't hate the sinner, hate the sin!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:10 AM on March 8, 2004


"Bloody Hell" is a pretty inconsequential everyday statement of consternation/frustration, where I come from, Sinner, not imbued with the passion you ascribe to it at all. Try saying it in a quiet voice, whilst rolling your eyes, maybe with a "tut" beforehand, or a sigh afterwards for a more accurate impression of what I meant by it. /cultural differences.

andrew cooke, not putting a link to this thread in the AskMe thread was something I wondered if I should have done, but sometimes it feels that if you do that, you're walking into a room, screeching, "House Meeting!" and then stropping off outside and waiting, arms crossed, foot-tapping with a scowl. If I could think of a way to link without giving that impression, I would [suggestions?].

Which may be ironic, I suppose, considering what I said in the first paragraph of this post.

And talking of irony: THIS THREAD - you fucking threadjackers!!!!

Anyway, I still think the meta thread was jacked, and the answers were well wide of the question.

"Does it really make any difference if people talk about something (somewhat indirectly) related instead of not talking at all?"

Yeah. I would say so. I would say that's an admission that the responses were unconcerned with the question at hand, and not really relevant or worthy of being included in that question's response thread.

Only bragadocchio, offered anything pertinent to the question at hand.

"To be fair, Askfilter is still in it's "early stages". There are areas that may change and or become more proper once Matt has caught up with his initial layout of it."

Yup. And MeTa is for talking about this stuff.
posted by Blue Stone at 3:44 AM on March 8, 2004


Threadjacking - it couldn't happen if you had a hierarchy structure of posts and not a single-stream. With hierarchy, it would be easy for a couple of people to go off on a tangent while if anyone wants to DIRECTLY answer your question, they can do that too. Best of both worlds.
posted by SpaceCadet at 6:31 AM on March 8, 2004


You're all just too cute for words.
posted by orange swan at 7:32 AM on March 8, 2004


Sinner:"Does it really make any difference if people talk about something (somewhat indirectly) related instead of not talking at all?"

Blue Stone: Yeah. I would say so. I would say that's an admission that the responses were unconcerned with the question at hand, and not really relevant or worthy of being included in that question's response thread.


There's no need to go down that road and try and impute "relevance" and "worthiness". I explicitly stated in my post that I was responding to a different question and actually apologized for it. The point you're missing is that no one else had said anything at that point, and no one did after, even with all the publicity it received thanks to this one.

As mcsweetie said in this thread, "I was going to comment but by the time I found the thread it had ballooned to a near unsustainable 6 comments." The points are, a) unfortunately, no one did or does have anything to say about Mesh, b) nothing happened, c) this thread is superfluous (if not as self-righteous as I had initially read it to be), as is all the incipient good- (and less-good-) natured infighting.
posted by Sinner at 9:09 AM on March 8, 2004


People continue to discuss juvenile posturing, more posturing and backwards peddling ensues. All systems remain at the ready: commence launching sequence.
posted by The God Complex at 12:02 PM on March 8, 2004


Man, you are relly loving this. How sad.
posted by scarabic at 10:13 PM on March 8, 2004


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