Pleas explain timeout durations

March 8, 2004 9:44 AM

Banned from MeFi? Are there any hard and fast rules? Why does lazy-ville get banned for weeks, others only a week, and others forever? If I ever happen to step on someone's toes while on a bender or something, I just want to know what the results might be. Also, is there any page for information regarding who's been banned in the past?
posted by angry modem to Etiquette/Policy at 9:44 AM (117 comments total)

THAT'S IT! YOU'RE OUTTA HERE!!!!!

(damn troublemaker...)
posted by jpburns at 9:54 AM on March 8, 2004

Why does lazy-ville get banned for weeks, others only a week, and others forever?

Usually I would prefer to conduct these discussions privately, but you asked...

lazy-ville posted while drunk more than once, so I took away his posting rights. I suppose I could bring them back but he hasn't asked.

Quonsar was banned for a week, for complaints from folks that he was shitting in ask metafilter. I've asked him three times to refrain from messing that place up, but he's defied that request. On the day I saw the stuff in ask metafilter, the rest of his contributions on metafilter and metatalk around that time were pretty close to pointless noise. He needs to ease up. I do like his humorous contributions but over the past few months they've turned kind of arngry and seem more numerous than ever. I told him to take a breather last week, and today's the end of that week, so I'll reinstate him now.

Also, is there any page for information regarding who's been banned in the past?

Nope. Seems like it would just reinforce bad behavior.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:54 AM on March 8, 2004

FREE QUONSAR!





wtf?
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 10:11 AM on March 8, 2004

I say you keep him banned for another couple weeks, just long enough for everyone to put these up on their websites (and long enough for Q to bask in the celebrity glow of feeling wanted.) Let's face it, this FREE QUONSAR stuff is as fun as Q himself.
posted by Shane at 10:19 AM on March 8, 2004

yah, keep him banned for a while longer, i wanna paint my site orange and scream free quonsar at my monitor...!

complaints from folks that he was shitting in ask metafilter

i hate askme, it's turned us into a buncha delicate flowers that can't figure out how to put one foot in front of the other without 17,000 pairs of helping hands. ohh daddy matt, quonsar doesn't take my helplessness seriously, make him go away, waaaahhh...!

cripes.
posted by t r a c y at 10:27 AM on March 8, 2004

If Mefi was being profiled in Behind The Weblogs, right about now, we'd be entering that period where the narrator says, "But there was trouble on the horizon...."

Hell, that goes for the whole blogosphere.
posted by jonmc at 10:29 AM on March 8, 2004

don't say the B word...! *pokes jon in the eye*
posted by t r a c y at 10:35 AM on March 8, 2004

Damn, quonsar's banned? Well, no jellybeans for you then.

If there have been complaints, I hereby put in my vote to reinstate quonsar. Whatever his faults, his pros far outweigh his cons. Like any gleeful ruffian healthy for a community, some people may not get or forgive the Big Q. And beyond that, well, we all have our bad days. But every day without quonsar is a dark day on Metafilter.
posted by ed at 10:39 AM on March 8, 2004

Wow, I hadn't even noticed he was gone.. I must be insane.
posted by PrinceValium at 10:42 AM on March 8, 2004

I hadn't noticed his departure either.

Are the comments that broke Matt's back still available, or have they been deleted?

And if they have been deleted, does anyone care to summarize?
posted by trharlan at 10:45 AM on March 8, 2004

I love AskMe! I wish people who don't like it would just leave it only instead of trying to co-opt it.
posted by timeistight at 10:48 AM on March 8, 2004

Matt - in all seriousness - and I love this place, and I thank you for it, quite sincerely. But you're taking this website much too seriously. It's not the Smithsonian. The success of Mefi is the contributors, the blend of ultra-liberal ultra-conservative ultra-serious ultra-ridiculous. The bang-banging of heads. Fun like that. It won't ruin the Internet for everyone if people like Quonsar make fart jokes in the advice column.
posted by Peter H at 10:50 AM on March 8, 2004

So why do people agree to some ground rules (like front page posting rules) and not others, like the ones for AskMe? Without order there is chaos. And as admin, Matt gets to decide. MeFi is the better for it.
posted by agregoli at 10:53 AM on March 8, 2004

...delicate flowers that can't figure out how to put one foot in front of the other without 17,000 pairs of helping hands.

Well excuse me, L'il Mz Perfect. Some of us need a little help tying our shoes now and again. (Even if I do wear monk's boots with buckles.)
(You know I love AskMe, tracy! Hrmph.)
posted by Shane at 10:53 AM on March 8, 2004

Are the comments that broke Matt's back still available, or have they been deleted?

And if they have been deleted, does anyone care to summarize?

I deleted the ask mefi comments. If I remember correctly it was mocking someone's questions about something that didn't have anything to do with the answer.

i hate askme, it's turned us into a buncha delicate flowers that can't figure out how to put one foot in front of the other without 17,000 pairs of helping hands.

Not everyone has to find the site useful or like it, it's definitely different than MetaFilter and MetaTalk.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:54 AM on March 8, 2004

And again, quonsar was blocked from posting for a week, which has been lifted.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:01 AM on March 8, 2004

I love AskMe! I wish people who don't like it would just leave it only instead of trying to co-opt it.

AHA! it must have been arthur that got quonsar banned...! let's get him...!

*lights torch*

kidding ;) yah, i don't like it so i ignore it 99% of the time, and i definitely don't care to "co-opt" it, but it shouldn't be run so rigidly that people get banned for being quippy. people get away with saying a lot worse things all the time in the blue and grey. you know, such as unwarranted blanket insults against the entire citizenry of french speaking canadian provinces.

*shoots matt the evil eye*

Not everyone has to find the site useful or like it, it's definitely different than MetaFilter and MetaTalk.

fair enough.

And again, quonsar was blocked from posting for a week, which has been lifted.

hmmph. fine, take away all our fun.

shane - i will deal with you later.
posted by t r a c y at 11:05 AM on March 8, 2004

i hate askme, it's turned us into a buncha delicate flowers that can't figure out how to put one foot in front of the other without 17,000 pairs of helping hands. ohh daddy matt, quonsar doesn't take my helplessness seriously, make him go away, waaaahhh...!

What a totally evenhanded summation. Never mind that there are plenty of us who manage to dislike quonsar's constant "Looka me!" antics and yet refrain from calling for his removal.
posted by Skot at 11:09 AM on March 8, 2004

I would favor moderator-inserted comments within the actual comments than deleting the comments out-right. or inserting "this comment deleted for the following reason (explained)" or something. thoughts?
posted by Peter H at 11:11 AM on March 8, 2004

but it shouldn't be run so rigidly that people get banned for being quippy.

People get banned from MeFi for linking to their own sites, since links are central to the point of MetaFilter. I think we can agree that's a good rule to have around.

It's central to the point of Ask MeFi that people answer questions, so if someone is posting noise instead of answers, it needs to be stopped.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:11 AM on March 8, 2004

I would favor moderator-inserted comments within the actual comments than deleting the comments out-right. or inserting "this comment deleted for the following reason (explained)" or something. thoughts?

I try to be as open as possible and I'm all for accountability, but I believe it would just drag stuff out to note all comment changes and removal. It would take a lot more work for me to constantly have to post explanations of every single change, no matter how slight, plus we'd likely see metatalk fill up with people debating the removal of comments, which would get old pretty quick. I couldn't image what the interface would look like either.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:15 AM on March 8, 2004

*Rummages for change to help start the buy Skot a sense of humor fund*

Anyone got a spare tin can??
posted by zarah at 11:17 AM on March 8, 2004

"But there was trouble on the horizon...."

I believe the exact phrase is "But behind the scenes, storm clouds were gathering..."
posted by Armitage Shanks at 11:20 AM on March 8, 2004

There is no Quonsar, but quonsar.
posted by punilux at 11:32 AM on March 8, 2004

Quonsar isn't noise. He's signal.
posted by Termite at 11:36 AM on March 8, 2004

I'm of the opinion that, if quonsar cannot act as a productive participant, he should stay out of the green. With few exceptions, the entirety of his contribution to Ask MetaFilter has been noisemaking, as he shits on every discussion he finds like a diarrhetic Santa Claus. The signal-to-noise ratio has been high thus far, thanks to those who seek to make it a useful resource, and thanks to Matt deleting the majority of his comments.

I don't understand why quonsar is tolerated on MetaFilter. If a new user were to join tomorrow and began spewing the sheer quantity of "quippy" noisemaking and trolling that he does, they'd be slit up a treat, and rightfully so. I fail to see how him being your buddy, or him having an Incredibly Low User Number, or him having played court jester for so long actually justifies the behavior.
posted by Danelope at 11:37 AM on March 8, 2004

If I remember correctly it was mocking someone's questions about something that didn't have anything to do with the answer.

I remember that arco asked for advice on a region-free DVD player to purchase for his library [very good question, very clear objective] and quonsar chimed in as poster number one and ranted about copyright restrictions and Did Not Answer The Question [even in a flip way]. The thread stayed poisoned and stagnant until mathowie removed the thread-killing post and then people actually chimed in with some good answers. I think the point was that "posting noise" doesn't just fill up AskMe with chatter, it has a chilling effect on people actually participating and answering questions. It's different from MeFi and MeTa which tolerate a lot more spazzitude, in part because all the spazzing out doesn't detract from the purpose of either place. I don't mind a little crazyguy antics now and again, but AskMe has one fray-like rule "you must answer the question" [or at least try]. And, what Danelope said, except that I don't know what "slit up a treat" means.
posted by jessamyn at 11:52 AM on March 8, 2004

Quonsar is tolerated because he's a one of a kind. If even one-fifth of MeFiers did what he did the site would be useless, but there's only one quonsar so it's okay as long as he doesn't get too carried away. Matt occasionally sits on him to make sure that doesn't happen - quonsar has been banned before. He is funny and his jokes often have a larger point if you think about them. He's really not a troll, either, since he doesn't derail discussions or start fights.

This one-of-a-kind tolerance is extended to other distinctive members as well - for instance, I'm fond of thomcatspike, but if everyone disregarded basic rules of grammer and punctuation the way he does, I would quit hanging out here.
posted by orange swan at 11:52 AM on March 8, 2004

I've been busy and have suffered through some computer troubles of late, making my trips to MetaFilter both infrequent and short. I was not even aware that Quonsar was on a force hiatus, but now I realize where the dark void that has overtaken me originated. Between this and the cancellation of Angel, my life is but a shadow of its former shadowy self.
posted by The God Complex at 11:58 AM on March 8, 2004

But you're taking this website much too seriously.

Bless him for that.

I am glad he tries to keep MeFi something to be proud of.

There are plenty of sites out there where once can be yuck-monkey, but MeFi aims a bit higher.

If I wanted to see asinity, I'd go to see a bunch of teenage lunch-room behavior at Fark or some place.
posted by Seth at 12:03 PM on March 8, 2004

I believe an effective punishment for future evildoers would be to change their passwords and allow the banned Quonsar to assume their online identities.
posted by Stan Chin at 12:04 PM on March 8, 2004

*Rummages for change to help start the buy Skot a sense of humor fund*

Yaaaaaaaaay! I hope it's double coupon day. Maybe I can get two of them!
posted by Skot at 12:07 PM on March 8, 2004

Well I, for one, welcome. . . . . .wait, nevermind.

If I were running this site, though, I would show a lot less forbearance than Matt has, regarding the boorishness and general lack of civility that is displayed.

(Although I miss user 4927 and am unsure whether she was shown the door or left of her own volition)
posted by Danf at 12:09 PM on March 8, 2004

He's really not a troll, either, since he doesn't derail discussions or start fights.

So...you read MeFi under the influence of mind-bending hallucinatory drugs, I take it?
posted by dhoyt at 12:13 PM on March 8, 2004

Sadly i was only able to scare up enough to buy a rootbeer float, but I will glady share it with you Skot.

*Wonders how Danelope's dry-cleaners manages to get that much starch into a single shirt*
posted by zarah at 12:15 PM on March 8, 2004

but if everyone disregarded basic rules of grammer

you misspelled that for effect, right? ;)
posted by Peter H at 12:19 PM on March 8, 2004

I miss user 4927

How can you miss her when she never left?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 12:21 PM on March 8, 2004

but if everyone disregarded basic rules of grammer

you misspelled that for effect, right? ;)

Nope, out of carelessness.

I'm going to go sit in my corner and write "grammar" out fifty times as punishment.
posted by orange swan at 12:24 PM on March 8, 2004

(Although I miss user 4927 and am unsure whether she was shown the door or left of her own volition)

Honey, nobody tells you anything, do they?

Add 11032 to 4927 and the resulting number will give you the answer to your question.
posted by konolia at 12:26 PM on March 8, 2004

Hell, that goes for the whole blogosphere.

When I'm drunk, I make up words too...
posted by Dark Messiah at 12:28 PM on March 8, 2004

(Although I miss user 4927 and am unsure whether she was shown the door or left of her own volition)

Pssst.

[on preview what konolia said]
posted by terrapin at 12:28 PM on March 8, 2004

*Rummages for change to help start the buy Skot a sense of humor fund*

*Wonders how Danelope's dry-cleaners manages to get that much starch into a single shirt*

*Wonders whether zarah realizes that ad hominem remarks do little to counteract the validity of an argument*
posted by Danelope at 12:30 PM on March 8, 2004

It would take a lot more work for me to constantly have to post explanations of every single change

then just post "message deleted by moderator" and don't explain it. But just having posts disappear is very confusing. In an ask-mefi thread i posted - There were two or three jokey posts (by others, not me) in the beginning that are gone now which I figure you yanked. But none of them harmed the thread in the slightest and actually introduced the discussion pretty humorously. Now with them gone it reads different, too serious, too abruptly. If I came back to find a post deleted I'd be pretty confused. I say if you're going to punch a hole in the conversation you should patch it up saying "message deleted" otherwise it seems shady. Ya know?

But back to the thread - Free Quonsar!
posted by Peter H at 12:33 PM on March 8, 2004

If I wanted to see asinity[?*], I'd go to see a bunch of teenage lunch-room behavior at Fark or some place.

This thread, like so many others, has descended into pointless banter between the MetaFilter Asinites and MetaFilter Analites.

Obviously, from this comment one can deduce I am an Asinite.
*Grammer (sic) nit = (asininity?)
posted by Shane at 12:35 PM on March 8, 2004

2 : of, relating to, or resembling an ass
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 12:38 PM on March 8, 2004

(asinity)
posted by Shane at 12:41 PM on March 8, 2004

Honey, nobody tells you anything, do they?

OK so I'm a dork but at least I am civil about it. . . .
posted by Danf at 12:43 PM on March 8, 2004

Don't worry, Danf. You made me feel better today. Konolia thought I was the last person to figure out her identity. Turns out I'm only the second last [raises orange-feathered wing in salute to Danf].
posted by orange swan at 12:49 PM on March 8, 2004

Batman?
posted by Stan Chin at 1:04 PM on March 8, 2004

3rd last, orange_swan. I didn't get it until this thread, either.
posted by MrMoonPie at 1:08 PM on March 8, 2004

Not that she did not drop a hint.
posted by Danf at 1:19 PM on March 8, 2004

*Wonders whether zarah realizes that ad hominem remarks do little to counteract the validity of an argument*

*Feels bad for the overly serious gr'up, decides to let him have the last word thought bubble if he needs it*
posted by zarah at 1:26 PM on March 8, 2004

Self-policing since 1999
posted by jpoulos at 1:33 PM on March 8, 2004

Can't all zarah's comments on metatalk be replaced with "I agree with what t r a c y just said."?
posted by vacapinta at 1:47 PM on March 8, 2004

awww, you can't blame a kid for supporting her mom...! and i do tell her to cut it out from time to time, right in the blue in front of everyone.

but, uh... it's pretty hard to accuse her of backing me up when i'm not actually arguing with anyone. doh.
posted by t r a c y at 2:07 PM on March 8, 2004

I apologize to you and zarah. That ad hominem comment was very juvenile of me.
posted by vacapinta at 2:11 PM on March 8, 2004

I fried some bunnies in konolia oil once ... I think they caught fire.

(since I didn't wish to be blatant about things, you have no idea how long I've waited to post that quip!)
posted by Wulfgar! at 2:25 PM on March 8, 2004

You're all just jealous of quonsar's quick rapier wit and rugged good looks.






There, I said it. ;-)
posted by antifreez_ at 2:27 PM on March 8, 2004

And we're banned from Argo every one
Banned from Argo just for having a little fun
We spent a jolly shoreleave there for just three days or four
But Argo doesn't want us anymore
posted by FunkyHelix at 2:28 PM on March 8, 2004

FQ
posted by Witty at 2:39 PM on March 8, 2004

I apologize to you and zarah. That ad hominem comment was very juvenile of me.

being a little juvenile is good for people. it keeps us from being too wound up, from thinking too highly of ourselves, from being dangerously respectful of authority; it gets us laid, it keeps us young. most people here have their fair share of juvenile moments, but a few never do - and they know the price they pay for it. it's not one that i'd ever willingly pay.
posted by t r a c y at 2:45 PM on March 8, 2004

Can't all zarah's comments on metatalk be replaced with "I agree with what t r a c y just said."?

Ehh, I'm pretty sure I've seen 'em disagree. Once or twice maybe. Although they have a distinct tendency to be set off by the same things. "Same things" usually being insults against Canada or women...

Is quonsar really a Canadien woman, crucified here in MeTa?


being a little juvenile is good for people . . . it gets us laid

See? T'anks, tracy. Always eager for advice on laid-getting.
posted by Shane at 2:46 PM on March 8, 2004

How many of you people didn't even notice that the q was not among us? Not like certain people weren't dropping frequent hints...

Sheeesh...
posted by wendell at 3:01 PM on March 8, 2004

i think the lure of the sweet yellow fruit has snatched him away from us anyways. the monkeys are a bit more fun to play with afterall, what with all the goup grooming and shadberry sharing.
posted by t r a c y at 3:06 PM on March 8, 2004

"Matt - in all seriousness - and I love this place, and I thank you for it, quite sincerely. But you're taking this website much too seriously."

In four and a half years at MeFi, this is possibly the funniest thing I've ever read here.
posted by prolific at 3:30 PM on March 8, 2004

Everybody needs some quiet time every once in a while, just like everybody poops.

I had noticed quonsar wasn't here, but I agree wholeheartedly if someone can't play by the rules -- deliberately pisses on them, in fact -- that person needs to be separated from the herd, at least temporarily.

I find quonsar's persona here and elsewhere more amusing than annoying, most of the time, but there's a limit, by golly, and his envelope-pushing antics and the respect that others pay him regardless have been the template for so much imitative unfunny and pointless (as opposed to his well-honed schtick) snarknoise and sophomoronism around here that the place is rightly held up as a bit of a laughing stock in some more snooty corners of the web.

I love it, still, of course, and q as well, but it's striking a balance that's always the really good trick.

MetaFilter Asinites and MetaFilter Analites

Enter the MetaMooninites!

Ignignot: Let us leave this primitive rock because there's nothing but cavemen here.
Ur: Say goodbye, cavemen. Go beat rocks together, you sissies! Freakin' nerds!

posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:07 PM on March 8, 2004

(I got banned for a few days too, back when. I understood why, and returned with an apology for being all anti-startrekian and putting the needs of the one above....well you know the rest. Not that I've always behaved in an exemplary manner since, but I'm speakin' from some experience here, experience which left a terrible scar on my soul, brothers and sisters.)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:12 PM on March 8, 2004

Dammit Shane, that photoshop just scared me straight starched!

Wonderchicken, you get certain people all in an uproar a lot yourself, have you ever been banned?

On preview, oh ok, thanks for answering before I even asked :)
posted by zarah at 4:14 PM on March 8, 2004

I want my free quonsar.
posted by brownpau at 4:15 PM on March 8, 2004

Dammit Shane, that photoshop just scared me straight starched!

Indeed. The Passion Of Kevin. He died for your sins, you know.
posted by Shane at 4:20 PM on March 8, 2004

stav: I didn't think anyone could understand the analogy I was going to make earlier, but as you've quite possibly proven me wrong, I will share this revelation I've recently had...

quonsar == The Wisdom Cube

QED
posted by Danelope at 4:48 PM on March 8, 2004

(...I just want to add that the freequonsar site is in fact comedy gold.)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:50 PM on March 8, 2004

Honey, nobody tells you anything, do they?
Holey Snikeys...DanF isn't the last member to be totally out of the loop.
posted by jmd82 at 5:18 PM on March 8, 2004

So why hasn't quonsar appeared in this thread to accept his due (a mix of homage and rotten vegetables)?

WE WANT qUONSAR!
posted by languagehat at 5:26 PM on March 8, 2004

Enter the MetaMooninites!

Smoke while you say that.
posted by yerfatma at 5:37 PM on March 8, 2004

Now it's all starting to come together...

Registrant:
Free quonsar
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington D.C., District of Columbia 53211
United States
posted by anathema at 5:45 PM on March 8, 2004

Q is funny, and in general adds a delightfully nutty flavor to the site, but he definitely crosses the line at times, more lately than usual, and since he hasn't been responsive to people (even matt) telling him to tone it down, I think a reality check was in order.

I'm one of those who hadn't even noticed he was gone, and at least in my case it was because I think I unconsciously ignore his comments these days, because there are so many of them that they've become gratuitous. I expect Quonsar to shit in certain threads, and so my eyes just skim over his comments like they skim over the time stamp. If his purpose in posting in threads is to sow absurdity, or dope-slap the self-righteous, or whatever, that's great, but the effect diminishes the more common it becomes.
posted by Hildago at 6:12 PM on March 8, 2004

Matt - in all seriousness - and I love this place, and I thank you for it, quite sincerely. But you're taking this website much too seriously.

Try running a server-hammering Web application for thousands of people a couple of years, then come back here and let us know how light-hearted you became about people who can't follow a few simple rules without a babysitter holding their hand.
posted by rcade at 6:28 PM on March 8, 2004

so....you all won't need my 5$ for to bail out the HUT?
posted by clavdivs at 6:35 PM on March 8, 2004

We will ALWAYS need your five bucks, clavdius.
posted by konolia at 8:04 PM on March 8, 2004

There is no Quonsar, but quonsar.

All things are Quonsar's things...
posted by dejah420 at 9:18 PM on March 8, 2004

When Janet Jackson's breast was exposed during the Superbowl, did you turn to CNN or CNBC or Fox News to find out what a bunch of dittoheads thought? NO, you went straight to MetaFilter to see what quonsar had to say about it.

Actually, it was troutfishing I turned to, but the terrible, terrible man has a point!
Re-ban and then re-free quonsar!
posted by squirrel at 9:26 PM on March 8, 2004

Still no sign of the q-man...
I hear they're dragging Reeds Lake...
posted by wendell at 9:36 PM on March 8, 2004

there's only one quonsar so it's okay as long as he doesn't get too carried away

So are you keeping a list of who holds claim to which personality types so that no newcomer (pretend with me for a second that such a creature exists) infringes?

That is a rather silly argument to make.
posted by rushmc at 11:03 PM on March 8, 2004

So are you keeping a list of who holds claim to which personality types so that no newcomer (pretend with me for a second that such a creature exists) infringes?

Four volumes and counting, member type 0039A.
posted by The God Complex at 12:24 AM on March 9, 2004

Keeping our nebulous ontological layers in alignment, it survives; benighted underclassmen need not yearn for its resurrected eloquence.

Forfeit rebellion; embrace equanimity; quivering under our nontoxic sobriquets are rogues.
posted by Opus Dark at 1:48 AM on March 9, 2004

I'll never forget when I made a post a while back when I was still a little wet behind the ears (the infamous Indian Rope Trick post). There was a raucous debate about it in MeFi... Quonsar sent me a wonderful email where he basilcally said chin up and carry on, and inserted a little funny which made me laugh so hard that not only the milk shot from my nose but the cornflakes as well. Quonsar means well, guys, I don't think it's his intention to shit on posts but that's what happens when people take his comments too seriously... they get turned to shit.

I'd personally like to see Quonsar and Mathowie in a hottub, sipping Pina Coladas, and giving eachother backrubs. But until that time, Viva La Quonsar!
posted by moonbird at 4:35 AM on March 9, 2004

I fail to see how him being your buddy, or him having an Incredibly Low User Number, or him having played court jester for so long actually justifies the behavior.

Actually, although I agree that the Q can sometimes be more loud than witty, he does serve a useful purpose. By being the only poster to get away with that kind of shit, he acts like a silica-gel bag for the site, absorbing and containing stupidity so that it doesn't spread all over the place and make a real mess - a lightning rod for bad taste.

He posts the really low-brow knob jokes so that no-one else has to.

His low user number and celebrated position as class clown only reinforce that role. New(ish) users know that quonsar gets away with his routine because he got in early and has become a long established element in the flavour of the site. And they also realise (or soon have the knowledge beaten into them) that the role of class clown has been filled.

Maybe that's unfair, but I think as long as quonsar is kept on a leash (but not too short a leash), it doesn't do the site any harm. On the other hand, a week in the sin-bin never did anyone any harm either.

...and he also sent me a nice email once, so maybe I'm biased.
posted by backOfYourMind at 5:26 AM on March 9, 2004

The only thing quonsar should ever be banned for is not acting like quonsar. And since the ban has been lifted he should be re-banned for not making an appearance.

...and he also sent me a nice email once, so maybe I'm biased.

Oh, I get nice emails from him too, but he's still a little wanker!
posted by anathema at 7:46 AM on March 9, 2004

I received an e-mail from Q once laughing his ass off over this little picture I'd posted in MeTa. It was just a tiny picture of a woman eating corn-on-the-cob, with no explanation whatsoever, and to this day I have absolutely no idea why, but I couldn't stop laughing over it either. It was the weirdest thing.

Then Matt deleted the pic!

Which was somehow funny too. But maybe made sense, as we don't wanna open the door to TOO much inanity.
posted by Shane at 8:02 AM on March 9, 2004

quonsar was banned?

ps. please don't post pics of quonsar - I have my own mental image of Q, which defies space-time, biology, reason and good-taste. I don't want reality messing that up.
posted by Blue Stone at 8:16 AM on March 9, 2004

he looks just like Phyllis Diller
posted by cortex at 8:38 AM on March 9, 2004

Feels like he's been put in solitary and all his bitches are talking him up so no one else dares take his place.
posted by Feisty at 9:07 AM on March 9, 2004

Listening to people talk about their love of quonsar reminds me so. much. of a conversation I had with a young woman who was talking about her love of fisting. You believe people when they say crazy things, but on some level you will never understand it.
posted by thirteen at 9:38 AM on March 9, 2004

"Quonsar is tolerated because he's a one of a kind."

Hmmmm....... I think someone has blocked out third grade. Quonsar isn't unique, he's a 9 year old.
posted by y6y6y6 at 9:48 AM on March 9, 2004

thirteen wins.
posted by gleuschk at 9:55 AM on March 9, 2004

here you go, bluestone. hope it helps.
posted by crunchland at 11:19 AM on March 9, 2004

Great. Now I'm going to picture quonsar as Wallace Shawn from now on.

Incontheevable!
posted by pizzasub at 11:37 AM on March 9, 2004

Feels like he's been put in solitary and all his bitches are talking him up so no one else dares take his place.

Yeah.
posted by Hildago at 3:18 PM on March 9, 2004

Feels like he's been put in solitary and all his bitches are talking him up so no one else dares take his place.
*proud to be one of q's bitches*
(actually I thought q had run off with this Georgina chick, but i was away)
posted by amberglow at 3:25 PM on March 9, 2004

all of you people take this site way too seriously. i'm just pretentious enough to say so.
posted by the aloha at 3:47 PM on March 9, 2004

Man, things get busy at work for a few days and I miss all the fun!

As has been mentioned before, quonsar contributes to the environment here in a way that means the place could not stand two of him, but it is not quite the same without his presence. So some people think it is unfair that he gets away with a bit more than other members do? So what? That is the way a community works - everyone has their role to play and there are plenty of others who contribute far more to lowering the tone, except that they are serious when they make their snide comments and personal attacks. In fact, there are often nuggets of wisdom in quonsar's comments that do not seem apparent on first reading (this may be purely accidental, but I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt).

Some people get a bit miffed when being told to grow up and think for themselves before running to others for help, but perhaps that is what the answer is in the first place? Stranger things have happened. Not many of us have the guts to say to someone's face "stop being such a pansy and grow up", but I am sure we are often thinking it. In this way, quonsar acts as a communal "inner child" outlet for all of us.

Free quonsar! MeFi needs him!
posted by dg at 4:28 PM on March 9, 2004

posted by Danelope at 4:48 PM on March 9, 2004

*removes quonsar to an undisclosed location*
posted by anathema at 6:08 PM on March 9, 2004

Structurally, a character assassination requires for its commission three parties, the character assassin or agent, the public whose estimation is to be altered or audience, and the person targeted or victim. The study of character assassination is a study of the methods and the psychology of the agent; it is a study of the credibility of the agent's slanders to the audience - that is, an attitude change question; and it is the study of the responses and the adaptation of the victim.

there is nothing in the manual about no t-shirt.

get back here you ole bastard an quick now
posted by clavdivs at 8:38 PM on March 9, 2004

Quonsar is permanently banned? I doubt Matt would do it on a whim... So what? That was his decision.
posted by Keyser Soze at 1:07 AM on March 10, 2004

ahem... uh... yeah guys ive had a half bottle of wine, excuse my last post 'cause I forgot hes getting reinstated.

"i hate askme, it's turned us into a buncha delicate flowers that can't figure out how to put one foot in front of the other without 17,000 pairs of helping hands. ohh daddy matt, quonsar doesn't take my helplessness seriously, make him go away, waaaahhh...!"

T r a c y, this is not about delicate flowers and people not being able to walk. Do you really want Ask-me to me full of posts that have no relevance? I sure don't, and I think I speak for more than myself.
posted by Keyser Soze at 1:11 AM on March 10, 2004

you really gleaned from my little outburst that i want it to be full of irrelevant questions...? i'd like to know what brand of wine you enjoyed this evening, i think i might like to try it.

i stand by my opinion that it's overrun by empty headed queries that with a little effort my cat could sort out, but i pledge not to be all insulty about it in the future. i'm just going to pretend it's not there... a glass of your wine would probably help with that.
posted by t r a c y at 3:11 AM on March 10, 2004

That's some cat you have there. ;-)
posted by konolia at 3:39 AM on March 10, 2004

empty headed queries that with a little effort my cat could sort out

Well, it's not like MeFi is known as having "the web's smartest readers". ;-P
posted by mischief at 6:16 AM on March 10, 2004

"i stand by my opinion that it's overrun by empty headed queries that with a little effort my cat could sort out"

Well, we could fix that be just making a rule -

"Hard questions only. Please make difficult for us to help you. The best questions to ask are those that no one knows the answer to. Don't ask things that inquire about others experiences or opinion because those are too easy to answer. Please do at least 2-3 hours of searching and reading on Google before posting your question. Even if your question isn't the sort of thing Google is good for."
posted by y6y6y6 at 7:26 AM on March 10, 2004

Tracy, we have enough to worry about, with all the glass in our underpants and the squirrels muscling in to our yards, and our collective ignorance about routers and how to plan our vacations, without you just adding to the list. Just give us some time to put our heads together, then we will be ok.
posted by Hildago at 9:31 AM on March 10, 2004

so um... where IS quonsar?
posted by FeetOfClay at 9:45 AM on March 10, 2004

If you have any really serious questions, don't go to AskMeFi, go here.
posted by wendell at 9:48 AM on March 10, 2004

*Rummages for change to help start the buy Skot a sense of humor fund*

~Wonders if Zarah has even *read* IzzlePfaff...~

When I've read Skot's site, I've broken teeth because I had to bite formica to keep from laughing out loud in the library-like cube farm where I work. The man has humor down Stone Cold Steven Austin Texas Tornado Fencing.
posted by Mo Nickels at 8:02 PM on March 10, 2004

hildago - i have no idea what you're saying, but it sounds funny. funny like the way i've spent the last few days mispronouncing the name of viggo mortensen's new movie. thanks for that...!
posted by t r a c y at 10:38 PM on March 10, 2004

What Mo said, except I just bite the formica for fun. Skot makes the big funny.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:55 PM on March 10, 2004