Go to Jail Day!

June 20, 2001 2:27 PM

Today is "go to jail" theme day! I hope everyone got their postcards in the mail alerting them to this fact, and I hope you all wore your jail yard stripes to work like we agreed on.

Isn't it funny how an odd trend can pop up out of thin air and start charging?
posted by mathowie to etiquette/policy at 2:27 PM (43 comments total)

I'm not saying it's bad, though after 5 of them, it's a bit tiresome. It's just fascinating that it popped up at all.
posted by mathowie at 2:28 PM on June 20, 2001

I kind of worry that a couple of the posts arose from some sort of "Well, this isn't really MeFi-worthy, but it's a crime, so.." thoughts. I mean, it's funny to see a theme like that arising, but I have a feeling it kind of detracts from the quality.
posted by zempf at 2:37 PM on June 20, 2001

I think it's a low-level continuation of Death Penalty Days. Some people just can't get enough of pitting the Disciplinarians vs. the Softies and watching the fur fly.

These are the times that try men's souls. We need kitty pictures.
posted by rodii at 2:45 PM on June 20, 2001

Agreed with zempf. People are now wasting front-page space for no other reason than a desire to jump on a bandwagon, and because Matt's obivously not going to stop them. They're even admitting so themselves in their posts. Not that I care so muchin and of itself, but the duplicitous lack of reaction on the community's part has been duly noted, and will be brought up the next time anyone dares to participate in a 30-response-long MetaTalk bitchfest about a front-page post that's "too long," "not right for the front page" or yadda yadda yadda.
posted by aaron at 2:51 PM on June 20, 2001

i like it. i think it's funny. it's not a big deal.
posted by palegirl at 2:52 PM on June 20, 2001

We should lock every one of those evil bastards up, and throw away the key. Hell, given half a chance, I'd pull the switch and watch them die...
I actually agree with Rodii. Yet, like moth to flame I'm drawn to all of those threads. I should stop, I suppose.
Zempf is right, and it would suck if this went on constantly, but it probably wont. Then again, I almost feel that kitty pictures, at this point, would result in someone mentioning how much somebody else deserves to die.
posted by Doug at 3:01 PM on June 20, 2001

"Duplicitous"? I think it's just exhaustion. I can hardly bear to read the front page. Else I'd be bitchin' with the best of 'em. ;)
posted by rodii at 3:06 PM on June 20, 2001

because Matt's obivously not going to stop them

I would if there was more of an outcry. I'm sort of ambivalent, yes there are some less-than-post-worthy posts, but should I start deleting them haphazardly?

Tell me which ones to delete and I'll consider it. I thought the monopoly one was destined for the trash heap, but after refreshing the index page, there's already several comments on that thread.
posted by mathowie at 3:13 PM on June 20, 2001

Ah, screw Go to Jail Day! I'm still holding out hope for the previously mentioned ice cream day! At least that's something we can all enjoy! Well, except for the lactose intolerant MeFiers...
posted by thc at 3:16 PM on June 20, 2001

it'a an anomaly, let it go. it builds community spirit for us to play around with each other once in a while, it's an in-joke that we're all creating and that all of us can participate in and understand. this is the kind of thing that, in a small way, creates the narrative we share about what metafilter is, and how we all fit into it.

the kaycee thing is going to go down in the metafilter mythology in a big way; this is one of the small, forgotten bits of the narrative that probably binds us together more strongly than that.

plus, it helps everyone warm up for ice cream day. - rcb
posted by rebeccablood at 3:44 PM on June 20, 2001

Declare a theme day, go to jail.
posted by darukaru at 4:24 PM on June 20, 2001

I never got around to posting the details, but I had some lovely coffee chip ice cream yesterday in observation of Ice Cream Day. The person who brought it in also brought whipped cream, fudge sauce, and caramel. Next Tuesday, I'll be expecting cherries and those little things that people call all sorts of different names, but which, for the sake of the Go To Jail thread, I'll call "jimmies".

Also, I think it's an outrage that people are wasting valuable front page above the fold real estate on this "Go To Jail" frivolity! That interesting looking story about boy bands got buried before I ever had the chance to read it.
posted by CrazyUncleJoe at 4:26 PM on June 20, 2001

"Bake Matt a cake" day?
posted by fooljay at 5:35 PM on June 20, 2001

Aaron, have you ever considered changing your name to Earnest?
posted by lagado at 5:36 PM on June 20, 2001

Don't get your knickers in a twist about it. If we can survive Kitty Picture Day, we can do Go To Jail Day, too.

It's just a website folks, don't take yourselves so seriously.
posted by briank at 6:49 PM on June 20, 2001

At least there's no angry mob waiting to go bust somebody's head in.....
posted by briank at 6:53 PM on June 20, 2001

I think it's a low-level continuation of Death Penalty Days. Some people just can't get enough of pitting the Disciplinarians vs. the Softies and watching the fur fly.

These are the times that try men's souls. We need kitty pictures.

I dunno. I looked at it as a relief from all that, at least after about Jail Thread No. 3, when people started getting delirious. A joke in the disguise of merely going over the top.
posted by raysmj at 8:08 PM on June 20, 2001

Yeah, you're right. Maybe it's a way to purge.

So no kitty pictures?
posted by rodii at 8:40 PM on June 20, 2001

Hey, consider yourselves Lucky.

Popbitch had an 'evil clown picture' day last week. I'm still traumatised.
posted by fullerine at 2:14 AM on June 21, 2001

Just for you, Rod.
posted by briank at 6:44 AM on June 21, 2001

That hissing sound yesterday? It was the steam being let out of the MeFi pressure cooker. Heh.
posted by holgate at 7:31 AM on June 21, 2001

dude, aaron, take a bufferin. what's going on here? it sounds like you're unhappy about something that you keep bringing into threads back here. - rcb
posted by rebeccablood at 10:23 AM on June 21, 2001

Aaron is making a bold move to cement his position as the member who most hates MetaFilter. After eagerly reading every message in which his disgust for the site is expressed (today's installment -- collect them all!), I believe his presence here is due to some kind of alternative sentencing program. I'm guessing road rage traffic altercation and liberal municipal court judge who legislates from the bench.
posted by rcade at 10:50 AM on June 21, 2001

Aw, Brian, that's. . . awwww.

Aaron, you had one or two posts criticized (by some). If I remember correctly, you also got a lot of support for that post from people who thought they were valuable. Are you asking to be immune from all criticism? Is every argument about the appropriateness of a front-page post going to turn into a discussion about how badly you've been treated? I'll admit it: some people (me included) have said mean things to you. You have said mean things to some people. You give as good as you get. Let's get over it, shake hands, and move on.
posted by rodii at 10:54 AM on June 21, 2001

Aaron's mad that someone made the constructive criticism that one of his posts a few weeks back was a bit lengthy for the homepage.

As a result, the fact that any post of questionable value, but short length, is percieved as proof that Aaron is being persecuted for his political beliefs. In case you haven't followed Aaron's posts closely, he is a bit conservative.
posted by anildash at 10:55 AM on June 21, 2001

Yeah, Rodii is a jerk. Yesterday he said I was cold, heartless, and unfeeling. And he named me by name. Next thing you know he'll point out where you live.
posted by norm at 11:08 AM on June 21, 2001

Hmmm, too many layers of sarcasm in my last response to dig through properly. I love everybody!
posted by norm at 11:13 AM on June 21, 2001

Aaron's mad because people, including myself in this post, keep trying to talk for him.

It's really quite simple: Don't use him as your nice pat example of a conservative view point. Don't use him as your example of a maligned MeFi user. Don't mention his name unless you are addressing him in a conversation. Don't treat him as a handy always-present stereotype-in-a-box. Don't assume he disagrees with you because he's identified himself with a different political viewpoint.

The short version: Treat him like a person.
posted by cCranium at 11:17 AM on June 21, 2001

Norm…
posted by rodii at 11:24 AM on June 21, 2001

I want to shit something out of my ass too; Aaron is misunderstood, and we are all just constipated. I don't see how anyone could take his tone as anything but concillitory. Anybody else care to shit anything out of their asses?
posted by Perigee at 11:32 AM on June 21, 2001

Why be constructive when you can be a wiseass, eh?
posted by rodii at 2:55 PM on June 21, 2001

I didn't mean to start a pile-on. I just think aaron's reaction was unusually strong and in fact unreasonable; and since I regard aaron as a reasonable guy, I sincerely wonder whether there is some issue other than the one at hand.

everyone back off, okay? - rcb
posted by rebeccablood at 3:42 PM on June 21, 2001

is it too late to post a kitty picture? cause i just got a new kitty and she's cuuuuuute. also, i kinda thought go to jail day was funny.
posted by sugarfish at 10:10 PM on June 21, 2001

Thanks for all the kitties!
posted by rodii at 10:04 AM on June 22, 2001

Now we need a "Send Your Kitty To Jail and Get An Ice Cream Cone" day.
posted by briank at 10:25 AM on June 22, 2001

We were going to have one, but AARON SAID NO. At least that's what I think he said - rcb was on top of him, and his voice was kind of muffled. She's so mean to him.
posted by CrazyUncleJoe at 11:03 AM on June 22, 2001

Now that's cute! :)
posted by Hackworth at 12:14 PM on June 22, 2001

See, all you gotta do is link a kitty picture, and everybody's happy again.

I just love that this contentious, angry, polemic crowd of geeks can be brought to a screeching halt to look at kitties. Does my weary old heart good.
posted by briank at 12:37 PM on June 22, 2001

He looks so reluctant...
posted by fooljay at 12:40 PM on June 22, 2001

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posted by iceberg273 at 10:42 AM on July 10, 2001

B3TA is always good for kitty pictures.



posted by Fat Buddha at 12:34 PM on July 19, 2002