This is a small thing about which I am a bit paranoid July 9, 2004 10:07 AM Subscribe
This is a small thing about which I am a bit paranoid. Don't some Ask Metafilter questions really amount to fishing for personal information rather than seeking help? Posts 8554, 8555, and 8579 are examples.
There are three things which you must never give out to anybody: your social security number, your credit card number, and your parents' professions.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:15 AM on July 9, 2004
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:15 AM on July 9, 2004
The second one (about Ive League Schools) seems ok to me. Way more information than "did you think it was the best?" should have been given, but I understand the intent (I think).
The first and third should have been deleted immediately since they're exactly what askme shouldn't be (or at least wasn't intended to be): somewhere to chat.
Although the kittens were cute, I also thought the "name my kittens!" thread the other day was extremely lame, as well.
posted by The God Complex at 10:19 AM on July 9, 2004
The first and third should have been deleted immediately since they're exactly what askme shouldn't be (or at least wasn't intended to be): somewhere to chat.
Although the kittens were cute, I also thought the "name my kittens!" thread the other day was extremely lame, as well.
posted by The God Complex at 10:19 AM on July 9, 2004
Yeah, I have to agree with TGC about the chatty lameness of those threads. I'm not too worried about any sort of privacy invasion or attempts at identity theft though.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:32 AM on July 9, 2004
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:32 AM on July 9, 2004
I guess they're chatty, but I like them. Part of getting to know a bit more about y'all. Besides, these kinds of posts have been around for as long as I can remember, they just used to be in MetaTalk (and were usually posted by Miguel).
They certainly do no harm (unless you count bandwidth usage) and if you're not comfortable sharing, don't.
posted by widdershins at 11:26 AM on July 9, 2004
They certainly do no harm (unless you count bandwidth usage) and if you're not comfortable sharing, don't.
posted by widdershins at 11:26 AM on July 9, 2004
Like most folks, I answered the Ivy one with the assumption that it was someone who was investigating their college options. Looking again, though, the post comes across as pretty chatty and self-congratulatory (like TheSquare.com--"Hey kids, are you as glad you went to an Ivy League school as I am?"), and I kinda wish I had ignored it.
posted by LairBob at 11:30 AM on July 9, 2004
posted by LairBob at 11:30 AM on July 9, 2004
Chatty? Maybe, but definitely interesting.
Of course, I love learning about other people's lives. How could this be innapropriate?
posted by jazzkat11 at 12:10 PM on July 9, 2004
Of course, I love learning about other people's lives. How could this be innapropriate?
posted by jazzkat11 at 12:10 PM on July 9, 2004
There are three things which you must never give out to anybody: your social security number, your credit card number, and your parents' professions.
Unless you're, you know, buying something from them, or introducing them to your parents. The idea of not giving out your parents' professions, especially, smacks of security through obscurity.
Runs off to start "hey dudes what's your mother's maiden name?" askme thread
posted by reklaw at 12:39 PM on July 9, 2004
Unless you're, you know, buying something from them, or introducing them to your parents. The idea of not giving out your parents' professions, especially, smacks of security through obscurity.
Runs off to start "hey dudes what's your mother's maiden name?" askme thread
posted by reklaw at 12:39 PM on July 9, 2004
Of course, I love learning about other people's lives. How could this be innapropriate?
Imagine an ask metafilter dominated every day with dozens of threads polling the membership about the boring details of their everyday lives, all in some strange attempt to "know" everybody.
I don't really care to have a dossier on anybody here. I just remember bits and pieces of different people when they come up in the blue or grey. It's a much more interesting way to fill in the image of someone (along with their beliefs, which come out more often in threads) than just having some catalogue of information I refer to in order to "know" them.
And really, that's all these posts are. There's no redeeming informational value contained within them, no resource for people to look back on later and use to their advantage--unless, of course, you're a marketer; then there's a wealth of information. I'm not too worried about the marketing aspect, but I do wonder a little every time I read a have-you-tried-[insert alcoholic beverage here-and-what-did-you-think? threads. But, really, my main beef is that it makes AskMe look like an internet chat forum.
posted by The God Complex at 12:47 PM on July 9, 2004
Imagine an ask metafilter dominated every day with dozens of threads polling the membership about the boring details of their everyday lives, all in some strange attempt to "know" everybody.
I don't really care to have a dossier on anybody here. I just remember bits and pieces of different people when they come up in the blue or grey. It's a much more interesting way to fill in the image of someone (along with their beliefs, which come out more often in threads) than just having some catalogue of information I refer to in order to "know" them.
And really, that's all these posts are. There's no redeeming informational value contained within them, no resource for people to look back on later and use to their advantage--unless, of course, you're a marketer; then there's a wealth of information. I'm not too worried about the marketing aspect, but I do wonder a little every time I read a have-you-tried-[insert alcoholic beverage here-and-what-did-you-think? threads. But, really, my main beef is that it makes AskMe look like an internet chat forum.
posted by The God Complex at 12:47 PM on July 9, 2004
What's the problem with your parents' professions? I don't think I've ever given that to anyone intentionally, so why would it be something to keep secret?
posted by smackfu at 12:50 PM on July 9, 2004
posted by smackfu at 12:50 PM on July 9, 2004
I don't think stuff like this is inappropriate, in the sense that it's offensive, or should be prohibited. It's just not what I come to MeFi/AskMeFi for, personally. To me, there's a big difference between someone asking a question like that because they're really trying to figure out where they want to go to college, and someone who's asking that to bond with fellow Ivy-Leaguers. (Not that I know where the poster actually stood on that spectrum.) The difference isn't whether or not it has a right to be there, just whether or not I'm going to bother paying it much attention.
posted by LairBob at 12:57 PM on July 9, 2004
posted by LairBob at 12:57 PM on July 9, 2004
I thought the parents thread was wonderful to read. A lot of love shone through almost every response and it was fascinating to see people's histories. It all reminded me of one of Miguel's old MeTa threads: 'What's your favourite cocktail?' or somesuch. And as such, not relevant to any part of Metafilter. Nice to read, shouldn't really be here.
Has Miguel ever actually posted a 'what's your favourite cocktail?' thread? Even if he hasn't, that's how he's defined in my mind...
posted by humuhumu at 12:59 PM on July 9, 2004
Has Miguel ever actually posted a 'what's your favourite cocktail?' thread? Even if he hasn't, that's how he's defined in my mind...
posted by humuhumu at 12:59 PM on July 9, 2004
I love the who's your daddy thread. Something about kids summing up their parents' life choices is sweet to me. I hope it goes on and on until all 17K users post to it.
The "name my ____" threads are asinine and should have been deleted. They are a cancer on AskMe.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:01 PM on July 9, 2004
The "name my ____" threads are asinine and should have been deleted. They are a cancer on AskMe.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:01 PM on July 9, 2004
I thought the parents thread was wonderful to read. A lot of love shone through almost every response and it was fascinating to see people's histories. It all reminded me of one of Miguel's old MeTa threads: 'What's your favourite cocktail?' or somesuch. And as such, not relevant to any part of Metafilter. Nice to read, shouldn't really be here.
Oh, I agree completely, which is why I said it should have been deleted immediately. At this point it would just be cruel to delete all the wonderful little tales.
The thing about Miguel's threads was at least they were just one post in an otherwise barren grey landscape--perhaps something to liven it up. On AskMe there are already dozens of threads every day; it certainly doesn't need to be cluttered further.
posted by The God Complex at 1:04 PM on July 9, 2004
Oh, I agree completely, which is why I said it should have been deleted immediately. At this point it would just be cruel to delete all the wonderful little tales.
The thing about Miguel's threads was at least they were just one post in an otherwise barren grey landscape--perhaps something to liven it up. On AskMe there are already dozens of threads every day; it certainly doesn't need to be cluttered further.
posted by The God Complex at 1:04 PM on July 9, 2004
there are basically 2 flavors of askme - solvethis.mefi and discussthis.mefi - and it seems fairly clear that matt has expressed a preference for solvethis.mefi, even if the other sort is occasionally amusing to read.
posted by judith at 4:13 PM on July 9, 2004
posted by judith at 4:13 PM on July 9, 2004
But, really, my main beef is that it makes AskMe look like an internet chat forum.
But that's kinda what it is.
MetaFilter was started as a community weblog dedicated to finding, and linking, the best of the web. Discussion was secondary. In fact, discussion was more useful when it included additional links. MetaTalk's original purpose fit its small number of categories: bugs, MeFi-related, and etiquette/policy.
Ask MeFi, on the other hand, was more relaxed and chatty to begin with. Just ask a question and get answers. With rules like that, it's only natural that people start having "real" conversations; most questions don't have just one answer. More important, most questions have different perspectives to begin with, which can lead to different types of answers. (Hence debate, conversations, life experiences, etc.)
Categories will definitely help Ask MeFi. But this entire site (MeFi, MeTa, AskMeFi) has slowly changed from link-based to comment-based. Sure, links are still required to post on the front page. But the site isn't link-based anymore. (BTW, it hasn't been link-based for years now...even when I joined 2 and a half years ago, it was becoming more chatty; maybe it was 9/11, maybe it was Miguel and company, maybe it was the fact that this site's format can't handle such a large user base)
posted by BlueTrain at 4:30 PM on July 9, 2004
But that's kinda what it is.
MetaFilter was started as a community weblog dedicated to finding, and linking, the best of the web. Discussion was secondary. In fact, discussion was more useful when it included additional links. MetaTalk's original purpose fit its small number of categories: bugs, MeFi-related, and etiquette/policy.
Ask MeFi, on the other hand, was more relaxed and chatty to begin with. Just ask a question and get answers. With rules like that, it's only natural that people start having "real" conversations; most questions don't have just one answer. More important, most questions have different perspectives to begin with, which can lead to different types of answers. (Hence debate, conversations, life experiences, etc.)
Categories will definitely help Ask MeFi. But this entire site (MeFi, MeTa, AskMeFi) has slowly changed from link-based to comment-based. Sure, links are still required to post on the front page. But the site isn't link-based anymore. (BTW, it hasn't been link-based for years now...even when I joined 2 and a half years ago, it was becoming more chatty; maybe it was 9/11, maybe it was Miguel and company, maybe it was the fact that this site's format can't handle such a large user base)
posted by BlueTrain at 4:30 PM on July 9, 2004
But, really, my main beef is that it makes AskMe look like an internet chat forum.
Hear, hear. It is *not* a chat forum, BlueTrain. I don't think you've belonged to a chat forum, per se, if that's what you think. Each of the blue/grey/and green has a specific purpose in mind, and Matt has said time and time again that he doesn't go to all the trouble of coding and hosting these creations just to do what YABB sites can do for free a million other places. It's not a topic-->discuss! free for all. Each site has its utility, and the more we stick to that, the more distinctive and useful they'll remain. The less we stick to that, the more MetaFilter becomes just another internet message board, albeit a hand-crafted one hosted out of someone's closet, and at that point, the only thing it has going for it is closed user signups. And that's a sad day I hope never arrives (if it hasn't already).
More specifically: If any of us really set out on a concerted campaign to keep our personal information out of the hands of the AshKraft Marketing Coalition, there are higher priorities than not participating in AskMe threads of this nature. I think the concern that's closer to home is: what do these threads do for the site? My opinion is: nothing good, and nothing terribly bad. Hardly an endorsement.
posted by scarabic at 4:55 PM on July 9, 2004
Hear, hear. It is *not* a chat forum, BlueTrain. I don't think you've belonged to a chat forum, per se, if that's what you think. Each of the blue/grey/and green has a specific purpose in mind, and Matt has said time and time again that he doesn't go to all the trouble of coding and hosting these creations just to do what YABB sites can do for free a million other places. It's not a topic-->discuss! free for all. Each site has its utility, and the more we stick to that, the more distinctive and useful they'll remain. The less we stick to that, the more MetaFilter becomes just another internet message board, albeit a hand-crafted one hosted out of someone's closet, and at that point, the only thing it has going for it is closed user signups. And that's a sad day I hope never arrives (if it hasn't already).
More specifically: If any of us really set out on a concerted campaign to keep our personal information out of the hands of the AshKraft Marketing Coalition, there are higher priorities than not participating in AskMe threads of this nature. I think the concern that's closer to home is: what do these threads do for the site? My opinion is: nothing good, and nothing terribly bad. Hardly an endorsement.
posted by scarabic at 4:55 PM on July 9, 2004
I would hate to see AskMe dominated by "chatty" threads, but one now and again is fine. All things in moderation, you know.
posted by dg at 4:55 PM on July 9, 2004
posted by dg at 4:55 PM on July 9, 2004
Name my kittens thread? I need to be checking on Ask more often. I like kitties. *goes to look for pictures of kitties*
posted by bargle at 5:46 PM on July 9, 2004
posted by bargle at 5:46 PM on July 9, 2004
I like kitties.
Me too, especially tender, well-done ones with lightly-cooked vegetables and roast potatoes on the side.
posted by dg at 6:27 PM on July 9, 2004
Me too, especially tender, well-done ones with lightly-cooked vegetables and roast potatoes on the side.
posted by dg at 6:27 PM on July 9, 2004
Haha...one of my threads was called out. Actually, isn't the first time.
I actually have a question in mind that's going to be answered by what people post. But my asking the question itself would distract people from giving me the information I want. Let me try to explain.
Let's say I want to see who has bad grammer, for one reason or another. This wouldn't be a good ask MeFi thread, but let's just say that's what I was trying to get at. I wouldn't ask "who has bad grammer", i'd ask something else, and analyze the responses.
So that's kinda what I'm doing. I have something I'm curious about, but I can't ask about it in a straightforward manner, otherwise the answers won't be what I'm looking for.
posted by taumeson at 7:25 PM on July 9, 2004
I actually have a question in mind that's going to be answered by what people post. But my asking the question itself would distract people from giving me the information I want. Let me try to explain.
Let's say I want to see who has bad grammer, for one reason or another. This wouldn't be a good ask MeFi thread, but let's just say that's what I was trying to get at. I wouldn't ask "who has bad grammer", i'd ask something else, and analyze the responses.
So that's kinda what I'm doing. I have something I'm curious about, but I can't ask about it in a straightforward manner, otherwise the answers won't be what I'm looking for.
posted by taumeson at 7:25 PM on July 9, 2004
Let's say I want to see who has bad grammer, for one reason or another.
When you're done with that one, maybe you can ask about bad spelling.
posted by briank at 4:46 AM on July 10, 2004
When you're done with that one, maybe you can ask about bad spelling.
posted by briank at 4:46 AM on July 10, 2004
When you're done with that one, maybe you can ask about bad spelling.
Priceless.
posted by Witty at 9:59 AM on July 12, 2004
Priceless.
posted by Witty at 9:59 AM on July 12, 2004
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posted by Mo Nickels at 10:08 AM on July 9, 2004