Election fatigue.

October 25, 2004 9:22 PM

Election Fatigue. Could we put all the US Election links and discussion in just 1 front page post per day. Tempers are flaring, and the level of discourse is not improving. The moratorium was not successful. Besides, sometimes I want to reference a comment or link, and can't find it in the welter of election postings.
posted by theora55 to Etiquette/Policy at 9:22 PM (38 comments total)

I vote for that, seeing as the moratorium didn't happen: can we have one FPP for "Today's US Election News", Matt?
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:33 PM on October 25, 2004

1. Virtually no one knew about the moratorium because it was not announced anywhere but here.
2. We have only a week to go (we all hope). I say grit your teeth and live with it until then.
posted by pmurray63 at 9:34 PM on October 25, 2004

See, there's only one person who can make this happen, and his initials are MH. I've already given my award-winning recipe for red velvet cake, so I'm fresh out of incentives--does anyone else have any for The Big Guy?
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:53 PM on October 25, 2004

We did it for Michael Moore/F-911. We did it for something else rather minor (so minor I've forgotten what it was). I've suggested this at least 3 times in the last 2 months. (I know, I'm a broken record.) Number of responses: 0.
posted by dobbs at 10:19 PM on October 25, 2004

There does seem to be an unhealthy level of tension around here. Hey Matt, just for old times' sake, how 'bout you tell us all to chill the fuck out?
posted by Galvatron at 10:35 PM on October 25, 2004

pmurray, on point 2, remember this:

"Why Kerry should have won"
"How the US is now fucked"
"Why big oil now owns the country"

etc etc etc. The list could go on ad infinitum.
posted by shepd at 10:35 PM on October 25, 2004

If Kerry wins I think the political fpp will die down as soon as the euphoria dies down.

If bush wins, all hell is going to break on mefi.
posted by justgary at 11:15 PM on October 25, 2004

If bush wins, all hell is going to break on mefi.

I think that may well be the least of it, justgary.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:51 PM on October 25, 2004

I've a better idea. How 'bout a weekly MeTa thread for everyone to complain about PoliticsFilter, NewsFilter, SomethingPrettyBigIsGoingOnFilter, OutsideWorldFilter, MaybeYouDon'tHaveToSpendSoMuchTimeGawkingAtABunchOfPhosphors/LEDsFilter and anything of that ilk.

That one could run forever...
posted by i_cola at 2:11 AM on October 26, 2004

Weeell, way I see it (chewing gum, and spitting somewhat, like some Okie, sat on a porch, wittling and maybe playing banjo.)

You've two kinds of folk on MetaFilter. There's them that try to get along, who try not to step on the toes of the other users, who think that compaining rationally is the way to solve the current excess of Election posts. I like to call them people Democrats.

Then you have those that see Metafilter as their own personal blog. They'll post whatever they want, will not listen to criticism, will offer half arsed excuses for trampling other peoples desires into the ground. They're loud, voracious and rude. These are the people responsible for the excess of ElectionFilter posts, and I like to call them Republicans.

{whittles a little bit more, takes a shot of rotgut, looks at the moon }

Now, much as it pains me to say this, my great experience tell me, that in these situations the Republicans will always win.
posted by seanyboy at 4:21 AM on October 26, 2004

I'm sick and tired of the letter "G." I think there should be a two-day moratium on any thread containing a word that uses that letter.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 4:46 AM on October 26, 2004

Since this didn't happen, I don't think a moratorium on election posts would be fair... unless I'm missing something.
posted by banished at 5:13 AM on October 26, 2004

Feeing from reality. Could we put all the links and discussion about important, pivotal events in just 1 front page post per day. Tempers are flaring, and the level of discourse is not improving. The moratorium no one knew about was not successful. Besides, sometimes I want to reference a comment or link, and can't find it in the welter of postings about the topic on everyone's mind.
posted by y6y6y6 at 5:15 AM on October 26, 2004

"sometimes I want to reference a comment or link, and can't find it in the welter of election postings"

If you have that much trouble finding a link )hyperbole(, then the obvious solution is to put all NON-election posts in one thread.
posted by mischief at 6:12 AM on October 26, 2004

bush really really sux0rz.
posted by quonsar at 7:22 AM on October 26, 2004

We definitely need more space for celebrity obits and cats with shit on their heads.

No, seriously. I would agree to this if we promise to post one celebrity obit thread per year, and just keep adding to it as people die.

(I did like the cat with shit on its head, though.)
posted by jpoulos at 7:28 AM on October 26, 2004

The level of discourse is low because (1) everyone basically agrees with each other; (2) people who disagree, are cursed at; (3) I am on sabbatical.

May (most of) you stew in four years of paranoia and depression of the second Bush Administration (or as a "consolation prize"), four years of a Republican Congress neutralizing the Flippy Floppy Core-less Man).

PS: I am now terrified that Kerry may win.
posted by ParisParamus at 7:48 AM on October 26, 2004

Election Filter Callout Fatigue. Could we put all the suggestions and comments (negative or positive) about election and political related posts in just 1 post that remains at the top of MetaTalk every day? It's almost becoming like a rampant repost...
posted by juiceCake at 7:59 AM on October 26, 2004

The level of discourse is low because ..... I am on sabbatical. posted by ParisParamus

HOWL!!!!!!

Paris, you are a performance artist, aren't you? You get together with Ann Coulter and plan what to do next, and the planning is so exciting for both of you that it leads to hot pig sex. And then the two of you sit up in bed afterwards, and have a smoke, and laugh at us all for taking the bait every time.
posted by orange swan at 8:42 AM on October 26, 2004

It's almost becoming like a rampant repost...

It is a rampant repost and it is quite disheartening that the people who do all of the ElectionFilter posting aren't willing to give an inch despite being confronted with what many people find to be a problem. This whole boondoggle is like a microcosmic version of America and the Bush administration.

Now that is irony.
posted by sciurus at 8:51 AM on October 26, 2004

PS: I am now terrified that Kerry may win.


posted by darukaru at 11:03 AM on October 26, 2004

Performance artist? I am a poor, pitiful progressive with sanity who lives in Liberal Park Slope, where almost everyone is sleepwalking into Osama (or his successors's) acrimony trap. G-d save us.
posted by ParisParamus at 12:00 PM on October 26, 2004

I'm sick and tired of the letter "G." I think there should be a two-day moratium on any thread containing a word that uses that letter.

Yeah, but you also tried to fill a Zippo with butane.
posted by Krrrlson at 12:50 PM on October 26, 2004

It is a rampant repost and it is quite disheartening that the people who do all of the ElectionFilter posting aren't willing to give an inch despite being confronted with what many people find to be a problem.

As are the posts about ElectionFilter and it is quite disheartening that people who do all the AboutElectionFilter posting aren't willing to give an inch (or scroll a few) despite being confronted with what many people don't find to be a problem.

But what would one expect with a gathering of individuals but differing interpretations?

Waits to be called an Anti-Sethite...
posted by juiceCake at 12:57 PM on October 26, 2004

PP, what happened to your SABBATICAL?

To quote th' Immortal Bard--

Stand not upon the order of your going, but for God's sake GO!
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:19 PM on October 26, 2004

My sabbatical is intact. I have not commented in one single Metafilter thread since said hiatus was announced. Metatalk: grey area. AskMefi: different universe.
posted by ParisParamus at 2:16 PM on October 26, 2004

Correction. I commented in the Red Sox thread. That's it.
posted by ParisParamus at 2:55 PM on October 26, 2004

As are the posts about ElectionFilter and it is quite disheartening that people who do all the AboutElectionFilter posting aren't willing to give an inch (or scroll a few) despite being confronted with what many people don't find to be a problem.

Oh we've been willing to compromise quite a bit. We suggested having all the posts in one thread and we even begged for a one day hiatus. The only responses we get are Shut Up and Scroll Past.

My point is that being willing to modify behavior because it disturbs others builds community. Saying 'Nuh UH!' and 'Shut Up' does the opposite.
posted by sciurus at 3:01 PM on October 26, 2004

"we even begged for a one day hiatus"

... and the next day, they could post nothing BUT political threads.

Also, I noticed that in the last MeTalk on this subject, no one took up my challenge to show specifically how political posts are an actual problem.

My point is that being willing to tolerate others interests while following your own builds community.

"Saying ... 'Shut Up' does the opposite."

Exactly! ;-P
posted by mischief at 4:06 PM on October 26, 2004

Oh we've been willing to compromise quite a bit.

As have those on the other end of the spectrum I believe. I have to admit I am unaware of a "we" or distinct groups here, but then I don't believe in groupthink and the like.

My point is that being willing to modify behavior because it disturbs others builds community. Saying 'Nuh UH!' and 'Shut Up' does the opposite.

Absolutely. But then surely you knew I knew that, just like stating that you don't have a problem with it is not saying 'Nuh UH!' or 'Shut Up'. But I know you know that too.

I look to this as somehow being a definitive statement about the entire issue:

Why are you doing nothing about it, Matt? Do you like the tone that is taking over MeFi increasingly every single day?

I edit with a light hand and although I'd agree a handful of the posts you referenced sucked, they didn't quite suck enough to be removed. Deleting lots of posts is a pain in the ass for me to manage, which is why I generally hope people act accordingly and only remove the most egregious posts.
posted by mathowie at 11:20 AM PST on June 15

Seth was clearly looking to be a MetaAdvisor, perhaps others are as well.
posted by juiceCake at 4:58 PM on October 26, 2004

Good God, Paris. You posted your dramatic FAREWELL in the Grey, and now you're back in the Grey, posting away. This "sabbatical" is a joke. You're like a 14 year old cam kid who, in a tantrum, changes their website to an all-black "IT'S OVER BYE" page, only to show up again a week later one night when nothing good's on TV.

First, I grant you, it was just furtive visits to the Green. Then it was politics in the green, with only the barest semblance of a question tacked on, now you're back in the Grey as well, obviously lurking in the Blue, and once you even posted there. Here we are, only 16 days into your 25 day "season sabbatical," which you felt was important enough to announce in a MeTa post, and you're picking nits over how you only occasionally break your vow to stay away from 1 out of 3 sites.

WHAT. FRIGGIN. SABBATICAL? DOOD. NEED. ATTENTION. MUCH?
posted by scarabic at 5:14 PM on October 26, 2004

shh...you'll only encourage him, scarabic.
posted by amberglow at 5:47 PM on October 26, 2004

I'm just fuckin' with him. I don't really care whether he wants to keep his vow of celibacy.
posted by scarabic at 6:04 PM on October 26, 2004

no one took up my challenge to show specifically how political posts are an actual problem.

Let me tell you a little parable:

A guy I live next to loves the Disney song 'It's a Small World.' Freaking loves it. He blasts it from his stereo 24 hours a day. Now, the radio reception in my apartment is really good, and I like to listen to a variety of programs, but the constant blasting of 'It's a Small World' only enables me to listen to the radio if I stick it and my head under a pillow.

So one day I went to the neighbor and asked him to turn down the music. He said "Why? I like the song. No one else has complained." I explained that it was preventing me from enjoying my own musical interests because it drowns out my radio. He said, "sucks to be you." and slammed the door. So I called the cops to file a complaint. They said "yeah that would suck." and that was it.

So I asked the neighbor to turn down 'It's a Small World' once again. This time he just told me to move somewhere else.

Seth was clearly looking to be a MetaAdvisor, perhaps others are as well.

Unlike Seth, I'm not bitching about/to Matt, shitting in ElectionFilter threads and all that. I'm just trying to get someone to explain to me why I and others shouldn't ask to have the music turned down.
posted by sciurus at 6:00 AM on October 27, 2004

Of course, sciurus, that's completely apt. The way we're forcing you to read political threads and how there's no way you can avoid looking at them is intolerable.

Oh. Wait.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 7:01 AM on October 27, 2004

That's it, I'm only posting Flash things about kittens from now on.
posted by sciurus at 7:27 AM on October 27, 2004

You've two kinds of folk on MetaFilter. There's them that try to get along, who try not to step on the toes of the other users, who think that compaining rationally is the way to solve the current excess of Election posts. I like to call them people Democrats.

Then you have those that see Metafilter as their own personal blog. They'll post whatever they want, will not listen to criticism, will offer half arsed excuses for trampling other peoples desires into the ground. They're loud, voracious and rude. These are the people responsible for the excess of ElectionFilter posts, and I like to call them Republicans.

i'd like to think that most of us fit in neither category. i'd guess there's a couple hundred in the first group, less than 25 in the 2nd, and about 17,000 as independents, who neither despair about the political posts, nor offer up our opinions du jour.

your analogy is way off-base, imo, and your partisanship is embarrassing.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:57 PM on October 27, 2004

i'd guess there's a couple hundred in the first group, less than 25 in the 2nd,

Yeah, too bad that ratio isn't reflected in the posts, too.
posted by scarabic at 7:43 PM on October 28, 2004