Stuff we didn't need to know

November 28, 2004 3:57 AM

ARBITRARY: Did you know I'm masturbating with my free hand as I write this?! [m.i.]
posted by naxosaxur to etiquette/policy at 3:57 AM (105 comments total)

See? You didn't need to know that, now did you? Well, I don't need to know this is your first post or your first comment. It's of no relevance. Can we stop with this egregious trend? Or maybe every time you share with metafilter that it's your first post/comment, I can share with you the first time I got fingered, tried anal, dropped acid, felt tits, shoplifted, etc...see, it gets old fast, doesn't it?
posted by naxosaxur at 3:58 AM on November 28, 2004

Sound like a reasonable tradeoff to me.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 4:09 AM on November 28, 2004

Whoah, easy there. What's so wrong with someone mentioning it's their first post or comment within an FPP?

In most cases it's merely a passive mention and doesn't detract from the content, and under the circumstances (new signups) it's expected.

There are even those who simply haven't posted in years who make a quick mention of it.

And what might masturbation and anal sex have to do with all this, that's a bit extreme don't you think?

Questioning or criticizing an FPP content is one thing, getting this worked up about a side-mention of a 1st post/comment and comparing it to feeling tits and anal sex is, well... anal retentive. It's splitting hairs (no pun), as well as downright out of line.

Lighten up.
posted by bluedaniel at 4:38 AM on November 28, 2004

While most of us here have heard of slashdot, that doesn't mean we engauge in the same sort of in-jokery. "First post!" comments, Natalie Portman references, and such will more likely enlicit jaded stares than howls of laughter. In fact, the AskMetaFilter thread on excessive Simpsons/Monty Python quoting is likely to become required reading for some of the newfolk as time progresses.
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:38 AM on November 28, 2004

sounds like you're going to have lots of 'splainin' to do.
posted by moonbird at 4:38 AM on November 28, 2004

what bluedaniel said.....jeez, I haven't seen such an extreme reaction to something since I eat some dodgy seafood and my leg came out in a rash.
posted by SpaceCadet at 4:44 AM on November 28, 2004

And so the new wave of nastiness begins. Naxosaxur I have only one word to say to you.

Huh?
posted by feelinglistless at 4:50 AM on November 28, 2004

Somewhat related to a MeTa post I made some time ago. Different phenomenon, but annoying for the same reasons.

More generally, it's people talking about their posts, in their posts. In my opinion it's jarring, unnecessary and bad form; and I thought precisely the same thing when I read the sleep paralysis post.

Check Matt's response:
"There are other, older threads in metatalk about this sort of metacommentary. It's lame in whatever form it takes, and in the past I've taken to deleting parts of posts featuring people talking about their post, why they posted it, or warning others to go easy on their first post.

Don't talk about your post within your post, just freaking post something good and be done with it."
posted by nthdegx at 5:00 AM on November 28, 2004

However, if your original post had been expressed less cryprically, naxosuxur; and simply said "New people, please stop pointing out it's your first post" perhaps more new people would have read it and taken it on board.
posted by nthdegx at 5:02 AM on November 28, 2004

people have been quietly mentioning their first post or comment for about... oh, 5.5 years now. people always seem to react so nicely, saying welcome and giving pointers. sure we've had a lot of new members at once the past few wks, so there are a hell of a lot more instances of it, but come on...
posted by t r a c y at 5:05 AM on November 28, 2004

nthdegx, that's too boring. Apparently I make everyone uncomfortable talking about penis in vagina? My point is that whether or not someone adds "first post" into their fpp is completely immaterial to the content and quality. Therefore, mentioning seks in my post is of no consequence to my complaint. Hence my example by dissonance and incongruence…not to mention that i proffer superfluous, unnecessary information. Inappropriate, if you will. Just as I feel that a protocol should be adhered to in the blue. Just as Matt had stated in the link above. Why the hell would anyone want to hear about the time i choked on a dick? Exactly the reason why i wouldn't want to know if it's your first post...

Listen, it's only been like 3 days of sampling the neophyte posters, and already it seems that everyone is supar keen to mention that they are popping their fpp cherry. HAY, DID I DO THIS RITE?
posted by naxosaxur at 5:05 AM on November 28, 2004

I understood your point, naxosaxur, and if you wish to discuss mine or any penis I'm more than willing; however, sometimes putting things as plainly as possible is a good thing. I bet there are pushed for time readers that wouldn't want to click your links to discover what your point is.
posted by nthdegx at 5:12 AM on November 28, 2004

nthdegx - I can understand if someone fills their post/comment with a significant portion of it being justification of the post/comment, et al. But we're talking about someone simply mentioning it's their first post, that's all. As t r a c y wrote, it's been this way since ever, and normally people simply react in kind, and toss out some pointers etc. if need be.

naxosaxur - again, for fuck's sake, I cannot for the life of me see the comparison of mentioning "hey, this is my first post/comment by the way" within an FPP to "Would anyone want to hear about the time I choked on a dick?"

Get. Over. Your. Self.
posted by bluedaniel at 5:15 AM on November 28, 2004

You are really limiting your inferences and interpretations if you can't comprehend my analogy.

preview: so bluedaniel, you don't want to hear any of my stories?
posted by naxosaxur at 5:17 AM on November 28, 2004

Erm. Which part of "I understood your point" did you not understand?
posted by nthdegx at 5:19 AM on November 28, 2004

Hey, I have the coffee on, it's early, I have the Bill Evans spinning (on air), I'm all ears! Bagel?

And yes, please pardon, as it IS early and my comprehension often chokes on a dick this early in the day (baaaad sleep last night).

Anyone want a tune this morning?
posted by bluedaniel at 5:21 AM on November 28, 2004

Relax. Everyone only gets a first post once, and then it will pass. Unless it's filling a page or something, just live and let live.

Now lets hear those dick choking stories.
posted by Bugbread at 5:37 AM on November 28, 2004

This is my 76th comment to MeTa!!! Hay guys be nice, okeey?!
posted by naxosaxur at 5:43 AM on November 28, 2004

fwiw, I totally agree with naxosaxur. (643rd meta comment. w00t!)
posted by jpoulos at 6:07 AM on November 28, 2004

"MI is for pussies" - posted by naxosaxur at 9:50 PM PST on November 27, 2004

"Did you know I'm masturbating with my free hand as I write this?! [m.i.]" - posted by naxosaxur at 3:57 AM PST on November 28, 2004
posted by nthdegx at 6:21 AM on November 28, 2004

Erm. Which part of "I understood your point" did you not understand?
posted by nthdegx at 5:19 AM PST on November 28

Apologies due. I so very misread that. 'Dazed and confused at this early morning. Coffee? Anyone? Need. Coffee.
posted by bluedaniel at 6:30 AM on November 28, 2004

Can we stop with this egregious trend?

1. Newbies have the highest motivation to introduce themselves.

2. Newbies are the group least likely to follow MetaTalk.

3. Sign-ups are likely to remain open in the future.

Conclusion: nope, you're screwed.
posted by catachresoid at 6:39 AM on November 28, 2004

While I agree that declarations of first post are sort of meaningless to the thread, they certainly don't hurt the thread and they aren't examples of "masturbating while I'm writing this" (and yes, I got your analogy). If anything, they are people who are nervous about their first post; people who want their first post to be accepted without any major hassles; people who don't want to be flamed. And that, my friend, is not meaningless. We go on and on about how metafilter is a community, and in communities we communicate not only ideas but our thoughts and feelings. What's wrong with that? Obviously, there are negative aspects to too much communication, but I don't think this is the case here.

Naxosaur, ya don't have to be so critical. This sounds more like a pet peeve than a policy/etiquette issue.
posted by ashbury at 6:40 AM on November 28, 2004

"MI is for pussies" - posted by naxosaxur at 9:50 PM PST on November 27, 2004

"Did you know I'm masturbating with my free hand as I write this?! [m.i.]" - posted by naxosaxur at 3:57 AM PST on November 28, 2004

yeah, but this time, nthdegx, there really was more inside, wink-wink.

You, naxo - leave the kids alone. ...And go wash your hands.
posted by taz at 6:45 AM on November 28, 2004

Perhaps the reason they are a little more cognizant of their posting style is because of elitist twits such as yourself, and the realization that this is a community of high expectations. Maybe they do it by way of explanation for any errors in linking, etc.
Certainly seems somewhat more germane than what you are doing with your cock at any given moment. But thanks for sharing just the same.
posted by docpops at 7:37 AM on November 28, 2004

*cries, takes off glasses, wipes eyes*
posted by bonaldi at 7:40 AM on November 28, 2004

The baby jesus is going to be very upset.
posted by adampsyche at 7:55 AM on November 28, 2004

This is my first MeTa comment. I HOPE I DID IT RIGHT!!!
posted by mechagrue at 7:56 AM on November 28, 2004

Did you not notice a hint of sarcasm, in this post, nthdegx?
posted by adampsyche at 7:57 AM on November 28, 2004

maybe every time you share with metafilter that it's your first post/comment, I can share with you the first time I got fingered

knock yourself out. I think the first post thing is fine for the reasons ashbury outlined and the additional knowledge that once sign-ups die down, there will be fewer and fewer of them. It's germane, or the poster thinks it is. Your sex life may or may not be, though the dick-choking story sounds potentially appealing.
posted by jessamyn at 7:59 AM on November 28, 2004

wow, another dick from New York trying to impose some bullshit on everyone else.
posted by orange clock at 8:09 AM on November 28, 2004

Now lets hear those dick choking stories.

Let me guess, was it the time you tried to eat the entire bucket of cocks?
posted by filmgoerjuan at 8:14 AM on November 28, 2004

I don't see the connection with sex...the phrasing of this post seems rather immature and attention-seeking to me.

However, I do agree with the basic point: it's silly and tedious to point out that a post or comment is your first. Congratulations...but it's not exactly like riding a bike for the first time, or reading your first book all by yourself. I don't think people should refer to themselves at ALL in posts (as opposed to comments), personally...makes Metafilter read too much like a personal blog. But if you simply must, make it for a better, more compelling reason than this.
posted by rushmc at 8:30 AM on November 28, 2004

or reading your first book all by yourself

man rushmc, how do you find time to eat?
posted by docpops at 8:52 AM on November 28, 2004

As a first-time poster linked to in your MT, let me say that I offer you a thousand teary apologies for wasting your precious time with such a heinous, unwelcome sentence. Indeed, had I known that those 18 words would be such an egregious offense to you I would have stayed mine fingers, but the past is the past and what's done is done...all I can do now is ask, neigh, beg for your grace and forgiveness. Please, wonderful naxosaxur, I'll do anything.

Yes, this is mock prostration. We all see something minorly irksome on MeFi every once in a while. Many of us just have the good sense to ignore it.
posted by baphomet at 8:54 AM on November 28, 2004

This thread wasted more of my time and caused me more irritation than all the "this is my first post" comments combined. Just a data point.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 9:21 AM on November 28, 2004

Example number two.

Fuck, you people are a whiny bunch.
posted by PissOnYourParade at 9:41 AM on November 28, 2004

orangle clock, it hasn't taken you very long to establish yourself as a putz and a schnorrer hereabouts. From the depths of my Lower East Side DNA, then: tokhis oyfn tish.
posted by adamgreenfield at 9:47 AM on November 28, 2004

I just want to send a shout out to everybody with my First Comment and ask Nax to please bring on the first time anal, etc., etc.
;)
posted by atchafalaya at 9:49 AM on November 28, 2004

Baphomet: Especially back in the days where we weren't able to bitch about it. That was rough, putting up with all the wankery. Now that I can post (subtle, eh?) I too can generate complaints about aspects of MeFi that bug only me.
posted by ChrisR at 10:15 AM on November 28, 2004

.sdrawkcab detsop ev'i emit tsrif eht si siht
posted by drezdn at 10:17 AM on November 28, 2004

this is my 8,929th comment, so be gentle.
posted by quonsar at 10:31 AM on November 28, 2004

sorry, Tlogmer. perhaps I should have put the caveat "bizarre and disturbing" in bold. forgive me, it's my first post.
posted by exlotuseater at 1:37 AM EST on November 28

does this make you feel better?
posted by exlotuseater at 10:40 AM on November 28, 2004

What a stupid thing to get so worked up over... jeez.
posted by kryptondog at 10:54 AM on November 28, 2004

man rushmc, how do you find time to eat?
posted by docpops at 8:52 AM PST on November 28

He speed eats.

I mean, reads.
posted by kamylyon at 11:07 AM on November 28, 2004

This is my second post in this thread, please don't masterbate to it.
posted by drezdn at 11:13 AM on November 28, 2004

Too late. *unf*
posted by loquacious at 11:22 AM on November 28, 2004

Baphomet, that second paragragh was uncalled for! *brings out shovel of shame for heaping on second helping*
posted by Dick Paris at 11:35 AM on November 28, 2004

Of all the idiotic things to get so worked up about that one would write a MeTa post...
posted by Space Coyote at 11:46 AM on November 28, 2004

It's a wee touch annoying, but benign. n00bs will be n00bs. At least it's an offense you can only commit once. And it's nowhere near as annoying as opening a MeTa thread to say "HI! I'm new!"

You're a little shrill with the tits and fucks, naxosaxur. I'm not the least bit shocked to hear about your first fingering, I just don't see how it bears on this (non)issue in the slightest.
posted by scarabic at 12:40 PM on November 28, 2004

*gives noogies*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:04 PM on November 28, 2004

In general, people shouldn't be assholes.
posted by Hildago at 1:43 PM on November 28, 2004

I thought this post linked to all of the racy stuff being posted to MeFi these days. Sadly, no, just another complaint about newbies.
posted by onlyconnect at 2:11 PM on November 28, 2004

Has anybody ever made a Metatalk thread about another Metatalk thread?
posted by Kleptophoria! at 2:16 PM on November 28, 2004

That happened once, but all the members' heads exploded simultaneously in a freak synchronous episode, and the poor unfortunates had to be replaced by all-new users. Be careful where you tread.
posted by taz at 2:53 PM on November 28, 2004

if we're going to bitch about things we don't need to know from mefites, can i add that it's tiresome to hear the guys "casually" mention their sexual exploits with women ("ah, i knew a woman who was crazy in bed. hee hee.") at the drop of a hat? someone new's been good at making fun of it when it comes up (thank christ, someone has to), and yeah, it makes the baby Jesus titter/eyeroll.
posted by ifjuly at 3:01 PM on November 28, 2004

I agree with naxosaxur (and Matt) that the "first post" thing is annoying. I agree with nthdegx that the phrasing of the complaint was perhaps counterproductive. And I agree with taz about the exploding heads.
*waits to hear about the first time everyone got fingered*
posted by languagehat at 3:03 PM on November 28, 2004

Once I pulled a job with some of the old gang from the neighborhood, but what d'ya know, Bugsy comes down with a bad case of the flu - projectile vomiting, the whole nine yards. So we replace him with this new guy, see? But the new guy gets nabbed for another heist the day after our caper, and when the coppers pulled him in, he spills everything and fingers me and the boys for the second sting. Bad, bad experience, my first fingering.
posted by taz at 3:12 PM on November 28, 2004 [1 favorite]

i heart taz
posted by bonaldi at 3:31 PM on November 28, 2004

i <3 taz, she makes everything better
posted by t r a c y at 3:34 PM on November 28, 2004

damn you bonaldi, i saw her first...!
posted by t r a c y at 3:35 PM on November 28, 2004

naxosaxur - I can share with you the first time I got fingered, tried anal, dropped acid, felt tits, shoplifted...

Personally, I'm quite interested. naxxxosaxxxur.metafilter.com, Matt?
posted by frecklefaerie at 3:57 PM on November 28, 2004

I'm guessing the "felt tits" thing was around 12 or 13 years old, or in infancy?
posted by kenko at 4:38 PM on November 28, 2004

adamgreenfield, I think you have a great website.
posted by orange clock at 4:42 PM on November 28, 2004

He looks nice in slacks, too.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:40 PM on November 28, 2004

Re: my vast compendium of pornographic exploits, i'm regretful to admit that it is only on the intarnets that i'm not a virgin :(
posted by naxosaxur at 5:51 PM on November 28, 2004

it's tiresome to hear the guys "casually" mention their sexual exploits with women ("ah, i knew a woman who was crazy in bed. hee hee.") at the drop of a hat? someone new's been good at making fun of it when it comes up (thank christ, someone has to)

Wow, not only has this bragging happened so often that it's irritated someone, it's happened often enough for someone to make a career out of swatting it down. The swatting itself has happened so often that someone noticed how good it was. And all this in the short span of time *after* the newbie invasion. Geez. The tales of sexual exploits must indeed have been coming in fast and furious - so fast and furious, in fact, that not a single link need be offered as an example, let alone a string of 4, such as is seen in this (albeit much maligned) thread. Hoho! Oh no! I once knew a woman who liked to make vague sexist generalizations - but she was such a tiger in the sack that I forgave her.
posted by scarabic at 5:52 PM on November 28, 2004

Has anybody ever made a Metatalk thread about another Metatalk thread?

well, there was this.
posted by quonsar at 6:10 PM on November 28, 2004

Just some thoughts.

It is rather stupid to complain about one small part of what was otherwise a good post.

Second, it seems like that the "first post" status would have been called out in a comment, if the author did not explicitly point out out first.

Third, an invitation to comment and criticize the post, is much less annoying to me than some of the more lame affectations and running jokes such as " creepy comments ensue.," "I, for one, wecome our new ... overlords" and of course the frequent reappearance of The. Worst. Emote. Ever. (almost always appended to links that are not the best of the web and not worth viewing.)

As a 15 year citizen of the net, people asking "how can I make this post better?" is a breath of fresh air.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 6:47 PM on November 28, 2004

Listen, I understand naxosaxur's annoyance- However, as I am one of the people that he used as an example, let me just say that although I don't need everyones' approval, I did want to make a decent post my first time (and hopefully most of the time).

So I posted. after opening the drapes and seeing the 19,284 other pairs of eyes, closing them back up.

and when someone made a relatively innocuous comment, I wanted to address it, so basically said "sorry dude, it's my first time, I'll try to do better." It turned out to be moot anyway. I had misread the tone.

It is not as if I prefaced the post with "w00t! my first p0St EVAR!!!1111" in bold. underlined.

Whatever. The bottom line is that I have been watching for a long while, I have a sense of respect for the level of the discourse and the people here (most of the time), and I can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but I can never please all of the people all of the time.

and I certainly can't do it a second time, so at least I don't have to worry about anyone yelling at me for that one again.
posted by exlotuseater at 7:32 PM on November 28, 2004

Worst. MetaWhinging. Evah.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:32 PM on November 28, 2004

Wait. Are there actually people here who are worried about not being told that they made a crappy post?

Just post, and you'll get what's coming to ya.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 7:45 PM on November 28, 2004

Y'know what MetaTalk needs?

Lots of old users posting feckless threads to whine about new users posting feckless comments.

Also? Irony.
posted by cribcage at 8:25 PM on November 28, 2004

naxosaxur is like hunter s. thompson without the strange, other-worldly humour. or the writing skills. or henry miller without the (entertaining) sex. or the writing skills.
posted by The God Complex at 8:34 PM on November 28, 2004

I can please all of the people some of the time

Now if anyone wants to hear about the first time I did THAT, then you're going to have to drop in a quarter first.
posted by scarabic at 8:38 PM on November 28, 2004

cribcage: please cite specific instances of threads demonstrating a lack of feck. Thank you.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 9:26 PM on November 28, 2004

naxosaxur is like hunter s. thompson without the strange, other-worldly humour. or the writing skills. or henry miller without the (entertaining) sex. or the writing skills.

It was better the first time.
posted by rooftop secrets at 9:44 PM on November 28, 2004

It was better the first time.

Wow! You noticed it the first time?!!!???!?!

(it's what we in da biz refer to as a 'callback')
posted by The God Complex at 9:46 PM on November 28, 2004

Oh whew. Glad to hear it's not what we call "plagiarism" or, in some circles, "stealin' shit whut ain't yo"
posted by scarabic at 9:58 PM on November 28, 2004

doh! there's a long tradition of repeating particularly good insults or quips around this dump. pay attn, people, pay attn.
posted by t r a c y at 10:10 PM on November 28, 2004

nobody will care about my rampant plagiarism until i use it in my memoirs.
posted by The God Complex at 10:14 PM on November 28, 2004

How about:
naxosaxur is like angry modem without the witing skills. or the anus.

But really, if we didn't have newbies pointing out their first posts/comments, we might also miss out on the humorless, oversensitive and generally cranky old users declaring "This is my LAST comment here at MetaFilter". And then we wouldn't have the unbridled joy of laughing at the 50% of them who eventually come back.

BTW, I am operating an industrial lathe with my free hand as I write this.
posted by wendell at 10:24 PM on November 28, 2004

I agree the issue is no big deal, but it's better to bring anything to MeTa (no matter how inconsequential) than it is to shit in the thread. Also, denying MeTa its inconsequences is to deny many of us a bit of fun.
posted by nthdegx at 10:39 PM on November 28, 2004

Wow. All this talk about whining about talking about whining about is giving me the urge.

Pardon me. I'm gonna go rub one out before bedtime. I'll tell you all about it in the morning.



This is my last post of the night. Be gentle.
posted by chicobangs at 11:09 PM on November 28, 2004

The God Complex is like Stephen Ambrose without the WWII or the writing skills, or Dan Brown without the bestsellers or the writing skills.

Still it was damn funny though.
posted by drezdn at 11:18 PM on November 28, 2004

That was my crappiest post in this thread, please don't call me at work to threaten my coworkers.
posted by drezdn at 11:55 PM on November 28, 2004

I've always thought of myself as something of a dilettante dilettante, but when I write it out it looks funny.
posted by The God Complex at 12:03 AM on November 29, 2004

dilettante²
posted by exlotuseater at 3:18 AM on November 29, 2004

i don't WANT to be exposed to "first post"!

seriously, it's nice to see first posts. really. some good new stuff now that the new users have posting ability. this is what we wanted when the mefi community asked matt to open new user signups. get over it.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:08 AM on November 29, 2004

naxosaxur has been a member of Metafilter since April 2, 2004. That’s eight months before Matt re-opened membership. Is naxosaxur really an ‘old member?’ Does this mean that quonsar can call everyone who joined up after May 2000 a ‘Newbie?’ At what point are ‘Newbies’ no longer new?
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 8:27 AM on November 29, 2004

Oh for god's sake. naxosaxur has been around long enough to complain about things; what she's complaining about may not be the most important thing in the world, but that's hardly enough to justify a pileon. She's not attacking newbies, just wishing they'd stop saying "this is my first post, please be kind!" It's already annoying to me, and I think it will turn out to be annoying to you after you've seen it hundreds of times in the coming weeks as all these shiny new posters (and I love them dearly) presenting their rumps as they post. Just make the post, OK? If we want to kick you, we will, whatever you say or do.

Also, naxo's very nice. Come to a Joisey meetup sometime and find out for yourself.
posted by languagehat at 8:46 AM on November 29, 2004

HAY, DID I DO THIS RITE?
posted by naxosaxur at 5:05 AM PST on November 28

languagehat, that seemed like a bit of an attack to me.

For the record, I agree with both naxosaxur and yourself. The "this is my first post'" comments are unnecessary.

A flourish of trumpets heralding a first post, though-- that would be cool.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:07 AM on November 29, 2004

I'd just like to say that my first post included the "This is my first post" addendum. I saw it as a way of saying to the site that I was new and was willing to be told how to make my submissions better in the future. Also, and I think this may be the case for many newbies, I was not very savvy to the local etiquette, or very geeky in general. Thanks to MetaFilter, I am proud to say that my general geekiness has increased by a factor of seven in just a few years.

That said, when one is reading every post, and each newbie-styled effort has a "first post" tag, I could see how it would be a little overwhelming.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:36 AM on November 29, 2004

You only get to make a "this is my first post" post once. Let the kids have their fun.
posted by y6y6y6 at 9:45 AM on November 29, 2004

chicobangs - so how was it, man?
posted by scarabic at 9:52 AM on November 29, 2004

TGC is like a Blair Hornstine without the lawyers.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:59 AM on November 29, 2004

Requesting an official golden comprehension languagehat translator for christmas 2004.
posted by naxosaxur at 10:57 AM on November 29, 2004

i'm kinda a hunterer and peckerer so i really don't usually have a free hand when i'm typing. but i'll gladly r ish afew typso to hear the cock chkoing story. or even the acid one. the anal one not so much. the free hand is needed for the popcorn rite?
posted by danOstuporStar at 11:36 AM on November 29, 2004

The reality of mentioning that it is one's first post is that some people are significantly bothered by this mention and no one is really bothered if the fact is not mentioned. This seems as good a reason as any to just refrain from mentioning the first post thing.
posted by spaghetti at 4:28 PM on November 29, 2004

scarabic, I gotta tell ya, it was swell. I laughed, I cried, I held myself gently as I drifted off into the quicksand of sleep.

On the other hand, I'm back here today, so y'know, there's room for improvement.

Practice makes perfect, I rarely say.

Thanks for asking!
posted by chicobangs at 4:43 PM on November 29, 2004

At what point are ‘Newbies’ no longer new?

Paying out on the newbies quickly becomes boring but I guess its traditional and not likely to stop any time soon.

I wouldn’t know it was someone’s first post if they didn’t point it out, so I really don’t mind if they do.

Anyway, always remember:

To post, or not to post, that is the question:
Whether 'tis newbier in the Grey to suffer
The flames and spankings of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of old farts
And by opposing end them. To read: to weep.

Thus spake the chicken.
posted by Tarrama at 8:06 AM on November 30, 2004

languagehat: like Kafkaesque, I added my "first post" tag not because I wanted people to be nicer to me, but because I wanted them to be more critical of me, so that I could improve.
posted by baphomet at 8:33 AM on November 30, 2004

Doesn't matter. People don't like it. And worrying about whether the denizens will be sufficiently critical of you is, frankly, not something that should be at the head of your list of worries upon passing through the door that reads:
METAFILTER
ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE
posted by languagehat at 8:59 AM on November 30, 2004

Some people don't like it. Others of us couldnt' give a rat's ass, and I'm sure yet others quite like it.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:50 AM on November 30, 2004

I sure as hell don't care. Such a small thing to annoy people. Huh.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 10:03 AM on November 30, 2004