Comments on 8537 | MetaTalk

It would be nice if the question Are there any other community weblogs where you regularly participate? could be added to the standard welcome questionnaire ("What's the deal with your nickname? When did you first start using the Internet?" etc.) [More inside.]
posted by MiguelCardoso to feature requests at 11:19 PM (56 comments total)

It would allow users to read other contributions by the fellow posters they're interested in; probably introduce some of them to good boards they were unaware of and, for the academically minded, it would permit building a complex genealogical family tree of MetaFilter's web connections. Just an idea, of course.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 11:19 PM on November 29, 2004

A fantastic idea.
posted by Quartermass at 11:32 PM on November 29, 2004

Oh Miguel, this is (as q-mass said) a fantastic idea! FANTASMAGORICAL even.
posted by kamylyon at 11:51 PM on November 29, 2004

I'd also very much like to see such a feature. I've been half-planning to post a question in either AskMe or Metatalk soliciting recommendations for sites which are indispensable for those who just want to, generally speaking, know what the heck is going on in internet land. I just wasn't sure how to ask the question without making it far too general to be useful. But my point here is... the question arises from this sense I have, when reading MeFi, that I've crashed a party full of people I don't know and they're all in the middle of a conversation that concerns events, people, institutions, etc. with which (or whom) I'm not necessarily familiar. They seem to assume that their audience is familiar with bloggers I haven't been reading, websites I didn't know existed, and (I think this is the correct use of the term) memes that are old news to everyone but me. If I had some reasonably efficient method for finding out where in cyberspace these folks are hanging out and getting their info and ideas, it might go quite a ways towards bringing me up to speed.
posted by Clay201 at 12:16 AM on November 30, 2004

lots and lottsa users have websites that are yummier than fried pantsfish.

memes are recurring. web memes are kinda like those email jokes and cutesies people forward to you by the cockbucketful. after 4 or 5 years, you've fucking seen it all. but over that period of time, 27 bazillion people got internet accounts, and it's all new to them.

these days i like to refresh del.icio.us and watch the links go by.
posted by quonsar at 12:36 AM on November 30, 2004

Great idea. I've been wanting the same thing.

but then where would people sneakily steal their snazzy links from so they can look super-cool and in-the-know on the front page?
posted by rooftop secrets at 1:06 AM on November 30, 2004

I think it's a great idea, as well, even though I don't participate in any other community blogs.

(that's my personal I-don't-watch-tv speech I give every time this comes up, just to see if it bugs jonmc)
posted by The God Complex at 2:43 AM on November 30, 2004

Links aren't memes, quonsar.
posted by nthdegx at 5:06 AM on November 30, 2004

Great idea, Miggy!
posted by orange swan at 5:24 AM on November 30, 2004

thanks nthdegx, that's a pet peeve of mine. ;)
posted by dabitch at 5:43 AM on November 30, 2004

I really like engadget.
posted by orange clock at 6:28 AM on November 30, 2004

That figures.
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:21 AM on November 30, 2004

I don't participate in many other discussion forums, but I still think it's a great idea, and I wouldn't mind sharing my flickr/del.icio.us links, either. It's a nice way to make the "contacts" stuff actually useful.
posted by mkultra at 7:44 AM on November 30, 2004

Miguel that idea is SCRUMTRILLESCENT.
posted by Hildago at 7:53 AM on November 30, 2004

nthdegx: No, links just aren't complex and powerful memes. If you want to follow the substance of that linked opinion, drawing as strong an analogy to genes as possible, you ought to recognize that not every gene (and hence not every meme) is a big strong successful one -- most mutations don't hack it for another generation; some get carried along benignly for a while but disappear after not too long because they don't have any use.

So, too, links to pictures of kitties or hilarious Hallmark E-cards or IQ-by-state maps. It is an exchange of memetic information, however unproductive. And like an orchid on some poly-annum cycle, some of these stupid and meritless Internet baubles do pop up every nth cycle in inboxes and on blogs, new to new users, as if their only genetic achievement of note is that of recurrence.

And then there are things like AYBABTU. It's not quite Catholicism, but it's got some traction.
posted by cortex at 7:55 AM on November 30, 2004

"If you want to follow the substance of that linked opinion..."

Well, I did write it, but so as not to derail I've taken this convo over there. If that's a problem, cortex, let me know and I'll take the comment down :)

I think Miguel's idea is a good one -- although I don't think many users have answered the question that is there already, so I don't know how much notice people would take. As a side note, I'm enjoying Viewropa quite a lot.
posted by nthdegx at 8:38 AM on November 30, 2004

and I wouldn't mind sharing my flickr/del.icio.us links, either

Funny you should say that...
posted by adamgreenfield at 8:39 AM on November 30, 2004

show me where i said links were memes.
posted by quonsar at 8:45 AM on November 30, 2004

Fair point. Email jokes and cutesies aren't memes, quonsar.
posted by nthdegx at 8:47 AM on November 30, 2004

nthdegx: de-derailed.
posted by cortex at 9:00 AM on November 30, 2004

I really like engadget.
posted by orange clock at 6:28 AM PST on November 30

That figures.
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:21 AM PST on November 30

I graduated Columbia but adamgreenfield makes me feel so lowbrow.
posted by orange clock at 9:17 AM on November 30, 2004

LOL
posted by adamgreenfield at 9:36 AM on November 30, 2004

Why cantcha just put it in your user page, rather than asking for another pony from Matt?
posted by Vidiot at 10:55 AM on November 30, 2004

Could was also have a feature that automatically looks up your zip code, finds a neighboring zip code, and asks you something like the following:

"How do people in 94705 generally feel toward people in 94716? Do you feel a sense of connection and shared sympathies? Or do your distinct identities merely stack like oil and water? What tones do your communications with your civic neighbors generally strike? And how does all this make you feel?"
posted by scarabic at 11:19 AM on November 30, 2004

orange clock, don't let him wind you up. In fact, rather than get ticked off, maybe the two of you need some face time? It beats grinding your gears, hands down.
posted by George_Spiggott at 11:41 AM on November 30, 2004

It really doesn't matter, because most people (especially the new members) don't even bother answering the "What's the deal with your nickname?" part.

"How do people in 94705 generally feel toward people in 94716? Do you feel a sense of connection and shared sympathies? Or do your distinct identities merely stack like oil and water? What tones do your communications with your civic neighbors generally strike? And how does all this make you feel?"

Heh. See, n00bs, that's how you do proper Migs-bashing. Dolcemente, con amore. No unpleasant insults or harsh language.
posted by languagehat at 11:41 AM on November 30, 2004

maybe the two of you need some face time

I feel dirty for laughing at that.
posted by yerfatma at 11:45 AM on November 30, 2004

We should simply replace the question "What's the deal with your nickname?" with "Are you by any chance interested in linguistics?" Then we'd get the data we need.

Dolcemente, con amore.
posted by soyjoy at 11:48 AM on November 30, 2004

show me where i said email jokes and cutesies are memes.
posted by quonsar at 11:50 AM on November 30, 2004

which part of "kinda like" does nthdegx not understand?
posted by quonsar at 11:51 AM on November 30, 2004

orange clock, don't let him wind you up. In fact, rather than get ticked off, maybe the two of you need some face time? It beats grinding your gears, hands down.

Of quartz, even if you keep this advice on a chain, it might not help you much the next time you take a lickin'. Still, don't be alarmed. Most problems can be tocked out.
posted by scarabic at 11:51 AM on November 30, 2004

What Vidiot said. You can put anything you want on your user page. It's pretty much free form. Don't waste Matt's time with a feature request when you can already do it.
posted by BradNelson at 12:09 PM on November 30, 2004

Most problems can be tocked out.

Time's up!

In other news, Target is selling blowjobs. The sober kind. The worst kind.

Oh, and Miguel's idea is good, though I don't need anyone knowing that I hang out over at alt.psoriasis.sufferers.
posted by dhoyt at 12:12 PM on November 30, 2004

Don't waste Matt's time with a feature request when you can already do it.

I think the point is that Miguel wants to know this information about other people. One can't expect everyone to spontaneously put that info on their page. A new field would encourage people to do so.
posted by jpoulos at 12:13 PM on November 30, 2004

Metatalk has a "feature request" category for a reason. Nobody is wasting Matt's time. (Well, all of us are, everyday, but thats not what I mean)
posted by vacapinta at 12:15 PM on November 30, 2004

Why cantcha just put it in your user page, rather than asking for another pony from Matt?

I thought the same thing, too, until I re-read Migs' message. He's not asking Matt to put a new data field into the database. He's asking for an additional sentence added to the text on the user page entry form.
posted by crunchland at 12:16 PM on November 30, 2004

We should simply replace the question "What's the deal with your nickname?" with "Are you by any chance interested in linguistics?" Then we'd get the data we need.

Yeah! Now you're talkin'!
posted by languagehat at 12:17 PM on November 30, 2004

MetaFilter: Wasting Matt's time since 1999.
posted by timeistight at 12:36 PM on November 30, 2004

quonsar,

would you prefer nthdegx hanged or hung?
posted by johnny novak at 12:46 PM on November 30, 2004

In other news, Target is selling blowjobs

Ah.... Item available in 4-8 weeks.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 1:07 PM on November 30, 2004

Really? That's strange. I'm getting one right now.
posted by adamgreenfield at 1:55 PM on November 30, 2004

Psst, S@L. Liberals don't have to wait.

Or pay.
posted by felix betachat at 2:22 PM on November 30, 2004

Though political connections may need to be exploited should the fellatist seek a nice government job...
posted by dhoyt at 2:33 PM on November 30, 2004

Quit back-pedaling, quonsie. I'd opt for hanged if I were you. I'm pretty well hung already. :P

And it *so* is hanged, by the way...*
posted by nthdegx at 2:36 PM on November 30, 2004

that ranged a bell.
posted by quonsar at 2:55 PM on November 30, 2004

striked a nerve?
posted by cortex at 4:30 PM on November 30, 2004

I think this would be a cool idea, or maybe just a more expanded user profile area.

And damnit, when I asked about the blowjobs and marijuana at my local Target, they had me escorted from the premises. Next time I'm bringing printouts from the site and demanding rainchecks or that hottie behind the returns counter.
posted by fenriq at 4:54 PM on November 30, 2004

Dolcemente, con amore

Where I come from, we call it "a reach-around." The Target blowjob is a nice bonus.
posted by scarabic at 5:17 PM on November 30, 2004

Sadly, this thread is exactly the reason I read MeTa.
It's here that I learn important shopping information, for instance.
I wonder if Target gift cards cover everything they sell on their web site....
posted by batgrlHG at 7:19 PM on November 30, 2004

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November 29, 2004
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