The effects of noobs on MetaFilter.

December 9, 2004 8:34 PM

Not in defense of noobs. Because of noobs (myself included), the sky is falling and trends clearly show that metafilter is getting rapidly out of control!! Seriously though, this analysis shows that the "average age" of a metafilter poster has dropped by almost 200 days, I am in whichever camp wants to extend the incubation period for noobs like us...
posted by maulik to etiquette/policy at 8:34 PM (68 comments total)

You're saying that because more new members are posting, we should stop new members from posting?

I doubt very much that quality of posts will change much by extending the probation period, which I assume is your point, and you're asking to punish all new members by forcing them to wait when there's not that many bad posts. From what other, more experienced members have said, the ratio of bad posts to members is still fairly constant.

So, uh, I'm disgreeing with you.
posted by tracicle at 8:44 PM on December 9, 2004

How can we disagree? Nothing clear has been said.

extend the incubation period

Meaning...?
posted by scarabic at 8:48 PM on December 9, 2004

I am in whichever camp wants to extend the incubation period

can you just shut the fuck up for a while?

could you please repeat the question, kind sir?
posted by quonsar at 8:50 PM on December 9, 2004

Extending the probationary period is something I would definitely vote for. But since we can't measure the 'quality' of a post, I guess it's all kind of moot.

I've been reading for over a year so maybe I'm just bored, but I'm sure everything will be fine when the dust settles :-)
posted by maulik at 8:52 PM on December 9, 2004

From what other, more experienced members have said, the ratio of bad posts to members is still fairly constant.

Not here, it isn't. The grey is a cluster-jangle and I'm a broken record.
posted by The God Complex at 8:54 PM on December 9, 2004

everything is fine. rinse. reload. repeat.
posted by dabitch at 8:54 PM on December 9, 2004

Maybe the grey is very slooowly getting un-cluster jangled. According the time-stamping I see, earlier today there was gap of about three hours between two different nOOb advice/eviscerating posts. After that it was about five hours until the next one. At this rate maybe the grey will cleaned up in a couple weeks.

Good God, if half the effort went into finding good front page posts for the blue as has gone into the above stuff, maybe we'd see more best of the web.

And I think by this time if anybody else posts a one link, no context, front page post, or says "This is my first post, be gentle"....take 'em out back and shoot 'em.
posted by marxchivist at 9:09 PM on December 9, 2004

I am in whatever camp wants to ban posts about n00bs (and by n00bs) that are utterly devoid of content in MeTa.

OH MY GOD THE NEW PEOPLE ARE POSTING!!!! RUN FOR THE GREY HILLS!!
posted by rooftop secrets at 9:10 PM on December 9, 2004

Hey look! Another chode-ridden MetaTalk thread from one of my post-17,000 contemporaries!

Extending the 'incubation' period is a great way to make sure *nothing* is gained from new posting talent.
posted by cosmonik at 9:11 PM on December 9, 2004

God damn newbish cockery. Yet ANOTHER newb-brainfart-meta-post. For fucks sake.
posted by puke & cry at 9:17 PM on December 9, 2004

Ooh, pretty colors.

Make the lines go UP and down! UP and down!
posted by yhbc at 9:18 PM on December 9, 2004

This was just an excuse to show off your graphs, right?
posted by Krrrlson at 9:24 PM on December 9, 2004

nah, i just thought mefites might be interested in seeing numbers while they 'debate' the noob issue
posted by maulik at 9:28 PM on December 9, 2004

yeah ok, I like the graphs. Good job on that. The post though - bad.
posted by puke & cry at 9:34 PM on December 9, 2004

matt damon.
posted by Krrrlson at 9:36 PM on December 9, 2004

No, Affleck!

Ugh, I don't really mean that.
posted by tracicle at 9:37 PM on December 9, 2004

@puke & cry, i definitely welcome any advice. I started with some hyperbole, then spelled out the results, and then put in my two cents. too much? too little?
posted by maulik at 9:40 PM on December 9, 2004

Hey, give me another month to post FPPs, I'll agree to it.
posted by Captaintripps at 9:49 PM on December 9, 2004

if nothing else krrrlson has alot of new friends to play with.
posted by specialk420 at 10:20 PM on December 9, 2004

Come on now, this is getting stupid. I'm sure it'll get funny for a little bit again and then stupid and maybe funny again but, inevitably, its stupid.

What's the line on stupid threads tomorrow? I'll take the over.
posted by fenriq at 10:36 PM on December 9, 2004

This is in response to some of us noticing a drop in the quality of the posts coinciding with the increased number of noobs (myself included)

They'lll figure it out, or they'll leave, or whatever. I try to find the zen in it all.
IT IS OAK. Here, I'll self-link to make it better. My graphs are, well, bigger.

Would this be ok for a fpp?
posted by metaculpa at 11:43 PM on December 9, 2004

Another chode-ridden MetaTalk thread...

Seems to be a tossup
chode vs. choad
posted by euphorb at 12:09 AM on December 10, 2004

re: maulik - as evident from the responses, we don't know what the hell you're talking about.

if you post a metatalk thread, you should actually have a reason, besides just wanting to expound on your graphs. It seems to most that this post has little or no reason. People don't like it when you post a metatalk thread just because you feel like it. and the whole "I'm a noob, but I don't like the noobs" thing is getting quite played out. Do not further it any longer.
posted by puke & cry at 12:22 AM on December 10, 2004

MetaFilter: IT IS OAK.

If anything, I appreciate the fact maulik compiled all that data and created all those graphs. Someone's been reading Edward Tufte.

Something else that's played out: the use of zeros for "words" like n00b and d00d is st00pid. Do not further it any longer.
posted by fandango_matt at 1:00 AM on December 10, 2004

Do not further it any longer.

5orry, m4n.
:: Hugs MeFi ::

I feel icky.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 1:58 AM on December 10, 2004

metaculpa as long as it isn't a self link (self linking is very very baaaaaaad) or they'll pull you into the gray for a tongue lashing for sure ;)
posted by squeak at 2:06 AM on December 10, 2004

200 days? The average age has dropped by a whole 200 days? Holy fuck... just think how much someone changes in that amount of time. Maybe if we let people sign up but then not post for a whole year, it will get better...? Oh, but wait, by that time all the established users will be another year older and posting even better links (you know, like the ones they post now which are hidden amongst the flood of newbie posts on the front page) so maybe we just let the noobs sign up and never post...?
posted by humuhumu at 3:45 AM on December 10, 2004

We should clearly make people wait two hundred days before posting. This will solve everything.
posted by The God Complex at 3:50 AM on December 10, 2004

If I hear the word newbie one more time I'm going to rip my fucking eyes out, all King Lear like and shit.

Seriously. You guys are here. Enjoy yourselves, try to fit in, and stop reminding us every ten fucking seconds that you're new. We get the goddamn point.
posted by adampsyche at 4:28 AM on December 10, 2004

Can I join the newbie club?

It looks like FUN!

-- shepd
SIGZ ARE KEWL.
posted by shepd at 4:35 AM on December 10, 2004

I'm behind an extension to the posting hold on new members. I'm one of 'em and I'm hating every single "hey, how'm i doin' guys! way! look no hands!" post
maybe force us to dribble longingly at the prospect of a FPP for a couple of months would make sure the crap-ball of issues we brought with us and our $5 would grow stale long before we got to unravel them in public.

also
[newbie]
posted by NinjaPirate at 4:35 AM on December 10, 2004

Out, vile jelly!
posted by adampsyche at 4:36 AM on December 10, 2004

I just realised how poor my general grammar was in that last post and how cunningly it backed up my position.

How'd I do Mom?!!?eleven?
posted by NinjaPirate at 4:39 AM on December 10, 2004

I don't know about the rest of you, my caustic cynical oldbie cohort, but I'm strapping on the fuckin' ammo belts about now.

*squints, smokes, scans the horizon*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:49 AM on December 10, 2004

Does that mean killin' newbs? I likes killin' newbs.

::hugs oldbies::
posted by The God Complex at 4:55 AM on December 10, 2004

*fumbles blindly for rifle*
posted by adampsyche at 4:56 AM on December 10, 2004

*reclaims meat-hook from the still-warm corpse of fresh newb kill*

Let's rend stuff.
posted by The God Complex at 4:58 AM on December 10, 2004

they went thattaway ------------------>









[<------------ slinks off thissaway]
posted by NinjaPirate at 5:06 AM on December 10, 2004

I hope you don't mind I took your last slide and and slipped it into a powerpoint deck I put together*. I intend to present it as "and this slide speaks for itself".


*no, I'm not giving a presentation on Metafilter. It is part of my TPS report and I like to add random shit to see if anyone is actually paying attention.
posted by birdherder at 5:18 AM on December 10, 2004

TGC, is that a vibrating broom in your pocket.. or...are you just happy to hug?
posted by dabitch at 5:20 AM on December 10, 2004

*returns the protective goggles she bought for adampsyche for Christmas, buys a copy of the braille book "Got A Rifle? Great! How to Lock and Unload on N*wbies After You've Ripped Your Eyeballs Out In Frustration" instead*
posted by iconomy at 5:21 AM on December 10, 2004

*stays quiet until he is directly spoken to*
posted by crusiera at 5:48 AM on December 10, 2004

yowza, the most entertaining post in recent times (I have lurked for years) was nearly instantly removed. Don't y'all have a sense of humor?
posted by bluesky43 at 6:20 AM on December 10, 2004

"I am in whichever camp wants to extend the incubation period"

which would just up the "age" of the posters, not the quality of the posts.

". . . lies, damn lies and statistics"
posted by DBAPaul at 6:21 AM on December 10, 2004

can we have a moratorium on the entire concept of n00b for the rest of the year, please?
posted by danOstuporStar at 6:21 AM on December 10, 2004

*sips wine from skull of #20666, orders higher numbered members to do his evil bidding*
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:24 AM on December 10, 2004

(obligatory Deliverance quote goes here)
posted by fandango_matt at 6:54 AM on December 10, 2004

Innovation is sometimes perceived as strangeness until it becomes more commonplace. Bring it on!
posted by ackptui at 8:25 AM on December 10, 2004

We need to go ahead and close registration as soon as possible so that I can look forward to behaving like a grumpy, insular old-timer the next time we open it back up. I'm on tenterhooks, here.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:39 AM on December 10, 2004

maulik, I completely agree with you. But I don't think extending the probation period isn't the solution. I propose Survivor: n00bs on Metafilter. Every week all the pre-17,000 landed gentry oldbies of Metafilter will get together and vote to expel one of the immigrants newbies. There'll also be immunity challenges granted perhaps by a) giving even more money to Matt and the site b) solving three AskMetafilter questions in a 24 hour period or c) logging on to the IRC channel and allowing yourself to be viciously mocked and ridiculed for an extended period of time.

Really, there's just no better way.
posted by nixerman at 8:47 AM on December 10, 2004

Looking on the front page I see

17 posts by post-17000+ user names that I would say were "good posts" - interesting, interesting to me, or at least, carefully constructed

11 posts by pre-17000+ names that I would say the same of ...

The rest were either boring, newsfilter, poorly constructed, or all three (Steve @ Linwood, thats you that is)

Thats just my personal reaction to what is being offered as "best of the web"

oh, and ::hugs mefi::
posted by Rumple at 9:06 AM on December 10, 2004

Wouldn't a makeover show be more appropriate? Plot: A team of crusty, cranky old-timers descend on a n**b and teach posting etiquette, pick out a thick skin wardrobe, and show how to cook up witty retorts and select the proper amount of bile for a thread or post. Possible title: MeFi Eye For The Noob Guy.
posted by fandango_matt at 9:12 AM on December 10, 2004

I propose Survivor: n00bs on Metafilter. Every week all the pre-17,000 landed gentry oldbies of Metafilter will get together and vote to expel one of the immigrants newbies

I'm all for this, as long as we change "expel" to "riddle with bullets" and "one" to "as many as we can lure into the firing range."

*locks, loads*
posted by languagehat at 9:14 AM on December 10, 2004

Will you people stop ::hugging:: mefi without prior consent? Maybe we need a "Take Back the Net" rally. ("Yes means yes! No means no! So ::ask:: before you ::hug:: somebody!")
posted by davy at 9:14 AM on December 10, 2004

Shut up, crusiera! :)

This, too, shall pass.
posted by me3dia at 9:30 AM on December 10, 2004

Phew, I'm #16572! Yeah! Bow before your superior lower numbered elders!

Me, I'm prostrated in front of dabitch! and quonsar (well always prostrated in front of quonsar) but now with a decent reason to do so.

I'm ready to do thy evil bidding small numbered elders!
posted by fenriq at 10:07 AM on December 10, 2004

The next person to use a double colon for the purpose of self-narrative gets their colon ripped out. Twice.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:10 AM on December 10, 2004

I don't care what anyone does, so long as you all stop saying "noob" as though it were an actual word.
posted by Mars Saxman at 10:11 AM on December 10, 2004

if nothing else krrrlson has alot of new friends to play with.

If nothing else, I hope you find yourself someone new to stalk. You're getting a bit too creepy for my liking.
posted by Krrrlson at 10:17 AM on December 10, 2004

Will you people stop ::hugging:: mefi without prior consent?

MetaFilter: Show me on the doll where the Bad N**b touched you.
posted by fandango_matt at 10:35 AM on December 10, 2004

The rest were either boring, newsfilter, poorly constructed, or all three (Steve @ Linwood, thats you that is)

Wow, you're a dick.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 1:35 PM on December 10, 2004

The rest were either boring, newsfilter, poorly constructed, or all three (Steve @ Linwood, thats you that is)

Petty, much? wow... is this the great new fresh blood that is gonna revitilize our echo chamber? nah...

Wow, you're a dick.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 1:35 PM PST on December 10

indeed...
posted by Dreamghost at 1:55 PM on December 10, 2004

well.. I am a noob but am very conservative in my metafilter standards in posts and comments, as are other noobs like jefgodesky et al.

My first FPP: I was going to post a big Palestine Post but then I saw the excellent miniature art for my first FPP. I'm a big PoliticsFilter head and MeFi is a fine, fine source of opposition news precisely because the critics of opposition news have a strong and intelligent voice here. I read this, not dkos, not indymedia, first.

But the art posts have made more and more impact on me. If I'd had more time I'd have posted some more research into Russian miniature art, which I'd never heard of before that aldaily click.
posted by By The Grace of God at 3:41 PM on December 10, 2004

"I'm a big PoliticsFilter head and MeFi is a fine, fine source of opposition news..."

Dammit, Matt, close the door! It's freezing in here!
posted by majick at 5:05 PM on December 10, 2004

*hushed, reverent tone of voice*

And the winner of this week's winner of the much coveted Secret Life of Gravy Award for best humor in a metatalk thread goes to......


Iconomy
*much clapping, whistling*
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:09 PM on December 10, 2004

YAY I WIN!!
posted by iconomy at 6:51 PM on December 10, 2004

magick, I'm confused totally by your comment. Please explain?
posted by By The Grace of God at 7:34 PM on December 10, 2004

Incubate yourself.
posted by exlotuseater at 10:03 PM on December 10, 2004