Someone is being a jerk again

February 1, 2005 5:29 PM

Entertaining? Perhaps. Best of the web? You be the judge.
posted by b1tr0t to Etiquette/Policy at 5:29 PM (62 comments total)

I'm offended once again by Pretty%20Generic's actions.
posted by angry modem at 5:30 PM on February 1, 2005

Can I also be jury and executioner?
posted by Krrrlson at 5:31 PM on February 1, 2005

trharlan: you're joking, right? Please tell me you're joking.
posted by Ryvar at 5:33 PM on February 1, 2005

Seriously?
posted by angry modem at 5:37 PM on February 1, 2005

VP_Admin is a puppet account created by P_G for the express purpose of starting fights with P_G!
/tinfoil; would be awesome if true
posted by sciurus at 5:39 PM on February 1, 2005

posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:41 PM on February 1, 2005

VP_Admin showed up making it plain he was trying to troll Metafilter to drive traffic to his own site. Somehow we're surprised that he continues to do just that?

I'm shocked and appalled at the naivete on display here.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:46 PM on February 1, 2005

vp_admin: could you please post the details of your affiliate program, so that the other MeFi trolls can benefit from your little scheme as well?
posted by Kwantsar at 5:53 PM on February 1, 2005

Perhaps somebody could help me. Since it concerns the same thread that b1tr0t is referencing, hopefully I'm not too much off-topic.

I'm too new to post on AskMefi, and this is too trivial for AskMefi anyway. And I asked in #mefi irc to no avail.

What does sien mean when he writes: orthogonality please post [your comment] as a link, and when muckster concurs: Seconded?

My comment is already a link, that is, it's http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/39207#841039, so I'm really not clear what they're asking for, probably because I'm rather new to posting at Mefi.

So, seriously, what am I missing here? What do they want me to do?
posted by orthogonality at 6:00 PM on February 1, 2005

They meant on the front page.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 6:05 PM on February 1, 2005

Pretty_Generic writes "They meant on the front page."

But that would be a self-link.

And I mean, what's to discuss about what I posted anyway?

I've never seen an FPP that was a link to comment to another FPP.

Were they joking? Am I being obtuse here?
posted by orthogonality at 6:10 PM on February 1, 2005

They meant to post the text and links of the comment on the front page.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 6:12 PM on February 1, 2005

Yeah, ortho--they were encouraging you to re-post that whole comment as a standalone FPP.

(I'm recommending you clip out the "STFU LIB'RULS" line first, though.)
posted by LairBob at 6:17 PM on February 1, 2005

b1tr0t: are you suggesting that our comments have to be best of the web too? huh?
posted by amberglow at 6:20 PM on February 1, 2005

Concerning vp_admin's behavior, the motive here just seems obvious. mr_crash_davis has it exactly right, IMO.
posted by Stauf at 6:31 PM on February 1, 2005

I also thought xmutex's RATM call was spot-on. VP_Admin comes off like someone who's too young to realise everything he's done has been done before, both on MeFi and elsewhere, and it wasn't convincing then, either.

Fundamentalists are shit no matter what their political orientation.
posted by cosmonik at 6:39 PM on February 1, 2005

Can we get a synop here? I have no idea who is calling out what.
posted by Kleptophoria! at 7:20 PM on February 1, 2005

VP_Admin is a one-man argument for a daily comment cap. Or at least a per-thread comment cap.

He doesn't seem to be capable of understanding the ethos of the site, and I'm sick of seeing him shit all over metafilter. Please, somebody, make him stop.

At the very least can we have a "VP_Admin ignore" option?
posted by beth at 7:26 PM on February 1, 2005

P_G, chill out. VP_admin, post less please.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:28 PM on February 1, 2005

IMHO VP_Admin has been bad news from the day he set foot in this place. Burn the witch!
posted by furtive at 7:30 PM on February 1, 2005

He turned me into a newt!

But, I got better.
posted by cosmonik at 7:32 PM on February 1, 2005

Just to clarify, and maybe someone can learn something from this thread: was VP_admin's transgression his first comment in the thread here?

Thank you.
posted by marxchivist at 7:34 PM on February 1, 2005

I said what I meant and I meant what I said.

It's a sockpuppet. Has to be.

Right?
posted by dhoyt at 7:40 PM on February 1, 2005

I don't get this post of P_G's that followed the tussle with VP_admin nor do the tags seem appropriate. What's up P_G? Everything ok?
posted by shoepal at 8:00 PM on February 1, 2005

Molehill, meet mountain.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:18 PM on February 1, 2005

do me a favor, all of you--trash vp here and not in the blue? (just one example of too many) ok? or rather--stop trashing him entirely?
posted by amberglow at 8:24 PM on February 1, 2005

I just figured out that this thread was actually complaining about VP_Admin (operating under the assumption that it actually is).

It'd be dangerous to stop trashing him, since he'd continue to shit on every political or religious thread (as he has been doing). He seems intelligence enough to respond to most criticism levelled his way, and possibly even take some of it on board, so that's worth a little o/t conversation, isn't it? (serious question)
posted by cosmonik at 8:52 PM on February 1, 2005

It'd be dangerous to stop trashing him...

Better play it safe then.
posted by Krrrlson at 8:58 PM on February 1, 2005

For the record, I wasn't defending bashery in the blue in general, and agree that the grey is the place.
posted by cosmonik at 9:03 PM on February 1, 2005

VP_Admin is a puppet account created by P_G for the express purpose of starting fights with P_G!

Ha!

Thank you for sparing me the guilt of saying something rude. This is, in fact, the chartiable interpretation of VP_Admin. And that, while bitchy as all fuck, is all I have to bother to say now.

Thanks again. I appreciate it.

Cheers man.

Let's get a beer.

Seriously.
posted by scarabic at 9:53 PM on February 1, 2005

vp_admin is fucking 111 or some other right-wing dipshit who's playing out some lame-assed charicature of a lib'rul in order to make the rest of them look like dipshits.
posted by stet at 9:56 PM on February 1, 2005

Are we going to see a MeTa one day about how this was someone's sociology thesis?
posted by trondant at 10:13 PM on February 1, 2005

Jesus:



That's way too many comments per thread. I'll email this user and talk to them.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 12:57 AM on February 2, 2005

That sounds entirely too reasonable. I went through all the trouble of bringing this casserole to the witch-hunt.
posted by neckro23 at 1:17 AM on February 2, 2005

This user is juicier than we expected.
posted by taz at 3:44 AM on February 2, 2005

taz I wish I could actually hear you saying those words. I picture you either looking very wise or rubbing your hands together and cackling ominously.
posted by Tarrama at 4:23 AM on February 2, 2005

Unless someone feels like stepping up to the plate to defend VP, I think we're all pretty much in agreement, and there's not much left to say.
posted by Bugbread at 5:21 AM on February 2, 2005

Not that he needs defending, as he seems quite capable, but why don't we (those who find him offensive, etc) just ignore VP's rants, not feeding the fires and all? I mean, why the fuck must there be some sort of definitive action taken against everyone that gets your goat?

Do y'all grab a cop on your hometown street when the local retard/jerk won't stop ranting about the sky falling (or whatever) in front of the post office and insist he be run out of town? No, you just walk by and shake your head. So why are you wanting Matt to weild his billy-club here?

C'mon people, diverse means something like all kinds, no? Just sayin'...
posted by LouReedsSon at 5:44 AM on February 2, 2005

LouReedsSon: To change the example, do we grab a waiter when we're in a restaurant when the local retard/jerk won't stop ranting about the sky falling and insist he be tossed out of the restaurant? Yes, we do. That's why we are wanting Matt to wield his billy-club here.

Diverse doesn't mean "all kinds", it means "many kinds".
posted by Bugbread at 6:19 AM on February 2, 2005

I stand corrected on my limited vocabulary, sir, thank you.

This isn't an eatery (not good to eat at your keyboard; crumbs and shit), but rather a community, kind of like one you live in, no? At least that was my understanding of it's purpose. But correct me some more if I'm wrong, ok?
posted by LouReedsSon at 6:32 AM on February 2, 2005

I suppose you could call it a "community" (most people do), but I really don't see why that word is chosen. A community is a place where you live, both when interacting and when not interacting. I think it's much more logical to call it a "club". Think of book discussion clubs or the like, which discuss all kinds of different books. This is a link discussion club. Just like a book discussion club, depending on the subject matter, some discussions (most, here) will be more about the subject matter of the book than the book itself. And, occasionally, a discussion will go off-base. Personalities may flare. Interpersonal conflicts abound. And some people are dead set on discussing even though they haven't read the books, or love to complain about how lousy the book some member recommended. But those members balance out their occasional bad comments with good comments, or occasional recommendations of good books.

In the end, Mefi strikes me as a book discussion club that has decided to call itself a "community", because that sounds cooler. And in a book discussion club, a guy who just says things to piss off members and watch their reactions, and has nothing to say about any of the books, but excels in wrecking the book discussions, is eventually asked to leave.
posted by Bugbread at 6:52 AM on February 2, 2005

This user is juicier than we expected.
All of a sudden it's february, and everybody wants to eat everybody else.
posted by raedyn at 7:00 AM on February 2, 2005

K, lemme get this straight... Since you have decided this is a club and not the community it's creator intended, we should have the manifest destiny to boot undesirables? I guess that sounds righteous and all, but I'll wager every single person in this club has a beef with at least one other member. So if we just start banning because someone's pixels make your monitor cry, who'll be left to discuss with all of your high intellect and shit? sigh.
posted by LouReedsSon at 7:20 AM on February 2, 2005

Since you have decided this is a club and not the community it's creator intended, we should have the manifest destiny to boot undesirables?

First, you're making a few assumptions that I disagree with, so I can't answer the question as phrased.

First, the reason we should be able to boot undesirables is not because of anything I've decided.
Second, I am not really convinced that the definition of "community" that I use, that you use, and that mathowie uses are the same. Your interpretation of mathowie's word "community" is your neighborhood or town, and therefore the same standards should be used. My interpretation of community is a club, or a gated community, if you want to keep use of the word community.
Third, I don't know that this isn't the "community it's creator intended". It may be just as he intended. But to the extent that we don't actually live here, we have to understand that the term is figurative and not literal, and drawing literal conclusions is silly. My example was supposed to be nothing more than that, an example, in opposition to your example.

So, stepping away from us sparring with poor analogies, and returning to Mefi, the direct answer is: yes, I believe that mathowie should be able to boot people he doesn't want here. And he has done so in the past (the very, very recent past, if you look at the thread about "fucking maniacs").

If we all just start banning because someone's pixels make our monitors cry, then there will be nobody left to discuss with. But that's not what anyone is suggesting, so who are you addressing that question at?
posted by Bugbread at 7:32 AM on February 2, 2005

Look bug, I'm not trying to piss you off here, but I just get so tired of everybody ganging up on others around here, is all. I think VP's an ass too (sorry VP), but break out the ban-hammer? Just ignore him. I do. And a lot of others do as well. And life (and MeFi) goes on! Peace.
posted by LouReedsSon at 7:42 AM on February 2, 2005

I'm not pissed, I just have a bad, kinda didactic posting style. I'm anal when it comes to discussion.

But, interestingly, I agree with your last post. I think it's because it's more neutrally phrased. Yeah, folks should stop ganging up so much. And as far as banning or ignoring, I'm mighty pleased to leave that to Matt. I ignore him too, and life goes on. So we are in agreement.
posted by Bugbread at 8:16 AM on February 2, 2005

LouReedsSon, for the love of God, would you please note the following:

"it's" = it is
"its" is the possessive form

Carry on.
posted by anapestic at 8:21 AM on February 2, 2005

Mountain, meet molehill.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:02 AM on February 2, 2005

"it's" = it is
"its" is the possessive form

Noted, grazi. Now if I only remember it! :)
posted by LouReedsSon at 9:56 AM on February 2, 2005

grazi: corruption of the Italian grazie, or handy short-form of 'grammar nazi'?

C, all the above?
posted by cortex at 12:56 PM on February 2, 2005

. . . checks own posting history . . .
. . . decides not to post so many comments per thread.
posted by kyrademon at 1:54 PM on February 2, 2005

Mooooommmmm, he's doing it again!!!
posted by Bugbread at 2:01 PM on February 2, 2005

All of a sudden it's february, and everybody wants to eat everybody else.
posted by raedyn

Sorry, raedyn. Pay no attention to our foolishness.

confidential to #14400 to 14500: Wait for the password "Alfred G. Packer."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:39 PM on February 2, 2005

Guys,
sorry for the excessive posting and the rudeness.

I'm not used to people voluntarily not being jerks online. I guess it's my bad IRC manners, where most of the Ops are hypocritical bullies and things move a lot faster. You seem to attract a slightly older, more cultured demographic to your forum. I'm still transitioning out of the juvenile flame-war culture of other online communities.

I can't deny I get a rise out of provoking people, and that I have a political agenda. Politics is all I can think about lately. Still, I'll chill out and avoid flaming the Bush apologists. I know yours is not a political activist site.

I don't consider the experience of Metafilter worthless. I'm still impressed by the degree of involvement you allow your participants, and that's worth respecting. I'll limit my postings and try to curb my rudeness.

Here's a few responses to specific criticisms:

vp_admin: could you please post the details of your affiliate program, so that the other MeFi trolls can benefit from your little scheme as well?

Some of this is just my bad habits I learned in less civil online communities. Can't you see the feeling expressed in some of my posts? There's real sincerity there. It's not trolling and I haven't pasted a link to my site since the first day when I did once.


VP_Admin showed up making it plain he was trying to troll Metafilter to drive traffic to his own site. Somehow we're surprised that he continues to do just that?

I'm starting to like this place. Once again, don't you sense any sincerity to my posts? You think I'm trolling, but I really am pissed at the Bush-apologists. Also, I feel the need to mention, I haven't pasted a link to my site except for once on the first day.

He doesn't seem to be capable of understanding the ethos of the site, and I'm sick of seeing him shit all over metafilter. Please, somebody, make him stop.


True. I'll post significantly less and try to modify my style to contribute to the ethos of the site. It's worth it. It's a unique place, more cultured and mature than I'm accustomed to. I'm sorry for excessive posting, disturbance of the peace.

VP Admin
posted by VP_Admin at 4:47 PM on February 2, 2005

Secret Life of Gravy... I stopped paying attention to the foolishness of VP_Admin a few days ago. In fact, it wouldn't bother me if he posted here right now. I've given him my two cents once, and that's enough.
posted by Doohickie at 7:06 PM on February 2, 2005

Wow. Good form, VP_admin.

You might notice that MeFi isn't overwhelmed with Bush apologists anyway. You're preaching to the choir which just underscores that there must be some merit to people's criticisms. Which you've acknowledged.

MetaFilter isn't the civil roundtable discussion lots of us would like it to be (and I don't mean to imply that I don't share blame for making it less than that), but we do set the bar higher because we'd like to think that our discussion is productive and not just rhetorical wanking. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. But, relative to most other sites that discuss "issues", it isn't a "slap down" site. The point, generally, isn't to humiliate and win. Again, though, I'm not denying that sometimes it is. But we try.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 7:33 PM on February 2, 2005

Look, people, don't you see it happening again? Yet another newbie comes in, posts a link to his site, stirs the shit, and then makes a decent apology -- and you all take it hook, line, and sinker!

Man. It's getting damn near impossible to get a good 800-comment drama queen festival underway. I yearn for the good old days.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:49 PM on February 2, 2005

Five fresh fish,
I'm the same guy that got pilloried before. I transgressed this time not by pasting a link to my site, but by posting too frequently and aggressively.
posted by VP_Admin at 11:07 PM on February 2, 2005

You were pilloried, VP, but I think fff was referring to another MeTa callout that was eventually deleted.
posted by Doohickie at 5:42 AM on February 3, 2005

Look, people, don't you see it happening again? Yet another newbie comes in, posts a link to his site, stirs the shit, and then makes a decent apology -- and you all take it hook, line, and sinker!

Man. It's getting damn near impossible to get a good 800-comment drama queen festival underway. I yearn for the good old days.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:49 PM PST on February 2

Huh?
posted by LouReedsSon at 7:17 AM on February 3, 2005

My sense of humour is obviously not one shared by you, Lou.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:35 AM on February 3, 2005

Mind, it's also entirely possible that it wasn't at all funny.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:35 AM on February 3, 2005