The best case for a MeFi waiting period I've ever seen

September 21, 2001 3:41 PM

The best case for a MeFi waiting period I've ever seen Survivorcam 2 gets mentioned, 3-4 people (at last count) sign up to create a stupid thread. Anyone want to invite the good people at Slashdot over?
posted by dogmatic to Etiquette/Policy at 3:41 PM (76 comments total)

To call that thread "for shit" is to insult actual shit.
posted by Skot at 3:49 PM on September 21, 2001 [2 favorites]

Me, I'm getting sick of this constant whining about elitism and snobbery any time anyone suggests that the community might have some (god forbid) standards, and that community members should (heavens-to-betsy) abide by them. I guess I must have missed the section of the Bill of Rights which says 'The right of the people to act like utter morons shall not be abridged.' For Christ's sake, even the Something Awful and GameFAQs.com forums have rules that people follow, and those are not exactly known for their high level of discourse.
posted by darukaru at 4:25 PM on September 21, 2001

I think the thing that really bothers me in that thread aren't the shockingly dumb things that they say, but the fact that they really believe them. For example:

"if you can't take reality based tv then you can't take reality which means you have a problem living in reality which means you have problems."

This is worse than the whole fear-anger-hate mularky from Star Wars Ep1. That anyone can actually believe the tripe above boggles the mind.
posted by adrianhon at 4:31 PM on September 21, 2001

As someone who has been an advocate of "the new people" could we please kill the thread and ban the camkiddies? They have nothing to offer.
posted by owillis at 5:29 PM on September 21, 2001

I'm not going to ban them or delete it because it would give them the satisfaction of thinking this site is some elitist country club and that they are somehow "right."

Instead, I'll just let their words speak for them. Ignore them, and they'll be gone. If they post similar drivel in other places, then I'll ban them.

I'm surprised none of them seem to understand what they're doing that is annoying everyone. I mean, I wouldn't follow 100 metafilter people joining freerepublic.com just to post lefty crap and make fun of the current community because it's disruptive, disrespectful, and makes the new people look like asses.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 5:34 PM on September 21, 2001

At least they've formed their own ghetto and confined themselves to it. Be thankful for small blessings.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 5:40 PM on September 21, 2001

I just have to laugh"no one invited yer community to invade ours" (dogmatic's comment in that thread) sounds much like one of those posts in the periodic UBB fights that sprung up like weeds in the teen domain community a couple years back. I'd hate to see Teenie!MeFi...

Matt, they don't understand that they're annoying everyone because this is par for the course in that "community"...
posted by Electric Elf at 6:00 PM on September 21, 2001

I wish to retract my early comment from that thread. In no ways do I wish to be associated with that thread, and the discussion therein.

yeesh, yeesh.

posted by mkn at 6:18 PM on September 21, 2001

My IQ dropped twenty points just reading that thread. Jesus. It has shown me, however, that there is nothing at all wrong with being called an "elitist." In fact, it's a badge of honor.
posted by kindall at 7:15 PM on September 21, 2001

At least they've formed their own ghetto and confined themselves to it. Be thankful for small blessings.

Amen. To bad they have to venture out occasionally.
posted by adampsyche at 7:29 PM on September 21, 2001

I think that stereotypes and pigeonholing lead to ignorant assumptions and what started out as a silly little fun thread has now turned into a handful of stuck-up Z-list "bloggers" trying to be metafilter regulators. give me a fucking break.

Peek into said ghetto. Heh.

Z-list? Now that was interesting.


posted by adampsyche at 7:32 PM on September 21, 2001

If ever I needed reminding why I stick around here, it's that glimpse of the elsewhere. The horror, the horror.
posted by holgate at 9:02 PM on September 21, 2001

I feel like I've just been injected with 10 cc's of AOL Chat Room dumbness.

Maybe I'll show them what IRC is and they can happily go on their way.
posted by skallas at 11:41 PM on September 21, 2001

I'm all afraid to go read the thread now, since doing so would apparently suck my brain straight out of my butt.

And nobody likes it when that happens.

Well, almost nobody.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:51 AM on September 22, 2001

I wish I had followed your example stavros. Really.
posted by FunkyHelix at 8:42 AM on September 22, 2001

I would hate to see that thread deleted as to do so would ensure the loss of a great math joke. And when you come across a great math joke, you have to savor it as long as humanly possible.


kthxbi <333
posted by paralysisbyanalysis at 11:50 PM PST on September 21


kthxbi <333

I cannot possibly evaluate the truth of this statement without knowing the values of the variables k, t,
h, x, b, and i.
posted by kindall at 12:25 AM PST on September 22


(Oh man that's good...)
posted by TractorInc at 11:49 AM on September 22, 2001 [4 favorites]

I wish to retract my early comment from that thread. In no ways do I wish to be associated with that thread, and the discussion therein.

Ditto. My irony was completely lost in that sea of foggy thought. You've got to love kindall.
posted by feelinglistless at 12:03 PM on September 22, 2001

Same here. I can't believe those camgirls actually thought that they had a point in invading our community!

Silly camgirls.
posted by linuxkitty at 12:47 PM on September 22, 2001

hmm... the people here seem nice and friendly.. i wonder what else they talk about here?
(non WTC related of course)

Can someone show me around?



posted by paralysisbyanalysis at 1:10 PM on September 22, 2001

adam - i am personally shocked by your comments, as you have commented at various times on my "sad little camwhore" site, and you have linked mine in exchange. i take it it's okay to bash me here, then pretend to be friendly to me elsewhere?

for shame.

and shame to you all for reacting so vehemently to the survivorcam thread. god forbid tolerance extends to the internet as well.
posted by marissatomic at 1:14 PM on September 22, 2001

hmmmmmmmm...these kinds of threads are at least entertaining BUT are not very productive unless you choose to be quite insipid in your comments and retorts. Though, I find at times that this kind of thread can most definitely aid in my use of the english language.

Now that that is over with, just let it go. :) Life is too short to bicker online. If you want to really bicker, say those things to people to their face or on the phone. I find a personal e-mail is better than bashing someone straight out in public. I've done it many times before (bashing people in public) and it felt shitty because it was irrational. I regret it.

BLARG I SAY
posted by lebastard at 1:46 PM on September 22, 2001

huny is dead: on metatalk that dogmatic BITCH started a post and they're all in there like "i hope they stay confined to their ghetto"
huny is dead: i was like WHAAAT
LinuxkittyoCom: yeah. it reminds me of what i used to think as a racist.
huny is dead: yea dammit! if YOU can see it i know i'm not wrong
huny is dead: *sigh*
posted by linuxkitty at 1:59 PM on September 22, 2001

Christ almighty.
posted by owillis at 2:12 PM on September 22, 2001

SHUT UP
cliquey bastards, everyone of you. cam people, mefi people, just SHUT UP about this and everyone do your own shit. be secure for a change. you don't have to make your dissentors agree with you, enslave them to your ideas, to confirm YOU yourself are righteous. you won't affect or change eachother in any way or form. what's said isn't heard, so this is all noise; you're yelling over each other. shut up!
posted by elle at 2:41 PM on September 22, 2001

But back to the topic at hand...A 30 day waiting period for new members, and this all could have been avoided, no?
posted by dogmatic at 2:59 PM on September 22, 2001

No, all this could have been avoided had the ass who posted the original flame-enducing comment held back.
posted by linuxkitty at 3:05 PM on September 22, 2001

I don't think that a 30 day waiting period would necessarily be a good idea. If someone's page is getting mocked in public, doesn't that person have a right to at least try to defend himself, and his purposes in creating the site? Hopefully he would do it with more intelligence than some of the people involved in this case, of course.
posted by Jeanne at 4:28 PM on September 22, 2001

(Oh man that's good...)

Hee. I was wondering if anyone noticed that.
posted by kindall at 4:37 PM on September 22, 2001

My favourite line:

You call it drivel like its a bad thing.

Ooooh man.

So who's up for MeFi 2 : Send in the Clone?

posted by Neale at 5:03 PM on September 22, 2001

Like I said, I always appreciate a good math joke!
posted by TractorInc at 5:13 PM on September 22, 2001

seeing the tone of this community lose its integrity by the individuals (read: camgirls or others) but by the subject matter.

sorry. that should have read not by the individuals but by the subject matter. my bad.

posted by adampsyche at 8:29 PM on September 22, 2001

I like the ability of people being able to log in and comment about a thread posted about them. It maintains a certain editorial balance. Of course, those comments should hold true to the established behavior guidelines. If you feel insulted by something, that doesn't mean you have a free hand at making an even less tasteful comment. The way to show you are a better person is to not be trolled into a flamewar.
posted by john at 9:06 PM on September 22, 2001

Neale: Good christ, you know what sarcasm is? o_O
posted by linuxkitty at 9:12 PM on September 22, 2001

I don't think that a 30 day waiting period would necessarily be a good idea. If someone's page is getting mocked in public, doesn't that person have a right to at least try to defend himself, and his purposes in creating the site?
Let that person make their case in email to mathowie, then. If it's a valid complaint, presented thoughtfully and with maturity, then the waiting period could be magically shortened.
posted by darukaru at 9:14 PM on September 22, 2001

If you feel insulted by something, that doesn't mean you have a free hand at making an even less tasteful comment.

John: I don't know about you, but I live in America. Before our rights are violated to the fullest, I'm allowed to excercise free speech and respond in however a way I see fit. Also, I think Huny's comments specifically held true to this sites' behavior guidelines, yet established members certaintly didn't treat her with respect.

As for me, I could not give a flying shit. I didn't abide by your rules. :D It is pointless trying to speak over those of you who think they're special, different or intelligent. You don't want to hear anyone else's opinion on this matter, well, I certaintly wont force you or try anymore. But I must say, a lot of you are very convinced that you're actually intelligent. An intelligent person is someone who can hold thier own and still cross over to see the other person's view. An intelligent person can see when they're doing something wrong.

You my friends, arn't as intelligent as you think you are. I couldn't believe that in this thread, you folks were actually sucking each other dicks on what was said in the other forum. Step back, find your faults. Read this thing over again, and think about whats being said. Unless it's said in some beautiful metafore, you understand. If it's spoken in plain english, you refuse to listen. Intelligence, my ass.
posted by linuxkitty at 9:33 PM on September 22, 2001

There's no justice like angry mob justice.
posted by cardboard at 9:53 PM on September 22, 2001

I don't see what intelligence has to do with it. I see it as simply a lack of desire to get along with others combined with the intention of letting a few people's comments paint one picture of an entire group of people. That picture doesn't hold true for either group here.

It's not a freedom of speech issue. It's a courtesy issue. If you don't want to follow the rules of a group, don't expect to have your comments shown respect by most of the members of that group. Personally, I'm not that uptight about what people have been posting, but I respectfully decline from including certain elements from my posting here. It's not that difficult.
posted by john at 10:09 PM on September 22, 2001

It is pointless trying to speak over those of you who think they're special, different or intelligent.

GRR! Look, it's not that MeFi members think THEY are special, different, or intelligent.

It's that this site is special, different, and intelligent, or at least it tries to be.

MeFi posters usually come here wearing our metaphorical Sunday best-- the cam folks showed up in fishnets and PVC. We've got nothing against fishnets and PVC (they're very fetching in the right context)-- we just don't think they're appropriate here.

You guys are reacting with horror to this MetaTalk thread... well, this is what we do here when we think there are problems with the site. The fact that you think it's so weird shows you don't understand this community, because this is what MetaTalk is for: discussing how to continue to make MetaFilter the kind of environment we were attracted to visit in the first place.
posted by Zettai at 10:12 PM on September 22, 2001 [1 favorite]

Should I be the one to distinguish between a free country and a private website?
posted by anildash at 10:17 PM on September 22, 2001

No, all this could have been avoided had the ass who posted the original flame-enducing comment held back.

the difference between you and I is that you recognize the problem as the argument that ensued. I recognize the problem as (above stated) the 3-4 people that created new accounts to crap all over a thread, which prompted my initial postings and led to the argument. i hope you realize that had that crap not been there, i would have had little to bitch about.

if you wish to take part in the discussion, please respond to the original issue as prompted by the subject. thank you and have a nice day.
posted by dogmatic at 10:46 PM on September 22, 2001

Warning: long-ass post.

MetaFilter has a lot of people who care about words and ideas and view the Web as the ideal medium for both. The cam and e/n crowds, in contrast, see the Web as a tool for personal connections. As an example (and not to pick on linuxkitty), I would be mortally embarrassed to write something like "however a way I see fit" and post it where other people could see it. This is because I value clarity and elegance in writing and I value the opinions of those who value the same things. Linuxkitty, on the other hand (and this is by no means a slam), likely did not even consider clicking the Spell Check button, let alone reviewing and editing her message several times before posting it, as I did with this one.

To the new breed of Internet user, if the idea gets across, it's good enough. Spontaneity and emotion trump details like grammar and spelling, and besides, not everyone can write perfectly, so why worry about it? The point gets across. Internet communication, for these users, is more like talking than writing a term paper.

Which approach is the right one? Well, obviously, I've cast my lot with the Followers of the Written Word, so you probably can guess what I prefer. But it's a preference -- objectively, I can't say the other way, the new way, is "wrong." It merely is. The new people aren't necessarily "stupid" either, even though some of us would consider them borderline illiterate. I used to work for a guy who could not put together a sentence to save his life. When he sent out an e-mail telling his underlings what he wanted us to do, the only way to find out what he actually meant was to go ask him. I never did understand why he bothered with the e-mails. But before the age of thirty, he had retired to Maui a millionaire. He had started his company when he was 17 and never even went to college, but he was obviously smart. Just not smart in the same way I am, which is why he hired me.

I recall fondly the days when you had to have a detail-oriented mind to use the Internet, and indeed, computers. You had to have a good memory to remember all the commands, and you needed a certain mental dexterity to figure out how they all went together. The more confusing it was, the more satisfaction there was in mastering it. Basically, to like the Internet in those early days, you had to be a nerd. The people on the 'net in 1989 or so (when I first got an Internet e-mail address and USENET access) thus tended to be very smart and literate, since we'd spent most of our lives avoiding other people and reading books. Now we had a place where we could get together and be ourselves. Try to imagine how much this meant to us. It was a beautiful, unspoiled world of ideas; I get misty-eyed just thinking of it.

But it couldn't last. Soon, America Online and the Web had been invented. Now all you have to do to get online is click; anybody can do it. Where's the joy of discovery in that? People today aren't coming online for intellectual stimulation but for people. If they had been interested in the old ways, they would have come online long ago, right? But some of us are still pining for the days when everyone online was a lot like us, mentally speaking -- ntroverts, interested in ideas more than people. Now the Internet is becoming just one more place where the extroverts outnumber us 3 to 1, like the real world. Our "special place" is gone, probably forever.

But occasionally, an oasis appears. MetaFilter is, or at least has been for me, one such oasis. A place where I can be myself, where my ideas can be taken seriously -- and when they're not, I know it's because the ideas are weak, not because people don't like my fashion sense or think I'm stuck up or whatever. What attracted me to MeFi originally is that it was a great place to challenge my mind and to learn new things. There's still enough of that spirit here to keep me coming back. Environments like MeFi are, today, very rare on the Internet, and they're all too easily destroyed by people who often don't understand that their mere presence is fundamentally incompatible with the nature of the space they have chosen to occupy. I've seen it happen dozens of times. It's not their fault; they're just being themselves. We quiet, mental types just quietly slip away somewhere else.

The recent media exposure for MetaFilter has resulted in an influx of new people, most of them extroverts, and tilted its character toward the mainstream. The mainstream does not value what I value, which is why it has rejected me (and I it) my entire life. I doubt that there is anything I can do about this in the long run. The whole world is organized according to extrovert principles, and eventually the whole Internet will be, too. I will, eventually, have to deal with people, people who are numerous enough to define normality, who think "kthxbi" is a fine way to end a conversation. And I will find it exhausting because I always find dealing with people exhausting. But I'll enjoy what I can get, when I can get it, and I'll miss it terribly when it's gone. Everyone should have a place where they can be themselves.
posted by kindall at 12:02 AM on September 23, 2001 [195 favorites]

kindall, I say this totally without sarcasm or double-meaning or any form of insincerity: that is the best post I have ever seen on this site.
posted by darukaru at 12:32 AM on September 23, 2001

Thanks. Still needs another editing pass. %)
posted by kindall at 12:38 AM on September 23, 2001

kindall, I want to give you a big sloppy kiss as well.

Cheerleader post ahoy, but when I read the post from Matt about how seriously he's thinking of shutting the place down, and then almost immediately thereafter read your post above, I got all misty and stuff.

Like darukaru said, no sarcasm or insincerity - thanks for saying so clearly and succinctly some of the things that I've wished I could articulate when talk has turned to MetaDoom.

posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:55 AM on September 23, 2001

But back to the topic at hand...A 30 day waiting period for new members, and this all could have been avoided, no?

Possibly, but I still think the instant background check is a better idea.
posted by ljromanoff at 6:21 AM on September 23, 2001

What kindall said, every word, comma, implication.
It is why Metafillter is revolutionary. It brings together readers and writers who enjoy reading and writing and use the internet as a further, irreplaceably communitarian and spontaneous means of communication.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 11:15 AM on September 23, 2001

get em
posted by newnameintown at 12:26 PM on September 23, 2001

kindall, I want to give you a big sloppy kiss as well.

Dammit, aren't there any gorgeous women who liked my post?
posted by kindall at 2:36 PM on September 23, 2001 [1 favorite]

Blog! Has anyone actually read linuxkitty's weblog? It's actually really rather good...especially the swearing which is always good when used well...
posted by feelinglistless at 3:22 PM on September 23, 2001

Should have listened to Stavros.
Ow, ow, my butt! My brain!

Dammit, aren't there any gorgeous women who liked my post?
kindall, I loved your post, don't know if I qualify.
Hoo Ray Rah & a Tiger!
posted by Catch at 3:32 PM on September 23, 2001

kindall, I loved your post, don't know if I qualify

If you want to give me a big sloppy kiss, like stavros, then you qualify.
posted by kindall at 5:10 PM on September 23, 2001

feelinglistless: I don't swear -that- much. Good grief.

Kindall: You already know how I felt about what you wrote.
posted by linuxkitty at 9:32 PM on September 23, 2001

I watched the other day when the bickering went on between the Metafilter regulars and the cam community. As already pointed out, it got out of hand and harsh. Seeing as it has calmed down, I feel it is now important for me to put in my two cents.

Shame on those of you who wish to enact a waiting period. True, some cam-people acted irrationally, but remember that their hobby, a part of their life, had just been attacked. No wonder they lashed out at you. By enabeling a waiting period, that gives most of you a free liscence to say whatever smut you want to, without the fear of someone contradicting you. A good debate isn't about surrounding yourself with people who you know will agree with you, but surrounding yourself with fresh, new, controversial ideas.

Someone earlier made a comment about the camkiddies showing up with their fishnets or some such nonsense. Granted, some cam-people show skin, but most do not. Most cam-people go live and don't do much at all, or go live and simply have fun. If you really take the time to look through some portals, you will find a wide variety of types of people. We should all learn to be tolerant of that.

In addition, I am sad to say that the metafilter regulars have really let me down. The conversations here are usually somewhat droll, but also somewhat informative. In the other thread, someone made the comment that we all love a good fight, and that is why the post became so popular and heated. I agree with that statement.

This thread was created for the sole purpose of further mocking the cam community. All too often we are willing to believe that we are smarter than the next person, or prittier, or more popular. Some of you have proclaimed that you look down your nose at people with cams, and are proud of it. Ultimately, it doesn't even matter who "started it", because we have all jumped in. Even I am no better than some of you, because here I am, posting.

Some of you should get off of your high horses before you realize that your horse isn't real, and fall to the ground. Learn to be accepting of all forms of entertainment, lifestyles, and behaviors. Your life is the only one you are leading. Don't concern yourself with everyone else's.
posted by JuliaD at 10:20 PM on September 23, 2001

Someone earlier made a comment about the camkiddies showing up with their fishnets or some such nonsense. Granted, some cam-people show skin, but most do not. Most cam-people go live and don't do much at all, or go live and simply have fun. If you really take the time to look through some portals, you will find a wide variety of types of people. We should all learn to be tolerant of that.

Umm, the fishnet comment was part of a metaphor, nobody here gives a damn what you are *actually* wearing when you post here.

And Kindall: you fucking rule. best comment ever.
posted by rorycberger at 11:52 PM on September 23, 2001

oh yeah, I almost forgot, math jokes kick ass.
posted by rorycberger at 11:52 PM on September 23, 2001

Even I am no better than some of you
So, which of us are you better than? Please respond with a list of users sorted by Metafilter ID#, beginning with 1448.

A couple other points:
The idea of a waiting period for new users has been kicking around for a while; it wasn't just created by the elite to silence the camgirls. Go ahead and believe it if you get a kick out of feeling tolerant, though.
If you think we do nothing but sit around here and agree all day... well, have you read any threads other than this one and its evil twin on the blue page?

One last tip: the 'Metafilter regulars' owe you nothing. They don't have to behave according to your preconceived notions. They don't have to be 'droll', or tolerant of jackasses and attention whores (every troll likes to scream that their beliefs are valid, too). And they don't give a flying flip if they let you, the wholly anonymous reader, down. You want respect here? Earn it.

Your life is the only one you are leading. Don't concern yourself with everyone else's.
Do consider taking your own advice. HTH. HAND.
posted by darukaru at 11:53 PM on September 23, 2001

Darukaru, I didn't attack you personally, so please don't resort to the childish personal attacks. My main point was to be tolerant of other people and their points of view. That idea must be lost on you. I'm sorry.
posted by JuliaD at 12:11 AM on September 24, 2001

Shame on those of you who wish to enact a waiting period. True, some cam-people acted irrationally, but remember that their hobby, a part of their life, had just been attacked. No wonder they lashed out at you. By enabeling a waiting period, that gives most of you a free liscence to say whatever smut you want to, without the fear of someone contradicting you. A good debate isn't about surrounding yourself with people who you know will agree with you, but surrounding yourself with fresh, new, controversial ideas.

Shame on those cam-kiddies that thought they could earn respect by acting like jackasses. I understand their compulsion to come here and defend themselves after such a troll post. But if they honestly believe that the way that they behaved was going to reflect well on them or their community, or change any preconceived notions...Then they are as they appeared: complete idiots.

Do you honestly believe that any 'good debate' was going to come of bertie and huny and company giving shout-outs? Do you consider linuxkitty's fetus eating a fresh, new idea that we need to surround ourselves with?
posted by dogmatic at 4:35 AM on September 24, 2001

are we still going?

you realize that throughout this entire charade, i've been laughing nonstop. we were just having a bit of harmless fun -- yes sirs and madams, all we wanted to do was lighten the mood a bit, a little change of pace which we clearly KNEW was not 'MeFi-esque' -- and we thought you would realize that it was nothing but harmless fun. we had no idea you would respond so vehemently, and with such arrogance. not mock arrogance, mind you, but honest-to-god arrogance and intolerance, which only intensified as the discussion continued.

in any case, it turned into a huge brawl. the thread on MeFi with the most comments this week, in fact. over what? a few initial 'shout outs' on a thread about a web game.

hey, keep this going! i want to beat the number of comments on the initial world trade center post. after all, the topic of [sarcasm] 'MetaFilter intellectualism being sabotaged by the cam communty' [/sarcasm] is so damn important!

hysterical.

please, enough already. like i said, i'm almost flattered...

no, actually, carry on. continue the discussion. i'm enjoying myself immensely.

p.s. linuxkitty's fetus post was there only because she knew it would get your goat, and for no other reason. as predicted, it spawned several posts by 'shocked' MeFi readers, who took it a bit too seriously. ahh, so predictable... ironically, most of the posts that garnered responses after the discussion began, were the gratuitous shock posts, with the longer, more thought out posts being completely ignored. again, so predictable...
posted by survivorcam at 8:27 AM on September 24, 2001

Live on CAM! Linuxkitty eating a fetus!

Get fucking real.
posted by linuxkitty at 8:37 AM on September 24, 2001

You know what -I'm- starting to think, Bertie?
I'm starting to think that these pigsluts don't have anything really bad to say about us, so they're taking our posts from earlier [which, to any normal human being, is a display of sarcasm or general silliness], and transforming it by thier own imaginations to a literal sense.

Wait, think Kristen, they couldn't possibly do that. Common. These are MeFi people. They're -smart-. They're sexy. They are hip the the muhfuckin square, and they can certaintly spot sarcasm, right?

...right?
posted by linuxkitty at 9:24 AM on September 24, 2001

True, some cam-people acted irrationally, but remember that their hobby, a part of their life, had just been attacked.

True, some MetaFilter people acted irrationally, but remember that our hobby, a part of our lives had just been rudely invaded and used for a purpose it wasn't intended for.

Look, the issue at hand isn't whether or not the webcam community has validity, or has intelligence. Of course they do, overall they're just as valid and intelligent as the MeFi community, and the MeFi community is just as insipid and rediculous as the webcam community. Members from both reach the extremes, but most of us are middle ground.

Remember, you're pissed off that your way of life, or your hobby, or whatever, something that makes up a piece of you was insulted, mocked, trampled on.

We're pissed off that you chose fit to trample on our way of life, a piece of us. Does that make sense to you guys? We've got an established community here, and we've got standards and acceptable practices, and you guys ignored them all. Perhaps it could've been handled better, but if you respected our community as much as you want us to respect yours, then you wouldn't have treated our community the way you did.

And I don't mean to be exclusionary, there are many webcam-enabled MetaFilistines, and vice versa, there's lots of cross-over, but there is a time and place for everything.
posted by cCranium at 9:26 AM on September 24, 2001

feelinglistless: I don't swear -that- much. Good grief.

It was compliment. As I said, swearing is always good...good grief.
posted by feelinglistless at 11:39 AM on September 24, 2001

I'm starting to think that these pigsluts don't have anything really bad to say about us

I'm starting to think that the Yuk-Yuks simply have no interest in decent conversation and hide under the banner of humor. I've no problem with sarcasm, but you wield it like a ape performing ballet. So you folks don't want to get along, fine. Just don't pretend that everyone here was ready to attack you.
posted by john at 12:34 PM on September 24, 2001 [1 favorite]

Actually, john, I think Evil Clowns are more appropriate.
posted by dogmatic at 12:59 PM on September 24, 2001

Dogmatic: Maybe in some other MeFi members' case, but uh, not you baby.
posted by linuxkitty at 3:17 PM on September 24, 2001

So, you guys going to make this a pay site? 30 day no-posting rules? I'd love to see either implimented. :D
posted by linuxkitty at 3:19 PM on September 24, 2001

Sigh.

I like both communities, so it was depressing to see what happens when they cross paths. I think I like them both a little less now.

Or maybe I like them both a little more...?
posted by D at 5:33 PM on September 24, 2001

What is this place?

I seem to have wandered in here accidentally. The link I clicked on said something about etiquette. I don't want to invoke anyone's ire, nor be the target of the wraith of established members of the MeFi community, but I'm seeing a lot of behavior that reminds me of children left to play on the computer without adult supervision.

Sure, you all have the right to be mean to each other. You may not appreciate how others perceive you to be acting towards your new guests, because you may not possess the social skills to handle yourselves as reasonable rational people. I may be making myself a pariah in this community for saying this, but you need it said by someone.

A lot of people died a couple of weeks back because some other people didn't like the way their culture was being invaded, and destroyed. I'd like to think that educated and intelligent people could take something from that that would last with them beyond the sadness. Maybe a respect for other people. "Yuk YuK," "Evil Clown," and "Fetus Eating?" I'm not your daddy, and I'm not telling you to play nice. But I am suggesting that maybe you better look inside, and ask yourselves if you like what you see. And then think about the other people whom you come across in your lives, and ask yourself if they have any reason to not like you either.
posted by bragadocchio at 6:23 PM on September 24, 2001

"You got your goofy thread in our identity crisis!"

"You got your identity crisis in our goofy thread!"

"Stop! You're both right!"
posted by Zettai at 12:04 AM on September 25, 2001

I can't believe (some of the-) MeFi people can think they're any different, any better than the 'camkiddies'. I'm asking you, do you think SurvivorCam is SERIOUS ? It's a game, dudes, get real. What the 'camkiddies/camwhores/camwhatever' have posted are jokes.
I'm surprised to see stuff like "oh, get the hell outta here" when the rejected persons just come to protest after they've been insulted on MeFi's front page. Are you so surprised of the reactions you'd get ?

Back to my previous point, SurvivorCam is for FUN. That's a three-letters word, you can find it in a dictionnary. That's a FUN contest, and people have FUN doing it even if it surely brings a little stress sometimes.
When I visit SurvivorCam it's for a good laugh. And they succeed at it.

MeFi is 'serious' stuff. I quote that word 'serious' because last two weeks have seen repetitive threads and whatnots over the incidents, and last months have seen a degradation of the frontpage entries quality. No, really. If you have a rule to apply it's one that says "search before you post you moron" and "are you sure your link is worth our time ?".
When I visit MeFi it's for a good load of information. Unfortunately this rare spice has become scarce. So one point to SC, zero to MeFi.

Now to the point of 'having something better to do with their lives', what makes you say so ? You do not know any of them personally, and I doubt anyone in their right mind would take thatas seriously as dropping everything for the contest. They have things out of the cam thing, and they do it. Some have jobs, some have courses that they attend. Some do nothing. Do I care ? Of course not, I'm just here for the cam funny stuff.

Oh well I'm just rambling now, saying things that have been said n times already. But judging from the repetitive subjectson MeFi, I guess that's a necessary step to make some MeFi people understand.

Like OMGOMG I've been posting in a thread with Huny, Katneko, Bertie and all ????!!!!!!111 kthxbi & eat a fetus cajun styley, baby


(Heh, beat the pulp out of me now, I'm posting on the day I registered!)
posted by michel v at 7:42 AM on September 25, 2001

Thank you for expressing your opinions michel v. You raise some points that we should all consider.

Have a good day.
posted by bragadocchio at 9:59 AM on September 25, 2001

Gentlefolk,
At the risk of sticking my neck out when I haven't been here long enough to know if I'm about to get my head chopped off....
Since 9/11, we have *all* been edgy & frightened. I've seen sweet-tempered babies who never cry wail at sudden noises. I've been nipped at least once by every damn cat in my household & I've been pounded on the knee HARD by my two-year-old niece because I was so distracted that I was not making the proper eye-contact with her. I've yelled at a cat simply because he felt I *needed* a cat in my lap. I've snapped at my husband & he's snapped at me.
That happens when you're shocky & scared & feeling helpless---you lash out unexpectedly at people who don't deserve it.
This thread is feeding on itself, from what I can see. You're scaring each other worse.
Take a break, soak in the tub, come back tomorrow & be kind to each other.
We all need that & we all need innocent distractions at a time like this.
Thank you for listening.


posted by realjanetkagan at 11:01 PM on September 27, 2001

kindall: grrrr...
posted by holloway at 6:49 PM on October 7, 2001

I [heart] the archives.

Took me three months to get around to reading the invasion thread, and my brain is still more or less where it was half an hour ago.

Whew.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:30 AM on December 20, 2001