MeTa by proxy. October 23, 2005 1:45 PM Subscribe
MeTa by proxy.
This post has attracted a lot of MetaTalk-like comments, but nobody apparently wants to pony up the effort to start a MeTa thread about it instead of posting their stuff in the FPP. So here y'all go.
This post has attracted a lot of MetaTalk-like comments, but nobody apparently wants to pony up the effort to start a MeTa thread about it instead of posting their stuff in the FPP. So here y'all go.
Thanks, bugbread. I missed your comment on preview, alas, but I'll repeat what I said here. I've seen a few instances lately:
"This may not be a perfect post, but I think you're going to have to do better than pick on the immediate attributes of a) it being long, b) being written in the first person; and c) *shock-horror* not being tainted with the insipid pseudo-intellectual camel jism of so-called impartiality to pick holes in it. Again, I'm sick of people with brief and relatively-dubious posting histories themselves spilling their guts about what does and doesn't belong on MetaFilter. So long as someone's making an effort, stick your throaway snarks back from the hole you pulled them out of, flag the post, and save the actual editorial decisions for those with a clue."
posted by nthdegx at 1:51 PM on October 23, 2005
"This may not be a perfect post, but I think you're going to have to do better than pick on the immediate attributes of a) it being long, b) being written in the first person; and c) *shock-horror* not being tainted with the insipid pseudo-intellectual camel jism of so-called impartiality to pick holes in it. Again, I'm sick of people with brief and relatively-dubious posting histories themselves spilling their guts about what does and doesn't belong on MetaFilter. So long as someone's making an effort, stick your throaway snarks back from the hole you pulled them out of, flag the post, and save the actual editorial decisions for those with a clue."
posted by nthdegx at 1:51 PM on October 23, 2005
There is no flag called "too fucking long" or "one big hard to read paragraph" or even "starts off with 'I know this is long but it's Sunday.'" I don't want to complain in the thread, but I think the criticism there is warranted.
posted by fixedgear at 1:52 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by fixedgear at 1:52 PM on October 23, 2005
In fairness, I don't think it is a great post. I think some of the links are weak, but seriously - why do people think they're an authority on what belongs? The comments are five times as damaging to MetaFilter as any of the posts are.
posted by nthdegx at 1:53 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by nthdegx at 1:53 PM on October 23, 2005
But, like, can someone explain to me why we care so freaking much? I just don't get it.
That said, I luv baseball.
posted by ORthey at 1:53 PM on October 23, 2005
That said, I luv baseball.
posted by ORthey at 1:53 PM on October 23, 2005
Nothing to freak over in that post, I agree, although it seems to be too late for poor Smedley. My thing is what I reckon is a recent general increase in misplaced judgemental comments. Now there's a flagging system, there's no need.
posted by nthdegx at 1:55 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by nthdegx at 1:55 PM on October 23, 2005
So it was a bit long on the front page... so what.... one comment to encourage better posting would have been appropriate, rants about it are a waste of everyone's time!
I just want to know who's going to every metamember's house and holding a gun on them to make them read every frigging post!
In my head is the image of some scrawny little weasel (beavis? butthead?), sitting in a dark room in front of a monitor, one hand on his lap doing god knows what, while he measures the length of each fpp and counts words (and, gasp! looks for a typo or spelling error)!
Must be hard to keep washing your hand in order to not get the keyboard all sticky...
Lighten up on the word counting, it's a good topic, it needs to be discussed.
posted by HuronBob at 2:03 PM on October 23, 2005
I just want to know who's going to every metamember's house and holding a gun on them to make them read every frigging post!
In my head is the image of some scrawny little weasel (beavis? butthead?), sitting in a dark room in front of a monitor, one hand on his lap doing god knows what, while he measures the length of each fpp and counts words (and, gasp! looks for a typo or spelling error)!
Must be hard to keep washing your hand in order to not get the keyboard all sticky...
Lighten up on the word counting, it's a good topic, it needs to be discussed.
posted by HuronBob at 2:03 PM on October 23, 2005
so is it better, or worse, to comment on each comment commenting on each FPP? can we get a meta-MeTa up in here?
posted by kcm at 2:04 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by kcm at 2:04 PM on October 23, 2005
The comments are five times as damaging to MetaFilter as any of the posts are.
totally, and what Huron said.
posted by amberglow at 2:05 PM on October 23, 2005
totally, and what Huron said.
posted by amberglow at 2:05 PM on October 23, 2005
Holy Cow. I'm fine with News- Politics- or WhateverFilter and have supported them on many occasions but this post sucks. More inside. That's all you need to do.
Being rude to people isn't going to help you get your point accross it's going to hinder. Hogging a great big chunk of the front page is rude.
Metafilter isn't a bunch of ignorant dopes who need to be yelled at. Generally, a lot of us are open-minded & fairly eager to learn & discuss. You really don't need to be so ham-fisted in your attitude.
If you want a ruck, fine. Piss people off. If you actually want to educate folks then you're really going to have to be a bit more subtle and use a more educative approach.
[FWIW, I flagged but didn't comment as I agree that that isn't helpful.]
posted by i_cola at 2:09 PM on October 23, 2005
Being rude to people isn't going to help you get your point accross it's going to hinder. Hogging a great big chunk of the front page is rude.
Metafilter isn't a bunch of ignorant dopes who need to be yelled at. Generally, a lot of us are open-minded & fairly eager to learn & discuss. You really don't need to be so ham-fisted in your attitude.
If you want a ruck, fine. Piss people off. If you actually want to educate folks then you're really going to have to be a bit more subtle and use a more educative approach.
[FWIW, I flagged but didn't comment as I agree that that isn't helpful.]
posted by i_cola at 2:09 PM on October 23, 2005
For threads like those, I wish there were a Scoop-like comment type system i.e. Editorial and Topical. Only logged-in users can choose to view both. One can easily delineate all extratopical remarks into the Editorial comments and then hide them.
posted by Gyan at 2:11 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by Gyan at 2:11 PM on October 23, 2005
So to summarize:
1) Long, poorly written and inane GYOFB FPP.
2) Stream of derailing, critical comments about the post.
3) MeTa post for additional commentary that are entirely unnecessary.
If only we had a built-in system to bring such posts to the attention of our administrators instead of just shitting all over the site. If only...
posted by drpynchon at 2:14 PM on October 23, 2005
1) Long, poorly written and inane GYOFB FPP.
2) Stream of derailing, critical comments about the post.
3) MeTa post for additional commentary that are entirely unnecessary.
If only we had a built-in system to bring such posts to the attention of our administrators instead of just shitting all over the site. If only...
posted by drpynchon at 2:14 PM on October 23, 2005
Well, drypynchon, I think it's reasonable to argue that MeTa is for this type of shitting, among other things. Better 3) than 2), at least -- if the Blue is a service to the public, keeping it clean is a good idea. Flagging instead of 2) is also a good idea, but if the crowd is a-rarin' (as it has been lately) a clusterfuck here instead a clusterfuck in thread is probably the best reasonable alternative when the AdminSignal doesn't have instant results.
posted by cortex at 2:27 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by cortex at 2:27 PM on October 23, 2005
aside: ts signing his posts probably isn't going to make many people happy either
posted by cortex at 2:28 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by cortex at 2:28 PM on October 23, 2005
I'd just like to note-- as I did, inappropriately, in the thread itself-- that tagging a very long post as simply "very" and "long" and nothing else, not only seems to be inviting comments about the length of the post, but also makes it much more difficult to find if one is searching for, say, posts about "homeless" and "veterans."
posted by dersins at 2:29 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by dersins at 2:29 PM on October 23, 2005
thanks to whoever fixed the formatting. feel free to delete my snark, although I'll point out it was solely due to the thumbing-of-nose-/farkstyle in the first line that irked me enough to do so. content was fine, but sometimes style does count when you're making an argument that you'd like folks to buy into. the meritocracy doesn't exist when it comes to political ideas.
posted by kcm at 2:31 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by kcm at 2:31 PM on October 23, 2005
Veterans speak up......turdboys....shutup!!!
posted by Falconetti at 2:32 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by Falconetti at 2:32 PM on October 23, 2005
"Poor Smedley" my ass. He knew exactly what he was doing; he started off by mentioning how long his post was, and he tagged it "very" and "long." It's a badly written excrescence of a post that should be gone as soon as Matt sees it. And spare me the "but it's about veterans! won't someone think of the veterans? if u hate his psot u hate VETERANZ!" I think soldiers and veterans are getting a very raw deal and I'd welcome a good post on the subject; this isn't it. If there was ever a candidate for the overused comment "Get your own blog," here it is.
posted by languagehat at 2:34 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by languagehat at 2:34 PM on October 23, 2005
aside: ts signing his posts probably isn't going to make many people happy either
It's a lot less irritating than bullshit statements like "If you never served in the military, don't you dare post any BS about the quality of someone's HTML tags."
posted by dersins at 2:35 PM on October 23, 2005
It's a lot less irritating than bullshit statements like "If you never served in the military, don't you dare post any BS about the quality of someone's HTML tags."
posted by dersins at 2:35 PM on October 23, 2005
I'm going to adopt a feature like wikipedia -- a talk page for every post, to keep editorial comments off the discussion page. Want to bitch about some aspect of a post's formating? Put it on the talk page, not as a new comment.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:36 PM on October 23, 2005 [1 favorite]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:36 PM on October 23, 2005 [1 favorite]
drpynchon : "2) Stream of derailing, critical comments about the post.
"3) MeTa post for additional commentary that are entirely unnecessary."
Well, as the initiator of 3, I would have phrased it like this:
3) MeTa post to curtail derailing posts and provide a location where they would no longer be derails.
But, regardless, the post has been fixed, so this thread's purpose (at least in reference to front page length) no longer exists.
posted by Bugbread at 2:36 PM on October 23, 2005
"3) MeTa post for additional commentary that are entirely unnecessary."
Well, as the initiator of 3, I would have phrased it like this:
3) MeTa post to curtail derailing posts and provide a location where they would no longer be derails.
But, regardless, the post has been fixed, so this thread's purpose (at least in reference to front page length) no longer exists.
posted by Bugbread at 2:36 PM on October 23, 2005
mathowie : "I'm going to adopt a feature like wikipedia -- a talk page for every post, to keep editorial comments off the discussion page."
I dunno if it will work as intended, but That. Is. Great!
posted by Bugbread at 2:37 PM on October 23, 2005
I dunno if it will work as intended, but That. Is. Great!
posted by Bugbread at 2:37 PM on October 23, 2005
languagehat, I agree with almost everything you said. My reference to "poor Smedley" was simply due to the fact that he seemed to have flipped out in the particular comment I linked to.
The issue for me is that a more effective way to improve someone's posts is to provide constructive criticism. "Get your own blog" might be particularly apt in this case, but it remains as useless a comment as ever.
There have been a few cases of MetaFilter contributors significantly developing their posting and writing skills over the course of the site. There won't be many more cases, though, if this situation becomes the norm.
posted by nthdegx at 2:45 PM on October 23, 2005
The issue for me is that a more effective way to improve someone's posts is to provide constructive criticism. "Get your own blog" might be particularly apt in this case, but it remains as useless a comment as ever.
There have been a few cases of MetaFilter contributors significantly developing their posting and writing skills over the course of the site. There won't be many more cases, though, if this situation becomes the norm.
posted by nthdegx at 2:45 PM on October 23, 2005
New visitors to this thread may note that the post in question has now been edited.
posted by nthdegx at 2:46 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by nthdegx at 2:46 PM on October 23, 2005
Edited, comments removed, no indication left in the thread - not good. [not that the editing etc. wasn't good - damn that was one huge post - I would just like to see some indication that it occurred. The tag line is "All posts are © their original authors. (new server)" (whatever does that parenthetical mean?{how deeply can I embed parentheticals?}). That implies some respect for the contributions of the members. Don't go mucking with them then without a note that they have been edited, please.]
posted by caddis at 3:00 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by caddis at 3:00 PM on October 23, 2005
caddis, I reckon the people visitng that post via this thread will have the smarts to realise some comments were removed. Preserving some obscure narrative for MeTa heads takes last place behind making MeFi readable and on-topic for the majority of the readership.
I don't see the copyright issue is relevant. Matt isn't promising free hosting for any and all comments from the membership.
posted by nthdegx at 3:05 PM on October 23, 2005
I don't see the copyright issue is relevant. Matt isn't promising free hosting for any and all comments from the membership.
posted by nthdegx at 3:05 PM on October 23, 2005
I would say that leaving the vast, vast majority of comments unedited suggests a fundamental respect for the posters, and that the rare edits for coherence suggest a fundamental respect for readers.
Striking a balance like this is always going to leave some folks bothered, but that's life. I lost a comment to this current batch of editing, and I'm not complaining nor feeling disrespected.
posted by cortex at 3:21 PM on October 23, 2005
Striking a balance like this is always going to leave some folks bothered, but that's life. I lost a comment to this current batch of editing, and I'm not complaining nor feeling disrespected.
posted by cortex at 3:21 PM on October 23, 2005
I see the tags have been fixed as well. Thanks, whoever did that, whether Smedleyman, Matt, or Jess...
posted by dersins at 3:24 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by dersins at 3:24 PM on October 23, 2005
k... you saw the comments, right?
The guaranteed preservation of everyone's Holy Opinions is much more important than piddling matters like civility.
posted by darukaru at 3:24 PM on October 23, 2005
The guaranteed preservation of everyone's Holy Opinions is much more important than piddling matters like civility.
posted by darukaru at 3:24 PM on October 23, 2005
I'm going to adopt a feature like wikipedia -- a talk page for every post, to keep editorial comments off the discussion page. Want to bitch about some aspect of a post's formating? Put it on the talk page, not as a new comment.
Great idea.
I'm sure it will work out well in 10 years when it's actualy implemented.
(I keeed, I keed!)
posted by delmoi at 3:29 PM on October 23, 2005
Great idea.
I'm sure it will work out well in 10 years when it's actualy implemented.
(I keeed, I keed!)
posted by delmoi at 3:29 PM on October 23, 2005
darukaru, it's more about misrepresentation rather than ego. Matt has mentioned that he plans to append a Talk Page to each thread. It would be perfect if edited comments are noted as such and the original comments posted on the Talk page. Same for deleted comments.
posted by Gyan at 3:32 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by Gyan at 3:32 PM on October 23, 2005
I'm going to adopt a feature like wikipedia -- a talk page for every post, to keep editorial comments off the discussion page. Want to bitch about some aspect of a post's formating? Put it on the talk page, not as a new comment.
posted by mathowie at 2:36 PM PST on October 23
This sounds nice in theory, but I wonder whether it will lead to more problems. One thing that keeps people honest around here is knowing that your stupidity will quickly get called out. It's painful to fuck up. Burying the bitch slaps in a separate page (albeit linked to the thread in question) limits the power of the call out. I do see how it will help reduce the in-thread wars over form. I am not sure I really have an opinion as to whether this is good or not, but just want to raise the point that it might not be. I am wondering what other people think.
posted by caddis at 3:35 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by mathowie at 2:36 PM PST on October 23
This sounds nice in theory, but I wonder whether it will lead to more problems. One thing that keeps people honest around here is knowing that your stupidity will quickly get called out. It's painful to fuck up. Burying the bitch slaps in a separate page (albeit linked to the thread in question) limits the power of the call out. I do see how it will help reduce the in-thread wars over form. I am not sure I really have an opinion as to whether this is good or not, but just want to raise the point that it might not be. I am wondering what other people think.
posted by caddis at 3:35 PM on October 23, 2005
As it stands now the post looks pretty good to me.
I feel tempted to say shit like that quote smedlyman highlighted all the time... It is an easy trap to fall into, but it is logically wrong. It is probably also politically inefective and personally unhealthy. Smedleyman did a great job - hopefully the more inside was original.
nthdegx: The comments are five times as damaging to MetaFilter as any of the posts are.
Lets sex that up a bit...
I feel tempted to say shit like that quote smedlyman highlighted all the time... It is an easy trap to fall into, but it is logically wrong. It is probably also politically inefective and personally unhealthy. Smedleyman did a great job - hopefully the more inside was original.
nthdegx: The comments are five times as damaging to MetaFilter as any of the posts are.
Lets sex that up a bit...
___ ___ __ ___ __ __ | |_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_ _ _ _ _ | |_ |\ | | ||\/||_ (_ | | )(- (_(_)||||||(-| )|__) (_|| (- | |__| \| | || ||____) __ _ _ _ _ _| _ _ _ _ . _ _ |_ _ |\/| _|_ _ |_.||_ _ _ |_|_ _ _ |||(_)| (- (_|(_||||(_|(_)|| )(_) |_(_) | |(-|_(_|| |||_(-| |_| )(_|| ) _/ _/ /\ |\ |\_/ _ _ _|_ /--\| \| | |_)(_)_)|_. |posted by Chuckles at 3:42 PM on October 23, 2005
Personally, I'm not going to bother responding to an FPP which seems to be about little more than smedleyman's festering bitterness about a comment I made many weeks ago on an entirely different thread. It strikes me as pretty pathetiic, though.
posted by Decani at 3:48 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by Decani at 3:48 PM on October 23, 2005
oh. i thought it was all about me.
posted by andrew cooke at 3:56 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by andrew cooke at 3:56 PM on October 23, 2005
"One thing that keeps people honest around here is knowing that your stupidity will quickly get called out"
Good point.
posted by nthdegx at 4:03 PM on October 23, 2005
Good point.
posted by nthdegx at 4:03 PM on October 23, 2005
This FPP was absolutely the worst of the web. Ranks with cleardawn's recent assault. Should be deleted ASAP.
posted by Joeforking at 4:09 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by Joeforking at 4:09 PM on October 23, 2005
WAIT I THINK I MISSED IT IS JONMC GOING TO BE ON QUEER EYE OR NOT?
oops. wrong thread. sorry.
posted by philida at 4:47 PM on October 23, 2005
oops. wrong thread. sorry.
posted by philida at 4:47 PM on October 23, 2005
Actually, I think he's going to be on "Straight Eye for the Queer Guy" where he'll dispense tips about belching, talking about the relative merits of classic rock bands, and the joys of White Castle burgers.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:54 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:54 PM on October 23, 2005
I'm going to adopt a feature like wikipedia -- a talk page for every post, to keep editorial comments off the discussion page. Want to bitch about some aspect of a post's formating? Put it on the talk page, not as a new comment.
Then what purpose will Metatalk serve? This seems like a very major change that might be worth discussing before implementation, don't you think?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:32 PM on October 23, 2005
Then what purpose will Metatalk serve? This seems like a very major change that might be worth discussing before implementation, don't you think?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:32 PM on October 23, 2005
stavros, MetaTalk would serve all the issues aside from "I think think this post sucks"; larger issues like "maybe we have too many posts about baseball lately?" or "I think user x is off his meds" and basic bread and butter stuff like "hey, there's a bug with the comment page" or "I'm going to Toronto, let's have a meetup!"
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:56 PM on October 23, 2005
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:56 PM on October 23, 2005
"I think user x is off his meds"
I can't imagine who you might be talking about.
posted by dersins at 9:35 PM on October 23, 2005
I can't imagine who you might be talking about.
posted by dersins at 9:35 PM on October 23, 2005
Matt, I think that's a phenomenal idea. I know, I know, it took me a while to reply and you've been sitting at home chewing your fingernails and wondering "But what does shmegegge think about this?!" Well, worry no more. You may proceed with implementation, sir.
I would recommend an additional flag for comments: "Belongs on Talk Page." for when jerks ignore the talk page.
MetaTalk would serve all the issues aside from "I think think this post sucks"; larger issues like "maybe we have too many posts about baseball lately?" or "I think user x is off his meds" and basic bread and butter stuff like "hey, there's a bug with the comment page" or "I'm going to Toronto, let's have a meetup!"
Or "Hey, no one's mentioned quonsar in the past six hours!"
posted by shmegegge at 11:17 PM on October 23, 2005
I would recommend an additional flag for comments: "Belongs on Talk Page." for when jerks ignore the talk page.
MetaTalk would serve all the issues aside from "I think think this post sucks"; larger issues like "maybe we have too many posts about baseball lately?" or "I think user x is off his meds" and basic bread and butter stuff like "hey, there's a bug with the comment page" or "I'm going to Toronto, let's have a meetup!"
Or "Hey, no one's mentioned quonsar in the past six hours!"
posted by shmegegge at 11:17 PM on October 23, 2005
Personally, I'm not going to bother responding to an FPP which seems to be about little more than smedleyman's festering bitterness about a comment I made many weeks ago on an entirely different thread. It strikes me as pretty pathetiic, though.
What I like best about this is where you proceed to go over to said FPP and respond to it, like, 6 minutes after you posted that - and then again 10 minutes later. Tough guy.
posted by nanojath at 11:33 PM on October 23, 2005
What I like best about this is where you proceed to go over to said FPP and respond to it, like, 6 minutes after you posted that - and then again 10 minutes later. Tough guy.
posted by nanojath at 11:33 PM on October 23, 2005
stavros, MetaTalk would serve all the issues aside from "I think think this post sucks"; larger issues like "maybe we have too many posts about baseball lately?" or "I think user x is off his meds" and basic bread and butter stuff like "hey, there's a bug with the comment page" or "I'm going to Toronto, let's have a meetup!"
Mmkay. I'm wary of unintended design choice consequences, but I most definitely defer to you on that kind of thing. Just concerned it might amplify the aimless banter aspect of Metatalk, which wouldn't be such a wonderful thing, I don't think.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:47 PM on October 23, 2005
Mmkay. I'm wary of unintended design choice consequences, but I most definitely defer to you on that kind of thing. Just concerned it might amplify the aimless banter aspect of Metatalk, which wouldn't be such a wonderful thing, I don't think.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:47 PM on October 23, 2005
mathowie : "...basic bread and butter stuff like 'hey, there's a bug..."
There is a hidden message in here for me, I'm sure.
posted by Bugbread at 3:17 AM on October 24, 2005
There is a hidden message in here for me, I'm sure.
posted by Bugbread at 3:17 AM on October 24, 2005
There is a hidden message in here for me, I'm sure..
There sure is, bugbread. Time to pony up on the butter! No more excuses.
posted by nanojath at 8:43 AM on October 24, 2005
There sure is, bugbread. Time to pony up on the butter! No more excuses.
posted by nanojath at 8:43 AM on October 24, 2005
There is a hidden message in here...
No, but there is in here.
posted by dersins at 9:25 AM on October 24, 2005
No, but there is in here.
posted by dersins at 9:25 AM on October 24, 2005
KILL WATERGATE BOMB SPONGEBOB DEATH MURDER TORTURE OPRAH DIE KILL WATERGATE BOMB SPONGEBOB DEATH MURDER TORTURE OPRAH DIE KILL WATERGATE BOMB SPONGEBOB DEATH MURDER TORTURE OPRAH DIE KILL WATERGATE BUGBREAD BOMB SPONGEBOB DEATH MURDER TORTURE OPRAH DIE KILL WATERGATE BOMB SPONGEBOB DEATH MURDER TORTURE OPRAH DIE KILL WATERGATE BOMB SPONGEBOB DEATH MURDER TORTURE OPRAH DIE KILL WATERGATE BOMB TODD LOKKEN SPONGEBOB DEATH MURDER TORTURE OPRAH DIE KILL WATERGATE BOMB SPONGEBOB DEATH MURDER TORTURE OPRAH DIE
posted by cortex at 9:28 AM on October 24, 2005
posted by cortex at 9:28 AM on October 24, 2005
Again - Apologies.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:56 PM on October 24, 2005
posted by Smedleyman at 12:56 PM on October 24, 2005
"smedleyman's festering bitterness about a comment I made many weeks ago on an entirely different thread."
posted by Decani at 3:48 PM PST on October 23 [!]
First, the thread was related.
Second, it’s nothing to do with you personally. No offense meant and if any was taken I apologize and I assure you it was due to poor expression, not malice.
And bear in mind I’ve conceded the poor quality of the post.
But the first thing I thought of when I saw the homeless guy was that comment. People are people and intrinsically valuable. Ideas though are fair game.
I was attacking an idea that to me states that some people are not worthy of redemption.
It’s not a problem to focus more on some people than others. But this was immediate. A guy out in the cold rain in just a blanket with a sign that said he was a vet.
Based on the comment I should leave him to his fate.
I couldn’t do that, vet or not.
His being a vet made it that much more poignant. Like if we had graduated from the same class in high school or were roommates in college.
I wouldn’t say "festering bitterness." I’d say full on blown out bitterness. Because again - except for the chances of fate, that could be me. Or any of us, really.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:08 PM on October 24, 2005
posted by Decani at 3:48 PM PST on October 23 [!]
First, the thread was related.
Second, it’s nothing to do with you personally. No offense meant and if any was taken I apologize and I assure you it was due to poor expression, not malice.
And bear in mind I’ve conceded the poor quality of the post.
But the first thing I thought of when I saw the homeless guy was that comment. People are people and intrinsically valuable. Ideas though are fair game.
I was attacking an idea that to me states that some people are not worthy of redemption.
It’s not a problem to focus more on some people than others. But this was immediate. A guy out in the cold rain in just a blanket with a sign that said he was a vet.
Based on the comment I should leave him to his fate.
I couldn’t do that, vet or not.
His being a vet made it that much more poignant. Like if we had graduated from the same class in high school or were roommates in college.
I wouldn’t say "festering bitterness." I’d say full on blown out bitterness. Because again - except for the chances of fate, that could be me. Or any of us, really.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:08 PM on October 24, 2005
What I like best about this is where you proceed to go over to said FPP and respond to it, like, 6 minutes after you posted that - and then again 10 minutes later. Tough guy.
What I like best about this is the way you can't read. I said I wouldn't respond TO THE FPP. I.e smedleyman's post. Not the splenetic comments from the random roidhead which were posted under it. Pay attention.
posted by Decani at 6:51 PM on October 24, 2005
What I like best about this is the way you can't read. I said I wouldn't respond TO THE FPP. I.e smedleyman's post. Not the splenetic comments from the random roidhead which were posted under it. Pay attention.
posted by Decani at 6:51 PM on October 24, 2005
And what's with the "tough guy" nonsense, nanojath? It wasn't me who was playing the childish, "you don't have the balls to say that to my face", crap in that thread, was it? No. It was Brian Damage or Timsteil or whatever the hell his handle was. I'm no tough guy. Just someone who believes people should be able to say what they feel without some testosterone-addled, stress-disorder bullethead having a comedy spack-out all over them.
posted by Decani at 7:01 PM on October 24, 2005
posted by Decani at 7:01 PM on October 24, 2005
You're a testy fellow, Decani. The "tough guy" comment was just to rile you up, it is a reference to your own use of the phrase in a prior thread. As to your objection to my observation, I find it specious and self-serving, but hey, everything's about perspective, ain't it? For myself, I'm absolutely cool with you saying whatever you like. It's good comedy. But if you're asserting people's right to say "what they feel," you know, the occasional "testosterone-addled, stress-disorder... comedy spack-out" (I dunno what that means really but it sounds good to me) is just part of the beautiful rainbow of personal opinions for which the internet is such a wondrous medium. Peace out, bro.
posted by nanojath at 7:15 PM on October 24, 2005
posted by nanojath at 7:15 PM on October 24, 2005
You're a testy fellow, Decani.
Because take exception when someone both misses my point and flames me? You're damned right.
The "tough guy" comment was just to rile you up,
Well, I guess you succeeded then , didn't you, you snide little cuntbubble? Have a fucking doggie treat. Attaboy.
posted by Decani at 7:27 PM on October 25, 2005
Because take exception when someone both misses my point and flames me? You're damned right.
The "tough guy" comment was just to rile you up,
Well, I guess you succeeded then , didn't you, you snide little cuntbubble? Have a fucking doggie treat. Attaboy.
posted by Decani at 7:27 PM on October 25, 2005
Decani,
I say this not as an attack, but just my opinion, which might not be shared by anyone else, but: your style of saying what you feel sounds to me (probably because words on a screen don't convey the nuance of face to face conversation) to be frequently testosterony and stressy. But not bulletheady.
posted by Bugbread at 8:32 PM on October 25, 2005
I say this not as an attack, but just my opinion, which might not be shared by anyone else, but: your style of saying what you feel sounds to me (probably because words on a screen don't convey the nuance of face to face conversation) to be frequently testosterony and stressy. But not bulletheady.
posted by Bugbread at 8:32 PM on October 25, 2005
It makes me a little sad how easy it is to push you over the edge, Decani. Down the line that's going to mess with your blood pressure, you know.
posted by nanojath at 1:50 PM on October 26, 2005
posted by nanojath at 1:50 PM on October 26, 2005
It makes me a little sad how easy it is to push you over the edge, Decani. Down the line that's going to mess with your blood pressure, you know.
My blood pressure has been dodgy since I was a teen, dude. But at least I've never been the kind of unutterable tosser who gets his jollies out of winding people up for the sake of it. I cling to that. It gives me hope.
posted by Decani at 8:39 PM on October 27, 2005
My blood pressure has been dodgy since I was a teen, dude. But at least I've never been the kind of unutterable tosser who gets his jollies out of winding people up for the sake of it. I cling to that. It gives me hope.
posted by Decani at 8:39 PM on October 27, 2005
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
maybe someone can explain how it differs from rounders.
posted by andrew cooke at 1:47 PM on October 23, 2005