Sometimes I just love this place. October 3, 2006 7:51 AM Subscribe
Sometimes I just love this place.
I'm glad it's giving them something to do, and it is cool to read, but I can't help shake the feeling it's going to come to nothing. There are a lot of mysterious websites out there and sometimes people are just crazy.
posted by hoborg at 8:20 AM on October 3, 2006
posted by hoborg at 8:20 AM on October 3, 2006
my favorite part is where evariste goes to all the trouble of reposting the list of domains sharing the IP as links that don't work. LOL!
posted by quonsar at 8:27 AM on October 3, 2006
posted by quonsar at 8:27 AM on October 3, 2006
I'm also heartily enjoying this paean to geekdom. I doubt that anything will come of it, but maybe that's the point. In searching we will all become better geeks.
posted by ob at 9:27 AM on October 3, 2006
posted by ob at 9:27 AM on October 3, 2006
You say it like that's a good thing...
Shhh! Let's not shatter the last vestiges of hope.
posted by ob at 10:07 AM on October 3, 2006
Shhh! Let's not shatter the last vestiges of hope.
posted by ob at 10:07 AM on October 3, 2006
Hey, thanks for pointing this out, I might've missed it otherwise. Wish I had some geek skillz to add to the mix. It's a great (and creepy!) thread.
posted by stray at 10:10 AM on October 3, 2006
posted by stray at 10:10 AM on October 3, 2006
sportbucket must need this info for his novel or something.
posted by hototogisu at 10:13 AM on October 3, 2006
posted by hototogisu at 10:13 AM on October 3, 2006
Meetup in Taos, on November 15th. BYOHS
bring your own Hazmat suit
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:21 AM on October 3, 2006
bring your own Hazmat suit
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:21 AM on October 3, 2006
Suggestion: This is like the 6271th time someone has posted a non-bug to "bugs". Can the default state of the Category selector be a non-category like "Select a category"? Then the script can yell at the poster until he selects a valid category.
posted by knave at 10:22 AM on October 3, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by knave at 10:22 AM on October 3, 2006 [1 favorite]
This is like the 6271th time someone has posted a non-bug to "bugs".
Sounds to me like it's working as designed.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:37 AM on October 3, 2006
Sounds to me like it's working as designed.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:37 AM on October 3, 2006
I saw "bugs" and was all "What? In the past 5 minutes, they've figured out the website has something to do with ANTS?"
I need to go home.
posted by echo0720 at 11:54 AM on October 3, 2006
I need to go home.
posted by echo0720 at 11:54 AM on October 3, 2006
Now, wait... these guys pull out all the "collective detective" stops, and we love it, but just three days ago, someone posted the address associated with some poster, and everyone was up in arms about the invasion of privacies.
What's the difference, really?
posted by crunchland at 12:02 PM on October 3, 2006
What's the difference, really?
posted by crunchland at 12:02 PM on October 3, 2006
The only difference is that the site owner isn't on here bitching about it.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 12:24 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by Mr. Gunn at 12:24 PM on October 3, 2006
my favorite part is where evariste goes to all the trouble of reposting the list of domains sharing the IP as links that don't work. LOL!
matamyn has deleted your favourite part.
posted by timeistight at 12:39 PM on October 3, 2006
matamyn has deleted your favourite part.
posted by timeistight at 12:39 PM on October 3, 2006
The only difference is that the site owner isn't on here bitching about it.
Actually, Gunn, you seem to have alot of info about this site. I'm beginning to think you're behind this charade.
posted by grateful at 2:14 PM on October 3, 2006
Actually, Gunn, you seem to have alot of info about this site. I'm beginning to think you're behind this charade.
posted by grateful at 2:14 PM on October 3, 2006
Um, no (s)he didn't.
Um, yes (s)he did. Here's the first list of non-linked domains:
http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/47757#726329. The second list, which attempted to link to them is gone.
What is it about me that makes people so eager to argue for the wrong info?
posted by timeistight at 2:24 PM on October 3, 2006
Um, yes (s)he did. Here's the first list of non-linked domains:
http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/47757#726329. The second list, which attempted to link to them is gone.
What is it about me that makes people so eager to argue for the wrong info?
posted by timeistight at 2:24 PM on October 3, 2006
I'm actually pretty amazed to see how this thread has exploded. Now I sort of wish I were actually writing a novel. Hmmm.....
posted by sportbucket at 2:45 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by sportbucket at 2:45 PM on October 3, 2006
Now, wait... these guys pull out all the "collective detective" stops, and we love it, but just three days ago, someone posted the address associated with some poster, and everyone was up in arms about the invasion of privacies.
What's the difference, really?
Not much. Especially if your man Wayne turns out to have nothing to do with the site.
And some dimwit actually went sleuthing after one of the MetaFilter sleuths, Riemann, leading to someone else possibly outing him. Amazing.
posted by jack_mo at 2:49 PM on October 3, 2006
What's the difference, really?
Not much. Especially if your man Wayne turns out to have nothing to do with the site.
And some dimwit actually went sleuthing after one of the MetaFilter sleuths, Riemann, leading to someone else possibly outing him. Amazing.
posted by jack_mo at 2:49 PM on October 3, 2006
Not much. Especially if your man Wayne turns out to have nothing to do with the site.
Blame whoever stole his identity for that. Whoever made the site must have expected people's interest to be piqued.
posted by riotgrrl69 at 3:12 PM on October 3, 2006
Blame whoever stole his identity for that. Whoever made the site must have expected people's interest to be piqued.
posted by riotgrrl69 at 3:12 PM on October 3, 2006
From LJoshua: I find this very fishy, considering that Google has no records of any sites which link to the countdown. The Ultimate Insult may be the first seed.
Um, am I being cynical? I think Metafilter is probably the second seed. The original poster is sportbucket, and here is his posting history:
MetaFilter: no posts and 2 comments
MetaTalk: no posts and 1 comment
Ask MeFi: 2 posts by sportbucket questions and 13 answers
MeFi Music: no songs and no comments and no playlists
MeFi Projects: no posts
Most of those answers are in the same thread he posted. If I'm wrong, sorry about that. But if I'm right, Good Work Guys!
posted by Roger Dodger at 3:20 PM on October 3, 2006
Um, am I being cynical? I think Metafilter is probably the second seed. The original poster is sportbucket, and here is his posting history:
MetaFilter: no posts and 2 comments
MetaTalk: no posts and 1 comment
Ask MeFi: 2 posts by sportbucket questions and 13 answers
MeFi Music: no songs and no comments and no playlists
MeFi Projects: no posts
Most of those answers are in the same thread he posted. If I'm wrong, sorry about that. But if I'm right, Good Work Guys!
posted by Roger Dodger at 3:20 PM on October 3, 2006
What is it about me that makes people so eager to argue for the wrong info?
...besides the fact that I'm wrong so often.
posted by timeistight at 3:20 PM on October 3, 2006
...besides the fact that I'm wrong so often.
posted by timeistight at 3:20 PM on October 3, 2006
True. Also, no one has actually posted Wayne's details to AskMe, so perhaps the recent frowning on indiscriminately outing folk has had a wee bit of an impact...
posted by jack_mo at 3:22 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by jack_mo at 3:22 PM on October 3, 2006
Gah, should've previewed - that was in reply to riotgrrl. Whose username is making me want to dig out some old 7"s...
posted by jack_mo at 3:24 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by jack_mo at 3:24 PM on October 3, 2006
The Hive Mind at its best.
posted by Effigy2000 at 3:29 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by Effigy2000 at 3:29 PM on October 3, 2006
Roger Dodger: Don't let my lack of posting history throw you -- I'm a seasoned lurker. Posting to the "real" MeFi is a little intimidating, and I'll only post to AskMeFi if I have a question I've been unable to answer with extensive Googling.
For the record, the site seems to have been submitted to StumbleUpon somewhere around Sept. 30th, which is probably where the Ultimate Insult guy picked it up. That's where the trail goes kind of e-cold, though.
posted by sportbucket at 3:36 PM on October 3, 2006
For the record, the site seems to have been submitted to StumbleUpon somewhere around Sept. 30th, which is probably where the Ultimate Insult guy picked it up. That's where the trail goes kind of e-cold, though.
posted by sportbucket at 3:36 PM on October 3, 2006
So... it's a self link? I just wish I got metafilter at work, I seem to miss out on all the instances of geek critical mass.
posted by absalom at 3:38 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by absalom at 3:38 PM on October 3, 2006
absalom: A friend of mine saw the site on Ultimate Insult and IM'd it to me to ask if I knew anything about it. Google didn't turn up much, and I knew these things tend to get solved in a matter of minutes on MeFi, so I posted it.
So, to clarify: no, it's not a self-post. :)
posted by sportbucket at 3:49 PM on October 3, 2006
So, to clarify: no, it's not a self-post. :)
posted by sportbucket at 3:49 PM on October 3, 2006
i'm n ur flash decompiling ur conspiracy theory
posted by thatweirdguy2 at 4:26 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by thatweirdguy2 at 4:26 PM on October 3, 2006
listen, guys, if this peters out into nothing and you're still wanting a mystery to poke at, here's one for you. (site hosted by our own bhance and previously discussed years ago.) it's a doozy though--- fair warning.
posted by carsonb at 5:19 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by carsonb at 5:19 PM on October 3, 2006
Someone needs to go out to those coordinates and report back. Then we can all jack off.
posted by scarabic at 5:35 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by scarabic at 5:35 PM on October 3, 2006
oh, heh, I hadn't read down to UbuRoivas' comment in the askme thread yet. oops.
posted by carsonb at 5:40 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by carsonb at 5:40 PM on October 3, 2006
I thought we already jerked off?
posted by bob sarabia at 5:40 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by bob sarabia at 5:40 PM on October 3, 2006
links that don't work
They didn't? Shit. I didn't even notice.
posted by evariste at 6:18 PM on October 3, 2006
They didn't? Shit. I didn't even notice.
posted by evariste at 6:18 PM on October 3, 2006
As to the guy "outing" me, I really don't care. I was one in the previous meTA thread arguing that if it's on the internet its public and fair game. End of story. No exceptions.
posted by Riemann at 6:31 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by Riemann at 6:31 PM on October 3, 2006
But yeah, reading comprehension for the win. The guy who bothered looking me up really needs to work on their "internet detective" skills.
posted by Riemann at 6:33 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by Riemann at 6:33 PM on October 3, 2006
What's really funny is that the guy that did that apparently signed up just to join in the hunt.
posted by bob sarabia at 6:48 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by bob sarabia at 6:48 PM on October 3, 2006
Has anyone asked maf54 what he thinks?
posted by Mid at 8:05 PM on October 3, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by Mid at 8:05 PM on October 3, 2006 [1 favorite]
What strikes me most about that thread is that people actually worked together, shared what they knew, and kept the ball rolling forward looking for new clues. It's not a big deal to unpack a .swf or do a WHOIS. It's the cohesion of that thread which makes it good.
posted by scarabic at 8:52 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by scarabic at 8:52 PM on October 3, 2006
I still think stalking Wayne is the key. I looked for his house on Google maps and instead found a patch of woods. This area has been growing like wildfire and it is possible that the images are simply from before that area was developed, but I think it is far more likely that Wayne is a bigfoot. There are a lot of them around here. Anyway, if someone wants to call him and lure him away from his woods, I will sneak in and see what I can find.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 11:12 PM on October 3, 2006
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 11:12 PM on October 3, 2006
Rodger Dodger: Thank you! I skimmed that entire thread, and this one, waiting for someone to bring that up. WTF, Metafilter?
Sportbucket: Hey, good job! Say hi to Richard Kelly for me! Unfortunately, even though this "viral" nonsense seems to have worked here, Southland Tales is still a gigantic turd...
posted by Ian A.T. at 1:38 AM on October 4, 2006
Sportbucket: Hey, good job! Say hi to Richard Kelly for me! Unfortunately, even though this "viral" nonsense seems to have worked here, Southland Tales is still a gigantic turd...
posted by Ian A.T. at 1:38 AM on October 4, 2006
Before you start wagging your dick at sportbucket, I'll like to see you back up your claim a little. Not that it's out of the question, but at this point I think we need some proof.
posted by bob sarabia at 1:55 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by bob sarabia at 1:55 AM on October 4, 2006
I was reticent to bring it up, because I have no evidence whatsoever. So I brought it up somewhat apologetically. Isn't the whole point of viral marketing to say "Hey, have you ever heard of so and so? It's really weird and neat! You should check it out!" Whether sportbucket is being paid or not, he brought this to the community who jumped on the bandwagon lickety-split as soon as they figured they could show how smart they were. Also, stalking people is always fun. For every successful viral marketing campaign, there will be two dozen more following, only they'll be harder to discover as the marketers become more experienced. Just sayin'.
However, if this is the sort of thing you enjoy, who am I to say that it's wrong.
posted by Roger Dodger at 6:29 AM on October 4, 2006
However, if this is the sort of thing you enjoy, who am I to say that it's wrong.
posted by Roger Dodger at 6:29 AM on October 4, 2006
We know sportbucket is not marketing. Why? Because he pointed out the WHOIS data. A marketer wouldn't do that.
We also know that if this is marketing, it is highly unusual and non-commercial. This is because the site has visible WHOIS data, and the data points to someone who is contactable, but doesn't appear to know anything about the site. This is not something a viral marketing firm would do, because they'd get sued. They would hide the WHOIS data, which is trivial to do.
posted by riotgrrl69 at 6:43 AM on October 4, 2006
We also know that if this is marketing, it is highly unusual and non-commercial. This is because the site has visible WHOIS data, and the data points to someone who is contactable, but doesn't appear to know anything about the site. This is not something a viral marketing firm would do, because they'd get sued. They would hide the WHOIS data, which is trivial to do.
posted by riotgrrl69 at 6:43 AM on October 4, 2006
I'm not saying he's a marketer. What I'm saying is that by buying into this contrived "mystery" we further the ends of whoever the marketer is. We are doing exactly what is expected of us by whoever created this. Yes, it is interesting. Yes, it's challenging to track stuff down, and use your brain. Yes it's a successful marketing campaign.
4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42
posted by Roger Dodger at 6:55 AM on October 4, 2006
4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42
posted by Roger Dodger at 6:55 AM on October 4, 2006
I just can't picture any way that Wayne from dispatch, who answers his phone, can fit into a marketing campaign.
posted by riotgrrl69 at 7:02 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by riotgrrl69 at 7:02 AM on October 4, 2006
Yes it's a successful marketing campaign.
Except that no one has been able to work out what it's meant to be marketing, which is a bit of a flaw in a marketing campaign. It could easily be part of a non-commercial ARG or made by someone who actually believes some sort of purification is going to happen...
posted by jack_mo at 7:04 AM on October 4, 2006
Except that no one has been able to work out what it's meant to be marketing, which is a bit of a flaw in a marketing campaign. It could easily be part of a non-commercial ARG or made by someone who actually believes some sort of purification is going to happen...
posted by jack_mo at 7:04 AM on October 4, 2006
I don't believe for a second this is a genuine religious website. It's a puzzle that someone's made.
posted by riotgrrl69 at 7:06 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by riotgrrl69 at 7:06 AM on October 4, 2006
Except that no one has been able to work out what it's meant to be marketing, which is a bit of a flaw in a marketing campaign. - jack_mo
Well not entirely. Some marketing campaigns try and drum up a lot of interest in the campaign itself before revealing the product. This way they already have people interested - an engaged audience with their guard down - to spring the actual message on.
A less elaborate version of this sometimes happens in billboard campains. Where totally cryptic billboards go up for a few weeks or a month. More clues get added. Then there's a reveal of some sort.
posted by raedyn at 7:35 AM on October 4, 2006
Well not entirely. Some marketing campaigns try and drum up a lot of interest in the campaign itself before revealing the product. This way they already have people interested - an engaged audience with their guard down - to spring the actual message on.
A less elaborate version of this sometimes happens in billboard campains. Where totally cryptic billboards go up for a few weeks or a month. More clues get added. Then there's a reveal of some sort.
posted by raedyn at 7:35 AM on October 4, 2006
And the other possibility...a chain yank for the sake of it.
posted by peacay at 8:02 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by peacay at 8:02 AM on October 4, 2006
Roger Dodger, I thought the rule was that there should be no linking to your own marketing campaigns?
I find the whole thing fascinating. If there's a parked Hummer on the blue slab in the middle of the desert, I'll be somewhat impressed but not that much more likely to buy one.
posted by slimepuppy at 8:04 AM on October 4, 2006
I find the whole thing fascinating. If there's a parked Hummer on the blue slab in the middle of the desert, I'll be somewhat impressed but not that much more likely to buy one.
posted by slimepuppy at 8:04 AM on October 4, 2006
You can't solve the puzzle because you've been EDUCATED STUPID.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 8:07 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by monju_bosatsu at 8:07 AM on October 4, 2006
I still think that the circle in the squares represents a screw attached to two offset square bolts, viewed head-on.
I'll let you know when I figure out the rest.
posted by horsewithnoname at 8:13 AM on October 4, 2006
I'll let you know when I figure out the rest.
posted by horsewithnoname at 8:13 AM on October 4, 2006
There's no way I'm going into the desert with you, horsewithnoname.
posted by Floydd at 8:27 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by Floydd at 8:27 AM on October 4, 2006
Roger Dodger, I thought the rule was that there should be no linking to your own marketing campaigns?
Well, in that case... (link)
posted by Roger Dodger at 8:35 AM on October 4, 2006
Well, in that case... (link)
posted by Roger Dodger at 8:35 AM on October 4, 2006
I was kind of expecting to be accused of being a marketer, which is why I didn't link to anything directly, and I mentioned up front that I fully expect this to be some sort of marketing-related thing.
I guess you could argue that's exactly what a smart marketer would do.
I can't win.
posted by sportbucket at 8:58 AM on October 4, 2006
I guess you could argue that's exactly what a smart marketer would do.
I can't win.
posted by sportbucket at 8:58 AM on October 4, 2006
My first impression was also that it was Southland Tales related.
BTW, I ordered the graphic novel prequel months ago and have only seen volume one yet.
posted by sourwookie at 9:41 AM on October 4, 2006
BTW, I ordered the graphic novel prequel months ago and have only seen volume one yet.
posted by sourwookie at 9:41 AM on October 4, 2006
No email address in his profile? N00B.
posted by horsewithnoname at 9:55 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by horsewithnoname at 9:55 AM on October 4, 2006
No email address in his profile? N00B.
Looks like you gotta click the little boxy thingie to get it to show up on your profile.
Consider the little boxy thingie clicked.
posted by sportbucket at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2006
Looks like you gotta click the little boxy thingie to get it to show up on your profile.
Consider the little boxy thingie clicked.
posted by sportbucket at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2006
I think the entire thing is just a beautiful setup for this pun.
posted by Skorgu at 11:39 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by Skorgu at 11:39 AM on October 4, 2006
The last one of these, eon8.com, turned out to be some guy goofing around, but not before a bunch of people got scared/excited/confused, as is customary. Info here.
posted by MetaMonkey at 2:09 PM on October 4, 2006
posted by MetaMonkey at 2:09 PM on October 4, 2006
Doesn't this seem a little too much like William Gibson's book Pattern Recognition? Sportbucket is going to be kidnapped by the Russian mafia, mark my words.
posted by betterton at 7:02 PM on October 4, 2006
posted by betterton at 7:02 PM on October 4, 2006
Sportbucket is going to be kidnapped by the Russian mafia, mark my words.
I'll keep you posted.
posted by sportbucket at 7:07 PM on October 4, 2006
I'll keep you posted.
posted by sportbucket at 7:07 PM on October 4, 2006
Riemann:
I just wanted to apologize for linking to your details. I appreciate that you have such an open mind in terms of infomation being free and all and I share those sentiments, but it was unfortunate knee jerk reaction.
posted by paxton at 8:57 PM on October 4, 2006
I just wanted to apologize for linking to your details. I appreciate that you have such an open mind in terms of infomation being free and all and I share those sentiments, but it was unfortunate knee jerk reaction.
posted by paxton at 8:57 PM on October 4, 2006
Matt, is there any way the AskMe thread could get bumped to the sidebar? I'm very much so intrigued by mystery and sheer thrill of the chase, and I think more manpower would make it even better. Additionally, I noticed a lot of the users in that thread are VERY new users. Can you tell us whether or not they seem to be coming from the same place? I'm not looking for IPs, just an idea of whether we're dealing with plants.
posted by potch at 11:24 AM on October 5, 2006
posted by potch at 11:24 AM on October 5, 2006
Is this guy about to start trolling? Or am I being a whiny prick?
Or both?
posted by Jofus at 4:02 AM on October 6, 2006
Or both?
posted by Jofus at 4:02 AM on October 6, 2006
Yessir?
posted by sportbucket at 11:44 AM on October 7, 2006
posted by sportbucket at 11:44 AM on October 7, 2006
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
There's some sweet, sweet MeFi detectification going on in that thread. Even if it doesn't result in any grand revelations it's a beautiful process to watch.
posted by Floydd at 7:56 AM on October 3, 2006