the p in fpp is not for poll December 7, 2001 9:09 AM   Subscribe

What's your favorite among the many recent FPPs (front-page polls)? There are just so many to choose from.
posted by luser to Etiquette/Policy at 9:09 AM (47 comments total)

they merely espouse the {fray} style of post -- so what do you like? -- which maybe isn't the greatest for a large community website like metafilter. i think the real issue are people who post these sorts of polls without much substance in their link...
posted by moz at 9:17 AM on December 7, 2001


Should the use of the question mark be banned from FPPs?
posted by ZachsMind at 9:24 AM on December 7, 2001


Depends for me. I'm interested in the social utility of it--when people list what they like, with good comments and links,, especially when it's off the beaten track, there's a use. And while I think the Simpsons is the best written show on TV, the Buffy thread gave the people interested a common area of agreement. That's no small thing, As I've said, everyone defines themself by what they consume against a non-existent mass middle when all there are, in fact, are niches. I came here after September 11th but recently reviewed the day's thread. Disaster, extraordinary events; earthquake, aurora or snow here in Seattle--that's when strangers talk to each other in a common shared space.
posted by y2karl at 9:29 AM on December 7, 2001


I think it's all about the MO of the FPP. All these posts seem to run the same: such and such is interesting because of this. What do you think about this? -or- What are you favorites?

I think we had a thread on MeTa about how MeFites don't need to be prodded into responding? Sounds kinda reminiscent of that.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:57 AM on December 7, 2001


I fucking hate them.
posted by jpoulos at 9:58 AM on December 7, 2001


kafka, you're right. the thing about a post shouldn't be the question you ask, but what the link inspires people to write. perhaps the link was to a poll, and people posted their results: fine, that's good. some of the links that luser pointed out don't even do that. (yet i still participate in some of those threads -- pot, kettle, i suppose.)
posted by moz at 10:09 AM on December 7, 2001


jpoulos has recently weighed in on his hatred of "Poll-Style" FPPs. What do you think? What are some things you fucking hate? What are the 50 things people fucking hated in 2001?
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:10 AM on December 7, 2001


These are my least favorite kind of post, although occasionally producing a thread worth bookmarking for later reference.
posted by sudama at 10:21 AM on December 7, 2001


What are the 50 things people fucking hated in 2001?

I fucking hated a lot more than 50 things this year. Anyway, didn't I see this question in USA Today this week? "What did we fucking hate in 2001?" I fucking hate USA Today.

Not sure how much, though, relative to the rank of the 49 other things I fucking hated this year.

Back on the fucking topic, I have to say I wish I'd seen the defunct thread on out-of-the-mainstream Christmas songs Oriole is referring to.

posted by luser at 10:26 AM on December 7, 2001


...Oriole is referring to here, I mean.
posted by luser at 10:28 AM on December 7, 2001


I like these threads when they have to do with websites, or things like fonts. Anything that I can basically click on and check it out. Otherwise it doesn't do much for me.
posted by cell divide at 11:04 AM on December 7, 2001


OK, the real jp is back. The curmudgeon who commented above has gone away. A couple of things:

1. I agree with cell divide. They're appropriate when they deal with webstuff--which you can click to. "What's your favorite food?", no matter how much fun the resulting thread is, belongs in yahoo groups.

2. There's no such thing as a "defunct thread" (except, of course, for 9622, which doesn't exist, and even if it did could never reach 1000.

3. I fucking hate USA Today.
posted by jpoulos at 11:27 AM on December 7, 2001


jpoulos--re: #3. I share your feelings but I have been reminded that for people who don't live near major urban centers, it's a god send. As for being a curmudgeon, get in line. You'll be lucky if you get past position #9622 there, too.
posted by y2karl at 11:52 AM on December 7, 2001


knowing what films, concerts, books, magazines, newspapers, albums, web sites and fonts mefi members prefer make their other posts and comments three dimensional.
posted by Voyageman at 12:00 PM on December 7, 2001


Not on my monitor--dang, maybe I should download Flash 5...
posted by y2karl at 12:03 PM on December 7, 2001


This may as well be a poll post, and doesn't do anything but say "Let's argue about a movie that I already hate."

I fucking hate that Post.
posted by Kafkaesque at 12:07 PM on December 7, 2001


Say, should we add this thread to the list?

What is the point of this thread, anyway?
Is it to reinforce the pointlessness of the title links?

What?
posted by ashbury at 12:16 PM on December 7, 2001


No, ashbury, this is a MetaTalk thread, wherein we discuss what's going on in MetaFilter, which is exactly what we're doing.
posted by Kafkaesque at 12:20 PM on December 7, 2001


I agree with jpoulos. I fucking hate them as well.

I don't wanna sound grumpy or talk about the 'good old days of metafilter,' but...

I come here for the cool links. There was a time when cool links were abundant and discussion was minimal. Cool links are disappearing, discussion is taking over. I foresee a day when I just stop coming here.

Also, question mark FPPs are the worst kind of FPP because they all too often goad the masses into discussion, often without a good link to point to. As if MeFites needed to be told to 'discuss.' If a link or an event or a person is discussion-worthy, it will be discussed, whether there's a question mark at the end of the post or not. I think we've begun a really BAD trend by making the question and subsequent discussion more important than link content.

Oh, and just for the record...I'm so fucking tired of reading about what everyone's favorite kind of fish, toothbrush, or toilet paper is. That kind of discussion doesn't belong here. Take it to a separate site, sort of a Meta-Metafilter or Yahoo! club or something.

The real shame of that is that the first two 'favorites' threads (that I can remember, at least) were actually kind of cool, because they had good links attached. Since then, the genre has just sorta devolved. And, in my opinion, taken much of the charm away from the place.
posted by dogmatic at 12:40 PM on December 7, 2001


There are definitely people who enjoy the pure discussion side of the site, and really like to get to know each other, hang out, etc. Personally, I'm in Dogmatic's camp.

Does anyone think a 'fans-of-mefi' Yahoo group would be a good thing?
posted by cell divide at 12:43 PM on December 7, 2001


I foresee a day when I just stop coming here.

Oh, heaven's be!!! ;-)

I agree, I get sick of the questions on the FPP's but then again, I always thought that if you don't like something, you should do something about it (such as discuss in MeFi, which we are doing, or post good FPP's...to lead by example).
posted by adampsyche at 12:49 PM on December 7, 2001


>or post good FPP's...to lead by example

NO PLEASE NO! If everyone that had an opinion about what makes a good FPP posted to the front page the front page would only get worse.
posted by ericost at 1:29 PM on December 7, 2001


I think there should be one day a week where each front page post is limited to twenty words.

Whoever best articulates their post with the description wins a cookie.
posted by corpse at 1:37 PM on December 7, 2001


"What's your favorite air?" is my fave, though I guess it showed up right here in MeTa
posted by jessamyn at 1:39 PM on December 7, 2001


SlumberPartyFilter! These posts are just excuses for people to talk about themselves. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, but it usually makes for kind of boring reading.
posted by Doug at 2:00 PM on December 7, 2001


SlumberPartyFilter!

Let's freeze Kafkaesque's bra when he goes to sleep!

"light as a feather, stiff as a board...light as a feather, stiff as a board..."
posted by ColdChef at 2:50 PM on December 7, 2001


Listen everyone! I heard that if you go in the bathroom and turn out the light, and say "Bloody Mary!" ten times, then the disembodied head of George Hamilton will appear and give you five thousand dollars...

lemme just put my bra on here and –

EEEEEEEEEYYOUCH!

that damn Cold Chef!

*&$^@)(^%@)@)_!!!

So. Who wants to play M-A-S-H next?
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:07 PM on December 7, 2001


You know what I hate? When people use words in their sentences. That really pisses me off. I fucking hate them.
posted by ZachsMind at 3:11 PM on December 7, 2001


Voyageman: knowing what films, concerts, books, magazines, newspapers, albums, web sites and fonts mefi members prefer make their other posts and comments three dimensional.

I agree only to a point. If I read the FPP threads at all, it's to see if anyone agrees that peanut butter is the best spreadable condiment of all time. I'll sit back, smile, and think, "I'm right!" I personally don't note who posted it, when that person posted it, or if that person has a site devoted to that hobby.

But I still think of FPPs here as long lists of words. I'm half-expecting Age/Sex Checks to appear.

cell divide: Does anyone think a 'fans-of-mefi' Yahoo group would be a good thing?

I'll third that notion, but how does that get enforced? Should it get enforced?
posted by hijinx at 3:20 PM on December 7, 2001


I'm waiting for the "What's your favorite processed-cheesefood substance?" thread.
posted by tj at 3:36 PM on December 7, 2001


No contest, brotherman.

Cheezin' and Squeezin' all the way!
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:16 PM on December 7, 2001


And then the links. What's with all the links? I can't believe people think they should go to MetaFilter to post links. What are they thinking? And the LETTERS! People keep using letters with their words. It's really so 1998. People shouldn't post FPPs at all. They should just stare at the front page of MeFi and think real hard. They'll get their point across. And the front of MeFi won't be cluttered with all those pesky little links and words.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:16 PM on December 7, 2001


I think Zach is straining to make a point. Have you ever used a tortured reductio ad absurdum argument to make a point? Did it work? What's your favorite example of this rhetroical technique?
posted by snarkout at 5:15 PM on December 7, 2001


Is there any good poll post? I always thought a poll post that was highly structured and very narrow in topic can lead to good discussion. For example, a thread about "What would MeFi's recommend as far as college admissions go, and getting financial help". Many people would benefit from real life tales of what worked and what didn't. Of course I can totally be wrong and off course.
posted by geoff. at 5:31 PM on December 7, 2001


Ah, just 3 short months ago our old friend holgate asked, What sort of weather do you recommend?

It has happened before, but there is nothing to compare it to now.
posted by mattpfeff at 8:45 PM on December 7, 2001


You know what I hate? When people use words in their sentences. That really pisses me off. I fucking hate them.

Oh, yes! I get tired reading them.
posted by bjgeiger at 10:24 PM on December 7, 2001


So far as I know, I posted the first bitch about the front page poll's equally annoying brother, the "discuss" link. Since I'm already a certifiably bitter mid-timer, I'll go ahead and piss all over front page polls too.

They blow dead bear. Poorly, and with little flair.

If there is one thing MeFi is supposed to cherish, it's individual thought. Commands to perform in front page posts are directly opposed to that ideal.
posted by NortonDC at 12:17 AM on December 8, 2001


And, as a public service to complete the self-referential circlejerk : What's your favorite Metatalk post about front page polls?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:32 AM on December 8, 2001


People shouldn't post FPPs at all. They should just stare at the front page of MeFi and think real hard.

And wait for the next craptacular 'ooooh is this the coolest Flash animation ever!?!'

Then the graveyard shift from Korea will sneak in and steal all the napkins...
posted by y2karl at 1:11 AM on December 8, 2001


ZachsMind: I don't think your joke was funny the first time, but the second and third time it was just annoying. If you have something to say, please, just say it.
posted by gleemax at 1:19 AM on December 8, 2001


"If you could be a minor deity, what would you be?"
posted by clavdivs at 7:10 AM on December 8, 2001


i would be myself
posted by clavdivs at 7:10 AM on December 8, 2001


Minor Deity

A new film from the people who brought you 'Fray Style Post' and 'Meta Poll'.

Starring :
clavdivs as The Deity

Coming soon to a MetaThread near you!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:22 AM on December 8, 2001


Dammit, clav, I was just going to answer "you".
posted by jpoulos at 9:46 AM on December 8, 2001


Who here likes pancakes? I love pancakes.

When is a link not a link?
posted by gd779 at 12:19 PM on December 8, 2001


When is a link not a link?

"Jumping on the whole 'favorites' bandwagon" was an interesting way to phrase it.
Ah, everyone else is doing it, now I shall too!! Surely then I will be loved and appreciated for my posts!

posted by jheiz at 12:34 PM on December 8, 2001


i'm willing to start up a fans of mefi group, if matt thinks that would be a good thing. i've replied to the "best of" topics before, and i've even started one, but four or five a week is getting kind of... yeah. a fans of mefi group would be good; people could start those more "personal" topics over there.

and! we could have a little section for self linking, so that people wouldn't do it over here. even though maybe no one's been doing it for awhile?
posted by sugarfish at 1:19 PM on December 8, 2001


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