Enough of the Iraq posts already.... February 11, 2003 7:10 AM   Subscribe

Enough is enough.
posted by 111 to Etiquette/Policy at 7:10 AM (28 comments total)

Search Results:
There were 215 results for "Iraq" in the following threads
[in the past year]

Roughly one Iraq post every 40 hours. Most of them partisan/overdone/useless.
posted by 111 at 7:29 AM on February 11, 2003


War? In Iraq? When did this start happening? Why didn't Metafilter alert me?

Dumb sarcasm aside, remember that Christian evangelism thread that everybody was pretty proud of? How we talked about how these evangelists felt it was their duty to inform everyone about what they perceived as an important situation without regard of how big of assholes they were being? Yeah, same thing.

"This iraq thing is important! Lives and the very principles of America are at stake!"
posted by Stan Chin at 7:35 AM on February 11, 2003


There are two kinds of MetaFilter users: those who are sick and tired of a given topic and those who won't shut the fuck up about it.
posted by mcwetboy at 7:36 AM on February 11, 2003


111, did you bother to check out the discussion that's taking place in #23463 (the second "enough")? (Or the article for that matter?) It's a unique take that has germinated into a lively thread.
posted by vito90 at 7:37 AM on February 11, 2003


No... there are three types... those that are sick and tired of a given topic, those that won't shut the fuck up about it, and those who are sick and tired and won't shut the fuck up about it.

The very fact that people are posting about a given subject -- either new threads, or messages in them -- there are still some people who are interested in it. No amount of rule-making and metatalk whining will stop them.

So quit pissing on their parade, and ignore the damn things if you don't like them.
posted by crunchland at 7:45 AM on February 11, 2003


I'm just pissed that this suggestion hasn't taken off.
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:47 AM on February 11, 2003


Four types ... we forgot those who are sick and tired of those who are sick and tired, and who therefore won't shut the fuck up about shutting the fuck up about it.
posted by walrus at 7:59 AM on February 11, 2003


Whats this, Iraqfilter? Haaww haww haww *snort*
posted by ac at 8:01 AM on February 11, 2003


we could go on all day, walrus.
posted by crunchland at 8:03 AM on February 11, 2003


No amount of rule-making and metatalk whining will stop them. So quit pissing on their parade, and ignore the damn things if you don't like them.

It's this kind of rationality and wisdom that keeps me coming back to Metafilter day in and day out. The maturity, the restraint, and the civility is nothing short of breathtaking. As always, Metafilter is a beacon of light in an otherwise darkened world.

crunchland, I believe you may have missed the many, many indications that Metafilter is not anarchy, or even a democracy. It is an enlightened dictatorship ruled by an omnipotent autocrat, and he has decreed, La bas, Iraq! and rightfully so. These endless Iraq posts and the futile threads that they spawn only serve to increase rancor; they enlighten no one, and they infuriate many. Who's had their point of view on Iraq in any way altered as a result of arguing with someone on Metafilter? I find that the debate almost always becomes bitter and angry, regardless of one or two examples to the contrary. No one's saying that you can't talk about Iraq--do it until your head turns blue. Just don't do it on Metafilter.
posted by vraxoin at 8:05 AM on February 11, 2003


ufez! you don't memorize thread numbers? i thought you were a better mefite than that!
[*sobs*]
posted by quonsar at 8:06 AM on February 11, 2003


we could go on all day, walrus.

Yes, mate. Fancy a beer instead?

posted by walrus at 8:07 AM on February 11, 2003


I've given up on seeing the end of Iraq posts. What I'm really diappointed by is Karl's pointless "Hey look at this post!" formatting experiments. Totally obnoxious, especially in a post like the Mississippi John Hurt one that stands quite well on its own.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 8:09 AM on February 11, 2003


Metafilter:
Politics and Iraq not welcome
posted by Big_B at 8:11 AM on February 11, 2003


I was thinking that, PinkStainlessTail. Messing with "da rulez" of mefi formatting has been resoundingly unpopular in the past.
posted by walrus at 8:15 AM on February 11, 2003


those aren't formatting experiments. y2karl is jonesing. thoughts now actually appear that way in his mind. y2karl MUST share the blues. if you have a server that can handle streaming audio, you could save his life.
posted by quonsar at 8:28 AM on February 11, 2003


ufez! you don't memorize thread numbers? i thought you were a better mefite than that!

K-mart Sucks!!!!
posted by Ufez Jones at 8:29 AM on February 11, 2003


weird, I thought I posted a comment here, but can't find it now. I didn't read either linked article, but going by the thread content, y2karl's was filled with comments about how it should be deleted, but the other one is actually filled with thoughtful details about economics and can stay.

When you see "Iraq" in a post, it doesn't instantly mean it is doomed, as the oil economics thread shows. Saying it should be deleted is a kneejerk response. It is possible to have a perfectly good or informative thread that has something to do with Iraq, especially if it's a new angle (like the oil euro/dollar one was).
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:41 AM on February 11, 2003


weird, I thought I posted a comment here, but can't find it now.

It's over here.
posted by mcwetboy at 8:47 AM on February 11, 2003


When you see "Iraq" in a post, it doesn't instantly mean it is doomed, as the oil economics thread shows.

And I think that only highlights the importance of writing and framing posts correctly. Karl's said "The case against war". How unique, eh?
posted by rocketman at 8:51 AM on February 11, 2003


"You were right, Henry. It's not enough... But it's close."
-the Sting

posted by Shane at 8:53 AM on February 11, 2003


weird, I thought I posted a comment here, but can't find it now.

Welcome to the over-30 club, Mr Haughey!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 9:01 AM on February 11, 2003


This isn't your father's metafilter any longer, nor your grandfather's for those of you of the technical persuasion. The web is developing into a rather social infant, and now is a good time for the dinosaurs to die off.

While argumentative threads may (or may not) present the image you desire, they are much more welcoming to newcomers than reading a bunch of control freaks ranting that a thread should be deleted.
posted by mischief at 11:18 AM on February 11, 2003


they are much more welcoming to newcomers than reading a bunch of control freaks ranting that a thread should be deleted

There are no newcomers at the moment.

When I was a new member, it was always more accessible for me to see rules being debabted and established in an open forum than to have to read through some byzantine rulebook, only to have the book thrown at me when I did something wrong. I realize the irony of that last sentence, with people being keelhauled to MeTa daily for etiquette issues, but I think the point stands.
posted by Yelling At Nothing at 11:29 AM on February 11, 2003


While argumentative threads may (or may not) present the image you desire, they are much more welcoming to newcomers than reading a bunch of control freaks ranting that a thread should be deleted.

Since sign-ups are disabled, do we really care about new-comers?

Oh, and horseshit, who says that arguments are attractive to newbies? Newbie-trolls maybe...
posted by inpHilltr8r at 11:32 AM on February 11, 2003


16203 cares, and loves to see the arguments - not the "wah you said iraq - you suck for saying iraq and your thread should be deleted"
(namecalling deleted on preview)
posted by Big_B at 12:17 PM on February 11, 2003


The sun goes up, the sun goes down...snakes stay snakes.
-Wizard of Id
posted by konolia at 12:32 PM on February 11, 2003


And I think that only highlights the importance of writing and framing posts correctly.

I bow to the voice of experience in this matter.

...pointless "Hey look at this post!" formatting experiments. Totally obnoxious...

Tact and telepathy. Such a mild and minor experiment is hardly as intrusive multi-colored text --You know, I miss Spoon and his entertaining whimsys-- or phrases like Sucking Semen in inch high letters--but everyone has an opinion and people will complain about anything and everything, when the opportunity presents itself. I rather liked the way the John Hurt post looked, myself.
posted by y2karl at 1:55 PM on February 11, 2003


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