I want to delete my account July 31, 2003 4:25 PM Subscribe
in most communities, you can leave when you're ready to move on.
" i'd like a way to retire my user ID "
Do you want us to hang it in the rafters, too?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:30 PM on July 31, 2003
Do you want us to hang it in the rafters, too?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:30 PM on July 31, 2003
At least one other member has been trying to get matt to delete her without success.
posted by quonsar at 4:30 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by quonsar at 4:30 PM on July 31, 2003
Thanks for not mentioning my name, Quonsar. That's very polite! That would be me, I am having the same problem patricking. I don't want to be here. I don't like it here any more. Yes, I comment once in awhile, but feel it's best if my user account was deleted. I have sent messages to Matt without success.
posted by RunsWithBandageScissors at 4:35 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by RunsWithBandageScissors at 4:35 PM on July 31, 2003
I haven't done it in the past because people frequently change their minds. The first time I got a request like that, I was looking into it for a few days, figuring out how best to do it, when I noticed the person started posting again.
What would your ideal "retire" feature look like and do?
Big button on your customize page saying "I'd like to retire my membership" then a "are you sure" then you are effectively stopped from ever posting again.
Is a "I've changed my mind" button important? How about what the user page looks like? Should it be gray at the edges for the retired folk?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:36 PM on July 31, 2003
What would your ideal "retire" feature look like and do?
Big button on your customize page saying "I'd like to retire my membership" then a "are you sure" then you are effectively stopped from ever posting again.
Is a "I've changed my mind" button important? How about what the user page looks like? Should it be gray at the edges for the retired folk?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:36 PM on July 31, 2003
I doubt Matt cares very much about how many members the really are (although I see he did respond to this request seriously). You can quit MeFi the same way I quit that bar I used to go to when I was younger. You just stop going, and before long anybody who knew you were a regular (assuming that anybody knew you were a regular) will forget about you.
When I left my home town, I didn't go to the city council to see if they would spend the money and time to change all the population signs. I just left.
(by the way, I think from now on all of my metatalk comments will have some kind of bar reference as it will make it more fun and interesting for me -- thank you for your understanding)
posted by willnot at 4:39 PM on July 31, 2003
When I left my home town, I didn't go to the city council to see if they would spend the money and time to change all the population signs. I just left.
(by the way, I think from now on all of my metatalk comments will have some kind of bar reference as it will make it more fun and interesting for me -- thank you for your understanding)
posted by willnot at 4:39 PM on July 31, 2003
but feel it's best if my user account was deleted.
What do you mean by "delete"? If you don't want to post ever again, that's fine and I can put a block in place for that. If you want every contribution you've ever made deleted from the site, that's kind of unfair to the site as a whole, as many threads will be gone and discussions rendered meaningless when all your comments have suddenly vanished (and is every comment made in reference to your comments needing to be removed too?).
I know some people want to bail on the site, but I'd prefer if the history wasn't rewritten or blacked out.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:41 PM on July 31, 2003
What do you mean by "delete"? If you don't want to post ever again, that's fine and I can put a block in place for that. If you want every contribution you've ever made deleted from the site, that's kind of unfair to the site as a whole, as many threads will be gone and discussions rendered meaningless when all your comments have suddenly vanished (and is every comment made in reference to your comments needing to be removed too?).
I know some people want to bail on the site, but I'd prefer if the history wasn't rewritten or blacked out.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:41 PM on July 31, 2003
You just stop going, and before long anybody who knew you were a regular [...] will forget about you.
Sigh.
posted by coelecanth at 4:45 PM on July 31, 2003
Sigh.
posted by coelecanth at 4:45 PM on July 31, 2003
Matt, if you put in a password-changing facility, then people could just change their password to something they'll never remember and effectively lock themselves out of their accounts.
It would be handy for actually changing one's password, too.
posted by kindall at 4:50 PM on July 31, 2003
It would be handy for actually changing one's password, too.
posted by kindall at 4:50 PM on July 31, 2003
Maybe you could just wipe the user information, and globally change the user name to something innocuous like "retired 1, retired 2". The history would still be cohesive, and there would be nothing to tie the comments to the person.
posted by thirteen at 4:55 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by thirteen at 4:55 PM on July 31, 2003
I think willnot's bar analogy is especially apt here. Sunday morning: "Barkeep, don't ever let me in this place again." Saturday night: "For God's sake, I was only kidding."
posted by timeistight at 4:56 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by timeistight at 4:56 PM on July 31, 2003
discussions rendered meaningless when all your comments have suddenly vanishedI am sure we can think of a few exceptions to this. ;-P
posted by mischief at 4:58 PM on July 31, 2003
Many great contributors have left this site. Some have left a little note in their profiles, and some haven't even done that. If you want to leave, just hit the logout link to delete the cookies, and and remove the bookmark(s). It's that simple.
posted by riffola at 5:11 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by riffola at 5:11 PM on July 31, 2003
Yeah, I'm finding this very hard to understand. patricking, RunsWithBandageScissors, if you don't want to be here, go away! Is the mere presence of your user page somehow forcing you to come and post? Sheesh. Yet another non-issue Matt has to waste time dealing with.
posted by languagehat at 5:16 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by languagehat at 5:16 PM on July 31, 2003
Well, since we keep discussing how to limit the community yet still maintain a vibrant discussion, how about if we arbitrary decided on an ideal amount of members, and don't let any new ones in unless people "retire" or "resign" or whatever... If somebody changes their mind, they have queue up like everyone else. This will discourage frivolous resignations, etc.
aside: mathowie, how many of the members here are even remotely active?
posted by keswick at 5:19 PM on July 31, 2003
aside: mathowie, how many of the members here are even remotely active?
posted by keswick at 5:19 PM on July 31, 2003
For those who came in late: I am going to let you all in on a secret. The original owner of this site, Matt Haughey has already quit this site, he handed over the reigns to his trusted mate Neale Talbot, who was the second mathowie. The second mathowie got tired of this site too, so he handed the reigns over to his trusted mate jkottke. The third mathowie's reign was short and best left unmentioned, luckily for us he got bored and he gave the site to skippy, who took over the role of mathowie, and is currently the 4th mathowie. It's all very much like the Phantom or the Dread Pirate Roberts. Inconceivable, but true!
posted by riffola at 5:27 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by riffola at 5:27 PM on July 31, 2003
Seriously, if we had a legit "retirement" without the option of "I've changed my mind", we could put an end to one of the uglier & more embarassing phenomena to grace our pages...
posted by jonson at 5:28 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by jonson at 5:28 PM on July 31, 2003
"Inconceivable..."
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:28 PM on July 31, 2003
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:28 PM on July 31, 2003
I KNEW IT! I KNEW HAUGHEY WAS GONE!
Now which old user am i?
posted by eyeballkid at 5:29 PM on July 31, 2003
Now which old user am i?
posted by eyeballkid at 5:29 PM on July 31, 2003
Why don't those who don't post here anymore sell their user-accounts to all the eager, desparate lurkers?
posted by interrobang at 5:30 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by interrobang at 5:30 PM on July 31, 2003
The first rule about being Matt Haughey is that you do not talk about Matt Haughey.
posted by Stynxno at 5:30 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by Stynxno at 5:30 PM on July 31, 2003
how many of the members here are even remotely active?
I have been thinking that this would be a useful thing to know, especially for when Matt opens up new memberships - we could compare values before and after and see what the impact was.
Perhaps a statistic of number of logged-in readers in the past week would be good to look at, as well as number of unique posters within a week.
Just an idea. I'm curious how many readers there are out there.
posted by beth at 5:31 PM on July 31, 2003
I have been thinking that this would be a useful thing to know, especially for when Matt opens up new memberships - we could compare values before and after and see what the impact was.
Perhaps a statistic of number of logged-in readers in the past week would be good to look at, as well as number of unique posters within a week.
Just an idea. I'm curious how many readers there are out there.
posted by beth at 5:31 PM on July 31, 2003
"oh matt haughey, oh won't you delete me!
for i come from plasticana with a trollbox on my knee!"
posted by quonsar at 5:32 PM on July 31, 2003
for i come from plasticana with a trollbox on my knee!"
posted by quonsar at 5:32 PM on July 31, 2003
jonson, what are you referring to?
posted by dash_slot- at 5:32 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by dash_slot- at 5:32 PM on July 31, 2003
/me mourns sir walsingham
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 5:39 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 5:39 PM on July 31, 2003
"Why don't those who don't post here anymore sell their user-accounts to all the eager, desparate lurkers?"
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:39 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:39 PM on July 31, 2003
I think jonson is talking about people who make a big to-do about leaving, and then come back. Sometimes within minutes.
posted by beth at 5:39 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by beth at 5:39 PM on July 31, 2003
Oh. I thought jonson was implying that he'd leave, too.
posted by crunchland at 5:42 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by crunchland at 5:42 PM on July 31, 2003
Yeah Matt, I'm sick of your piece of shit site too. I quit. But that's not enough, you owe me more. I'm embarrassed that my association with your site and with you people in general is even on record. Please delete my username and every thread I've ever commented on. Furthermore, please search out all references to me, be they indirect or explicit, in threads where I am absent, and delete those threads too.
. . . hmm, but that could get a little subjective. How about instead you just delete the whole site + the archives? Seems fair.
posted by dgaicun at 5:57 PM on July 31, 2003
. . . hmm, but that could get a little subjective. How about instead you just delete the whole site + the archives? Seems fair.
posted by dgaicun at 5:57 PM on July 31, 2003
Something like the Creative Commons "Are you sure?" 5-click license set-up. Or something.
posted by anathema at 6:06 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by anathema at 6:06 PM on July 31, 2003
Well, it's just *wonderful* some of you are making assumptions as to why I want to leave. I am not asking that comments/links be removed from the history, just somehow inactivate the account from Matt's end. BTW, it was suggested I pick a fight with Quonsar, and get removed that way, (seriously!). I chose not to do it, but it's sounding tempting after some of the comments I have just read.
posted by RunsWithBandageScissors at 6:22 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by RunsWithBandageScissors at 6:22 PM on July 31, 2003
I think old chap Jonson is referring to the melodramatic disappearance and subsequent reappearance of a person whose username rhymes with "FLUSH-em-CEE".
posted by dhoyt at 6:30 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by dhoyt at 6:30 PM on July 31, 2003
"after some of the comments I have just read."
I think I'm pretty much the only one that was ugly, but seriously:
"I don't want to be here. I don't like it here any more. Yes, I comment once in awhile, but feel it's best if my user account was deleted."
[???!!!!] Do you need help fighting some sort of debilitating Internet addiction? What reasonable need could you possibly be trying to communicate with this?
Why can't people just walk away without this sort of ParisParsmus need to ostentatiously flip-off the community as they walk out the door?
posted by dgaicun at 6:33 PM on July 31, 2003
I think I'm pretty much the only one that was ugly, but seriously:
"I don't want to be here. I don't like it here any more. Yes, I comment once in awhile, but feel it's best if my user account was deleted."
[???!!!!] Do you need help fighting some sort of debilitating Internet addiction? What reasonable need could you possibly be trying to communicate with this?
Why can't people just walk away without this sort of ParisParsmus need to ostentatiously flip-off the community as they walk out the door?
posted by dgaicun at 6:33 PM on July 31, 2003
ParisParamus rather. Seriously what's the excuse for shit like this?:
"I don't come here very much any more [no time; the Chomsky crowd nauseates me trop] but could someone please offer a possible explanation for why Metafilter no longer looks the way it used to on my IE5.0 for Mac?"
[!!!!???]
posted by dgaicun at 6:40 PM on July 31, 2003
"I don't come here very much any more [no time; the Chomsky crowd nauseates me trop] but could someone please offer a possible explanation for why Metafilter no longer looks the way it used to on my IE5.0 for Mac?"
[!!!!???]
posted by dgaicun at 6:40 PM on July 31, 2003
I can understand this. I would like to get my name removed from the record of the Catholic church.
posted by thirteen at 6:46 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by thirteen at 6:46 PM on July 31, 2003
As was said before, log out and never come back. If that doesn't work, email matt and beg on your hands and knees to ban you from the site. Curse you if you change your mind!
I have to agree with some of the things people have said up above. If you don't have the discipline to stay away, perhaps you don't really want to leave. . .
Runswithetcetera, I don't think most of the comments were directed towards yourself in particular.
posted by ashbury at 6:51 PM on July 31, 2003
I have to agree with some of the things people have said up above. If you don't have the discipline to stay away, perhaps you don't really want to leave. . .
Runswithetcetera, I don't think most of the comments were directed towards yourself in particular.
posted by ashbury at 6:51 PM on July 31, 2003
I don't understand why either of you need Matt to delete your account. In what way would it be beneficial to you?
posted by Tarrama at 7:00 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by Tarrama at 7:00 PM on July 31, 2003
..."You can check out any time you like...
... but you can never leave..."
posted by jpburns at 7:02 PM on July 31, 2003
... but you can never leave..."
posted by jpburns at 7:02 PM on July 31, 2003
Ok RunsWithBandageScissors, your problems are solved, I banned your account.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:11 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:11 PM on July 31, 2003
Hey crunchland, dhoyt, signal, etc, beth's right. I'm not just referring to rushmc or any one particular user, I just mean when people do the dramatic "I'm leaving! Yes, this is it, and don't beg me, no matter what you say I'm leaving!" and then come back a couple days later. It's so sad...
posted by jonson at 7:36 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by jonson at 7:36 PM on July 31, 2003
Memo to self: do not fuck with Matt.
No yhbc, Matt wasn't being a hard-ass, he was being helpful. RWBS wanted to be banned; ostensibly because she couldn't stop herself from contributing to this website which she was "done" with:
"I don't want to be here. I don't like it here any more. Yes, I comment once in awhile, but feel it's best if my user account was deleted."
&
"I am not asking that comments/links be removed from the history, just somehow inactivate the account from Matt's end."
O.K. *makes whirly motion with finger around ear*
posted by dgaicun at 7:45 PM on July 31, 2003
No yhbc, Matt wasn't being a hard-ass, he was being helpful. RWBS wanted to be banned; ostensibly because she couldn't stop herself from contributing to this website which she was "done" with:
"I don't want to be here. I don't like it here any more. Yes, I comment once in awhile, but feel it's best if my user account was deleted."
"I am not asking that comments/links be removed from the history, just somehow inactivate the account from Matt's end."
O.K. *makes whirly motion with finger around ear*
posted by dgaicun at 7:45 PM on July 31, 2003
Recognized, dgaicun - I spoke in jest. In all seriousness, though, it does now seem that "MefiCide by Matt" just became a viable option for those wishing to partake.
posted by yhbc at 7:51 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by yhbc at 7:51 PM on July 31, 2003
patricking and anyone else who feels the same way.... i've been there also. i wanted nothing to do with the site, it's personalities or politics, etc... after some thought i realized what riffola has already said:
If you want to leave, just hit the logout link to delete the cookies, and remove the bookmark(s). It's that simple.
posted by poopy at 7:52 PM on July 31, 2003
If you want to leave, just hit the logout link to delete the cookies, and remove the bookmark(s). It's that simple.
posted by poopy at 7:52 PM on July 31, 2003
Ok RunsWithBandageScissors, your problems are solved, I banned your account.
Wow, RunsWithBandageScissors, what do you think of that? Eh, RunsWithBandageScissors? What do say, RunsWithBandageScissors? Hello?
posted by timeistight at 8:13 PM on July 31, 2003
Wow, RunsWithBandageScissors, what do you think of that? Eh, RunsWithBandageScissors? What do say, RunsWithBandageScissors? Hello?
posted by timeistight at 8:13 PM on July 31, 2003
1. Stan Chin gets patricking's number.
2. WolfDaddy gets Stan Chin's number (I wanna be closer to the 15K crowd. I'm too close to the way-too-cheery-for-me-dreary 13K crowd and you 14Ks smell).
3. Both have to get new jerseys. Or is it jersies?
4. ?????????
5. PROFIT!!!!!!
posted by WolfDaddy at 8:19 PM on July 31, 2003
2. WolfDaddy gets Stan Chin's number (I wanna be closer to the 15K crowd. I'm too close to the way-too-cheery-for-me-dreary 13K crowd and you 14Ks smell).
3. Both have to get new jerseys. Or is it jersies?
5. PROFIT!!!!!!
posted by WolfDaddy at 8:19 PM on July 31, 2003
Stan Chin already has a low user number. What he's missing is a gold star.
posted by timeistight at 8:28 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by timeistight at 8:28 PM on July 31, 2003
14Ks don't smell! 14Ks are, without a doubt, the most interesting group of 1K in the entire 17K bunch.
posted by jonson at 8:29 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by jonson at 8:29 PM on July 31, 2003
Hear, hear!
*grips jonson and timeistight by the shoulders, starts swaying and singing*
We are the world ... we are the people ...
posted by yhbc at 8:31 PM on July 31, 2003
*grips jonson and timeistight by the shoulders, starts swaying and singing*
We are the world ... we are the people ...
posted by yhbc at 8:31 PM on July 31, 2003
Sheesh, not that Stan Chin, this Stan Chin. I totally pronounced it correctly timeistight, I can't believe you mis-heard me because they sound totally different and if you keep this up, I shall presently become vexed. Gleesh.
Also, I didn't say 14Ks smelled bad. Just like, you know, too much pot and stuff.
This was a fun post to compose whilst our number one guy was changing things behind the scenes *giggle*
posted by WolfDaddy at 8:42 PM on July 31, 2003
Also, I didn't say 14Ks smelled bad. Just like, you know, too much pot and stuff.
This was a fun post to compose whilst our number one guy was changing things behind the scenes *giggle*
posted by WolfDaddy at 8:42 PM on July 31, 2003
Maybe he could have just deleted himself and taken off.
We could only hope that people would be so rational--in the heat of the moment (whatever that moment might be) I doubt that a self-delete option would help.
On the other hand, I inadvertently created two mefi accounts by registering during a time when it actually stated on the site that registrations were closed. To my suprise, it was sitting there when registrations opened up again, 4K users later. Deleting that account would be fine with me, though it's nice to have a 10K number. Or maybe I should just start using it? Can't decide. MefiBay might be an option...
posted by jokeefe at 9:06 PM on July 31, 2003
We could only hope that people would be so rational--in the heat of the moment (whatever that moment might be) I doubt that a self-delete option would help.
On the other hand, I inadvertently created two mefi accounts by registering during a time when it actually stated on the site that registrations were closed. To my suprise, it was sitting there when registrations opened up again, 4K users later. Deleting that account would be fine with me, though it's nice to have a 10K number. Or maybe I should just start using it? Can't decide. MefiBay might be an option...
posted by jokeefe at 9:06 PM on July 31, 2003
Whoops. I meant 2K users later. For some reason I thought I was a 14000 instead of a 12000. Must be all the second hand pot smoke drifting over from those guys...
posted by jokeefe at 9:07 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by jokeefe at 9:07 PM on July 31, 2003
I don't understand what it is these people want to do, unless they want their userpage deleted as well.
posted by konolia at 9:36 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by konolia at 9:36 PM on July 31, 2003
For some reason I thought I was a 14000 instead of a 12000
Yeah, you wish you were a 14000!!! Keep dreaming, as if!
posted by jonson at 9:42 PM on July 31, 2003
Yeah, you wish you were a 14000!!! Keep dreaming, as if!
posted by jonson at 9:42 PM on July 31, 2003
I'm very confused and a little thirsty.
posted by The God Complex at 9:48 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by The God Complex at 9:48 PM on July 31, 2003
I think you are being too harsh with RunsWithScissors.
I had an account at the site that cannot be discussed, and when I was browsing the site on a public machine, I happened to use that same machine to image an entire lab of computers. So my password was in the cookies on 25 machines.
Also, I liked most of the site, and was mildly addicted, but everyone once in a while there'd be some sort of goat.csx picture that would crop up and ruin my day. So I asked the webmaster to delete my account.
posted by mecran01 at 9:57 PM on July 31, 2003
I had an account at the site that cannot be discussed, and when I was browsing the site on a public machine, I happened to use that same machine to image an entire lab of computers. So my password was in the cookies on 25 machines.
Also, I liked most of the site, and was mildly addicted, but everyone once in a while there'd be some sort of goat.csx picture that would crop up and ruin my day. So I asked the webmaster to delete my account.
posted by mecran01 at 9:57 PM on July 31, 2003
So I asked the webmaster to delete my account.
If that's the site I'm thinking of, then you can't view anything without being logged in. Here, that's not a problem. Issue resolved.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:47 PM on July 31, 2003
If that's the site I'm thinking of, then you can't view anything without being logged in. Here, that's not a problem. Issue resolved.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:47 PM on July 31, 2003
I don't understand what it is these people want to do, unless they want their userpage deleted as well.
I'm with you. I think they want to be "banned." One can ban one's self, though?
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 10:49 PM on July 31, 2003
I'm with you. I think they want to be "banned." One can ban one's self, though?
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 10:49 PM on July 31, 2003
For what it is worth, I can't delete or unsubscribe my Slashdot account that aside from one comment hasn't been used since 1999.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:14 PM on July 31, 2003
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:14 PM on July 31, 2003
Doesn't look like Plastic offers the option either.
If you want to "unsub" from the site, it seems like logging out and not logging in again solves the problem, does it not?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:17 PM on July 31, 2003
If you want to "unsub" from the site, it seems like logging out and not logging in again solves the problem, does it not?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:17 PM on July 31, 2003
the only reasons that I can imagine for this kind of request are:
1. I'm leaving and I'm never looking back, but I'm afraid that while I'm not looking back someone will figure out my password and start posting as me.
2. I don't want anyone to have the ability to look up my history of posts and comments via my user page.
In the latter case, if there is some compelling reason (such as a member who hasn't been anonymous is suddenly faced with a new, conservative employer and regrets certain comments, etc.), it seems to me highly unlikely that Matt wouldn't respond to an explanation.
If, on the other hand, the reasons are symbolic and dramatic, I think they should be treated with all the respect they deserve.
posted by taz at 11:20 PM on July 31, 2003
1. I'm leaving and I'm never looking back, but I'm afraid that while I'm not looking back someone will figure out my password and start posting as me.
2. I don't want anyone to have the ability to look up my history of posts and comments via my user page.
In the latter case, if there is some compelling reason (such as a member who hasn't been anonymous is suddenly faced with a new, conservative employer and regrets certain comments, etc.), it seems to me highly unlikely that Matt wouldn't respond to an explanation.
If, on the other hand, the reasons are symbolic and dramatic, I think they should be treated with all the respect they deserve.
posted by taz at 11:20 PM on July 31, 2003
14Ks are, without a doubt, the most interesting group of 1K in the entire 17K bunch.
I agree, clearly. And for the record, of all the things I've been accused of smelling like - money, funk, Waterloo sunset, napalm in the morning - pot has never and shall never be among them.
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:51 AM on August 1, 2003
I agree, clearly. And for the record, of all the things I've been accused of smelling like - money, funk, Waterloo sunset, napalm in the morning - pot has never and shall never be among them.
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:51 AM on August 1, 2003
While you're in mood to do favours, mathowie, here's what I'd like:
posted by timeistight at 1:08 AM on August 1, 2003
- Create a new user account named "Time Is Tight".
- Transfer a selection of my links and comments to the new account. (I'll provide a list.)
- Expunge everything that's left.
posted by timeistight at 1:08 AM on August 1, 2003
I'm very confused and a little thirsty.
While I - if only to remain in character - am a little confused and very thirsty.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:14 AM on August 1, 2003
While I - if only to remain in character - am a little confused and very thirsty.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:14 AM on August 1, 2003
i've just outgrown the place.
Another elegant, unexplained absence sprays itself with graffiti.
posted by Opus Dark at 1:49 AM on August 1, 2003
Another elegant, unexplained absence sprays itself with graffiti.
posted by Opus Dark at 1:49 AM on August 1, 2003
I can't delete or unsubscribe my Slashdot account that aside from one comment hasn't been used since 1999
Matt, you could e-mail the password to all the MeFites and trust me, hilarity will ensue. (And that account will be closed within 36 hours, guaranteed).
posted by wendell at 1:54 AM on August 1, 2003
Matt, you could e-mail the password to all the MeFites and trust me, hilarity will ensue. (And that account will be closed within 36 hours, guaranteed).
posted by wendell at 1:54 AM on August 1, 2003
I know some people want to bail on the site, but I'd prefer if the history wasn't rewritten or blacked out.
Seriously... does a user have any right to expect that their posting history be "wiped from the record"? I mean, once a comment or thread or whatever is posted, does it become the property of the community as a whole (or something along those lines)? Just curious.
posted by Witty at 2:33 AM on August 1, 2003
Seriously... does a user have any right to expect that their posting history be "wiped from the record"? I mean, once a comment or thread or whatever is posted, does it become the property of the community as a whole (or something along those lines)? Just curious.
posted by Witty at 2:33 AM on August 1, 2003
riffola: For those who came in late: I am going to let you all in on a secret. The original owner of this site, Matt Haughey has already quit this site, he handed over the reigns to his trusted mate Neale Talbot, who was the second mathowie. The second mathowie got tired of this site too, so he handed the reigns over to his trusted mate jkottke. The third mathowie's reign was short and best left unmentioned, luckily for us he got bored and he gave the site to skippy, who took over the role of mathowie, and is currently the 4th mathowie. It's all very much like the Phantom or the Dread Pirate Roberts. Inconceivable, but true!
A minor bit of disinformation there, riffy; true insiders know that jkottke was not the third mathowie, but matt was, for a brief period, the sixth kottke. Rather, the "best left unmentioned" third mathowie was James Lileks, followed by Rogers Cadenhead and Anil Dash, who recently got too busy with his other job and passed it on to Stan Chin.
Now, as for the rumors that Miguel Cardoso has retired and is now allowing his friend Carlos to use his account...
posted by wendell at 2:36 AM on August 1, 2003
A minor bit of disinformation there, riffy; true insiders know that jkottke was not the third mathowie, but matt was, for a brief period, the sixth kottke. Rather, the "best left unmentioned" third mathowie was James Lileks, followed by Rogers Cadenhead and Anil Dash, who recently got too busy with his other job and passed it on to Stan Chin.
Now, as for the rumors that Miguel Cardoso has retired and is now allowing his friend Carlos to use his account...
posted by wendell at 2:36 AM on August 1, 2003
For what it's worth, I've run online communities since the mid 80's .. both dial-up bbses and on the net. In all that time, I've never, ever had anyone ask me to delete their login. Sure, people have moved on, or been gone for a long time and come back. But never have I been asked to delete them.
This whole drama is either an effort to sock mefi in the eye, or else it has more to do with some kind of lack of self-control.
I mean, once a comment or thread or whatever is posted, does it become the property of the community as a whole (or something along those lines)?
Well, it does say "All posts are © their original authors."
posted by crunchland at 4:48 AM on August 1, 2003
This whole drama is either an effort to sock mefi in the eye, or else it has more to do with some kind of lack of self-control.
I mean, once a comment or thread or whatever is posted, does it become the property of the community as a whole (or something along those lines)?
Well, it does say "All posts are © their original authors."
posted by crunchland at 4:48 AM on August 1, 2003
wendell, I was just trying to protect the secret identities of the current batch behind the scenes. You and I know that Eric Costello and Stewart Butterfield were two of the eight skippies we've worn out thus far, and we all know how horribly the other skippies were worn to the bone due to the constant server maintenance.
posted by riffola at 5:11 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by riffola at 5:11 AM on August 1, 2003
I think old chap Jonson is referring to the melodramatic disappearance and subsequent reappearance of a person whose username rhymes with "FLUSH-em-CEE".
Ah, the false meme that keeps on ticking...
:::adds dhoyt to his userpage list of gullible sheeple:::
*******
Hey, everybody! I'm leaving Mefi forever and never coming back! You all suck!
[beat]
Hey, everybody! I'm baaaack!
*******
There...happy now? Your fantasy has been realized. Repeat as necessary.
Rubes...
posted by rushmc at 6:38 AM on August 1, 2003
Ah, the false meme that keeps on ticking...
:::adds dhoyt to his userpage list of gullible sheeple:::
*******
Hey, everybody! I'm leaving Mefi forever and never coming back! You all suck!
[beat]
Hey, everybody! I'm baaaack!
*******
There...happy now? Your fantasy has been realized. Repeat as necessary.
Rubes...
posted by rushmc at 6:38 AM on August 1, 2003
I have actually seen an instance on another forum where the user who decided to leave went through every thread she'd ever posted in and painstakingly deleted all her own comments. George Orwell would be proud.
I don't post there anymore either, but my login is still active even after five years away from it (I just checked). I do recall having a brief withdrawal period where I had to fight the temptation to keep going back, but I have yet to meet the website that could not just be walked away from (even "The Site Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken").
posted by briank at 7:00 AM on August 1, 2003
I don't post there anymore either, but my login is still active even after five years away from it (I just checked). I do recall having a brief withdrawal period where I had to fight the temptation to keep going back, but I have yet to meet the website that could not just be walked away from (even "The Site Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken").
posted by briank at 7:00 AM on August 1, 2003
To be honest, the whole thing about some users deciding to leave and then eventually returning doesn't matter a whit to me. I like to see people come back, and I miss some people who have left, but the occasional public announcements of leave-taking have never stirred me to any sort of anger.
Compared to some of the crash-and-burn stuff that happens here, and then passes away, and is usually mostly forgotten, the announced exits are really small cheese, and I'm always kind of surprised at the memory cache that exists on this. The issue of some sort of "formal divorce", though, is interesting, and I am curious about the driving force behind it.
posted by taz at 7:06 AM on August 1, 2003
Compared to some of the crash-and-burn stuff that happens here, and then passes away, and is usually mostly forgotten, the announced exits are really small cheese, and I'm always kind of surprised at the memory cache that exists on this. The issue of some sort of "formal divorce", though, is interesting, and I am curious about the driving force behind it.
posted by taz at 7:06 AM on August 1, 2003
I can see the merits to being able to delete your account, but there are plroblems...
What happens to your username? Can someone 'steal' your username?
What happens to all your archived comments? They still need to be associated to a user ID.
What about just having a timeout? If you don't post for six months then you become 'retired' and you have to prove your email address still exists to get it back. Maybe add a livejournal style delete too... *shrug*
Personally I've no idea what the fuss is about, although it would allow more users (maybe) if the database ran faster (possibly).
posted by twine42 at 7:20 AM on August 1, 2003
What happens to your username? Can someone 'steal' your username?
What happens to all your archived comments? They still need to be associated to a user ID.
What about just having a timeout? If you don't post for six months then you become 'retired' and you have to prove your email address still exists to get it back. Maybe add a livejournal style delete too... *shrug*
Personally I've no idea what the fuss is about, although it would allow more users (maybe) if the database ran faster (possibly).
posted by twine42 at 7:20 AM on August 1, 2003
in most communities, you can leave when you're ready to move on.
Aside from the fact that this is no truer for any other online community than it is for Metafilter, you can leave real communities whenever, but you can't erase the memory of your presence in the community. You can choose to move to another town and not come back, but you can't stop Tom, Dick or Harry from saying "remember the time they said this stupid thing? Whatta riot!"
So why would you expect that to happen on MetaFilter? If you're ready to move on, move on. If you change your mind (again, just because you left town doesn't mean they put up a border guard dedicated to stopping you from revisiting), come back. It's so simple. I don't understand what the point of the request was, and frankly, I find it a little.. well... crybaby-ish.
posted by soyjoy at 7:25 AM on August 1, 2003
Aside from the fact that this is no truer for any other online community than it is for Metafilter, you can leave real communities whenever, but you can't erase the memory of your presence in the community. You can choose to move to another town and not come back, but you can't stop Tom, Dick or Harry from saying "remember the time they said this stupid thing? Whatta riot!"
So why would you expect that to happen on MetaFilter? If you're ready to move on, move on. If you change your mind (again, just because you left town doesn't mean they put up a border guard dedicated to stopping you from revisiting), come back. It's so simple. I don't understand what the point of the request was, and frankly, I find it a little.. well... crybaby-ish.
posted by soyjoy at 7:25 AM on August 1, 2003
Nobody asked to have all their comments deleted, did they? I thought this was just a wild "Is that what they want?" speculation, an attempt to explain the inexplicable. (I mean really, this is wacko stuff here. *imitates dgaicun's gesture*) So discussing it seriously is making a red herring out of a dead fish. Or something.
14Ks are, without a doubt, the most interesting group of 1K in the entire 17K bunch.
I couldn't agree with you more.
posted by languagehat at 8:03 AM on August 1, 2003
14Ks are, without a doubt, the most interesting group of 1K in the entire 17K bunch.
I couldn't agree with you more.
posted by languagehat at 8:03 AM on August 1, 2003
MetaFilter: making a red herring out of a dead fish.
posted by dash_slot- at 8:15 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by dash_slot- at 8:15 AM on August 1, 2003
as you leave, don't look back or you will turn into a pillar of salt. [only using a Lynx browser.]
"Is that what they want?" speculation
well languagehat,
*jumps into thread wearing a mini skirt*
i'll tell you what they want
what they really really want.
they wanna, they wanna, they wanna, they wanna, they wanna really
really really wanna zigazig ha.
If you want my future forget my post,
If you wanna post like me better make it fast,
Now don't go wasting my precious time,
Get your metafilter act together we could be just fine
If you wanna be a good poster, you gotta post like my friends,
Make it last forever your posts will never end,
If you wanna be like a stan chin, you have got to give,
talking smack is too easy, but that's the way it is.
What do you think about that now you know how I feel,
Say you can handle my love are you for real,
I won't be hasty, I'll give you a try
If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye.
So here's a story from A to Z, you wanna leave
you gotta listen carefully,
We got Em in the place who likes it in your face,
we got G like MC who likes it on an
Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady,
and as for me you'll see,
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Slam your body down and wind it all around
If you wanna leave, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta,
you gotta, you gotta, slam, slam, slam, slam
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Slam your body down zigazig ah
If you wanna leave just LEAVE.
posted by th3ph17 at 8:15 AM on August 1, 2003
"Is that what they want?" speculation
well languagehat,
*jumps into thread wearing a mini skirt*
i'll tell you what they want
what they really really want.
they wanna, they wanna, they wanna, they wanna, they wanna really
really really wanna zigazig ha.
If you want my future forget my post,
If you wanna post like me better make it fast,
Now don't go wasting my precious time,
Get your metafilter act together we could be just fine
If you wanna be a good poster, you gotta post like my friends,
Make it last forever your posts will never end,
If you wanna be like a stan chin, you have got to give,
talking smack is too easy, but that's the way it is.
What do you think about that now you know how I feel,
Say you can handle my love are you for real,
I won't be hasty, I'll give you a try
If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye.
So here's a story from A to Z, you wanna leave
you gotta listen carefully,
We got Em in the place who likes it in your face,
we got G like MC who likes it on an
Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady,
and as for me you'll see,
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Slam your body down and wind it all around
If you wanna leave, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta,
you gotta, you gotta, slam, slam, slam, slam
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Slam your body down zigazig ah
If you wanna leave just LEAVE.
posted by th3ph17 at 8:15 AM on August 1, 2003
14Ks are, without a doubt, the most interesting group of 1K in the entire 17K bunch.
Never was a truth more self-evident ...
RunsWithBandageScissors, I am sorry that you have decided to leave MeFi, as I am sure that others are.
Having said that, my mind boggles at the thought of anyone asking that their account be deleted. If you are truly sick and tired of being here, how can it be so hard to just not visit? Is anyone that addicted?
*mental image of RunsWithBandageScissors whimpering and scratching at the screen like a cat wanting to be let back in the house*
posted by dg at 8:33 AM on August 1, 2003
Never was a truth more self-evident ...
RunsWithBandageScissors, I am sorry that you have decided to leave MeFi, as I am sure that others are.
Having said that, my mind boggles at the thought of anyone asking that their account be deleted. If you are truly sick and tired of being here, how can it be so hard to just not visit? Is anyone that addicted?
*mental image of RunsWithBandageScissors whimpering and scratching at the screen like a cat wanting to be let back in the house*
posted by dg at 8:33 AM on August 1, 2003
I think old chap Jonson is referring to the melodramatic disappearance and subsequent reappearance of a person whose username rhymes with "FLUSH-em-CEE".
Ah, the false meme that keeps on ticking...
:::adds dhoyt to his userpage list of gullible sheeple:::
Maybe dhoyt means me, man. I left in a huff, cause I couldn't find a taxi. And it rhymes...kinda.
posted by jonmc at 8:47 AM on August 1, 2003
Ah, the false meme that keeps on ticking...
:::adds dhoyt to his userpage list of gullible sheeple:::
Maybe dhoyt means me, man. I left in a huff, cause I couldn't find a taxi. And it rhymes...kinda.
posted by jonmc at 8:47 AM on August 1, 2003
I actually leave several times a day, but I'm smart enough not to announce it.
posted by timeistight at 8:58 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by timeistight at 8:58 AM on August 1, 2003
Perhaps Matt should post RWBS' picture on her user page with customary black stripe in the corner. I'll supply the pic.
/Troll
posted by DBAPaul at 9:17 AM on August 1, 2003
/Troll
posted by DBAPaul at 9:17 AM on August 1, 2003
14Ks are, without a doubt, the most interesting group of 1K in the entire 17K bunch.
Uh-huh. Talk to the hand, Newbies. Us 3ks are exclusive, abusive, reclusive and elusive. We are the Barchettas of the MeFi crew.
posted by Perigee at 10:09 AM on August 1, 2003
Uh-huh. Talk to the hand, Newbies. Us 3ks are exclusive, abusive, reclusive and elusive. We are the Barchettas of the MeFi crew.
posted by Perigee at 10:09 AM on August 1, 2003
th3ph17 - that's the best thing I've read all day. That was so funny, I had to go up and get a fresh cup of coffee, so that I could have something to spray on the keyboard when I reread your post.
posted by jazon at 10:23 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by jazon at 10:23 AM on August 1, 2003
I've actually noticed that a lot of early-Kers are defensive, retentive and occasionally offensive. Whereas, really, who can deny that the 14 k bunch are delightful, insightful... and can be divided by seven?
posted by taz at 10:24 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by taz at 10:24 AM on August 1, 2003
okay, th3ph17 needs a gold star, or maybe the word "spice" inserted randomly into every post.
And okay 14Kers, I give in. I'm scheduling a 14K pride march. T-shirts will be made available, and Bravo will cover the event, canvassing for those interested in signing up for a 14K eye for the 3K guy type of tv show.
posted by WolfDaddy at 10:29 AM on August 1, 2003
And okay 14Kers, I give in. I'm scheduling a 14K pride march. T-shirts will be made available, and Bravo will cover the event, canvassing for those interested in signing up for a 14K eye for the 3K guy type of tv show.
posted by WolfDaddy at 10:29 AM on August 1, 2003
Honestly, you know who sucks? 8Kers. I'm hard pressed to think of a single decent one in the bunch.
posted by jonson at 10:33 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by jonson at 10:33 AM on August 1, 2003
jonson, we don't mention the 8Kers because Matt's not really the father... jfyi
posted by taz at 10:56 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by taz at 10:56 AM on August 1, 2003
*seethes with envy*
posted by widdershins at 11:00 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by widdershins at 11:00 AM on August 1, 2003
the only reasons that I can imagine for this kind of request are: [...] 2. I don't want anyone to have the ability to look up my history of posts and comments via my user page.
Uh, in all seriousness, if members don't realize at this point that everything one ever says online will exist, somewhere, forever, then you may need the Interwebnet Refresher Course 101. If you don't want it staring you in the face in 10 years, don't post it. I have a rule on my blog that I never post anything which I would be uncomfortable with the head of my department reading for this very reason. Not that I think he ever does, but, you know.
And I'm sick and tired of the marginalizing, OtherKphobic attitude around here, and the general 14K hegemony and general overlordism that is so sadly evident in this thread, and, no doubt, casting a pall over Mefi in general! It's K-ist, and I'm not gonna stand for it!
*shuffles off, muttering, to make protest signs*
posted by jokeefe at 11:10 AM on August 1, 2003
Uh, in all seriousness, if members don't realize at this point that everything one ever says online will exist, somewhere, forever, then you may need the Interwebnet Refresher Course 101. If you don't want it staring you in the face in 10 years, don't post it. I have a rule on my blog that I never post anything which I would be uncomfortable with the head of my department reading for this very reason. Not that I think he ever does, but, you know.
And I'm sick and tired of the marginalizing, OtherKphobic attitude around here, and the general 14K hegemony and general overlordism that is so sadly evident in this thread, and, no doubt, casting a pall over Mefi in general! It's K-ist, and I'm not gonna stand for it!
*shuffles off, muttering, to make protest signs*
posted by jokeefe at 11:10 AM on August 1, 2003
(I am of course not referring to taz in the above post, but users in general)
I support 12K pride!
We're here! We're an even dozen thousand! And... uh... yeah.
posted by jokeefe at 11:13 AM on August 1, 2003
I support 12K pride!
We're here! We're an even dozen thousand! And... uh... yeah.
posted by jokeefe at 11:13 AM on August 1, 2003
...but jokeefe, even you will have to admit you can't be divided by seven, yes?
posted by taz at 11:17 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by taz at 11:17 AM on August 1, 2003
If you don't want it staring you in the face in 10 years, don't post it.
True dat. I had my current employer scope my e-mail address out for Usenet postings before she hired me (this was about 5 years ago) where she discovered that I was gay, liked gossiping about celebrities who might be gay, who liked to bitch and moan about stupid people calling for tech support, and a rather interesting side of my personality revealed during a flamewar.
It really bugged me then, as she outed me to the company before ever saying I was hired. She wanted to make sure it was "okay" with everyone else. Really bugged me then, as I felt she'd taken control of an aspect of my life that she really didn't have any right to. Doesn't bug me anymore, because, hey, if I'm gonna tell millions of strangers about my life I'd better be saying the same things to people I know or am working for. Keeps me honest, I guess.
I tend to doubt that whatever we post will be around "forever" there. There's a big EMP somewhere in our future, I'm sure of it.
posted by WolfDaddy at 11:24 AM on August 1, 2003
True dat. I had my current employer scope my e-mail address out for Usenet postings before she hired me (this was about 5 years ago) where she discovered that I was gay, liked gossiping about celebrities who might be gay, who liked to bitch and moan about stupid people calling for tech support, and a rather interesting side of my personality revealed during a flamewar.
It really bugged me then, as she outed me to the company before ever saying I was hired. She wanted to make sure it was "okay" with everyone else. Really bugged me then, as I felt she'd taken control of an aspect of my life that she really didn't have any right to. Doesn't bug me anymore, because, hey, if I'm gonna tell millions of strangers about my life I'd better be saying the same things to people I know or am working for. Keeps me honest, I guess.
I tend to doubt that whatever we post will be around "forever" there. There's a big EMP somewhere in our future, I'm sure of it.
posted by WolfDaddy at 11:24 AM on August 1, 2003
14K: pure gold.
posted by picopebbles at 11:40 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by picopebbles at 11:40 AM on August 1, 2003
If I get another digit at the end I can join you hip 14kers ... does anyone have a 0? I'd like to buy a 0.. naah. ;)
posted by dabitch at 11:46 AM on August 1, 2003
posted by dabitch at 11:46 AM on August 1, 2003
I want to be a 14k'er.
I hear they get the girls and good dope.
posted by cedar at 11:47 AM on August 1, 2003
I hear they get the girls and good dope.
posted by cedar at 11:47 AM on August 1, 2003
Goodness, WolfDaddy. And NOW she also knows about the effect silk boxers have on you.
I've made posts I regret now, or am plain embarrassed about, but I recognize that there's no way to take them back. It's not reasonable to expect to - we can't take things back in "real life", and what we do on a web log is just as real, even though it may not feel as personal and immediate. I like your "keeps [one] honest" conclusion - it's easy to blame the technology and have unreasonable expectations of it, but it's far better to take more care with what we post and to realize that we must have integrity in our online lives, as well as in our "real" ones. It's all real, we're still dealing with real people, and it's only a matter of medium and venue.
posted by orange swan at 11:54 AM on August 1, 2003
I've made posts I regret now, or am plain embarrassed about, but I recognize that there's no way to take them back. It's not reasonable to expect to - we can't take things back in "real life", and what we do on a web log is just as real, even though it may not feel as personal and immediate. I like your "keeps [one] honest" conclusion - it's easy to blame the technology and have unreasonable expectations of it, but it's far better to take more care with what we post and to realize that we must have integrity in our online lives, as well as in our "real" ones. It's all real, we're still dealing with real people, and it's only a matter of medium and venue.
posted by orange swan at 11:54 AM on August 1, 2003
Well, the girls at least...
My mother always told me to never write down anything you wouldn't want read in a court of law, and that goes double for the internet.
posted by JoanArkham at 12:04 PM on August 1, 2003
My mother always told me to never write down anything you wouldn't want read in a court of law, and that goes double for the internet.
posted by JoanArkham at 12:04 PM on August 1, 2003
ZeroK.
'Nuff said.
I relate the phenomenon of making a big goodbye to MetaFilter to writing a suicide note, and as was mentioned a bunch of times on the alt.suicide group that there was a recent thread about, you don't write a note if you REALLY want to kill yourself... Now, why I was snooping around alt.suicide is none of anybody's business, but I must say that right now, at least 40% of my Will To Live is thanks to the Legendary Acronym Thread.
'Nuff said.
No, too much said. Add this to my long list of embarrassing posts.
posted by wendell at 12:11 PM on August 1, 2003
'Nuff said.
I relate the phenomenon of making a big goodbye to MetaFilter to writing a suicide note, and as was mentioned a bunch of times on the alt.suicide group that there was a recent thread about, you don't write a note if you REALLY want to kill yourself... Now, why I was snooping around alt.suicide is none of anybody's business, but I must say that right now, at least 40% of my Will To Live is thanks to the Legendary Acronym Thread.
'Nuff said.
No, too much said. Add this to my long list of embarrassing posts.
posted by wendell at 12:11 PM on August 1, 2003
I hear they get the girls and good dope.
We also get French truffles, but you didn't hear it from me.
OT: I figured out very early how clear and lasting our footsteps in the electronic sand are, and for a long, long time I did nothing but lurk, but once I came out of the shadows, I had to decide if I was going to have an online "persona", or just pretty much stick with the same old me. Same old me seemed easier.
And, as lupine papa notes, it keeps me pretty honest, though I have to admit that in real life, I'm actually more outspoken. I depend a lot of visual and physical cues to evaluate situations, so on the internet, I'm just a dog.
posted by taz at 12:14 PM on August 1, 2003
We also get French truffles, but you didn't hear it from me.
OT: I figured out very early how clear and lasting our footsteps in the electronic sand are, and for a long, long time I did nothing but lurk, but once I came out of the shadows, I had to decide if I was going to have an online "persona", or just pretty much stick with the same old me. Same old me seemed easier.
And, as lupine papa notes, it keeps me pretty honest, though I have to admit that in real life, I'm actually more outspoken. I depend a lot of visual and physical cues to evaluate situations, so on the internet, I'm just a dog.
posted by taz at 12:14 PM on August 1, 2003
on the internet, I'm just a dog.
But taz, on the internet, nobody knows.
posted by timeistight at 12:32 PM on August 1, 2003
But taz, on the internet, nobody knows.
posted by timeistight at 12:32 PM on August 1, 2003
I think 14k can also be divided by two, which would put make it the only group of users eligible for the exclusive 2 & 7 rotary club, where our motto is, as always, peace by subversion and feather boa.
I'll do some more research and see if this is in fact true. In the meantime, hopefully Stavros keeps control of himself vis a vis the wobbly pops--the 2k crowd lacks all self control.
As my first subversive act, I'll be printing up thousands of Miguel is 111 stickers and placing them strategically on various objects.
posted by The God Complex at 12:35 PM on August 1, 2003
I'll do some more research and see if this is in fact true. In the meantime, hopefully Stavros keeps control of himself vis a vis the wobbly pops--the 2k crowd lacks all self control.
As my first subversive act, I'll be printing up thousands of Miguel is 111 stickers and placing them strategically on various objects.
posted by The God Complex at 12:35 PM on August 1, 2003
Are there 14kers here? I could have sworn we were still on 10k or so...ah, well. I'm sure they'll pipe up soon. :)
I have actually seen an instance on another forum where the user who decided to leave went through every thread she'd ever posted in and painstakingly deleted all her own comments.
This happened on a bulletin board I ran in the early 90s. It made a real mess of things.
posted by rushmc at 12:40 PM on August 1, 2003
I have actually seen an instance on another forum where the user who decided to leave went through every thread she'd ever posted in and painstakingly deleted all her own comments.
This happened on a bulletin board I ran in the early 90s. It made a real mess of things.
posted by rushmc at 12:40 PM on August 1, 2003
And NOW she also knows about the effect silk boxers have on you.
Of course she does. She gave 'em to me as a present.
Over on Everything2, where you can edit your contributions after inital posting to your heart's content, we call the withdrawal of everything you've written "pulling an Asamoth," so named for the first member who did such a thing.
posted by WolfDaddy at 12:47 PM on August 1, 2003
Of course she does. She gave 'em to me as a present.
Over on Everything2, where you can edit your contributions after inital posting to your heart's content, we call the withdrawal of everything you've written "pulling an Asamoth," so named for the first member who did such a thing.
posted by WolfDaddy at 12:47 PM on August 1, 2003
I'm probably about the same in real life too - mischievious, a little malicious, tenacious on some points, unfortunately too likely to put my foot in my mouth and occasionally capable of a good rim shot.
I'm musing over the original topic of this thread - why it would be important for someone to have their username deleted. The best explanation I can think of is that it has more to do with their experience of MetaFilter than with their effect on MetaFilter. We all know that except for Mathowie none of us are important here. Sure, we have our first string MeFiers like Miguel. We have prolific ones that contribute a lot and whom everyone knows and likes. We even have ones whom everyone loves to hate. But even the most prolific user will be initially missed but forgotten in a year's time. It doesn't matter to the rest of us whether they're blocked or not, and from our perspective there's no reason why they can't just stop posting and perhaps put an explanation on the user page for anyone who misses them.
So, it's really the exiting user to whom this matters. Maybe the departing MeFier likes to make a dramatic exit. Maybe she or he thinks of himself or herself as more important than she or he was. Or maybe the ex-Mefier is the sort of person who just likes things ended in a tidy and definitive way. Whatever. It's just a very personal preference with no real bearing on the rest of us. I guess they should get their "resign" button if it doesn't make too much work for Matt. But of course they shouldn't be able to delete their posts - it's revisionist and makes a mess that the rest of us would have to deal with.
posted by orange swan at 12:48 PM on August 1, 2003
I'm musing over the original topic of this thread - why it would be important for someone to have their username deleted. The best explanation I can think of is that it has more to do with their experience of MetaFilter than with their effect on MetaFilter. We all know that except for Mathowie none of us are important here. Sure, we have our first string MeFiers like Miguel. We have prolific ones that contribute a lot and whom everyone knows and likes. We even have ones whom everyone loves to hate. But even the most prolific user will be initially missed but forgotten in a year's time. It doesn't matter to the rest of us whether they're blocked or not, and from our perspective there's no reason why they can't just stop posting and perhaps put an explanation on the user page for anyone who misses them.
So, it's really the exiting user to whom this matters. Maybe the departing MeFier likes to make a dramatic exit. Maybe she or he thinks of himself or herself as more important than she or he was. Or maybe the ex-Mefier is the sort of person who just likes things ended in a tidy and definitive way. Whatever. It's just a very personal preference with no real bearing on the rest of us. I guess they should get their "resign" button if it doesn't make too much work for Matt. But of course they shouldn't be able to delete their posts - it's revisionist and makes a mess that the rest of us would have to deal with.
posted by orange swan at 12:48 PM on August 1, 2003
oh my. a shitstorm. sorry. i haven't been online since posting this last night.
bit o'clarification:
i haven't been angrily festering over this or anything; it's just an idea that popped into my head last night. it's not like i suddenly decided to pipe up and say "fuck all 'yall." that's not what i mean at all. for those of you who've decided to assign that meaning, don't be so defensive.
the reason i asked is that matt has—and is—looking for ways to extend the site...and it's pretty close to being a true community. i simply think it would be smart to have a history associated with one's profile (no deletion of links made by the user; that'd be unfair) to give a true indication of one's participation. and i don't think an account going dormant is a true reflection of the user's involvement.
as for simply logging out and deleting cookies, well yeah. but that's only a one-sided reflection of the truth; nobpody else will know that a user's logged out and never come back.
it's just always bothered me that people simply disappear online without a trace...if this is such a community, how come there's no forwarding address or anything?
also, i think it would show how many people actually live in MeFi. the currently displayed membership number is bullshit—it shows how many member accounts exist, not how many members are actually active and participating. everyone knows many of those accounts are inactive and have been for some time.
I haven't done it in the past because people frequently change their minds. The first time I got a request like that, I was looking into it for a few days, figuring out how best to do it, when I noticed the person started posting again.
that probably wouldn't happen in my case. i haven't posted in a really really long time, and i really don't feel the urge. i was thinking it might be good for the user page to show the user's history, and then a closure of the account with a reason. even in a one-traffic-light town, there's a forwarding address or some indication that "alice don't live here no mo'." shuttered windows and suchlike.
posted by patricking at 12:49 PM on August 1, 2003
bit o'clarification:
i haven't been angrily festering over this or anything; it's just an idea that popped into my head last night. it's not like i suddenly decided to pipe up and say "fuck all 'yall." that's not what i mean at all. for those of you who've decided to assign that meaning, don't be so defensive.
the reason i asked is that matt has—and is—looking for ways to extend the site...and it's pretty close to being a true community. i simply think it would be smart to have a history associated with one's profile (no deletion of links made by the user; that'd be unfair) to give a true indication of one's participation. and i don't think an account going dormant is a true reflection of the user's involvement.
as for simply logging out and deleting cookies, well yeah. but that's only a one-sided reflection of the truth; nobpody else will know that a user's logged out and never come back.
it's just always bothered me that people simply disappear online without a trace...if this is such a community, how come there's no forwarding address or anything?
also, i think it would show how many people actually live in MeFi. the currently displayed membership number is bullshit—it shows how many member accounts exist, not how many members are actually active and participating. everyone knows many of those accounts are inactive and have been for some time.
I haven't done it in the past because people frequently change their minds. The first time I got a request like that, I was looking into it for a few days, figuring out how best to do it, when I noticed the person started posting again.
that probably wouldn't happen in my case. i haven't posted in a really really long time, and i really don't feel the urge. i was thinking it might be good for the user page to show the user's history, and then a closure of the account with a reason. even in a one-traffic-light town, there's a forwarding address or some indication that "alice don't live here no mo'." shuttered windows and suchlike.
posted by patricking at 12:49 PM on August 1, 2003
taz, perigee
3k's are also intrusive
and now if you'll excuse me, I'm leaving my computer to go to the bathroom -- I'll have to post a MetaTalk thread about that, too
posted by matteo at 12:55 PM on August 1, 2003
3k's are also intrusive
and now if you'll excuse me, I'm leaving my computer to go to the bathroom -- I'll have to post a MetaTalk thread about that, too
posted by matteo at 12:55 PM on August 1, 2003
I suppose a user that wanted to be blocked could just post large Jpegs to every thread.
posted by mecran01 at 1:02 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by mecran01 at 1:02 PM on August 1, 2003
matteo, let us know how it all comes out.
THE early childhood joke that I just can't put behind me. sorry.
posted by taz at 1:20 PM on August 1, 2003
THE early childhood joke that I just can't put behind me. sorry.
posted by taz at 1:20 PM on August 1, 2003
patricking, I gotta confess, I still don't get it.
i was thinking it might be good for the user page to show the user's history,
which it does,
and then a closure of the account with a reason.
which you can easily add yourself before leaving. You can put ACCOUNT CLOSED or GONE FOR GOOD or whatever the hell you want. So what's the problem, again?
posted by soyjoy at 1:35 PM on August 1, 2003
i was thinking it might be good for the user page to show the user's history,
which it does,
and then a closure of the account with a reason.
which you can easily add yourself before leaving. You can put ACCOUNT CLOSED or GONE FOR GOOD or whatever the hell you want. So what's the problem, again?
posted by soyjoy at 1:35 PM on August 1, 2003
3k's are also intrusive
this points to something else i forgot to address: the quality-of-member-versus-member-number question. if accounts could be closed, possibly the system could recycle numbers so that it no longer really matters what your user number is. maybe a retired user could be de-associated from its account number and re-assigned to a graveyard pool or something.
(keeping in mind i'm a front-end designer and have no clue how complex something like that would be to actually create)
posted by patricking at 1:38 PM on August 1, 2003
this points to something else i forgot to address: the quality-of-member-versus-member-number question. if accounts could be closed, possibly the system could recycle numbers so that it no longer really matters what your user number is. maybe a retired user could be de-associated from its account number and re-assigned to a graveyard pool or something.
(keeping in mind i'm a front-end designer and have no clue how complex something like that would be to actually create)
posted by patricking at 1:38 PM on August 1, 2003
You can put ACCOUNT CLOSED or GONE FOR GOOD or whatever the hell you want. So what's the problem, again?
I think what patricking is getting at (and I could be wrong) is that to make it really "official" as well as presenting a true(-er) picture of the number of active members, any so-called retired accounts would also be subtracted from the number of users displayed on the front page. At least, I think that's part of it.
wooo go 14k
posted by contessa at 1:47 PM on August 1, 2003
I think what patricking is getting at (and I could be wrong) is that to make it really "official" as well as presenting a true(-er) picture of the number of active members, any so-called retired accounts would also be subtracted from the number of users displayed on the front page. At least, I think that's part of it.
wooo go 14k
posted by contessa at 1:47 PM on August 1, 2003
Wouldn't that require adding a new database table for "retired" members plus some kind of application to transfer retirees to the graveyard table? I don't know that much about it either, but it sounds like a lot of work.
posted by timeistight at 1:54 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by timeistight at 1:54 PM on August 1, 2003
that sounds like a nightmare to create, unique numbers are neat, recycling them a headache.
I'm with soyjoy, anyone who wishes to leave, and wants to leave a 'forwarding adress' could do so on their userpage. write your buh-byes there and leave Matt out of it.
I have dusty slashdot account somewhere (forgot my pass) and various other memberships at websites and BBSs I no longer use. This isn't a mailinglist where you unsubscribe - you can just stop coming here.
posted by dabitch at 1:57 PM on August 1, 2003
I'm with soyjoy, anyone who wishes to leave, and wants to leave a 'forwarding adress' could do so on their userpage. write your buh-byes there and leave Matt out of it.
I have dusty slashdot account somewhere (forgot my pass) and various other memberships at websites and BBSs I no longer use. This isn't a mailinglist where you unsubscribe - you can just stop coming here.
posted by dabitch at 1:57 PM on August 1, 2003
This is the latest in a long line of threads that mention how people are curious about current user statistics. Were my name Matt Haughey, I think my next project would be a simple page that counts up some basic user statistics, like...
Number of unique posters in the past 6 months... XXXXX
Number of unique posters in the past month... XXXX
Number of unique posters this week... XXX
posted by GeekAnimator at 2:04 PM on August 1, 2003
Number of unique posters in the past 6 months... XXXXX
Number of unique posters in the past month... XXXX
Number of unique posters this week... XXX
posted by GeekAnimator at 2:04 PM on August 1, 2003
…or remove the number of members from the front page and let it be a mystery.
posted by timeistight at 2:28 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by timeistight at 2:28 PM on August 1, 2003
"it's just always bothered me that people simply disappear online without a trace...if this is such a community, how come there's no forwarding address or anything?"
My neighbors moved out a few months ago. I never really noticed them when they were here, and I only know they left because I saw the moving truck pulling away. I'm quite unconcerned about it, because when the people I do know and care for leave, they'll be sure to let me know where they're going.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 2:35 PM on August 1, 2003
My neighbors moved out a few months ago. I never really noticed them when they were here, and I only know they left because I saw the moving truck pulling away. I'm quite unconcerned about it, because when the people I do know and care for leave, they'll be sure to let me know where they're going.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 2:35 PM on August 1, 2003
I suddenly feel kind of proud that I have no idea what my user number is. And don't you tell me!
posted by JanetLand at 2:36 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by JanetLand at 2:36 PM on August 1, 2003
Hey, if somebody wants to switch a 17000 number with me, git on with it; as far as I can tell, the whole # thing is just friendly trash talk anyway.
I'm sorry, Pat, but every post you put in here makes this sound like a desperate bid for attention. If you want gone, shut the heck up and don't let the door hit you in the ass. Stop whining to us about going, OK? I promise we won't have the slightest rememberance of your name, number, religious or political viewpoints at all in a year or two.
Hie thee hence, and stop with the curtain calls.
posted by Perigee at 2:36 PM on August 1, 2003
I'm sorry, Pat, but every post you put in here makes this sound like a desperate bid for attention. If you want gone, shut the heck up and don't let the door hit you in the ass. Stop whining to us about going, OK? I promise we won't have the slightest rememberance of your name, number, religious or political viewpoints at all in a year or two.
Hie thee hence, and stop with the curtain calls.
posted by Perigee at 2:36 PM on August 1, 2003
well said, orange swan. When I see people doing dramatic exits, I always think it is more about them than MeFi, more about issues they are working out than anything else.
I can remember the first time I ever quit a job and wondered how they would ever get along without me. Well much to my chagrin, they got along just fine. Since then, life has been a continuous sequence of events conspiring to remind me that I have the global significance one notch up from your average gnat.
A man said to the universe, "Sir, i exist!" "However," replied the universe, "the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
...on another note, taz, that's a dirty crack that ought to be wiped out. (groanworthy, indeed)
...oh, and as for the 14kers? Ya, you guys are an ok crew, but the 15kers and beyond sauntered in fashionably late rather than rush the doors when they opened, talk about coolness.
posted by madamjujujive at 3:13 PM on August 1, 2003
I can remember the first time I ever quit a job and wondered how they would ever get along without me. Well much to my chagrin, they got along just fine. Since then, life has been a continuous sequence of events conspiring to remind me that I have the global significance one notch up from your average gnat.
A man said to the universe, "Sir, i exist!" "However," replied the universe, "the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
...on another note, taz, that's a dirty crack that ought to be wiped out. (groanworthy, indeed)
...oh, and as for the 14kers? Ya, you guys are an ok crew, but the 15kers and beyond sauntered in fashionably late rather than rush the doors when they opened, talk about coolness.
posted by madamjujujive at 3:13 PM on August 1, 2003
Runs, i'm sad you don't like it here anymore...is it the political stuff? the gay stuff? what? my breath?
juju, don't burst our delusions of greatness, ok?
and you're just jealous anyway!
I want to be a 14k'er.
I hear they get the girls and good dope.
We get all the hot boys too ; >
I would like to remind everyone of all the meTa discussions about newbies and stuff when we 14kers got in last year, and that we weren't exactly made to feel welcome for the most part--I would hope that when Matt opens up membership again people can try to be a little more supportive and encouraging of newbies instead of the assholes some people were. I know those of us who have been there will take a different approach to new members.
posted by amberglow at 3:51 PM on August 1, 2003
juju, don't burst our delusions of greatness, ok?
and you're just jealous anyway!
I want to be a 14k'er.
I hear they get the girls and good dope.
We get all the hot boys too ; >
I would like to remind everyone of all the meTa discussions about newbies and stuff when we 14kers got in last year, and that we weren't exactly made to feel welcome for the most part--I would hope that when Matt opens up membership again people can try to be a little more supportive and encouraging of newbies instead of the assholes some people were. I know those of us who have been there will take a different approach to new members.
posted by amberglow at 3:51 PM on August 1, 2003
That might have been the case when you joined in July, amberglow, but when I joined – way, way back in May – people were as nice as can be. They even threw me a little party.
posted by timeistight at 4:00 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by timeistight at 4:00 PM on August 1, 2003
Ha, amberglow, it never works that way. Those who were kicked kick the hardest. And thus, the cycle continues....
posted by rushmc at 4:02 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by rushmc at 4:02 PM on August 1, 2003
I remember rushmc as being particularly welcoming. "I don't care how you got here," he said, "it's just great that you're here." Made me feel warm all over, he did.
posted by timeistight at 4:25 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by timeistight at 4:25 PM on August 1, 2003
I've never been in a gang before. Woo Me. Bagsy the role of the misunderstood loser who's part of the 14K club, but isn't appreciated until some minor technical knowledge saves the plot and get's him the geeky looking girl at the end of the film.
Hmm no. This is Metafilter. We ALL want that part.
posted by seanyboy at 4:35 PM on August 1, 2003
Hmm no. This is Metafilter. We ALL want that part.
posted by seanyboy at 4:35 PM on August 1, 2003
Although the "minor technical knowledge" shouldn't be anything to do with apostophes's's's.
posted by seanyboy at 4:37 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by seanyboy at 4:37 PM on August 1, 2003
Wouldn't that require adding a new database table for "retired" members plus some kind of application to transfer retirees to the graveyard table? I don't know that much about it either, but it sounds like a lot of work.
Yep. And don't forget it's Matt that has to cut down the trees and mill the lumber to make that table. An incredible amount of work, indeed. lol
I'm sure an additional column in the user table would be no biggie to add. It's not a giant structural issue to add one flag to a database.
The real pain would be in checking all the existing queries against that table to make sure they don't break. Any arrays that would get shifted improperly, etc? Hard to say from the user end how complicated this would be, since it depends a lot on how the current code is designed and implemented.
Still, I'd have to be a prick to hypothesize that it should be easy enough for Matt to get done soon. I can barely get my housework done on a regular schedule.
posted by scarabic at 4:40 PM on August 1, 2003
Yep. And don't forget it's Matt that has to cut down the trees and mill the lumber to make that table. An incredible amount of work, indeed. lol
I'm sure an additional column in the user table would be no biggie to add. It's not a giant structural issue to add one flag to a database.
The real pain would be in checking all the existing queries against that table to make sure they don't break. Any arrays that would get shifted improperly, etc? Hard to say from the user end how complicated this would be, since it depends a lot on how the current code is designed and implemented.
Still, I'd have to be a prick to hypothesize that it should be easy enough for Matt to get done soon. I can barely get my housework done on a regular schedule.
posted by scarabic at 4:40 PM on August 1, 2003
Okay, I'm heading even farther out on the limb of my ignorance, but I'd like to try to understand this. If usernumber is a key field and patrcking wants to recycle his usernumber but still be able to find his posts and comments, how is adding one flag going to achieve that? How's the database going to know whether it's the old number 1129 or the new one?
posted by timeistight at 4:54 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by timeistight at 4:54 PM on August 1, 2003
"Who are you?"
"The new Number 2."
"Who is Number 1?"
"You are Number 6."
"I am not a number! I am a free man!"
Hey, Leo McKern came back...
"Who are you?"
"One of the old Number 2's."
posted by inpHilltr8r at 5:04 PM on August 1, 2003
"The new Number 2."
"Who is Number 1?"
"You are Number 6."
"I am not a number! I am a free man!"
Hey, Leo McKern came back...
"Who are you?"
"One of the old Number 2's."
posted by inpHilltr8r at 5:04 PM on August 1, 2003
I think what patricking is getting at (and I could be wrong) is that to make it really "official" as well as presenting a true(-er) picture of the number of active members
yup. exactly what i meant.
If usernumber is a key field and patrcking wants to recycle his usernumber but still be able to find his posts and comments, how is adding one flag going to achieve that? How's the database going to know whether it's the old number 1129 or the new one?
i was just kind of musing at this. it seemed like an interesting notion.
I'm sorry, Pat, but every post you put in here makes this sound like a desperate bid for attention.
fuckez vous, dude. if i was desperate for attention i'd be posting to the front page every single day—not questioning what to do with retired members.
posted by patricking at 6:09 PM on August 1, 2003
yup. exactly what i meant.
If usernumber is a key field and patrcking wants to recycle his usernumber but still be able to find his posts and comments, how is adding one flag going to achieve that? How's the database going to know whether it's the old number 1129 or the new one?
i was just kind of musing at this. it seemed like an interesting notion.
I'm sorry, Pat, but every post you put in here makes this sound like a desperate bid for attention.
fuckez vous, dude. if i was desperate for attention i'd be posting to the front page every single day—not questioning what to do with retired members.
posted by patricking at 6:09 PM on August 1, 2003
In the spirit of the times, i will be on Sabbatical for a month or so...quonsars gonna get my mail and watch the house.
ah HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHH
ha ha
AHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA.
posted by clavdivs at 6:58 PM on August 1, 2003
ah HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHH
ha ha
AHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA.
posted by clavdivs at 6:58 PM on August 1, 2003
Made me feel warm all over, he did.
Umm...that was the boiling oil...
posted by rushmc at 7:16 PM on August 1, 2003
Umm...that was the boiling oil...
posted by rushmc at 7:16 PM on August 1, 2003
quonsar, i ordered the strippers (both kinds) and the kegs...you bring the drugs...party at clav's house!
posted by amberglow at 7:40 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by amberglow at 7:40 PM on August 1, 2003
That meany timeistight says: It's 17350.
I will now go off and learn to accept my new identity as New Oxford, Pennsylvania.
posted by JanetLand at 7:42 PM on August 1, 2003
I will now go off and learn to accept my new identity as New Oxford, Pennsylvania.
posted by JanetLand at 7:42 PM on August 1, 2003
The posting community is pretty small, I rarely see new faces posting or when I do they don't seem to repeat.
True, skallas. Why, I remember when yours was a new face around here. I was the young kid on the corner, trying to act all cool like I knew what I was doing. Just like those plural-K'ers are today.
posted by ewagoner at 8:03 PM on August 1, 2003
True, skallas. Why, I remember when yours was a new face around here. I was the young kid on the corner, trying to act all cool like I knew what I was doing. Just like those plural-K'ers are today.
posted by ewagoner at 8:03 PM on August 1, 2003
Rouses Point was named after my ancestors - I demand royalties for anyone who appropriates the name!
posted by jonson at 8:10 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by jonson at 8:10 PM on August 1, 2003
Nice to see the 14kers taking over - I used to feel so reviled. (Though of course now I'm very pro bar-the-doors-to-riff-raff. Consistency and hobgoblins and yadda yadda.)
But I don't care about numbers, I just wish I could change my stupid username. It seemed so devilishly clever - for oh, about 35 seconds. And now I'm saddled with it. Dopey me.
Hmmm....."hobgoblin" would be cool.
Also, I can't think how many boards and groups I used to be part of that I got bored of and wandered away from. It never even crossed my mind to have my membership canceled. I still don't get why anyone would care.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:11 PM on August 1, 2003
But I don't care about numbers, I just wish I could change my stupid username. It seemed so devilishly clever - for oh, about 35 seconds. And now I'm saddled with it. Dopey me.
Hmmm....."hobgoblin" would be cool.
Also, I can't think how many boards and groups I used to be part of that I got bored of and wandered away from. It never even crossed my mind to have my membership canceled. I still don't get why anyone would care.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:11 PM on August 1, 2003
I don't know nuttin' about ColdFusion or really how the Intarweb works (that's why I have made my career in hosting your websites, folks!) but it seems to me if you can 'splain why this and this get you the same thing, there might be a way to divorce one's self from one's usernumber yet still be uniquely identifiable, thus making the data that represents "you" on MeFi more easily manipulated to approach what some members seem to be requesting.
posted by WolfDaddy at 9:03 PM on August 1, 2003
posted by WolfDaddy at 9:03 PM on August 1, 2003
I know very little about database programming (says he, jumping in to offer advice on that very subject), but i cannot see how you can change what must be the key index for the whole system, tying users to comments and threads. Unless you created a query to move all references to user numbers except those who already below the user in question down one every time someone left, which seems like a completely pointless waste of time. If there was really a need to see if a user was active at any point in time, surely the simplest way would be to add a line to the user page saying "[user] has posted [x] threads and [x] comments in the past three months" or something similar. That way, it would only have to be calculated when a user page was viewed. Not that I think it is necessary, just saying. Actually, I would be interested to see that. being a bit anal about statistics and such, but don't see any pressing need or anything.
Is it just me, or are the 14k crowd the most prolific in MeTa? It seems so and I assume that this is because we care more than the proletariat do.
posted by dg at 10:48 PM on August 1, 2003
Is it just me, or are the 14k crowd the most prolific in MeTa? It seems so and I assume that this is because we care more than the proletariat do.
posted by dg at 10:48 PM on August 1, 2003
Instead of a gold star, you could put a dead fish next to retired member's names. You know, because their account is dead and they made a big enough stink that everyone knows about it.
Really, as far as knowing (or at least estimating) how many people still stick around, most good web stats programs can tell you how many unique visitors you have in a day...and there are always people analyzing Mefi stats...but there's no way to get the people who quit coming 3 or 4 years ago to come back and mark themselves retired. So...can we just let the True Number of Active Members simply be one of the universe's great mysteries?
And, hey, can I join the 14K party? I'll bring pie. I know I'm like the cousin who you only see every 4 years, but I can do this cool trick with my...uh, nevermind.
posted by katieinshoes at 11:04 PM on August 1, 2003
Really, as far as knowing (or at least estimating) how many people still stick around, most good web stats programs can tell you how many unique visitors you have in a day...and there are always people analyzing Mefi stats...but there's no way to get the people who quit coming 3 or 4 years ago to come back and mark themselves retired. So...can we just let the True Number of Active Members simply be one of the universe's great mysteries?
And, hey, can I join the 14K party? I'll bring pie. I know I'm like the cousin who you only see every 4 years, but I can do this cool trick with my...uh, nevermind.
posted by katieinshoes at 11:04 PM on August 1, 2003
To follow on from soyjoy's suggestion re: amending your user page, just do it like Dan (Hartung). Altho' a 'User page last amended on MM/DD/YY' field would make it work better. [Actually, I'd prefer DD/MM/YY but I s'pose you left ponders have your quirky ways...].
As for the 14K thing [*shouts out to the homes*]...for some reason [*koff*] I keep banging on about this.
katie: What is it with you & dead fish?!? Ah well, you've reminded me of the only thing I didn't like about my Grandma - her (dead) fish pie. *shudder*
posted by i_cola at 12:23 AM on August 2, 2003
As for the 14K thing [*shouts out to the homes*]...for some reason [*koff*] I keep banging on about this.
katie: What is it with you & dead fish?!? Ah well, you've reminded me of the only thing I didn't like about my Grandma - her (dead) fish pie. *shudder*
posted by i_cola at 12:23 AM on August 2, 2003
The posting community is pretty small, I rarely see new faces posting or when I do they don't seem to repeat.
Oh man. I love being a 14k, but if the earlier numbers get to see faces on all the posts I can't help being a tad jealous despite all these complementary French truffles and hot boys.
posted by picopebbles at 2:59 AM on August 2, 2003
Oh man. I love being a 14k, but if the earlier numbers get to see faces on all the posts I can't help being a tad jealous despite all these complementary French truffles and hot boys.
posted by picopebbles at 2:59 AM on August 2, 2003
Well, well. yhbc and myself predicted the rise of the 14Kers back in the day. We should get to be Honoury Life Presidents or something...well, engraved tankards at the very least. Or maybe embroidered cummerbunds. Look, just gimme stuff.
posted by i_cola at 5:08 AM on August 2, 2003
posted by i_cola at 5:08 AM on August 2, 2003
i_cola, look for a package in the mail. (just, um, try not to open it while anybody else is around, 'kay?)
posted by taz at 7:13 AM on August 2, 2003
posted by taz at 7:13 AM on August 2, 2003
I reckon if you're so disgusted by the level of discourse here to demand erasure, then you're not worth being owed a favor to.
in other words, don't let the door hit you where your buttocks are.
posted by mcsweetie at 8:06 AM on August 2, 2003
in other words, don't let the door hit you where your buttocks are.
posted by mcsweetie at 8:06 AM on August 2, 2003
What was the big thing that happened between 13K and 14K? Is that when signups were closed? I guess those of us that got 14Ks had to try for weeks to get here at 12pm PST to get the damn daily signin. Took me a month, easy, to get in.
And perhaps needing that determination to get in is what makes all my 14k comrades so wonderful. But I got lazy, and coast on their coat-tails. I'll be in the bar at the 14K party, thanks.
posted by bonaldi at 8:38 AM on August 2, 2003
And perhaps needing that determination to get in is what makes all my 14k comrades so wonderful. But I got lazy, and coast on their coat-tails. I'll be in the bar at the 14K party, thanks.
posted by bonaldi at 8:38 AM on August 2, 2003
OK, we 14Kers are clearly a majority in this thread. What say we throw the others overboard and take command of the vessel? Mr. Cummerbund, set sail for Tahiti!
posted by languagehat at 8:39 AM on August 2, 2003
posted by languagehat at 8:39 AM on August 2, 2003
Hmmm...
14 ADDICTION, freedom, passion Number 14 is associated with the constructive use of freedom. Since it focuses on each one of the five senses, there is a tendency to over-eat, over-drink, and cross the "normal" boundaries of sexual exploration. This number learns how to be in the earthly, sensual world without losing touch with the spiritual connection. It learns to enjoy life and the challenges of freedom of choice without getting stuck in overindulgence and wastefulness. It learns to follow through on promises without feeling it is giving away its time or power. There is much passion, conflict, and resistance to control.
posted by taz at 9:22 AM on August 2, 2003
14 ADDICTION, freedom, passion Number 14 is associated with the constructive use of freedom. Since it focuses on each one of the five senses, there is a tendency to over-eat, over-drink, and cross the "normal" boundaries of sexual exploration. This number learns how to be in the earthly, sensual world without losing touch with the spiritual connection. It learns to enjoy life and the challenges of freedom of choice without getting stuck in overindulgence and wastefulness. It learns to follow through on promises without feeling it is giving away its time or power. There is much passion, conflict, and resistance to control.
posted by taz at 9:22 AM on August 2, 2003
i cannot see how you can change what must be the key index for the whole system, tying users to comments and threads. Unless you created a query to move all references to user numbers except those who already below the user in question down one every time someone left
That's what I thought too, dg. Maybe scarabic will stop LOLing long enough to explain where we're going wrong.
My 14k theory is that we care more because it was harder for us to get in.
posted by timeistight at 9:33 AM on August 2, 2003
That's what I thought too, dg. Maybe scarabic will stop LOLing long enough to explain where we're going wrong.
My 14k theory is that we care more because it was harder for us to get in.
posted by timeistight at 9:33 AM on August 2, 2003
Any sub-#1000ers still post?
*adjusts truss and toupee*
posted by dhoyt at 11:01 AM on August 2, 2003
*adjusts truss and toupee*
posted by dhoyt at 11:01 AM on August 2, 2003
Just a few dhoyt, but let the kidlets think they run the show. ;)
posted by riffola at 11:02 AM on August 2, 2003
posted by riffola at 11:02 AM on August 2, 2003
Just sitting back watching the show mostly, these days, dhoyt and riffy. Damn kids, think they 0wnz0r the place....
posted by Lynsey at 12:27 PM on August 2, 2003
posted by Lynsey at 12:27 PM on August 2, 2003
Just wait till you see the 20k kids...they are SO gonna rock.
posted by rushmc at 12:38 PM on August 2, 2003
posted by rushmc at 12:38 PM on August 2, 2003
FOOD FIGHT!!!!
*slings watermelon at timeistight and the 1krs *
posted by poopy at 1:00 PM on August 2, 2003
*slings watermelon at timeistight and the 1krs *
posted by poopy at 1:00 PM on August 2, 2003
"Any sub-#1000ers still post?"
Sure, but I went out for ice cream a couple of years ago and haven't made it back. Give the kids my best and the checks in the mail.
posted by cedar at 3:19 PM on August 2, 2003
Sure, but I went out for ice cream a couple of years ago and haven't made it back. Give the kids my best and the checks in the mail.
posted by cedar at 3:19 PM on August 2, 2003
The real elite will be the friends-of-mathowie with numbers higher than 17322. They're just biding their time until they can seize power.
posted by timeistight at 3:19 PM on August 2, 2003
posted by timeistight at 3:19 PM on August 2, 2003
How about changing the names of members who officially left MeFi to "Traitorous Former User #n" (where n is incremented each time a member officially defects leaves.)
posted by DBAPaul at 8:26 PM on August 2, 2003
posted by DBAPaul at 8:26 PM on August 2, 2003
"Any sub-#1000ers still post?"
ZeroK here. ZeroK.
What do I have to say to show somebody here I exist?
Oh, yeah, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Oh, shit, I just discovered two personal e-mails sent by MeFites two weeks ago that fell through the massive cracks of my Outlook Express... You tolerate me! You really tolerate me!!
posted by wendell at 10:04 PM on August 2, 2003
ZeroK here. ZeroK.
What do I have to say to show somebody here I exist?
Oh, yeah, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Oh, shit, I just discovered two personal e-mails sent by MeFites two weeks ago that fell through the massive cracks of my Outlook Express... You tolerate me! You really tolerate me!!
posted by wendell at 10:04 PM on August 2, 2003
FWIW, I think the dead-fish idea is perfect.
patricking, would that satisfy your needs? Cause if not I stilll don't get what it is you want that you can't get now.
posted by soyjoy at 10:59 PM on August 2, 2003
patricking, would that satisfy your needs? Cause if not I stilll don't get what it is you want that you can't get now.
posted by soyjoy at 10:59 PM on August 2, 2003
jonson: Honestly, you know who sucks? 8Kers. I'm hard pressed to think of a single decent one in the bunch.
I've contributed nothing but greatness and wit, I'll have you know!
posted by hincandenza at 11:48 PM on August 2, 2003
I've contributed nothing but greatness and wit, I'll have you know!
posted by hincandenza at 11:48 PM on August 2, 2003
I've contributed nothing *of* greatness and wit. Beat that, sucka!
16k'ers: The 14k'ers it's okay not to like.
posted by arto at 12:07 AM on August 3, 2003
16k'ers: The 14k'ers it's okay not to like.
posted by arto at 12:07 AM on August 3, 2003
And where are all the other -999999Kers?
Dammit, I went to bed and missed Mig's meltdown.
posted by languagehat at 7:24 AM on August 3, 2003
Dammit, I went to bed and missed Mig's meltdown.
posted by languagehat at 7:24 AM on August 3, 2003
Ooh! What happened? Last time I popped into that thread, it hadn't yet built up a full head of steam.
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:50 AM on August 3, 2003
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:50 AM on August 3, 2003
the best user numbers transcend arbitrary clumps of 10^3: like 13000 or 12345 or 11111...
posted by mdn at 8:24 AM on August 3, 2003
posted by mdn at 8:24 AM on August 3, 2003
Ain't it great to be so easily amused?
posted by timeistight at 10:13 AM on August 3, 2003
posted by timeistight at 10:13 AM on August 3, 2003
Ooh! What happened? Last time I popped into that thread, it hadn't yet built up a full head of steam.
It never became interesting. I was disappointed. It was like being in an old woman's underwear drawer.
posted by Opus Dark at 3:57 PM on August 3, 2003
It never became interesting. I was disappointed. It was like being in an old woman's underwear drawer.
posted by Opus Dark at 3:57 PM on August 3, 2003
I missed the whole thing. What was it?
posted by timeistight at 4:16 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by timeistight at 4:16 PM on August 3, 2003
Yeah, I don't know what you guys are even referring to... splain?
posted by jonson at 5:21 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by jonson at 5:21 PM on August 3, 2003
Surely you must have it cached, quonsar.
posted by timeistight at 6:01 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by timeistight at 6:01 PM on August 3, 2003
Well, OK, 'autofellatic' was worthwhile...still, the thread never achieved critical tumescence; Matt bobbited it and fed it, still squirming, to the MetaDustbunnies.
posted by Opus Dark at 6:42 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by Opus Dark at 6:42 PM on August 3, 2003
Splanation: A post by Miguel asking for help fleshing out a minor character in the book he's currently writing - the character in question being a member of metafilter. The ensuing thread was filled with lots of people pointing out that the post was not really suited for metatalk. They were right, apparently.
posted by iconomy at 6:57 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by iconomy at 6:57 PM on August 3, 2003
A fine demonstration to patricking what he needs to do to acheive the status of EX-MeFite... Miguel lost more karma points than Bill Bennett on an Atlantic City weekender...
Opus D, your lurid imagery made me do a spit-take that steam-cleaned my keyboard...
posted by wendell at 7:05 PM on August 3, 2003
Opus D, your lurid imagery made me do a spit-take that steam-cleaned my keyboard...
posted by wendell at 7:05 PM on August 3, 2003
That sounds interesting. I'm sorry I missed it.
posted by timeistight at 7:31 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by timeistight at 7:31 PM on August 3, 2003
Lately I've been thinking a lot about that other MetaTalk thread. What are your opinions on it? Let's discuss! etc.
posted by soyjoy at 7:46 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by soyjoy at 7:46 PM on August 3, 2003
Well, shoot - now I'm interested, too. Who was it, anyway? It wasn't me, was it? Oh, and if it has anything to do with the auto-fellatio thing, I swear it was just a joke.
posted by yhbc at 8:09 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by yhbc at 8:09 PM on August 3, 2003
that's just it. it wasn't anyone. it was just miguel, begging for attention.
posted by crunchland at 8:18 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by crunchland at 8:18 PM on August 3, 2003
OK, so who was the character?
It wasn't anyone in particular - he was asking for help in creating a fictitious amalgamation. I definitely did not splain that part very well. The only part of the post I recall is the "reassuringly gay" part. Miguel wants this fictitious metafilter character he's creating to be reassuringly gay. Whatever that means.
posted by iconomy at 8:50 PM on August 3, 2003
It wasn't anyone in particular - he was asking for help in creating a fictitious amalgamation. I definitely did not splain that part very well. The only part of the post I recall is the "reassuringly gay" part. Miguel wants this fictitious metafilter character he's creating to be reassuringly gay. Whatever that means.
posted by iconomy at 8:50 PM on August 3, 2003
Reassuringly gay = gay in a way that doesn't make Miguel question his sexuality ;)
posted by filmgoerjuan at 9:23 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by filmgoerjuan at 9:23 PM on August 3, 2003
reassuringly gay. Whatever that means.
*quonsar leers salaciously over his shoulder at iconomy etc etc etc*
posted by quonsar at 9:27 PM on August 3, 2003
*quonsar leers salaciously over his shoulder at iconomy etc etc etc*
posted by quonsar at 9:27 PM on August 3, 2003
dangit! why is it when metatalk posts are killed they are completely obliterated? or...is the post somewhere i can't find...
posted by graventy at 9:34 PM on August 3, 2003
posted by graventy at 9:34 PM on August 3, 2003
It's 12:34 AM on a Sunday night. Having listened to the calming melodies of Mogwai for a couple of hours now, I stumbled upon this thread, and upon reading the comments, I found this.
This is the single greatest thing to ever be posted on anything starting with "meta".
Goodnight. My neighbors are surely awake because of my unending laughter.
posted by angry modem at 10:35 PM on August 3, 2003
This is the single greatest thing to ever be posted on anything starting with "meta".
Goodnight. My neighbors are surely awake because of my unending laughter.
posted by angry modem at 10:35 PM on August 3, 2003
reassuringly gay. Whatever that means.
Well, it wasn't me then. I am not sure which would be worse - being selected as a character in a novel by Miguel or not being interesting enough to be selected as a character in a novel by Miguel.
posted by dg at 12:24 AM on August 4, 2003
Well, it wasn't me then. I am not sure which would be worse - being selected as a character in a novel by Miguel or not being interesting enough to be selected as a character in a novel by Miguel.
posted by dg at 12:24 AM on August 4, 2003
What the hell is the website which must not be named? Is it that one named after diminutive, unusually coloured sporting goods?
posted by dmt at 3:33 AM on August 4, 2003
posted by dmt at 3:33 AM on August 4, 2003
no
posted by crunchland at 5:36 AM on August 4, 2003
posted by crunchland at 5:36 AM on August 4, 2003
Does it rhyme with spastic?
posted by GeekAnimator at 6:26 AM on August 4, 2003
posted by GeekAnimator at 6:26 AM on August 4, 2003
not even close.
posted by crunchland at 6:41 AM on August 4, 2003
posted by crunchland at 6:41 AM on August 4, 2003
Sure it does, dg. It rhymes with ero5hin.
Incidentally, the fact that soyjoy rhymes with boytoy has not escaped my notice.
posted by iconomy at 4:13 PM on August 4, 2003
Incidentally, the fact that soyjoy rhymes with boytoy has not escaped my notice.
posted by iconomy at 4:13 PM on August 4, 2003
Ah, we must be thinking of a different site that must not be named, then.
posted by dg at 5:18 PM on August 4, 2003
posted by dg at 5:18 PM on August 4, 2003
"iconomy
- on'a me"
that should be.
(What's this button that says Preview?)
posted by soyjoy at 9:31 PM on August 4, 2003
- on'a me"
that should be.
(What's this button that says Preview?)
posted by soyjoy at 9:31 PM on August 4, 2003
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matt, this would give a more realistic look at how many members there really are.
posted by patricking at 4:25 PM on July 31, 2003