Are conspiracy posts appropriate?

October 16, 2003 7:17 AM

Are baseless conspiracy theories appropriate MetaFilter threads?
posted by pardonyou? to Etiquette/Policy at 7:17 AM (35 comments total)

It seems to me that this takes the much-derided NewsFilter to new lows. First, it's quite literally baseless: there is nothing in the linked article (or any other legitimate source) that suggests or implies foul play. Accordingly, the underlying premise of the thread is nothing more than CrazyJub's speculation (and those like him). Second, I could see finding some entertainment value in a conspiracy theory that at least had some internal logic. But Marvin Bush's babysitter?
posted by pardonyou? at 7:23 AM on October 16, 2003

Well there was that Chinese astronaut thing and the Time Travelin' Cubs fan yesterday. I'm just dissapointed that the wording of the FPP failed to mention Iraq and the hilarious usage of "dubya."
posted by Stan Chin at 7:24 AM on October 16, 2003

Depends on your point of view, don't it? Besides, what makes the topic any different from any other Bush/Iraq/Election? It's a substandard post, imo, but not because of the topic.
posted by ashbury at 7:26 AM on October 16, 2003

Would you have posted this Metatalk thread if the baseless conspiracy wasn't aimed at Bush?

But to answer your question, we've had 9/11 conspiracy posts and UFO conspiracy posts and duct tape conspiracy posts. Why not this one?
posted by jpoulos at 7:29 AM on October 16, 2003

is nothing more than CrazyJub's speculation (and those like him)
care to expand on that big guns?

I could see finding some entertainment value in a conspiracy theory that at least had some internal logic
internal logic...in assass...er accidental deaths?

thats about as informative as Stan Chin humor.
posted by clavdivs at 7:29 AM on October 16, 2003

Would y'all like one day in MeFi where Mathowie deletes any post that contains disputable opinion? There wouldn't be much left to read.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:32 AM on October 16, 2003

(damn, damn, damn! here's the ufo conspiracy link.)

Stan Chin humor.
Jumbo shrimp?
posted by jpoulos at 7:33 AM on October 16, 2003

I'm surprised people are defending this post, it's completely inane. "Bush orders hit on relative's baby sitter!".

It's certainly worse than the other news filter posts that at least have *something* to discuss that isn't completely preposterous. The chinese astronaut story may be newfilter and something everyone has seen, but at least it's something we can talk about.
posted by malphigian at 7:37 AM on October 16, 2003

But to answer your question, we've had 9/11 conspiracy posts and UFO conspiracy posts and duct tape conspiracy posts. Why not this one?

Because there were specific "thoughts" and "ideas" behind those conspiracies. Here we have an old lady who died accidentally, and about whom exists no pertinent data or reason for suspicion (other than it sounds oh-so edgy and witty to cast doubt). There's no connection to GWB other than it's his brother's babysitter. As conspiracies go, well, it isn't much of one. Feel free to support the post, though, if you genuinely think it has merit.

Anyone?

*taps foot*
posted by dhoyt at 7:39 AM on October 16, 2003

Depends on your point of view, don't it?

God, I hope not. I always laughed at the Vince Foster conspiracy theorists, but it could have made a legitimate post because he was a high-ranking governmental official with close ties to the President, and the evidence was widely analyzed in the media. But Marvin freaking Bush's freaking babysitter?

But if Roger Clinton's accountant had apparently died in a car accident, would that have justified a post based on speculation. Hell no. (I humbly submit).

On preview: Would you have posted this Metatalk thread if the baseless conspiracy wasn't aimed at Bush?

Of course. I didn't vote for Bush in 2000, and I have no intention of voting for him in 2004. I just didn't think MetaFilter was the place for rank speculation, no matter what your ideology.

That said, I'm surprised (although I'm not sure why) that most people seem to have no problem with this. Oh, well. That's why it's not Pardonyou?Filter.
posted by pardonyou? at 7:40 AM on October 16, 2003

That's why it's not Pardonyou?Filter.

No, but if people are genuinely supporting the post, it has indeed turned into AirheadFilter.
posted by dhoyt at 7:44 AM on October 16, 2003

But if Roger Clinton's accountant had apparently died in a car accident, would that have justified a post based on speculation. Hell no. (I humbly submit).

Fair enough. Out out damn post!
posted by jpoulos at 7:45 AM on October 16, 2003

malph, there's no doubt that the post is inane and worthy of deletion, but the reasons for deleting it as quoted by pardonyou aren't much better than the post itself.
posted by ashbury at 7:45 AM on October 16, 2003

Obviously this is relevant because the president confides his greatest secrets in Marvin, who shares them with his most trusted confidant... the babysitter!

But really, this poor woman wouldn't have made the washington post had she not been vaguely connected to the Bush family. This isn't a quirky news story or one that needs commentary or an inquisition. If the FPP had linked to sites that are calling this a conspiracy, then it might be worth commentary (mainly, "wow, look at what the wackos think now"). It didn't.

Metafilter isn't a crackpot conspiracy site yet, ok?
posted by mikeh at 7:49 AM on October 16, 2003

pardonyou?: is nothing more than CrazyJub's speculation (and those like him)

clavdivs: care to expand on that big guns?

those like him.
posted by pardonyou? at 7:51 AM on October 16, 2003

"As conspiracies go, well, it isn't much of one."

No, it absolutely isn't one.

"The meme has the possibility to start for GWB."

It's a speculation that a meme might start about a conspiracy that doesn't yet exist. In other words - Something might happen about something else that might happen about something that hasn't happened.

It doesn't exist! This meme is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet it's maker! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the front page it'd be pushing up the daisies! It's metabolic processes are now history! It's off the twig! It's kicked the bucket, it's shuffled off it's mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-MEME!!
posted by y6y6y6 at 8:12 AM on October 16, 2003

I thought MeFi WAS a baseless conspiracy theory.

Sheesh, they're just having some fun, spoilsport. ;-P
posted by mischief at 8:35 AM on October 16, 2003

thread's lame. So's "those like him."
posted by soyjoy at 8:55 AM on October 16, 2003

Good lord. Do we need a MeTa thread for every FPP we don't like? Can't you people just scroll down?

That said... GO SOX.
posted by xmutex at 9:00 AM on October 16, 2003

Good lord. Do we need a MeTa thread for every FPP we don't like? Can't you people just scroll down?

I've been on MetaFilter for over two years. I've posted over 1,000 comments. This is only my third MetaTalk thread, of which two nominally concerned front page posts "I didn't like." I've actually seen thousands of threads I didn't like, the vast majority of which I either scrolled past, or didn't see the need to post to MetaTalk. Obviously I didn't post this just because I saw a post "I didn't like," but because I had a legitimate question about the propriety of all such posts. To be perfectly honest, my intention in posting this was to generate some kind of consensus that these posts are not so good, which would hopefully dissuade someone from posting something similar in the future.
posted by pardonyou? at 9:20 AM on October 16, 2003

Consensus? We don't need no stinking consensus!
posted by mischief at 9:24 AM on October 16, 2003

Are baseless conspiracy theories appropriate MetaFilter threads?

Yes. If you can't enjoy the Internet's ability to foster poorly sourced information and dubious speculation from eccentric pamphleteers, you're cheating yourself.
posted by rcade at 9:49 AM on October 16, 2003

I heart pardonyou? ! Good MetaTalk thread, don't let the haters bring you down.
posted by insomnyuk at 9:49 AM on October 16, 2003

It doesn't exist! This meme is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet it's maker! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! ...

Now if there wasn't a conspiracy, there wouldn't be a need to deny this, right? Look, I came here for an ARGUMENT!
posted by swell at 9:53 AM on October 16, 2003

"Haters..." Yet another meme, like "derail", that has become meaningless by way of misuse. ;-P
posted by mischief at 10:18 AM on October 16, 2003

...become meaningless by way of misuse.

Certainly the same couldn't be said of, say, emoticons.
posted by dhoyt at 11:00 AM on October 16, 2003

Well, I AM an expert in misuse, ce n'est pas?
posted by mischief at 11:09 AM on October 16, 2003

" Look, I came here for an ARGUMENT!"

No you didn't.

And I read an editorial somewhere where the author was pondering the Clinton conspiracy theories and then going into what the wacked out Bush conspiracies could possibly be. (Which of course I can't find now, dammit.) Now if that had been linked and something like "what wacked out conspiracies can we pull out of this story" - well, it's no worse than "Pancakes or pumpkin pie? I like to make meat pies out of puppies! Discuss!"
Oh wait, we hate FPP like that too, right?

Remember the good ol days when conspiracies had to do with travel, land deals and suicide vs murder hooha? As opposed to war and economy and...ugh.
posted by batgrlHG at 12:06 PM on October 16, 2003

et tu, mischief?
posted by insomnyuk at 1:05 PM on October 16, 2003

Thought I'd comment here, my post really had little to do with Bush (believe it or not) but more to do with: how do you get your car to roll on top of you? I tried myself in my parking lot, and I couldn't do it!
posted by CrazyJub at 3:30 PM on October 16, 2003

The key is to work up some speed and then jump in front of it.
posted by jpoulos at 6:54 AM on October 17, 2003

my post really had little to do with Bush

ROFLMAO!

Was the title of the post not "Bush Death Toll"?

Bartender, I'll have whatever CrazyJub's having. Make it a double.
posted by dhoyt at 7:25 AM on October 17, 2003

"...how do you get your car to roll on top of you? I tried myself in my parking lot, and I couldn't do it!"

Put it into gear with a relatively high idle. Get out. Run in front. Place head beneath approaching wheel.
posted by majick at 3:21 PM on October 17, 2003

Actually, cars slip out of gear and accidentally run over their drivers all the time (really, or so I've heard). Usually it's tragic - sometimes a dog or a child knocks the shift lever, sometimes it's a freak mechanical error.

For that matter, about ten idiots are killed each year by toppling soda machines.

Thought experiment - How many friends, acquaintances and associates are connected, even in some tenuous fashion, to the Bush clan - tens of thousands maybe? And how many people are likely to lose their lives in accidents? - Probably more than one out of every 10,000 - a LOT more.

But Prescott Bush was still a Nazi sympathizer.
posted by troutfishing at 6:12 PM on October 18, 2003

I wonder if you can rig a soda machine to tip over and kill someone...
Not that I would make use of such information, of course.
posted by batgrlHG at 10:11 AM on October 19, 2003