The Left shall rise again? March 15, 2004 10:01 AM   Subscribe


mleh.
posted by scarabic at 10:16 AM on March 15, 2004


Disgusting.
posted by timeistight at 10:34 AM on March 15, 2004


as opposed to, say, a user having graphic dismemberment fantasies about somebody they disagree with, then downgrading the threat to a simple "'I'll kick your ass".

that of course would be perfectly OK
posted by matteo at 10:36 AM on March 15, 2004


That entire thread was full of name-calling, mud-slinging, and nasty personal attacks. Seems like the usual suspects, on both sides of the aisle, were in rare form this weekend.
posted by BlueTrain at 10:36 AM on March 15, 2004


Morally depraved post. Not for thinking it. I've briefly thought worse, if reciprocal, thoughts after reading things here I fiercely disagreed with. My disgust stems from CD's lack of restraint in promulgating this sort of thing. One's thoughts can wander freely. One's actions should be, must be, limited. It's called be an adult.
posted by mojohand at 10:38 AM on March 15, 2004


Yeah, no shit.. I'm surprised anyone got far enough into that stinker to read Civil_Disobedient's comment.
posted by Hildago at 10:39 AM on March 15, 2004


Matteo, I suggest even better might be dealing with the fantasy by taking a deep breath and going for a walk-run-workout and not posting anything threatening violence to those you disagree with.
posted by mojohand at 10:45 AM on March 15, 2004


And yet, people can still post on here that MeFi is a good place to have these kind of discussions. Amazing. Our record is clear that these posts bring out the worst in this community. Each new charged FPP turns into one of two things: (1.) An ass-patting session with the same group of 10 pricks who think this is their personal DU and post incessantly, or (2.) A vitriolic hate-filled argument if the other side deigns to speak up---the type of hate and venom that embarrasses both sides.


How long until it finally sinks in that this crap has ruined the blue?
posted by Seth at 11:02 AM on March 15, 2004


Astonishing sentiments from someone with that particular screen name. Every single post is a chance to elevate or to lower the tone of the site. A lot of people screwed up in that thread.
posted by coelecanth at 11:06 AM on March 15, 2004


Test:

Find one example from the last three months of a politically-charged FPP wherein the discussion was civil, respectful and measured. You won't. If you can, then I might consider changing my assertion that such FPP's brings out the hate similar to the above referenced comment which unquestionably ruin MeFi.
posted by Seth at 11:11 AM on March 15, 2004


Wow, that was an ugly thread.
posted by sebas at 11:16 AM on March 15, 2004


It seems that people are becoming less interested in the exchange of ideas and more interested in winning pissing matches.

Having the screenname "Civil_Disobedient" after a post about mail bombs is an odd juxtaposition, btw.
posted by 4easypayments at 11:50 AM on March 15, 2004


Find one example from the last three months of a politically-charged FPP wherein the discussion was civil, respectful and measured.

Here. It is pretty much dominated by the right wing but no one tried to shout them down or whined about how unfair it was. Maybe not whining or trying to shout someone down is the ticket.
posted by y2karl at 11:50 AM on March 15, 2004


It was steve_at_linwood's first fetid pile that greased the tracks. This shouldn't just be about Civil_Disobedient.
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:05 PM on March 15, 2004


Find one example from the last three months of a politically-charged FPP wherein the discussion was civil, respectful and measured.

This one on the No Child Left Behind debate seems to be okay. As does this one on European anti-semitism, and even this one on Sen. Kennedy's speech on "Re-Imagining the Welfare State." And I didn't even have to go back three months. All of these posts are still on the front page.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 12:15 PM on March 15, 2004


Find one example from the last three months of a politically-charged FPP wherein the discussion was civil, respectful and measured. You won't. If you can, then I might consider changing my assertion that such FPP's brings out the hate similar to the above referenced comment which unquestionably ruin MeFi.

Define "hate."

No, I'm serious. Because I don't think it's possible to hate someone unless you know that person pretty well. A discussion can become snarky, even vitriolic and venomous, but I think "hate-filled" is going too far. And don't conflate snarkiness with hatred.

Most of the gay marriage threads seemed to be pretty fine to me -- relatively civil, respectful, and measured -- except for the behavior of a handful of people. But it's often easier to remember the outrageous comments than the logical, polite ones.

if the other side deigns to speak up

Huh? Who wouldn't want the "other side" to speak up? If the "other side" didn't speak up, there couldn't even be a discussion.
posted by Tin Man at 12:16 PM on March 15, 2004


THE SKY IS FALLING

THE SKY IS FALLING

/seth
posted by Stynxno at 12:20 PM on March 15, 2004


y2karl, you know that'll never happen.....way too logical.
posted by dabitch at 12:23 PM on March 15, 2004


Honestly if Steve had not made his comments, I would have a different view regarding the thread’s subject than now. As the discussion opened I had more information concerning the subject which broadened my opinion.
posted by thomcatspike at 12:36 PM on March 15, 2004


FIND ONE EXAMPLE EVAR OF SETH CONTRIBUTING A THREAD.

there are none. there are many comments in which seth attempts to tear the blinders from our eyes and reveal to us the magical inner workings of SethWorld, but as for ACTUAL PARTICIPATION in the purpose of the site (you know, links!) seth has never deigned to expose the baby's ass skin of his ego to an endeavor so fraught with danger. i cower at the incisiveness of his observational skills, i admire the verbal acuity by which he dissects his perceived enemies, but all in all, he's merely a blowhard coward, lobbing his shitbombs into the fray on the field while remaining safely unsoiled in his trench behind the bleacher seats. i cannot wait for seth's next ejaculation of vital information intended to teach me the correct way to acheive with something he's never done.
posted by quonsar at 12:42 PM on March 15, 2004


We've missed you, q.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 1:08 PM on March 15, 2004


Irontom, did you let Civil_Disobedient know about this thread, or is this yet another smoker's room bitchfest for the sake of it? Right of reply and all that, no matter how utterly vile and no-way-you-can-defend-it the comment is.

As to the comment made, I give a shit for about 5 seconds when I see a post I find vile and offensive. Then I move on. This is the internet.

This is probably pointless

Why didn't you stop there?
posted by SpaceCadet at 1:09 PM on March 15, 2004


I have to agree these threads seem fairly pointless (both the MetaTalk ones and the MetaFilter ones). We're talking about changing the minds of people who, by and large, live in a country that's quickly making The Passion of The Christ one of the highest grossing films of all time and that accepts God-told-me-to reasoning from its president.

Then again, if nobody says anything it's certainly not going to get any better. I'd prefer if my like-minded cohorts--those who believe in a Whitman-esque view of America--didn't go the route of violent rantings and ravings, however. That doesn't mean people aren't going to very strongly disagree with one another (those who expect political threads to mimick some early 20th century European dinner part are perhaps missing the strength with which some people disagree with current political policy) and I really have no problem with that.
posted by The God Complex at 1:16 PM on March 15, 2004


.
posted by mischief at 1:26 PM on March 15, 2004


Moving this away from a Seth attack forum, I have to say that the thread in question was one of the most violent, hateful, saddening display from both sides of the "debate." All parties who participated in this dung throwing contest should be ashamed.
posted by Quartermass at 1:28 PM on March 15, 2004


Taz made a great comment and poured some oil on the troubled waters. I never fail to be amazed at the way one comment, good or bad, can change the whole direction of a thread.
posted by orange swan at 1:37 PM on March 15, 2004


It was steve_at_linwood's first fetid pile that greased the tracks. This shouldn't just be about Civil_Disobedient.

Well, that might have set the tone on the right--how dare the Spanish vote the wrong way as I see it! Didn't they get the same memo from God!--but a paternity test for C_D's comment would show the following, ah, expression of frustration to be the daddy:

Arguing with you is pointless - only your own body parts, unexpectedly separated from each other by terrorist explosives, can ever serve to shake your hypocrisy. At least if you cared enough to ever act in support of your militant bullshit. By then, however, it will be too late - and another raving hippie will take your place to disrespect *your* corpse by hoisting it up on the battlements of his political agenda. .
posted by y2karl at 1:42 PM on March 15, 2004


That is also repugnant and disgusting.

We've missed you, q.

Speak for yourself.
posted by timeistight at 2:00 PM on March 15, 2004


time. it's tight.
posted by quonsar at 2:03 PM on March 15, 2004


and going for a walk-run-workout and not posting anything threatening violence to those you disagree with.

I had already been to gym once, yesterday. and it was raining outside.
not to mention, I never threatened violence if you actually read my posts. I was simply stating that if a certain user really wanted to see me die, he could try to do that personally. if he had the guts.
self-defense vs preemptive attack, remember?
;)

funny how the drunken trash-talking dries up when you dare a bully to actually back up the trash-talk with action.

oh, mojohand, it is kind of sad how you accuse me of being the guilty party here. it's a good Rohrschach test.
posted by matteo at 2:10 PM on March 15, 2004


How long until it finally sinks in that this crap has ruined the blue?

Never, because it hasn't. People have been yelling and screaming and saying all kinds of horrible things to each other in political threads just about as far back as I can remember, and I've been reading Metafilter regularly since early '99. It would be nice if every thread were conducted in terms as polite and thoughtful as those used in a couple of recent discussions - I'm thinking of "Every Child Left Behind" and "Betrayed by Europe: An Expat's Lament" in particular - but that's a bit more than you can expect from human nature. So chill: the sky's altitude is higher today than you think, and was lower in the past than you seem to remember, and its velocity remains negligible.
posted by Mars Saxman at 2:39 PM on March 15, 2004


Seth has posted no links 90 comments to MetaFilter
and 7 threads and 53 comments to MetaTalk
posted by Armitage Shanks at 3:08 PM on March 15, 2004


FIND ONE EXAMPLE EVAR OF SETH CONTRIBUTING A THREAD.

I'm just looking for one example ever of Seth saying anything other than leftyfilterwahwahwah. Thread, schmead -- I'm amazed that someone can type the exact same thing so many times without getting a callous.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 3:08 PM on March 15, 2004


Saw a good link today which may shed more light about one's comments.
Also adding to my comment above. My opinion without reading this discussion was forming to be more aligned with Steve's, than Sic's who lives there. Am appreciative that the discussion opened up the way it did. As my view now aligns with Sic's and other's like minded comments.
Yet w/o Steve I may have had more personal opinion than a broader one.
Ps: this comment is not pointing at Steve yet showing how discussions are beneficial minus the argumentative.
posted by thomcatspike at 3:47 PM on March 15, 2004


yet showing how discussions are beneficial minus the argumentative.
I'm with thomcat (and q, of course)--there was very little wrong with that thread, even with the arguments...people expressed their opinions, and their opinions of other's opinions, and most of us learned stuff, whether it was from sic and others there and about spanish politics, or, about who threatens violence when, and how easy (and unbelievably foolish and ignorant) it is to accuse a whole country's population of aiding and abetting terrorists. Consider it a dress rehearsal for november's election results thread, when the repubs accuse us of giving a victory to Al Qaeda by electing Pres. Kerry. : >
posted by amberglow at 3:59 PM on March 15, 2004


Open posting history is one of the best features of this place.
posted by john at 5:45 PM on March 15, 2004


I've briefly thought worse, if reciprocal, thoughts after reading things here I fiercely disagreed with.

Odd. I can't remember ever having violent fantasies about fellow posters-- not even the cretins who dare to disagree with all my most cherished beliefs.

I have on the other hand often amused myself with fantasies involving...ahem..certain public figures. Fantasies which include secreted cameras, transvestites, trained poodles, and lines of coke. And Pat Robertson! Boy, if you could see what I'm thinking now, heh! heh!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:56 PM on March 15, 2004


I'm glad to say I've never had fantasies of any sort about fellow posters.

I'm a little unnerved by the insinuation that some of you do.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:34 PM on March 15, 2004


Poop slinging fests like that one remind me of the Israel-Palestine imbroglio. At this point, pointing to the person who "started' it solves nothing. Everyone is guilty to some degree.
posted by Dagobert at 10:18 PM on March 15, 2004


We've missed you, q.

Gee has it been a week already? How did I get by without quonsar's marginally funny, obtuse one-liners?
posted by scarabic at 1:33 AM on March 16, 2004


SpaceCadet - I posted this at work, and then went home. I didnt point it out in the main thread, but I will in just a moment.

As to why I didnt stop at the word "pointless", The God Complex said it pretty well: "Then again, if nobody says anything it's certainly not going to get any better."
posted by Irontom at 5:14 AM on March 16, 2004


hey, seth?
posted by mcsweetie at 5:43 AM on March 16, 2004


Holy fucking cow.

So, I was casually looking at the older threads and seeing if anyone had added anything to the Thread Which Shall Go Unnamed, when I see it casually mentioned that I appear to be the topic of my own MeTa Thread. What an honor.

First thing's first. Irontom, or anyone else that has a problem with something I say, would you mind telling me the next time you decide to have an Open Mike at the MeTa Bitching Bistro? Thanks. I realize that I wouldn't even be posting this had you not mentioned it in The Thread, but 50 "Preach on, soldier" posts later? Come on.

As to what I said, you should try and keep two things in mind. First, as had been pointed out, someone had already posted a pretty nasty jab at y2karl involving explosions, severed limbs, and if I recall correctly, hippies. I read something like that, I get snarky. So, let me just say now that I don't actually wish any death and dismemberment on anyone, even if they are Republicans.

The thing is, if you read the very next comment I posted, you'll notice a sudden lack of anger and hatred in its tone. You know why? Because one message was serious, and the other was written in a fit of sarcastic haste. When quonsar talks about getting sexed up with your mom, do you open a discussion about it? No. Please lighten up a bit.

That quonsar bit was just a joke, too. See how you can mix both serious and not-serious in the same post? Unfortunately we have yet to find a way to convey intention with mere ASCII.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:09 PM on March 16, 2004


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