AskMe Callout July 10, 2004 12:57 PM Subscribe
This filth is just too much. These posts are not questions, do not help anyone, and aren't funny; they cheapen, devalue and irritate our dearly beloved Ask Metafilter. Can we please not crap all over it? If you want to just hang out, go to the mefi irc channel. Or somewhere, just away. Please? Please?
Is this thread really necessary? Do you honestly think matt's not going to delete the thread (and maybe send an email to PG) to as soon as he sees it?
[and if I remember correctly, you're one to talk about crapping in the green, ac]
*sniffs quonsar's ass*
posted by dobbs at 1:11 PM on July 10, 2004
[and if I remember correctly, you're one to talk about crapping in the green, ac]
*sniffs quonsar's ass*
posted by dobbs at 1:11 PM on July 10, 2004
ac's infamous thread. FWIW, I agree with ac and Pretty_Generic deserves a call-out. Even if it was a joke, it's piss poor and unnecessary. It sets a bad precedent, at the very least. If you're going to start a pointless and self-involved thread, at least have the decency to do it in MeTa.
posted by BlueTrain at 1:37 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by BlueTrain at 1:37 PM on July 10, 2004
That thread made me smile. What the fucking shit has ac done for anyone lately?
Go away yourself, dick.
posted by Space Coyote at 1:49 PM on July 10, 2004
Go away yourself, dick.
posted by Space Coyote at 1:49 PM on July 10, 2004
bluetrain, I agree the thread is a load of crap, I just think that MeTa wasn't necessary as Matt will no doubt delete it and speak to him about it. There just seem to be so many callouts lately. They're really getting tired.
posted by dobbs at 1:53 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by dobbs at 1:53 PM on July 10, 2004
The only person who should be permabanned and his name stripped from mefi is reklaw. Damn scrolling, blinking text!
posted by Keyser Soze at 2:16 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by Keyser Soze at 2:16 PM on July 10, 2004
We need to call out taumeson for lying to us. I've seen TGC post and, ac, you're no TGC.
posted by eyeballkid at 2:23 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by eyeballkid at 2:23 PM on July 10, 2004
The good thing about leaving the thread there is it will come up in searches and no one will ever have to ask again. :)
posted by dobbs at 2:27 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by dobbs at 2:27 PM on July 10, 2004
I'm especially incensed at Generic for stealing his whole "idea" from ME.
Not only did I raise the same question on MY OWN BLOG several days ago, but I even did a poll.
Interestingly, the option "DIE, EVIL SCUM!" is the top votegetter so far. I expect that to change once my MeFi friends get to it. (Yeah, sure.)
posted by wendell at 2:35 PM on July 10, 2004
Not only did I raise the same question on MY OWN BLOG several days ago, but I even did a poll.
Interestingly, the option "DIE, EVIL SCUM!" is the top votegetter so far. I expect that to change once my MeFi friends get to it. (Yeah, sure.)
posted by wendell at 2:35 PM on July 10, 2004
Great, a lame thread spans a painfully stupid callout spawns blog whoring. This is spiraling out of control.
posted by Space Coyote at 2:46 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by Space Coyote at 2:46 PM on July 10, 2004
I agree the thread is a load of crap, I just think that MeTa wasn't necessary as Matt will no doubt delete it and speak to him about it.
I would actually kind of like to bet you money that he won't, except doing so might effect the outcome.
posted by Hildago at 2:50 PM on July 10, 2004
I would actually kind of like to bet you money that he won't, except doing so might effect the outcome.
posted by Hildago at 2:50 PM on July 10, 2004
This callout thread is exactly what metatalk is for. I am in an extremely bad mood so let me warn you I am about to tell you all to shut up and quit whining about it.
Shut up and quit whining about it.
posted by konolia at 2:57 PM on July 10, 2004
Shut up and quit whining about it.
posted by konolia at 2:57 PM on July 10, 2004
We all know what a useless question looks like, just like we all know what a double post looks like, there's no need to discuss the finer points of it. If one was truely concerned about the presence of the question, or a double post, one need only email #1 to do something about it. But there's nothing to be discussed, so no need for a callout thread. So no, it's not "exactly what metatalk is for" if there's nothing to talk about.
posted by Space Coyote at 3:09 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by Space Coyote at 3:09 PM on July 10, 2004
but there is something to talk about: How is everyone?
posted by amberglow at 3:13 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by amberglow at 3:13 PM on July 10, 2004
Yes, it is what meta is for. It is to bring this to the attention of the community, as well as numba wun webmasta. The thread should be deleted, PG should be reprimanded, and this sort of behavior should be discouraged... it simply makes metafilter worse. I love this site, especially the green, and I am raising an issue that is important to me. I see some people are in agreement with me, and I think something should be done.
I don't know what you're referencing there, Generic, but you really should cut it out
on preview: shut up amberglow
posted by ac at 3:16 PM on July 10, 2004
I don't know what you're referencing there, Generic, but you really should cut it out
on preview: shut up amberglow
posted by ac at 3:16 PM on July 10, 2004
Damn you dobbs. I'm sorely tempted to post a new AskMe about how people are....but I'd best not.
amberglow, I'm great. Or, wait...should I take it to the thread?
ac, you shut up.
posted by graventy at 3:16 PM on July 10, 2004
amberglow, I'm great. Or, wait...should I take it to the thread?
ac, you shut up.
posted by graventy at 3:16 PM on July 10, 2004
*pins ac's arms as amberglow advances with a yummy bar of Lava soap*
posted by quonsar at 3:24 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by quonsar at 3:24 PM on July 10, 2004
but the odd fun post here and there that bends the rules a little bit
Multiplied by 200 (the # of active posters on any given day) and suddenly this entire site becomes completely unusable. The key to this site has always been restraint and good judgement. Willful abuse (when you obviously know better) is just rude.
And ac, quit making friends. Most people here already agree.
posted by BlueTrain at 3:56 PM on July 10, 2004
Multiplied by 200 (the # of active posters on any given day) and suddenly this entire site becomes completely unusable. The key to this site has always been restraint and good judgement. Willful abuse (when you obviously know better) is just rude.
And ac, quit making friends. Most people here already agree.
posted by BlueTrain at 3:56 PM on July 10, 2004
BlueTrain, was it 200 people starting useless threads or was it just one? Was the person who started the one a chronic offender? No? Then it's not a problem for the site as a whole.
What is a problem is stick-up-their-arse weenies who jump at the chance to work themselves up into a snit and claim it's for the good of "the community", whatever that is.
I'm gonna go wait for someone to post something fun to the front page now.
posted by Space Coyote at 4:02 PM on July 10, 2004
What is a problem is stick-up-their-arse weenies who jump at the chance to work themselves up into a snit and claim it's for the good of "the community", whatever that is.
I'm gonna go wait for someone to post something fun to the front page now.
posted by Space Coyote at 4:02 PM on July 10, 2004
Then it's not a problem for the site as a whole.
Because the site, as a whole, acts with restraint and good judgement. But if we start letting crappy posts slide, worse posts will ensue.
What is a problem is stick-up-their-arse weenies who jump at the chance to work themselves up into a snit
I don't see what your problem is, exactly. Your claim is that if you don't like it, scroll past it and stop acting like a weenie. Take you own advice and leave this thread. Obviously it's of no use to you, so don't bother contributing.
posted by BlueTrain at 4:19 PM on July 10, 2004
Because the site, as a whole, acts with restraint and good judgement. But if we start letting crappy posts slide, worse posts will ensue.
What is a problem is stick-up-their-arse weenies who jump at the chance to work themselves up into a snit
I don't see what your problem is, exactly. Your claim is that if you don't like it, scroll past it and stop acting like a weenie. Take you own advice and leave this thread. Obviously it's of no use to you, so don't bother contributing.
posted by BlueTrain at 4:19 PM on July 10, 2004
For what it is worth, I found out about the question because of this post, and removed it, so thanks ac. Pretty_Generic, can you please not post pointless things like that anymore?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:32 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:32 PM on July 10, 2004
what's the difference between this post and posts like "what do you parents do?" or "what job do you work at?" seriously, if those posts can exist on ask.metafilter, then this one shouldn't be deleted.
posted by Stynxno at 4:33 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by Stynxno at 4:33 PM on July 10, 2004
Honestly, come on. It took up two lines. It was a joke. It was funny to see and amusing to read people's responses. If it was on the main front page, I can understand removing it, but on ask.mefi... Then again, I am completely biased against deleting posts at all, I suppose.
There's something oppressive about having an admin who not only has absolute veto power, but also has a little clique following him around begging him to be harder on everyone. I'm not so sure I like it.
posted by reklaw at 4:47 PM on July 10, 2004
There's something oppressive about having an admin who not only has absolute veto power, but also has a little clique following him around begging him to be harder on everyone. I'm not so sure I like it.
posted by reklaw at 4:47 PM on July 10, 2004
what's the difference between this post and posts like "what do you parents do?" or "what job do you work at?"
Life ain't black and white, but those are pretty sorry excuses for questions too, and delete-worthy, but I didn't see the parents one until there were a ton of responses and a few people blogged that they liked the thread. If I caught it early, it would have been cut. I never saw a thread about what job do you work at, but that's delete worthy too.
PG's question seemed purely rhetorical - as if he was trying to see how far he could push it for shits and giggles. While the job post was pretty weak, asking how everyone is doing is worse.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:48 PM on July 10, 2004
Life ain't black and white, but those are pretty sorry excuses for questions too, and delete-worthy, but I didn't see the parents one until there were a ton of responses and a few people blogged that they liked the thread. If I caught it early, it would have been cut. I never saw a thread about what job do you work at, but that's delete worthy too.
PG's question seemed purely rhetorical - as if he was trying to see how far he could push it for shits and giggles. While the job post was pretty weak, asking how everyone is doing is worse.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:48 PM on July 10, 2004
Honestly, come on. It took up two lines. It was a joke.
From the Ask MetaFilter posting page:
...try to keep the questions from being too specific or too stupid. Don't be an ass...
and from every question's page:
Ask MetaFilter is as useful as you make it. Please limit comments to answers or help in finding an answer. Wisecracks don't help people find answers. Thanks.
I'm all for keeping things light and that's why I don't rule any site with an iron fist, especially metatalk. But I kind of like how Ask MetaFilter is actually useful and if you want to blow off some steam, there are avenues for that in the chat channel. Posting something purposely goofy in Ask MetaFilter is kind of insulting to me when I'm pretty upfront about begging people to keep it useful, which helps keep my admin duties down. Seriously, if people didn't screw around so much here, I'd probably have more sections of MetaFilter. Instead I'm deleting threads and comments and nervously scouring the entire set of sites to make sure there isn't any garbage laying around.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:52 PM on July 10, 2004
From the Ask MetaFilter posting page:
...try to keep the questions from being too specific or too stupid. Don't be an ass...
and from every question's page:
Ask MetaFilter is as useful as you make it. Please limit comments to answers or help in finding an answer. Wisecracks don't help people find answers. Thanks.
I'm all for keeping things light and that's why I don't rule any site with an iron fist, especially metatalk. But I kind of like how Ask MetaFilter is actually useful and if you want to blow off some steam, there are avenues for that in the chat channel. Posting something purposely goofy in Ask MetaFilter is kind of insulting to me when I'm pretty upfront about begging people to keep it useful, which helps keep my admin duties down. Seriously, if people didn't screw around so much here, I'd probably have more sections of MetaFilter. Instead I'm deleting threads and comments and nervously scouring the entire set of sites to make sure there isn't any garbage laying around.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:52 PM on July 10, 2004
mathowie:Seriously, if people didn't screw around so much here, I'd probably have more sections of MetaFilter. Instead I'm deleting threads and comments and nervously scouring the entire set of sites to make sure there isn't any garbage laying around.
That's interesting... very interesting. I think I should propose an experiment.
Delete nothing from MetaFilter, MetaTalk or Ask Metafilter for one week, starting now. Absolutely nothing. Don't even read it. Pretend like you have no access to it. Then, use the time to do stuff on the extra features and sections that you've got ideas about but have just been too busy to work on. I'm 100% sure that you'd have a better site at the end of it.
This isn't intended as snarky or anything at all -- I would seriously love to see this happen. And if it goes wrong, well, it was only one week, right?
posted by reklaw at 5:04 PM on July 10, 2004
That's interesting... very interesting. I think I should propose an experiment.
Delete nothing from MetaFilter, MetaTalk or Ask Metafilter for one week, starting now. Absolutely nothing. Don't even read it. Pretend like you have no access to it. Then, use the time to do stuff on the extra features and sections that you've got ideas about but have just been too busy to work on. I'm 100% sure that you'd have a better site at the end of it.
This isn't intended as snarky or anything at all -- I would seriously love to see this happen. And if it goes wrong, well, it was only one week, right?
posted by reklaw at 5:04 PM on July 10, 2004
um, yea and at the end of that week when mefi is an unusable linkfarm i'm sure everyone will be happy to have baseballfilter or whatever else matt thinks up.
posted by rhyax at 5:14 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by rhyax at 5:14 PM on July 10, 2004
rhyax: If any random person could post stuff to the front page, then you'd be right.
But they can't. So you're not.
posted by reklaw at 5:19 PM on July 10, 2004
But they can't. So you're not.
posted by reklaw at 5:19 PM on July 10, 2004
Don't tons of people in the world see it as a linkfarm anyway? It's not like most people can contribute or join in the discussions.
posted by amberglow at 5:23 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by amberglow at 5:23 PM on July 10, 2004
There's something oppressive about having an admin who not only has absolute veto power, but also has a little clique following him around begging him to be harder on everyone. I'm not so sure I like it.
There's something amusing or insulting -- I quite can't decide which one it is -- about having people throw around words like "oppressive" in regards to the deletion of a chatty-but-utterly-pointless thread on a frickin' website when the Senate is debating whether to amend the Constitution to deny the right to marry to millions of people in this country. I'm not so sure I like it.
posted by scody at 5:23 PM on July 10, 2004
There's something amusing or insulting -- I quite can't decide which one it is -- about having people throw around words like "oppressive" in regards to the deletion of a chatty-but-utterly-pointless thread on a frickin' website when the Senate is debating whether to amend the Constitution to deny the right to marry to millions of people in this country. I'm not so sure I like it.
posted by scody at 5:23 PM on July 10, 2004
I don't get it reklaw, if you don't like the way metafilter is arranged, why did you join during the last sign-up period? It's not like this is a new system, and most of us are happy with it.
posted by Salmonberry at 5:26 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by Salmonberry at 5:26 PM on July 10, 2004
scody, it's okay because gay people are going to Hell.
The preceding was a joke. But in the last week, this place has focused a lot on gay rights and it's getting annoying, especially since there are a total of 2.3 people on this site who are publicly opposed to gay marriage.
posted by BlueTrain at 5:26 PM on July 10, 2004
The preceding was a joke. But in the last week, this place has focused a lot on gay rights and it's getting annoying, especially since there are a total of 2.3 people on this site who are publicly opposed to gay marriage.
posted by BlueTrain at 5:26 PM on July 10, 2004
There's something amusing or insulting -- I quite can't decide which one it is -- about having people throw around words like "oppressive"
People are drama queens.
the Senate is debating whether to amend the Constitution to deny the right to marry to millions of people in this country.
Or just regular queens.
posted by dhoyt at 5:27 PM on July 10, 2004
People are drama queens.
the Senate is debating whether to amend the Constitution to deny the right to marry to millions of people in this country.
Or just regular queens.
posted by dhoyt at 5:27 PM on July 10, 2004
scody: Firstly, I'm not American. Secondly, who cares if gay people can marry or not when people are dying in Iraq? Who cares if people are dying in Iraq when millions of people have AIDS!? And so forth. I suppose you spend every minute of your day doing Really Important Things, like -- oh, I don't know -- staying away from these frickin' websites of which you speak?
Salmonberry: It's right there in black-and-white (OK, grey-and-white) above you. mathowie is frustrated that he has to spend so much time scouring the site for crap when he could be adding features and such. Fear of change much?
posted by reklaw at 5:34 PM on July 10, 2004
Salmonberry: It's right there in black-and-white (OK, grey-and-white) above you. mathowie is frustrated that he has to spend so much time scouring the site for crap when he could be adding features and such. Fear of change much?
posted by reklaw at 5:34 PM on July 10, 2004
Link whore? Me?
I just got the giggles when the offending question mirrored my test of a web polling widget, so I didn't sell it, I gave it away...
(And thanks to the 4 MeFites who responded to the poll with something other than "DIE, EVIL SCUM")
That AskMe post was a waste of time/space/bandwidth/brainmatter for all concerned, but I wouldn't have called it "filth". Not a toxic waste, just a waste.
posted by wendell at 5:36 PM on July 10, 2004
I just got the giggles when the offending question mirrored my test of a web polling widget, so I didn't sell it, I gave it away...
(And thanks to the 4 MeFites who responded to the poll with something other than "DIE, EVIL SCUM")
That AskMe post was a waste of time/space/bandwidth/brainmatter for all concerned, but I wouldn't have called it "filth". Not a toxic waste, just a waste.
posted by wendell at 5:36 PM on July 10, 2004
But in the last week, this place has focused a lot on gay rights and it's getting annoying, especially since there are a total of 2.3 people on this site who are publicly opposed to gay marriage.
boy o boy, that whole one thread on outing i posted really was way too much, no? jerk.
posted by amberglow at 5:41 PM on July 10, 2004
boy o boy, that whole one thread on outing i posted really was way too much, no? jerk.
posted by amberglow at 5:41 PM on July 10, 2004
So, now that the post is deleted, can someone tell those of us who missed it what it was that was so bad, so we know not to do it in the future?
posted by majcher at 5:41 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by majcher at 5:41 PM on July 10, 2004
Everything anyone could ever want to know about MeTa is found in this thread.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:41 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:41 PM on July 10, 2004
There's something oppressive...
Wtf? You've been a member for what, 2 months? Jesus.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
can someone tell those of us who missed it what it was that was so bad, so we know not to do it in the future?
majcher, the "filth" in question was an ask.me post that said, in total, "How you doing?"
posted by dobbs at 5:43 PM on July 10, 2004
Wtf? You've been a member for what, 2 months? Jesus.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
can someone tell those of us who missed it what it was that was so bad, so we know not to do it in the future?
majcher, the "filth" in question was an ask.me post that said, in total, "How you doing?"
posted by dobbs at 5:43 PM on July 10, 2004
Don't be a narcissist, amberglow. It's not attractive. I wasn't even thinking about your thread when I made my comment.
posted by BlueTrain at 5:46 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by BlueTrain at 5:46 PM on July 10, 2004
There are no gay rights threads at all on the front page, or posted in the last five days, BlueTrain...mine was the only one that could even be stretched to fit your statement--unless you think a joke animation of Kerry/Edwards love counts? or a global aids epidemic? Please show us this "focused a lot on gay rights" thing.
posted by amberglow at 5:57 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by amberglow at 5:57 PM on July 10, 2004
woot! matt responded to me!! to meeeeeeeeeee!!
also, it should be noted that after the big metafilter outage, i posted the following question to ask.metafilter :"so, what did you all do while metafilter was down?" thanx for not banning me matt.
posted by Stynxno at 6:01 PM on July 10, 2004
also, it should be noted that after the big metafilter outage, i posted the following question to ask.metafilter :"so, what did you all do while metafilter was down?" thanx for not banning me matt.
posted by Stynxno at 6:01 PM on July 10, 2004
I'm starting to rethink my response to that 'sycophancy' crack that reklaw made the other day.
Also : Pretty_Generic pissed in the pool. The thread was deleted. It's all good, except for the waste of Matt's time.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:21 PM on July 10, 2004
Also : Pretty_Generic pissed in the pool. The thread was deleted. It's all good, except for the waste of Matt's time.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:21 PM on July 10, 2004
mine was the only one that could even be stretched to fit your statement
Well, there was the goatse tribute thing...
posted by WolfDaddy at 7:25 PM on July 10, 2004
Well, there was the goatse tribute thing...
posted by WolfDaddy at 7:25 PM on July 10, 2004
i guess that was it--goatse: the international symbol of gay rights : >
posted by amberglow at 7:58 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by amberglow at 7:58 PM on July 10, 2004
Irony is stumbling upon this thread after watching Marlon Brando in The Wild One. A lynch mob is a lynch mob. Oh wait, the PC term is 'self-policing', isn't it. Carry on.
posted by mischief at 8:44 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by mischief at 8:44 PM on July 10, 2004
That's ... stretching it, amber.
In an inclusive open source room for all big tent party sort of way....
posted by y2karl at 8:49 PM on July 10, 2004
In an inclusive open source room for all big tent party sort of way....
posted by y2karl at 8:49 PM on July 10, 2004
reklaw, as one who has stumbled himself in his early days, I can tell you that you need to back off a bit until you have a better feel for this place. I don't care how long you lurked for, because that is not the same as participating. You obviously care enough about the place to speak your mind when you see something you feel is bad (which is good), but you need to observe from the inside a bit more before you go off the deep end.
posted by dg at 10:44 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by dg at 10:44 PM on July 10, 2004
Your hobbyhorse is getting mighty rickety with all the mileage you're putting on it lately, mischief. Give the poor bastard a rest, already!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:04 PM on July 10, 2004
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:04 PM on July 10, 2004
reklaw, as one who has stumbled himself in his early days, I can tell you that you need to back off a bit until you have a better feel for this place.
*shrugs*
or you could just go for it. let's roll!
*fires paintball at amberglow*
posted by quonsar at 11:12 PM on July 10, 2004
*shrugs*
or you could just go for it. let's roll!
*fires paintball at amberglow*
posted by quonsar at 11:12 PM on July 10, 2004
dg: or what? People on the internet might say bad stuff about me? Oh, please, anything but that!
Honestly, I make a few observations and a suggestion and it's somehow going "off the deep end". I do not particularly care to wait until I have a "better feel for this place", because that mostly seems to mean internalising all sorts of silly rules about what one can and can't do. You start talking like newsfilter-agendafilter-doublepost-delete-ban-delete-ban-shitting-on-this-thread (if I ever use the phrase "shitting on this thread", I want someone to come round here and punch me).
There's a whole part of this 'mefi culture' that's inherently destructive. It's about objecting to this, hiding that. I do not think that I would benefit from somehow trying to be more like that in order to fit in better.
posted by reklaw at 11:14 PM on July 10, 2004
Honestly, I make a few observations and a suggestion and it's somehow going "off the deep end". I do not particularly care to wait until I have a "better feel for this place", because that mostly seems to mean internalising all sorts of silly rules about what one can and can't do. You start talking like newsfilter-agendafilter-doublepost-delete-ban-delete-ban-shitting-on-this-thread (if I ever use the phrase "shitting on this thread", I want someone to come round here and punch me).
There's a whole part of this 'mefi culture' that's inherently destructive. It's about objecting to this, hiding that. I do not think that I would benefit from somehow trying to be more like that in order to fit in better.
posted by reklaw at 11:14 PM on July 10, 2004
Reklaw, I really wish that people like you would stop arguing against the self-policing instinct. At the very least, if you don't agree with someone else on a point of ettitquette, at least argue your side of that point fairly instead of accusing your opponent of being a totalitarian control freak who just wants to inflict their will on others for the mere pleasure of it. There are reasons why MetaFilter is better than your average Ultimate Bulletin Board installation.
The thread is gone. It sucked. Are we really going to spin our wheels on and on over whether it's right or wrong to have rules, ettiquette, and discussions about them? Please. I'm not telling you to shut up and conform, but it's plain bad manners *anywhere* in the world to march in, a newbie, and start telling everyone that their rules are stupid. You're obviously interested in belonging to this place. Ya think maybe the people who built it did something right?
posted by scarabic at 12:14 AM on July 11, 2004
The thread is gone. It sucked. Are we really going to spin our wheels on and on over whether it's right or wrong to have rules, ettiquette, and discussions about them? Please. I'm not telling you to shut up and conform, but it's plain bad manners *anywhere* in the world to march in, a newbie, and start telling everyone that their rules are stupid. You're obviously interested in belonging to this place. Ya think maybe the people who built it did something right?
posted by scarabic at 12:14 AM on July 11, 2004
I suppose you spend every minute of your day doing Really Important Things, like -- oh, I don't know -- staying away from these frickin' websites of which you speak?
La-la-la, I can't hear you, I'm too busy chaining myself to the White House, la-la.
Jebus Crocker, reklaw, take a deep breath. Take several. My entire point was that when it comes to oppression, what Matt did doesn't even come close. It's called housekeeping. Oppression is when you tell me to do the housekeeping. (Um, that would be another joke.)
posted by scody at 12:25 AM on July 11, 2004
La-la-la, I can't hear you, I'm too busy chaining myself to the White House, la-la.
Jebus Crocker, reklaw, take a deep breath. Take several. My entire point was that when it comes to oppression, what Matt did doesn't even come close. It's called housekeeping. Oppression is when you tell me to do the housekeeping. (Um, that would be another joke.)
posted by scody at 12:25 AM on July 11, 2004
There's a whole part of this 'mefi culture' that's inherently destructive.
You know, substitute the words human nature for the 'mefi culture' and the resulting sentence still makes sense.
You can write phrases like drink the mefi kool aid until the cows come home but it's all blind wise men and women in this room with the elephant. Except omit the wise. Each has a hand on a different elephantine part.
Except elephant and common room are metaphors--there is only one room and that is the room you are in and there is only one person in that room and the elephant is on the other side of the screen untouched by your hand. Multiply that by the handful of persons currently online at any given time. It's that many single persons in a single rooms. One thing always held in common is we would rather speak than be heard, let alone listen closely.
Everyone here has their own private understanding of what so far is most definitely not a common account. It's so many versions of the gospel according to me. Yet from what I have seen of other communal conversations elsewhere, this is by far not the worst.
It is this deep blankness is the real thing strange.
The more things happen to you the more you can't
Tell or remember even what they were.
The contradictions cover such a range.
The talk would talk and go so far aslant.
You don't want madhouse and the whole thing there.
William Empson, Let It Go
posted by y2karl at 1:01 AM on July 11, 2004
You know, substitute the words human nature for the 'mefi culture' and the resulting sentence still makes sense.
You can write phrases like drink the mefi kool aid until the cows come home but it's all blind wise men and women in this room with the elephant. Except omit the wise. Each has a hand on a different elephantine part.
Except elephant and common room are metaphors--there is only one room and that is the room you are in and there is only one person in that room and the elephant is on the other side of the screen untouched by your hand. Multiply that by the handful of persons currently online at any given time. It's that many single persons in a single rooms. One thing always held in common is we would rather speak than be heard, let alone listen closely.
Everyone here has their own private understanding of what so far is most definitely not a common account. It's so many versions of the gospel according to me. Yet from what I have seen of other communal conversations elsewhere, this is by far not the worst.
It is this deep blankness is the real thing strange.
The more things happen to you the more you can't
Tell or remember even what they were.
The contradictions cover such a range.
The talk would talk and go so far aslant.
You don't want madhouse and the whole thing there.
William Empson, Let It Go
posted by y2karl at 1:01 AM on July 11, 2004
I do, however, find the phrase shitting on a thread particularly annoying. It is so tiresome. On that I think we can agree.
posted by y2karl at 1:05 AM on July 11, 2004
posted by y2karl at 1:05 AM on July 11, 2004
I recommend aversion therapy.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:40 AM on July 11, 2004
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:40 AM on July 11, 2004
dg: or what? People on the internet might say bad stuff about me? Oh, please, anything but that!
Or nothing, of course. That's fine, you value the respect of the members here at zero, as is your right. No big deal, you will get the same level of respect back.
I do, however, find the phrase shitting on a thread particularly annoying. It is so tiresome. On that I think we can agree.
If nothing else, it is innaccurate. Shitting in a thread would be more accurate, but no less tiresome.
*loads up full-automatic paintball gun, goes in search of quonsar*
posted by dg at 1:47 AM on July 11, 2004
Or nothing, of course. That's fine, you value the respect of the members here at zero, as is your right. No big deal, you will get the same level of respect back.
I do, however, find the phrase shitting on a thread particularly annoying. It is so tiresome. On that I think we can agree.
If nothing else, it is innaccurate. Shitting in a thread would be more accurate, but no less tiresome.
*loads up full-automatic paintball gun, goes in search of quonsar*
posted by dg at 1:47 AM on July 11, 2004
There's a whole part of this 'mefi culture' that's inherently destructive. It's about objecting to this, hiding that. I do not think that I would benefit from somehow trying to be more like that in order to fit in better.
Resistance is futile.
Seriously, this site has been a Certain Way since I have been here (and I was here a lot longer than this username would suggest.) If you thought this metatalk thread was out of line, you would have been totally horrified at the days of the Pastel-Suited Jackals.
So, if the fact that this place does self-police offends you, there's a great big internet out there. There are other places to play. May I suggest Usernet? After all, that is what this place would turn into without the checks and balanes....
posted by konolia at 3:34 AM on July 11, 2004
Resistance is futile.
Seriously, this site has been a Certain Way since I have been here (and I was here a lot longer than this username would suggest.) If you thought this metatalk thread was out of line, you would have been totally horrified at the days of the Pastel-Suited Jackals.
So, if the fact that this place does self-police offends you, there's a great big internet out there. There are other places to play. May I suggest Usernet? After all, that is what this place would turn into without the checks and balanes....
posted by konolia at 3:34 AM on July 11, 2004
We've done it! The perfect MeTa thread! IT'S ALIVE.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:02 AM on July 11, 2004
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:02 AM on July 11, 2004
Each has a hand on a different elephantine part.
Guess which elephantine part I have my hand on.
posted by taz at 4:07 AM on July 11, 2004
Guess which elephantine part I have my hand on.
posted by taz at 4:07 AM on July 11, 2004
dg: or what? People on the internet might say bad stuff about me?
Or you might google yourself in ten or fifteen years, and experience profound chagrin at what an ignorant blabbermouth you were back then. Like dg, I also have first hand experience, here. (Although, to be honest, it usually only takes a month or two for me...)
posted by majcher at 6:54 AM on July 11, 2004
Or you might google yourself in ten or fifteen years, and experience profound chagrin at what an ignorant blabbermouth you were back then. Like dg, I also have first hand experience, here. (Although, to be honest, it usually only takes a month or two for me...)
posted by majcher at 6:54 AM on July 11, 2004
Nah, the experience is neither that profound nor that chagrining.
posted by mischief at 7:51 AM on July 11, 2004
posted by mischief at 7:51 AM on July 11, 2004
Can I just ask, was the phrase "our dearly beloved Ask Metafilter" used seriously in the opening message of this thread, or was it tongue-in-cheek?
posted by crunchland at 8:05 AM on July 11, 2004
posted by crunchland at 8:05 AM on July 11, 2004
I like MeTa. It tends to point towards something interesting, either a thread or a response to a thread.
posted by snarfodox at 8:15 AM on July 11, 2004
posted by snarfodox at 8:15 AM on July 11, 2004
will you go out with me
posted by angry modem at 8:21 AM on July 11, 2004
posted by angry modem at 8:21 AM on July 11, 2004
"The spring of sweet waters soak the roots,
Dew drips from the twigs.
Law and staff are the same
Help in danger,
support to the bent."
Dogen was out walking with two students one day. One student says: "Master, how does one become enlightened?", so Dogen hits him with his staff. The student is enlightened and walks away. The second student, seeing this, says to Dogen: "Master, how does one become enlightened?", so Dogen hits him with his staff. The student says "Ouch! You hit me with a stick!"
posted by snarfodox at 8:32 AM on July 11, 2004
Dew drips from the twigs.
Law and staff are the same
Help in danger,
support to the bent."
Dogen was out walking with two students one day. One student says: "Master, how does one become enlightened?", so Dogen hits him with his staff. The student is enlightened and walks away. The second student, seeing this, says to Dogen: "Master, how does one become enlightened?", so Dogen hits him with his staff. The student says "Ouch! You hit me with a stick!"
posted by snarfodox at 8:32 AM on July 11, 2004
there are a total of 2.3 people on this site who are publicly opposed to gay marriage.
Who's the .3 person, I know a nice .7, maybe they could have a drink sometime.
By the way, what'd I miss?
posted by jonmc at 9:52 AM on July 11, 2004
Who's the .3 person, I know a nice .7, maybe they could have a drink sometime.
By the way, what'd I miss?
posted by jonmc at 9:52 AM on July 11, 2004
Fascists.
posted by Blue Stone at 10:48 AM on July 11, 2004
I know it won't happen, but having more than one admin...
posted by Keyser Soze at 12:41 PM on July 11, 2004
posted by Keyser Soze at 12:41 PM on July 11, 2004
Am I Hot Or Not?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:18 PM on July 11, 2004
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:18 PM on July 11, 2004
What are you thinking?
And why oh why do men always ask me that?
posted by orange swan at 2:18 PM on July 11, 2004
And why oh why do men always ask me that?
posted by orange swan at 2:18 PM on July 11, 2004
It's that fetchingly distracted air you have about you....
posted by y2karl at 2:44 PM on July 11, 2004
posted by y2karl at 2:44 PM on July 11, 2004
well, orange swan, that could be avoided if you would just start dating psychics.
posted by jonmc at 2:54 PM on July 11, 2004
posted by jonmc at 2:54 PM on July 11, 2004
Crunchland: I meant "dearly beloved" 100% sincerely. I spend more time there than the blue, sometimes, and I absolutely love it. I've been a member for over 2 years, yet never found anything worthy of an FPP in the blue. Yet AskMe has really helped me, and I have been able to help others also.
So...I come back... just a day later, this thread has already sauntered off into that etheral realm of uniquely metafilter-esque inane insanity... it's too bad. IMHO, there should be another *filter, eithere here or elsewhere, where all you people can go and engage in your pointless chatting - it could be called RandomFilter, or something...
The blue is for interesting things, and the discussions thereof.
The gray is strictly business.
The green is for helping people.
The we can have maybe a yellow or a pink for random blathering. pretty-generic, quonsar, et al would absolutely love it, am I right? When they've got that, in addition to the irc channel, they won't even need MetaFilter anymore! This new filter will gladly embrace their sarcasms, their "how you doin"s, their snarks, quips, pointless threads, angry rantings, and most of all, just random nonsense. It'll be no rules, a new frontier to be sarcasm'ed and how-you-doin'ed! In fact I am going to register randomfilter.com right now. If anyone wants to provide the code for a *filter, I'll run my own site!
posted by ac at 3:02 PM on July 11, 2004
So...I come back... just a day later, this thread has already sauntered off into that etheral realm of uniquely metafilter-esque inane insanity... it's too bad. IMHO, there should be another *filter, eithere here or elsewhere, where all you people can go and engage in your pointless chatting - it could be called RandomFilter, or something...
The blue is for interesting things, and the discussions thereof.
The gray is strictly business.
The green is for helping people.
The we can have maybe a yellow or a pink for random blathering. pretty-generic, quonsar, et al would absolutely love it, am I right? When they've got that, in addition to the irc channel, they won't even need MetaFilter anymore! This new filter will gladly embrace their sarcasms, their "how you doin"s, their snarks, quips, pointless threads, angry rantings, and most of all, just random nonsense. It'll be no rules, a new frontier to be sarcasm'ed and how-you-doin'ed! In fact I am going to register randomfilter.com right now. If anyone wants to provide the code for a *filter, I'll run my own site!
posted by ac at 3:02 PM on July 11, 2004
We need to call out taumeson for lying to us. I've seen TGC post and, ac, you're no TGC.
I'm lost. Does this make sense to anyone? Was I being insulted or complimented? Was I even being referenced or has my acronym been stolen away and applied to something more useful?
I leave for two days and things get all cryptic.
posted by The God Complex at 10:25 PM on July 11, 2004
I'm lost. Does this make sense to anyone? Was I being insulted or complimented? Was I even being referenced or has my acronym been stolen away and applied to something more useful?
I leave for two days and things get all cryptic.
posted by The God Complex at 10:25 PM on July 11, 2004
In Pretty_Generic's stupid, now-deleted AskMe thread, taumeson wrote a comment predicting that you, TGC, would call PG out for it in MeTa. But now I did it, and so eyeballkid was pointing out taumeson's error.
Long live askme. Amen.
posted by ac at 11:39 PM on July 11, 2004
Long live askme. Amen.
posted by ac at 11:39 PM on July 11, 2004
So, I've not been around much. What was the filth in question?
posted by biffa at 2:02 AM on July 12, 2004
posted by biffa at 2:02 AM on July 12, 2004
"How are you?"
It wasn't really that filthy, actually.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:38 AM on July 12, 2004
It wasn't really that filthy, actually.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:38 AM on July 12, 2004
biffa, you filth - I wanted to email you the other day, but no email address. Watch out for the hand of god.
(it was a nice email, and just kidding about the "filth" part)
posted by taz at 6:12 AM on July 12, 2004
(it was a nice email, and just kidding about the "filth" part)
posted by taz at 6:12 AM on July 12, 2004
Can I just interject a moment to say how adorable it is that that 14k+ crowd is now old enough to give MeFi netiquette lessons to their younger, 17k+ compatriots? Pretty soon, all the 10k-and-below folks will be isolated to MeFi Senior, grousing about the good-old-days, before everyone posted in Flash.
Oh, and for the record, I missed the thread, and I understand why Matt deleted it, but I LOVE when a MeFi thread occasionally gets completely derailed into jazzy nonsense.
they cheapen, devalue and irritate our dearly beloved Ask Metafilter
I love AskMe, but a couple questions a day there do that job equally well.
posted by mkultra at 8:51 AM on July 12, 2004
Oh, and for the record, I missed the thread, and I understand why Matt deleted it, but I LOVE when a MeFi thread occasionally gets completely derailed into jazzy nonsense.
they cheapen, devalue and irritate our dearly beloved Ask Metafilter
I love AskMe, but a couple questions a day there do that job equally well.
posted by mkultra at 8:51 AM on July 12, 2004
Man, I need to spend more time around here on Saturdays.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 9:08 AM on July 12, 2004
posted by DrJohnEvans at 9:08 AM on July 12, 2004
Some of us old farts (okay, I'll speak for myself; I) don't mind the jazz, even in the blue, or the green or the brown or the taupe or whatever.
Not all the time, mind. But nothing's wrong with a little free-association to mess with the heads of the squares every once in a while.
Brings me back, it does. Oh, yes, brings me way back. That old-timey nonsense sure brings me to the yard. Mmmmm.
posted by chicobangs at 9:23 AM on July 12, 2004
Not all the time, mind. But nothing's wrong with a little free-association to mess with the heads of the squares every once in a while.
Brings me back, it does. Oh, yes, brings me way back. That old-timey nonsense sure brings me to the yard. Mmmmm.
posted by chicobangs at 9:23 AM on July 12, 2004
In Pretty_Generic's stupid, now-deleted AskMe thread, taumeson wrote a comment predicting that you, TGC, would call PG out for it in MeTa. But now I did it, and so eyeballkid was pointing out taumeson's error.
Long live askme. Amen.
Anyone who's anyone knows I don't call out askmetafilter threads.
My guess is Taumeson actually made this comment in a subversive attempt to find out more information about us, above and beyond out grammatical prowess (or distinct lack thereof). Be wary of the next time Taumeson makes an off-topic remark--he may be building a dossier on you!
posted by The God Complex at 10:17 AM on July 12, 2004
Long live askme. Amen.
Anyone who's anyone knows I don't call out askmetafilter threads.
My guess is Taumeson actually made this comment in a subversive attempt to find out more information about us, above and beyond out grammatical prowess (or distinct lack thereof). Be wary of the next time Taumeson makes an off-topic remark--he may be building a dossier on you!
posted by The God Complex at 10:17 AM on July 12, 2004
hebrew munchkin traffic cops are clawing at my chrome leggings.
posted by quonsar at 10:19 AM on July 12, 2004
posted by quonsar at 10:19 AM on July 12, 2004
I'm sorry taz, I'd only just took it down too. Was it about aubergines? (I shall put it back up.)
posted by biffa at 12:51 PM on July 12, 2004
posted by biffa at 12:51 PM on July 12, 2004
ac, you don't think just maybe calling pretty's post filth was overreacting just a teeny tiny bit?
posted by amberglow at 2:31 PM on July 12, 2004
posted by amberglow at 2:31 PM on July 12, 2004
AC's gone off the rails a bit, methinks. That AskMe post deserved a callout, but ac's rhetoric in this callout is, shall we say, overexuberant.
Amberglow, we need more people like you around here. You're so even-tempered. It's admirable. And quonsar is stupid and annoying, but in an inexplicably good way. I think there's mind-control involved.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 3:38 PM on July 12, 2004
Amberglow, we need more people like you around here. You're so even-tempered. It's admirable. And quonsar is stupid and annoying, but in an inexplicably good way. I think there's mind-control involved.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 3:38 PM on July 12, 2004
Metafilter : stupid and annoying, but in an inexplicably good way.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:25 PM on July 12, 2004
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:25 PM on July 12, 2004
ac's rhetoric in this callout is, shall we say, overexuberant
Indeed it was. It was such a let down to discover the questions was so innocuous.
posted by orange swan at 5:10 PM on July 12, 2004
Indeed it was. It was such a let down to discover the questions was so innocuous.
posted by orange swan at 5:10 PM on July 12, 2004
It's crap, junk, worthless stuff, annoying, wasteful, disgusting, whatever. My word choice may have been questionable, but when I saw that post, I was straightaway resolved and of a firm intent to call it out in the strongest possible terms. And as in uffish thought I stood, I wrote the meta post.
I may have gone off the rails, but it was PG who put that penny there.
Quonsar is stupid and annoying, but in an inexplicably good way
Doesn't make sense. If one is annoyed by something, one does not consider it "good".
posted by ac at 5:42 PM on July 12, 2004
I may have gone off the rails, but it was PG who put that penny there.
Quonsar is stupid and annoying, but in an inexplicably good way
Doesn't make sense. If one is annoyed by something, one does not consider it "good".
posted by ac at 5:42 PM on July 12, 2004
Ah, but a penny shouldn't cause a train to go off the rails. Usually takes something much larger. (This calls to mind a possibly apocryphal story about someone laying a rebar across a train track and being very surprised when a clipped end of it came flying toward him and embedded itself in the nearby wall.)
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:55 PM on July 12, 2004
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:55 PM on July 12, 2004
Hey AC. What grade are you in? How's your summer vacation going so far?
posted by crunchland at 6:26 PM on July 12, 2004
posted by crunchland at 6:26 PM on July 12, 2004
If one is annoyed by something, one does not consider it "good".Luckily, this does not preclude one from considering something "not good" without having to feel annoyed by that said something.
I believe that is a quintuple negative. Do I win?
posted by mischief at 8:23 PM on July 12, 2004
dagnabbit, amberglow, you beat me to it!
Also, quonsar is brilliant and annoying. Like an exceedingly clever fly. Buzz, buzz, o mutant muse!
posted by scody at 9:59 PM on July 12, 2004
Also, quonsar is brilliant and annoying. Like an exceedingly clever fly. Buzz, buzz, o mutant muse!
posted by scody at 9:59 PM on July 12, 2004
Well I'm in fifth grade, and It's been really swell so far. I have been using the spare time to play videogames and make angry posts to metafilter. Also been worshipping banana phone again. We... we love each other.
posted by ac at 10:29 PM on July 12, 2004
posted by ac at 10:29 PM on July 12, 2004
Ah, he's just a kid. Thank fuck for that. Best wishes ac!
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:52 AM on July 13, 2004
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:52 AM on July 13, 2004
so ... how was everyone doing? ...
posted by pyramid termite at 5:45 AM on July 13, 2004
posted by pyramid termite at 5:45 AM on July 13, 2004
careful you don't get out of your depth, q.
posted by crunchland at 8:55 AM on July 13, 2004
posted by crunchland at 8:55 AM on July 13, 2004
Man, I really need to spend more time in the grey.
It's better than watching people die in trainwrecks.
Can I just interject a moment to say how adorable it is that that 14k+ crowd is now old enough to give MeFi netiquette lessons to their younger, 17k+ compatriots? Pretty soon, all the 10k-and-below folks will be isolated to MeFi Senior, grousing about the good-old-days, before everyone posted in Flash.
And Slashdolt, before user accounts.
Those were the days.
posted by jammer at 2:00 PM on July 13, 2004
It's better than watching people die in trainwrecks.
Can I just interject a moment to say how adorable it is that that 14k+ crowd is now old enough to give MeFi netiquette lessons to their younger, 17k+ compatriots? Pretty soon, all the 10k-and-below folks will be isolated to MeFi Senior, grousing about the good-old-days, before everyone posted in Flash.
And Slashdolt, before user accounts.
Those were the days.
posted by jammer at 2:00 PM on July 13, 2004
Goddammit, I go to California for a week and miss a classic MeTa jamboree. Can I just say: ZIPPITY-BOP!
Oh, and ac, listen to Ethereal. He knows what he's talking about.
posted by languagehat at 3:37 PM on July 18, 2004
Oh, and ac, listen to Ethereal. He knows what he's talking about.
posted by languagehat at 3:37 PM on July 18, 2004
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posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:07 PM on July 10, 2004