You don't change a quote, duh

December 16, 2004 8:09 PM

When you quote a comment from another user, you don't change the words that the other user wrote (unless you use clear edit marks like brackets and elipses to show you made a change). You would think this is mind-numbingly clear, and yet...
posted by bingo to Etiquette/Policy at 8:09 PM (77 comments total)

Below, I have not made any changes to the italics. This is the way these items appear in the blue, with text not relevant to this discussion removed (it's from this thread):



But, konolia, setting aside the blue hedgehog issue, don't you believe that he intends to throw us into hell if we don't accept his son as our savior?
posted by bingo at 5:29 PM PST on December 16

But, konolia, setting aside the blue hedgehog issue, don't you believe that he intends to throw us into hell if we don't believe in spooky magical powers?
posted by bingo at 5:29 PM PST on December 16

Exactly.
posted by orange clock at 5:37 PM PST on December 16

orange clock: You changed what I said, and posted it with a date and time as if you had copied and pasted it directly. Not cool.
posted by bingo at 6:18 PM PST on December 16

orange clock: You changed what I said, and posted it with a date and time to make a point of inference. Awesome.
posted by bingo at 6:18 PM PST on December 16

Thanks.
posted by orange clock at 7:17 PM PST on December 16



I don't believe that it's appropriate to make such a 'point of inference,' and I don't think it's funny. Is anyone around here ok with having their comments in a serious argument misquoted in such a throwaway fashion? I'd like a discussion. I tried to be cool about this and correct it in the thread but I guess that's not good enough.
posted by bingo at 8:09 PM on December 16, 2004

Satire is dead. Long live bingo!
posted by orange clock at 8:18 PM on December 16, 2004

[pours another glass of wine, sits back to watch]
posted by interrobang at 8:20 PM on December 16, 2004

Putting words in another mouth by any means necessary--it's sort of a hands on straw man approach.
posted by y2karl at 8:21 PM on December 16, 2004

Get a room, you two.
posted by bshort at 8:21 PM on December 16, 2004

No, you're unambiguously correct. Satirizing and directly quoting someone are at cross-purposes. The inclusion of the attribution and timestamp is in this context is near-universally understood to function as a direct quotation. Without it, I think what orange clock did would be more excusable (marginal, still, but more excusable).
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 8:23 PM on December 16, 2004

Satire is dead. Long live bingo!

What an asshole.
posted by rafter at 8:23 PM on December 16, 2004

Satire is bingo!. Long live dead!

How'd I do?
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:24 PM on December 16, 2004

Quote, or do not quote. So let it be said, so let it be done.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:25 PM on December 16, 2004

Orange clock is one funny mofo.

Long live satire!
posted by scarabic at 8:26 PM on December 16, 2004

Satire is dead. And I am a jackass.
posted by orange clock at 8:18 PM PST on December 16

My thoughts exactly.
posted by mexican at 8:27 PM on December 16, 2004

...and then i blew the goat too.

too. much. information.
posted by quonsar at 8:30 PM on December 16, 2004

I'm hardly anti-satire. Who/what were you satirizing? Me? I don't see how, with that particular change. konolia, maybe? Christianity? If I hack your password and post comments in your name, can that be 'satire' too?
posted by bingo at 8:33 PM on December 16, 2004

Fuck Fuck Fuck. Fuck Fuck Fuck!
posted by orange clock at 8:18 PM PST on December 16

Fuck.
posted by chunking express at 8:37 PM on December 16, 2004

mexican nailed it. end of thread.
posted by scarabic at 8:40 PM on December 16, 2004

Sarte is dead. Long live binge drinking!
posted by orange clock at 8:18 PM PST on December 16

My cat's breath...etc.

(and what that Ethereal guy said)

orange clock, WTF???
posted by Floydd at 8:45 PM on December 16, 2004

orange glock.

Look, I made a satire!
posted by soyjoy at 8:53 PM on December 16, 2004

lol soyjoy
posted by scarabic at 9:01 PM on December 16, 2004

*rocks out with orange clock out*
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:09 PM on December 16, 2004

too much satires. we need a pathos.

A cold day dawned and a pale sun shone on the fountain and the icy road. Close by lay the lifeless body of little orange clock surrounded by spent matches. "Poor little thing!" exclaimed the passersby. "He was trying to keep warm!"
posted by arse_hat at 9:09 PM on December 16, 2004

arse_hat's comment: wow.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 9:11 PM on December 16, 2004

I heart this thread. But I'm still not going to hug it.
posted by fenriq at 9:12 PM on December 16, 2004

yes, arse_hat, that was awesome. please, sir, may I have some more? *wipes tear*
posted by exlotuseater at 9:13 PM on December 16, 2004

bartender a bathos for all my friends

Ye Gods! annihilate but Space and Time,
And make orange clock happy."
posted by arse_hat at 9:21 PM on December 16, 2004

When you quote a comment from another user, please change some of the words that the other user wrote (direct quotations provide needless repetition and clutter up the database.). You would think this is mind-numbingly clear, and yet...


OK.
posted by Kwantsar at 9:39 PM on December 16, 2004

I'm hugging this thread right now.
posted by fenriq at 9:12 PM PST on December 16

Nice to know.
posted by drezdn at 10:01 PM on December 16, 2004

And thou, arse_hat, the great God of Schlock,
Lieutenant-general to the Earl Orange of Clock.
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 10:12 PM on December 16, 2004

You like to look at what???
posted by Quartermass at 10:37 PM on December 16, 2004

Brains! Must have Brains! Brainsssssss!
posted by drezdn at 10:01 PM PST on December 16
posted by fenriq at 11:43 PM on December 16, 2004

[insert your comment here]
posted by painquale at 11:55 PM on December 16, 2004

Brains! Must have Meta Brains! Brainsssssss!
posted by fenriq at 11:43 PM PST on December 16

This Zombie alert brought to you by fenriq. 'cause when quality and taste counts nothing says a good "MeTa I heart", like fenriq. (found in your grocers produce aisle)

k, I think I finally lost it from reading too much of the grey ... slinks off before someone pulls out the steak sauce and gets ideas
posted by squeak at 12:08 AM on December 17, 2004

Wait wait - so it's not so much the petty snarking as the form of the petty snarking?

What?

I can see holding the position mefi should be void of all humor with intent to insult, even if I don't agree with it. But picking out an insult for the way it is formatted on the page is over the line?

That's, uh.

A little weird, there, bingo.
posted by kavasa at 12:46 AM on December 17, 2004

Yes, adding the signature line was bad form, as it suggested a direct quote, however in this case the modification was so obvious it wasn't a big problem. One of you: Don't do it again; The other one: Don't kick such a fuss about it; the rest of you: Don't believe quoted stuff, read the original comment.
posted by fvw at 12:50 AM on December 17, 2004

stop using my time machine!
posted by andrew cooke at 4:30 AM PST on December 17

oh, sorry.
posted by andrew cooke at 4:28 AM on December 17, 2004

stop using my time machine!
posted by andrew cooke at 4:29 AM on December 17, 2004

damn
posted by andrew cooke at 4:29 AM on December 17, 2004

Why would you want to have a "serious" argument with someone who would act this way, anyway? Why would you bother? Just make a note to summarily ignore all of orange clock's comments in the future.

In other words: Don't feed the trolls.
posted by gd779 at 5:16 AM on December 17, 2004

:)
posted by sciurus at 5:17 AM on December 17, 2004

Looks like your time machine needs recalibrating, andrew cooke! :)
posted by Chunder at 5:52 AM on December 17, 2004

Andrew, I wish you could have pulled that off. That was cool.
posted by MotorNeuron at 6:17 AM on December 17, 2004

I put my dick in the Doritos!
posted by orange cock at 8:18 PM PST on December 16
posted by dodgygeezer at 6:28 AM on December 17, 2004

hm. Doritos Rollitos Nacho Cheesier, fer sher.
posted by taz at 6:35 AM on December 17, 2004

A valiant effort, andrew. If you'd thought ahead (heh), you would've had a stopwatch at the ready.
posted by soyjoy at 6:48 AM on December 17, 2004

*rocks out with orange clock out*
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:09 PM PST on December 16

Andrew, I wish you could have pulled that off. That was cool.
posted by MotorNeuron at 6:17 AM PST on December 17

"I put my dick in the Doritos!
posted by orange cock at 8:18 PM PST on December 16"
posted by dodgygeezer at 6:28 AM PST on December 17


Do I sense a theme developing? *Giggles insanely, twirls around in office chair, shouts "Dick Jokes Galore", runs aways pulling hair and screaming, knocks over old woman in a walker, flashes her
posted by mic stand at 6:55 AM on December 17, 2004

*
posted by sciurus at 7:02 AM on December 17, 2004

slinks off before someone pulls out the steak sauce and eats me.
posted by bubble and squeak at 12:08 AM PST on December 17

:(
posted by sciurus at 5:17 AM PST on December 17


mexico nailed me, end of thread.
posted by scarabic at 8:40 PM PST on December 16

[insert your dick here]
posted by painquale at 11:55 PM PST on December 16

Uh Oh! This is very addictive!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:24 AM on December 17, 2004

my thesis on the invocation of pathos via the inversion of hegemonic power ("old-timer" contra "noob") through (mis-)appropriation of technologic jokes (and, ipso-facto, their premeditated "failure" - the other) within the socio-cultural norms of autocratic media will be available shortly. thank-you for your participation.

oh, and

dick dick dick
posted by is it lunchtime yet? at 6:15 AM PST on December 17
posted by andrew cooke at 7:33 AM on December 17, 2004

Uh Oh! This is very addictive!
posted by Secret Wife of Gravity at 7:24 AM PST on December 17

My name iz pastede on Yay!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:40 AM on December 17, 2004

mexican nailed it. lets keep this meme going for days.
posted by scarabic at 8:40 PM PST on December 16
posted by caddis at 7:45 AM on December 17, 2004

Will you people just get some fucking lives already?
posted by mathowie at 6:66 PM OST on December 20

Christ, you don't have to be so mean about it. :'(
posted by cyrusdogstar at 7:46 AM on December 17, 2004

Wait a minute. I never said that. I was going to post something encouraging this!
posted by mathowie at 8:03AM PST on December 17

Wow, that's odd. I guess Matt deleted his own comment and didn't leave any trail. Strange, huh?
posted by soyjoy at 8:04 AM on December 17, 2004

Dammit, mathowie, stop putting words in my mouth!
posted by mathowie at 8:14 AM PST on December 17

I think he's just confused. Too much at a holiday party last night, perhaps?
posted by cyrusdogstar at 8:16 AM on December 17, 2004

posted by mathowie at 6:66 PM OST on December 20

The hour of the beast.
posted by terrapin at 8:27 AM on December 17, 2004

it's not so much the petty snarking as the form of the petty snarking

exactly, form is everything.
posted by kamylyon at 8:29 AM on December 17, 2004

Wait, orange clock?? From the context, it's clear that GOD changed the quote!
posted by rushmc at 8:45 AM on December 17, 2004

And you people better cut it out or mathowie is gonna take away our ability to quote.
posted by rushmc at 8:46 AM on December 17, 2004

And you pancakes batter cut it out or mathowie is gonna take away our pony.
posted by rushmc at 8:46 AM PST on December 17
posted by papercake at 8:54 AM on December 17, 2004

And you people better cut it out or mathowie is gonna take away our ability to quote.
posted by rushmc at 8:46 AM PST on December 17


Hehehehe.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 9:07 AM on December 17, 2004

You're all a bucket of (orange) cocks.
posted by mathowie's baby at 9:34 AM PST on December 17

See, the kid's got the right stuff already!
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:35 AM on December 17, 2004

See, the kid's got the right stuff already!
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:36 AM PST on December 17

Heh.

Now that's satire!

*pats self on back vigorously*
posted by soyjoy at 9:36 AM on December 17, 2004

Best. Thread. Ever.

I don't honestly remember laughing as often at any other thread.

Thanks gents and ladies, it has been most entertaining.
posted by fenriq at 10:10 AM on December 17, 2004

Next, the dreaded "T,FTFY" makes its way to Mefi.
posted by smackfu at 10:24 AM on December 17, 2004

Next, the dreaded "T,FTFY" makes its way to Mefi.

Toonces, fire the filthy yarbles?
Travis, from the fifty yardline?
Tom, fold the fluffy yarn?
True, from the fool's Yiddish?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?!?!?
posted by me3dia at 11:58 AM on December 17, 2004

a dollar at least one of those fs is a fuck.
posted by andrew cooke at 12:15 PM on December 17, 2004

Thanks, for the fuck yous?
posted by me3dia at 12:18 PM on December 17, 2004

Terrific, Fine To Fuck You?
posted by sebas at 12:33 PM on December 17, 2004

Trudy, find the Fonz's yarmulke.
posted by cortex at 12:35 PM on December 17, 2004

Ted, fenriq's totally fucked yo?
posted by me3dia at 12:46 PM on December 17, 2004

Ten fingers to find you?

Two faces take facetious yarmulkes?

Texas flipped the freaky yutz?

Tom, file that folder, yes?
posted by fenriq at 1:04 PM on December 17, 2004

Hehe. "There, fixed that for you."
posted by smackfu at 1:04 PM on December 17, 2004

Is this ok?

posted by joelf at 12:18 PM PST on December 17




I don't like it

posted by Random Idiot at 12:18 PM PST on December 17




LOLOLOROFL!

posted by THE COOLEST GUY IN THE UNIVERSE at 29:18 PM PST on December 173 of August


No that's a terrible thing to do.
posted by joelf at 1:06 PM on December 17, 2004

Hehe. "There, fixed that for you."
posted by smackfu at 1:04 PM PST on December 17

Nah, that can't be it.


(Joelf: Been done. Note that your fakes aren't picture perfect, because of mathowie's T,FTFY. Or something.)
posted by me3dia at 1:12 PM on December 17, 2004

Joelf: Been done.

Also, see babyyoda.
posted by y2karl at 1:24 PM on December 17, 2004

I see...
posted by joelf at 1:12 PM PST on December 17
posted by joelf at 1:12 PM PST on December 17
posted by joelf at 1:12 PM PST on December 17
posted by joelf at 1:12 PM PST on December 17
posted by joelf at 1:12 PM PST on December 17
posted by joelf at 1:33 PM on December 17, 2004

Somebody quoted somebody else correctly somewhere up there. Could you please fix that, Matt?
posted by languagehat at 1:53 PM on December 17, 2004

Somebody voted for somebody else correctly somewhere up there. Could you please fix that, George?
posted by why_waste_five_bucks_for_a_one_off_joke at 1:53 PM PST on December 17

Why does someone always have to bring politics into everything? sigh...
posted by rushmc at 5:09 PM on December 17, 2004

Uh, hey, everybody! I'm a stupid moron with an ugly face and big butt and my butt smells and I like to kiss my own butt.
posted by Jewzilla at 9:39 PM PST on December 16

I wish you'd stop doing that.
posted by jewzilla at 5:32 PM on December 17, 2004