Posts that end in a ? February 12, 2005 7:26 AM Subscribe
If someone posts a link to the front page that ends in a question mark, are they really linking to the best of the web, or are they just asking a leading question in order to generate discussion of their pet topic? And should we disallow front posts that are just trollish leading questions because they weaken the mefi brand and more importantly drive me nuts?
"and more importantly drive me nuts?"
Perhaps you should seek professional help.
Seriously, if something as small as this gets you that worked up, you have issues that need addressing.
posted by mischief at 7:58 AM on February 12, 2005
Perhaps you should seek professional help.
Seriously, if something as small as this gets you that worked up, you have issues that need addressing.
posted by mischief at 7:58 AM on February 12, 2005
weaken the mefi brand
you are a sick, sick person...
posted by quonsar at 8:22 AM on February 12, 2005
you are a sick, sick person...
posted by quonsar at 8:22 AM on February 12, 2005
unclench, craniac. It's not that big of a deal.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:35 AM on February 12, 2005
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:35 AM on February 12, 2005
I think we should all be more careful in what type of punctuation that we end our sentences with,
posted by Arch Stanton at 8:35 AM on February 12, 2005
posted by Arch Stanton at 8:35 AM on February 12, 2005
If a FPP falls in the forest, does anybody read it?
What is the sound of one FPP clapping?
Animal, vegetable, or FPP?
disclaimer: I am not a philosopher, but I play one on TV.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:45 AM on February 12, 2005
What is the sound of one FPP clapping?
Animal, vegetable, or FPP?
disclaimer: I am not a philosopher, but I play one on TV.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:45 AM on February 12, 2005
My guess is the is it art? post on the Gates. In which case, I do agree that was a very bad way to end a good post, since that is the most boring debate ever. Or is it?
posted by smackfu at 9:07 AM on February 12, 2005
posted by smackfu at 9:07 AM on February 12, 2005
Can I have a copy of the branding policy? Is it in the binder along with the usage rules for the Pillsbury Dough Boy?
posted by fet at 9:18 AM on February 12, 2005
posted by fet at 9:18 AM on February 12, 2005
Yeah, the post is lame forced irony, but I tend to see a lot of FPP that end in weak "rhetorical" questions that don't seem to come close to meeting any of the criteria for a decent or even half-decent FPP. It's not the punctuation per se, but the failed attempts to lend some credibility to the post by tacking on a question.
If I unclench my personality will fragment even further.
posted by craniac at 9:18 AM on February 12, 2005
If I unclench my personality will fragment even further.
posted by craniac at 9:18 AM on February 12, 2005
Metafilter: If I unclench, my personality will fragment even further.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:29 AM on February 12, 2005
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:29 AM on February 12, 2005
I agree this was a poorly formulated and probably excessive callout, but since everyone's jumping on poor craniac (smacked down by The Matt himself: ouch!) I'm going to say that I think there's a point in there.
It's not the punctuation per se, but the failed attempts to lend some credibility to the post by tacking on a question.
Yup. Not a huge stain on MeFi (or the "mefi brand"), but this reflexive "what do you think? what is your favorite X?" stuff smacks of desperation, like spraying some pine scent around a room you suspect may reek a bit. Just post the link and let us worry about what we think.
posted by languagehat at 9:57 AM on February 12, 2005
It's not the punctuation per se, but the failed attempts to lend some credibility to the post by tacking on a question.
Yup. Not a huge stain on MeFi (or the "mefi brand"), but this reflexive "what do you think? what is your favorite X?" stuff smacks of desperation, like spraying some pine scent around a room you suspect may reek a bit. Just post the link and let us worry about what we think.
posted by languagehat at 9:57 AM on February 12, 2005
From crainiac's user page:
member since: January 25, 2005
So, is crainiac an example of an old-timer using a new account? Is it bad form to speculate about such things? Should we in the community "out" such members if we know who they are? Should I be asking these questions on IRC?
posted by mlis at 10:15 AM on February 12, 2005
member since: January 25, 2005
So, is crainiac an example of an old-timer using a new account? Is it bad form to speculate about such things? Should we in the community "out" such members if we know who they are? Should I be asking these questions on IRC?
posted by mlis at 10:15 AM on February 12, 2005
should we disallow front posts that are just trollish leading questions because they weaken the mefi brand and more importantly drive me nuts
1) Good luck "disallowing" posts on such subjective criteria as this (or any other, really)
2) Good luck defining what's a trollish, leading question and what's a thoughtful starting point for a conversation
3) Good luck defining what the "Mefi brand" is and what makes it stronger/weaker (we've been hashing that shit out for years here, grasshopper)
4) more importantly drive you nuts? I don't really care what drives you nuts, except inasmuch as that information might come in handy someday.
posted by scarabic at 12:09 PM on February 12, 2005
1) Good luck "disallowing" posts on such subjective criteria as this (or any other, really)
2) Good luck defining what's a trollish, leading question and what's a thoughtful starting point for a conversation
3) Good luck defining what the "Mefi brand" is and what makes it stronger/weaker (we've been hashing that shit out for years here, grasshopper)
4) more importantly drive you nuts? I don't really care what drives you nuts, except inasmuch as that information might come in handy someday.
posted by scarabic at 12:09 PM on February 12, 2005
oh no.. not your extremly valuable brand name! you're worried more about your "brand" value than people posting interesting info which may go against popular belief?
posted by leighm at 7:06 PM on February 12, 2005
posted by leighm at 7:06 PM on February 12, 2005
Er, no, he/she is more worried about "brand" value than trollish leading questions.
posted by Bugbread at 1:03 AM on February 13, 2005
posted by Bugbread at 1:03 AM on February 13, 2005
Doesn't the fact that the sample post on the Post a Link page has a leading question make leading questions OK?
posted by kirkaracha at 9:38 AM on February 13, 2005
posted by kirkaracha at 9:38 AM on February 13, 2005
My guess is the is it art? post ...
There's also the "what's your favorite sexual subculture" amd "why are americans less fanatical about sports"... I also find these questions annoying, like the "this is my first post" statements. Post the post, and then if you personally are really interested in some relevant question, put it as a follow up comment in the thread. But don't tack questions onto the post just to try to fatten it up.
posted by mdn at 9:53 AM on February 13, 2005
There's also the "what's your favorite sexual subculture" amd "why are americans less fanatical about sports"... I also find these questions annoying, like the "this is my first post" statements. Post the post, and then if you personally are really interested in some relevant question, put it as a follow up comment in the thread. But don't tack questions onto the post just to try to fatten it up.
posted by mdn at 9:53 AM on February 13, 2005
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by mlis at 7:42 AM on February 12, 2005