Stop editorializing on front page April 30, 2001 8:58 AM Subscribe
Dear longtime visitors to MetaFilter: Don't do this.
I saw the thread when there were zero comments; I knew tiaka was kidding, but I also knew it was going to get totally mindless, so I just skipped it. I'dve preferred to be proven wrong, mind you, but unfortunately that's not what happened.
posted by lia at 9:07 AM on April 30, 2001
posted by lia at 9:07 AM on April 30, 2001
I guess it proves that even long time members don't know when someone is joking.
Now the question is, do I delete it so new members or visitors don't get the idea that it is considered normal posting behavior for the site?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:16 AM on April 30, 2001
Now the question is, do I delete it so new members or visitors don't get the idea that it is considered normal posting behavior for the site?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:16 AM on April 30, 2001
The man is freaking out.
Besides not obviously a joke, it’s just a huge front page post. I understand he was actually trying to say something there (albeit a retread of ground MetaFilter has travelled), but the execution was, how should I say, less than flawless.
posted by capt.crackpipe at 9:24 AM on April 30, 2001
Besides not obviously a joke, it’s just a huge front page post. I understand he was actually trying to say something there (albeit a retread of ground MetaFilter has travelled), but the execution was, how should I say, less than flawless.
posted by capt.crackpipe at 9:24 AM on April 30, 2001
I also knew he was riffing, but that didn't stop me from thinking, "Oh, shit. This won't be pretty." There's just too many people here now to assume that everyone will catch your "tone"--if there ever really was a time when you could assume that.
I'd say kill the thread. It's nearly all noise.
posted by Skot at 9:32 AM on April 30, 2001
I'd say kill the thread. It's nearly all noise.
posted by Skot at 9:32 AM on April 30, 2001
Kill it, not really anything valuable abtained from the discussion other than opinions about religion - for which there's no point in arguing in this sort of forum.
I took it at face value, as a troll, mostly cause I didn't notice who wrote it. So would anyone else who had no idea that Tiaka was a longtime poster and not troll by nature.
posted by kokogiak at 9:45 AM on April 30, 2001
I took it at face value, as a troll, mostly cause I didn't notice who wrote it. So would anyone else who had no idea that Tiaka was a longtime poster and not troll by nature.
posted by kokogiak at 9:45 AM on April 30, 2001
<pleading, yet joking tone, indicating that iceberg is proud of his limerick, but that he thinks that Skot is right>But save my limerick. Please save my limerick. I spent 10 mintues writing that.</pleading, yet joking tone, indicating that iceberg is proud of his limerick, but that he thinks that Skot is right>
I'm using Semantic/Pragmatic Markup to avoid any confusion, since you can't hear me talking while I type. See?
posted by iceberg273 at 9:47 AM on April 30, 2001
I'm using Semantic/Pragmatic Markup to avoid any confusion, since you can't hear me talking while I type. See?
posted by iceberg273 at 9:47 AM on April 30, 2001
There one was a man that thought
That others thought not as they ought
He mocked all they said
But within the thread
The mocker was lumped with the mocked.
posted by iceberg273 at 9:30 AM PST on April 30
saved for posterity! :)
posted by pnevares at 10:15 AM on April 30, 2001
That others thought not as they ought
He mocked all they said
But within the thread
The mocker was lumped with the mocked.
posted by iceberg273 at 9:30 AM PST on April 30
saved for posterity! :)
posted by pnevares at 10:15 AM on April 30, 2001
The thread is but a bacterium in the throat culture of MeFi. I believe a little cough medicine is due.
posted by hijinx at 10:27 AM on April 30, 2001
posted by hijinx at 10:27 AM on April 30, 2001
Matt - I guess you have to measure up the worth of the thread as an instructional thing (i.e., something we can link to in the future) or something that people might copy (probably doubtful in this case, given the response)
I know it's kind of funny sometimes when people do that pause thing between their first post and their explanatory post. I know that anyone can make that mistake. I'm surprised it seems to be happening so often lately though.
It would be a good idea if people had their first and second posts ready before they started posting. I know this method isn't foolproof, and people can still insert posts between your first and second post, but it seems like good practice.
posted by lucien at 10:34 AM on April 30, 2001
I know it's kind of funny sometimes when people do that pause thing between their first post and their explanatory post. I know that anyone can make that mistake. I'm surprised it seems to be happening so often lately though.
It would be a good idea if people had their first and second posts ready before they started posting. I know this method isn't foolproof, and people can still insert posts between your first and second post, but it seems like good practice.
posted by lucien at 10:34 AM on April 30, 2001
Thanks for saving that, Pablo!
If one bad thread is prevented by someone reading that limerick, then my day has been a success. :)
posted by iceberg273 at 10:48 AM on April 30, 2001
If one bad thread is prevented by someone reading that limerick, then my day has been a success. :)
posted by iceberg273 at 10:48 AM on April 30, 2001
<prayer target="undefined">Please, please, please don't let the "grits in my pants" trolls discover MeFi. Or the Natalie Portman ones either. Thank you, Big Banger.</prayer>
So would anyone else who had no idea that Tiaka was a longtime poster and not troll by nature.
That's incredibly depressing, because Matt does so well keeping this a troll-free zone.
posted by snarkout at 12:31 PM on April 30, 2001
So would anyone else who had no idea that Tiaka was a longtime poster and not troll by nature.
That's incredibly depressing, because Matt does so well keeping this a troll-free zone.
posted by snarkout at 12:31 PM on April 30, 2001
More regarding policy: It's interesting how this website is quick to keep you coming back for a week before you can suggest a site. Granted it is one person who runs the site, and I do the same thing so I know what kind of work it is to constantly maintain it in between your day job - so here's the question: What about the people, individuals like myself, who really want to get their site out there in a legitimate way (not spamming, blah blah) just to spread a message? At the same time, how do you pick those people?
It's an oxymoron of cyberspace.
posted by waterandsky at 11:49 AM on May 1, 2001
It's an oxymoron of cyberspace.
posted by waterandsky at 11:49 AM on May 1, 2001
Waterandsky, that's a pretty big question you're asking.
See, the one steadfast rule of Metafilter is that you aren't allowed to link to your own site in a front page post. If linking to your site contributes to a conversation then it makes sense to link it in-thread.
Basically, the way "advertising your site" works here is: Make an interesting post. People will click on your Profile link. People will go from your profile to your site.
Theoretically, if your site greatly interests/impresses the people who visit it, they can post a link to it on the front page, but that's a fairly rare occurance, and it almost never happens for typical personal sites.
In other words, MeFi's not here to spread your message. There is, however, a mailing list that was just started. I'm too lazy to dig up the link, but hit the MeFi front page and follow the link in the sideblog. You can then announce your project to the list, which may draw some traffic.
The mailing list may or may not have constraints of it's own, I don't remember.
posted by cCranium at 1:12 PM on May 1, 2001
See, the one steadfast rule of Metafilter is that you aren't allowed to link to your own site in a front page post. If linking to your site contributes to a conversation then it makes sense to link it in-thread.
Basically, the way "advertising your site" works here is: Make an interesting post. People will click on your Profile link. People will go from your profile to your site.
Theoretically, if your site greatly interests/impresses the people who visit it, they can post a link to it on the front page, but that's a fairly rare occurance, and it almost never happens for typical personal sites.
In other words, MeFi's not here to spread your message. There is, however, a mailing list that was just started. I'm too lazy to dig up the link, but hit the MeFi front page and follow the link in the sideblog. You can then announce your project to the list, which may draw some traffic.
The mailing list may or may not have constraints of it's own, I don't remember.
posted by cCranium at 1:12 PM on May 1, 2001
Actually as I understand it, even linking to one's own stuff inside a MeFi thread is considered bad form. Not that this stops most people. Whenever I used to do it I'd get chewed out for it, but I strongly encourage everyone else to do it, in order to upset the self-appointed MFPD.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:54 AM on May 4, 2001
posted by ZachsMind at 4:54 AM on May 4, 2001
Actually as I understand it, even linking to one's own stuff inside a MeFi thread is considered bad form. Not that this stops most people. Whenever I used to do it I'd get chewed out for it, but I strongly encourage everyone else to do it, in order to upset the self-appointed MFPD.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:56 AM on May 4, 2001
posted by ZachsMind at 4:56 AM on May 4, 2001
oops
Oh, and doubleposting's often frowned upon too, even when it's done by accident.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:57 AM on May 4, 2001
Oh, and doubleposting's often frowned upon too, even when it's done by accident.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:57 AM on May 4, 2001
Zach, the guidelines on in-thread self linkage have been eased considerably. Say someone's talking about genetically engineered food, and a few months ago you wrote a detailed thesis on it that supports or debunks the post.
You want to share that information, but probably don't want to cut and paste a few pages of text into MeFi, so you say "Hey, I wrote a thesis on this. To summarize, [insert position], but if you want more detail you can read what I dug up _here_."
The guidelines are to reduce the amount of flagrant self-promotion, not to limit knowledge, and Matt's changed them to reflect that.
posted by cCranium at 7:06 AM on May 4, 2001
You want to share that information, but probably don't want to cut and paste a few pages of text into MeFi, so you say "Hey, I wrote a thesis on this. To summarize, [insert position], but if you want more detail you can read what I dug up _here_."
The guidelines are to reduce the amount of flagrant self-promotion, not to limit knowledge, and Matt's changed them to reflect that.
posted by cCranium at 7:06 AM on May 4, 2001
Actually as I understand it, even linking to one's own stuff inside a MeFi thread is considered bad form. Not that this stops most people. Whenever I used to do it I'd get chewed out for it, but I strongly encourage everyone else to do it, in order to upset the self-appointed MFPD.
Still bitter about this, huh?
posted by rcade at 7:59 AM on May 4, 2001
Still bitter about this, huh?
posted by rcade at 7:59 AM on May 4, 2001
Damn straight, Rcade. -Er, uhm, I mean who me? hold a grudge?
Good point cCranium, but my original reason for bringing it up was to point out that though something may be 'bad form' they still do it. They just don't do it as much cuz then they suffer the consequences of such actions, and so inevitably MeFi and the 'Net as a whole has a tendency of policing itself. It's not fair, but that's life. Personally, I like "soloptic, regenerix, goofy with no point rhetorical babble." But that's just me.
posted by ZachsMind at 12:19 AM on May 5, 2001
Good point cCranium, but my original reason for bringing it up was to point out that though something may be 'bad form' they still do it. They just don't do it as much cuz then they suffer the consequences of such actions, and so inevitably MeFi and the 'Net as a whole has a tendency of policing itself. It's not fair, but that's life. Personally, I like "soloptic, regenerix, goofy with no point rhetorical babble." But that's just me.
posted by ZachsMind at 12:19 AM on May 5, 2001
I'm pretty much in agreement with you, Zach, that less restrictions and guidelines are better. Also, lenghty text is one of my hobbies, too. :-)
I don't think I know what we're debating? Are we debating? Where are my pants?
posted by cCranium at 8:56 AM on May 5, 2001
I don't think I know what we're debating? Are we debating? Where are my pants?
posted by cCranium at 8:56 AM on May 5, 2001
There is, however, a mailing list that was just started. I'm too lazy to dig up the link,
It's here.
posted by kindall at 4:43 PM on May 6, 2001
It's here.
posted by kindall at 4:43 PM on May 6, 2001
I think that another solution is one that's used positively on another board that I'm on...
When a thread turns bad, close it to new posts, but leave it up for all to see as a bad example. That way, we spread the message that the behavior is not acceptable and why it is.
That board doesn't have any problems. It's a much smaller community, but it's well-run and a real kick in the pants to be a part of.
posted by SpecialK at 1:28 PM on May 8, 2001
When a thread turns bad, close it to new posts, but leave it up for all to see as a bad example. That way, we spread the message that the behavior is not acceptable and why it is.
That board doesn't have any problems. It's a much smaller community, but it's well-run and a real kick in the pants to be a part of.
posted by SpecialK at 1:28 PM on May 8, 2001
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posted by rcade at 9:02 AM on April 30, 2001