It's a Parade, a Pee Parade June 18, 2006 3:01 PM   Subscribe

Must we pee on everyone's parade? [more inside]
posted by grapefruitmoon to Etiquette/Policy at 3:01 PM (102 comments total)

This is just the most recent comment that I've noticed in which someone posts solely to degrade an FPP. Now, I get that the snark is half the fun of MetaFilter, but can we as a group try and at least put in a modicum of effort and keep the snark FUNNY? Just saying "Fuck this" isn't very productive. Are we really a bunch of old crankypants-es who don't like anything?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:03 PM on June 18, 2006


yes
posted by mischief at 3:03 PM on June 18, 2006


Always nice to see someone who's been a member for a few months tell us what Mefi's for, too.
posted by scody at 3:06 PM on June 18, 2006


It looks like it.

And while I agree with the sentiment, isn't this about the third MeTa post in a week to express it? It's too hot for me to bother checking.
posted by languagehat at 3:06 PM on June 18, 2006


Sometimes, when one doesn't like a post, they should just move on. THAT SAID, when someone dislikes a comment, maybe they should just do the same.
posted by elwoodwiles at 3:10 PM on June 18, 2006


I don't know. I've been too busy to read MeTa this week. If it's really the third post, well... I guess we're just peeing a lot.

elwoodwiles: It's not the one comment, it's just the most recent example of a trend I've seen. Perhaps I should have found more examples, but really, I didn't want to destroy my soul by looking. (Yeah, I'm lazy.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:12 PM on June 18, 2006


Vindaloo is quite mistaken about what must be done on Metafilter. I'm assuming he wanted to inject that word into his otherwise crippled sentence. There are other words, of course, that would fit, but "must" serves my purposes, and so I shall provide for vindaloo what he could not: some semblance of coherent criticism.

Vindaloo, what we, as good MeFites, must do, is not comment on threads that provide for us no compelling interest. What we must do is learn that some people do enjoy binary effluvia that others do not. You, in particular, my dear anglicised curry, must rise to the standards which you seem to hold others to, and provide all good MeFites with a stellar FPP of sheer joy and beauty.

Until then, you can shut it.
posted by boo_radley at 3:21 PM on June 18, 2006


I can see where you are coming from, grapefruitmoon, and you're probably right.
But lately I find that the threads about why-are-people-so-mean are becoming just as plentiful and tiresome as the threads in which people are mean.

I think that what's happening is an unstoppable, natural progression toward an inevitable grouchy, nerdy, messy end.
Which may be a good thing.
posted by chococat at 3:21 PM on June 18, 2006


How about we rephrase that to "Must we pee on the parade of those who want a chatty thread about a well-known but uncompelling news item sourced from several unrevealing newswire articles?"

To which I might reply that "must" is too strong, but "shall" works fine and advise those who would post such threads to bring the umbrellas of their smiles to their threads.
posted by klangklangston at 3:28 PM on June 18, 2006


i think Mark Chapman needs a timeout.
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:30 PM on June 18, 2006


I'd like to state for the record that the user "Vindaloo" does not, nor has ever, represented Indian food. He brings shame to us proud Indians and our lovely food. Shame on you, Vindaloo, for creating any correlation between being an ass and Indian food.

I apologize for all Indian food connoisseurs all over the world. This is indeed a dark day for us.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 3:32 PM on June 18, 2006


"Are we really a bunch of old crankypants-es who don't like anything?"

Are we really a bunch of whiners who complain any time our precious snowflake is melted by flames?

Really, so long as we accept the first "old crankypants-es" designation for complainers, this becomes a battle of carping old people on both sides and thus spells the end for Metafilter.

Perhaps everything should be run through a 13375P34K3R so that we no longer understand each other well enough to moan in MeTa. It would also make us appealing to the Gen Y kids that I've been hearing so much about.
posted by klangklangston at 3:37 PM on June 18, 2006


I'm getting tired of douchebaggery getting labelled as snark.

Snark, whether cruel or benign, must include at least an ounce of wit or intelligence.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 3:38 PM on June 18, 2006


grapefruitmoon: here's one of the recent MeTa posts on the subject. You're not the only one who shares this perception of things getting pissier.

BTW, the convention used to be that one linked to MeTa threads within the post in question. It doesn't seem to be common practice now, so I don't know if there's a new consensus on the subject.
posted by obloquy at 3:38 PM on June 18, 2006


you've got to be kidding me.

the last thread on this topic is still on the front page.

someone close this, please. I beg you.
posted by shmegegge at 3:44 PM on June 18, 2006


Grapefruit, you are correct about level of snark being excessive. But it really is a terrible post. A washed up celebrity is getting old, and by the way, he was recently divorced. Farkin' awful. And you only draw more attention to the fact with this MeTa.
posted by LarryC at 3:51 PM on June 18, 2006


Obviously the best system to control this is a personal honour system of demerits. Open a spreadsheet and start yours today. Every time you pee in the MetaFilter pool, give yourself a demerit. Every time you do something truly wonderful, take away a demerit. Oh, I think I've found a flaw.
posted by Captaintripps at 4:09 PM on June 18, 2006


Now, I get that the snark is half the fun of MetaFilter, but can we as a group try and at least put in a modicum of effort and keep the snark FUNNY?

Reemphasizing this part for klang & others. Style, people.
posted by furiousthought at 4:11 PM on June 18, 2006


an unstoppable, natural progression toward an inevitable grouchy, nerdy, messy end

chococat, were you my high school guidance counselor?
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:23 PM on June 18, 2006


this is a pretty weaksauce callout.

but yeah complaining about FPPs is also weaksauce. so i am torn.
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 4:29 PM on June 18, 2006


So what was it about flagging the comment that was insufficient, grapefruitmoon? I'm just curious.
posted by mediareport at 4:33 PM on June 18, 2006


Always nice to see someone who's been a member for a few months tell us what Mefi's for, too.


Playing the seniority card? That's pretty fucking lazy.
posted by Neiltupper at 4:39 PM on June 18, 2006


2006, still alive, Sir Paul McCartney.
2006, not still alive, John Lennon
2006, why Oh why?!?, Yoko Ono
posted by blue_beetle at 4:40 PM on June 18, 2006


and whitey's on the moon.
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 4:43 PM on June 18, 2006


[Raises hand]
Ooo, ooo, Captaintripps, I need a new spreadsheet, mine's already full of awesome.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 4:44 PM on June 18, 2006


There's a difference between calling out weak FPPs, and the douchebag behaviour that this and the other thread on the same subject is about. I agree that neither McCartney's birthday, nor the chick with the 'minor celeb gives me a boner' T-shirt, were worthy of FPPs. But that is not reason for "Fuck McCartney" or "dumb shit of a female". Being offensive to the poster is one thing, but this level of OTT vitriol directed against people who are not party to the conversation, and for no obvious reason, is just nasty. In my opinion it warrants deletion and a brisk rogering with the ban-hammer.

Snarking at the poster is all part of the game, albeit a tedious part. I don't know why anybody would want MeFi to become a place where people come to post offensive comments about third parties with no justification or reason.
posted by nowonmai at 4:44 PM on June 18, 2006


two words :

FROG . CHORUS.
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:50 PM on June 18, 2006


I'm getting tired of douchebaggery getting labelled as snark. Snark, whether cruel or benign, must include at least an ounce of wit or intelligence.

Quoted for truth.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:50 PM on June 18, 2006


"Playing the seniority card? That's pretty fucking lazy."

Says another filthy $5 noob.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:50 PM on June 18, 2006


Whatever happened to Filthy5DollarNoob? That was a great user name.
posted by LarryC at 4:53 PM on June 18, 2006


I'm not going to blow $5 for that particular sockpuppet, but only because I'm poor. Otherwise it would totally be worth it.
posted by Astro Zombie at 4:57 PM on June 18, 2006


Is this where I can come complain about users who've never posted anything critiquing my latest effort as "Nice, but not exceptional, sorry." Because I sort of want to punch him and didn't want to get blood on the blue.
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:04 PM on June 18, 2006


GYOFPMB
posted by joe lisboa at 5:05 PM on June 18, 2006


"GYOFPMB"

That really needed to be posted twice.

Jerkass.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:15 PM on June 18, 2006


What does it mean?
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:25 PM on June 18, 2006


most of the problem with the fpp is that it's about paul mccartney ... vindaloo is just a hater
posted by pyramid termite at 5:33 PM on June 18, 2006


mediareport: It wasn't the particular comment that bothered me so much as how it was one comment in a slew of douchery. MeFi's supposed to be about self-policing and I thought maybe just maybe we could have a chat about how we really ought to stop peeing in the pool.

Also: I've seen way lamer posts than Paul McCartney's 64th birthday. (I guess I'm the only person here who likes Paul McCartney and thinks that it's kinda interesting *shrug*), but I try not to waste time with saying "Fuck this, why's it on Metafilter?"
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:36 PM on June 18, 2006


it wasn't the best post in the world ... kind of tabloid filter ... but i like paul, too
posted by pyramid termite at 5:42 PM on June 18, 2006


maybe just maybe we could have a chat about how we really ought to stop peeing in the pool.

PatronisingFilter.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:57 PM on June 18, 2006


That really needed to be posted twice.
Jerkass.


GYOFMEFI
posted by joe lisboa at 5:59 PM on June 18, 2006


I thought maybe just maybe we could have a chat about how we really ought to stop peeing in the pool.

Well, that's nice and all, but the normal guidelines about bothering to check the front page and recent archive before posting should probably still apply.
posted by mediareport at 6:06 PM on June 18, 2006


One mans urine is another mans Perrier , just ask Jack : )
posted by sgt.serenity at 6:21 PM on June 18, 2006


I guess I'm the only person here who likes Paul McCartney

I like McCartney, or I guess I should say, I like his music. I think he was by far the best singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and drummer in the Beatles, on top for being one of the most inventive bassists in popular music.
posted by timeistight at 6:39 PM on June 18, 2006


I apologize for all Indian food connoisseurs all over the world. This is indeed a dark day for us.

Mmmm (spoken out-loud in the voice of Homer Simpson): Aloo Bonda, Pakoda, Samosa, Aloo Tikki, Parantha, Poori, Chapatis and Rotis.
posted by ericb at 6:41 PM on June 18, 2006


What does it mean?

'get your own fucking paul mccartney blog', but as usual, the n00b blows it and mangles the original injoke - it should have been 'get your own paul mccartney blog, fuckwit'.
posted by quonsar at 6:51 PM on June 18, 2006


Remember when crash and quonsar were amusing? That's what the n00bs [sic] are really missing out on these days. But carry on, geezers.
posted by joe lisboa at 6:58 PM on June 18, 2006


I think he was by far the best singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and drummer in the Beatles, on top for being one of the most inventive bassists in popular music.

I don't know about best drummer or guitar player. But I agree he was the best all-around musician. And definitely the best singer, and a great bassist. I <3 Paul. I just saw him on a magazine cover, though, and he wasn't looking so good.
posted by ludwig_van at 7:15 PM on June 18, 2006


So what I'm really saying is, if admiring Paul McCartney is wrong, I don't want to be right.
posted by ludwig_van at 7:16 PM on June 18, 2006


Do you require drop down menus of awesome?

Alvy Ampersand: Ooo, ooo, Captaintripps, I need a new spreadsheet, mine's already full of awesome.
posted by Captaintripps at 7:23 PM on June 18, 2006


All we are saying, is give Paul a chance...
posted by mischief at 7:39 PM on June 18, 2006


Seriously, though, the snark level does seem to have risen significantly since Plastic crashed and burned. ;-P
posted by mischief at 7:42 PM on June 18, 2006


I'm getting tired of douchebaggery getting labelled as snark.

Snark, whether cruel or benign, must include at least an ounce of wit or intelligence.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:38 PM EST on June 18 [+fave] [!]

True, a little humor helps the douchebaggery go down. Poor vindaloo's lame comment was lacking in wit, style or substance, being nothing more than pure douchebaggery. For that he should be tarred and feathered.
posted by caddis at 7:44 PM on June 18, 2006


For that he should be tarred and feathered.

but ... but ... won't someone please think of the chickens?
posted by pyramid termite at 7:48 PM on June 18, 2006


OK, Fiberfill
posted by caddis at 7:51 PM on June 18, 2006


and no complaints about the former dinosaurs who now comprise the tar, they are too far gone to help
posted by caddis at 7:53 PM on June 18, 2006


Remember when crash and quonsar were amusing?

Don't know about quonsar, but crash's Vera, Chuck and Dave line was like getting hit in the stomach with a bag of oranges. Oranges of FUNNY. He had another funny today as well but it escapes my gnat-like attention span.
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:53 PM on June 18, 2006


Remember when crash and quonsar were amusing? ...
posted by joe lisboa at 9:58 PM EST on June 18 [+fave] [!]


another lamer with no gold record
posted by caddis at 8:00 PM on June 18, 2006


I flagged the FPP as noise, because McCartney having another birthday is not the best of the web. It's not even newsfilter (milestonefilter?). It's really material for one's own blog. But I didn't crap in the thread about it. I think we need a twominuteshate.mefi or something, where people can post intentionally bad links and other people can make comments in as obnoxious a style as they like. Then, once it's out of their system, they can log on to the regular site. If a user is flagged for hateful derails, they must proceed through the twominuteshate portal before being allowed onto the site, though anyone can voluntarily sign on there.
posted by Eideteker at 8:46 PM on June 18, 2006 [1 favorite]


Welcome to our l.
posted by Drastic at 8:57 PM on June 18, 2006


I flagged the FPP as noise, because McCartney having another birthday is not the best of the web

You do realize why the 64th birthday is special, right?
posted by smackfu at 9:15 PM on June 18, 2006


Playing the seniority card? That's pretty fucking lazy.

About par for the course, I'd say. But then, whiny victims like Vindaloo and his thread-shitting ilk would have no problem ruining this site with or without the sense of entitlement that the usual celebrities seem to think they provide.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:35 PM on June 18, 2006


another lamer with no gold record

We've been over this, dude. Not the argument you want to make, trust me. Unless this is part of an elaborate ruse to plug your Milli Vanilli 7" singles on ebay, give it a rest.
posted by joe lisboa at 10:17 PM on June 18, 2006


"You do realize why the 64th birthday is special, right?"

Yes, as did everyone* with an internet connection. Still not the best of the web. It's not the end of the world for either Vindaloo or grapefruitmoon. I feel people shouldn't post celebrity trivia to MeFi, but I also feel people shouldn't spew bile all over those who do (you can still object politely, last I checked). I just wanted to give my dos centavos on the issue in the hopes that my "flag it and move on" behavior would be a shining example to anyone bored enough to read this far down in the thread (i.e., only those users too entrenched to have an interest in modifying their posting behavior). I commented here because it's MetaTalk. That's what we do, we talk.

*(Here's two examples just from my lj friends list.)
posted by Eideteker at 10:19 PM on June 18, 2006


... or I could check my sarcasm meter, I suppose. Apologies, caddis.
posted by joe lisboa at 10:23 PM on June 18, 2006


Pete Townshend is now 61. Should he have written that song? Wouldn't it be a great metafilter post?

Hey, every single person in the world loves the Beatles, right?
posted by interrobang at 10:25 PM on June 18, 2006


I don't know about best drummer

McCartney's a damn fine drummer. Years ago, when a reporter asked John Lennon (who wasn't exactly a McCartney suck-up) whether he thought Ringo Starr was the best drummer in the world, Lennon replied, "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles."
posted by timeistight at 10:41 PM on June 18, 2006


I keep telling myself that soon the Boomers will have died off and then we will no longer have to put up with their insufferable insistence that their celebrity fellatio is totally different, man from everybody else's celebrity fellatio. But you've got to realize there's nothing to be done about it. MetaTalk threads won't help. Nothing will. It's best to keep your head down and let it go. Yes, it's MeFi as National Enquirer-filter, which is possibly the only thing worse than MeFi as NYT-filter, but there's no percentage in fighting these things. In a couple of years it'll all be over.

Of course, then we'll have to deal with the Gen-X crowd talking about how their obsession with Kurt Cobain is totally different, man from the rest of our obsessions. C'est la vie.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 10:57 PM on June 18, 2006


CunningLinguist writes "Is this where I can come complain about users who've never posted anything critiquing my latest effort as 'Nice, but not exceptional, sorry.' Because I sort of want to punch him and didn't want to get blood on the blue."

Come on. Are you being sarcastic? I'm squinting but I'm still not sure. Because that comment was valid criticism....of the site, not the post.
posted by peacay at 11:36 PM on June 18, 2006


Years ago, when a reporter asked John Lennon (who wasn't exactly a McCartney suck-up) whether he thought Ringo Starr was the best drummer in the world, Lennon replied, "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles."

Yeah yeah yeah. Lennon said other things that weren't true, too.
posted by ludwig_van at 11:37 PM on June 18, 2006


interrobang writes "Hey, every single person in the world loves the Beatles, right?"

In the same way everyone lives in NYC/Toronto.
posted by Mitheral at 11:38 PM on June 18, 2006


Yeah yeah yeah. Lennon said other things that weren't true, too.
posted by ludwig_van at 2:37 AM EST on June 19 [+fave] [!]


Paul does play drums better than Ringo. Just listen to the tracks he plays drums on. John Lennon happens to think so to, but even if Lennon was a liar or had the snark for Ringo, it's irrelevant, because you can hear it for yourself, with your own ears. I imagine opinions differ.
posted by juiceCake at 12:28 AM on June 19, 2006


IshmaelGraves: If you mean to imply that I as the originator of this post am a Boomer, I'm afraid you're going to have to revise your theory. I'm 24. And no, I'm not going to posting about Kurt Cobain anytime soon.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:23 AM on June 19, 2006


So, basically, what this boils down to is that we're only supposed to post about celebrities if they die so we can fill a thread with dots and snark and then have a flamewar about it, and everything else is "NationalEnquirerFilter?"
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:26 AM on June 19, 2006


WTF are you talking about Joe Lisbon -- with your goofy little acronyms. How about STFU? YDS.
posted by bim at 3:55 AM on June 19, 2006


What's with all the self loathing lately? If people hate this place so much, why does anyone hang around?
posted by Otis at 6:13 AM on June 19, 2006


So, basically, what this boils down to is that we're only supposed to post about celebrities if they die

No, we aren't supposed to post about celebrities at all. We are supposed to post the best of the web.
posted by LarryC at 7:55 AM on June 19, 2006


We are supposed to post the best of the web.

No, we're not. The best-of-the-web standard is deprecated. The phrase was originally part of the posting page but was replaced some years back with, "Found something cool on the web and want to share it with everyone else? Great!"
posted by monju_bosatsu at 8:38 AM on June 19, 2006


Well, add up all the "something cools" and you get the "best of the web," don't you?
posted by scarabic at 8:43 AM on June 19, 2006


What's with all the self loathing lately? If people hate this place so much, why does anyone hang around?

I don't know, to be honest. But the thread-shitters are really, really tiresome. Knock it off in the blue, guys, and take your insecurities to Metafilter already. Jesus.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:45 AM on June 19, 2006


that's pretty funny coming from someone whose username is Blazecock Pileon
posted by caddis at 8:58 AM on June 19, 2006


What's with all the snark? It's the beginning of summer; people are hot and bothered, I'm guessing.

Also, I think people still hang around here because they're waiting for everyone else to leave so they get the place for themselves.
posted by dazed_one at 9:15 AM on June 19, 2006


I've always thought that Ringo is a vastly underrated drummer
posted by matteo at 9:33 AM on June 19, 2006


Paul did not play better drums than Ringo in The Beatles.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:00 AM on June 19, 2006


Wasn't the "ludwig van" what they drove his drums around in?
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:16 AM on June 19, 2006


In the same way everyone lives in NYC/Toronto. - Mitheral

Ha! I feel your pain, brother.

/another (mildly bitter) Western Canadian
posted by raedyn at 10:52 AM on June 19, 2006


Wait, you mean there are MetaFilter members who do not live in NYC or Toronto? Huh.
posted by GuyZero at 11:23 AM on June 19, 2006


Well, add up all the "something cools" and you get the "best of the web," don't you?

Only if you subtract all the "something completely fucking terribles".
posted by darukaru at 12:01 PM on June 19, 2006


"Is this where I can come complain about users who've never posted anything critiquing my latest effort as 'Nice, but not exceptional, sorry.' Because I sort of want to punch him and didn't want to get blood on the blue."

That's my dad!
posted by klangklangston at 12:34 PM on June 19, 2006


I've always thought that Ringo is a vastly underrated drummer

I agree. He wasn't flashy like Moon or Bonham or a rhythm machine like Bernard Purdie, butfor what the Beatles were doing? Perfectly efficient.
posted by jonmc at 1:20 PM on June 19, 2006


Paul does play drums better than Ringo. Just listen to the tracks he plays drums on.

Which tracks are these?
posted by caddis at 1:20 PM on June 19, 2006


Any track Ringo sings. He can't do EVERYTHING, you know.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:37 PM on June 19, 2006


Yes he can. He can build a castle from a single grain of sand. He can make the seasons change just by wavin' his hand.
posted by jonmc at 1:40 PM on June 19, 2006


No, no, no, no. He don't smoke it no more, he's tired of waking up on the floor.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:42 PM on June 19, 2006


Paul McCartney played drums on "Back In The USSR," "Dear Prudence," and "The Ballad of John and Yoko". Ringo Starr played on everything else except the single version of "Love Me Do" on which he only played tambourine. (The drums were played by session musician Andy White.)

I believe McCartney played all the drums on his "Band On The Run" album.
posted by timeistight at 2:06 PM on June 19, 2006


Some guy named brainwashed says: As far as officially released material goes. McCartney plays drums on Back In The USSR and Dear Prudence, both recorded when Ringo temporarily quit the group. He was a one-man band on the short Wild Honey Pie, again uncredited at the time. I agree, that it wasn't commonly known that he played on those songs, but it's also untrue that McCartney overdubbed his own drum tracks, thereby erasing Ringo's after recording sessions were over...didn't happen. He also plays drums on Ballad Of John And Yoko....this time Ringo was filming Magic Christian and was unable to attend this hastily arranged recording session.
posted by caddis at 2:19 PM on June 19, 2006


The Sixties were holy ! Seize the Unbelievers !
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:13 PM on June 19, 2006


No, we're not. The best-of-the-web standard is deprecated.

Well, that's pretty dumb, monju. What are supposed to post, even in lieu of that standard, if not the best stuff we find?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:05 PM on June 19, 2006


Well, whatever we find, of course! So far, it's working pretty well, don't you think?
posted by dg at 7:58 PM on June 19, 2006


BIMISAFDBICBIJTI
posted by joe lisboa at 11:24 PM on June 19, 2006


what?
posted by joe lisboa at 11:25 PM on June 19, 2006


metafilter does not scale...
posted by Dreamghost at 2:17 AM on June 20, 2006


ringo was one of the great drummers of the 60s ... it's about feel and groove and he had both ... a lot of today's drummers in well known bands have neither ... they do have pro tools, though ...
posted by pyramid termite at 6:30 AM on June 20, 2006


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