Is this some trick to make me look stupid?

July 20, 2006 6:18 PM

I just posted a comment that showed no other comments on preview but there were two comments when I did post (a couple of minutes ahead of me so no simultaneous posting). Is this some trick to make me look stupid? Sorry, stupider?
posted by fenriq to Bugs at 6:18 PM (19 comments total)

I like to think of it as more of a fiendish plan, thank you very much.
posted by cortex at 6:23 PM on July 20, 2006

I've noticed this a few times too.
posted by Gator at 6:23 PM on July 20, 2006

Ahh, quite right, cortex, it would be more likely to be a fiendish plan. I think need a member named MeddlingKids to sort this out!
posted by fenriq at 6:32 PM on July 20, 2006

I don't think it's a trick. A trap, however, it may be.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:35 PM on July 20, 2006

I don't think it's a trick. A trap, however, it may be.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:55 PM on July 20, 2006

Shit. There it is again.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:56 PM on July 20, 2006

Maybe some kind of caching? There are many steps along the way where caching may take place.
posted by scarabic at 7:11 PM on July 20, 2006

Cache as cache can.
posted by Falconetti at 7:17 PM on July 20, 2006

I'll solve your cash problem, just send me your cash, and it will no longer be a problem for you.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:25 PM on July 20, 2006

I vote for fiendish plan.

On the technical side though, you must consider that the web is an asynchronous communication medium; you previewing your post does not reserve you a position in the thread (even if it did, that would not solve the problem). Between you previewing and you posting, it's entirely possible for umpteen other people to post something.

If you're bored and have a technical bent, try googling for "asynchronous message passing" and "distributed termination detection". It's a fundamental issue with networks, you can't have instantaneous knowledge about what is happening elsewhere; it helps to think of it in vaguely the same light as relativity.
posted by polyglot at 9:50 PM on July 20, 2006

This vibrate, it traps?
posted by ludwig_van at 10:24 PM on July 20, 2006

I blame Hammer.


posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:11 PM on July 20, 2006

I just posted two comments to the Simpson map post and each time I previewed there were no comments.
posted by tellurian at 11:38 PM on July 20, 2006

First post!
posted by languagehat at 6:40 AM on July 21, 2006

Damn, where did all you people come from?
posted by languagehat at 6:40 AM on July 21, 2006

The front page is static and only updates every five minutes.
posted by Mitheral at 7:35 AM on July 21, 2006

Please Hammer, don't hurt him.

Oh. Too late..
posted by Chuckles at 8:31 AM on July 21, 2006

What are you all talking about?
fenriq's bug is real, as at this date.
posted by tellurian at 9:55 AM on July 21, 2006

who are you calling an 'as at,' you as at!
posted by crunchland at 2:12 PM on July 21, 2006