Askme advice advocating illegal property damage and assault goes too far

November 6, 2006 8:01 AM

This Askme comment advocating illegal property damage and assault, needs to be deleted and the commenter, one Meatbomb, should probably get a time out. Normally I would just flag and move on, but it's hard enough as it is to make helpful posts in legal threads. I really don't want to be in the same thread along with such nonsense, even if it's only there for a few hours before deletion.
posted by footnote to Etiquette/Policy at 8:01 AM (54 comments total)

D'ya think it's possible that the poster, one 'Meatbomb', if that is his real name, is indulging in hyperbole for the purpose of satire?
posted by punilux at 8:07 AM on November 6, 2006

Not that it has any place in Ask, but I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm.

But sometimes I don't even know any more.
posted by loquacious at 8:07 AM on November 6, 2006

"For archival purposes"? Doesn't that rather defeat the point of deleting it?

I think the original comment, along with footnote's rather inexplicable copy, should be deleted.
posted by matthewr at 8:08 AM on November 6, 2006

That whole question is annoying and a rant that should be on a blog. But maybe posting it here will at least get some ignorance fought.
posted by smackfu at 8:09 AM on November 6, 2006

Enough already with Meatbomb.
posted by cribcage at 8:10 AM on November 6, 2006

I thought of that too matthewr - but my purpose in posting to metatalk was to address these kinds of messages in general, and that's something you can't really talk about without a real example. I'm not *that* paranoid about having my "name" associated with the comment one time; it's the general principle I'm worried about.

Also, I don't believe the comment was sarcastic.
posted by footnote at 8:12 AM on November 6, 2006

Also, I don't believe the comment was sarcastic.

Sounds pretty much like Meatbomb's sense of humor. But, yeah. Jokey answers don't help in AxMe, and I think this definitely falls in this catagory. I think it falls way short of "time-out" territory, though.
posted by ColdChef at 8:21 AM on November 6, 2006

Proposing RantFilter as a spin-off site.
posted by blag at 8:23 AM on November 6, 2006

Sarcasm (and that was sarcasm whether intended or not) in a rant about how to get back at a class action lawyer who has gotten a free $10 worth of services for the OP yet made $500,000 for himself is not out of line. The original post "question" should be toasted.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:37 AM on November 6, 2006

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter and birth your three-headed mutant stepchildren.
posted by loquacious at 8:37 AM on November 6, 2006

Yeah, seems to me like a hyperbolic, jokey comment to make a point. The comment should probably be deleted, but, really, I don't think this calls for a timeout.
posted by Stauf at 8:37 AM on November 6, 2006

Argh, I mean:

Proposing RantFilter as a spin-off site.

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter and birth your three-headed mutant stepchildren.
posted by loquacious at 8:38 AM on November 6, 2006

Banning's too good for him. I think. I'm not even sure what that means. It's not time out material.

Have we enacted the corporeal punishment API yet? I'm thinking "mob spanking", no?
posted by loquacious at 8:40 AM on November 6, 2006

Have we enacted the corporeal punishment API yet?

Spank 2.0
posted by cortex at 8:48 AM on November 6, 2006

Christ, what a trainwreck. Let's move the whole thing here. Alternately, we could save up and send krautland a "class action for dummies" book. Also wtf, meatbomb? Are you deranged?
posted by boo_radley at 8:50 AM on November 6, 2006

Please limit comments to answers or help in finding an answer. Wisecracks don't help people find answers. Thanks.

So sayeth the rules. Ignoring them should warrant a timeout. I don't understand the reasoning behind, "Yes, it should be deleted, but he shouldn't be punished." In other words, AskMe shouldn't tolerate sarcastic comments forever — just for an hour or two. And it's OK to throw trash in the hallway, as long as we know the janitor will clean it up.

Given the totality of circumstances, I'd say to hell with a timeout. Didn't he just beg his way out of a timeout last week, presumably by promising to knock off his bullshit? This were my sandbox, it'd be hammer time.
posted by cribcage at 8:50 AM on November 6, 2006

Didn't he just beg his way out of a timeout last week, presumably by promising to knock off his bullshit? This were my sandbox, it'd be hammer time.

Oral sex has a way of softening that blow.
posted by loquacious at 8:53 AM on November 6, 2006

Meatbomb is probably just incredibly stoned again.
posted by Bugbread at 8:54 AM on November 6, 2006

Alternate suggestion: Gift this guy a MeFi membership, when he signs up and enters his lat/long on his user page, we've got him! We then propose a meet-up at his house and trash his stuff. And then ban him.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:59 AM on November 6, 2006

The whole question is a mental prolapse. About halfway through reading it I began subconsciously trying to delete it with my mind, just like I try to explode rude people on the subway with telekinesis.

Meatbomb's question was just putting a funny decorative touch on a sinking ship that was not long for this world, IMO. Which, while unhelpful, should not curl anyone's lip into a sneer.

At this point there are enough users that we are all in the same thread with such nonsense.
posted by hermitosis at 9:22 AM on November 6, 2006

Meatbomb's question was just putting a funny decorative touch on a sinking ship that was not long for this world, IMO.

I don't agree - the question was too long and too ranty, but the specific problem of "what rights to class action objectors have" is pretty important, and the answers were serious and helpful until the Meatbomb was dropped.
posted by footnote at 9:29 AM on November 6, 2006

my purpose in posting to metatalk was to address these kinds of messages in general

so file a class action. include me.
posted by quonsar at 9:46 AM on November 6, 2006

Also wtf, meatbomb? Are you deranged?

Yes, he is. And that is why we love him.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 10:02 AM on November 6, 2006

I specifically came over here to MeTa hoping for another Meatbomb callout. Thanks!
posted by StickyCarpet at 10:22 AM on November 6, 2006

Yes he is, and that's why Kraftmatic Cheese loves a Meatbomb. Any other foods want to weigh in?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 10:25 AM on November 6, 2006

I think we're going to have to start disallowing "Help me get my revenge on X" questions. They never go well, they often wind up in metatalk, they get people saying "why do you want revenge, get over it" as often as giving helpful suggestions, and they take up way too much time for how useful they seem to be. Rantfilter is really not what AskMe is for. There are many excellent revenge books available at the library or bookstore.

I removed the question and, for posterity, Metabomb's comment.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:29 AM on November 6, 2006

I spent eighteen years at Riker's thanks to one of Metbomb's AskMe answers.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:46 AM on November 6, 2006 [1 favorite]

It's wear I lernt to red and writ.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:47 AM on November 6, 2006

I think such an outrageous "question" deserves an equally outrageous "answer"...
posted by youngergirl44 at 11:05 AM on November 6, 2006

Have we enacted the corporeal punishment API yet?

Spank 2.0:

ghostSpank() {
return false;
}

(yes - I know coporeal is an older version, but still...)
posted by Sparx at 11:22 AM on November 6, 2006

you see, if you don’t do anything, you are still a part to this lawsuit, you are still bound by the agreement they entered to but you get nothing...can you tell I'm pissed?

Wow. I can understand an honest question about how class actions work, but the "I already have a ginormous vengeful chip on my shoulder while being completely ignorant of the basic relevant reality" rant is hilarious. Good riddance.
posted by mediareport at 11:58 AM on November 6, 2006

I removed the question and, for posterity, Metabomb's comment.

Are you serious? That gets deleted, despite part of the question including "should I do nothing" but the 50% of answers that are nothing but slop stands in this question? I can't remember the last time I saw so many completely offensive examples of people violating the rules, castigating the poster and generally making their own issues part of the thread rather than just shutting the hell up if they had nothing to contribute.

I think it's horrible that you've moved on to judging the merit of questions based on the number of jackass responses they get rather than dealing with the jackasses.
posted by phearlez at 12:09 PM on November 6, 2006

I think AstroZombie deserves a timeout for making fun of prison education!
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:19 PM on November 6, 2006

I think we're going to have to start disallowing "Help me get my revenge on X" questions.

Can we disallow tattle-tales instead?
posted by mullacc at 12:44 PM on November 6, 2006

I think it's horrible that you've moved on to judging the merit of questions based on the number of jackass responses they get rather than dealing with the jackasses.

Huh? It was a crappy rantquestion that also had jackass answers. It wasn't delete because of the answers.
posted by smackfu at 12:58 PM on November 6, 2006

Are you serious? That gets deleted, despite part of the question including "should I do nothing" but the 50% of answers that are nothing but slop stands in this question?

It got deleted because of the first 13 paragraphs, not the last one.
posted by mendel at 1:04 PM on November 6, 2006

I could care less about that crappy question, my issue is with the fact that other questions aren't getting the iron fist they need.
posted by phearlez at 1:48 PM on November 6, 2006

my issue is with the fact that other questions aren't getting the iron fist they need.

People hadn't flagged them and I didn't read that question so I didn't see all the slop. I went back and did a little tidying up in that thread. Email also works great for this sort of notification.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:04 PM on November 6, 2006

Email also works great for this sort of notification.

But it's not nearly as satisfying!
posted by cortex at 2:20 PM on November 6, 2006

I think it's horrible that this thread wasn't closed at the precise moment that jessamyn deleted the question and meatbomb's answer.
posted by koeselitz at 2:33 PM on November 6, 2006

I think it's horrible that we made koeselitz reply to this thread.
posted by boo_radley at 2:54 PM on November 6, 2006

I think we're going to have to start disallowing "Help me get my revenge on X" questions.

erch. I find meatbomb's answer, which I only read here, to be a weak attempt at being funny. suffice to say I wouldn't act upon it.

but I disagree with the notion my question might be just a rant or a way to seek revenge. I obviously do not know how to properly react to such a notification and it was an attempt to (a) highlight my confusion and frustration and (b) ask what I could do in order to get the point across that I don't like the way these guys used my name without permission.

that is, as far as I am concerned, a legit attempt to seek advise.
posted by krautland at 2:59 PM on November 6, 2006

If that's not a reason to sign up as many socks puppets as I can afford, I don't know what is.
posted by boo_radley at 3:48 PM on November 6, 2006

I would totally sic Eileen A. Pomento of Krasno, Krasno, and Onwudinjo on his ass.
posted by 31d1 at 4:23 PM on November 6, 2006

I removed the comment reposted here and other mentions of the law firm. It's a juvenile attempt to googlebomb the law firm's name and I don't think people understand that I'm the one with my ass on the line when you make a comment like that. I am getting demands to remove silly googlebomb type stuff every couple weeks now and I know law firms watch this stuff very closely and are quite inflexible about the terms of removal from the site and google. These jokey things bring me a rash of shit so I've removed them from this thread and given Meatbomb another timeout. He apologized last time for vandalizing the site but I don't think he gets it when he continues to do dumb stuff like this.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:25 PM on November 6, 2006

hold on ... you mean it's legally problematic to mention the law firm?
posted by krautland at 5:09 PM on November 6, 2006

When a whole bunch of people start getting jokey and commenting "Haughey and West LLC stole my milk money and gave me a wedgie. Haughey and West LLC rape hedgehogs." that tends to show up when these folks Google themselves. We get a fair amount of email from people saying they've been slandered or libelled by stuff on the site, often just jokey shit that people post when they're mad at a self-linker. It causes problems.

This is not to say that you can't mention a company that has given you problems, just that when people take that and run with it, as in this case -- with the full name of the firm spelled out in each and every instance, especially with a lot of links back to the company's pages which makes them even more likely to find it -- it's likely to show up in Google searches and bring heat back down on the site. Even a few pronouns would help things. MetaFilter exists less and less in a vacuum and the things people say here have farther reaching consequences sometimes than just blowing of fsteam on a website.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:15 PM on November 6, 2006

MetaFilter Network LLC totally gave a wedgie to my stolen money with a milky hedgehog.
posted by qvantamon at 6:24 PM on November 6, 2006

With great power comes great responsibility.

/said with great sarcasm.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:52 PM on November 6, 2006

I wonder whatever happened to those folks at Critical IP?
posted by timeistight at 2:02 AM on November 7, 2006

yes, I did googlebomb a long time ago and I realize it was stupid. I did a lot of stupid things when I was younger.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:16 AM on November 7, 2006

Didn't we all. And the length of time we were "young and stupid" gets longer every year.
posted by timeistight at 9:40 AM on November 7, 2006

I wore a neon yellow balloon jacket in the early nineties. talk about youth and stupidity.

hey ... considering my question "disappeared" ... shouldn't I get another one?
posted by krautland at 8:04 PM on November 7, 2006

In about six days, yeah. :)
posted by cortex at 8:37 PM on November 7, 2006