This smells like chatfilter December 8, 2006 5:45 PM   Subscribe

This smells like chatfilter--the circumcision of Stalin's declawed cats kind of chatfilter.
posted by fandango_matt to Etiquette/Policy at 5:45 PM (24 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble



With the way the question was phrased, I was sure the conversation would devolve into a flame-fest. But, so far, I was wrong. The answers have been very helpful, in my opinion.

Hopefully it stays that way.
posted by drleary at 5:59 PM on December 8, 2006


Jessamyn commented in that thread, which means that 1., she probably thinks it's a viable question, and 2., she's aware of what's going on in the thread. Therefore, this metatalk post is completely pointless.
posted by interrobang at 6:01 PM on December 8, 2006


Therefore, this metatalk post is completely pointless.

Only half-pointless so far.
posted by mendel at 6:11 PM on December 8, 2006


'Twas brillig, and the slithy words
Did gyre and gimble in the thread;
All mimsy were the inside jokes,
And the image tags outgrabe.

'Beware the Callout, my son!
The jaws that bite, the pitchforks that catch!
Beware the Selflink bird, and shun
The frumious Spammersnatch!'

He took his flagging sword in hand:
Long time the Mefi foe he sought--
So rested he by the Mathowie tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Callout, with comments of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey thread,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The snarking blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

'And hast thou slain the Callout beast?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy words
Did gyre and gimble in the thread;
All mimsy were the inside jokes,
And the image tags outgrabe.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:14 PM on December 8, 2006 [9 favorites]


I don't think there's any way to stop people from asking questions that are in "problem areas".

OTOH, Matt could add some more flag options for this kind of thing. The ones that we have are really pretty crummy. I guess "derail" or "noise" might work, but I'd probably end up going with "other", and then the admins would have to read the tea leaves to figure it out.
posted by smackfu at 6:23 PM on December 8, 2006


What are you wittering on about? It was asked then answered. However, ignore the silly people who say metaTalk callouts might be pointless. Most especially recognize this one is special.
posted by econous at 6:43 PM on December 8, 2006


Dammit, beetle, you ripped of my MetaWonky!
posted by Eideteker at 6:53 PM on December 8, 2006


I contributed to that thread trying to set a tone that was a little different from the "OMG CATSTRATION" implication in the question. I think most people followed ssuit and tried to give reasonable answers. No love to the jokey animal condom response.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:55 PM on December 8, 2006



'sgetem
yes, let's get them
those three words rolled into one set off
a barking frenzy
sent them charging the sliding glass door
abhoring the neighbor's cats that taunted them
from the patio
long after the fence went up to keep the cats at bay
kiss the cats goodbye
silly dogs

Faith Elizabeth Brigham
posted by edgeways at 6:55 PM on December 8, 2006


Well I don't know where they come from
But they sure do come
These questions sure plaguing me
And I don't know how they do it
But they sure do answer good
I hope they please hopin' me

They give me ChatFilter fever
ChatFilter fever...
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:21 PM on December 8, 2006


flagged as offensive.
posted by bob sarabia at 7:28 PM on December 8, 2006


A blatant case of false advertising, this is. My appetite for declawed dictator feline circumcision news will not be sated today, it seems.
posted by clevershark at 7:48 PM on December 8, 2006 [1 favorite]


I think our friend phrontist is having a little trouble with those "guidelines" things...
posted by Jimbob at 8:23 PM on December 8, 2006


What dleary said.

The question as worded is flame-bait. Luckily mefi has some smart little fishies that know better.

Why are so many purported "animal lovers" pro-spaying/neutering?

The poster questions the morals of those who spay or neuter their animals. The question definitely has the potential to elicit similarly condescending responses.

I mean, given that the procedure involves permanently castrating another living being, you'd think there'd be more controversy surrounding it!

The way this is worded, I find it hard to believe the asker actually wants informed responses as to why spaying/neutering is popular. They seem to have already made up their mind that it's wrong and to want to stir up said controversy that the world lacks.

Despite this, most of the responses have been informative and explain the reasons why it is so common, and arguably less cruel than not spaying or neutering.

Just because the responders have shown exceptionally good manners doesn't mean questions like this shouldn't be discouraged. As long as the thread is going well, it's probably not necessary to delete, but the callout is warranted to discourage questions like this, in case jess isn't around to set a good tone, or someone else gets to the question and derails before anything can be done.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 12:07 AM on December 9, 2006


i'm not in the mood for a banning today, so instead of posting this in axme, i'll put it here...

yest another poor slob who cannot distinguish between himself and a beast is heard from.

<nasal whine>
why do so many purported "nature lovers" administer antibiotics to kill bacteria? how can they do that to other living beings?
</nasal whine>

the solution is in your pyramid. go sit in your pyramid and gaze into a crystal or two. that and some monotonic droning will soon balance the great karmic wheel.

(yes, i already know that a cat is a higher lifeform than a bacteria, don't bother explaining. i will not be impressed by your incisive insight.)
posted by quonsar at 10:07 AM on December 9, 2006 [1 favorite]


q sure has some incisive incisors.
posted by Jimbob at 12:08 PM on December 9, 2006


"Incisors inside incinerators insinuate insidiously," insisted Inskeep.
posted by cog_nate at 1:06 PM on December 9, 2006


I neutered my bacteria.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:29 PM on December 9, 2006


This comment:

I'm really not trying to stir things up and infact always have had neutered cats, but go back to the olden days and replace "pet" with "negro" or something and this gets quite creepy.

...is not only stupid and a derail, but it has inspired a continuing if sporadic derail; it and the follow-ups should be deleted.
posted by languagehat at 2:49 PM on December 9, 2006


already handled my friend, already handled.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:03 PM on December 9, 2006


Gracias, amiga!
posted by languagehat at 7:38 AM on December 10, 2006


What if you replace negro with robot or cat with cyanobacteria? What then, Mr. Smart Guy?
posted by Optimus Chyme at 12:58 PM on December 10, 2006


Where can I donate to the United Robot College Fund?
posted by aberrant at 5:05 PM on December 10, 2006


A positronic brain is a terrible thing to waste.
posted by languagehat at 5:40 PM on December 10, 2006 [2 favorites]


« Older Cleanup needed   |   MeFi on NPR Newer »

This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments