Metafilter got pegged?

April 14, 2007 12:43 AM

Is this who I think it is?
posted by YoBananaBoy to MetaFilter-Related at 12:43 AM (116 comments total)

Did I miss this celebrity outing on the grey?
posted by YoBananaBoy at 12:44 AM on April 14, 2007

Why would it be?
posted by edgeways at 12:52 AM on April 14, 2007

The website points for the profile points to Savage's column. And the profile name smacks of his sensibility.

Not trying to ruffle feathers, just wondering.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 12:54 AM on April 14, 2007

And English is my first language.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 12:54 AM on April 14, 2007

I doubt he'd sign up as 'Dump The MotherFucker Already!' any more than Samuel L. Jackson would sign up as 'Bad Motherfucker'. It's not the celeb sensibility.
posted by Firas at 1:02 AM on April 14, 2007

Yeah, I guess so. And the person only is posting comments on askme RelationshipFilter. Just schtick I suppose.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 1:17 AM on April 14, 2007

a guy who discusses people's anal herpes sores in print for a living is a "celeb"?
posted by matteo at 1:17 AM on April 14, 2007

Well, it's not anyone's sensibility. I don't know, it's like signing up as the name of a character from your book. A bit declasse.
posted by Firas at 1:22 AM on April 14, 2007

Worst callout ever.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 1:22 AM on April 14, 2007

Yeah, you are right, matteo. I guess nobody has heard of him.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 1:23 AM on April 14, 2007

Sorry for the lameness on that. I didn't think of it as a callout. I thought callouts were for lame posts. Like my is devolving to.

Just saw it and thought I would ask.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 1:26 AM on April 14, 2007

Adam has specifically requested that MetaFilter not include any more Savages, and I believe Matt is honoring that request.
posted by wendell at 1:26 AM on April 14, 2007 [4 favorites]

my mine

ok, going to bed.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 1:27 AM on April 14, 2007

Dan Savage answers people's personal questions for money, I would be surprised to find him doing the same thing for fun, and the handle feels wrong (yes, I know he uses the phrase in his column a lot).

On the same sort of subject though, I wonder how many well-known people find themselves reading discussions about their latest project here, consider commenting, but then can't be bothered with the account creation process. Some kind of "Are you the subject of this post? Click here to email your comments to the site administrator" for non logged-in users might tempt a few more celebrity surfers to show themselves.
posted by teleskiving at 1:35 AM on April 14, 2007

*performs obligatory hobbyhorse expression of loathing for the word 'callout'*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:56 AM on April 14, 2007

How much you wanna bet that sockpuppet account was created while somebody was reading this thread?
posted by Rhomboid at 2:15 AM on April 14, 2007

I'm thinking Dan Savage wouldn't be giving advice on carpentry, from what I've read in his column. The sentence My son has two fathers, but Heather Poe’s left labial lip is butcher than both of us put together comes to mind.
posted by needs more cowbell at 3:54 AM on April 14, 2007

Why would he give it out for free?
posted by drezdn at 5:02 AM on April 14, 2007

Because he screwed up and bought a cow?
posted by yerfatma at 5:32 AM on April 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

I think Rhomboid has the right idea but the wrong thread: seems like the culprit, especially considering the dates of that thread and of the account's creation.

And yeah, it's definitely a sockpuppet.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:54 AM on April 14, 2007

So has anyone besides me emailed him?
posted by iconomy at 6:58 AM on April 14, 2007

So has anyone besides me emailed him?

What are we, journalists?

Well, I am, but what about the rest of us?
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:04 AM on April 14, 2007

thanks, cortex.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 7:13 AM on April 14, 2007

This is as good a place as any to resurrect an old idea of mine.

Seriously. A DTMFA flag on AskMe. Consider it.
posted by googly at 7:26 AM on April 14, 2007

It doesn't read like his writing style.
posted by EarBucket at 7:34 AM on April 14, 2007

I really hope it's not him. I'd hate to have a crowd of his fans join up just to increase the possibility of his answering their queries. We have more than enough RelationshipFilter around here lately as it is.

/pissybastard
posted by nevercalm at 7:43 AM on April 14, 2007

This made my day:

If the pressures of a baby on the way drive your boyfriend into the bat-wings of curvy, older women, PREG, he's going to be deflowering goats by the side of the road once he's confronted with the pressures of a baby on the premises.
posted by who squared at 8:01 AM on April 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'd noticed the username, and assumed it was someone who just wanted to tell people to DTMFA. I don't think Dan Savage is the only one giving out that sort of advice.
posted by yohko at 8:07 AM on April 14, 2007

...into the bat-wings of curvy, older women...

Er... I thought 'bat-wings' was when, on a hot and sticky day, a guy's nuts stick to his thighs causing scrotal stretching upon movement.
posted by CKmtl at 8:44 AM on April 14, 2007

I thought that was the flying squirrel.
posted by The Straightener at 9:10 AM on April 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Nice girls not one with a defect,
cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct.
Red dogs under illegal legs.
She looks so good that he gets down and begs.
She is watching the Metafilter detectives.
"ooh, he's so cute!"
She is watching the Metafilter detectives
when they shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.
They beat him up until the teardrops start,
but he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no heart.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:12 AM on April 14, 2007

Dan's reply:

not me. i have no my space page, no facebook, no metafilter. i don't even maintain my own website. i'm... too... lazy.

xo
dan
posted by iconomy at 9:18 AM on April 14, 2007

I've been reading his column since '92 & '93. I'm not literary detective, but I'd be surprised if the column and those answers were written by the same person.
posted by Good Brain at 9:19 AM on April 14, 2007

MetaFilter: i have no my space page, no facebook, no metafilter.
posted by rxrfrx at 9:19 AM on April 14, 2007

Dan Savage answers people's personal questions for money, I would be surprised to find him doing the same thing for fun, and the handle feels wrong (yes, I know he uses the phrase in his column a lot).

That's silly. Look at someone like ikkyu2. Some people love what they do for a living and even do it for free in their spare time.

That said, I think it's absurdly silly to imagine that that poster is actually dan savage. I mean, it could be him, it could also be anyone who reads his articles.
posted by delmoi at 9:39 AM on April 14, 2007

It's definitely not Dan Savage, it's an existing member.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:04 AM on April 14, 2007

Dan Savage answers people's personal questions for money, I would be surprised to find him doing the same thing for fun, and the handle feels wrong (yes, I know he uses the phrase in his column a lot).

Not true. I've emailed him two or three questions over the years, none of which made it into a column, and in all three instances had a reply within 24 hours.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:28 AM on April 14, 2007

I intend to bring this thread together with the Vonnegut obit thread as follows:

If Vonnegut were to join mefi, before he died, chances are his username would either be suitably anonymous or if he didn't feel the need for anonymity it would be KVonnegut or KurtV or something like that. It would probably not be KilgoreTrout, or CatsCradleBitches, or anything like that. On the other hand, you'd likely find a mefite name KilgoreTrout (actually, don't we have someone along those lines?) who is simply a fan of Vonnegut.

similarly, I'm positive that this is Dan Savage.
posted by shmegegge at 10:41 AM on April 14, 2007

so, how many celebs DO we have here, I wonder?

Besides Matt, of course.
posted by konolia at 10:54 AM on April 14, 2007

Adam, of course!
posted by k8t at 11:07 AM on April 14, 2007

me! ; >

a guy who discusses people's anal herpes sores in print for a living is a "celeb"?
I'd say his books and activism and this infamous "licking the doorknobs when sick" thing at Bauer's campaign office--Germ Warfare--Dan Savage Goes Undercover to the Iowa Caucuses and Gives Gary Bauer the Flu Bug
posted by amberglow at 11:20 AM on April 14, 2007

it's an existing member.
posted by mathowie at 12:04 PM on April 14

.... who needs that account for what reason? To be anonymous in responding to relationship questions and to use such an oh-so-edgy username while doing so?
posted by dios at 1:11 PM on April 14, 2007

dirtynumbangelboy typed "Not true. I've emailed him two or three questions over the years, none of which made it into a column, and in all three instances had a reply within 24 hours."

Really? Do most advice columnists do that? That makes me gain a lot of respect for him.
posted by roll truck roll at 1:22 PM on April 14, 2007

...might tempt a few more celebrity surfers to show themselves.

And this would be a good thing, why?
posted by signal at 1:27 PM on April 14, 2007

Because my chest isn't going to pull out a magic marker and sign itself.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:31 PM on April 14, 2007 [4 favorites]

I would ask you to show me an online message board site in which subjects of posts show up to talk about them more than on metafilter. It happens quite often. If anything, I'd say the donation encourages it, as it severely decreases the chances of impostors.
posted by roll truck roll at 1:41 PM on April 14, 2007

so, how many celebs DO we have here, I wonder?

John Hodgman, for one, but he hasn't posted for at least a few years. Too bad actually, because Hodgman's Daily Show persona pretty much nails the whole Metafilter attitude/ethic.
posted by psmealey at 2:00 PM on April 14, 2007

Eh. He signed his posts.
posted by poxuppit at 2:28 PM on April 14, 2007

He was Todd Lokken before it was cool to be Todd Lokken.
posted by drezdn at 3:16 PM on April 14, 2007

Being able to respond to relationship questions anonymously can be just as useful as being able to ask them anonymously. A good answer might involve sharing a personal experience that is every bit as sensitive as the original question.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 3:22 PM on April 14, 2007

I love it when sock puppets defend each other. It has such a... schizophrenic feel to it.
posted by dios at 3:28 PM on April 14, 2007

In the book of record that Mr. Parris keeps, I note that you are rarely in the church on Sabbath Day.
posted by Firas at 3:30 PM on April 14, 2007

So pretending to be someone else is the new "anonymous"?
posted by YoBananaBoy at 3:32 PM on April 14, 2007

If being anonymous is the sole determinant for being a sock puppet, there are several people who don't post their personal information in their profiles — and that makes them sock puppets, too, by their own definition.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:48 PM on April 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America typed "Being able to respond to relationship questions anonymously can be just as useful as being able to ask them anonymously. A good answer might involve sharing a personal experience that is every bit as sensitive as the original question."

Yes, and people do share such answers in every relationship AskMe. But they've grown past the incident and, thus, are able to look at it objectively.

I'm sure there are all kinds of exceptions, but I'd say that there's a correlation between one's willingness to put his or her name on an answer and the insightfulness of that answer.
posted by roll truck roll at 3:51 PM on April 14, 2007

don't we have Suzie Bright as a member too?

/sex columnists
posted by amberglow at 4:02 PM on April 14, 2007

Apropos of nuttin': Dr. Ruth served as a sniper and a lookout for the Haganah after Israel's founding.
posted by rob511 at 4:04 PM on April 14, 2007

Really? Do most advice columnists do that?

I don't know about "most," but Randy Cohen wrote back to me -- with sound advice -- when I e-mailed him a question.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:06 PM on April 14, 2007

Sockpuppets are for losers.
posted by PinkSomethin'Somethin' at 4:07 PM on April 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

TPS? Or PST?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:11 PM on April 14, 2007

dirtynumbangelboy typed "Not true. I've emailed him two or three questions over the years, none of which made it into a column, and in all three instances had a reply within 24 hours."

Really? Do most advice columnists do that? That makes me gain a lot of respect for him.
posted by roll truck roll at 4:22 PM on April 14 [+]
[!]

No clue if others do it, but he did.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 4:26 PM on April 14, 2007

I love it when sock puppets defend each other.

Now you're just getting paranoid.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 4:39 PM on April 14, 2007

Now you're just getting paranoid.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 6:39 PM on April 14

How is that a sign of paranoia? Either I am right or wrong that you are a sock puppet, but either way, that doesn't really display any paranoia because I didn't suggest you are out to get me. I just have assumed that you are a sock puppet because of your contrived name which seems to be sock puppet. See, the people who make sock puppets always seem to make the same mistakes. They don't make sockpuppets that are indiscreet like "mlj33f." No, they try to be clever and witty in their names. And your name reads to me as something akin to "McFunny Funstein's Hilarious Username butts lol." That coupled with your embrace of primarily Metatalk smacks of someone who is not a new user. We see new users all the time. They don't pick ostentatious names usually, and they usually don't become big Metatalkers from the git-go.

Now maybe I'm wrong about that. But even if I am, how is the observation I just made any sign of paranoia? My comments consisted of (1) a question of why the admins allow them since there doesn't seem to be a good reason for it, and (2) that it is funny when sock puppets defend each other. Neither of those two statements appear to be a sign of "fear of my own well-being" does it?
posted by dios at 4:53 PM on April 14, 2007

McFunny Funstein's Hilarious Username butts lol would be a great user name.
posted by PinkSomethin'Somethin' at 5:00 PM on April 14, 2007

People who are afraid of sock puppets always make the same mistakes. They don't behave discreetly. No, they try to point out sockpuppets at every turn.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 5:05 PM on April 14, 2007

Sockpuppets at every turn! AAAAGGHHH!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:11 PM on April 14, 2007

How can anyone be afraid of sockpuppets?
posted by CKmtl at 5:18 PM on April 14, 2007

My feelings precisely, CKmtl. That said, whether or not dios is afraid of sockpuppets, I think he is, even though I have no way of knowing.

I do know, though, because that's my opinion, and I've constructed an ad hoc justification to support it!
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 5:20 PM on April 14, 2007

Neither of those two statements appear to be a sign of "fear of my own well-being" does it?
No, just a sign of being hyper-sensitive about everything happening at MetaFilter that doesn't live up to your own arbitrary standards. But then, I can understand why you're a little extra pissy-pants right now, as a Bush-supporting lawyer in Texas. I'm surprised you're not too busy deleting emails to visit the LeftyFilter.
posted by wendell at 5:34 PM on April 14, 2007

My theory: Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America is dios.
posted by delmoi at 5:37 PM on April 14, 2007

If being anonymous is the sole determinant for being a sock puppet, there are several people who don't post their personal information in their profiles — and that makes them sock puppets, too, by their own definition.

Yay, another entirely agenda-free comment from Blazecock Pileon! Wait a second...
posted by Aloysius Bear at 5:38 PM on April 14, 2007

Blazecock Pileon: I just looked at your profile. When did you out yourself? I'm asking because I was pretty sure I knew who you were, but I'm wondering if I knew before you outed yourself.
posted by delmoi at 5:42 PM on April 14, 2007

MetaFilter: Sockpuppets at every turn!
posted by iguanapolitico at 5:45 PM on April 14, 2007

You know, I like Metafilter and all that, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not very important.

Go outside. Get laid. 'cause in the end, no one is going to be on their death bed wishing they had spent more time on Metafilter.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:09 PM on April 14, 2007

Speak for yourself, Brandon Blatcher!
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 6:20 PM on April 14, 2007

All this talk of sock puppets is sheer nonsense. Why, I assure you, there is no such thing.
posted by [more inside] at 6:24 PM on April 14, 2007

I'm actually jealous of people who can create and maintain sockpuppets. I'm not creative enough to write in a different style.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 6:55 PM on April 14, 2007

MY OTHER ACCOUNT IS ALSO A DOUCHEBAG
posted by Mister_A at 7:22 PM on April 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

I suppose the username " Bush-loving Texas Lawyer" is already taken.
posted by Balisong at 7:22 PM on April 14, 2007

Yes, and people do share such answers in every relationship AskMe. But they've grown past the incident and, thus, are able to look at it objectively.

Erm, it's entirely possible to be insightful without being objective. Or free from embarrassment.

Besides, it's perfectly reasonable to use a sock puppet to post in relationship questions because you want to protect the anonymity of the other people involved.
posted by oneirodynia at 7:49 PM on April 14, 2007

Yay, another entirely agenda-free comment from Blazecock Pileon! Wait a second...

It's true though. If we need to get rid of sock puppets because they are anonymous, then we need to get rid of people who don't put their personal information into their profiles.

Fair is fair, unless you have an agenda, of course...
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:15 PM on April 14, 2007

If we need to get rid of sock puppets because they are anonymous, then we need to get rid of people who don't put their personal information into their profiles.

Sounds good to me. I think anonymity on this site should go. Jes' my lil' opinion...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:23 PM on April 14, 2007

Let the witchhunt begin, then.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:26 PM on April 14, 2007

I doubt my employer would be pleased to learn I was affiliated with a site like Metafilter.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 8:37 PM on April 14, 2007

I don't doubt there would be many who would be affected negatively by having their personal information posted against their wishes.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:44 PM on April 14, 2007

IHNJH, IJLTS "What's this milky white liquid in my yam?"

(From a recent AskMe post.)
posted by davy at 8:44 PM on April 14, 2007

In real life I'm secretly Martin Bormann.
posted by davy at 8:47 PM on April 14, 2007

Martin Borman, Nazi in Exile
posted by hortense at 9:07 PM on April 14, 2007

Funny thing: My mother used to work with a woman named Marta Biermann. Who was Argentinian. She--my mother--made a comment one day about Marta's real name being Bormann... oops.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:12 PM on April 14, 2007

Knowing who Blazecock Pileon is makes me wonder how many other infamous mefites return under a sock puppet.
posted by who squared at 4:22 AM on April 15, 2007

"Our country will be great if we honor the ways of our forefathers, do what the authorities tell us to do, and get rid of the ‘rotten apples’ who are ruining everything."
posted by y2karl at 8:40 AM on April 15, 2007

It's true though. If we need to get rid of sock puppets because they are anonymous, then we need to get rid of people who don't put their personal information into their profiles.

Didn't you only put your name in your profile after dios outed you?
posted by shmegegge at 11:39 AM on April 15, 2007

And fwiw, if you want to answer an AskMe question anonymously, then do what this person did. Email the admins and ask them to post is for you. No sock puppet needed.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 12:10 PM on April 15, 2007

Mmmm...but I've had requests for anonymity denied and had to post under my own name or not at all. I can see why some people prefer a sock puppet (although I haven't got one).
posted by acoutu at 7:41 PM on April 15, 2007

The conversation about getting rid of anonymity seems misplaced to me. Am I missing something? I could list anyone's first and last names in my profile, and none of you would know whether or not it was true. I also firmly believe that listing a lot of identifying information on the Internet can be dangerous and I prefer to avoid it when possible.
posted by juliplease at 8:28 PM on April 15, 2007

You must forgive the doddering among us.
posted by Firas at 8:35 PM on April 15, 2007

Sometimes I engage in anonymous flatulence in crowded places.

As do some MeFiers, though their flatulence is more often referred to as "a comment".
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:02 PM on April 15, 2007

Didn't you only put your name in your profile after dios outed you?

No, but I see why you'd want to say that.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:37 AM on April 16, 2007

What a weird derail this took.

See, the people who make sock puppets always seem to make the same mistakes. They don't make sockpuppets that are indiscreet like "mlj33f."

Don't call me stupid, you cumsnortin shit. Deception is not intended, so there's no failure of discretion. We just like signing our stuff with stupid little phrases. Why does it bother you so much?
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 5:56 AM on April 16, 2007

so, how many celebs DO we have here, I wonder?

What? It's been two days since konolia asked this, and nobody's mentioned Woz?
posted by lodev at 6:08 AM on April 16, 2007

No, but I see why you'd want to say that.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:37 AM on April 16 [+] [!]

It wasn't meant as an attack or anything, sorry. I just honestly thought you only put your info in your account after that thread where dios went a little apeshit about you and y2karl and comment favoriting.
posted by shmegegge at 7:57 AM on April 16, 2007

Sometimes I engage in anonymous flatulence in crowded places.

I remember reading an account in a local bike messenger zine about the schadenfreude in cutting a juicy wet one in a very crowded elevator on the way to a local mega law firm's reception. I've always waited for the next car when running into bike messengers at the elevator since.
posted by y2karl at 8:10 AM on April 16, 2007

y2karl, was that 'zine in or of Philly? I wrote a thing like that once...
posted by Mister_A at 8:21 AM on April 16, 2007

It was in Seattle and about 15 years ago...
posted by y2karl at 8:30 AM on April 16, 2007

It's definitely not Dan Savage, it's an existing member.
posted by mathowie

I was under the impression that you guys delete sock puppet accounts when you discover them. Was I wrong?
posted by vytae at 8:35 AM on April 16, 2007

Ahh crap. Well that sorta thing is in the air, eh?

rimshot
posted by Mister_A at 8:54 AM on April 16, 2007

I think the better historical summary is "you guys ban sock puppet accounts when you discover that they're doing something completely awful, or sufficiently annoying and indefensible on a bad day." There's never been a blanket ban, that I can recall.

A general feeling that they can sometimes be kind of lame? Sure.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:25 AM on April 16, 2007

I started life as a sockpuppet but the hand that controlled me withered and died; much to my surprise, I found I could operate just fine without a hand wiggling around in my bottom half.
posted by breezeway at 10:08 AM on April 16, 2007

So, clearly, breezeway is also no Dan Savage.
posted by Mister_A at 10:19 AM on April 16, 2007 [1 favorite]

Thanks for the clarification, cortex.
posted by vytae at 11:16 AM on April 16, 2007

Apropos of nothing, everytime I read the definition of "santorum", I begin to get a serious craving for Orange Julius.

Mmmm. That frothy mix...
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:19 AM on April 16, 2007

I meant "not" up there...
posted by Mister_A at 11:27 AM on April 16, 2007

I like it better as rendered, Mister A. Reminds me of Quayle's dressing-down.

"Sir, I knew Dan Savage, I watched gay porn with Dan Savage, and you, sir..."
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:41 AM on April 16, 2007

Ya, it is good that way. Wish I could claim authorial intent.
posted by Mister_A at 12:02 PM on April 16, 2007

I just honestly thought you only put your info in your account after that thread where dios went a little apeshit about you and y2karl and comment favoriting.

It's been there awhile before that, actually. And I genuinely appreciate that you mention that you're not trying to pick a fight.

I figured I had (privately) apologized enough to those people who I was an asshole to over a year ago, and I didn't see the need to remain anonymous just to give ammo to a certain few people who were following me around the site and continue to do so (including exploiting a now-closed security loophole to fuck with my account last week).

One problem is that there are some people with a bizarre fetish for outing anonymous accounts, even though they themselves don't put any personal information in their own profile.

Perhaps these folks should come clean, if they are courageous enough to tell everyone else how to behave.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:27 PM on April 16, 2007

Is this who I think it is?

No.

I was under the impression that you guys delete sock puppet accounts when you discover them. Was I wrong?

Yes.
posted by Dump The MotherFucker Already! at 4:54 PM on April 16, 2007