Dear AskMe June 23, 2007 7:42 PM Subscribe
Dear Askme, where can I get crystals to channel my energy flow and make me a better person? Free or cheap, please. (MI)
When did we get taken over by loons, anyway?
It began shortly after February 18, 2000, I think.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:49 PM on June 23, 2007 [16 favorites]
It began shortly after February 18, 2000, I think.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:49 PM on June 23, 2007 [16 favorites]
These seem to go in descending order of looniness. For instance, I don't see anything wrong with the last two.
Those first couple are pretty hilarious, however... MIND MACHINES wooooOOoooOo
They are basically harmless, however. This is the kind of craziness I can successfully ignore, because it's almost impossible to hurt someone with it. I don't care if some dork likes to sniff crystals for mystical occult knowledge-acquisition. Maybe you could argue that it hurts the reputation of AskMe, but I'd prefer that the site's reputation as a place where you can ask anything be preserved, rather than some amorphous dignity.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 7:50 PM on June 23, 2007
Those first couple are pretty hilarious, however... MIND MACHINES wooooOOoooOo
They are basically harmless, however. This is the kind of craziness I can successfully ignore, because it's almost impossible to hurt someone with it. I don't care if some dork likes to sniff crystals for mystical occult knowledge-acquisition. Maybe you could argue that it hurts the reputation of AskMe, but I'd prefer that the site's reputation as a place where you can ask anything be preserved, rather than some amorphous dignity.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 7:50 PM on June 23, 2007
Metafilter: taken over by loons
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:51 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:51 PM on June 23, 2007
It began shortly after February 18, 2000, I think.
Probably so. I sometimes think I was the last rational member to join.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 7:54 PM on June 23, 2007
Probably so. I sometimes think I was the last rational member to join.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 7:54 PM on June 23, 2007
What exactly is so loony about wanting to work less? That sounds like a damned fine idea to me. Admittedly pseudoscientific hokum seems to me to have been a bit more prominent in the last year or so, but even that isn't so terribly pronounced an effect. But I don't see where "I want to work less and spend fewer dollars as a result" even registers on the hokum scale.
Did you mean to link to something else?
posted by majick at 7:54 PM on June 23, 2007
Did you mean to link to something else?
posted by majick at 7:54 PM on June 23, 2007
Ah, there's always been loonies on mefi. I remember a few years ago there was some bugshit crazy man who tried to claim that there were places on earth where gravity acted radically different than is currently understood by science. He wouldn't let it go when other people explained how wrong he was too. Wish I could find that thread (it had to do with roadside attractions like The Mystery Spot if memory serves), it was hilarious.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 7:56 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 7:56 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
Probably so. I sometimes think I was the last rational member to join.
Will you please post some catgirl pictures now? That would be real swell.
Dude, you're calling out solar panels, carbon calculators and alternative work arrangements?
Here's my in-depth analysis and fully articulated reply: FUCKING LAME.
posted by loquacious at 8:00 PM on June 23, 2007 [12 favorites]
Will you please post some catgirl pictures now? That would be real swell.
Dude, you're calling out solar panels, carbon calculators and alternative work arrangements?
Here's my in-depth analysis and fully articulated reply: FUCKING LAME.
posted by loquacious at 8:00 PM on June 23, 2007 [12 favorites]
Found it (it was the Oregon Vortex, not the Mystery Spot).
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 8:02 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 8:02 PM on June 23, 2007
They're just asking questions... questions that even I think are weird (or at least the first one), but they're not chatfilter or anything else that breaks the guidelines.
At least the 2nd one says "Hay guys, is this a loada crap?", so if you really want to get your superiority on, you can link to 50 sites that proclaim how unfathomably huge your dick is and how evil PhotoReading is. I tried to address the poster's curiosity about it, while dismissing PhotoReading.
At least you can work few hours (or have work in a fun environment) and get enough money to live on, and solar panels can actually power light fixtures (it's the latest research, brand-spanking new concept, cutting edge, difficult technical jargon like 'sun' and 'light', etc.). Now, getting cheap ones is a different matter, but AskMe has pulled surprises out of its collective anal sphincter a few times.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 8:05 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
At least the 2nd one says "Hay guys, is this a loada crap?", so if you really want to get your superiority on, you can link to 50 sites that proclaim how unfathomably huge your dick is and how evil PhotoReading is. I tried to address the poster's curiosity about it, while dismissing PhotoReading.
At least you can work few hours (or have work in a fun environment) and get enough money to live on, and solar panels can actually power light fixtures (it's the latest research, brand-spanking new concept, cutting edge, difficult technical jargon like 'sun' and 'light', etc.). Now, getting cheap ones is a different matter, but AskMe has pulled surprises out of its collective anal sphincter a few times.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 8:05 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
Metafilter: get your superiority on
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:07 PM on June 23, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:07 PM on June 23, 2007 [3 favorites]
Also, couldn't you have found some AskMe questions about granola, tofu, yogurt or medical marijuana to call out? How about organic produce?
I think it's really, really important we find out exactly where the loony-bar is set on Steven C. Den Beste.
Not so we can protect his delicate, conservative sensibilities, but so we can torment and mock him mercilessly. Let's take him to the Rainbow Gathering and Burning Man and see which irritates him more. We can make him not shower for a month and subsist on nothing but magic brownies washed down with patchouli oil and lentil shakes.
FOR SCIENCE!
posted by loquacious at 8:10 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
I think it's really, really important we find out exactly where the loony-bar is set on Steven C. Den Beste.
Not so we can protect his delicate, conservative sensibilities, but so we can torment and mock him mercilessly. Let's take him to the Rainbow Gathering and Burning Man and see which irritates him more. We can make him not shower for a month and subsist on nothing but magic brownies washed down with patchouli oil and lentil shakes.
FOR SCIENCE!
posted by loquacious at 8:10 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
silently thanks flibbertigibbet for mefi projects post/business plan/instant web 2.0 hit: 50 sites that instantly proclaim how unfathomably huge your dick is
posted by bhance at 8:10 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by bhance at 8:10 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
50 sites that proclaim how unfathomably huge your dick is
Sounds like my kind of place.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:22 PM on June 23, 2007
Sounds like my kind of place.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:22 PM on June 23, 2007
Sounds like my kind of place.
You know, it's funny - but that's what your mom said.
posted by loquacious at 8:23 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
You know, it's funny - but that's what your mom said.
posted by loquacious at 8:23 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
'Work less and live more' isn't loony, you bonehead. It's the opposite of loony.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:25 PM on June 23, 2007 [4 favorites]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:25 PM on June 23, 2007 [4 favorites]
Oh, yes, you're completely right, Steven. Obviously, carbon footprint calculators, wanting to work less, and solar panels fall into the same category as crystals and mind machines. The green needs a good solid dose of hard-nosed rationality, and I for one hope that the community can pull it together and restore some sanity there.
In fact, I intend to do my part in that as soon as possible, and post a question which will reflect the tough-minded, scientifically accurate worldview that Steven has been such a champion of. I'm having trouble deciding between "How do I convince people that global warming is a lie spread by a cabal of liberal scientists?" or "George W. Bush- Greatest leader in human history, or just American history?", but as soon as I do, I'm off to AskMe to strike a blow for rational thought and the Enlightenment.
posted by a louis wain cat at 8:34 PM on June 23, 2007 [10 favorites]
In fact, I intend to do my part in that as soon as possible, and post a question which will reflect the tough-minded, scientifically accurate worldview that Steven has been such a champion of. I'm having trouble deciding between "How do I convince people that global warming is a lie spread by a cabal of liberal scientists?" or "George W. Bush- Greatest leader in human history, or just American history?", but as soon as I do, I'm off to AskMe to strike a blow for rational thought and the Enlightenment.
posted by a louis wain cat at 8:34 PM on June 23, 2007 [10 favorites]
But it's been a real struggle today to prevent myself from cussing out a lot of posters for rank stupidity.
just imagine how nancy pelosi and harry reid feel
posted by pyramid termite at 8:34 PM on June 23, 2007
just imagine how nancy pelosi and harry reid feel
posted by pyramid termite at 8:34 PM on June 23, 2007
You've been here over 7 years, and you're just starting to notice the loonies?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:36 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:36 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
The Photoreading question was just a shit question, regardless of its subject. If I asked something like "What's the deal with Microsoft Word" I'd expect that to be deleted too.
posted by grouse at 8:38 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by grouse at 8:38 PM on June 23, 2007
The plaintive call of the Great Northern Loon often disolves into an eerie warble that most closely resembles the manic laughter of our dead and bitter innocence.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:43 PM on June 23, 2007 [10 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:43 PM on June 23, 2007 [10 favorites]
You are the last bastion of rationality on this site? Then it's strange how so often when you declaim on a subject that someone who is actually expert in it comes along to debunk you. Your energies would be better spent worrying less about the questions others ask and more about answering others accurately. Or sanely, if you prefer.
posted by melissa may at 8:44 PM on June 23, 2007 [8 favorites]
posted by melissa may at 8:44 PM on June 23, 2007 [8 favorites]
'Work less and live more' isn't loony, you bonehead. It's the opposite of loony.
I have long suspected that the wonderchicken was far wiser than he looks.
I sometimes think I was the last rational member to join.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste (user/462)
Sorry, man, that honor belongs to whomever took number 205.
posted by wendell (user/206)
posted by wendell at 8:44 PM on June 23, 2007
I have long suspected that the wonderchicken was far wiser than he looks.
I sometimes think I was the last rational member to join.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste (user/462)
Sorry, man, that honor belongs to whomever took number 205.
posted by wendell (user/206)
posted by wendell at 8:44 PM on June 23, 2007
You are the last bastion of rationality on this site?
come on, he's not responsible for the circumstances of his birth
posted by pyramid termite at 8:54 PM on June 23, 2007
come on, he's not responsible for the circumstances of his birth
posted by pyramid termite at 8:54 PM on June 23, 2007
Seriously, this better be a troll. If so, take two bonus cards, 2 hp and 2 free mana points. Comon, Steven. Say something. Trigger my nerd umbrage! I have 500 particularly diverse links primed and ready, about everything from the verified scientific principles of brainwave entrainment via photo-neural synthesis to Burroughsian poetry-prose cutups and dream machines, to tessellated recursive art, to the history of psychedelics in the computing industry - all of them aimed at your head for the singular purpose of blowing your fucking mind wide open, maaaaaan.
I know what you're thinking. "Did he post 500 links or only 499?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is the internet, the most powerful mind-altering substance in the world, and would blow your head wide open, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?
posted by loquacious at 8:56 PM on June 23, 2007 [5 favorites]
I know what you're thinking. "Did he post 500 links or only 499?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is the internet, the most powerful mind-altering substance in the world, and would blow your head wide open, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?
posted by loquacious at 8:56 PM on June 23, 2007 [5 favorites]
This is the dumbest fucking call out ever.
posted by empath at 9:02 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by empath at 9:02 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
You forgot Muslims, melissa may.
Oh, and I think one time, someone may have posted an AskMe about making money! What a conservative looney tool LOL.
posted by ibmcginty at 9:09 PM on June 23, 2007
Oh, and I think one time, someone may have posted an AskMe about making money! What a conservative looney tool LOL.
posted by ibmcginty at 9:09 PM on June 23, 2007
I don't think anyone's saying that solar panels are stupid per se, it's just that the particular question about them was stupid.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 9:10 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by Aloysius Bear at 9:10 PM on June 23, 2007
Again I'm just a little verklempt. A little emotional, little verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic. The Progressive Era was neither progressive nor an era. Discuss!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:16 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:16 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
Wow. This is a truly disgusting MeTa post - one whose only purpose is to make fun of questions other people find interesting. This is really not an appropriate use of MeTa.
And the only proper response is "fuck off, asshole," but I'm way too polite to say it.
posted by mediareport at 9:20 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
And the only proper response is "fuck off, asshole," but I'm way too polite to say it.
posted by mediareport at 9:20 PM on June 23, 2007 [2 favorites]
I'd say this is only like, the 24th dumbest callout ever, but still well within "fuck off, asshole" territory. Go Iraq War!
posted by rxrfrx at 9:29 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by rxrfrx at 9:29 PM on June 23, 2007
Probably so. I sometimes think I was the last rational member to join.
Just out of curiosity, what exactly is your problem with not wanting to work 9-5?
posted by delmoi at 9:36 PM on June 23, 2007
Just out of curiosity, what exactly is your problem with not wanting to work 9-5?
posted by delmoi at 9:36 PM on June 23, 2007
Dear AskMetafilter: How hard do I have to wish to get my wish to come true?
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:07 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:07 PM on June 23, 2007
Steven, you might just be spending a little too much time on the green.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:21 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:21 PM on June 23, 2007
I was gonna come in here and talk about how lame this callout was, but then everybody who commented in this thread beat me to it. So... yeah. What everybody said.
posted by shmegegge at 10:43 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by shmegegge at 10:43 PM on June 23, 2007
Magical thinking is not going to save us from the catastrophic disaster we're creating for ourselves. Popularizing magical thinking weakens us collectively.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:43 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by five fresh fish at 10:43 PM on June 23, 2007
Wow. Was this necessary?
Nope, bad callout. Either self aggrandizing or intentional attempt to piss everyone off. If it was possible to time out someone from one aspect of the site for a week or so I'd say this would be a prime reason to do so. Otherwise I wish there was a "too jerkry" flag to use.
posted by edgeways at 11:03 PM on June 23, 2007
Nope, bad callout. Either self aggrandizing or intentional attempt to piss everyone off. If it was possible to time out someone from one aspect of the site for a week or so I'd say this would be a prime reason to do so. Otherwise I wish there was a "too jerkry" flag to use.
posted by edgeways at 11:03 PM on June 23, 2007
If it's that much of a struggle, maybe you're not masturbating enough. I hear that can lead to a build up of negative energy.
posted by Many bubbles at 11:41 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by Many bubbles at 11:41 PM on June 23, 2007
We can live on potatoes and nothing else whatever for years at a time.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 11:43 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by Zed_Lopez at 11:43 PM on June 23, 2007
* shakes head at extensive loon coddle-ing *
Steven C. Den Beste - I feel your pain but hey, it's Saturday night and half the online population are baked. It's a magical time when mind machines, Steve Pavlina, money for nothing, and taking your dorm room off the grid all make sense, see?
posted by scheptech at 11:56 PM on June 23, 2007
Steven C. Den Beste - I feel your pain but hey, it's Saturday night and half the online population are baked. It's a magical time when mind machines, Steve Pavlina, money for nothing, and taking your dorm room off the grid all make sense, see?
posted by scheptech at 11:56 PM on June 23, 2007
Dear Askme, where can I get crystals to channel my energy flow and make me a better person?
Have I got a crystal for you: Atacamite. It's an inexpensive crystal which is known for its healing powers and its ability to remove energy blocks. It's used by loons who practice acupuncture to release energy throughout the body. It also increases the energy flow to the genitals and the rectum, which means it's perfect for anyone who's got something lodged up their butt.
posted by iconomy at 12:02 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
Have I got a crystal for you: Atacamite. It's an inexpensive crystal which is known for its healing powers and its ability to remove energy blocks. It's used by loons who practice acupuncture to release energy throughout the body. It also increases the energy flow to the genitals and the rectum, which means it's perfect for anyone who's got something lodged up their butt.
posted by iconomy at 12:02 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
What in the fuck?
What did you even hope to achieve here? "Right, ok, we'll put a filter on that... uh... y'know filters out... the dumb questions?" You just came in here and said "I find it hard to control myself because I think the questions people are asking are stupid." Thanks for sharing, pal, don't you have a blog or something for that insightful commentary?
"Yes hello, is this the police? I need a squad car dispatched immediately.
My emergency is that I was just on the internet, and there was someone on it with a different opinion! ARREST THIS MAN IMMEDIATLEY, HIS BEHAVIOUR CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO PERSIST!!!"
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 12:12 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
What did you even hope to achieve here? "Right, ok, we'll put a filter on that... uh... y'know filters out... the dumb questions?" You just came in here and said "I find it hard to control myself because I think the questions people are asking are stupid." Thanks for sharing, pal, don't you have a blog or something for that insightful commentary?
"Yes hello, is this the police? I need a squad car dispatched immediately.
My emergency is that I was just on the internet, and there was someone on it with a different opinion! ARREST THIS MAN IMMEDIATLEY, HIS BEHAVIOUR CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO PERSIST!!!"
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 12:12 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
We can make him not shower for a month and subsist on nothing but magic brownies washed down with patchouli oil and lentil shakes.
How much does this camp cost and do you have any spaces left for July? Will I need a tent or do we stay in cabins?
posted by biscotti at 12:14 AM on June 24, 2007
How much does this camp cost and do you have any spaces left for July? Will I need a tent or do we stay in cabins?
posted by biscotti at 12:14 AM on June 24, 2007
This is the nth dumbest callout ever!
(where n = the number of callouts in the history of MeTa).
posted by ORthey at 12:25 AM on June 24, 2007
(where n = the number of callouts in the history of MeTa).
posted by ORthey at 12:25 AM on June 24, 2007
Wait... that doesn't quite work. The point is, all callouts are dumb.
posted by ORthey at 12:28 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by ORthey at 12:28 AM on June 24, 2007
If you slice your Steven C. Den Beste thin enough, it ought to supply a whole course of poultice treatments for catamite butt.
posted by peacay at 12:29 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by peacay at 12:29 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
Catgirls like crystals.
posted by exlotuseater at 12:33 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by exlotuseater at 12:33 AM on June 24, 2007
You forgot to link to your opinions on constitutional law.
posted by Falconetti at 1:04 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by Falconetti at 1:04 AM on June 24, 2007
See, this is what I was talking about.
posted by sluglicker at 1:55 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by sluglicker at 1:55 AM on June 24, 2007
jesus, that vortex thing is fucking idiotic.
posted by sergeant sandwich at 2:34 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by sergeant sandwich at 2:34 AM on June 24, 2007
Metafilter: proclaim how unfathomably huge your dick is.
Dmd, I just had my first MRI experience, can't say it was pleasant.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:46 AM on June 24, 2007
Dmd, I just had my first MRI experience, can't say it was pleasant.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:46 AM on June 24, 2007
Doh, this is so easy.
If you hook the crystals up in the shape of the sacred syllable om and hang them by a south-facing window (your feng shui expert will give detailed siting advice), you'll not only generate enough qi energy to power all the appliances on your entire dorm floor, the profits from selling the excess to the national grid will allow you to retire early and work on your Photoreading skills.
At the same time as absorbing atmospheric carbon and outputting it as rainbows and the faint scent of sandalwood, the good "vibrations" that are a by-product of this process will eventually reach out to release the long-imprisoned inner children of the socially inept and self-delusional everywhere.
Whilst these are just a few of the miraculous benefits that come when you tap this mystical primal force, don't expect it to make libertarianism palatable to anyone with a shred of human decency. I cannot in all conscience give an answer that encourages you in your la-la land fantasies.
posted by Abiezer at 2:46 AM on June 24, 2007
If you hook the crystals up in the shape of the sacred syllable om and hang them by a south-facing window (your feng shui expert will give detailed siting advice), you'll not only generate enough qi energy to power all the appliances on your entire dorm floor, the profits from selling the excess to the national grid will allow you to retire early and work on your Photoreading skills.
At the same time as absorbing atmospheric carbon and outputting it as rainbows and the faint scent of sandalwood, the good "vibrations" that are a by-product of this process will eventually reach out to release the long-imprisoned inner children of the socially inept and self-delusional everywhere.
Whilst these are just a few of the miraculous benefits that come when you tap this mystical primal force, don't expect it to make libertarianism palatable to anyone with a shred of human decency. I cannot in all conscience give an answer that encourages you in your la-la land fantasies.
posted by Abiezer at 2:46 AM on June 24, 2007
Poorly conceived call-out, but it does make a point. In the green, the emphasis has traditionally been on the quality of the answer. The quality of the question is challenged in only the worst cases. This imbalance may really be becoming more of a problem.
posted by klarck at 3:52 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by klarck at 3:52 AM on June 24, 2007
I sometimes think I was the least rational member to join.
for you, i feexed that.
posted by Hat Maui at 4:22 AM on June 24, 2007
for you, i feexed that.
posted by Hat Maui at 4:22 AM on June 24, 2007
Hat Maui, for you, I'm Felix the Cat.
I can't decide whether or not the pun is funny. But I will post it regardless of its humor, by Crom!
posted by cgc373 at 5:13 AM on June 24, 2007
I can't decide whether or not the pun is funny. But I will post it regardless of its humor, by Crom!
posted by cgc373 at 5:13 AM on June 24, 2007
My dad used to tell me that there's no such thing as a stupid question. But assuming SCDB is right, what is supposed to be done about it? There's no systemic way to deal with the problem. Should we have an intelligence test as part of the sign-up process to weed out the mouth-breathing cretins from joining, and retroactively cancel uids that belong to the ones already here? That'd probably do away with three-quarters of the people who have already responded in this thread. Should we just delete the questions that some mod thinks aren't up to snuff? No. That'd just bring down even more whining nastiness here on metatalk.
The only thing you can do to is just skip the questions that you think are beneath your precious and lofty attention... (as I probably should have done with this thread.) Idiot questioners who get no answers will probably go away, won't they?
posted by Dave Faris at 5:33 AM on June 24, 2007
The only thing you can do to is just skip the questions that you think are beneath your precious and lofty attention... (as I probably should have done with this thread.) Idiot questioners who get no answers will probably go away, won't they?
posted by Dave Faris at 5:33 AM on June 24, 2007
Well thanks for posting this so maybe someone with your same sense of indignation but without your restraint can go shit in those threads. There is nothing wrong, to my mind, with any of those questions from a guidelines perspective and if we get in the habit of calling out questions that annoy us then it will be MY turn to have a "STFU with your bitching all of you" meta MeTa callout.
No one is a loon for wanting to work less, live more or understand something better.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:42 AM on June 24, 2007
No one is a loon for wanting to work less, live more or understand something better.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:42 AM on June 24, 2007
SCDB has restraint?
posted by grouse at 5:48 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by grouse at 5:48 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
Hardly anyone here does. I mean, really.
posted by Dave Faris at 5:54 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by Dave Faris at 5:54 AM on June 24, 2007
I do. I've got a whole trunk full of velvet lined handcuffs, vibrating silk ropes, flavored duct tape, you name it. I'm all about restraint.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:57 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:57 AM on June 24, 2007
Well, given the rules, you can't call people a looney in their question about "which crystals are better", because it doesn't answer the question and would be deleted. So it has to be done here.
posted by smackfu at 6:11 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by smackfu at 6:11 AM on June 24, 2007
It doesn't have to be done here. You could just, you know, not go around calling people loonies for asking valid questions (noting again that I don't think the PhotoReading question is valid).
posted by grouse at 6:14 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by grouse at 6:14 AM on June 24, 2007
just how big are carcon footprints?
posted by quonsar at 6:35 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by quonsar at 6:35 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
Well, given the rules, you can't call people a looney in their question about "which crystals are better"
Yeah, must have driven Steven crazy. You can just imagine him, fuming at his keyboard, red-faced, fists filled with paper proving why solar power and crystals are nonsense in equal proportion, but stymied by the guidelines that keep AskMe useful. Yes, he simply *had* to vent his frustration in the gray.
Puhlease.
posted by mediareport at 6:42 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
Yeah, must have driven Steven crazy. You can just imagine him, fuming at his keyboard, red-faced, fists filled with paper proving why solar power and crystals are nonsense in equal proportion, but stymied by the guidelines that keep AskMe useful. Yes, he simply *had* to vent his frustration in the gray.
Puhlease.
posted by mediareport at 6:42 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
Quite frankly I'd rather put up with a hundred "which crystals are better?" posts on AskMeFi than another "durr, wimmen are so dumb and FAT!" post or reply in the blue. And I'm no fan of pseudoscience or alternative medicine either.
posted by watsondog at 6:53 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by watsondog at 6:53 AM on June 24, 2007
Lately, things have been quiet in MeTa. Too quiet, maybe. I, for one, would like to thank SCDB for volunteering to be the shit-stick who stirs the sewer: it's remarkably selfless of him.
However, you'd think he could have put some effort into it: he's all but disappeared just when the flaming promised to get good. He hasn't commented since the very beginning of the thread!
A good troll would have thrown some more effort and invective into it.
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:02 AM on June 24, 2007
However, you'd think he could have put some effort into it: he's all but disappeared just when the flaming promised to get good. He hasn't commented since the very beginning of the thread!
A good troll would have thrown some more effort and invective into it.
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:02 AM on June 24, 2007
I'm only posting a comment so my Recent Activity page will keep me alerted in case SCDB deigns to come back and answer his critics. (I know he's far to rational to flame out, so I'm not getting my hopes up, but there might be some entertainment.)
posted by languagehat at 7:02 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by languagehat at 7:02 AM on June 24, 2007
I'm only posting a comment so my Recent Activity page will keep me alerted
This is why we need a My Favorites tab in My Activity.
posted by grouse at 7:10 AM on June 24, 2007
This is why we need a My Favorites tab in My Activity.
posted by grouse at 7:10 AM on June 24, 2007
No one is a loon for wanting to work less, live more or understand something better.
Spoken like a true Librarian. (and I mean that in the most flattering way possible)
posted by exlotuseater at 7:24 AM on June 24, 2007
Spoken like a true Librarian. (and I mean that in the most flattering way possible)
posted by exlotuseater at 7:24 AM on June 24, 2007
When did we get taken over by loons, anyway?
Whaaaa? If you hadn't noticed, the loonies have been in charge of this asylum from the very beginning.
posted by caddis at 7:59 AM on June 24, 2007
Whaaaa? If you hadn't noticed, the loonies have been in charge of this asylum from the very beginning.
posted by caddis at 7:59 AM on June 24, 2007
Do not date crazy people. Unless the sex is good and then it's ok for a few weeks.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:05 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:05 AM on June 24, 2007
An early contender for Most Whacktarded Callout of the Summer!
On behalf of the community, I would like to thank MeFi's last rational member for his admirable restraint in not cussing out posters. Awful big of him. Such respect for other opinions should be a lesson to us all.
posted by EatTheWeek at 9:31 AM on June 24, 2007
On behalf of the community, I would like to thank MeFi's last rational member for his admirable restraint in not cussing out posters. Awful big of him. Such respect for other opinions should be a lesson to us all.
posted by EatTheWeek at 9:31 AM on June 24, 2007
No one is a loon for wanting to work less, live more or understand something better.
I suspect SCDB's actual frustration was with the "loony" methods the posters were expending time and energy on rather than with the posters themselves personally or with their presumably good and desirable goals. He derailed his own post from the beginning by calling them loons instead of their methods loony.
Interestingly, this touches on the problem raised the same day where sometimes best responses are disallowed because they don't directly/literally answer the question, a design limitation of askme, IMHO.
According to the libertarian rule of "just answer the question", if someone asks whether marijuana or alcohol are better solutions to life's problems, our only options are to either promote one or the other or say nothing. Many who've tried either of the posters proposed solutions would like to say "neither, your solutions are loony". But that's not allowed because it takes the post off in a whole other direction that the poster didn't ask for.
posted by scheptech at 9:53 AM on June 24, 2007
I suspect SCDB's actual frustration was with the "loony" methods the posters were expending time and energy on rather than with the posters themselves personally or with their presumably good and desirable goals. He derailed his own post from the beginning by calling them loons instead of their methods loony.
Interestingly, this touches on the problem raised the same day where sometimes best responses are disallowed because they don't directly/literally answer the question, a design limitation of askme, IMHO.
According to the libertarian rule of "just answer the question", if someone asks whether marijuana or alcohol are better solutions to life's problems, our only options are to either promote one or the other or say nothing. Many who've tried either of the posters proposed solutions would like to say "neither, your solutions are loony". But that's not allowed because it takes the post off in a whole other direction that the poster didn't ask for.
posted by scheptech at 9:53 AM on June 24, 2007
BrotherCaine, try doing retinotopy sometime. Four hours in the scanner with absolutely no head or eye motion, watching rapidly flickering black and white checkerboards.
posted by dmd at 9:54 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by dmd at 9:54 AM on June 24, 2007
cording to the libertarian rule of "just answer the question", if someone asks whether marijuana or alcohol are better solutions to life's problems, our only options are to either promote one or the other or say nothing.
I have not found that to be the case on AskMe, within reason. In your example, I am pretty certain respectful responses suggesting "neither" to be the answer would be allowed to stay. Likewise with the shrink post MeTaed a few before this one: What should I bring? We can't tell you because that is not the point. In facr, it is generally only not allowed when the poster explicitly says, I don't want X option, or the post is really controversial--guns, abortion, etc.
posted by dame at 10:18 AM on June 24, 2007
I have not found that to be the case on AskMe, within reason. In your example, I am pretty certain respectful responses suggesting "neither" to be the answer would be allowed to stay. Likewise with the shrink post MeTaed a few before this one: What should I bring? We can't tell you because that is not the point. In facr, it is generally only not allowed when the poster explicitly says, I don't want X option, or the post is really controversial--guns, abortion, etc.
posted by dame at 10:18 AM on June 24, 2007
The Mind Machines AskMe reminded me of the first Daniel Pinkwater book I ever read, Alan Mendelsohn, Boy from Mars.
I must have been ten or eleven, and it blew my mind. I remember being physically sick after reading it, but that might also been because my strange 'friend' Troy L. stuck a huge and bloody booger on my pillow in my bedroom, and then denied all responsibility.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:27 AM on June 24, 2007
I must have been ten or eleven, and it blew my mind. I remember being physically sick after reading it, but that might also been because my strange 'friend' Troy L. stuck a huge and bloody booger on my pillow in my bedroom, and then denied all responsibility.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:27 AM on June 24, 2007
Lord only knows what Optimus Chyme deems appropriate material to masturbate to.
posted by Dave Faris at 10:35 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by Dave Faris at 10:35 AM on June 24, 2007
Dear AskMe: where can I get lap dances from hot bodied teenaged female person pole dancers who don't have a drug problem ? Free or cheap, please. Bonus points for ones who don't burst out laughing when they meet me.
posted by y2karl at 10:44 AM on June 24, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by y2karl at 10:44 AM on June 24, 2007 [3 favorites]
The color gray turns me on. Especially with white, and yellow. Oh, oh, oh! Yes! YES!
posted by Methylviolet at 11:05 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by Methylviolet at 11:05 AM on June 24, 2007
Metafilter: Oh god no. Please don't.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:18 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:18 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
But it's been a real struggle today to prevent myself from cussing out a lot of posters for rank stupidity.
As someone who's read your comments, I know exactly how you feel.
posted by dirigibleman at 11:21 AM on June 24, 2007 [4 favorites]
As someone who's read your comments, I know exactly how you feel.
posted by dirigibleman at 11:21 AM on June 24, 2007 [4 favorites]
dick + head = dickhead
posted by 3.2.3 at 11:28 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by 3.2.3 at 11:28 AM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
if someone asks whether marijuana or alcohol are better solutions to life's problems, our only options are to either promote one or the other or say nothing.
I don't see how anyone who reads AskMe with any brain at all could possibly believe the above to be the case. dame's right; there are certainly ways to raise questions about the premise of someone's question that fit well within the guidelines. It happens every day in AskMe.
posted by mediareport at 11:31 AM on June 24, 2007
I don't see how anyone who reads AskMe with any brain at all could possibly believe the above to be the case. dame's right; there are certainly ways to raise questions about the premise of someone's question that fit well within the guidelines. It happens every day in AskMe.
posted by mediareport at 11:31 AM on June 24, 2007
if someone asks whether marijuana or alcohol are better solutions to life's problems, our only options are to either promote one or the other or say nothing.
i can't suggest shooting heroin?
posted by pyramid termite at 12:00 PM on June 24, 2007
i can't suggest shooting heroin?
posted by pyramid termite at 12:00 PM on June 24, 2007
Man, I picked the wrong month to give up snarking.
Snarking out, though—I'm still into that.
posted by interrobang at 12:05 PM on June 24, 2007
Snarking out, though—I'm still into that.
posted by interrobang at 12:05 PM on June 24, 2007
SCDB has annoyed me many times with his politics; I would even go so far as to say he's occasionally deliberately misrepresented things to further a point, but I still really like him.
He's consistently engaged, never ever writes in a droning, emotionless monotone, has admitted his mistakes many times, thinks for himself and will grapple with anything, and despite the fact that the Oregon Vortex exchange shows he has a lot to learn about gravitation (quite a general condition on Metafilter, by the way), has dozens of answers to his credit which display a lively, rational, and original intelligence.
The gleeful, spiteful and relentless mob cruelty of this thread would disgust and depress me even if I hated him , however. The pleasure people are getting from it is all too apparent, but let me tell you, it's not pretty. Cortex and Jessamyn, I don't blame you for what's happened here in any way, but I do wish there were some sort of mod jujitsu you could deploy to turn this kind of malignant animosity back on itself, and so extinguish it, before it gets rolling like this.
posted by jamjam at 12:29 PM on June 24, 2007 [5 favorites]
He's consistently engaged, never ever writes in a droning, emotionless monotone, has admitted his mistakes many times, thinks for himself and will grapple with anything, and despite the fact that the Oregon Vortex exchange shows he has a lot to learn about gravitation (quite a general condition on Metafilter, by the way), has dozens of answers to his credit which display a lively, rational, and original intelligence.
The gleeful, spiteful and relentless mob cruelty of this thread would disgust and depress me even if I hated him , however. The pleasure people are getting from it is all too apparent, but let me tell you, it's not pretty. Cortex and Jessamyn, I don't blame you for what's happened here in any way, but I do wish there were some sort of mod jujitsu you could deploy to turn this kind of malignant animosity back on itself, and so extinguish it, before it gets rolling like this.
posted by jamjam at 12:29 PM on June 24, 2007 [5 favorites]
Metafilter: Cortex and Jessamyn, I don't blame you for what's happened here
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:42 PM on June 24, 2007
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:42 PM on June 24, 2007
metafilter: it's ALL matt's fault
posted by pyramid termite at 12:44 PM on June 24, 2007
posted by pyramid termite at 12:44 PM on June 24, 2007
You know, really, just about all MetaTalk thread turns into gleeful, spiteful, and relentless mob cruelty. The only difference I see is that, sometimes, I like it and, sometimes, I don't.
posted by Ms. Saint at 1:03 PM on June 24, 2007
posted by Ms. Saint at 1:03 PM on June 24, 2007
Garfield is watching you masturbate. Actually, he's asleep, dreaming about his resort villa on Lake Lasagna, but you're there, too, and you're masturbating, while Jon does Odie from behind.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:07 PM on June 24, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:07 PM on June 24, 2007
I have very little respect for Optimus Chyme and now Biscotti, who has favorited that over-the-top piece of crap comment he made. Another example of how the favoriting system is misused to reward even the most reprehensible behavior around here.
posted by Dave Faris at 1:07 PM on June 24, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by Dave Faris at 1:07 PM on June 24, 2007 [2 favorites]
Another example of how the favoriting system is misused to reward even the most reprehensible behavior around here.
I'm going to misuse the favoriting system to reward this comment.
posted by grouse at 1:10 PM on June 24, 2007 [3 favorites]
I'm going to misuse the favoriting system to reward this comment.
posted by grouse at 1:10 PM on June 24, 2007 [3 favorites]
This is like a summary of all the bad things about Metafilter, folks. Yuck.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:11 PM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:11 PM on June 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 7:43 PM on June 23, 2007