Cavemen demand fair treatment! September 19, 2007 7:10 AM   Subscribe

Cal OK, Cavemen not, huh? I call BS.

I realize a) that poolio asked for the delete and b) no context was provided and c) Geico is a Very Large Corporate Entity while Cal is a small-to-middlin Localish Character, but jesus christ, ads are ads.

With all due respect to y2karl, the reason all those interesting videos of RnB and blues and country guys exist is that video or film exposure was seen (correctly) as a great way to build the artist's audience, thereby increasing sales.

Geico is unique among current ubiquitous advertisers, maybe unique in the history of ubiquitous advertisers, and unquestionably has greenlit some of the strangest, most engaging, and unpredictable ads of all time. A comprehensive linkroundup of the spots is in and of itself of value, above and beyond the publicity benefit to Geico or controversy on MetaTalk.

Poolio, I thought the Geico post was fucking great.
posted by mwhybark to Etiquette/Policy at 7:10 AM (137 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite

Beets are great! Ron Paul!
posted by thirteenkiller at 7:14 AM on September 19, 2007 [9 favorites]


Thanks, myhybark... I thought it was a good post (otherwise I wouldn't have posted it). That being said, I asked that it be deleted because the comments were almost uniformly negative towards it. But I'm guessing it would have been deleted even if I hadn't asked, since so many people said or implied that they'd flagged it.
posted by Poolio at 7:22 AM on September 19, 2007


What are you calling BS on? If a poster asks us to remove his post, we usually do it.

That aside, it's pretty easy to do a "comprehensive roundup" of anything on YouTube with some brief searching so that alone isn't really realson to keep a post. If Poolio hadn't requested it, we would have been (actually were) on the fence about the post. His posts are starting to get a lot of "wtf" attention which means a lot of flags which means we have to start thinking about them as their own MeFi phenomenon. As it was, we removed it because he asked us to.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:22 AM on September 19, 2007


poster's request

They get a say?

train wreck

Where?

"you wanted to show us ads?"

WTF?
posted by cillit bang at 7:23 AM on September 19, 2007


I bet it has something to do with flags.

Erin Surance is way hotter than the gecko.

If I were animated... Mmmmhmmm... I'd shop for insurance more often.

posted by BeerFilter at 7:24 AM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


The Poolio Phenomenon.

I like the sound of that.
posted by Poolio at 7:26 AM on September 19, 2007


it's pretty easy to do a "comprehensive roundup" of anything on YouTube with some brief searching so that alone isn't really reason to keep a post

...isn't really reason to make a post, one might further say.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:35 AM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


You could learn a thing or two from Adobe and Lego. You should really protect your copyrights or you'll lose control of them. Insist that people either call them by their generic term: "YouTube Search Results Linkdumps", or use the full name "Poolio™ Brand Linkdumps"
posted by Plutor at 7:36 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Off the deep end of the gene Poolio. Let's Poolio our YouTube clips. On the other hand, we could shoot Poolio. No, that would be dirty Poolio.
posted by y2karl at 7:36 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


The Cal Worthington ads aren't so much advertisements as they are pefectly encapsulated nuggets of Gen X nostalgia, weirdness, perverse failure and schadenfreude.

In twenty years, if anyone still remembers the Geico ads - we'll talk about nostalgia, then.

I really hope no one does remember them. I hate them. They're exceptionally stupid.

Never before have I ever loathed a mascot so.

Never before have I so wanted to fight a caveman with my bare hands and make him eat his pastel sweater. I can't believe they're making a TV show out of those historical innaccuracies.

This news of a spinoff - more than anything I've heard this year about war, famine and disasters - has made me realize humanity is doomed. It's too fucking stupid to survive.

Where's the beef?
posted by loquacious at 7:37 AM on September 19, 2007


please do a comprehensive roundup of all quonsar posts. then delete them. thank you.
posted by quonsar at 7:38 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


*me ponders how that "caffiene before posting" safety interlock is coming, wanders off to caffienate*
posted by loquacious at 7:38 AM on September 19, 2007


That gecko will outlive us all.
posted by Poolio at 7:38 AM on September 19, 2007


Considering that the thread was deleted at the poster's request and that an admin has explained that, maybe this thread should be closed?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:39 AM on September 19, 2007


Not in my lifetime it won't. *checks his magazine, dials upwind three detents, licks finger and feels the air*
posted by loquacious at 7:40 AM on September 19, 2007


Well, maybe not all of us... but probably y2karl.
posted by Poolio at 7:42 AM on September 19, 2007


"Cal OK, Cavemen not, huh? I call BS."

BS call denied. Next?
posted by klangklangston at 7:43 AM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


Help the WHO eradicate poolio.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:58 AM on September 19, 2007


Why is "you wanted to show us ads" in quotes?
posted by breezeway at 7:58 AM on September 19, 2007


jessamyn writes "That aside, it's pretty easy to do a 'comprehensive roundup' of anything on YouTube with some brief searching so that alone isn't really realson to keep a post. "

I'd sure like to see this metric applied more often.
posted by Mitheral at 8:00 AM on September 19, 2007 [6 favorites]


I would just like to say that it's not easy as jessamyn suggests to put together something like the Geico post... to find a good quality version of every ad that's currently available online, and organize them.

It'd be much easier to post a single link to a site I found [via another site].
posted by Poolio at 8:05 AM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


As it happens, difficulty ≠ quality.
posted by thirteenkiller at 8:10 AM on September 19, 2007 [7 favorites]


I was responding to jessamyn's comment, which was about difficulty.

And quality is subjective.
posted by Poolio at 8:11 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


I'm just sayin' is all
posted by thirteenkiller at 8:13 AM on September 19, 2007


Poolio, I thought the Geico post was fucking great.

All this to kiss a little Poolio tail? Weaksauce

it's pretty easy to do a "comprehensive roundup" of anything on YouTube with some brief searching so that alone isn't really realson to keep a post.

Please, do take note... Poolio and those cut from the same cloth.

...which means we have to start thinking about them as their own MeFi phenomenon

Enh, he has only adopted an already accepted formula and taken it to it's logical boundaries... I fail to see a distinction, aside from the flag queue.

All things considered, Poolio should be put down for the formatting alone.

I would just like to say that it's not easy as jessamyn suggests to put together something like the Geico post... to find a good quality version of every ad that's currently available online, and organize them.

Hahahahah
posted by prostyle at 8:16 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


My main feeling is that after a sufficient number of Poolio Does A Comprehensive Youtube Roundup posts it starts to feel like get-a-blog territory. In the good sense, mind you: it'd be a fun thing to check out on a quiet Sunday, and having it all in one place would make for a nice consolidated A/V nuttiness experience.

The theme post thing on mefi is a bumpy road. When you start getting intense, spontaneous negative feedback at the nth iteration, it's maybe time to reconsider it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:16 AM on September 19, 2007 [4 favorites]


but jesus christ, ads are ads

That's like saying a post about an obscure book penned by revolutionary monks 500 years ago without the benefit of a printing press is the same as a post about 72 mass-market paperbacks that you can get in pdf instantly, because jesus christ, books are books!

And yeah, I just said a Cal Worthington commercial was as brilliant and unique as ancient illuminated texts THOSE ADS WERE JUST THAT GOOD.

But seriously, my point is that "ads are ads" is kind of lame. There are good ways to tell a story about an amazing and/or famous and/or unique ad (like those rube goldberg honda ads from the UK which are still some of the most amazing things) and there are bad ways (shitting 50 youtube search results for garden variety standard advertising on everyone).
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:18 AM on September 19, 2007 [5 favorites]


I would just like to say that it's not easy as jessamyn suggests to put together something like the Geico post

Just because it was hard doesn't mean it was worth doing.
posted by GuyZero at 8:19 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Poolio's Geico post (and arguably the "America" post) take no heed from the very first Guideline of MetaFilter:

A good post to MetaFilter is something that meets the following criteria: most people haven't seen it before,

jonson's post hits on two levels 1 Tops nostalgia for those who have seen it before (a few), and 2 interesting bit o' Americana for those who haven't (many).
posted by carsonb at 8:22 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Like I commented in the post, I thought it was an interesting way to present the whole collection of ads, which I felt was post-worthy because of the eccentricity and humor.

Now I know differently.
posted by Poolio at 8:26 AM on September 19, 2007


"there's been an accident like Geico,
y'all thought I was burned up like Pepsi did Michael"
posted by porn in the woods at 8:35 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


"I call BS"? Surely you mean shenanigans.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:41 AM on September 19, 2007


I can't believe they're making a TV show out of those historical innaccuracies.

Me neither; I expected a full-length motion picture.
posted by TedW at 8:47 AM on September 19, 2007


I swear to God I'm going to pistol whip the next guy who says, " Shenanigans."
posted by breezeway at 8:47 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


I swear to God I'm going to pistol whip the next guy who says, " Shenanigans."

I call shenanigans.
posted by Poolio at 8:54 AM on September 19, 2007


PUSSY COW
posted by jonson at 8:54 AM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


I thought it was an interesting way to present the whole collection of ads

I find the fucked-up formatting smart-arsery of Poolio's posts to be very annoying (and I don't think I am alone on that front). If there is a post that I don't have an interest in I normally scroll by but the try-hard formatting and Monotype Sorts/Wingdings crap draws attention to them and ruins an otherwise very clean looking front-page.

I sometimes wonder where prolific posters like Jonson, y2karl, flapjax etc get their material for FPPs (don't they ever have to work?) but I also feel that while they may get some pleasure from having a well-received FPP (and who doesn't?) that they are doing it for others to share/explore. They find a lot of interesting stuff for me. I think Poolio's posts appear to be just showing off -look at me, not the post- and most of the time the content does not merit the amount of wasted effort on formatting.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 9:02 AM on September 19, 2007 [3 favorites]


I'm having Cal Worthington's love child. I shall name him/her Spot. Do not be hating on my babydaddy.
posted by miss lynnster at 9:05 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


I had dinner last night at Shenanigans. Their corned beef is a little dry, but they mix an excellent Tom Collins. They book up quickly, so it's not a bad idea to give them a call.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:07 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


I sometimes wonder where prolific posters like Jonson, y2karl, flapjax etc get their material for FPPs (don't they ever have to work?)

I'm pretty sure y2karl is retired, he is pretty old. As for flapjax, that's just a sock puppet account I created to artificially inflate my favorite count.
posted by jonson at 9:13 AM on September 19, 2007


I want to take just a second here and post a preemptive "Please don't ever do this, not ever, never, NO, I really mean it" plea against ever posting the Allstate ads with the deep-voiced black actor whose-name-I-don't-know talking in a calm measured voice as a jarring car accident takes place right in front of him in slow motion. I always want to yell at him to do something instead of just standing by and watching those cars get crumpled like that.

Thanks, I'm done now.
posted by misha at 9:13 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Ooooooh

*hands pistol to breezeway*
posted by quin at 9:18 AM on September 19, 2007


Current # of youtube links on the front page? 40
posted by R. Mutt at 9:23 AM on September 19, 2007


How many links to plain text files without video?
posted by jonson at 9:26 AM on September 19, 2007


I have successfully caffienated.

Humanity is still doomed.
posted by loquacious at 9:28 AM on September 19, 2007


*skims thread, goes to see Cal*
posted by brain_drain at 9:31 AM on September 19, 2007


Misha - You mean Barack O'Palmer?
posted by thirteenkiller at 9:31 AM on September 19, 2007


How many links to plain text files without video?

approx. 125
posted by R. Mutt at 9:34 AM on September 19, 2007


so... about 1/3 tv.
posted by R. Mutt at 9:35 AM on September 19, 2007


Sweet. As long as you're calculating... how many verbs appear on the front page right now? What is the percentage of consonants to vowels? Is the government trying to send me coded messages via Mefi again? Is Operation Wetknap a go???
posted by jonson at 9:39 AM on September 19, 2007


I'm cramming as fast as I can here, people.
posted by boo_radley at 9:42 AM on September 19, 2007


yes...

Did you mean: "Operation Wet knap" ?


No standard web pages containing all your search terms were found.

Your search - "Operation Wetknap" - did not match any documents.
posted by R. Mutt at 9:45 AM on September 19, 2007


Dennis Haysbert and no googling required. Y'all need to watch some Far From Heaven and respeck.

Poolio, isn't this the second or third post you've recanted? Maybe you should pre-recant the next one, hmm? You're gonna burn out.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:45 AM on September 19, 2007


Hi, ads that are already everywhere so that you can't fucking escape them are not the best of the web.
posted by shmegegge at 9:46 AM on September 19, 2007


Maybe you should pre-recant the next one

The correct term is "precant"
posted by jonson at 9:48 AM on September 19, 2007


jonson: stand down -- repeat -- stand down -- drive through did not provide moist towelettes. Mama bear is going back to the restaurant to resupply.
posted by boo_radley at 9:49 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


How about a video.metafilter.com? *ducks*
posted by ALongDecember at 9:53 AM on September 19, 2007


Maybe you should pre-recant the next one, hmm?

Don't you mean "precant"?

On preview: Dammit, jonson. Two minutes.
posted by GrammarMoses at 9:55 AM on September 19, 2007


Current # of youtube links on the front page? 40

Maybe a more useful statistic: 11 of the most recent 50 posts contain one or more youtube links (above the fold, anyway). I didn't take notes, but it felt like about half of those or maybe a little more had the youtube as supplemental/documentary rather than as the lead/sole content.

It might be interesting to chart the actual rise and rate of youtube links in posts, but the feeling I get from that is that youtube links themselves haven't gotten to be an epidemic or anything, which I think the "40 links on the front page" line kind of misrepresents.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:55 AM on September 19, 2007


OK, more like seven. And that first line, AV's quote, should be italicized.

*makes note to self: do not post while fluish*
posted by GrammarMoses at 9:56 AM on September 19, 2007


I'm pretty sure y2karl is retired, he is pretty old.

I am usually in my 30s in my dreams and have cute girlfriends that are even younger. Waking up is such a disappointment sometimes. Also, I am reading this at work.
posted by y2karl at 9:57 AM on September 19, 2007


Is Operation Wetknap a go???

COMMAND BULLETIN FOR AGENT 14271: OPERATION WETKNAP AUTHORIZATION IS NEGATIVE. THE NOUGAT HAS MELTED AND LEFT THE CANDYBAR. KATHY AND STEVE MAKE OUT AS WE SPEAK.

PLEASE PROCEED TO PAGE 497-A1 OF YOUR CODED OPERATIONS MANUAL FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON OPERATION DODGER-DOG. DECODE USING SHEET 15 FROM YOUR BLUE ONE-TIME PAD AND 3X FENCE-POST ALGORITHM.

ADDITIONAL CODED INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOW:

A BOY LYING ON SKINS BEHIND OUR BACKS IS TUNING THE KNOBS OF A SMALL TRANSISTOR RADIO. A MASS OF DARKNESS FISH IS APPROACHING. OBTAIN GIRL, RECORD AND JEWELED KNIFE. DESTROY TIME MACHINE.
posted by loquacious at 10:16 AM on September 19, 2007 [8 favorites]


Dennis Haysbert and no googling required. Y'all need to watch some Far From Heaven and respeck.

Not nearly enough people have seen Far From Heaven.
posted by bluishorange at 10:20 AM on September 19, 2007


LOL, you guys are only coded for tourney level ops.

FYI though, HIGHLITER PENS ARE RUNNING DRY ACROSS THE PARCHMENT. NANCY REAGAN'S DANCE MOVES FOGGED UP THE BATHROOM MIRROR. ALL MUFFIN PANS MUST BE SHELVED UNTIL NAPTIME AT WHICH TIME DRYER SHEETS WILL BE DEPLOYED TO ALL FANNYPACKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH DATA PROVIDED BY CORKY SHERWOOD-FORREST.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:22 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


bluishorange: I'll see your Far From Heaven and raise you a Magnificent Obession!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:24 AM on September 19, 2007


Far From Heaven - that starred the dude from those Allstate commercials, right?
posted by jonson at 10:30 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


I used to have a problem with wetnaps, until I got myself one of those authentic Amerindian wet dreamcatchers.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:35 AM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


I thought it was a good post, and I flagged everybody that shit in the thread after it was deleted (I didn't see it until it was too late). Mods, using "he ASKED us to delete it" is a copout because Poolio had a thin-skinned response to a few people whose days were obviously ruined by being forced at gunpoint to click on every link in his post.
posted by evilcolonel at 10:38 AM on September 19, 2007


Mods, using "he ASKED us to delete it" is a copout because Poolio had a thin-skinned response to a few people whose days were obviously ruined by being forced at gunpoint to click on every link in his post.

First, it's not a copout, it's honoring a request. If you want to have it out with Poolio for deciding to ask to have his post removed, go for it, but we're generally not going to refuse to remove someone's post if they ask us to.

Second, having a thin-skinned, every-other-comment reaction to the way your post is received is itself kind of a problem; there's an "if you can't take the heat" principle in action there that happens sometimes, though it's usually someone's first or second post where we see it, not their seventeenth.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:49 AM on September 19, 2007


I can't wait for the Ditech and Cialis retrospectives.
posted by 2sheets at 10:52 AM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


Please explain to me how I had a thin-skinned, every-other-comment reaction to the way the post was received, cortex.

The reason I asked that the post be deleted is because it had been so totally derailed from the first comment, and because I was trying to be respectful to the community, who appeared to vehemently object to the post.
posted by Poolio at 10:58 AM on September 19, 2007


It's WET-NAP, damn it. A Wet-Nap® Refreshing Towlette. Not Wetknap. WET-NAP, like a NAPKIN.

Your first mistake is assuming you even know what we're talking about, or what syntax it is in, or even if we're actually referring to a real thing.

Your second mistake is taking yourself and your knowledge of registered trademarks too seriously.

Your third mistake is not wearing any pants while your house is under surveillance, and doing that weird thing you just did with that turkey baster. The pictures will probably make it to the "wall of shame" in not just the main command center, but several regional satellite posts as well.

I hear they're already photoshopping the hell out of it. It's already on google. That's some mickey-mouse shit, right there. Hey, you look a little pale all of a sudden. Are you ok? Would you like a coke? A kleenex? An aspirin?
posted by loquacious at 10:59 AM on September 19, 2007


For the record, the quote was
If everyone hates this so much, then the mods should go ahead and delete it.

Which I read as "Fine, I give up", not "Mods, I made a mistake, please delete this." YMMV.
posted by evilcolonel at 10:59 AM on September 19, 2007


Delete 'em all, let god sort them out.
posted by Artw at 11:00 AM on September 19, 2007


And Poolio, I'd have come in and stuck up for you had I seen it in time. But you did come off as a little overly defensive.
posted by evilcolonel at 11:01 AM on September 19, 2007


*******************************************
* OFFICIAL VICEROY-LEVEL COMMUNICATION FOLLOWS *
*******************************************

Communication Number: 14926MT
Communication Designation: VICEROY
Security Sub-routines: ALL
Threat Level: CATASTROPHE

### Communication Follows ###

High-level intelligence intercepts from LOCUTUS-class assets suggest Operation WETKNAP is in a NEGATIVE action condition. This requires escalating SPORK and TOOTHPICK Protocols to AFFIRMATIVE action conditions. All HOSTESS-class (and below) operatives, agents, and assets should proceed to individually designated WASHROOM locations and await further instructions. BLUEPLATE-class operatives should maintain all on-going Protocols, Operations, and Event Horizons until further notification. CABAL-class operatives do not exist.

### Communication Terminates###
posted by Rock Steady at 11:03 AM on September 19, 2007


Well, thanks for the thought anyway, evilcolonel. :)
posted by Poolio at 11:04 AM on September 19, 2007


Poolio, don't hover in your own threads reacting and interacting with the haters, finally requesting self-deletion after only a few hours if you don't want to be perceived as overly invested in the group vote. Sometimes it's wrong. Sometimes the hater voter turnout is bigger than the quiet enjoyer faction, but sometimes, your post does suck. Posterity, the kind that accrues past the 5-hour mark, is part of what determines this. To be less "thin-skinned" would have been riding it out and taking the criticism until the thread closed by other means. Otherwise, you start to seem capricious but not confident.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:07 AM on September 19, 2007


I'm done talking about this... I have better things to do.

Have a nice day everyone.

This is not me being oversensitive... I really do have other things to do.
posted by Poolio at 11:09 AM on September 19, 2007


Poolio when I was posting earlier I considered whether or not to mention your alsatian-like prowling of your posts. I have noticed it before (Cortex isnt the only one) and it is a wee bit thin-skinned. Hell, even your reaction to it now is thin-skinned.

Anyway, I have posted plenty of pishy newsfilter and other dross that I have later regretted but I try not to take it too seriously. Relax, post things that you think are cool as they arise rather than scouring the net then trying to wedge everything into some thematic fuck-off whistles and bells post and you will get on a lot better.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 11:10 AM on September 19, 2007


Also, the sadly unknown Now And Again, one of my favorite series ever.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:11 AM on September 19, 2007


Dude, burning out. What'd I say? Well, I tried.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:13 AM on September 19, 2007


Poolio's an Alsatian Capricorn wearing a dross? I'm confused.
posted by breezeway at 11:14 AM on September 19, 2007


I like Poolio's posts.
posted by EarBucket at 11:19 AM on September 19, 2007


Great, again with the voting.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:20 AM on September 19, 2007


Please explain to me how I had a thin-skinned, every-other-comment reaction to the way the post was received, cortex.

Five of the first twelve comments in the post are from you, most of them a reaction of some sort to other folks' criticisms of your post. Again, it's not just you. It happens a fair amount, usually with brand new posters, and new or not the instinct to respond and defend your post is understandable; but it usually comes off badly, not as damage control but as defensiveness.

If something is worth posting, it's generally worth letting stand on its merits. Talking in your own thread, even defending a key point here or there, is understandable, but when you have so visible and rallying/defendy a presence especially very early in a thread and doubly so in a thread generating any heat, it tends to make the post more about your reaction to people reacting to your post than it does about thing we're ostensibly here for in the first place: the post content.

Sometimes, a body posts something and people just don't like it. It's not a big deal unless you make it a big deal, and even then it's usually not a real big deal anyway. Have a good day with your other things, man.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:21 AM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Righteous deletion.
posted by Rhomboid at 11:22 AM on September 19, 2007


Alvy, I hope my comment didn't make it sound as though that's the right way to view comments in threads - as votes. I don't think it is.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:23 AM on September 19, 2007


*makes note to self: do not post while fluish*

*makes note to self: do not post while flushing*
posted by ericb at 11:25 AM on September 19, 2007


Do not flush while posting.
posted by Rhomboid at 11:31 AM on September 19, 2007


*pages brownpau*
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:31 AM on September 19, 2007


I asked that it be deleted because the comments were almost uniformly negative towards it. But I'm guessing it would have been deleted even if I hadn't asked, since so many people said or implied that they'd flagged it.

That was dumb, and I don't think it would have been deleted. And your patrolling of your posts is (as has been said by others) not a good idea. Make your post, then go have dinner or something and come back later to see how it's going. Then leave again, unless something's come up that genuinely calls for a response from you. Nobody likes a thread moderator. And I say this as someone who likes your posts and wishes this one hadn't been deleted.

But seriously, my point is that "ads are ads" is kind of lame.

Yeah, but so is your personal decision that the Geico ads are lame. I think they're great, so does my wife, so (obviously) do lots of people. This is a community blog, not mathowie's personal blog; if you're going to start deleting anything you personally find lame, well, that's going to be pretty lame.

I find the fucked-up formatting smart-arsery of Poolio's posts to be very annoying (and I don't think I am alone on that front). If there is a post that I don't have an interest in I normally scroll by but the try-hard formatting and Monotype Sorts/Wingdings crap draws attention to them and ruins an otherwise very clean looking front-page.

Yeah, you know what? Just scroll by. Calls for MetaFilter to look more professional don't go over very well.
posted by languagehat at 12:11 PM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


12 57 17 98 45 63 84
12 57 17 98 45 63 84
68 54 73 65 81 44 26
68 54 73 65 81 44 26

The chair is against the wall.
The chair is against the wall.

Brother John is talking.
Brother John is talking.

Take the sheets to the laundry.
Take the sheets to the laundry.

59 46 38 52 71 86 55
59 46 38 52 71 86 55
11 30 84 9 36 78 66
11 30 84 9 36 78 66

###
posted by slogger at 12:20 PM on September 19, 2007


Now that Poolio has admitted he has better things to do, I think that's the first step toward full recovery.
posted by wendell at 12:21 PM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Far From Heaven?

Um, no.

Dennis Haysbert will always be Pedro Cerrano, thank you very much.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:37 PM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


Poolio was in an accident posting GEICO
We thought he was burnt up like Pepsi did Michael
He must gotta angel
Cause look how quick they deleted his ass,
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:54 PM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


crash! I didn't know that was him. Crazy. Hats for bats, keep bats warm.

/went from renting The Secret of NIMH every friday night to renting Major League at about 8 years of age. Charlie Sheeeeeeeeeeen *gurgle*
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:57 PM on September 19, 2007


A One Link YouTube Post is bad. A Ten Link YouTube Post is worse (by more than 10x). A So Many YouTube Links I Didn't Bother To Count Post is perhaps infinitely worse.
posted by tommasz at 1:17 PM on September 19, 2007


DATA PROVIDED BY CORKY SHERWOOD-FORREST.

Guys, guys, guys.

Come on.

CAPS LOCK DAY isn't for another month.

Let's keep it under control. Save our energy. &c.
posted by sparkletone at 2:33 PM on September 19, 2007


I don't like A One Link YouTube Post is bad.

Fixed that for you. Fortunately, MeFi is not run according to the preferences of random users.
posted by languagehat at 2:41 PM on September 19, 2007 [2 favorites]


Buck up, Poolio.

There's a mob of people hanging around MetaFilter whose principle pleasure appears to be savaging posters and their posts. Mathowie has complained about it, and even once said he dissuades his friends from thinking of trying to introduce things here because of it.

You can console yourself by imagining the pitiable lives the people who enjoy that kind of thing must be leading, if necessary, but for my sake, please don't let them discourage you from posting.
posted by jamjam at 2:45 PM on September 19, 2007 [3 favorites]


If Cal Worthington was good, Earl "Madman" Muntz is better. (With NO YouTube. There ain't none available.)

And, as good as SOME of the Geico commercials are, they are not ALL good, and a post of a smaller number of the Best of Geico would have worked better, along with a link to an article about the advertiser and its creatives, or one of the thousand negative reviews of the "Cavemen" sitcom (like the one I *ahem* wrote, but you can't link directly to it).
posted by wendell at 2:45 PM on September 19, 2007


Stop deleting your own posts Poolio, some of us enjoy them. It helps to think of posting as one of those tribal initiation rights where the young braves have to run the gauntlet while the elders swat him with branches. Someone told me to eat napalm on one of my posts once, and I giggled. That was the day I became a man. (but don't try it in meta, they swing baseball bats in there;)

speaking of youtube posts, hellbient's shredder fpp today had me weeping.
posted by vronsky at 3:02 PM on September 19, 2007


rites
posted by vronsky at 3:07 PM on September 19, 2007


Yes, I'll second jamjam. I had never heard of Geico or their ad campaign before, and wasn't drawn to check out any part of Poolio's post. I wasn't that keen on the smileys-as-separators from an aesthetic point of view, truth be told. But I presumed those who it meant something to or who were interested would look at the links and/or have a bit of a chat about it, and I moved on elsewhere. At no point does the idea of berating Poolio for posting it come into the equation.
posted by Abiezer at 3:11 PM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


am i rites
posted by Abiezer at 3:12 PM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


While I like some Geico ads (such as the squirrel who caused the wreck), I didn't care for the post. Had Poolio done a bit more research and posted a non-YT link to an article about how the commercials get/got made, I would have been interested in clicking on that link.

Also, I tend to think the haters who swarm on bad posts play an important role here. If you've ever pitched an idea to executives or producers, it's how life is.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 4:14 PM on September 19, 2007


I'm back... what did I miss?
posted by Poolio at 4:16 PM on September 19, 2007


Heavens! Wendell, glad to see you followed up.

Does this mean is will end well?

Can today be advertising day on MetaFilter?

Some asides:

I had never even noticed Poolio's apparently well-known YouTube linkdump posts before, presumably because I usually don't even notice YouTube posts (unless it's y2karl).

Matt/Cortex/Jessamyn, I guess I hadn't thought through the implications of bitching about this - you did what poolio asked. I still think the post is a useful reference and represents good work on Poolio's behalf.

With regard to the 'most people haven't seen' requirement in the guidelines, OK, fair enough; and of course there are extant advertising-oriented communities.
posted by mwhybark at 4:17 PM on September 19, 2007


Poolio, you make some great posts, but I am going to venture my opinion on why this post evoked so much criticism and please take it in the spirit it is meant.

I think you need to be careful not to let your posting style get formulaic. Set aside the post theme or topic and just take the issue of a huge slew of YouTube links. Many people like a well crafted compilation of links on a given theme - some such posts get positive comments and lots of favorites. If you hadn't done a huge multi-link post within the past week, I think more people might have passed this one by. One other thing is that you have posted several posts with just a series of YouTube clips and no supporting text links or commentary. I loved your antiwar one. Then I really liked Zappa. Then Kaufman... but quite frankly, after awhile it comes to seem like you just find everything you can on a topic - it's nice very now and again, but I think you are hearing the sound of diminishing returns. My comment to you would be that you show real promise as a great poster, but don't get typecast. The haters will dog you.

Now that doesn't even touch the post theme. On that matter, I fall in the camp of "shit, isn't that stuff on TV enough as it is?" Now if you had spent some of your research finding an article about the creative teams or marketing philosophy that spawned the ads or some pro & con critiques from AdWeek - then many might have found that interesting despite disliking the ads.

My final thought is that when you have a zillion YouTube links - something I have been guilty of - you might do better to stick some in a [more inside] and it would go a long way to cut down on criticism from those who see such posts as link dumps.

Hope I haven't given offense, I wouldn't have bothered if I didn't think you are a good poster overall. Plus, I think you have shown a pretty good attitude under all the criticism.
posted by madamjujujive at 4:18 PM on September 19, 2007 [3 favorites]


Thanks to everyone who's defended me and/or offered constructive criticism. And as for the haters...
posted by Poolio at 4:26 PM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Just kidding about that last part. :)
posted by Poolio at 4:27 PM on September 19, 2007


"Can today be advertising day on MetaFilter?"

Man, if I didn't have an awesome photographer that I wanna post about, I'd totally hook up some Mel Far, Superstar ads. Also, the one about the guy and his dog who want you to go to Telegraph Ford ("Get a good deal").
posted by klangklangston at 4:31 PM on September 19, 2007


Geico Gecko reminds me of David Brent. Thank you, carry on.
posted by Kwine at 4:40 PM on September 19, 2007


you might do better to stick some in a [more inside]

I did this for my last post (a 116 video YouTube collection) and noticed that the YouTube embedding feature doesn't work for the [more inside]. Hey mathowie, any chance we can ride that pony inside?
posted by carsonb at 4:52 PM on September 19, 2007


carsonb, I second that.

I have been on a work jag, so I am glad to learn of that post. And while on the topic of carsonb posts, let me say that for someone who didn't post much in your first few eons here, you have been making some really nice posts lately - thanks!
posted by madamjujujive at 5:03 PM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Man, if I didn't have an awesome photographer that I wanna post about, I'd totally hook up some Mel Far, Superstar ads. Also, the one about the guy and his dog who want you to go to Telegraph Ford ("Get a good deal").

Was thinking of doing the same... but I couldn't find any. :(
posted by evilcolonel at 5:03 PM on September 19, 2007


I'm honored, madamjujujive, as much by the source as the sentiment.
posted by carsonb at 5:25 PM on September 19, 2007


LEAVE POOLIO ALONE, HE'S A HUMAN!!!!!!

Heh, sorry...

Seriously, do you people really watch TV commercials with the sound on? What do you think that little "mute" button is for?
posted by Tube at 5:39 PM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Seriously, do you people really watch TV commercials with the sound on? What do you think that little "mute" button is for?

YOU'RE STEALING TELEVISION!!!!!1!
posted by evilcolonel at 6:02 PM on September 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


Hey, I just remembered I once had a kernel of a post that came from watching the Caveman ads - apparently, there are micro-communities of persons who diligently pursue various efforts geared toward recreating aspects of pre-agricultural human culture, such as diet. I ran aground while hoping to find the linktrail of a reenactor group or the like. I was secretly hoping that I would be able to find a social group of soi-disant cavemen who were sufficiently incensed by the ads that they had actually gotten together a protest.

Then I realized that the idea wasn't so much a post as a great idea for a sitcom, and the rest is history!

PLEASE NOTE: There is a blatant lie craftily embedded in this comment.
posted by mwhybark at 6:40 PM on September 19, 2007


I'm really sorry the post was deleted. I'm loving it. I'd seen a couple of the gecko ads, but the ones I saw came later in the series and relied on the viewer already knowing the gecko. The caveman ads are great, too.

I'd favorite the post if it weren't deleted.
posted by jb at 6:47 PM on September 19, 2007


FYI, I'm gonna start a blog like cortex suggested. I'll post it to Projects when it's ready (hopefully in the next couple of days or so).

:-)
posted by Poolio at 6:52 PM on September 19, 2007


Poolio, that is great news.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:32 PM on September 19, 2007


Poolio, I have a place on my blogroll reserved for you. Go for it.
posted by wendell at 7:41 PM on September 19, 2007


Thanks for the encouragement, jessmayn and wendell.
posted by Poolio at 7:47 PM on September 19, 2007


Poolio, you haven't acknowledged madamjujujive's thoughtful, friendly comment here. You really should. It was right on point.
posted by mediareport at 7:53 PM on September 19, 2007


Poolio, you haven't acknowledged madamjujujive's thoughtful, friendly comment here. You really should. It was right on point.

You're absolutely right, mediareport.

It was a terrific comment, madamjujujive, and I immediately favorited it. As I said upthread, I really appreciate all of the constructive criticism people have given me. I will keep it all in mind the next time I post.

And contrary to what ClanvidHorse thinks, my only aim in posting FPPs is to share things that I think might be of interest to other MeFites.
posted by Poolio at 8:05 PM on September 19, 2007


I said it before and I'll say it again:
I just took a shower, who wants to smell me? emip
posted by vapidave at 12:15 AM on September 20, 2007


(like the one I *ahem* wrote, but you can't link directly to it).

you wouldn't know her. she's from canada.
posted by Hat Maui at 2:55 AM on September 20, 2007


Poolio, great - I think you'll be an interesting blogger. I understand that "need to share." Keep us posted.
posted by madamjujujive at 10:38 AM on September 20, 2007


I would counter-argue that getting his own blog is not the route to go. Why not just let things work like they are supposed to around here. If the mods decided to delete it, so be it. But I come to mefi so I don't have to look at other blogs. I have to limit my time on the internet, and one wqay that I do this is by making mefi my main site. And I have even had to stop going to askme because of the time suck involved. There is enough good stuff here to keep me coming back. If all the posters that I consider interesting and intelligent just stay on their own blogs, then my plan is foiled.

Example. Somehow I got directed to some old threads and came across a book recommendation from l- hat, for Isfahan is Half the World. Just got it in the mail today. I know that l-hat and I share similar tastes in books, so I was glad for the recommendation. If he just stayed at his own blog, which is a fantastic blog, but one I never visit for the reasons stated above, I would have missed it.
posted by vronsky at 4:42 PM on September 20, 2007


Get thee to an rss reader, vronsky. Does worlds of good for user-throttled, one-stop reading from multiple sites. Arguing that prolific content-generators shouldn't start interesting blogs because it inconveniences you in your current reading habits isn't really that useful for mefi in general, as much as I can sympathize with your perspective.
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:59 PM on September 20, 2007


OK cortex, I will check out this strange new thing you call an rss feed, but remember, I am just a caveman who fell in some ice and was later thawed out by some of your scientists. You world frightens and confuses me. Sometimes the honking horns of your traffic make me want to get out of my BMW and run off, up into the hills. Sometimes when I get a message on my fax machine I wonder, did little demons get inside and type it? I don't know. My primitive mind can't grasp these concepts
posted by vronsky at 4:06 PM on September 21, 2007 [2 favorites]


I can save you some money on car insurance, then.
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:24 PM on September 21, 2007


unfrozen caveman lawyer
posted by vronsky at 4:37 PM on September 21, 2007


Don't worry, vronsky... I have no plans to stop posting here or anything. Instead, I'll be using my new blog (which should be ready tomorrow) to post things that aren't FPP-worthy.
posted by Poolio at 5:48 PM on September 22, 2007


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