Is it just me? August 1, 2008 6:12 AM   Subscribe

What's the deal with this profile?
posted by nax to MetaFilter-Related at 6:12 AM (91 comments total)

That is some crazy profilin'.
posted by Grither at 6:14 AM on August 1, 2008


It's pretty nifty.
posted by languagehat at 6:14 AM on August 1, 2008


You used to be able to do custom CSS in your profile if you knew how. Then we got rid of that feature. BUT people who still had the custom CSS could keep it provided they never edited their profile again. That is what you are seeing.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:14 AM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Someone has mistaken Metafilter for MySpace?
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 6:19 AM on August 1, 2008 [15 favorites]


That's one of our Geocities users leftover from year one.
posted by netbros at 6:22 AM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


*stares at own profile forlornly*

This is how people get complexes.
posted by anotherpanacea at 6:26 AM on August 1, 2008 [5 favorites]


But... but... I have social networking options!
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:36 AM on August 1, 2008


At least it's not pink.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:37 AM on August 1, 2008 [20 favorites]


Totally. Anyone with a pink profile would have to be... well... ummm, I'm sure she'll be by any minute now.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:39 AM on August 1, 2008


Problem solved. Now won't someone please go answer Green With You's post from yesterday. I'm not sure how long he's going to be fobbed off with my whimsical distractions.
posted by Jofus at 6:42 AM on August 1, 2008


Someone has mistaken Metafilter for MySpace?

Yes, chrismear did.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 6:46 AM on August 1, 2008 [6 favorites]


There's also this guy.
posted by inigo2 at 7:07 AM on August 1, 2008 [4 favorites]


....provided they never edited their profile again.

A conservative, eh?
posted by Mblue at 7:12 AM on August 1, 2008


That profile reminds me of some of my old web pages; individually all the components are cool, but when combined they are rendered nearly unusable because of the mutual exclusivity of the styles.
posted by quin at 7:17 AM on August 1, 2008


Curious, but can someone tell me what HTML is allowed in profiles? Is it the same as the wiki currently indicates is supported across the site?

I wanted to add HREF anchors so folks could get to specific sections of interest in my profile, and apparently these elements are not supported.

Unless I did something wrong, they were filtered out everytime I tried.
posted by Mutant at 7:18 AM on August 1, 2008


Nice use of CFDG.
posted by sciurus at 7:20 AM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Holy fucking dickbeans, when the fuck did MySpace invade? That is.. Jesus Christ that is hideous.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:21 AM on August 1, 2008 [3 favorites]


Cortex, we all want this. Let us do it like this. Why aren't we trusted to do this? If it is a security issue, let people with long posting histories do this. I want to do this. If my sister TPS can have this it is not fair that I don't have this.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:22 AM on August 1, 2008 [2 favorites]


Cortex, we all want this.

It's a Matt thing.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:24 AM on August 1, 2008


Matt, we all want this. Let us do it like this. Why aren't we trusted to do this? If it is a security issue, let people with long posting histories do this. I want to do this. If my sister TPS can have this it is not fair that I don't have this.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:26 AM on August 1, 2008 [19 favorites]


Stylin' .....check.
Profilin'.....check.
posted by electroboy at 7:27 AM on August 1, 2008 [7 favorites]


"Totally. Anyone with a pink profile would have to be... well... ummm, I'm sure she'll be by any minute now."

[I'm Not female]
posted by 31d1 at 7:29 AM on August 1, 2008 [3 favorites]


inigo2: "There's also this guy."

That's awesome. Everyone's profile should look like that, always. Alligators!
posted by Science! at 7:29 AM on August 1, 2008


Matt, we all want this.

Yes, please.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:43 AM on August 1, 2008


"Totally. Anyone with a pink profile would have to be... well... ummm, I'm sure she'll be by any minute now."

[I'm Not female]


LOL, sorry. I was referring to someone else.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:55 AM on August 1, 2008


Matt, we all want this.

Apparently you guys are under the mistaken impression that we can have nice things.
posted by Dave Faris at 7:59 AM on August 1, 2008 [5 favorites]


This is why we can't have nice things.
posted by netbros at 8:07 AM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


What if we all promised not to do that?
posted by Science! at 8:43 AM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Apparently you guys are under the mistaken impression that we can have deserve nice things.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:50 AM on August 1, 2008


Back when it was possible to play with your profile like that, I was under the mistaken impression that I could figure out how to do it myself. Hoo boy, was I wrong. I seem to remember crawling on my belly like a disgraced reptile in order to get it back the way it was originally.
posted by yhbc at 9:11 AM on August 1, 2008


This is not a nice things.
posted by dirtdirt at 9:15 AM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


I deserve nice things.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:16 AM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Shh, I'm trying to get nice things by pretending I don't want nice things! If it works out, you can have whatever nice things are left over when I'm done.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:19 AM on August 1, 2008


I seem to remember crawling on my belly like a disgraced reptile in order to get it back the way it was originally.

Should've listened to your muscle memory.
posted by cashman at 9:29 AM on August 1, 2008


We deserve ugly women.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:31 AM on August 1, 2008


I've got a dot mil address too, but I reserve that for work. I dunno about his bosses - maybe he's the sysadmin or sumpin' - but the folks I work for take a dim view of that kind of stuff.
posted by fixedgear at 9:55 AM on August 1, 2008


If you weren't issued the special goggles, you aren't meant to read profiles like that.
posted by Brocktoon at 10:01 AM on August 1, 2008


I just want something to fill the corner of my user page without having to sign up for twitter.
posted by cowbellemoo at 10:08 AM on August 1, 2008


cowbellemoo: "I just want something to fill the corner of my user page without having to sign up for twitter."

Like an alligator? As I see it that's 53 votes for alligators on our profile pages, and none against, Matt.
posted by Science! at 10:14 AM on August 1, 2008


Anyone care to enlighten me or point me towards an enlightening post/link about that backstory?

Besides some shitty AskMe trolling questions and weird hatey throwaway comments he'd toss around, he took advantage of a dictionary attack someone did against the MeFi passwords (before they were stored encrypted-like) and went on a multi-user lulz attack on the site via multiple accounts on U.S. Thanksgiving and fucked up a nice time I was trying to have with my family.

He is one of the few people for whom we have seriously considered revoking the Brand New Day policy, though when he asked, we deleted his "should I hire a prositute?" question because he was trying to get a cleaner Internet slate. He's back under another username and on a short leash.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:52 AM on August 1, 2008


So weird. For some people, MeFi means a totally different thing than it does to me.

MeFi: Somehow I don't think this means what you think it means...
posted by Debaser626 at 11:12 AM on August 1, 2008


Hi WCityMike. That marriage stuff is mostly all true. :)
posted by thirteenkiller at 11:49 AM on August 1, 2008


And the prostitute stuff, same deal?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:50 AM on August 1, 2008


About profile editing: see a Metatalk thread about bad redirections - go to a profile, then get sent automatically to another site.
posted by Pronoiac at 11:59 AM on August 1, 2008


Re loss of stylish profile pages: Innocent must suffer for the guilty. Again.
posted by Cranberry at 12:19 PM on August 1, 2008


"Totally. Anyone with a pink profile would have to be... well... ummm, I'm sure she'll be by any minute now."

[I'm Not female]


And that's Not pink.

THIS IS PANK.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:21 PM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


AUGH MY EYES
posted by scrump at 12:26 PM on August 1, 2008


THIS IS PANKO

now is when we start riffing at random, right?
posted by ook at 12:36 PM on August 1, 2008


THIS IS PANK.

THIS IS GREN.
posted by inigo2 at 12:37 PM on August 1, 2008


My pink of choice is #FF66CC.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:42 PM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Maybe we could start with baby steps... You could select from a few select possible profile page layouts 1) Myspace 2) Facebook 3) Livejournal 4) Geocities circa '99 and 5) Comic Sans
posted by drezdn at 12:47 PM on August 1, 2008 [2 favorites]


THIS IS PANKO

Naw, boy, this is A PANKO rightcheer.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:53 PM on August 1, 2008


*plucks a hair, holds it up to screen*

This is the closest one for me.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:59 PM on August 1, 2008


THIS IS PLINKO
posted by Rock Steady at 2:20 PM on August 1, 2008


Dear Joseph Jones, formerly of www.library.ubc.ca: The quick brown FOX jumps over the lazy DOG. Jeez.
posted by kittyprecious at 2:25 PM on August 1, 2008 [2 favorites]


I thought this was MyFilter... it's not, though.
posted by trip and a half at 2:40 PM on August 1, 2008


I suppose it's more trouble than it is worth for us to have a "customize this page" interface with a limited set of things you could alter? Choose your background color, upload one background image, where would you like it positioned, that sort of thing? Now that I mention that, I suppose it is too much trouble.
posted by maxwelton at 3:07 PM on August 1, 2008


Maybe some auto-play mefi music songs.
posted by maxwelton at 3:09 PM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


A box where we can point out users we admire ("Heroes") maybe comments on the profile...hm, maybe a blog and some fun quizzes.
posted by maxwelton at 3:10 PM on August 1, 2008


I'd better stop sharing these ideas, or someone is going to run with this and I'll lose out on my chance for web 2.0 bux.
posted by maxwelton at 3:11 PM on August 1, 2008


Customise this page with donuts. Mmmm, donuts....
posted by djgh at 3:40 PM on August 1, 2008


Science!, mark me down as someone who under no circumstances wants an alligator on his profile page.

I want a caiman.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:05 PM on August 1, 2008


This is as good a place as any to warn you all that after I finish the two packs of off-brand Camel spinoffs in my possession, I am quitting smoking. So, if I tear any of you a new asshole on here over the weekend, don't take it personally.
posted by jonmc at 5:11 PM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Start with me. Bullshit "when you finish the camels." Do it! Do it noooww!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:19 PM on August 1, 2008


I'm glad I'll be vacationing in Wyoming for the next four days.

Send up the crash alert if jonmc loses his shit, though. I wouldn't wanna miss it.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:20 PM on August 1, 2008


This is as good a place as any to warn you all that after I finish the two packs of off-brand Camel spinoffs in my possession, I am quitting smoking. So, if I tear any of you a new asshole on here over the weekend, don't take it personally.

Over the weekend? I quit 5 weeks ago, and was still ready to rip someone's lungs out until the middle of last week. Now, I merely have a mild volition to hit them with hammers once or twice a day. Lotsa luck!
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:20 PM on August 1, 2008


OK, fuck all of you retarded shitpuddles! I hope you die!

(seriously, thanks for the support, and if you hear about a mass shooting in Queens committed by a dashingly handsome man in a baseball cap, that'll probably be me.)
posted by jonmc at 5:23 PM on August 1, 2008


Good luck, Jon.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:27 PM on August 1, 2008


Fuck yourself with a flaming chainsaw, flo. ;>
posted by jonmc at 5:28 PM on August 1, 2008


jonmc, my own dear mother went cold turkey from smoking REAL camels years ago when she was hospitalized for unexpected gall bladder surgery. (This would be the same year she went thru menopause. Oh, joy.)

If Mom can do it, you can do it. You won't be half as hormonal. ;-)
posted by konolia at 6:29 PM on August 1, 2008


Real Camel cigarettes. Not real camels...my bad.

Speaking of which, my husband rofl'ed when I told him that our eighth grade class trip was to a cigarrette factory. I bought a Joe Camel poster in the gift shop. No lie.
posted by konolia at 6:30 PM on August 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


I'm at six months, jon. I'll be thinking of you!
posted by yhbc at 6:46 PM on August 1, 2008


after I finish the two packs....

Uh huh.
posted by popechunk at 6:52 PM on August 1, 2008


popechunk, I'm announcing it publicly for the extra motivation.
posted by jonmc at 6:55 PM on August 1, 2008


sittin here in Queens
eatin refried beans
staring at the Camel ads
in all the magazines....
posted by fixedgear at 6:58 PM on August 1, 2008


Well Jon... I suspect the most calming thing you could do while you go through nicotine withdrawl is to take a nice long bus ride through the prairies of Canada. I hear Winnipeg is nice this time of year.
posted by Dave Faris at 7:35 PM on August 1, 2008


Ow.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:42 PM on August 1, 2008


jonmc, I have only one thing to say to you:

Have you ever watched a movie where the protagonist has to put up with 10 weeks of bootcamp with a hard-assed sarge, or two years in a WWII prisoner of war camp, or six months on a chain gang, or whatever, and thought to yourself, "I could hack that."?

Well here's your chance to prove it either way to yourself. If you can go 14 days without nicotine, you've basically beaten smoking. Start the clock now.
posted by popechunk at 8:01 PM on August 1, 2008


jonmc writes "(seriously, thanks for the support, and if you hear about a mass shooting in Queens committed by a dashingly handsome man in a baseball cap, that'll probably be me.)"

Geez jonmc, I'd think a nice NYC boy like you would be better at ducking those bullets from madmen.
posted by Mitheral at 10:03 PM on August 1, 2008


I guess this is just as good a place as any to point out that jonmc has a blog here, so there is no need for him to get one, and is also a regular poster at Metachat - you can also discuss his quitting smoking in this thread here.

(this message brought to you by the Council for Promotion of Talking with and about Jonmc, Everywhere and All the Time)
posted by Meatbomb at 11:02 PM on August 1, 2008


Have you finished those two packs yet? I'm drunk and want to "encourage" you. If not, I'll save my drunk scare quotes for tomorrow.
posted by inigo2 at 11:19 PM on August 1, 2008


Wow. I guess I'm late to my own party. I haven't scanned the Talk pages that often since I went on Active Duty last year.

Back before CSS was banned, I was playing around with it quite a bit, especially with transparency effects as they display in different browsers. I put that up, then CSS was blocked. Since then a number of small changes in the page have made it look increasingly skewed. I just haven't bothered to change it.

So I leave it to you guys to decide. Send me a MeFi Mail with your opinion, and in a few days I'll post the results and comply with the majority opinion. The choices are to remove it for generic blue or leave it as is. If nobody responds, I'll just leave it up.

(I thought about posting two comments, and using favorites on them as the voting tool, but I don't want to misuse that tool for such undeserving comments.)
posted by mystyk at 11:36 PM on August 1, 2008 [6 favorites]


Well Jon... I suspect the most calming thing you could do while you go through nicotine withdrawl is to take a nice long bus ride through the prairies of Canada.

Are you telling him you hope his HEAD FALLS OFF? Or quite the contrary?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:32 AM on August 2, 2008


AV, I just got emailed that story yesterday. I thought it was totally crazy. Everyone knows if you want to decapitate a friend you rent a convertible, not ride a bus.

Jonmc, good luck, and I'm rooting for you. I had a friend who couldn't quit smoking until the 5th time she tried. She started chewing on liquorice root so she'd have something to fixate on orally while she fought the nic craving. I think she emptied out the supply of every health store in a 100 mile radius.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:02 AM on August 2, 2008


Damn. Thank you to BrotherCaine for pointing out that the CSS on my page hides the option to send me MeFi Mail (All the more impressive when you realize that's the method by which he contacted me). Sending me messages requires either 1) The ability to do inline CSS editing, 2) the ability to do inline JavaScript editing, 3) the ability to forge HTTP headers, or 4) my removing the custom CSS from the profile. The first three require a bit of programming savvy likely to be above the average MeFite's abilities, while the fourth forces my hand irreversibly on the very issue I requested mailing about. Therefore, default to favorites... Favorite my former message if you want me to keep the CSS, and favorite this one if you want me to remove it. Favorite neither if you just don't give a damn. (For the record, BrotherCaine voted to keep the CSS.)
posted by mystyk at 2:03 AM on August 2, 2008


Mystyk, while I'd like to claim some kind of hacking genius award, there is a method that only requires editing a URL (with a few additional steps).
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:21 AM on August 2, 2008


True. You could open my profile page, type the following into the address bar (completely overwriting the normal address, not just tacking it on the end), and press enter.
javascript:document.getElementById('contact').submit();
It will do the job, but only because of a quirk that allows JS to run in the address bar. (To work, you must type it in the address bar respective to the profile you want to mail, so if multiple tabs or windows are open, you must be currently viewing the profile).

Chances are the favorites are less hassle for 90% of MeFites to deal with...And, to be honest, I had forgotten about the trick when I wrote the previous entry.
posted by mystyk at 3:24 AM on August 2, 2008


My guess is it's some kind of internet thing.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:47 PM on August 3, 2008


yhbc: "Back when it was possible to play with your profile like that, I was under the mistaken impression that I could figure out how to do it myself. Hoo boy, was I wrong. I seem to remember crawling on my belly like a disgraced reptile in order to get it back the way it was originally."

You and me both, brother. I think iconomy ended up in the same boat at one time, also.
posted by dg at 2:01 AM on August 4, 2008


Wait wait wait I was on vacation.
I want a crocodile.
posted by nowonmai at 5:47 AM on August 5, 2008


Holy fucking dickbeans

I have been giggling about this phrase for a solid two minutes, to the point of tears.

That is all.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:23 PM on August 11, 2008


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