fantastical August 14, 2008 7:32 AM Subscribe
Ok. How many of you mefites used to think "fantastic post/comment" was for use on off-the-wall comments?
The first listed entry in most dictionaries for the word is "bizarre; grotesque." "Fantastic!" as an interjection always seems positive, but as an adjective it's not that clear. Maybe it was only me who made the mistake, but if not, I'd say the word "excellent" is an unambiguous replacement.
The first listed entry in most dictionaries for the word is "bizarre; grotesque." "Fantastic!" as an interjection always seems positive, but as an adjective it's not that clear. Maybe it was only me who made the mistake, but if not, I'd say the word "excellent" is an unambiguous replacement.
BURN THE PRESCRIPTIVIST!
posted by Mister_A at 7:44 AM on August 14, 2008 [32 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 7:44 AM on August 14, 2008 [32 favorites]
Ambiguity has value, you know. It's not as if everything else around here were set in stone, as black and white as John McCain naked, in outer space. Painted on velvet. With really big eyes.
in case it is not obvious, i herewith advocate for a thread full of fantastical off-the-wall posts that all get labeled "excellent" when the mods create that tag)
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:48 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
in case it is not obvious, i herewith advocate for a thread full of fantastical off-the-wall posts that all get labeled "excellent" when the mods create that tag)
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:48 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
I think it's just you.
posted by electroboy at 7:49 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by electroboy at 7:49 AM on August 14, 2008
Linguists write dictionaries in such a way as to ever so slightly fuck with the prescriptivists. Mwuhahahahahahahaha...
posted by iamkimiam at 7:50 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by iamkimiam at 7:50 AM on August 14, 2008
Huh. I guess that is kind of ambiguous. We should probably just change it to "phantasmagoric".
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:51 AM on August 14, 2008 [20 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:51 AM on August 14, 2008 [20 favorites]
If we do get the "excellent" tag, I also want the "one meel-ion dollars" tag.
posted by yhbc at 7:52 AM on August 14, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by yhbc at 7:52 AM on August 14, 2008 [4 favorites]
Fantastic suggestion.
posted by box at 7:52 AM on August 14, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 7:52 AM on August 14, 2008 [2 favorites]
I seem to remember someone else confessing the same thing before. So that means two of us were flagging derail comments as fantastic! It must have been horrible!
posted by Citizen Premier at 7:54 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by Citizen Premier at 7:54 AM on August 14, 2008
BURN THE PRESCRIPTIVIST!
Damnit, I know I cited the dictionary, not because I was trying to be prescriptivist, but because it was on my side for once.
posted by Citizen Premier at 8:00 AM on August 14, 2008
Damnit, I know I cited the dictionary, not because I was trying to be prescriptivist, but because it was on my side for once.
posted by Citizen Premier at 8:00 AM on August 14, 2008
I dunno. I will occasionally flag a comment that's completely off the wall as "Fantastic" because even if I know that it will never make the sidebar, it damn well deserves to.
To be honest, it's always vaguely bothered me that the sidebar is reserved for comments which are "art" as opposed to comments that are "awesome." I see no reason it can't be both.
posted by Ryvar at 8:03 AM on August 14, 2008
To be honest, it's always vaguely bothered me that the sidebar is reserved for comments which are "art" as opposed to comments that are "awesome." I see no reason it can't be both.
posted by Ryvar at 8:03 AM on August 14, 2008
If we do get the "excellent" tag
...we'll need to balance it out with a complementary "BOOOgus!"
To be honest, it's always vaguely bothered me that the sidebar is reserved for comments which are "art" as opposed to comments that are "awesome." I see no reason it can't be both.
I don't actually see that as being the case. I think more often than not we sidebar a comment because it's either really informative or a striking anecdote from someone. Among other varieties, certainly, but I think "awesome" is kind of the main deal.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:09 AM on August 14, 2008
...we'll need to balance it out with a complementary "BOOOgus!"
To be honest, it's always vaguely bothered me that the sidebar is reserved for comments which are "art" as opposed to comments that are "awesome." I see no reason it can't be both.
I don't actually see that as being the case. I think more often than not we sidebar a comment because it's either really informative or a striking anecdote from someone. Among other varieties, certainly, but I think "awesome" is kind of the main deal.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:09 AM on August 14, 2008
The OED lists one of the definitions of "grotestque" as:
Characterized by distortion or unnatural combinations; fantastically extravagant; bizarre,† quaint.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "extravagant" as:
Of expense, interest, price, etc.: Exorbitant.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "exorbitant" as:
Going to excess in any action or quality. Of actions, appetites, desire, etc.: Excessive, immoderate. arch. Now with stronger sense: Grossly or flagrantly excessive.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "excessive" as:
Of qualities, states, actions, magnitudes, etc. In favourable or neutral sense: Exceeding what is usual; ‘surpassing’; exceedingly great.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "great" as:
‘Magnificent’, ‘splendid’, ‘grand’, ‘immense’.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "splendid" as:
Excellent; very good or fine.
CRAP!11!!!!!1!1!!WHYCAN'TTHESEWORDSALLMEANTHESAMETHING!?!?!??!?!??! AAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by iamkimiam at 8:16 AM on August 14, 2008 [4 favorites]
Characterized by distortion or unnatural combinations; fantastically extravagant; bizarre,† quaint.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "extravagant" as:
Of expense, interest, price, etc.: Exorbitant.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "exorbitant" as:
Going to excess in any action or quality. Of actions, appetites, desire, etc.: Excessive, immoderate. arch. Now with stronger sense: Grossly or flagrantly excessive.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "excessive" as:
Of qualities, states, actions, magnitudes, etc. In favourable or neutral sense: Exceeding what is usual; ‘surpassing’; exceedingly great.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "great" as:
‘Magnificent’, ‘splendid’, ‘grand’, ‘immense’.
The OED lists one of the definitions of "splendid" as:
Excellent; very good or fine.
CRAP!11!!!!!1!1!!WHYCAN'TTHESEWORDSALLMEANTHESAMETHING!?!?!??!?!??! AAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by iamkimiam at 8:16 AM on August 14, 2008 [4 favorites]
What a fantastic use of MeTa!
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:17 AM on August 14, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:17 AM on August 14, 2008 [2 favorites]
To be honest, it's always vaguely bothered me that the sidebar is reserved for comments which are "art" as opposed to comments that are "awesome." I see no reason it can't be both.
The sidebar is for four basic things, usually, if I'm being descriptive
- MeFi announcements people should see
- "MeFi's own" someone does something noteworthy
- amazingly expert comments on some topic
- AskMe posts that are super informative
That said, comments that are likely to set off a whole "Why is that on the sidebar, you're taking sides in this important debate and/or minimizing this important topic!!" MeTa arguments are less likely to show up there. Since the sidebar carries with it some sort of "mod approval" baggage, we're less likely to put an awesome piece of snark there or someone's perfect put-down or whatever, even though these get fantastic flags fairly often, and I often enjoy reading them.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:18 AM on August 14, 2008
The sidebar is for four basic things, usually, if I'm being descriptive
- MeFi announcements people should see
- "MeFi's own" someone does something noteworthy
- amazingly expert comments on some topic
- AskMe posts that are super informative
That said, comments that are likely to set off a whole "Why is that on the sidebar, you're taking sides in this important debate and/or minimizing this important topic!!" MeTa arguments are less likely to show up there. Since the sidebar carries with it some sort of "mod approval" baggage, we're less likely to put an awesome piece of snark there or someone's perfect put-down or whatever, even though these get fantastic flags fairly often, and I often enjoy reading them.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:18 AM on August 14, 2008
Could cortex hook up some kind of "Flagged as Fantastic"-to-Tumblr awesomeness so we could all see what was being flagged as that?
I know, I know, No, too much faff, dangerous precedent, context free, horses for courses, sod off Jofus you knob etc.
posted by Jofus at 8:18 AM on August 14, 2008
I know, I know, No, too much faff, dangerous precedent, context free, horses for courses, sod off Jofus you knob etc.
posted by Jofus at 8:18 AM on August 14, 2008
fantastic: Quaint or strange in form, conception, or appearance.
fantastic: conceived or appearing as if conceived by an unrestrained imagination; odd and remarkable
fantastic: based on fantasy : not real
U DICTIONARYIN': BAD
posted by Eideteker at 8:26 AM on August 14, 2008
fantastic: conceived or appearing as if conceived by an unrestrained imagination; odd and remarkable
fantastic: based on fantasy : not real
U DICTIONARYIN': BAD
posted by Eideteker at 8:26 AM on August 14, 2008
"Fantastic!" could also be negative if said in a sneeringly sarcastic fashion - along the lines of "Fantastic. Really.", which seems more MeFi than any of the other possible meanings.
posted by XMLicious at 8:27 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by XMLicious at 8:27 AM on August 14, 2008
It's actually a paid advertisement from Fanta.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:31 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:31 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
even though these get fantastic flags fairly often, and I often enjoy reading them.
Can we have a flag that just says "Dude."?
posted by Jofus at 8:38 AM on August 14, 2008 [5 favorites]
Can we have a flag that just says "Dude."?
posted by Jofus at 8:38 AM on August 14, 2008 [5 favorites]
Now I'm thoroughly confused. Is that flag meant to be used for good or evil??
/no seriously, which is it?
posted by Grither at 8:42 AM on August 14, 2008
/no seriously, which is it?
posted by Grither at 8:42 AM on August 14, 2008
I vote for more ambiguity, not less. Replace "fantastic" with "awful."
posted by Drastic at 8:45 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Drastic at 8:45 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
Since the sidebar carries with it some sort of "mod approval" baggage, we're less likely to put an awesome piece of snark there or someone's perfect put-down or whatever, even though these get fantastic flags fairly often, and I often enjoy reading them.
Sorry, I probably wasn't very clear. It's not snark or put-downs that I'm advocating for, it's the comments that are amazing in the way they frame commonly available information and an interesting perspective. I guess I've always felt like 'insider info' comments are weighted far too heavily versus homegrown comments that impart fantastic insight.
posted by Ryvar at 8:48 AM on August 14, 2008
Sorry, I probably wasn't very clear. It's not snark or put-downs that I'm advocating for, it's the comments that are amazing in the way they frame commonly available information and an interesting perspective. I guess I've always felt like 'insider info' comments are weighted far too heavily versus homegrown comments that impart fantastic insight.
posted by Ryvar at 8:48 AM on August 14, 2008
I think "awesome" is more fitting than "excellent," & "dude" is very expressive, & even more ambiguous than "fantastic." Examples:
Dude! - awesome!
Dude. - uncool.
Duuuude. - bummer.
Guess how I'm going to annoy my co-workers today!
posted by Pronoiac at 8:59 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
Dude! - awesome!
Dude. - uncool.
Duuuude. - bummer.
Guess how I'm going to annoy my co-workers today!
posted by Pronoiac at 8:59 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
I would like:
Flag as
☐ Funny "ha ha"
☐ Funny "peculiar"
posted by chococat at 9:21 AM on August 14, 2008 [8 favorites]
Flag as
☐ Funny "ha ha"
☐ Funny "peculiar"
posted by chococat at 9:21 AM on August 14, 2008 [8 favorites]
fantastical!
posted by blue_beetle at 9:23 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by blue_beetle at 9:23 AM on August 14, 2008
The first listed entry in most dictionaries for the word is "bizarre; grotesque."
The Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus (American Edition, 1997) lists fantastic as 1) colloq. excellent; extraodinary. 2) extravagantly fanciful 3) grotesque.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:23 AM on August 14, 2008
The Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus (American Edition, 1997) lists fantastic as 1) colloq. excellent; extraodinary. 2) extravagantly fanciful 3) grotesque.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:23 AM on August 14, 2008
Dude! - awesome!
Dude. - uncool.
Duuuude. - bummer.
You forgot one.
"Uhh ... dude? Dude?" = "Is there an axe murderer in my closet?"
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:28 AM on August 14, 2008
Dude. - uncool.
Duuuude. - bummer.
You forgot one.
"Uhh ... dude? Dude?" = "Is there an axe murderer in my closet?"
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:28 AM on August 14, 2008
Dude! - awesome!
Dude. - uncool.
Duuuude. - bummer.
Yeah, punctuation and/or vowel repetition does wonders for clarity there. I would like to see all three flags added to the system. Snip snap!
posted by middleclasstool at 9:31 AM on August 14, 2008
Dude. - uncool.
Duuuude. - bummer.
Yeah, punctuation and/or vowel repetition does wonders for clarity there. I would like to see all three flags added to the system. Snip snap!
posted by middleclasstool at 9:31 AM on August 14, 2008
Three other important ones:
Dood. Usage: Veronica refused to go out with Archie unless he got a haircut, so she asked Jughead if Archie had been dood.
Dued. Usage: Jughead asked Veronica if he could borrow some money to cover his tab at Pop Tate's. Tate was up to his neck in debt with the Riverdale mafia, and had already had his thumbs broken by Moose's crooked cousin Buck. Tate was attempting to call in monies owed, and as such, Jughead's bill had been dued.
Dewed. Usage: Mr. Weatherbee woke up with a start. He never thought he'd be asked to kill again. Not after last time. He wondered if it had all been a dream, but the bloody hatchet propped against his bedside table confirmed his worst fears. He got up, splashed cold water on his face, and drove to the school. Svenson would be arriving in a matter of moments, and while he would be somewhat delayed by his daily trip to the bathroom to toot the blow he'd scored off of Reggie, Weatherbee knew he didn't have much time. He walked around back to find the cold, stiff body of Dilton Doiley, still dewed from the crisp August night. As he dragged the corpse toward the furnace, he smiled. The summer, he thought, goes by a little bit faster every year.
posted by SpiffyRob at 9:40 AM on August 14, 2008 [6 favorites]
Dood. Usage: Veronica refused to go out with Archie unless he got a haircut, so she asked Jughead if Archie had been dood.
Dued. Usage: Jughead asked Veronica if he could borrow some money to cover his tab at Pop Tate's. Tate was up to his neck in debt with the Riverdale mafia, and had already had his thumbs broken by Moose's crooked cousin Buck. Tate was attempting to call in monies owed, and as such, Jughead's bill had been dued.
Dewed. Usage: Mr. Weatherbee woke up with a start. He never thought he'd be asked to kill again. Not after last time. He wondered if it had all been a dream, but the bloody hatchet propped against his bedside table confirmed his worst fears. He got up, splashed cold water on his face, and drove to the school. Svenson would be arriving in a matter of moments, and while he would be somewhat delayed by his daily trip to the bathroom to toot the blow he'd scored off of Reggie, Weatherbee knew he didn't have much time. He walked around back to find the cold, stiff body of Dilton Doiley, still dewed from the crisp August night. As he dragged the corpse toward the furnace, he smiled. The summer, he thought, goes by a little bit faster every year.
posted by SpiffyRob at 9:40 AM on August 14, 2008 [6 favorites]
Meanwhile:
The National League at this year's All-Star game?
Drewed.
posted by SpiffyRob at 9:45 AM on August 14, 2008
The National League at this year's All-Star game?
Drewed.
posted by SpiffyRob at 9:45 AM on August 14, 2008
I always thought 'fantastic' means the comment is not based on reality.
posted by daniel_charms at 9:48 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by daniel_charms at 9:48 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's not a point of particular pride, but I'm pretty sure I could get through an entire day with no more vocabulary than different inflections of "dude". I mean, even on one of the days when I actually have to talk to someone.
posted by Wolfdog at 9:50 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by Wolfdog at 9:50 AM on August 14, 2008
Ok. How many of you mefites used to think "fantastic post/comment" was for use on off-the-wall comments?
Yep. I vote for "fanTAStico!" -- preferably with that upside down exclamation point prefix that I can't figure out how to do on the computer. But, y'know.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 10:06 AM on August 14, 2008
Yep. I vote for "fanTAStico!" -- preferably with that upside down exclamation point prefix that I can't figure out how to do on the computer. But, y'know.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 10:06 AM on August 14, 2008
It really doesn't seem like this thread was so up-hill to begin with, but then it goes down one after all.
posted by paisley henosis at 10:10 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by paisley henosis at 10:10 AM on August 14, 2008
You mean "ifanTAStico!?"
Spoiler: That's an "i."
posted by Citizen Premier at 10:15 AM on August 14, 2008
Spoiler: That's an "i."
posted by Citizen Premier at 10:15 AM on August 14, 2008
I tried a lowercase I, but then I checked wikipedia's character help thingy, which I should probably link on the wiki:
lowercase i - ifanTastico!
¡ ¡ifanTAStico!
posted by Pronoiac at 10:18 AM on August 14, 2008
lowercase i - ifanTastico!
¡ ¡ifanTAStico!
posted by Pronoiac at 10:18 AM on August 14, 2008
I always thought 'fantastic' means the comment is not based on reality.
That's two!
If you've noticed any delete-worthy posts being flagged as fantastic, this would explain it.
posted by Citizen Premier at 10:18 AM on August 14, 2008
That's two!
If you've noticed any delete-worthy posts being flagged as fantastic, this would explain it.
posted by Citizen Premier at 10:18 AM on August 14, 2008
I always thought it was cockney rhyming code for damn spastic.
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:21 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:21 AM on August 14, 2008
Are we breaking the rules again? Are we not using the first listed dictionary entry?
Eventually, through judicious use of MetaTalk, everyone will learn to obey.
MetaFilter will operate smoothly--like China.
Maybe it was only me who made the mistake.
Maybe it was I. That is two mistakes now, added to your record.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:42 AM on August 14, 2008
Eventually, through judicious use of MetaTalk, everyone will learn to obey.
MetaFilter will operate smoothly--like China.
Maybe it was only me who made the mistake.
Maybe it was I. That is two mistakes now, added to your record.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:42 AM on August 14, 2008
¿What where you trying to do there, Pronoiac?
¡this page of special ALT characters works better!
posted by yhbc at 10:49 AM on August 14, 2008
¡this page of special ALT characters works better!
posted by yhbc at 10:49 AM on August 14, 2008
¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡
¡!I may border all my comments like this from now on¡!
¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡
posted by eyeballkid at 10:53 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
¡!I may border all my comments like this from now on¡!
¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡
posted by eyeballkid at 10:53 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
Sorry, I probably wasn't very clear. It's not snark or put-downs that I'm advocating for, it's the comments that are amazing in the way they frame commonly available information and an interesting perspective. I guess I've always felt like 'insider info' comments are weighted far too heavily versus homegrown comments that impart fantastic insight.
Ah, I think I get you (though a couple of examples would probably help nail it down, if you have any handy).
I think part of this is just an issue of visibility; it's rare that we'll be reading a random unnoted thread and just sidebar something that no one seems to care about—it tends to be things that somehow come to our attention (via a pile of favorites, or bunch of Fantastics, or email from someone, or even a Hey This Is Great metatalk post), and it's possible that in the case of "homegrown comments that impart fantastic insight" there isn't that same out-of-the-park obvious awesomeness that leads to that sort of critical mass attention.
That might explain the weighting you feel like you're seeing. Insider/I-was-there/this-is-my-specialty/I-joined-to-make-this-comment stuff is I think more obviously and universally recognizable, and may also in many cases stand a little better as a stripped-from-context thing to link directly too.
Just brainstorming, though. Mostly, I think we really don't think of it in those terms so explicitly in any case, and just keep an eye out for cool things and put them through a hazy "does this work for the sidebar?" filter like what Jessamyn describes.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:57 AM on August 14, 2008
Ah, I think I get you (though a couple of examples would probably help nail it down, if you have any handy).
I think part of this is just an issue of visibility; it's rare that we'll be reading a random unnoted thread and just sidebar something that no one seems to care about—it tends to be things that somehow come to our attention (via a pile of favorites, or bunch of Fantastics, or email from someone, or even a Hey This Is Great metatalk post), and it's possible that in the case of "homegrown comments that impart fantastic insight" there isn't that same out-of-the-park obvious awesomeness that leads to that sort of critical mass attention.
That might explain the weighting you feel like you're seeing. Insider/I-was-there/this-is-my-specialty/I-joined-to-make-this-comment stuff is I think more obviously and universally recognizable, and may also in many cases stand a little better as a stripped-from-context thing to link directly too.
Just brainstorming, though. Mostly, I think we really don't think of it in those terms so explicitly in any case, and just keep an eye out for cool things and put them through a hazy "does this work for the sidebar?" filter like what Jessamyn describes.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:57 AM on August 14, 2008
Yeah, no, I mean at this point as far as I'm concerned any complaints along these lines are so much bitching about brushstrokes on the Mona Lisa (not that Metafilter is the defining masterwork of community websites or anything, but, you know, the site really really *works* as it is right now).
I'm swamped at work so I don't have the time to go through my favorites history to find particular examples, but just to prove me wrong here's an example of it done right.
So, yeah, that got sidebarred, and I guess I'm just speaking up to say "more sidebars like this might be nice."
posted by Ryvar at 11:08 AM on August 14, 2008
I'm swamped at work so I don't have the time to go through my favorites history to find particular examples, but just to prove me wrong here's an example of it done right.
So, yeah, that got sidebarred, and I guess I'm just speaking up to say "more sidebars like this might be nice."
posted by Ryvar at 11:08 AM on August 14, 2008
Blame the original astronauts. A singer named Vicky Carr (?) called everything they did "Fantastic". So in usage the word took on the connotation of great, beyond AOK.
If the dictionaries have not adapted to that usage in 40+ years, well that is just fanta... never mind.
posted by Cranberry at 11:10 AM on August 14, 2008
If the dictionaries have not adapted to that usage in 40+ years, well that is just fanta... never mind.
posted by Cranberry at 11:10 AM on August 14, 2008
I'm with you, Cranberry–we should shorten this word to Fanta.
posted by Mister_A at 11:13 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 11:13 AM on August 14, 2008
BURN THE PRESCRIPTIVIST!
I think this is a harsh and disproportionate response to a generally harmless idea. Burning someone simply for prescriptivism is savage.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 11:14 AM on August 14, 2008
I think this is a harsh and disproportionate response to a generally harmless idea. Burning someone simply for prescriptivism is savage.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 11:14 AM on August 14, 2008
Burning someone simply for prescriptivism is savage.I always thought it was more languagehat, myself.
posted by scrump at 11:19 AM on August 14, 2008
BURN THE PRESCRIPTIVIST!
If the term is linguistic prescription, why is the practitioner not called a prescriptionist instead of a prescriptivist? Can someone give me a ruling on this? (Unless, of course, we're discussing universal prescriptivism, in which case I vote for the burn.)
posted by joaquim at 11:20 AM on August 14, 2008
If the term is linguistic prescription, why is the practitioner not called a prescriptionist instead of a prescriptivist? Can someone give me a ruling on this? (Unless, of course, we're discussing universal prescriptivism, in which case I vote for the burn.)
posted by joaquim at 11:20 AM on August 14, 2008
The sidebar is for four basic things, usually, if I'm being descriptive
- MeFi announcements people should see
- "MeFi's own" someone does something noteworthy
- amazingly expert comments on some topic
- AskMe posts that are super informative
We totally need a "super informative" flag. There's no way that could be abused.
posted by grateful at 11:24 AM on August 14, 2008
- MeFi announcements people should see
- "MeFi's own" someone does something noteworthy
- amazingly expert comments on some topic
- AskMe posts that are super informative
We totally need a "super informative" flag. There's no way that could be abused.
posted by grateful at 11:24 AM on August 14, 2008
MetaFilter: where derogatory terms are four syllables instead of four letters.
posted by Cranberry at 11:25 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 11:25 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
I guess I'm just speaking up to say "more sidebars like this might be nice."
This sort of shrill, unrelenting demand is just intolerable. I have banned you twice, sir.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:25 AM on August 14, 2008
This sort of shrill, unrelenting demand is just intolerable. I have banned you twice, sir.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:25 AM on August 14, 2008
I think this is a harsh and disproportionate response to a generally harmless idea. Burning someone simply for prescriptivism is savage.
KILL THE WISE ONE!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:27 AM on August 14, 2008
KILL THE WISE ONE!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:27 AM on August 14, 2008
If the term is linguistic prescription, why is the practitioner not called a prescriptionist instead of a prescriptivist?
Because there's nothing wrong with a reasonable prescription as a form of style advice in sane contexts; the pejorative really only kicks in for, not folks who are willing to discuss this or that prescription, but folks who are by their very nature wantonly prescriptive. These varied, pseudo-collective and self-contradicting usage despots have earned, through genuine and ongoing bloodymindness, the distinction of an -ivism.
Or something like that. It could just be that language is a weird, living thing that can't be held to strict logic. But try to tell that to a prescriptionist.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:32 AM on August 14, 2008
Because there's nothing wrong with a reasonable prescription as a form of style advice in sane contexts; the pejorative really only kicks in for, not folks who are willing to discuss this or that prescription, but folks who are by their very nature wantonly prescriptive. These varied, pseudo-collective and self-contradicting usage despots have earned, through genuine and ongoing bloodymindness, the distinction of an -ivism.
Or something like that. It could just be that language is a weird, living thing that can't be held to strict logic. But try to tell that to a prescriptionist.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:32 AM on August 14, 2008
Oh, I repeated something. To clarify:
example with lowercase i - ifanTastico!
example with Unicode named character "¡" ¡fanTAStico!
I thought the alt-characters didn't work reliably across browsers & platforms, & that numbered Unicode characters were filtered out in posting. Somebody on a Mac or Firefox: how does this look?
posted by Pronoiac at 11:37 AM on August 14, 2008
example with lowercase i - ifanTastico!
example with Unicode named character "¡" ¡fanTAStico!
I thought the alt-characters didn't work reliably across browsers & platforms, & that numbered Unicode characters were filtered out in posting. Somebody on a Mac or Firefox: how does this look?
posted by Pronoiac at 11:37 AM on August 14, 2008
¿sx131;x265;x287; x287;noqx250; x28d;ox265; ¿sıɥʇ pɐǝɹ noʎ uɐɔ
posted by Pronoiac at 11:46 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by Pronoiac at 11:46 AM on August 14, 2008
Can we have a second flag that indicates whether the first flag was intended ironically?
posted by camcgee at 11:59 AM on August 14, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by camcgee at 11:59 AM on August 14, 2008 [2 favorites]
I have flagged everything down to here appropriately. Will someone else please take over, as this is a fantastically boring undertaking.
posted by Mister_A at 11:59 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 11:59 AM on August 14, 2008
I knew it had to be Citizen Premier; my neck nipples bulged and throbbed just so. Only his karmic energy tweaked them like this. I scratched and twiddled the fullest of them, their taut bulging skin giving in to thankful release. As I milked their precious oils with my fore mandibles, I used my nether tentacles to channel the discharge into my shoulder sluice, rubbing it into my flaking, thirsty vertebrae. Resplendent purple and all aglow - there was a party afoot.
Yes, here was a man's metatalk post, and the trip through the aether would be well worth it. There would be killing, and eating, and most certainly we would cavort with the swamp dogs as we awaited the Citizen's return.
posted by Meatbomb at 12:02 PM on August 14, 2008 [3 favorites]
Yes, here was a man's metatalk post, and the trip through the aether would be well worth it. There would be killing, and eating, and most certainly we would cavort with the swamp dogs as we awaited the Citizen's return.
posted by Meatbomb at 12:02 PM on August 14, 2008 [3 favorites]
Can we have a second flag that indicates whether the first flag was intended ironically?
It does seem appropriate for MetaFilter to have meta-flags. But if you flagged an "ironic" flag as ironic, does that mean that you're saying that the initial flag flagged is doubly ironic, or are you saying that the expression of irony was ironic?
posted by XMLicious at 12:22 PM on August 14, 2008
It does seem appropriate for MetaFilter to have meta-flags. But if you flagged an "ironic" flag as ironic, does that mean that you're saying that the initial flag flagged is doubly ironic, or are you saying that the expression of irony was ironic?
posted by XMLicious at 12:22 PM on August 14, 2008
BTW, is the answer to the original question "no-one, including the OP"?
posted by Artw at 12:42 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by Artw at 12:42 PM on August 14, 2008
False flag operation.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:11 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:11 PM on August 14, 2008
"I'm with you, Cranberry–we should shorten this word to Fanta.
posted by Mister_A at 11:13 AM"
I'll drink to that, Mister_A
posted by Cranberry at 1:37 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 11:13 AM"
I'll drink to that, Mister_A
posted by Cranberry at 1:37 PM on August 14, 2008
I knew it had to be Citizen Premier; my neck nipples bulged and throbbed just so.
GAH. Dude? Get a room. This is a rishartha-free area.
posted by loquacious at 2:06 PM on August 14, 2008
GAH. Dude? Get a room. This is a rishartha-free area.
posted by loquacious at 2:06 PM on August 14, 2008
OK, I just went and provided a citation, at some effort, for a sort of vague dude whose idea of attribution was "The Bible"—but there is no bloomin' way I'm going to do it for "most dictionaries." Well, not for a weird semantic nitpick anyway. I might take you more seriously if you explained which dictionaries you used. Not very seriously, since I'd rather look at the semantic prosody of "fantastic" in a couple of recent corpora ... but more.
posted by eritain at 2:38 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by eritain at 2:38 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
Burning someone simply for prescriptivism is savage.
Savage but effective. I've only had occasion to do it a few times, but believe me, those sons of bitches never mocked a "misuse" again.
posted by languagehat at 2:41 PM on August 14, 2008
Savage but effective. I've only had occasion to do it a few times, but believe me, those sons of bitches never mocked a "misuse" again.
posted by languagehat at 2:41 PM on August 14, 2008
a sort of vague dude whose idea of attribution was "The Bible"
I'm going to start citing like that on wikipedia. Take that WP:V! up yours WP:N! My position on why Hounds of the Ripper (comics) should not be deleted is now unassailable!
posted by Artw at 2:41 PM on August 14, 2008
I'm going to start citing like that on wikipedia. Take that WP:V! up yours WP:N! My position on why Hounds of the Ripper (comics) should not be deleted is now unassailable!
posted by Artw at 2:41 PM on August 14, 2008
I've always read it as "fascist post/comment".
posted by orthogonality at 2:42 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by orthogonality at 2:42 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
Flagged as semaphore.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:49 PM on August 14, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:49 PM on August 14, 2008 [2 favorites]
It doesn't seem to be mentioned yet, but I think most dictionaries list entries by the date of first citation, not by how common that particular usage is at the moment. This was something I hadn't thought of until I saw that talk that Erin McKean gave at Google linked in this post.
posted by bjrn at 3:41 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by bjrn at 3:41 PM on August 14, 2008
All I know is somebody flagged (and then a mod deleted) my answer to the AskMe question "How long do fortune cookies last?" so uh, yeah, flags.
posted by fixedgear at 3:44 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by fixedgear at 3:44 PM on August 14, 2008
I once had a very well-spoken, Oxford-trained professor who sent back papers of mine with words "fantastic" and "phenomenal" circled whenever I used them to mean "great" or "wonderful". At first, I thought he was being superfluously pedantic (a desirable trait in my books), but in talking to him I realized that he wasn't just being snippy. On his first reading, he really did register the meanings of those words differently than most of us. Seeing "fantastic" used to mean "great" struck him as hard in the gut as did a misplaced apostrophe. This is unduly prescriptivist of course, and in one sense he should probably follow the young'uns and get with the program, but I found his use of the words kind of charming and more expressive. Now when I write more formally, I try to only use "fantastic" when either meaning works ("That's a great mythical unicorn! Such a fantastic creature!") so there won't be cause for anyone to wince.
I wonder if he had a problem with "fabulous".
He also dinged me for using "in tandem" to mean "together".
posted by painquale at 4:12 PM on August 14, 2008
I wonder if he had a problem with "fabulous".
He also dinged me for using "in tandem" to mean "together".
posted by painquale at 4:12 PM on August 14, 2008
Today at work, I found a copy of Mark Fidrych's autobiography. Since it was a former library book, I got o buy it for 50 cents. That was cool.
posted by jonmc at 4:43 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by jonmc at 4:43 PM on August 14, 2008
Metfilter should use the word "excellent" to replace ambigious words like "favorite" and "fantastic." There are many times I would have selected a post as excellent, though I would not describe it as a favorite of mine. Who cares of course, but eliminating ambiguity would be in the interest of statistical datamining in the future.
posted by Brian B. at 5:35 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by Brian B. at 5:35 PM on August 14, 2008
I've never used that feature, because I haven't seen any upright poles, stakes or supports that struck me as fantastic yet.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 6:34 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 6:34 PM on August 14, 2008
Bill 'Spaceman' Lee wrote a pretty good baseball memoir/autobiog. Then, twenty years later, he wrote a pretty bad one.
posted by box at 7:43 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by box at 7:43 PM on August 14, 2008
Doc Ellis pitched a game in the majors high on LSD.
posted by fixedgear at 7:53 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by fixedgear at 7:53 PM on August 14, 2008
Holy jiggling buddha shit on a pottery wheel there have been some dumb threads in MeTa lately.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:13 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:13 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
Bill 'Spaceman' Lee wrote a pretty good baseball memoir/autobiog.
The Wrong Stuff? I have that. It's not bad.
posted by jonmc at 8:13 PM on August 14, 2008
The Wrong Stuff? I have that. It's not bad.
posted by jonmc at 8:13 PM on August 14, 2008
Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter in the majors high on LSD.
posted by box at 8:48 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by box at 8:48 PM on August 14, 2008
Today at work, I found a copy of Mark Fidrych's autobiography. Since it was a former library book, I got o buy it for 50 cents. That was cool.
That indeed is cool! He was afantastic great pitcher and quite a character. My hometown of Detroit was abuzz whenever he was scheduled to pitch. Too bad his career was so short, though.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:57 PM on August 14, 2008
That indeed is cool! He was a
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:57 PM on August 14, 2008
Sometimes I like to think about what the hell you people must be like in the real world.
posted by freebird at 9:57 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by freebird at 9:57 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
then i realize i'm refreshing metatalk, and probably know quite well.
posted by freebird at 9:58 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by freebird at 9:58 PM on August 14, 2008
stavrosthewonderchicken: Holy jiggling buddha shit on a pottery wheel there have been some dumb threads in MeTa lately.
For fuck's sake, stav, I'm standing right here.
posted by Pronoiac at 10:36 PM on August 14, 2008
For fuck's sake, stav, I'm standing right here.
posted by Pronoiac at 10:36 PM on August 14, 2008
UM? Seems to me that Matt left the funky chicken in charge?
posted by LiveLurker at 11:14 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by LiveLurker at 11:14 PM on August 14, 2008
Funky chickens say nada lol Yeah eh OK.
posted by LiveLurker at 11:26 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by LiveLurker at 11:26 PM on August 14, 2008
Jessamyn has that funky chicken by his....?
posted by LiveLurker at 11:38 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by LiveLurker at 11:38 PM on August 14, 2008
Meatbalm?
posted by LiveLurker at 11:40 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by LiveLurker at 11:40 PM on August 14, 2008
I AM THE INLINE FUNKY CHICKEN
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:46 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:46 PM on August 14, 2008
UM ohhhhhhhhhhhh kay. stravos...YOU ARE!
posted by LiveLurker at 12:07 AM on August 15, 2008
posted by LiveLurker at 12:07 AM on August 15, 2008
SLEEPY! Your eyes are getting heavy. You feel good but when jessamyn comes? You feel worse than cortiex! And more clueless than mathowie?
posted by LiveLurker at 12:19 AM on August 15, 2008
posted by LiveLurker at 12:19 AM on August 15, 2008
This is like middle-of-the-night serial shithead comment spree freakout number four? Five? You are done with metafilter.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:02 AM on August 15, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:02 AM on August 15, 2008 [3 favorites]
I would like:
Flag as
☐ Funny "ha ha"
☐ Funny "peculiar"
☐ Funny "like the final scene in Hamlet"
posted by trip and a half at 3:40 AM on August 15, 2008
Flag as
☐ Funny "ha ha"
☐ Funny "peculiar"
☐ Funny "like the final scene in Hamlet"
posted by trip and a half at 3:40 AM on August 15, 2008
In addition, I would like flag as "How the fuck am I funny?"
posted by fixedgear at 4:34 AM on August 15, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by fixedgear at 4:34 AM on August 15, 2008 [1 favorite]
Wait, who freaked out?
fruck? freak-outed? some past tense constructions just don't look right, no matter what you do
posted by yhbc at 5:32 AM on August 15, 2008
fruck? freak-outed? some past tense constructions just don't look right, no matter what you do
posted by yhbc at 5:32 AM on August 15, 2008
Out-frocked is I think the standard construction.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:14 AM on August 15, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:14 AM on August 15, 2008
Okay, I see now - the relative innocuousness of that batch of LiveLurker's comments belies the freakoutishness of the last several batches. Good call.
posted by yhbc at 6:52 AM on August 15, 2008
posted by yhbc at 6:52 AM on August 15, 2008
I'm flagging this thread as "mildly epic."
There was a ban hammorrhage and stuff.
posted by Mister_A at 7:22 AM on August 15, 2008
There was a ban hammorrhage and stuff.
posted by Mister_A at 7:22 AM on August 15, 2008
And lo! The horror appeared over the horizon, shadowing us with its bulk and whelming us with the palpable aura of fear it exuded. From which dark corner of God’s mind did this emerge? This abomination, whose very existence defied physics, defied logic, defied even geometry—that oldest art?!
Before us stood Orpheus’ woe.
posted by sonic meat machine at 1:49 PM on August 15, 2008
Before us stood Orpheus’ woe.
posted by sonic meat machine at 1:49 PM on August 15, 2008
Here's a question: why is "favoriting" public, while "flagging" isn't?
posted by telstar at 10:39 PM on August 15, 2008
posted by telstar at 10:39 PM on August 15, 2008
Flagging? Flogging? You say tomato I say tomatoe.
Fantastic, in the modern vernacular, means "great." Come on, there's no way that you aren't aware that people use it that way. In the vernacular, "sweet" means great. Are you confused when people say "sweeeet!" to one another that they think sugar has been applied?
Are you kidding?
posted by MythMaker at 12:09 AM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
Fantastic, in the modern vernacular, means "great." Come on, there's no way that you aren't aware that people use it that way. In the vernacular, "sweet" means great. Are you confused when people say "sweeeet!" to one another that they think sugar has been applied?
Are you kidding?
posted by MythMaker at 12:09 AM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
why is "favoriting" public, while "flagging" isn't?
Because people will be less likely to call people out if they know it's a big public deal. Favoriting mostly just means good in some aspect. Flags are a moderation tool and favorites are a personal user tool.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:34 AM on August 16, 2008
Because people will be less likely to call people out if they know it's a big public deal. Favoriting mostly just means good in some aspect. Flags are a moderation tool and favorites are a personal user tool.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:34 AM on August 16, 2008
Out-frocked is I think the standard construction.
It's fruck out, actually. Out-frocked means something else entirely; it's a Project Runway thing.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:59 PM on August 16, 2008
It's fruck out, actually. Out-frocked means something else entirely; it's a Project Runway thing.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:59 PM on August 16, 2008
I freak out, I frake out, I have frucken out. Or, for the international readership, Ich habe ausgefrücken.
posted by eritain at 7:07 PM on August 28, 2008
posted by eritain at 7:07 PM on August 28, 2008
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Also, we'll never know how many of us did it, dangit.
posted by yhbc at 7:37 AM on August 14, 2008