NOMOBAMA

January 22, 2009 12:42 PM

You know what I love? The fact that Obama is now the president of the US. You know what I don't love? The fact that he also appears to be the president of the front page of the blue.

As of this writing, the word "Obama" appears on the front page some 14 times, in 7 different posts. I'm as happy as anybody else about this, but enough already. Please.

posted by dersins to Etiquette/Policy at 12:42 PM (201 comments total)

NB: Post title shameless stolen from gman.
posted by dersins at 12:43 PM on January 22, 2009

Don't fight the change, dersins.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:45 PM on January 22, 2009

Does anyone know the proper name (or Pantone number) for the color of Obama's scarf that he was wearing during the parade? It was like a burgundy-purple kinda thing. Anyone want to hazard a more precise guess?
posted by cowbellemoo at 12:48 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

Well, you know.... Obama kind of is a big deal. This shouldn't really be all that surprising. As long as the posts are of sufficient quality it shouldn't matter all that much.

Now, that Subway post on the other hand...
posted by dunkadunc at 12:50 PM on January 22, 2009

Are there any posts yet about his daughters? Those girls are just adorable.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:51 PM on January 22, 2009 [17 favorites]

Yeah, I'm suffering from Obama overload as well. I don't think we should have a rule about this, per se, but I'd appreciate people taking an extra second to consider if we really NEED another Obama post right now.
posted by desjardins at 12:52 PM on January 22, 2009

There was sort of one last night, I guess some toy company had some black dolls with their names attached? The links didn't really make sense though, and it was deleted. And all was right with the blue.
posted by Caduceus at 12:53 PM on January 22, 2009

It is weird how that would happen in the two days since the historic inauguration of the first black American as president (which involved an odd constitutional twist), and one day since he ordered the closing of Gitmo, froze wages of his staff, phones all the Middle East leaders, personally met White House visitors, and signed EO's regarding transparency in government.
posted by Kensational at 12:54 PM on January 22, 2009 [24 favorites]

I don't think we should have a rule about this, per se, but I'd appreciate people taking an extra second to consider if we really NEED another Obama post right now.

Exactly. I didn't mean to imply that we should suddenly institute a policy, I was just hoping people could at least think about exercising a little restraint.
posted by dersins at 12:54 PM on January 22, 2009

This coupled with the astonishment from some that politics might occur in Iceland too certainly leaves a depressing impression. After all, to quote a Viz letter writer, Zimbabwe's had a black president for ages and he's turned out to be shit.
posted by Abiezer at 12:57 PM on January 22, 2009 [4 favorites]

Are there any posts yet about his daughters? Those girls are just adorable.

They really are. TIME Photo Essay: Malia and Sasha's Inauguration Adventure.
posted by ericb at 12:59 PM on January 22, 2009 [4 favorites]

What I want to know is: for the purposes of MetaFilter bingo, does this count as being called out in MetaTalk?

I'm *this* close to Bingo.
posted by Kattullus at 1:02 PM on January 22, 2009

My feeling, as if you were asking me personally.... I'll give it a week or so to die down and then we'll start doing what we normally do "Hey there's an open Obama thread about two inches from here, go there please?"

I really feel like we're in that Bradbury story (The frequently AskMe'd) where it rains every goddamned day until one day when the sun came out, everyone sort of walking around in a daze saying "What the hell is that orb in the sky?" People will adjust.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:03 PM on January 22, 2009 [17 favorites]

This call out is as pointless as calling people out for making pointless MetaTalk posts about their pet peeves.
posted by found missing at 1:04 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Obamatafilter
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:05 PM on January 22, 2009

Obamanough?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:06 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

I really feel like we're in that Bradbury story (The frequently AskMe'd) where it rains every goddamned day until one day when the sun came out, everyone sort of walking around in a daze saying "What the hell is that orb in the sky?"

AKA, Seattle.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:08 PM on January 22, 2009 [6 favorites]

In any case, I highly recommend that you get one of these scroll wheel mouses. So handy for zipping past front page posts that do not interest you.
posted by found missing at 1:08 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Barack Obama is Martin Prince. I'm just saying.
posted by ColdChef at 1:10 PM on January 22, 2009

I AM OUTRAGED AT SOMETHING!
posted by JeffK at 1:12 PM on January 22, 2009 [4 favorites]

Don't count Olbermann out--he's mentioned in two different posts.
posted by turaho at 1:12 PM on January 22, 2009

I really feel like we're in that Bradbury story (The frequently AskMe'd) where it rains every goddamned day until one day when the sun came out, everyone sort of walking around in a daze saying "What the hell is that orb in the sky?"

Exactly. The question is: who's locked in the closet?
posted by googly at 1:13 PM on January 22, 2009

Sasha and Malia Most Adorable (Inaguration) Moments - a Huffington Post slideshow.

Unfortunately, neither this one nor the TIME Photo Essay includes the full "thumbs up!" photo, so here it is.

Yep; sorry, ColdChef, your two girls have lost their title as the "Most Adorable and Photogenic Pair of Someone Else's Daughters I Have Ever Seen, but Don't Really Know Personally, per se".
posted by yhbc at 1:15 PM on January 22, 2009 [8 favorites]

Exactly. The question is: who's locked in the closet?

I think of it as: who's locked in MetaTalk.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:16 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

"Well, you know.... Obama kind of is a big deal."

Oh man, how I would love to see Obama wear that shirt.
posted by Ugh at 1:17 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

BUT IF I DONT POST IT SOMEONE ELSE WILL
posted by hermitosis at 1:18 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

I probably like his contributions more than the average MeFite does, but I've gotta say: If the best thing about your MetaTalk post is something taken from gman, it's probably not a very good post.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:19 PM on January 22, 2009

A lot of the posts should probably be comments of other posts. What can you do?
posted by chunking express at 1:19 PM on January 22, 2009

Now, that Subway post on the other hand...

...is full of refined motherfucking grains.
posted by Dr-Baa at 1:21 PM on January 22, 2009

Obamafilter is not nearly as bad as still hearing reporters/anchors say "Barrack Obama".
posted by CKmtl at 1:21 PM on January 22, 2009

Obama mo-mama pajama flimflamma wigwamma jibajabba mammallama krauthamma rajaramma blabbayamma madonnakaballa yadayada
posted by lalochezia at 1:29 PM on January 22, 2009

Suck it.
posted by plexi at 1:46 PM on January 22, 2009

I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that at least once a week there will be a post where the average Mefite can genuflect before the visage of Obama, and a post where the average MeFite can throw shoes at Bush. This state of affairs will continue for at least 4 years.

I'm just gonna flag 'em and move on.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:46 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

You know what I can't stand? The horrible blight on metatalk that is Kattullus. It's like she is constantly talking and using words and punctuation and shit. Can't something be done to put a stop to this? I'm not saying "BanHammer" but I am thinking "ChastiseMallet".
posted by quin at 1:48 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Does that work for a "bingo"?
posted by quin at 1:49 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

a post where the average MeFite can throw shoes at Bush

How do I go about doing this? I tried it once, but the shoes bounced off the screen. Please help ASAP!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:52 PM on January 22, 2009

Would you rather have it be about Bush for another 8 years? We could be grousing about McCain/Palin. In a parallel universe right now the US is under martial law and we're goose-stepping towards some nightmarish hybrid between A Handmaid's Tale and 1984.

Count your blessings.
posted by loquacious at 1:52 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

what's the policy on commenters leaving "Stop Already" in new Obama threads? Because I haven't done that, but I do often want to.
posted by shmegegge at 1:53 PM on January 22, 2009

"She"? Now you're in trouble. Dude's a Viking.
posted by languagehat at 1:54 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

Exactly. The question is: who's locked in the closet?

I don't know the story Jessamyn is referring to, but I think googly's talking about Asimov's 1941 story Nightfall, in which a planet with multiple suns only gets to see the stars once in multiple generations during a predicted eclipse, and a gang of people lock up the sensitive delicate visionary one in a closet so that he(?) doesn't get to see them.
posted by jamjam at 1:55 PM on January 22, 2009

I'm with dersins. Can't we just have obama.metafilter.com and be done with it?
posted by pompomtom at 1:59 PM on January 22, 2009

Because I haven't done that, but I do often want to.

I am so proud of you. That's the policy.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:00 PM on January 22, 2009 [7 favorites]

I'd rather deal with hope fatigue than outrage fatigue.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:00 PM on January 22, 2009 [12 favorites]

loquacious: are those our only options?

I'm right there with you, shmegegge. And I think I did make some stupid comment. (a yes, right here.

But then I figure that the mods are on the site five times as much as me so they're more than likely acutely aware of the "Obama Problem". And if they're not doing anything about it, then it's probably a conscious decision.
posted by ODiV at 2:01 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Who?
posted by b33j at 2:01 PM on January 22, 2009

Because I haven't done that, but I do often want to.

I am so proud of you. That's the policy.

Thus this thread, despite the inevitable mockery, abuse and scorn that would ensue.
posted by dersins at 2:04 PM on January 22, 2009

Self-restraint about front page news is unpatriotic in the Land of Metafilter. Hardcore posters work on the basis that MeFi is the Taco Bell of 2009's Demolition Man existence.
posted by GuyZero at 2:08 PM on January 22, 2009

I don't know the story Jessamyn is referring to

The Bradbury story is "The Long Rain". And I get that confused with the plot of "Nightfall", too.
posted by Prospero at 2:10 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Thus this thread, despite the inevitable mockery, abuse and scorn that would ensue.

It's only inevitable if you want it to be. You can choose hope, instead.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:12 PM on January 22, 2009

Dude's a Viking.

In your dreams.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 2:14 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

I am so proud of you. That's the policy.

The fact that metafilter has a policy of jessamyn being proud of people is pretty awesome.

As for the Obamathon: right now, there's a lot of news about the guy, and so newsfilter can't help but latch on. As time goes on we won't have just had the inauguration, won't have started on it; by the weekend I think we'll start to really chill out, and within a week he'll be merely the single biggest topic.

Also, the rest of the internet is still there, so why not go and find some more Best Of?
posted by Tomorrowful at 2:15 PM on January 22, 2009

I'll give it a week or so to die down. . .

You can give it a week or you can give it ten years, but I will never get tired of loving Obama and I never want to talk about anything else but Obama. People come up to me and are like "Man it is cold." and I say "Yeah and Obama is stone cold AWESOME!" and they say "So, did you watch the premiere of Lost?" and I say "No, I watched Obama and I got Lost in his deep soulful eyes." and then nobody wants to talk to me anymore and I visit Metafilter.
posted by ND¢ at 2:17 PM on January 22, 2009 [23 favorites]

ObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObamaObama
posted by ND¢ at 2:17 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

No, it's not "The Long Rain," she's talking about, it's "All Summer in a Day," which is the same story googly was referring to.
posted by Caduceus at 2:17 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

This is what we used to call a Buzzkill. And nobody likes a buzzkiller. Except other buzzkillers.

Don't be a Debbie Downer. Seriously. Let the kids have their fun. The party will be over soon enough.
posted by tkchrist at 2:19 PM on January 22, 2009

The most powerful, most influential country in the world -- still, for now -- has just installed a new president. To wit:

He follows a deeply unpopular one;

He has broad support within his country and abroad;

The campaign and election have been especially dramatic (consider the Democratic primaries, at least);

His personal background have made his victory and inauguration particularly historic occasions;

In his first few days in office he has made some important policy decisions;

His inauguration was just this week;

Technology play an important role in his campaign and presidency;

Lastly, but not to be overlooked, membership of Metafilter has increased dramatically since the last time a new US president was inaugurated.

As far as I'm concerned, we're nowhere near having enough Obama-related FPPs. If they bother you, just flag and move on; at the very least, remember the wave will certainly calm down in time.

posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:27 PM on January 22, 2009 [9 favorites]

Replace the sidebar with some honking, annoying AJAXy-type thing which has a continual update of Twitter and RSS feeds. What's Obama doing right this second? What is he wearing? What do people have to say about what he's wearing? Maybe with a time-tracked moving chart of Blackberry stock and some kind of climbing figure of the national deficit, oh, and a Gantt chart of Obama's promises and how far he's come doing whatever, and a Flash video of Olbermann's latest show — an enormous panel of Obamaness so it just streams past our eyes.

Sponsor it with some Provigil ads so we can watch 24 hours a day.
posted by adipocere at 2:29 PM on January 22, 2009

He's not just President of the World, he's also President of our hearts!
posted by blue_beetle at 2:36 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

dersins, why do you HATE AMERICA?
posted by piratebowling at 2:36 PM on January 22, 2009

I don't know, I'm surprised it took this long for the complaint to make its way to MetaTalk, but maybe that's just leftover cynicism from the barrage of spam about Palin.
posted by Phire at 2:36 PM on January 22, 2009

My first thought was "just give it some time. Eventually these people will realize that he's just another American politician on the take, but he's polite enough to be subtle about it."

Then I corrected myself. The rabid Obama fans are exactly like the pre-2004 rabid Bush fans. If Barack Obama stomped a puppy to death on prime time television, they'd find some way to justify it because their admiration is more like religion than rational thought.

Your best bet is just to get the fuck out of here for a while if you can't stand proselytizing.
posted by Mayor Curley at 2:40 PM on January 22, 2009 [5 favorites]

I'm mad you made this post, but Obama saysIhavetoforgiveyouandholdyouandloveyouandgetalongwithyoufornow.

But just wait until Executive order 666.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:40 PM on January 22, 2009

I'm quite sad that he's closed his account. And that George W. Bush still got his.

Other, related, since I've got nothing better to do: nancyreagan, Lincoln, AndrewJackson, grovercleveland, ex.pr.ni (ex-president nixon).
posted by soundofsuburbia at 2:42 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

"Your best bet is just to get the fuck out of here for a while if you can't stand pros^H^H^H^H Obama is stone cold AWESOME!"

ftfy, crabby.

Seriously, a week I think.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:43 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

If Barack Obama stomped a puppy to death on prime time television, they'd find some way to justify it because their admiration is more like religion than rational thought.

The puppy was a terrorist. He dropped weapons of mass destruction on the Whitehouse lawn. Kill the puppy. Must. Kill. The. Puppy. AMERICA!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:45 PM on January 22, 2009

I love all of the Meta-Photos with Malia and her camera.

I gave my Schmoops cameras for Christmas. Man, it was better than candy. I think the younger one has about eighthundred pictures of the floor, but you gotta start somewhere.

I hope she got some good shots - it's an amazing thing that she and her family are a part of.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:47 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

I kinda preferred Joe Beese's thread to this thread's level of inanity.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:48 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Dude's a Viking.

In your dreams.

NO, RLY. We've been over this before. Dude IS a Viking. AND a Dude.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:50 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Oh, the inanity!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:52 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

"Your best bet is just to get the fuck out of here for a while if you can't stand pros^H^H^H^H Obama is stone cold AWESOME!"

ftfy, crabby.

I love how you went old school and brought the carets and the Hs.
posted by nooneyouknow at 3:00 PM on January 22, 2009

I'm surprised it took this long for the complaint to make its way to MetaTalk

Someone made a Meta complaing about an Obama post at 1:17 PM on Inauguration day.
posted by smackfu at 3:01 PM on January 22, 2009

The rabid Obama fans are exactly like the pre-2004 rabid Bush fans. If Barack Obama stomped a puppy to death on prime time television, they'd find some way to justify it because their admiration is more like religion than rational thought.

You must be so happy to have MetaTalk to vent your insane, wrong and insulting comment in. And yet, maybe I'm wrong, because you certainly don't sound happy. Perhaps less puppy-stomping ideation is in order?
posted by longsleeves at 3:07 PM on January 22, 2009 [4 favorites]

What's with the gender-confused Icelanders?
posted by desjardins at 3:09 PM on January 22, 2009

Perhaps that's why they're rioting?
posted by gman at 3:14 PM on January 22, 2009

I need more Obama. I keep F5ing the front page, but there is not enough Obama to fill my day.

jonmc said it earlier, but for me it is strange to feel the cynicism and bitterness falling away after all these years - America really can become a force for good in the world, and this is very exciting.
posted by Meatbomb at 3:15 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

You know who we need to fix this state of affairs?
posted by Artw at 3:17 PM on January 22, 2009

mmm, puppy-stomping.
posted by blue_beetle at 3:18 PM on January 22, 2009

BonoMama.
posted by gman at 3:19 PM on January 22, 2009

I really feel like we're in that Bradbury story (The frequently AskMe'd) where it rains every goddamned day until one day when the sun came out, everyone sort of walking around in a daze saying "What the hell is that orb in the sky?" People will adjust.

Or the Ray Bradbury story where it rains all day every day on Venus but all the kids in the school were born on Venus, except for that one girl who was 'different' because she came from Earth and remembered what the sun was like. Then the scientists predicted there would be a break in the rain and the sun would shine for a few minutes. She was so excited because she would see the sun again, which reminded her of home, which she missed because all the kids on Venus are really really mean. So just before the break in the rain all the other kids locked her in a closet and she missed it. Yeah. It does feel like we are in that story.
posted by Elmore at 3:22 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

Also, I miss the Palin posts.
posted by Elmore at 3:23 PM on January 22, 2009

That girl was Sarah Palin.
posted by Elmore at 3:23 PM on January 22, 2009 [7 favorites]

NO, RLY. We've been over this before. Dude IS a Viking. AND a Dude.

/simpsons failure... ah well
posted by Pantengliopoli at 3:29 PM on January 22, 2009

If Barack Obama stomped a puppy to death on prime time television

...that puppy would have deserved it, goddammit!
posted by languagehat at 3:30 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

I got the reference, Pantengliopoli.
posted by languagehat at 3:31 PM on January 22, 2009

There were a fair number of Bush inaguruation posts too (scroll down) - and that was just the one mentioning inauguration. It'll pass. It is a really big deal, and it'd be okay to let it pass. It's not like it's going to continue indefinitely.

I can't help but wonder how posts would have been "too many" about V-E Day, or Jesse Owens, or the fall of the Berlin Wall. There are so few major historical events that feel, to most people at least, in some way positive. I think we can allow others to enjoy it, knowing that time will diminish the fascination.

It's nice to linger over the end of a wonderful dinner. It's not as nice when the staff hovers itchily over your table saying "Done yet? Oh sorry, how bout now? Haven't you had enough? The desserts really aren't very good. Mind if I whisk your glass away while it still has a few sips of good whiskey in it? Don't want to rush you but we really need the table. "
posted by Miko at 3:35 PM on January 22, 2009 [4 favorites]

If the Obama posts don't cease immediately, I will use this as the focal point of my FPPs everyday for the next week or so. *to be done around 3am EST
posted by gman at 3:37 PM on January 22, 2009

ericb: "TIME Photo Essay: Malia and Sasha's Inauguration Adventure."

SKEPTICAL FIRST FAMILY IS SKEPTICAL
posted by Rhaomi at 3:39 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

Dude's a Viking.

In your dreams.

OMG! How did you know that?!!
posted by small_ruminant at 3:40 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

I can't help but wonder how posts would have been "too many" about V-E Day, or Jesse Owens, or the fall of the Berlin Wall.
More than three.
posted by Wolfdog at 3:45 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

/simpsons failure... ah well

No, no, it's not a failure. I'm taking some kind of personal enjoyment out of "correcting" this reference every time it comes up. This is like, the third or fourth time now. Don't ask me why, I certainly can't explain it. Maybe it's just because I know the dude pretty well.

I engage in other random compulsive behaviors as well, including the need to buy inexplicable food - specifically snack products. I see a potato chip flavor and wonder "What the hell would THAT taste like?" Yeah, I gotta know. The success rate of this is exactly what you would expect.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:45 PM on January 22, 2009

If the Obama posts don't cease immediately, I will use this as the focal point of my FPPs everyday for the next week or so.

OH GOD MY EYES
posted by desjardins at 3:45 PM on January 22, 2009

I see a potato chip flavor and wonder "What the hell would THAT taste like?"

In that case, you MUST take a convenience store tour of British Columbia (or all of Canada, more likely?) -- it's like the testing ground for bizarre potato chip flavors.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 3:47 PM on January 22, 2009

Kattullus: What I want to know is: for the purposes of MetaFilter bingo, does this count as being called out in MetaTalk?

Does a shoutout count? The shoutout/callout distinction is kinda fuzzy sometimes.
posted by Pronoiac at 3:48 PM on January 22, 2009

Wolfdog: I can't help but wonder how posts would have been "too many" about V-E Day, or Jesse Owens, or the fall of the Berlin Wall.

More than three.

Um. If you agree with a statement, it's "less than three."
posted by Pronoiac at 3:51 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

There were a fair number of Bush inaguruation posts too

Inaguruation. Exactly how W. spells it!
posted by ericb at 3:51 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Yep; sorry, ColdChef, your two girls have lost their title as the "Most Adorable and Photogenic Pair of Someone Else's Daughters I Have Ever Seen, but Don't Really Know Personally, per se".
posted by yhbc at 3:15 PM on January 22

You heartless bastard.
posted by ColdChef at 4:05 PM on January 22, 2009 [126 favorites]

ColdChef just made me laugh until the tears came.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:09 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

Miko: "I can't help but wonder how posts would have been "too many" about V-E Day, or Jesse Owens, or the fall of the Berlin Wall. There are so few major historical events that feel, to most people at least, in some way positive."

True. In fact, I recently went back to read the posts made after 9/11, and was surprised by how much it dominated the conversation afterwards given the small size of the community at the time. Browsing the archives, I count just over 200 posts related to the attacks and their attendant issues -- terrorism, rumors of further attacks, racism, the history of Islamic radicalism, etc. -- all posted before September 14th. There are only about ten posts not directly related to the attacks, and even those are usually accompanied by an "I hope this helps distract a little bit from current events" line.

And, for all the glut of posts, I consider it a great thing. It was a form of catharsis for the community, and people looking back later can see that in the face of tragedy people were able to sift through and find the best information and resources. Interviews, thoughtful and prescient articles, registries for the missing and the dead, animations and analyses of the attacks, chilling photography and dozens of personal stories.

Given that track record, I'd say that a mere 14 posts in the two days following the inauguration of our first awesome president in awhile (and the first black president ever) is actually pretty tame. And, as long as these posts each discuss something new and interesting and worthwhile, then they will stand as a proud record of how the site digested the day's events: thoroughly, thoughtfully, and completely.
posted by Rhaomi at 4:10 PM on January 22, 2009 [14 favorites]

:)
posted by nola at 4:12 PM on January 22, 2009

I'm glad this was Meta'ed. I actually ignored the whole inauguration solely because I was already bored of the whole thing from MeFi. I've even found myself willing the first Obama-made crisis along just to damp down all the over-ardour. Not good.

If something really, really good happens then a lot of it speaks for itself because it is just that good. Running around yapping and pointing and saying 'OMG IT IS JUST SOOOO AWWWWWSOME! LOOK HERE! AND HERE! AND UNDER HERE! GIBBER, GIBBER, GIBBER!' devalues the whole thing and gets annoying.

But yes, it will pass. Cats in bomber jackets in 5, 4, 3...
posted by i_cola at 4:18 PM on January 22, 2009

dersins hates black people.
posted by bardic at 4:22 PM on January 22, 2009

I love how you went old school and brought the carets and the Hs.

I had this tremendously witty thing to say abour 24caret Hs but I just can't compete with Cold Chef
posted by Sparx at 4:27 PM on January 22, 2009

If it helps put the front page in context, just remember what Twitter was like on Tuesday and laugh at how few posts we're talking about in comparison.
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:37 PM on January 22, 2009

The rabid Obama fans are exactly like the pre-2004 rabid Bush fans.

Awwww. Sounds like somebody never got that GI Joe Tank for Christmas.
posted by tkchrist at 4:48 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

just remember what Twitter was like on Tuesday and laugh at how few posts we're talking about in comparison.

Is Twitter the benchmark now? Ugh. Please no.
posted by GuyZero at 4:49 PM on January 22, 2009

@GuyZero LOL
posted by Artw at 4:53 PM on January 22, 2009

dersins hates black people.

I just believe in calling a spade a spade.
posted by dersins at 4:54 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

[NOT SHOVEL-IST]
posted by dersins at 4:54 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

If Barack Obama stomped a puppy to death on prime time television
whose puppy?
posted by Kerasia at 4:55 PM on January 22, 2009

I love Obama so much that I even read the MeTa posts about him.
posted by box at 5:00 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Oh, dersins.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 5:00 PM on January 22, 2009

Chaaaaaaange!
(had to watch the election episode of South Park the other night. now me & mr. e keep cracking each other up imitating Stan's dad.)
posted by epersonae at 5:02 PM on January 22, 2009

What?
posted by dersins at 5:02 PM on January 22, 2009

The rabid Obama fans are exactly like the pre-2004 rabid Bush fans.

Save for the fact that I'd never ever party with the latter, nor would I have joined this site if they were the ones proselytizing back then.
posted by gman at 5:03 PM on January 22, 2009

So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
(turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-changes
Dont tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
(turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-changes
Where's your shame
You've left us up to our necks in it
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:14 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Please start deleting Obama posts, with a note to post the info in one of the ongoing threads.
posted by mediareport at 5:20 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

(I mean now, not in a week. It's embarrassing for the site.)
posted by mediareport at 5:23 PM on January 22, 2009

META OBAMA BLOG META OBAMA BLOG META OBAMA BLOG
posted by ALongDecember at 5:41 PM on January 22, 2009

After eight long, horrifying years of one unmitigated disaster after another, I can't get enough of Obama. I'm still rubbing my eyes to make sure what I'm seeing is real. If he keeps going the way he did today, I'll never have me enough of that. Justice, fairness, transparency, honesty -- all things I'd begun to assume had been relegated to the past appear to be back, and these are things I don't tire of seeing.

That, and those 2 little girls just make me weep with joy.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:43 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

Pantengliopoli writes "In that case, you MUST take a convenience store tour of British Columbia (or all of Canada, more likely?) -- it's like the testing ground for bizarre potato chip flavors."

It makes me weep every time I think of poor Americans unable to choose from Ketchup, Rosemary and Basil, Honey and Roasted Garlic, Lime and Black Pepper, Cheddar and Red Onion, Sweet Chili and Sour Cream, Roast Chicken, Spicy Curry, or Spicy Indian Masala chips.
posted by Mitheral at 5:49 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

You know that really creepy Ray Bradbury story about the homicidal newborn baby? I'm trying to think of a way to use that as an analogy for this situation.
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:50 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

I'm not really crazy about all the Obama posts either, but I think it's been relatively tame compared to the mess that was electionfilter. This, however:

It's embarrassing for the site.

is just straight up crazy. MetaFilter is the last place that's going to be embarrassed by loving Barack Obama. The vast majority of folks here just got done being embarrassed for 8 years (or maybe ashamed). Now they're proud. You're confusing the self-conscious emotions.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 5:50 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

Uh, also: I think we may have caught the "Lizard People" guy
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:52 PM on January 22, 2009

Apparently Obama had a slightly overcooked steak for dinner and plans to read before bed tonight. I wonder how many comments my imminent FPP will garner...
posted by gman at 5:53 PM on January 22, 2009

[NOT OTHER COUNTRY-IST]
posted by solipsophistocracy at 5:53 PM on January 22, 2009

I'm so over Obama. [musing] Breedlove . . . President Breedlove. . . .
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:55 PM on January 22, 2009

I demand a ColdChef's daughters vs. Malia and Sasha photo-off.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 5:56 PM on January 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

Also, can we now put Bush in Ray Bradbury's The Veldt?
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 5:57 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

MetaFilter is the last place that's going to be embarrassed by loving Barack Obama.

You're missing the point. This community has a reputation for being a sharp group of people who filter the Web for each other. The front page does not currently reflect that reputation. There's an obvious and embarrassingly unfiltered splurge.

There are plenty of places online that are 1) delighted to see Bush out the door, 2) allowing themselves to feel the awesome historical importance of the moment, and 3) optimistic/realistic about Obama, while somehow managing to not excitedly puke all over themselves. It would be nice if MeFi's front page did it, too.

I repeat: letting MeFi's guidelines go for a bit is fine, but the bar's been lowered long enough. Start deleting Obama posts, please, and pointing people to existing threads.
posted by mediareport at 6:03 PM on January 22, 2009 [5 favorites]

You know what I don't love?

I don't love your petty complaints.
posted by caddis at 6:17 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Lets talk about Bush. George, shrubs, burning. senior, his granddaddy.
posted by pianomover at 6:46 PM on January 22, 2009

He's not just President of the World

fixed that for you STOP DOING THAT YOU ARROGANT FUCKING SEPPOES
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:00 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

Oh, boo-fucking-hoo. Get over yourself for one tiny minute, please.
posted by nonmerci at 7:01 PM on January 22, 2009

SEPPOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by gman at 7:03 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Get over yourself for one tiny minute, please.

and they say you guys don't do irony.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:08 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

Ray Bradbury helped create the Addams Family. He even wrote a whole book about the characters called From the Dust Returned.

It's true. You can look it up if you don't believe me.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:09 PM on January 22, 2009

Pianomover, if you have something to say, Bush's new office is actually right across the street from mine. Do you need directions?

yeah yeah you're all jealous sigh
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:10 PM on January 22, 2009

Too much Obama? Fuck that shit.

Staffers for the Obama campaign chanting along with Jay-Z: 99 Problems But a Bush Ain't One.
posted by Pronoiac at 7:14 PM on January 22, 2009 [7 favorites]

I've reconsidered. I now think it's detestable when anyone uses their minor children - no matter how adorable or photogenic they may be - to score cheap political points, or garner favorites for that matter. Besides the basic insincerity of the act, that's just the kind of thing that leaves deep emotional scars that can surface much later in life, such as when the bitter manipulated offspring are contemplating what level of care Dad might need in the nursing home. Or might not need.

Just something to consider.
posted by yhbc at 7:16 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

You know what happens when I don't like what's on the web? That's right, I leave until it cools off.

Honestly, there's maybe 2 dozen posts a day, and less than half of those are about Obama. If that's too much then maybe you could go over to, well there's no where to go to really. I mean, Digg and Reddit are swarming with Obama stories, and you know the New York Times is going to have the same thing. I guess you could turn on the TV, but there's a 24Hr News Media Orgy for Obama, too. (I suppose you could watch Fox News, it may be Obama news but at least it's negative) Print media is out too, Obama's been on the cover of the NYtimes for a solid week (above the fold, too) so that's out (and the NY times is fairly dry to begin with).

What I'm saying is, buy a motorcycle and go on a self-discovery journey.
posted by hellojed at 7:18 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

No this is like that story where the two kids in the ultra-cool space age home are alienated from their parents, and trick their holodeck into generating an African lion that kills them. We're like that holodeck.
posted by fleacircus at 7:19 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

Besides the basic insincerity of the act, that's just the kind of thing that leaves deep emotional scars that can surface much later in life, such as when the bitter manipulated offspring are contemplating what level of care Dad might need in the nursing home.

That's precisely why I plan on dying young.
posted by ColdChef at 7:21 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

"The question is: who's locked in the closet?"

I believe R. Kelly dealt extensively with this subject. The answer is mostly R. Kelly and a midget.
posted by klangklangston at 7:38 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

Ray Bradbury helped create the Addams Family. He even wrote a whole book about the characters called From the Dust Returned. It's true. You can look it up if you don't believe me.

Well, sort of. Here's how Bradbury explained it:

...I depended on Charles Addams. We had similar imaginations, that's why we got on so well. I was 26 years old when I met him in New York and he had just done that painting for Mademoiselle [to accompany the Bradbury story "Homecoming"]. When I saw it I realized he was a kindred spirit so we made plans to write a book together. I was going to do the stories, and he was going to do the illustrations. But time went by and we couldn't find a publisher who would pay a little bit of money to him and a little bit to me to proceed with the book. So he went his way and created the Addams Family and I went my own way and created my family in this book. In a way we're quite similar, except finally we separated and he did his wonderful family and made his television show and motion pictures and here I am now very late in time with a somewhat similar family, but not quite as funny!

Not quite the same thing as "Ray Bradbury helped create the Addams Family." But close.
posted by mediareport at 8:02 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

That's precisely why I plan on dying young.

I loked in the mirror a couple years ago, and said "oops, too late for that."

To be clear, in my previous comment above, I might have been talking about ColdChef's kids.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:06 PM on January 22, 2009

What I'm saying is, buy a motorcycle and go on a self-discovery journey.

Important here -- just be sure to leave the morose child at home, so that you don't end up like that damn Pirsig turd.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:08 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

the cynicism and bitterness...

See I haven't felt cynical or bitter re my country and my (previous or current) president. I've been flagging all the Obama posts, I mean, if they were about Grandmother it would be overkill. On the other hand, knowing that I'm better and wiser than the ones who are so sickenly smitten gives me such a sense of self-importance that I can pretty much orgasm at will.
posted by dawson at 8:33 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

I guess that didn't really come out right.
posted by dawson at 8:35 PM on January 22, 2009

I know MeFi has been inundated with Obamania for a while now, but...you guys realize he's President, right? For the next four years?

He's not going anywhere any time soon, and his policies are going to have a huge effect on the world over the coming years. We're going to hear a lot more about him, here and everywhere else, before we hear less.

Get used to it.
posted by baphomet at 8:47 PM on January 22, 2009

The question that's posed here is this:

Is MetaFilter going to be a place where we share the best content out there on the web or is it going to be DailyKos with better prose?

There's more money in the latter but I joined thinking that I would get the former.

It's a bit disappointing, y'know?
posted by jason's_planet at 8:49 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

jason's_planet: Metafilter's always had a very heavy political side. The fact that it's the least blitheringly insipid political commentary of any major community website is one of the primary draws for users here.

We are objectively in the midst of a political landmark, and some temporary overrepresentation of that aspect of Metafilter is not only to be expected, but healthy - letting people work through their joy now rather than repressing it means being able to move past it and back into some semblance of 'normalcy' more easily.
posted by Ryvar at 8:59 PM on January 22, 2009 [4 favorites]

I can pretty much orgasm at will.

Where there's a will there's a wad.
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:23 PM on January 22, 2009

Mind over batter?
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:35 PM on January 22, 2009

By will alone I set my grind in motion.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:36 PM on January 22, 2009 [6 favorites]

The fact that it's the least blitheringly insipid political commentary of any major community website is one of the primary draws for users here.

Oh, I know. I also understand that MetaFilter is a business with bills to pay. If the moderators shaped MetaFilter according to my own ideals – no PoliticsFilter, Front Page Posts on more esoteric and interesting topics, more representation of non-Anglo, non-American cultures, ditching the political correctness – they'd wind up alienating people and losing readers. And that ain't good for the bottom line. So I understand that the (American) political stuff isn't going to go away any time soon but I'm not particularly happy with it.

I hope you're right, that this is a temporary thing. But the comments above, from people who aren't as courteous and respectful as you are, are not especially encouraging.
posted by jason's_planet at 9:36 PM on January 22, 2009

more representation of non-Anglo, non-American cultures...

...ditching the political correctness

loal.
posted by drjimmy11 at 9:45 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

To be clear, the existence of e.g. political stuff on the front page is an expression of the posting and reading habits of the community, not some demo-chasing revenue model.

God help us the day we find ourselves thinking "it's a bad post but it'll be great for the bottom line". Whatever weird and varied difficulties moderation of this place can present, that is manifestly not one of them.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:54 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

If the moderators shaped MetaFilter according to my own ideals ... they'd wind up alienating people and losing readers. And that ain't good for the bottom line. So I understand that the (American) political stuff isn't going to go away any time soon but I'm not particularly happy with it.

I'm surprised anyone thinks that the reason we do pretty much anything here -- expect perhaps lawsuit avoidance strategies -- is because of money. The site has ads. Those ads pay us and the server fees. We remove truly offensive ads. Logged in users see almost no ads at all. I don't think there's been an "omg we can't do this because of our advertisers" discussion at mod central, ever. And that's how it should be, in my opinion. If you have any reason at all to suspect it's otherwise, please let me know.

I think cortex and I are right there with you with the "yeah I can't wait til this American-political-stuff dies down just a little from this weeks' fever pitch" but we're both not impatient for it and also pretty confident that's the way it's going to go sooner rather than later.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:00 PM on January 22, 2009

Maybe my perspective is warped, but I always figured that Metafilter attracted people on the strength of interesting posts, enlightened discussion, and moderation that is ...how to put this... intellectually honest?

Because those qualities are what generated the critical social momentum of Metafilter, and that critical social momentum drives ad views, their continued maintenanence has become critical to the success of Metafilter as a business. If moderation becomes overbearing or disingenuous, if gibbering idiot Youtube commenters roam the threads unchecked, if the front page turns into a 24/7 Obama Marathon - those things are in fact bad for business.

It's a positive feedback loop, and heartbreakingly unique for that.
posted by Ryvar at 10:22 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Two Zen monks were walking by a river. A beautiful woman in a kimono was stuck, unable to cross. One of the monks picked up the woman and carried her accross the river.

Hours later, upon reaching the temple, the other monk said to the first: "We monks are not supposed to be around women, especially beautiful ones. Why did you do that?"

The first monk said "I stopped carrying that woman hours ago, have you?"
posted by Ironmouth at 10:29 PM on January 22, 2009 [10 favorites]

The world itself is the Will to Shower - and nothing else!
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:32 PM on January 22, 2009

God help us the day we find ourselves thinking "it's a bad post but it'll be great for the bottom line".

I don't think there's been an "omg we can't do this because of our advertisers" discussion at mod central, ever.

Oh, no. That isn't my vision of how you operate. I apologize if that's the impression I conveyed. I was just saying that the political arguments, as much as I might dislike them, are, in fact, a big part of MetaFilter's appeal and that banishing those discussions, telling people to take it elsewhere, would reduce the readership and be bad for business. That's all.

I think cortex and I are right there with you with the "yeah I can't wait til this American-political-stuff dies down just a little from this weeks' fever pitch"

OK. Cool. Glad to hear it.
posted by jason's_planet at 10:47 PM on January 22, 2009

more representation of non-Anglo, non-American cultures...

...ditching the political correctness

loal.

Yeah, I can see how the language of one might seem to contradict the other, but that only reflects one of MetaFilter's contradictions: people are quick to profess a superficial multiculturalism but they don't apply the principle to their front page posts.
posted by jason's_planet at 10:55 PM on January 22, 2009

Dude, people post what interests them. And they also comment in what interests them. I'm pretty sure that's it. If you're interested in multi-cultural stuff, post moar. Nobody's stopping you. Being passive-aggressive about it in a MetaTalk thread does absolutely nothing to add more multiculturalism to the site.
posted by Caduceus at 11:07 PM on January 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

What I'm saying is, buy a motorcycle and go on a self-discovery journey.
posted by hellojed at 7:18 PM on January 22

then, write a book about it's maintenance
posted by infini at 11:20 PM on January 22, 2009

Man, this is how I was feeling when the front page and comments felt like TheWireFilter last summer. Yeah, "Shee-it"! Hilarious comment! Never gets tiring! Seriously, you should be writing tee shirts or something, for truth!

While I found it tedious, the front page is not - thank god - solely a reflection of my tastes, opinions, and interests. On any given day you'll see what around 50 different people have on their minds. It's understandable, it's not hurting anyone, and it will die down. If it's weak sauce, flag it as such.

Interesting aside: According to my highly unscientific survey of the front page, at least half of the ObamaFilter posters have a markedly lower level of active MeTa participation, implying that this imprecation is being viewed mostly by the gaggle of cranky obsessives who spend too much time on MetaFilter and probably agree with its premise, rather than its intended audience.

God help us the day we find ourselves thinking "it's a bad post but it'll be great for the bottom line".

If you guys got sleeve garters and smoked cigars, and had a chart and an old-timey pointer stick, I would totally be down with that.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:28 PM on January 22, 2009

Too much Obama
Is there such a thing, I ask
To right-wingers, yes
posted by SteveTheRed at 11:38 PM on January 22, 2009

After eight years of the cruder side of capitalism and imperialism a sizeable chunk of the American population was reminded that these run counter to their true values and aspirations, making desirable the emergence of a kinder, gentler face at least for an interim. The election of President Obama duly served that need, at the same time confirming that class rather than race is indeed the more fundamental framework within which to understand power relationships in U.S. society. The great "modernising" force of capital has never been a respecter of tradition unless it serves the larger purpose, whether that be positives like community and solidarity or negatives like the bigotry of racism. MetaFilter: cheerleading the reproduction of hegemony.
If any reader would like a cheap reductionist analysis of anything else they hold dear, MeMail me for rates.
posted by Abiezer at 12:04 AM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

The first monk said "I stopped carrying that woman hours ago, have you?"

I don't get that, at all.
posted by turgid dahlia at 12:56 AM on January 23, 2009

the other monk was "carrying" the woman in his mind; a proper buddhist would have stopped grasping at the thought long before & left it behind him as just another ephemeral, transient nothing.
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:16 AM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

*suddenly hits turgid dahlia with a stick*
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:17 AM on January 23, 2009 [4 favorites]

Owww, jeezus!
posted by turgid dahlia at 1:36 AM on January 23, 2009

I guess that didn't really come out right.

Nor did that.
posted by gman at 3:58 AM on January 23, 2009

yeah, it was a bit premature.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:12 AM on January 23, 2009

Oh cum on, dude.
posted by gman at 5:00 AM on January 23, 2009

I saw that crash posted on Cold Chef's flickr page, and was all like hey I thought crash left. But he's back! In conclusion, hey crash, glad to see you back. Proceed with the funny posthaste!
posted by Kwine at 5:36 AM on January 23, 2009

Mister Crash Davis!
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:41 AM on January 23, 2009

I think I'll refer to the new one as crash, J.O.
posted by yhbc at 6:37 AM on January 23, 2009

Also, can we now put Bush in Ray Bradbury's The Veldt?

I've already wished him into the cornfield.
posted by GrammarMoses at 6:40 AM on January 23, 2009 [2 favorites]

If there's a post I'm not interested in I don't click on the link.
posted by juiceCake at 6:49 AM on January 23, 2009

You start a thread
You can't even finish it
You're posting a lot
But you're not faving anything

When I don't like a post
My mouse is scrolled
Flag something once
Why slag it again?

Metafilter
Qu'est-ce que c'est
Me ta fa FA
Fa fa fa FA fa filter
Better jrun run run run run run awaaaaaayyy
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:01 AM on January 23, 2009 [5 favorites]

If the Obamalama stampede is the price to pay for and end to posts about Sarah Palin, then I welcome it.

Any day we can exchange crazed hope and limitless optimism for crazed conspiracy theory and limitless bile is a day of victory.
posted by DWRoelands at 7:08 AM on January 23, 2009

When I see too much boring shit on the front page, I take a hike for 6 months. When I come back, you all seem fresh and exciting to me. It's like being married to a Merchant Marine.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:17 AM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

The two Zen monks were walking through the town square, where the politiciam was giving an impassioned speech.

"Wow, Obama sure is good. I really like him," said the first monk.

A while later, as they approached the temple, the second monk said, "You know, I think Obama is good too."

"Why didn't you say that right away? Why the delay in your response?"

"I dunno, I guess I am just a bit slow sometimes."
posted by Meatbomb at 7:35 AM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

It's embarrassing for the site.

No it's not. If you're experiencing inappropriate personal feelings of embarrassment at postings on a website, please see a doctor and/or DTMFA.
posted by languagehat at 8:12 AM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

Q: What is the Buddha nature?
A: Dried shitstick.
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:06 AM on January 23, 2009

Any day we can exchange crazed hope and limitless optimism for crazed conspiracy theory and limitless bile is a day of victory.

Quoted for I'd-like-more-posts-about-things-that-people-think-are-awesome-even-if-it's-just-star-wars truth
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:12 AM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

Being passive-aggressive about it in a MetaTalk thread does absolutely nothing to add more multiculturalism to the site.

It's a legitimate criticism. I'm certainly not the first one to have noticed this disconnect.
And I'm not intending these remarks as some indictment of the community's moral character or something. Just mentioning it in the hope that people will apply that principle of inclusion to their posts, dig a little deeper than, say, The New York Times, and maybe make the Blue a little more interesting.
posted by jason's_planet at 9:31 AM on January 23, 2009

Metafilter is never more american than when it is accused of not being multicultural.
posted by Artw at 9:34 AM on January 23, 2009

As someone who made one of those posts, and as someone who joined just after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, there are times when I really want and need a community to discuss these things with. After Sept. 11, I had a nearly obsessive need to read about it, see pictures, hear stories, and somehow make some sense of what had happened.

I'm mildly amused by the elevation of Obama to superhero/deity status, but my country is in the middle of 2 wars and a huge economic crisis, with global climate change a growing threat. We have a young, smart, charismatic leader. The people and the press are entranced. If he accomplishes even a quarter of what we hope for, we'll be lucky indeed.
posted by theora55 at 9:42 AM on January 23, 2009

And here's the bind... today's ObamaFilter post -- which is a single link blog op-eddish post -- would be something we'd consider deleting since there's already enough Obama on the main page. And yet, to remove only the post that is critical of Obama and leave all the other adoring ones, even if there's a good reason, is something that might start of more of a headache (for us, for the site) than leaving that post alone and letting people talk it out in there. So.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:37 PM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

Actually, I found that post informative (and upsetting), so here's one vote of thanks for not deleting it.
posted by languagehat at 1:12 PM on January 23, 2009

Every time you delete a post about Obama, God deletes 10 of your favorites.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:17 PM on January 23, 2009

"I'd-like-more-posts-about-things-that-people-think-are-awesome-even-if-it's-just-star-wars"

The problem is that I tend to find awesome things in clumps, then post one and forget about the rest because of that damn posting limit. Well, also, a lot of my friends are up to awesome shit, but I understand not posting that (because it could really actually be crap).

But I would strenuously support an ALL AWESOME mandate, in which things that are not enthusiastically awesome are BALETED with no mercy.
posted by klangklangston at 1:39 PM on January 23, 2009

Is this something I'd have to own a computer to understand?
posted by Brak at 2:36 PM on January 23, 2009

So, you know how people love to rack up the favorites? Let's give them more scores to make them behave properly. That's the sociology bit.

I propose each user have an Entropy Score. Basically, glossing over all the details because I don't think I'm bright enough to explain them without being ridiculously tl;dr and Latex, mathematics (probably after a bit of fine tuning) provides us the tools to automatically and continually estimate the degree to which a member's recent posts contribute to any recent glut of posts on any given topic and give them lower scores, and this metric will also award higher scores to those whose posts cover more-neglected areas. Interestingly, as Metafilter would hopefully increasingly shift to provide more uniform coverage of all topics in the universe of discourse, everybody's scores would increasingly tend towards fluctuating around one constant value and people wouldn't be able to point to how high their score was.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 4:37 PM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

tl;dr
posted by Brak at 5:34 PM on January 23, 2009

I propose that each user have an avatar. When the user makes a bad post, their avatar goes into stocks, and everyone can play a fun flash game where they throw various food items at the current batch of incarcerated avatars.
posted by mullingitover at 5:35 PM on January 23, 2009

NO TEABAGGING.
posted by Artw at 5:37 PM on January 23, 2009

I was tempted to post an update to my Barack Obama and the Lawn Rangers FPP to MetaTalk but I already have my "Start a Shitstorm in MetaTalk" square covered in MetaFilter bingo. But this seems the perfect thread to post Dave Barry's report of marching with the Lawn Rangers in the inaugural parade. Also, this video of the Lawn Rangers marching and the Obamas' reactions (you might think that the video isn't working at first, but it is).

Also, I'm really, really baffled by people who think that 7 posts on the front page about Obama is somehow too much.
posted by Kattullus at 7:37 PM on January 23, 2009

To make one important point clear, by any given topic I don't mean the moderators pick posts or tags or have any direct intervention in identifying topic gluts, because then people could give them shit about their bias. I mean that the algorithms identify topic gluts themselves as one of the first steps.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 8:11 PM on January 23, 2009