Add a tag? Don't mind if I do!

June 28, 2009 9:23 PM

In the Michael Jackson obit post, and only in the Michael Jackson obit post, I have the ability to add tags. What gives?

I noticed this a few days ago when the thread was first posted, but I didn't wonder too much about it until now. I took advantage of it to add "obit" to the tag list, which I hope was ok. Why do I have this option? Is it specific to me, or is it something about that particular thread? Does the tag I added show up to everyone else? Is this a message from the Cabal?

posted by Captain Cardanthian! to Bugs at 9:23 PM (30 comments total)

You can add tags to the posts of anyone who lists you as a contact.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:26 PM on June 28, 2009 [2 favorites]

You're a mutual contactee with the OP of the thread.
posted by Mitheral at 9:26 PM on June 28, 2009

Either because you're contacts with MSTPT, or because you're a recognized expert on Mr. Jackson based on an analysis of your posting and comment history.
posted by Pants! at 9:27 PM on June 28, 2009 [6 favorites]

Users who are mutual contacts have the ability to add tags to one another's posts; you and Marisa each contact the other, so, bam!

The general thinking is that at that point there's some implicit established trust that would prevent random asshat driveby vandalism, basically. Use your powers only for good!
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:27 PM on June 28, 2009 [2 favorites]

It has something to do with African American pop singers who hit it big in the 70s and who are part of a family of entertainers. It's somewhere in the FAQ but I'm too lazy to look.

On preview it appears I may be wrong about this.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 9:30 PM on June 28, 2009 [2 favorites]

Well, that's certainly less exciting a reason than I had hoped for.
posted by Captain Cardanthian! at 9:36 PM on June 28, 2009

Also, you were bitten by a radioactive spider.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:46 PM on June 28, 2009 [7 favorites]

Didn't know that trick. Cool.
posted by iamkimiam at 9:59 PM on June 28, 2009

You can add tags to the posts of anyone who lists you as a contact.

Hey! An unexpected benefit of being someone's MeFi spouse!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:11 PM on June 28, 2009 [3 favorites]

Also, you were bitten by a radioactive spider.

See, that's what I'm talking about. I knew I was special.
posted by Captain Cardanthian! at 10:28 PM on June 28, 2009

Hurray! I'm gonna go add the "spouse" tag to all my mutual contactees' posts!
posted by orthogonality at 10:34 PM on June 28, 2009

I now understand why Brandon Blatcher spoused so many people - for the raw power! Well, maybe slightly cooked power. If he could edit his spouses posts, that would be raw power.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:56 PM on June 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

I did not know this was among our options. This is probably dangerous knowledge to set loose in a post-Great Enspousening MeFi.
posted by EatTheWeek at 11:00 PM on June 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

This is probably dangerous knowledge to set loose in a post-Great Enspousening MeFi.

This? Right here? Saddens me. I only got two spouses in all the fray. I am forlorn and shall never get into Mormon planet-heaven.
posted by Captain Cardanthian! at 11:15 PM on June 28, 2009

Oh, no! It's happening again!
posted by flabdablet at 11:35 PM on June 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

Slow down. So if a Mefi spouse and I get a divorce do I lose half of my radioactive spider?
posted by dgaicun at 2:14 AM on June 29, 2009

I back-tagged your mom.

yeah what
posted by secret about box at 3:11 AM on June 29, 2009

I back-tagged your mom.

I know. She said you were "meh" at best.
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 6:23 AM on June 29, 2009 [2 favorites]

So if a Mefi spouse and I get a divorce do I lose half of my radioactive spider?

No, but you may have to pay arachnimony.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:41 AM on June 29, 2009 [10 favorites]

There'll be much acrimony over this arachnimony.
posted by Mister_A at 7:33 AM on June 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

Cortex, your joke has been flagged for being WAY to corny.
posted by consummate dilettante at 7:40 AM on June 29, 2009

This is just batshitinsane.
posted by Sailormom at 7:44 AM on June 29, 2009

This post would be a perfect opportunity for a contact of Captain Cardanthian! to add unhelpful tags.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:46 AM on June 29, 2009

Little Captain Cardanthian
Sat in the MetaTalk pantheon
Asking about some suspicious tagging.

Along came a mod
With a pun about an arthropod,
And was subjected to a well-deserved fragging.
posted by googly at 7:49 AM on June 29, 2009 [2 favorites]

Don't stop till you get enough.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:40 AM on June 29, 2009

*stops*
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:41 AM on June 29, 2009

MJ modified his face plenty, so it's only fitting that plenty are able to modify his obit thread.
posted by jerseygirl at 11:46 AM on June 29, 2009

Never will another mod
Make puns about an arthropod,
By punishment of Wrath of God,
And Jason Alexander.

Offenders will be bacon-bra'd,
And all their fetuses declawed,
Their nostrils stuffed with goldenrod,
And circumcised cats' dander;

They'll waste their future laying sod,
And Mrs. Phylicia Rashād
Will make them make out with a cod,
Or worse, a Newfoundlander;

Their writing will become too flawed,
Spelled out with θ, ㄢ, and י
And all the -or words Canada'd,
Like troubadour and candour;

Their ponies will be poorly shod,
Their sons and daughters all named Todd,
Their something somethings, blah blah blah'd,
Throughout the wild Blue yander.

So cortex, jessamyn, and Matt,
Before you give us "King Cole, Gnat"
Could you please just remember that?

(That said, you may philander.)
posted by Sys Rq at 11:50 AM on June 29, 2009

Hee hee~
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:54 PM on June 29, 2009

I had to return the favor, Captain.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:58 PM on June 29, 2009