"To Be Asked" cheat sheet? April 1, 2010 3:25 AM Subscribe
Is a "To be asked" reminder list for AskMeFi in a user's profile worth considering?
I just asked my first question on AskMeFi recently. As a new user I've had a bazillion ideas for questions but, unfortunately, neglected to make a list, so almost all of them have been forgotten. When you've got to wait a week between questions, it can seem like ages when you're still new here. (I'm not knocking the week delay rule. I actually think that's a great idea.) I was wondering what folks thought of perhaps adding a feature to a user's profile (or wherever would be most appropriate) where they could store questions that they intend to ask at a later date.
I'm envisioning it being similar to how I use my amazon.com wishlist. My list is private, and, in addition to storing items I intend on purchasing later, I use it to store items that will remind me of areas of interest that I'd like to be sure to remember to investigate further when I have more time. I have a surprising number of "placeholder" items in my list. That is to say, they are items that I don't intend to purchase, but that reflect an area of interest I saw mentioned on the web or wherever that I thought I might like to investigate at a later date. As an example, I might see a post here about model rocketry, so I may quickly log into my amazon account, find a book like, "A Beginner's Guide to Model Rocketry," save the book in my wish list, and then log right back out. Later on, I then come back and it reminds me to search for things in that genre that I may really want to buy.
I realize a text file or scraps of paper would work just as well, but I thought I'd mention the idea because I'm actually surprised how frequently I pop into my amazon acct and add things for the above purpose. Also, the really nice thing is I can get to my amazon wish list from any computer I use so I don't have to worry about syncing up text files or paper scraps from multiple places. Having said that, though, I now realize I could simply email the idea to myself or keep a list on a small sheet of paper in my wallet.
I thought of a possible additional benefit for the site, though. This feature, if added, may increase click counts to the site. Perhaps not to a degree great enough to warrant the hassle of implementation, but I thought I'd mention this angle. If a co-worker of mine tells me about something, I might be inclined to pop into my MeFi account and add that topic to my "To Be Asked" list on a day when I would otherwise perhaps not be able to find the time to log in. I truly have no real clue how web traffic is measured so please bear with me if what I'm mentioning doesn't make sense. Further, I don't have a clue as to what impact, if any, click counts have on MeFi. Also, I'm not much of a cell/mobile phone user so maybe people already use their phones to jot things down on a text list on their phones, which would obviously decrease or negate the need for or utility of this feature.
I realize a lot of MeFi vets are probably groaning at this sort of thing since they're all "questioned out," but I really think new users would find this potential feature very helpful. I can only speak for myself, of course, but I'd really like it.
The idea popped into my head so I thought I'd run it up the old MetaTalk flag pole and see what people thought about it. I'd appreciate an "Aye" or "Nay" however you see fit. TIA.
I just asked my first question on AskMeFi recently. As a new user I've had a bazillion ideas for questions but, unfortunately, neglected to make a list, so almost all of them have been forgotten. When you've got to wait a week between questions, it can seem like ages when you're still new here. (I'm not knocking the week delay rule. I actually think that's a great idea.) I was wondering what folks thought of perhaps adding a feature to a user's profile (or wherever would be most appropriate) where they could store questions that they intend to ask at a later date.
I'm envisioning it being similar to how I use my amazon.com wishlist. My list is private, and, in addition to storing items I intend on purchasing later, I use it to store items that will remind me of areas of interest that I'd like to be sure to remember to investigate further when I have more time. I have a surprising number of "placeholder" items in my list. That is to say, they are items that I don't intend to purchase, but that reflect an area of interest I saw mentioned on the web or wherever that I thought I might like to investigate at a later date. As an example, I might see a post here about model rocketry, so I may quickly log into my amazon account, find a book like, "A Beginner's Guide to Model Rocketry," save the book in my wish list, and then log right back out. Later on, I then come back and it reminds me to search for things in that genre that I may really want to buy.
I realize a text file or scraps of paper would work just as well, but I thought I'd mention the idea because I'm actually surprised how frequently I pop into my amazon acct and add things for the above purpose. Also, the really nice thing is I can get to my amazon wish list from any computer I use so I don't have to worry about syncing up text files or paper scraps from multiple places. Having said that, though, I now realize I could simply email the idea to myself or keep a list on a small sheet of paper in my wallet.
I thought of a possible additional benefit for the site, though. This feature, if added, may increase click counts to the site. Perhaps not to a degree great enough to warrant the hassle of implementation, but I thought I'd mention this angle. If a co-worker of mine tells me about something, I might be inclined to pop into my MeFi account and add that topic to my "To Be Asked" list on a day when I would otherwise perhaps not be able to find the time to log in. I truly have no real clue how web traffic is measured so please bear with me if what I'm mentioning doesn't make sense. Further, I don't have a clue as to what impact, if any, click counts have on MeFi. Also, I'm not much of a cell/mobile phone user so maybe people already use their phones to jot things down on a text list on their phones, which would obviously decrease or negate the need for or utility of this feature.
I realize a lot of MeFi vets are probably groaning at this sort of thing since they're all "questioned out," but I really think new users would find this potential feature very helpful. I can only speak for myself, of course, but I'd really like it.
The idea popped into my head so I thought I'd run it up the old MetaTalk flag pole and see what people thought about it. I'd appreciate an "Aye" or "Nay" however you see fit. TIA.
This has been asked before and the answer is greasemonkey and Plutor's MeFi Notepad.
posted by beerbajay at 3:34 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by beerbajay at 3:34 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
EndsOfInvention: "so almost all of them have been forgotten.
If you're forgetting them that easily, they're probably things that don't really need answering (i.e. idle curiosity vs need a solution to a problem)"
That's a good point, but I don't think that was the case in my instance, at least with the things I had thought to ask (at least as I recall the feeling towards them). My google-fu is weaker than a lot of my friends, but my web search impulse is far greater than my AskMeFi impulse. You're right, though, maybe I'm just starting to experience Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. I sure hope not.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 3:43 AM on April 1, 2010
If you're forgetting them that easily, they're probably things that don't really need answering (i.e. idle curiosity vs need a solution to a problem)"
That's a good point, but I don't think that was the case in my instance, at least with the things I had thought to ask (at least as I recall the feeling towards them). My google-fu is weaker than a lot of my friends, but my web search impulse is far greater than my AskMeFi impulse. You're right, though, maybe I'm just starting to experience Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. I sure hope not.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 3:43 AM on April 1, 2010
beerbajay: "This has been asked before and the answer is greasemonkey and Plutor's MeFi Notepad"
Whoa! MeFi Notepad rocks! Just what I wanted. Plutor should be really proud. I'm now using MeFiquote and MeFi Notepad. Something tells me I would do well to go take a look see at what else the gentleman has produced (as well as see if he has a public amazon wish list or a place to make a donation to him).
Thanks again, and I apologize once more for the repeat and not finding this myself. Perhaps this thread will direct others to Plutor's great work, though.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 4:18 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Whoa! MeFi Notepad rocks! Just what I wanted. Plutor should be really proud. I'm now using MeFiquote and MeFi Notepad. Something tells me I would do well to go take a look see at what else the gentleman has produced (as well as see if he has a public amazon wish list or a place to make a donation to him).
Thanks again, and I apologize once more for the repeat and not finding this myself. Perhaps this thread will direct others to Plutor's great work, though.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 4:18 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Just write 'em down in Google docs or something.
posted by delmoi at 4:27 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by delmoi at 4:27 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
As an example, I might see a post here about model rocketry, so I may quickly log into my amazon account, find a book like, "A Beginner's Guide to Model Rocketry," save the book in my wish list, and then log right back out. Later on, I then come back and it reminds me to search for things in that genre that I may really want to buy.
I use my LibraryThing "To Read" category for that. It has the added bonuses of:
posted by DU at 4:34 AM on April 1, 2010
I use my LibraryThing "To Read" category for that. It has the added bonuses of:
- Not inviting a corporate giant to use my personal lists to do datamining, while still giving me suggestions for books I might like.
- Being available via an API (so I can, for instance, automatically query my library systems for the books on the list).
- Being a site that I can load and browse easily on my mobile device, unlike Amazon.
posted by DU at 4:34 AM on April 1, 2010
DU: "As an example, I might see a post here about model rocketry, so I may quickly log into my amazon account, find a book like, "A Beginner's Guide to Model Rocketry," save the book in my wish list, and then log right back out. Later on, I then come back and it reminds me to search for things in that genre that I may really want to buy.
I use my LibraryThing "To Read" category for that. It has the added bonuses of:
Wow! That looks REALLY cool!
I was going to ask about your library and the API, but then I realized you're almost certainly talking about: http://www.librarything.com/ I did a search on that site for "API" and got a few hits, so I'm pretty sure I understand now.
Thanks!!
(MeFi and the people on it rock!)
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 4:50 AM on April 1, 2010
I use my LibraryThing "To Read" category for that. It has the added bonuses of:
- Not inviting a corporate giant to use my personal lists to do datamining, while still giving me suggestions for books I might like.
- Being available via an API (so I can, for instance, automatically query my library systems for the books on the list).
- Being a site that I can load and browse easily on my mobile device, unlike Amazon.
Wow! That looks REALLY cool!
I was going to ask about your library and the API, but then I realized you're almost certainly talking about: http://www.librarything.com/ I did a search on that site for "API" and got a few hits, so I'm pretty sure I understand now.
Thanks!!
(MeFi and the people on it rock!)
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 4:50 AM on April 1, 2010
Yep. External solutions are the way to go here. It's a sort of suggestion that comes up now and again (but would probably be tricky to search for, since there's no obvious fixed vocab for it), so don't feel bad for the brainstorm. I definitely forget shit if I don't write it down.
Basically there are so many existing tools folks can use (or in the case of Plutor's script, bespoke tools) that there's not really any incentive on our end to build a custom notepad for the site itself.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:23 AM on April 1, 2010
Basically there are so many existing tools folks can use (or in the case of Plutor's script, bespoke tools) that there's not really any incentive on our end to build a custom notepad for the site itself.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:23 AM on April 1, 2010
I was also going to suggest Google Docs.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:17 AM on April 1, 2010
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:17 AM on April 1, 2010
I use Evernote. They have a nifty client for my computer at home, a nifty client for my cellphone, and a nifty web-based interface so it's basically never unreachable. I've gotten myself pretty well addicted to it, and I'm always jotting down little random reminders like this. Since I'm just working with text, the free service is more than sufficient for my needs.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 8:18 AM on April 1, 2010
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 8:18 AM on April 1, 2010
If you can't remember a question, it's much less likely to be worth asking. It's actually a rather nice filtering mechanism, I think; when questions aren't that pressing or important, people simply forget to ask them, thus providing us a natural declogging for the front page of ask.
posted by koeselitz at 9:48 AM on April 1, 2010
posted by koeselitz at 9:48 AM on April 1, 2010
I tattoo them on my forearm, except the anon ones which are tattooed on my butt.
posted by HuronBob at 9:53 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by HuronBob at 9:53 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
except the anon ones which are tattooed on my butt.
Backwards, right?
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:11 AM on April 1, 2010
Backwards, right?
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:11 AM on April 1, 2010
Backwards? Only on the weekends. M-F I just go to the glory hole in the office break room, poke my butt through, and whoever's there on the other side posts it for me. Little pinch too, if it's a juicy enough question.
posted by carsonb at 10:41 AM on April 1, 2010
posted by carsonb at 10:41 AM on April 1, 2010
Mefiquote? Is that how you're getting those huge ugly chunks of other people's text in italics before your much shorter answer? Because dude, you need to stop doing that. It's really hard to read and we don't need other people's comments reposted, we can see the originals too. It's even worse when you're replying to basically every answer like in your recent question.
posted by shelleycat at 12:16 PM on April 1, 2010
posted by shelleycat at 12:16 PM on April 1, 2010
This is an incredibly bad idea and, no, not worth considering. People ask too many stupid questions already. Hell, I'd like to see AskMe limit you to one question every two weeks. Or one a month. Anything.
Anything that encourages people to ask more useless questions is a terrible idea.
posted by Justinian at 12:41 PM on April 1, 2010
Anything that encourages people to ask more useless questions is a terrible idea.
posted by Justinian at 12:41 PM on April 1, 2010
cortex: "Basically there are so many existing tools folks can use (or in the case of Plutor's script, bespoke tools) that there's not really any incentive on our end to build a custom notepad for the site itself"
Very true. This thread (among others) has been really rewarding for me because people have offered up such a plethora of solutions for the same "problem." Thanks again, cortex.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 3:40 PM on April 1, 2010
Very true. This thread (among others) has been really rewarding for me because people have offered up such a plethora of solutions for the same "problem." Thanks again, cortex.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 3:40 PM on April 1, 2010
DevilsAdvocate: "I was also going to suggest Google Docs"
OK, this has been mentioned, I believe, twice now in this thread. I'm going to have to go check that feature of google out. Many thanks!
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 3:41 PM on April 1, 2010
OK, this has been mentioned, I believe, twice now in this thread. I'm going to have to go check that feature of google out. Many thanks!
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 3:41 PM on April 1, 2010
shelleycat: "Mefiquote? Is that how you're getting those huge ugly chunks of other people's text in italics before your much shorter answer? Because dude, you need to stop doing that. It's really hard to read and we don't need other people's comments reposted, we can see the originals too. It's even worse when you're replying to basically every answer like in your recent question"
Mefiquote is good. You don't have to quote the whole thing, though, if you don't want to. It'll just quote selections, too.
posted by Barry B. Palindromer at 4:09 PM on April 1, 2010
Mefiquote is good. You don't have to quote the whole thing, though, if you don't want to. It'll just quote selections, too.
posted by Barry B. Palindromer at 4:09 PM on April 1, 2010
A little over two years ago, someone asked for a pony that would automatically submit queued questions. It was generally agreed that this was not a good idea.
I know that's not exactly what you're asking for.
Just that your question reminded me of Ian A.T.'s brilliant response. According to the MeFi wiki (Comment Fables section), it has been titled "The End of AskMe".
I still regard it as one of the best MeTa comments EVER !!!
posted by marsha56 at 5:50 PM on April 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
I know that's not exactly what you're asking for.
Just that your question reminded me of Ian A.T.'s brilliant response. According to the MeFi wiki (Comment Fables section), it has been titled "The End of AskMe".
I still regard it as one of the best MeTa comments EVER !!!
posted by marsha56 at 5:50 PM on April 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
You don't have to quote the whole thing, though, if you don't want to. It'll just quote selections, too.
And now that InsertNiftyNameHere has started doing so the world is all sweetness and light. OK the fresh home baked hot cross buns might also have a part in that. But manageable quoting is nice too.
posted by shelleycat at 6:50 PM on April 1, 2010
And now that InsertNiftyNameHere has started doing so the world is all sweetness and light. OK the fresh home baked hot cross buns might also have a part in that. But manageable quoting is nice too.
posted by shelleycat at 6:50 PM on April 1, 2010
marsha56: "I still regard it as one of the best MeTa comments EVER !!!"
That truly is freaking hilarious!! I seriously don't know what that would have done to me, had I been the one who prompted the response. I fear I might still be in therapy and suffering from a relentless nervous tic. Does anyone know if the OP has survived unscathed? Just curious about that. If it's a no-no to ask, let's all pretend I didn't.
I must say I feel a bit like I dodged a bullet. Thanks for taking the time to point that wonderful post out to me!
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 10:45 PM on April 1, 2010
That truly is freaking hilarious!! I seriously don't know what that would have done to me, had I been the one who prompted the response. I fear I might still be in therapy and suffering from a relentless nervous tic. Does anyone know if the OP has survived unscathed? Just curious about that. If it's a no-no to ask, let's all pretend I didn't.
I must say I feel a bit like I dodged a bullet. Thanks for taking the time to point that wonderful post out to me!
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 10:45 PM on April 1, 2010
InsertNiftyNameHere: "Does anyone know if the OP has survived unscathed? "
I believe I answered that one for myself just now. Sorry to all for the useless question.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 12:04 AM on April 2, 2010
I believe I answered that one for myself just now. Sorry to all for the useless question.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 12:04 AM on April 2, 2010
Yup, I'm pretty sure he's just fine. He seemed to take it all in stride.
Actually, it's the longest NO I've ever read. Kinda entertaining, I should ask more stupid questions.
posted by zouhair at 9:27 PM on March 23, 2008 [+] [!]
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Since you said you were kinda new here, I thought you might not have seen it before.
posted by marsha56 at 6:27 AM on April 2, 2010
Actually, it's the longest NO I've ever read. Kinda entertaining, I should ask more stupid questions.
posted by zouhair at 9:27 PM on March 23, 2008 [+] [!]
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Since you said you were kinda new here, I thought you might not have seen it before.
posted by marsha56 at 6:27 AM on April 2, 2010
zouhair: "Yup, I'm pretty sure he's just fine. He seemed to take it all in stride.
Great. I'm very glad to hear it.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 11:19 AM on April 2, 2010
Great. I'm very glad to hear it.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 11:19 AM on April 2, 2010
marsha56: "I thought you might not have seen it before"
Yep. There are a lot of things here I have yet to discover. Thanks again.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 11:21 AM on April 2, 2010
Yep. There are a lot of things here I have yet to discover. Thanks again.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 11:21 AM on April 2, 2010
cortex: "8Yep. External solutions are the way to go here. It's a sort of suggestion that comes up now and again (but would probably be tricky to search for, since there's no obvious fixed vocab for it), so don't feel bad for the brainstorm. I definitely forget shit if I don't write it down.
Basically there are so many existing tools folks can use (or in the case of Plutor's script, bespoke tools) that there's not really any incentive on our end to build a custom notepad for the site itself"
Also; this counts as your question for this week.
posted by Bonzai at 10:43 PM on April 2, 2010
Basically there are so many existing tools folks can use (or in the case of Plutor's script, bespoke tools) that there's not really any incentive on our end to build a custom notepad for the site itself"
Also; this counts as your question for this week.
posted by Bonzai at 10:43 PM on April 2, 2010
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If you're forgetting them that easily, they're probably things that don't really need answering (i.e. idle curiosity vs need a solution to a problem).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:31 AM on April 1, 2010 [2 favorites]