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posted by DU at 7:08 AM on June 14, 2010
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posted by DU at 7:08 AM on June 14, 2010
Yeah this has been the thing that they've been working on for a while now and everyone thinks it's going to be the total game changer. "Like Yahoo Answers only slightly higher quality!" Yahoo answers has a surprising amoutn of page traffic. It's still fractional relative to facebook but it's still a force to be reckoned with in the Q&A sites world, which is amusing.
Someone from facebook emailed me, I mentioned this in another MeTa thread, and asked if I'd be interested in coming to FB-central to discuss "opportunities" w/r/t this product they're working on and I said, politely, no.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:15 AM on June 14, 2010 [14 favorites]
Someone from facebook emailed me, I mentioned this in another MeTa thread, and asked if I'd be interested in coming to FB-central to discuss "opportunities" w/r/t this product they're working on and I said, politely, no.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:15 AM on June 14, 2010 [14 favorites]
DU: The page you requested was not found.
Huh, sorry, it's possible you may need to be logged into FB to see it. In a nutshell, they're asking for beta testers for a new product they're rolling out that involves well-written answers to a variety of questions (the application requires submitting some sample Q&A's). My initial reaction was, "of course, social askme", but the sample questions lean more toward general knowledge than opinion/recommendations.
posted by mkultra at 7:15 AM on June 14, 2010
Huh, sorry, it's possible you may need to be logged into FB to see it. In a nutshell, they're asking for beta testers for a new product they're rolling out that involves well-written answers to a variety of questions (the application requires submitting some sample Q&A's). My initial reaction was, "of course, social askme", but the sample questions lean more toward general knowledge than opinion/recommendations.
posted by mkultra at 7:15 AM on June 14, 2010
i look forward to the sponsored "answers" from FB's corporate partners.
posted by TrialByMedia at 7:16 AM on June 14, 2010 [13 favorites]
posted by TrialByMedia at 7:16 AM on June 14, 2010 [13 favorites]
FaceBook: In the vanguard of semi-functional alternatives to real things the Internet already has.
posted by DU at 7:18 AM on June 14, 2010 [22 favorites]
posted by DU at 7:18 AM on June 14, 2010 [22 favorites]
i look forward to the sponsored "answers" from FB's corporate partners.
I completely agree!11 LOL!! That's why when I want an answer I use Bing ® by Microsoft ®.
LOL!!11
posted by djgh at 7:21 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I completely agree!11 LOL!! That's why when I want an answer I use Bing ® by Microsoft ®.
LOL!!11
posted by djgh at 7:21 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
We're like a punk band. They're like Abba. No worries.
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:30 AM on June 14, 2010 [13 favorites]
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:30 AM on June 14, 2010 [13 favorites]
It doesn't seem like it's going to be moderated.
*Considers success/quality rate of unmoderated sites. Shudders.*
And right now, supposedly only people in your network can see your activity. I wonder how they plan to maintain that if you facebookaskme?
posted by anitanita at 7:35 AM on June 14, 2010
*Considers success/quality rate of unmoderated sites. Shudders.*
And right now, supposedly only people in your network can see your activity. I wonder how they plan to maintain that if you facebookaskme?
posted by anitanita at 7:35 AM on June 14, 2010
I will do my best to be a totally unhelpful dick who gives them nothing but wrong answers. SUBVERSIVE.
posted by The Straightener at 7:35 AM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by The Straightener at 7:35 AM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
How did the Beatles find success?
posted by jonmc at 7:37 AM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 7:37 AM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
How did the Beatles find success?
All You Need is Love.
posted by marxchivist at 7:41 AM on June 14, 2010
All You Need is Love.
posted by marxchivist at 7:41 AM on June 14, 2010
We're like a punk band.
I thought we were like a hair-metal band. I was wondering why the coke and hot groupies hadn't shown up yet!
posted by jonmc at 7:43 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I thought we were like a hair-metal band. I was wondering why the coke and hot groupies hadn't shown up yet!
posted by jonmc at 7:43 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
How did the Beatles find success?
Gratifying at first, but ultimately divisive.
posted by pracowity at 7:48 AM on June 14, 2010 [58 favorites]
Gratifying at first, but ultimately divisive.
posted by pracowity at 7:48 AM on June 14, 2010 [58 favorites]
"How did the Beatles find success?"
Turned left at Greenland.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 7:50 AM on June 14, 2010 [6 favorites]
Turned left at Greenland.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 7:50 AM on June 14, 2010 [6 favorites]
I will do my best to be a totally unhelpful dick who gives them nothing but wrong answers.
If only we had that level of commitment from users on AskMeFi.
posted by ecurtz at 7:51 AM on June 14, 2010
If only we had that level of commitment from users on AskMeFi.
posted by ecurtz at 7:51 AM on June 14, 2010
I thought we were an Afro-Caribbean Klezmer band! Oy, get me outta this meshugga band, mon!
posted by Mister_A at 7:52 AM on June 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 7:52 AM on June 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
Actually that’s sort of interesting. How do questions change when they’re tied to people’s real life identities? My guess is just a ton of complain bragging. “I have too much fun, time money and sex? How do I properly manage this?”
posted by edbles at 7:52 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by edbles at 7:52 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
"How did the Beatles find success?"
The same way you find Carnegie Hall: There's a map by the information booth.
posted by DU at 7:56 AM on June 14, 2010
The same way you find Carnegie Hall: There's a map by the information booth.
posted by DU at 7:56 AM on June 14, 2010
How did the Beatles find success?
They needed a lot of help, and sometimes worked eight days a week. They played gigs here, there and everywhere, on a magical mystery tour down the long and winding road and even in a yellow submarine. They were so hard up they could only afford an old brown shoe.
Eventually their music was heard across the universe and led to a revolution in pop music, even though a lot of their earnings went to the taxman.
posted by Electric Dragon at 7:56 AM on June 14, 2010 [7 favorites]
They needed a lot of help, and sometimes worked eight days a week. They played gigs here, there and everywhere, on a magical mystery tour down the long and winding road and even in a yellow submarine. They were so hard up they could only afford an old brown shoe.
Eventually their music was heard across the universe and led to a revolution in pop music, even though a lot of their earnings went to the taxman.
posted by Electric Dragon at 7:56 AM on June 14, 2010 [7 favorites]
"How did the Beatles find success?"
Turned left at mediocrity.
/geek
posted by jonmc at 7:57 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Turned left at mediocrity.
/geek
posted by jonmc at 7:57 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Remember when the Beatles hit that lady with the silver hammer? How did they get away with it?
posted by Mister_A at 7:58 AM on June 14, 2010
posted by Mister_A at 7:58 AM on June 14, 2010
Actually that’s sort of interesting. How do questions change when they’re tied to people’s real life identities? My guess is just a ton of complain bragging. “I have too much fun, time money and sex? How do I properly manage this?”
Well ... a lot of Mefites have their profiles connected to their real-life identities -- even to their Facebook accounts. Are their questions significantly different than the questions written by people without that info in their profiles?
posted by Jaltcoh at 7:58 AM on June 14, 2010
Well ... a lot of Mefites have their profiles connected to their real-life identities -- even to their Facebook accounts. Are their questions significantly different than the questions written by people without that info in their profiles?
posted by Jaltcoh at 7:58 AM on June 14, 2010
How did they get away with it?
Well, first, they were smart from the very beginning.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:06 AM on June 14, 2010 [6 favorites]
Well, first, they were smart from the very beginning.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:06 AM on June 14, 2010 [6 favorites]
Where relevant, cite and link to third-party sources such as Wikipedia.
Hee.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:15 AM on June 14, 2010 [18 favorites]
Hee.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:15 AM on June 14, 2010 [18 favorites]
Well ... a lot of Mefites have their profiles connected to their real-life identities -- even to their Facebook accounts. Are their questions significantly different than the questions written by people without that info in their profiles?
Yes, but that's 3 steps away. I may be able to find someone's real-life identity, but usually I don't care to. Generally people on Metafilter barring meetups and the first person to introduce me to the site are not people I know in real life. For the most part, they aren't my colleagues, classmates, relatives, or romantic interests. They are those people I know from the internet.
posted by edbles at 8:23 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yes, but that's 3 steps away. I may be able to find someone's real-life identity, but usually I don't care to. Generally people on Metafilter barring meetups and the first person to introduce me to the site are not people I know in real life. For the most part, they aren't my colleagues, classmates, relatives, or romantic interests. They are those people I know from the internet.
posted by edbles at 8:23 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Dear hivemind, should I superpoke this?
posted by shakespeherian at 8:44 AM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 8:44 AM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
That was fun.
The first question I submitted was:
"Has this been done before, and better?"
"Yes...at askmetafilter at Metafilter."
The other two were equally enjoyable to write, I must say.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 9:15 AM on June 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
The first question I submitted was:
"Has this been done before, and better?"
"Yes...at askmetafilter at Metafilter."
The other two were equally enjoyable to write, I must say.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 9:15 AM on June 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
Jessamyn, thank you for turning them down. If you are ever in Fayetteville I will buy you a beer or a diet Coke, your preference.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 9:17 AM on June 14, 2010
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 9:17 AM on June 14, 2010
St. Alia of the Bunnies: The other two were equally enjoyable to write, I must say.
Boy, you sure showed them.
posted by mkultra at 9:25 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Boy, you sure showed them.
posted by mkultra at 9:25 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I like how their example of "A thorough response that answers the question in detail" is a two sentence paragraph.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:26 AM on June 14, 2010
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:26 AM on June 14, 2010
How is faccbook formed?
posted by idiomatika at 9:26 AM on June 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by idiomatika at 9:26 AM on June 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
Hey, want to be part of this cool new thing?
Great! Can you just write some cool new text and send it to us? Once we've collected a ot of cool text from cool people like you, our cool new thing will be ready!
Thanks so much! We really appreciate it!!
posted by Meatbomb at 9:26 AM on June 14, 2010 [7 favorites]
Great! Can you just write some cool new text and send it to us? Once we've collected a ot of cool text from cool people like you, our cool new thing will be ready!
Thanks so much! We really appreciate it!!
posted by Meatbomb at 9:26 AM on June 14, 2010 [7 favorites]
How is faccbook formed?
faccbook is formed when myspace retweets some twats to the stork. Also Web 2.0. Read my blog!!!!!!
posted by edbles at 9:29 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
faccbook is formed when myspace retweets some twats to the stork. Also Web 2.0. Read my blog!!!!!!
posted by edbles at 9:29 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Q: What are women looking for in a relationship?
A: Women are great but be careful where you use them.
Women are roughly five times as efficient as a typical household incandescent light bulb. They also last up to 50x longer, since they don't burn out (they don't have a filament), and are a great way to save some money and help the environment.
However, unlike incandescent lighting, women usually take a minute to fully light up. I wouldn't install them in bathrooms or by staircases, since these places need to be fully lit quickly for safety. They also contain mercury, which is something to watch out for especially if you have children.
Hope that helps! If you want to learn more, Wikipedia has a good article about women at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman
am i doin this rite
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:32 AM on June 14, 2010 [8 favorites]
A: Women are great but be careful where you use them.
Women are roughly five times as efficient as a typical household incandescent light bulb. They also last up to 50x longer, since they don't burn out (they don't have a filament), and are a great way to save some money and help the environment.
However, unlike incandescent lighting, women usually take a minute to fully light up. I wouldn't install them in bathrooms or by staircases, since these places need to be fully lit quickly for safety. They also contain mercury, which is something to watch out for especially if you have children.
Hope that helps! If you want to learn more, Wikipedia has a good article about women at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman
am i doin this rite
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:32 AM on June 14, 2010 [8 favorites]
St. Alia of the Bunnies writes "'Has this been done before, and better?'
"'Yes...at askmetafilter at Metafilter.'"
I don't want to be a spoilsport but don't we generally avoid this kind of cross site griefing?
posted by Mitheral at 9:41 AM on June 14, 2010
"'Yes...at askmetafilter at Metafilter.'"
I don't want to be a spoilsport but don't we generally avoid this kind of cross site griefing?
posted by Mitheral at 9:41 AM on June 14, 2010
Yeah this has been the thing that they've been working on for a while now and everyone thinks it's going to be the total game changer. "Like Yahoo Answers only slightly higher quality!" Yahoo answers has a surprising amoutn of page traffic. It's still fractional relative to facebook but it's still a force to be reckoned with in the Q&A sites world, which is amusing.
I find it somewhat odd that Facebook is doing it though, given that their model revolves around the whole walled garden concept. Q&A sites get most of their traffic from search, and Facebook is much more about exploiting small social groups than being a source for general-purpose content for a wide audience. If Facebook is trying to open up to be a one-stop location for all kinds of content, they might run into the same problems that companies like AOL did when they gave up their walled gardens to become web portals.
posted by burnmp3s at 9:45 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I find it somewhat odd that Facebook is doing it though, given that their model revolves around the whole walled garden concept. Q&A sites get most of their traffic from search, and Facebook is much more about exploiting small social groups than being a source for general-purpose content for a wide audience. If Facebook is trying to open up to be a one-stop location for all kinds of content, they might run into the same problems that companies like AOL did when they gave up their walled gardens to become web portals.
posted by burnmp3s at 9:45 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
“I have too much fun, time money and sex? How do I properly manage this?”
A: Wear a fedora.
posted by inigo2 at 9:45 AM on June 14, 2010 [8 favorites]
A: Wear a fedora.
posted by inigo2 at 9:45 AM on June 14, 2010 [8 favorites]
they might run into the same problems...[as AOL]
Let them. Let them burn out.
posted by cobaltnine at 9:50 AM on June 14, 2010
Let them. Let them burn out.
posted by cobaltnine at 9:50 AM on June 14, 2010
inigo2 : Clarification: I already have 7 fedoras!!! This doesn't seem to be helping me manage my supreme awesomeness any better. It's just making me more awesome, something I didn't even know was possible!
posted by edbles at 9:57 AM on June 14, 2010
posted by edbles at 9:57 AM on June 14, 2010
inigo2 : Clarification: I already have 7 fedoras!!! This doesn't seem to be helping me manage my supreme awesomeness any better. It's just making me more awesome, something I didn't even know was possible!
Stick a feather in it.
posted by Netzapper at 10:00 AM on June 14, 2010
Stick a feather in it.
posted by Netzapper at 10:00 AM on June 14, 2010
Like Yahoo!Answers only slightly higher quality?
First of all it would take significatly higher quality to make it anything worthwhile.
Second, I don't think I'll be posting anything to a site that seems perfectly content with messing around with my privacy. I can just imagine asking a question about places to stay on a vacation and then getting friend requests and fan page suggestions from everyone even remotely connected with that place, plus all the strangers who would then know where I'm going and how long I'm likely to be away from my house.
Yeah. No thanks. I'll stick with AskMe.
posted by TooFewShoes at 10:07 AM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
First of all it would take significatly higher quality to make it anything worthwhile.
Second, I don't think I'll be posting anything to a site that seems perfectly content with messing around with my privacy. I can just imagine asking a question about places to stay on a vacation and then getting friend requests and fan page suggestions from everyone even remotely connected with that place, plus all the strangers who would then know where I'm going and how long I'm likely to be away from my house.
Yeah. No thanks. I'll stick with AskMe.
posted by TooFewShoes at 10:07 AM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
We're like a punk band.
Fuck yeah!
They're like Abba.
Fuck y-- wait. What's wrong with Abba?
posted by brundlefly at 10:17 AM on June 14, 2010 [10 favorites]
Fuck yeah!
They're like Abba.
Fuck y-- wait. What's wrong with Abba?
posted by brundlefly at 10:17 AM on June 14, 2010 [10 favorites]
Here's my question and answer (not actually submitted)
Q: Will Facebook ever turn a profit?
A: Unlikely, unless it charges subsciptions or milks its user base. Either way, it is almost impossible for it to profitable long term and retain user numbers.
posted by MuffinMan at 10:19 AM on June 14, 2010
Q: Will Facebook ever turn a profit?
A: Unlikely, unless it charges subsciptions or milks its user base. Either way, it is almost impossible for it to profitable long term and retain user numbers.
posted by MuffinMan at 10:19 AM on June 14, 2010
Unlikely, unless it charges subsciptions or milks its user base. Either way, it is almost impossible for it to profitable long term and retain user numbers.
If they charged a couple of bucks for a question, they could probably rake in some decent money, given their user base. It wouldn't cost users who didn't use it anything, if they allowed people to search it for free they'd create a resource like AskMe and they'd create a barrier to a fair number of jokey, shitty questions.
That's not to say it's their plan, I just think that this could be the first step in monetizing parts of the site without affecting the overall culture.
posted by Hiker at 10:29 AM on June 14, 2010
If they charged a couple of bucks for a question, they could probably rake in some decent money, given their user base. It wouldn't cost users who didn't use it anything, if they allowed people to search it for free they'd create a resource like AskMe and they'd create a barrier to a fair number of jokey, shitty questions.
That's not to say it's their plan, I just think that this could be the first step in monetizing parts of the site without affecting the overall culture.
posted by Hiker at 10:29 AM on June 14, 2010
How did the Beatles find success?
they bought their suits at robert hall
posted by pyramid termite at 10:43 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
they bought their suits at robert hall
posted by pyramid termite at 10:43 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think facebook.answers is gonna be a great pony for all those pony-wishers who have more questions than they have 7-day time spans. Like the pony-wisher who wanted a script to send a question at exactly 7d + 0 m + .001 s. Or someone who wanted the 7th day to end when it came 'round to their time zone, not the MeFi server's zone.
So Ask.Face for 6 days, and on the 7th, ask your real question @ AskMe.
posted by beelzbubba at 10:51 AM on June 14, 2010
So Ask.Face for 6 days, and on the 7th, ask your real question @ AskMe.
posted by beelzbubba at 10:51 AM on June 14, 2010
Dear Ask Facebook,
Why is Jenny being such a BITCH lately? I mean, like seriously, for sure. What is her problem? Like, totally?
posted by GuyZero at 11:10 AM on June 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
Why is Jenny being such a BITCH lately? I mean, like seriously, for sure. What is her problem? Like, totally?
posted by GuyZero at 11:10 AM on June 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
We're like a punk band.
We're more like the Barenaked Ladies of the web.
They're like Abba.
Abba's too good for them. Totally Celine Dion.
It's hard to equate web entities to pop music; who ARE The Beatles of the Web? Google? Does that mean it'll soon break up into smaller entities, some cool, some not?
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:20 AM on June 14, 2010
We're more like the Barenaked Ladies of the web.
They're like Abba.
Abba's too good for them. Totally Celine Dion.
It's hard to equate web entities to pop music; who ARE The Beatles of the Web? Google? Does that mean it'll soon break up into smaller entities, some cool, some not?
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:20 AM on June 14, 2010
Stick a feather in it.
Ok guys thanks for your help with the feather suggestion. I’m trying to decide between peacock, quail and ostrich? Which one will help me manage my wealth and sexual prowess the best?
posted by edbles at 11:20 AM on June 14, 2010
Ok guys thanks for your help with the feather suggestion. I’m trying to decide between peacock, quail and ostrich? Which one will help me manage my wealth and sexual prowess the best?
posted by edbles at 11:20 AM on June 14, 2010
Quail, dumb-ass. I can't believe you even have to ask that. You will be asked to leave Club Fedora if there are any further infractions.
posted by Mister_A at 11:30 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Mister_A at 11:30 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't want to be a spoilsport but don't we generally avoid this kind of cross site griefing?
Well, it's not like it was PUBLIC. Also, after what they did to Brandon Blatcher and his wife awhile back, it's not like I feel bad for doing it or anything.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 11:30 AM on June 14, 2010
Well, it's not like it was PUBLIC. Also, after what they did to Brandon Blatcher and his wife awhile back, it's not like I feel bad for doing it or anything.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 11:30 AM on June 14, 2010
Q: What should I do for my friends who got involved in a human smuggling operation?
A: OMG!!!! Wuts there #? R they hawt?!?
posted by nestor_makhno at 11:48 AM on June 14, 2010
A: OMG!!!! Wuts there #? R they hawt?!?
posted by nestor_makhno at 11:48 AM on June 14, 2010
I haven't logged in to Facebook in a couple of months, and honestly I'd delete my account right now if my chat client, wired into their chat API, wasn't so useful to me. Sooner or later I'll figure out a way around that problem.
And yes, mkultra, and whoever else is a FaceZombie around here - that's a dead link unless you're logged in, I guess. I can't see anything but the text DU quoted.
the freedom-loving thing to do is to LOG OUT NOW
posted by koeselitz at 12:06 PM on June 14, 2010
And yes, mkultra, and whoever else is a FaceZombie around here - that's a dead link unless you're logged in, I guess. I can't see anything but the text DU quoted.
the freedom-loving thing to do is to LOG OUT NOW
posted by koeselitz at 12:06 PM on June 14, 2010
Well, maybe someone there would know about taters.
posted by jgirl at 12:16 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jgirl at 12:16 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Look, I am a Heavy Consumer of Facebook but I just think their direction with this is just plain silly.
I'm already testy because Google decided to make me part of their "small sample" in testing a new Googlenews which I absolutely positively hate with the heat of ten thousand blazing nuns...
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 12:24 PM on June 14, 2010
I'm already testy because Google decided to make me part of their "small sample" in testing a new Googlenews which I absolutely positively hate with the heat of ten thousand blazing nuns...
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 12:24 PM on June 14, 2010
I'm already testy because Google decided to make me part of their "small sample" in testing a new Googlenews which I absolutely positively hate with the heat of ten thousand blazing nuns...
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies
I'm behind on my scripture... at what temperature do nuns burn?
posted by haveanicesummer at 12:35 PM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies
I'm behind on my scripture... at what temperature do nuns burn?
posted by haveanicesummer at 12:35 PM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
"..at what temperature do nuns burn?"
20°, sait
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 12:45 PM on June 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
20°, sait
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 12:45 PM on June 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
Those nuns aren't burnin', they're blazin'.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 12:47 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 12:47 PM on June 14, 2010
I just think their direction with this is just plain silly.
Okay. But to the extent we're going to endorse the "spirit of AskMe," isn't it a good thing that Facebook is trying this? We all agree AskMe is a great resource. And I probably agree with you that AskMe does it better than Facebook ever will—but even if Facebook's version is only decent to AskMe's great, that's still one more decent resource than existed before.
The Internet is so full of garbage. If the AskMe model is going to spread, I think that's a good thing. It doesn't detract from this site at all, and the fact that their version won't be quite as good isn't a compelling reason not to try. I say good luck to them.
posted by cribcage at 12:48 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Okay. But to the extent we're going to endorse the "spirit of AskMe," isn't it a good thing that Facebook is trying this? We all agree AskMe is a great resource. And I probably agree with you that AskMe does it better than Facebook ever will—but even if Facebook's version is only decent to AskMe's great, that's still one more decent resource than existed before.
The Internet is so full of garbage. If the AskMe model is going to spread, I think that's a good thing. It doesn't detract from this site at all, and the fact that their version won't be quite as good isn't a compelling reason not to try. I say good luck to them.
posted by cribcage at 12:48 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
It tastes like burning.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:49 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by blue_beetle at 12:49 PM on June 14, 2010
If I have something stupid or urgent to ask, I'll ask Reddit. If I have something important and not time critical, I'll wait for my Ask Metafilter question. Facebook will need to pull off something more revolutionary than just another ask service if they want to catch on.
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:09 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:09 PM on June 14, 2010
but ultimately all they got going for 'em is raw numbers and a lot of bright white.
Spoken like a man using the professional theme.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:12 PM on June 14, 2010
Spoken like a man using the professional theme.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:12 PM on June 14, 2010
4chan is the Insane Clown Posse.
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:14 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:14 PM on June 14, 2010
And, interestingly enough, it turns out that the Insane Clown Posse is also 4chan. They're actually the first and so far only internet community that's managed to remanifest itself as a shitrap duo.
posted by koeselitz at 1:17 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by koeselitz at 1:17 PM on June 14, 2010
Man 'the heat of ten thousand blazing nuns' is way more awesome than 'the fury of a thousand angry sun.'
posted by shakespeherian at 1:18 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 1:18 PM on June 14, 2010
I just realised today that Linkedin has its own answers service.
posted by rjs at 1:22 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by rjs at 1:22 PM on June 14, 2010
Facebook should change their name to notmyspace.com, since that pretty much sums up their appeal for me.
posted by brundlefly at 1:27 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by brundlefly at 1:27 PM on June 14, 2010
I find it somewhat odd that Facebook is doing it though, given that their model revolves around the whole walled garden concept. Q&A sites get most of their traffic from search, and Facebook is much more about exploiting small social groups than being a source for general-purpose content for a wide audience
If you have a walled garden, the last thing you want is people discovering there's value roaming outside it. Otherwise they might decide they can do better outside.
I just realised today that Linkedin has its own answers service.
Huh. Interesting. Of course, I suspect the target audience are over at the StackOverflow cluster of sites.
posted by rodgerd at 1:35 PM on June 14, 2010
If you have a walled garden, the last thing you want is people discovering there's value roaming outside it. Otherwise they might decide they can do better outside.
I just realised today that Linkedin has its own answers service.
Huh. Interesting. Of course, I suspect the target audience are over at the StackOverflow cluster of sites.
posted by rodgerd at 1:35 PM on June 14, 2010
Never drank the Facebook koolaid, so I'm not caring, but I'd only mind it if a bunch of copy/paste answers from here started showing up there.
posted by NoraCharles at 2:51 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by NoraCharles at 2:51 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
If I have something stupid or urgent to ask, I'll ask Reddit. If I have something important and not time critical, I'll wait for my Ask Metafilter question. Facebook will need to pull off something more revolutionary than just another ask service if they want to catch on.
For one, their userbase may offer the opportunity to serve several languages. Not a huge draw for an english website like MeFi, but if you hablas espanol, that might be big.
Second, you may be able to get a lot more location-specific information from users around you because there are so many (not just your friends, but also the population around you.)
I mean, if the quality is better than Reddit (not sure it will be), it seems like the stupid or urgent stuff is easily up for grabs.
posted by Hiker at 3:17 PM on June 14, 2010
For one, their userbase may offer the opportunity to serve several languages. Not a huge draw for an english website like MeFi, but if you hablas espanol, that might be big.
Second, you may be able to get a lot more location-specific information from users around you because there are so many (not just your friends, but also the population around you.)
I mean, if the quality is better than Reddit (not sure it will be), it seems like the stupid or urgent stuff is easily up for grabs.
posted by Hiker at 3:17 PM on June 14, 2010
Q. Dear Ask Facebook. How can I better protect my privacy on the Internet?
A. Step 1; Close your Facebook accou-- CARRIER SIGNAL LOST
posted by Effigy2000 at 3:18 PM on June 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
A. Step 1; Close your Facebook accou-- CARRIER SIGNAL LOST
posted by Effigy2000 at 3:18 PM on June 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
How did the Beatles find success?
They got by with a little help from their friends.
posted by darkstar at 3:33 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
They got by with a little help from their friends.
posted by darkstar at 3:33 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
mccarty.tim: “Facebook will need to pull off something more revolutionary than just another ask service if they want to catch on.”
Oh, but this is just as revolutionary and value-adding as anything else Facebook does. This way you can connect™ with your friends™ using a social network™ that allows you to tell them what you like™ and share™ your status™ with them.
posted by koeselitz at 3:47 PM on June 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
Oh, but this is just as revolutionary and value-adding as anything else Facebook does. This way you can connect™ with your friends™ using a social network™ that allows you to tell them what you like™ and share™ your status™ with them.
posted by koeselitz at 3:47 PM on June 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
how is babby formed?????
posted by not_on_display at 4:16 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by not_on_display at 4:16 PM on June 14, 2010
I'm hoping someone comes up with a game set up around questions for Facebook. I figure it could go something like this:
You get to ask a question every day, but you can ask more often if you recharge your QuestionMeter by answering questions for other people correctly or in a humorous way, or for referring your friends to answer the question. Your correction answer equals 3 QuestionPoints, funny ones get 2 QuestionPoints, and answers from friends get 1 QuestionPoint. Also, there are ranks, again based on points, and you can answer a bonus question for every rank you increase. Or you can pay $3 US dollars to ask another question right now. And you can sent QuestionPoints to friends in the form of wacky animations, like a heart breaking in two, cupid shooting a heart, or a clown doing a silly dance! Kids will love it!
posted by filthy light thief at 5:17 PM on June 14, 2010
You get to ask a question every day, but you can ask more often if you recharge your QuestionMeter by answering questions for other people correctly or in a humorous way, or for referring your friends to answer the question. Your correction answer equals 3 QuestionPoints, funny ones get 2 QuestionPoints, and answers from friends get 1 QuestionPoint. Also, there are ranks, again based on points, and you can answer a bonus question for every rank you increase. Or you can pay $3 US dollars to ask another question right now. And you can sent QuestionPoints to friends in the form of wacky animations, like a heart breaking in two, cupid shooting a heart, or a clown doing a silly dance! Kids will love it!
posted by filthy light thief at 5:17 PM on June 14, 2010
And you can sent QuestionPoints to friends in the form of wacky animations, like a heart breaking in two, cupid shooting a heart, or a clown doing a silly dance! Kids will love it!
But of course in order to view the wacky animation your 300 friends sent you, you have to add QuestionPoints to your profile! QuestionPoints promises not to do anything evil with your information QuestionPoints does not make the previously stated promise.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:44 PM on June 14, 2010
But of course in order to view the wacky animation your 300 friends sent you, you have to add QuestionPoints to your profile! QuestionPoints promises not to do anything evil with your information QuestionPoints does not make the previously stated promise.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:44 PM on June 14, 2010
jonmc: “The perfect pop/rock single. I am right.”
Seriously? That's got to be my least favorite list song. Every time I hear it, I keep waiting for him to run out of things. "That's what I like about you! Er... you're a really good partner in bridge... um... you make a pretty good cup of coffee..."
posted by koeselitz at 6:02 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Seriously? That's got to be my least favorite list song. Every time I hear it, I keep waiting for him to run out of things. "That's what I like about you! Er... you're a really good partner in bridge... um... you make a pretty good cup of coffee..."
posted by koeselitz at 6:02 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
It'll set a dnace floor on fire, I know that much. Band plays song, patrons dance like maniacs, patrons drink more beer, club pays band with smile. Lather, rinse, repeat weekly. Good times.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:47 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:47 PM on June 14, 2010
Every time I hear that song it brings me back to hot summer days at the Jersey shore, followed by hot summer nights of not getting laid...
posted by Mister_A at 6:51 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by Mister_A at 6:51 PM on June 14, 2010
Are those fake handclaps?
iirc, Palmar & Marinos recruited friends from other Detroit bands to lay down handclaps in studio--much as Marvin Gaye had many friends, including Detroit Lions' Lem Barney & Mel Farr provide ambience on "What's Going On?" I seem to remember the Mutants' lead singer Arthur Lyzak saying he was part of that recording. Lyzak's family bar, Lili's 21, booked the Romantics & other east side bands often. Most never made it beyond Detroit, but Wally Palmar & Jimmy Marinos & their retro leather made it onto the Billboard charts.
posted by beelzbubba at 7:11 PM on June 14, 2010
iirc, Palmar & Marinos recruited friends from other Detroit bands to lay down handclaps in studio--much as Marvin Gaye had many friends, including Detroit Lions' Lem Barney & Mel Farr provide ambience on "What's Going On?" I seem to remember the Mutants' lead singer Arthur Lyzak saying he was part of that recording. Lyzak's family bar, Lili's 21, booked the Romantics & other east side bands often. Most never made it beyond Detroit, but Wally Palmar & Jimmy Marinos & their retro leather made it onto the Billboard charts.
posted by beelzbubba at 7:11 PM on June 14, 2010
We're more like the Barenaked Ladies of the web.
nope - metafilter is the grateful dead of the web - hip, prone to try anything, guilty of endless noodling with flashes of brilliance
posted by pyramid termite at 10:27 PM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
nope - metafilter is the grateful dead of the web - hip, prone to try anything, guilty of endless noodling with flashes of brilliance
posted by pyramid termite at 10:27 PM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
Really, this is all about the Inner-Platform Effect. Web services demonstrate the Inner-Platform Effect by attempting to re-implement, on top of HTTP, all the things you could already do with TCP/IP. Facebook demonstrates it by attempting to replicate everything you can do with the Web inside a single web site.
I just found out that MySpace is available as a Facebook app, which made me laugh.
#154
The little bird attacks the green dragon, and in an
astounding flurry gets burnt to a cinder. The ashes blow away.
posted by flabdablet at 10:50 PM on June 14, 2010
I just found out that MySpace is available as a Facebook app, which made me laugh.
#154
The little bird attacks the green dragon, and in an
astounding flurry gets burnt to a cinder. The ashes blow away.
posted by flabdablet at 10:50 PM on June 14, 2010
I thought we were like a hair-metal band. I was wondering why the coke and hot groupies hadn't shown up yet!
I have a sudden idea for a country song, as sung by an ex-hair-metal guy from the 80s who gave up because his band didn't make it and moved on to equally-faux country music instead, a lament called 'Hot Coke and Cold Groupies'.
Come to think, I guess Tom Waits already did something of the kind with 'Warm Beer and Cold Women', so never mind.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:02 PM on June 14, 2010
I have a sudden idea for a country song, as sung by an ex-hair-metal guy from the 80s who gave up because his band didn't make it and moved on to equally-faux country music instead, a lament called 'Hot Coke and Cold Groupies'.
Come to think, I guess Tom Waits already did something of the kind with 'Warm Beer and Cold Women', so never mind.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:02 PM on June 14, 2010
Would it be possible to put the Facebook page in the MySpace page as well, and set up a feedback loop? That would be cool.
posted by Grangousier at 11:08 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by Grangousier at 11:08 PM on June 14, 2010
CARRIER SIGNAL LOST
It's
Young people today have clearly not spent enough time watching random line noise spill down the screen for like 5 minutes, followed by the dreaded
posted by killdevil at 11:54 PM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
It's
NO CARRIER dammit!Young people today have clearly not spent enough time watching random line noise spill down the screen for like 5 minutes, followed by the dreaded
NO CARRIER, after somebody elsewhere in the house picks up the phone...posted by killdevil at 11:54 PM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
Alright y'all let's get SERIOUS please.
This is an odd choice by Facebook. With the kinds of questions they're soliciting they're really reaching for the stars on the one hand — do they think the quality of answers to "What are women looking for in a relationship" will really be that much better than on Yahoo — and selling people short on the other — a bunch of those are easily googlable. Alright, the quality will be generally better because there will be fewer trolls. But what of the utility?
(To be fair, the types of questions they suggest on their page aren't necessarily indicative of the kinds of questions they're hoping their service will inspire. The kind of niche and amazing questions that end up on AskMe wouldn't necessarily make good seed questions for beta testers.)
Facebook questions could kill if it was utility-based. What's the best place to stay in Montreal? Where's a good mechanic for Toyotas in Boise? Keep questions limited to two or three degrees away, allow people to forward received questions to specific friends who may be able to answer ... This seems like a no-brainer to me, a concrete way to add value for the users of Facebook, something that leverages their social graph in a concrete, useful way.
Whatever happens, it'll be interesting …
posted by wemayfreeze at 2:27 AM on June 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
This is an odd choice by Facebook. With the kinds of questions they're soliciting they're really reaching for the stars on the one hand — do they think the quality of answers to "What are women looking for in a relationship" will really be that much better than on Yahoo — and selling people short on the other — a bunch of those are easily googlable. Alright, the quality will be generally better because there will be fewer trolls. But what of the utility?
(To be fair, the types of questions they suggest on their page aren't necessarily indicative of the kinds of questions they're hoping their service will inspire. The kind of niche and amazing questions that end up on AskMe wouldn't necessarily make good seed questions for beta testers.)
Facebook questions could kill if it was utility-based. What's the best place to stay in Montreal? Where's a good mechanic for Toyotas in Boise? Keep questions limited to two or three degrees away, allow people to forward received questions to specific friends who may be able to answer ... This seems like a no-brainer to me, a concrete way to add value for the users of Facebook, something that leverages their social graph in a concrete, useful way.
Whatever happens, it'll be interesting …
posted by wemayfreeze at 2:27 AM on June 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
MySpace is available as a Facebook app
I went to high school with Chris DeWolfe. It was sort of a running joke that he wasn't on Facebook and thus wasn't in his class's reunion-planning group.
The other day,Zuck Facebook suggested Chris as a friend. LOL.
posted by catlet at 6:31 AM on June 15, 2010
I went to high school with Chris DeWolfe. It was sort of a running joke that he wasn't on Facebook and thus wasn't in his class's reunion-planning group.
The other day,
posted by catlet at 6:31 AM on June 15, 2010
Also, after what they did to Brandon Blatcher and his wife awhile back, it's not like I feel bad for doing it or anything.
Didn't they get back on? People make mistakes ...
Facebook questions could kill if it was utility-based.
I agree. It's a no-brainer, and it will be huge. The friends/networks thing will be complicated, but it will be bigger than Yahoo Answers.
Q: Will Facebook ever turn a profit?
I thought they were cash positive in 2009. Some estimates for revenue for 2010 are over $1 billion. Would that not turn a profit? It seems like it would have to.
posted by mrgrimm at 9:08 AM on June 15, 2010
Didn't they get back on? People make mistakes ...
Facebook questions could kill if it was utility-based.
I agree. It's a no-brainer, and it will be huge. The friends/networks thing will be complicated, but it will be bigger than Yahoo Answers.
Q: Will Facebook ever turn a profit?
I thought they were cash positive in 2009. Some estimates for revenue for 2010 are over $1 billion. Would that not turn a profit? It seems like it would have to.
posted by mrgrimm at 9:08 AM on June 15, 2010
You can have $1billion in revenue and not turn a profit. I am sure they have substantial revenue, but I don't know if it covers their operating costs. Since FB is not a public company, they do not have to share these details.
posted by Mister_A at 9:15 AM on June 15, 2010
posted by Mister_A at 9:15 AM on June 15, 2010
You can have $1billion in revenue and not turn a profit.
I know this makes sense, but I refuse to understand it.
posted by edbles at 12:23 PM on June 15, 2010
I know this makes sense, but I refuse to understand it.
posted by edbles at 12:23 PM on June 15, 2010
Also, revenue and cost estimates are often wildly off the mark. I see them all the time for YouTube, and I've never seen one that got it right. But yeah, running something as big as Facebook would be very expensive, and without any numbers it's impossible to say what their revenue vs cost equation is right now. We won't really know until/unless they IPO.
posted by wildcrdj at 7:41 PM on June 15, 2010
posted by wildcrdj at 7:41 PM on June 15, 2010
box: “Hey, what's happening, brother? Everything is everything.”
*******
posted by koeselitz at 11:28 PM on June 15, 2010
*******
posted by koeselitz at 11:28 PM on June 15, 2010
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posted by Aizkolari at 7:08 AM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]