Name notification in thread? October 17, 2010 9:44 AM Subscribe
Any chance of having a notification when my user name is mentioned in a thread?
I posted an ask.me question - and I think back to the times when I've answered a question for someone else; unless I choose to monitor the thread, I have no idea if they wanted more info from me.
I'm suggesting that it'd be nice for a notification system, maybe only in ask.me threads. Something like [user][filmgeek].
Limited it to Ask mefi (to keep it from people calling out each other in threads on the blue). Perhaps...hard code it so it doesn't happen for the mods.
I posted an ask.me question - and I think back to the times when I've answered a question for someone else; unless I choose to monitor the thread, I have no idea if they wanted more info from me.
I'm suggesting that it'd be nice for a notification system, maybe only in ask.me threads. Something like [user][filmgeek].
Limited it to Ask mefi (to keep it from people calling out each other in threads on the blue). Perhaps...hard code it so it doesn't happen for the mods.
That is a joke.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:52 AM on October 17, 2010 [10 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:52 AM on October 17, 2010 [10 favorites]
Honestly, for the practical situations (e.g. someone responding to your askme post or someone responding to your answer in a thread) I think the answer here really is just "keep an eye on the thread". If you use Recent Activity, this should pretty much take care of itself; if you don't, consider trying it out or otherwise consign yourself to monitoring the thread some other way—bookmarking and checking in, adding the thread to your RSS reader if you use one, whatever works for you.
A username-detection-and-alert system would mostly be solving a non-problem given both the tools currently available to make stuff these common situations trackable and the general dearth of name-in-thread activity outside of those contexts.
And in fact, if someone is mentioning another user who hasn't even made an appearance in a thread, that's usually not great and we'll often remove those comments if we see them; someone can drop a given user a line via email or mefimail if they think that person should see or would be interested in a thread.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:53 AM on October 17, 2010
A username-detection-and-alert system would mostly be solving a non-problem given both the tools currently available to make stuff these common situations trackable and the general dearth of name-in-thread activity outside of those contexts.
And in fact, if someone is mentioning another user who hasn't even made an appearance in a thread, that's usually not great and we'll often remove those comments if we see them; someone can drop a given user a line via email or mefimail if they think that person should see or would be interested in a thread.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:53 AM on October 17, 2010
When you prefix @ before the user name in a comment that user will be notified.
Your comment is Dutch and you should feel Dutch about it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:53 AM on October 17, 2010 [16 favorites]
Your comment is Dutch and you should feel Dutch about it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:53 AM on October 17, 2010 [16 favorites]
The best way to keep track of a situation where someone might want more info from you after you answer is to use "Recent Activity", which is one of the options in the top bar of the page. Click on that and it takes you to a page that lists the 10 most recent comments in any thread you've commented in. If you check there regularly, you'll be able to quickly scan for mentions of your name.
I don't have a solution for a sitewide bat-signal for threads you haven't commented in.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:56 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't have a solution for a sitewide bat-signal for threads you haven't commented in.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:56 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
this ought to reduce flame wars and callouts for sure.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:03 AM on October 17, 2010
posted by Ironmouth at 10:03 AM on October 17, 2010
I'm always following my own threads. This isn't about own questions, which I follow, but rather, when I reply to others.
I answer a bunch of ask questions...and often life becomes busy....I don't want to come back to every thread - often the asker doesn't care what I think.
But when they do - and they want a response, other than intentionally following the thread, there's no way for them to notify me. Or vice versa, in the case of my asking a question.
A notification system would say "Wow, you were helpful, maybe your answer was a bit in the wrong direction; or you misunderstood my question. Clearly you have expertise in this area: would you mind following up, now that I've clarified it?"
posted by filmgeek at 10:05 AM on October 17, 2010
I answer a bunch of ask questions...and often life becomes busy....I don't want to come back to every thread - often the asker doesn't care what I think.
But when they do - and they want a response, other than intentionally following the thread, there's no way for them to notify me. Or vice versa, in the case of my asking a question.
A notification system would say "Wow, you were helpful, maybe your answer was a bit in the wrong direction; or you misunderstood my question. Clearly you have expertise in this area: would you mind following up, now that I've clarified it?"
posted by filmgeek at 10:05 AM on October 17, 2010
> When you prefix @ before the user name in a comment that user will be notified.
'ere, pull the other one.
posted by jfuller at 10:06 AM on October 17, 2010
'ere, pull the other one.
posted by jfuller at 10:06 AM on October 17, 2010
LobsterMitten - I already use recent activity. I'm lobbying for the idea that I get some 'notification' the way I do for mail.
Ironmouth - this would only be for ask.mefi questions, not general metafilter. Yeah, the callouts would still be annoying in relationship filter or the other questions where people are mostly giving opinion - but then again, those questions often devolve to chat filter. Add a switch that says "don't bother me" - or only let it bother you once.
posted by filmgeek at 10:08 AM on October 17, 2010
Ironmouth - this would only be for ask.mefi questions, not general metafilter. Yeah, the callouts would still be annoying in relationship filter or the other questions where people are mostly giving opinion - but then again, those questions often devolve to chat filter. Add a switch that says "don't bother me" - or only let it bother you once.
posted by filmgeek at 10:08 AM on October 17, 2010
And without a universal username signifier users whose names are common words like nobody, pot, kettle, Fizz, item, Scoop, and swift would be getting false positives all the time.
posted by Mitheral at 10:10 AM on October 17, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 10:10 AM on October 17, 2010 [4 favorites]
I don't have a solution for a sitewide bat-signal for threads you haven't commented in.
I suppose you could set up a Google Alert, but it would return a hit for every time you made a post or comment, too. Something like +username -"posted by username" site:metafilter.com might work.
As for something MetaFilter based, I'm guessing there's no such pony in the stable.
posted by Lexica at 10:11 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
I suppose you could set up a Google Alert, but it would return a hit for every time you made a post or comment, too. Something like +username -"posted by username" site:metafilter.com might work.
As for something MetaFilter based, I'm guessing there's no such pony in the stable.
posted by Lexica at 10:11 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
Make yourself a google alert for filmgeek site:ask.metafilter.com?
posted by Iteki at 10:14 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Iteki at 10:14 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
Well fart.
posted by Iteki at 10:15 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Iteki at 10:15 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
A notification system would say "Wow, you were helpful, maybe your answer was a bit in the wrong direction; or you misunderstood my question. Clearly you have expertise in this area: would you mind following up, now that I've clarified it?"
I hear you, but I guess my feeling remains that this is still really not something where actual need meets up with the implementation effort and maintenance headaches and policy wrinkles that sticking a notification system into the site would require.
Again, some sort of RSS solution might be a way to go if your situation is wanting to passively monitor a lot of thread for mentions of your name. Add any thread you comment in to some feed that will then keep an eye out for the string "filmgeek" in new entries and fire you off a quick heads-up email when it gets a hit, something like that.
Recent Activity really is basically the solution we have available for monitoring threads you've been involved in. I hear you on the life-gets-busy front, but I don't think that as a general tool this is something that would solve a significant existing problem on the site, nor would it be trivial to make happen.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:18 AM on October 17, 2010
I hear you, but I guess my feeling remains that this is still really not something where actual need meets up with the implementation effort and maintenance headaches and policy wrinkles that sticking a notification system into the site would require.
Again, some sort of RSS solution might be a way to go if your situation is wanting to passively monitor a lot of thread for mentions of your name. Add any thread you comment in to some feed that will then keep an eye out for the string "filmgeek" in new entries and fire you off a quick heads-up email when it gets a hit, something like that.
Recent Activity really is basically the solution we have available for monitoring threads you've been involved in. I hear you on the life-gets-busy front, but I don't think that as a general tool this is something that would solve a significant existing problem on the site, nor would it be trivial to make happen.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:18 AM on October 17, 2010
Less elegant but also less complicated is to just do a site search for "filmgeek" now and then.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:19 AM on October 17, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:19 AM on October 17, 2010 [2 favorites]
Seriously, this is like putting lasers on your...pony. There are so many other ways to skin this...pony.
posted by dubitable at 10:20 AM on October 17, 2010
posted by dubitable at 10:20 AM on October 17, 2010
This is a special power that has only been granted to Kibo. It is said that, one day, there will be another, but no one knows who or when.
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 10:28 AM on October 17, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 10:28 AM on October 17, 2010 [3 favorites]
Cortex - Got it - you don't see the value.
I phrased this for myself to explain the concept/idea. My mistake. I'm comfortable the recent activities, RSS and google searches of just mefi - and often use these.
Recently, I had a fairly technical ask.mefi question. I'm thankful for the people who helped. I don't want to impose and memail them. But I want them to come back to the thread to see my response(s) - and hopefully follow up. Particularly, because anything they might add, might have value for the hive mind. In other words, I want to bother them, but without bothering them.
posted by filmgeek at 10:39 AM on October 17, 2010
I phrased this for myself to explain the concept/idea. My mistake. I'm comfortable the recent activities, RSS and google searches of just mefi - and often use these.
Recently, I had a fairly technical ask.mefi question. I'm thankful for the people who helped. I don't want to impose and memail them. But I want them to come back to the thread to see my response(s) - and hopefully follow up. Particularly, because anything they might add, might have value for the hive mind. In other words, I want to bother them, but without bothering them.
posted by filmgeek at 10:39 AM on October 17, 2010
Half the time when someone responds to something you've said, your username isn't even referenced, you're just quoted in italics or whatever. So being notified when your username is used wouldn't work much of the time.
posted by amro at 10:39 AM on October 17, 2010
posted by amro at 10:39 AM on October 17, 2010
I don't want to impose and memail them.
I don't think that would be an imposition.
(See how I did that without using your name?)
posted by amro at 10:40 AM on October 17, 2010
I don't think that would be an imposition.
(See how I did that without using your name?)
posted by amro at 10:40 AM on October 17, 2010
Yeah, my feeling is "hey, your answer was very helpful and I wanted to say thanks and/or I was wondering if you could help me out a bit clarifying/expanding on this bit" is the sort of mefimail that is unlikely to really bother anyone. More to the point, it's unlikely to bug anyone who would willingly opt-in to a "send me email notifications about someone saying my name in a thread" feature.
And yeah, just trying to be clear on my read on the idea as a feature request, not trying to give you a hard time or anything. I do get what you're going for.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:44 AM on October 17, 2010
And yeah, just trying to be clear on my read on the idea as a feature request, not trying to give you a hard time or anything. I do get what you're going for.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:44 AM on October 17, 2010
What would be the difference, in terms of imposition and "bother," between MeMailing people directly versus dropping their username into a thread and thereby triggering a notification?
posted by cribcage at 10:45 AM on October 17, 2010
posted by cribcage at 10:45 AM on October 17, 2010
When you prefix @ before the user name in a comment that user will be notified.
I thought this said "that user will be mortified." I expect many would.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:47 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
I thought this said "that user will be mortified." I expect many would.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:47 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
And there is a drawback to this kind of system. Some people would get hammered with notifications to the point the site might no longer be any fun. There's a couple money folk on the site, medical folk, a car guy, an undertaker, librarians, etc. They answer when they can or feel like it. If metafilter suddenly felt like an obligation....
There also people that would get called every time an Apple product or Jesus was mentioned just because some people think it's fun to poke these people with sticks.
I still think there should be such a system when calling out a person in meta though. Too often I see long threads about users go by and it's unclear if anyone has even let the person know they are being discussed.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:55 AM on October 17, 2010
There also people that would get called every time an Apple product or Jesus was mentioned just because some people think it's fun to poke these people with sticks.
I still think there should be such a system when calling out a person in meta though. Too often I see long threads about users go by and it's unclear if anyone has even let the person know they are being discussed.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:55 AM on October 17, 2010
I'd like a little box to automatically contact certain users when setting up a meetup/callout thread. A bit like how when you set up an event on Facebook, it lets you pick out people to invite automatically once you launch the event.
But I understand that it'd be a pain to code, and I don't mind writing messages to people manually. Makes it more personal and interesting. And truth be told, I probably shouldn't be scheduling meetups if I'm too lazy to write invites to former attendees (GUILTY!).
Speaking of ponies, how about we get local IRL proposals (within a user-defined radius) on the front page or at least MeTalk somehow?
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:14 AM on October 17, 2010
But I understand that it'd be a pain to code, and I don't mind writing messages to people manually. Makes it more personal and interesting. And truth be told, I probably shouldn't be scheduling meetups if I'm too lazy to write invites to former attendees (GUILTY!).
Speaking of ponies, how about we get local IRL proposals (within a user-defined radius) on the front page or at least MeTalk somehow?
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:14 AM on October 17, 2010
Cortex: yeah, just trying to be clear on my read on the idea as a feature request, not trying to give you a hard time or anything. I do get what you're going for.
Totally get that - not taking it that way at all. Just didn't feel like I had done my due diligence in explaining the concepts.
posted by filmgeek at 11:16 AM on October 17, 2010
Totally get that - not taking it that way at all. Just didn't feel like I had done my due diligence in explaining the concepts.
posted by filmgeek at 11:16 AM on October 17, 2010
It's time to come clean. I have a Google Alert for [grouse -"posted by grouse" site:metafilter.com]. Its primary purpose is kibozing for opportunities to make stupid jokes about my username.
posted by grouse at 11:35 AM on October 17, 2010 [7 favorites]
posted by grouse at 11:35 AM on October 17, 2010 [7 favorites]
Hire a secretary to sort out demands for your input.
posted by Cranberry at 11:40 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 11:40 AM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's a couple money folk on the site, medical folk, a car guy, an undertaker, librarians, etc. They answer when they can or feel like it. If metafilter suddenly felt like an obligation....
I get emailed/msg-ed/Tweeted at when questions about childcare and/or epilepsy come up and I don't mind at all as I don't follow Ask religiously and might not ordinarily see them.
I can't speak for anyone else, but to me having someone point me to a question and say "I dunno, maybe you could help?" feels like a honor, not an obligation. But then again, it happens about once a month and not like every day.
(Which is to say, if you do this, I don't mind. And if you're making a list of people with specialties you can put me down under "tames feral children.")
posted by sonika at 11:56 AM on October 17, 2010
I get emailed/msg-ed/Tweeted at when questions about childcare and/or epilepsy come up and I don't mind at all as I don't follow Ask religiously and might not ordinarily see them.
I can't speak for anyone else, but to me having someone point me to a question and say "I dunno, maybe you could help?" feels like a honor, not an obligation. But then again, it happens about once a month and not like every day.
(Which is to say, if you do this, I don't mind. And if you're making a list of people with specialties you can put me down under "tames feral children.")
posted by sonika at 11:56 AM on October 17, 2010
I'd like a little box to automatically contact certain users when setting up a meetup/callout thread.
Dude, I've got shit to do.
posted by box at 12:12 PM on October 17, 2010 [14 favorites]
Dude, I've got shit to do.
posted by box at 12:12 PM on October 17, 2010 [14 favorites]
Memail works great for this, truly.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 12:43 PM on October 17, 2010
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 12:43 PM on October 17, 2010
this ought to reduce flame wars and callouts for sure.
posted by Ironmouth at 6:03 PM on October 17
The I say to the deepest, blackest pit of hell with it, by golly!
posted by Decani at 12:58 PM on October 17, 2010
posted by Ironmouth at 6:03 PM on October 17
The I say to the deepest, blackest pit of hell with it, by golly!
posted by Decani at 12:58 PM on October 17, 2010
We have a signal, but it only pages Languagehat.
posted by klangklangston at 1:21 PM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by klangklangston at 1:21 PM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
How is Leader Kibo these days? I kind of stopped keeping up when he started dyeing his beard in funky colors. Maybe we could summon him by pushing this thread up in the google index.
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:22 PM on October 17, 2010
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:22 PM on October 17, 2010
If it's not worth a memail, it's probly not worth your time.
posted by hermitosis at 1:57 PM on October 17, 2010
posted by hermitosis at 1:57 PM on October 17, 2010
Memail works great for this, truly.
If people actually do it. But I drop email to people about threads all the time to get back a "Thanks, I didn't know" comment. This is especially problematic with newer users. I used this site for a long time before I ever bothered to look at metatalk.
And I totally missed the "cjorgensen is an asshole" thread.
posted by cjorgensen at 2:57 PM on October 17, 2010
If people actually do it. But I drop email to people about threads all the time to get back a "Thanks, I didn't know" comment. This is especially problematic with newer users. I used this site for a long time before I ever bothered to look at metatalk.
And I totally missed the "cjorgensen is an asshole" thread.
posted by cjorgensen at 2:57 PM on October 17, 2010
Metafilter is public conversation. If you want to chat with an individual, there's places for that.
posted by blue_beetle at 3:09 PM on October 17, 2010
posted by blue_beetle at 3:09 PM on October 17, 2010
Look, I'd rather not be notified every time someone talks about rugby, high-school crushes, or glue-on cartoon eyes.
posted by googly at 3:56 PM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by googly at 3:56 PM on October 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
A quick search reveals that, for me, this would be even more consistently off-target than my @-replies on Twitter already are. But more entertaining!
posted by moss at 4:01 PM on October 17, 2010
posted by moss at 4:01 PM on October 17, 2010
I say we make it a phonetic search, so I can eagerly respond every time anyone mentions Subway sandwiches.
posted by subbes at 4:54 PM on October 17, 2010
posted by subbes at 4:54 PM on October 17, 2010
If I mention that I don't think this started with filmgeek, will he know he was mentioned?
posted by caddis at 8:09 AM on October 18, 2010
posted by caddis at 8:09 AM on October 18, 2010
Cricket, not rugby, silly!
Oof. I stand corrected.
But I still don't want to be notified every time someone talks about rugby.
posted by googly at 8:12 AM on October 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oof. I stand corrected.
But I still don't want to be notified every time someone talks about rugby.
posted by googly at 8:12 AM on October 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
I peek at my favorites (the ones I've gotten) every day, and follow them back to the threads I commented in, then read downwards from there to see if anyone has responded or asked for followup or what-have-you.
The way I see it, if I say something worthwhile enough to garner a favorite, then perhaps it's worthwhile enough to respond to, and with this process I'll see the response (even if they don't name-check me.) On the other hand, if nobody favorites what I've said, then the only response I'm likely to get is a (rightful) complaint about the stupid thing I've said, and why would I want to read that?
of course, if I follow my favorites, I often see folks pushing back on what I've said, too, but assuming my comment is reasonably compelling, I do want to see people who disagree.
posted by davejay at 11:20 AM on October 18, 2010
The way I see it, if I say something worthwhile enough to garner a favorite, then perhaps it's worthwhile enough to respond to, and with this process I'll see the response (even if they don't name-check me.) On the other hand, if nobody favorites what I've said, then the only response I'm likely to get is a (rightful) complaint about the stupid thing I've said, and why would I want to read that?
of course, if I follow my favorites, I often see folks pushing back on what I've said, too, but assuming my comment is reasonably compelling, I do want to see people who disagree.
posted by davejay at 11:20 AM on October 18, 2010
I peek at my favorites (the ones I've gotten) every day
I do that too, but that's because I'm a vain bastard.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 3:53 PM on October 18, 2010
I do that too, but that's because I'm a vain bastard.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 3:53 PM on October 18, 2010
I do that too, but that's because I'm a vain bastard.
I do not deny there is an element of this, as well. :P
posted by davejay at 9:53 PM on October 20, 2010
I do not deny there is an element of this, as well. :P
posted by davejay at 9:53 PM on October 20, 2010
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posted by joost de vries at 9:48 AM on October 17, 2010 [10 favorites]