Gods sometimes do answer letters February 18, 2011 10:40 AM Subscribe
Hey, whenever you can, why not do what Slarty Bartfast did here and shoot an email to the subject of your post (if it makes sense)? Because it's so easy, and it's cool when The Guy In The Link stops by. That's it, thanks!
Did you memail Slarty Bartfast about this callout?
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:43 AM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:43 AM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Did you memail stupidsexyFlanders about your question about whether or not he memailed Slarty Bartfast?
posted by iconomy at 10:45 AM on February 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by iconomy at 10:45 AM on February 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
You're worse than Hitler.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:55 AM on February 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:55 AM on February 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
I was hoping that was the guy you were talking about!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:58 AM on February 18, 2011
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:58 AM on February 18, 2011
You always hope Hitler is the guy they were talking about.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:05 AM on February 18, 2011 [17 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:05 AM on February 18, 2011 [17 favorites]
Feels like I'm wearing nothing at all...
nothing at all...
nothing at all...
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:08 AM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
nothing at all...
nothing at all...
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:08 AM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
OK, I emailed him, and him, but I need to get back to work. Can somebody else take over here
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 11:14 AM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 11:14 AM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
So, just curious: He's the first former President of the United States of America on MeFi, right?
posted by Sys Rq at 11:18 AM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 11:18 AM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Well, I've been here longer than he has, and I'm actually Chester A. Arthur.
posted by dersins at 11:25 AM on February 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by dersins at 11:25 AM on February 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
I emailed that guy I made an obit post about but he hasn't shown up in the thread yet.
posted by bondcliff at 11:29 AM on February 18, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 11:29 AM on February 18, 2011 [5 favorites]
You know who else always hopes it's Hitler they're talking about?
Some unemployed guy in Maine.
posted by UbuRoivas at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2011
Some unemployed guy in Maine.
posted by UbuRoivas at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2011
People read Doc Slarty's emails because they think he might be having another 50% off sale on enhancement surgery. I wish I had that kind of power.
posted by vapidave at 12:11 PM on February 18, 2011
posted by vapidave at 12:11 PM on February 18, 2011
Let me see if I can find Anna Wintour's e-mail address.....
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:17 PM on February 18, 2011
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:17 PM on February 18, 2011
{fires shot into beer keg}
"Everyvody raus ins see strasse, komrade fvlanders ist gehen werk"
posted by clavdivs at 12:17 PM on February 18, 2011
"Everyvody raus ins see strasse, komrade fvlanders ist gehen werk"
posted by clavdivs at 12:17 PM on February 18, 2011
Does MetaFilter still comp accounts for people who are the subject of a post? I always feel like it's a little lame to be all "hey, there is a post about you on this web site, we are going to talk about you and your stuff, pony up $5 if you want to respond."
posted by grouse at 12:19 PM on February 18, 2011
posted by grouse at 12:19 PM on February 18, 2011
Does MetaFilter still comp accounts for people who are the subject of a post? I always feel like it's a little lame to be all "hey, there is a post about you on this web site, we are going to talk about you and your stuff, pony up $5 if you want to respond."
posted by grouse
But it's the perfect scam! We just libel all celebrities and billionaires and keep raising the entry cost. It can't possibly go wrong like every DONALD TRUMP investment always has.
posted by haveanicesummer at 12:29 PM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by grouse
But it's the perfect scam! We just libel all celebrities and billionaires and keep raising the entry cost. It can't possibly go wrong like every DONALD TRUMP investment always has.
posted by haveanicesummer at 12:29 PM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would only very judiciously email the subject of a post about their thread, and only after I've seen how ell it had already wended.
Although it is one of my favorite things when mefites suddenly realize other people can hear them -- when they've been totally snobby and snarky and dismissive up until the moment when (x) actually shows up and then they're suddenly like, "Oh, I was just thinking what a FASCINATING choice it was for you to write about it this way, instead of that way. How did you make that decision?"
posted by hermitosis at 12:45 PM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Although it is one of my favorite things when mefites suddenly realize other people can hear them -- when they've been totally snobby and snarky and dismissive up until the moment when (x) actually shows up and then they're suddenly like, "Oh, I was just thinking what a FASCINATING choice it was for you to write about it this way, instead of that way. How did you make that decision?"
posted by hermitosis at 12:45 PM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
I totally missed that thread the first time around. Thanks.
posted by yeti at 12:45 PM on February 18, 2011
posted by yeti at 12:45 PM on February 18, 2011
I wouldn't get screamed at to come to bed every night if I didn't have to check this site first to see if I'm being talked about.
I paid $5, is all I'm saying. An email heads up would be nice.
posted by Brad Pitt at 12:50 PM on February 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
I paid $5, is all I'm saying. An email heads up would be nice.
posted by Brad Pitt at 12:50 PM on February 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
Does MetaFilter still comp accounts for people who are the subject of a post?
If we've got an email address for them, know they don't have an account already, and think they'd be likely to want to drop by, yeah, one of us will sometimes just fire off a gift account.
It's a little tricky because just because someone has a web presence and is being talked about on mefi doesn't mean they're necessarily (a) really aware of what mefi is or what having an account here would mean or (b) interested in any case in leaping into a discussion here instead of doing whatever they'd otherwise be doing with their day. So I don't send a whole lot of invites like that because I don't want to be That Guy who might seem like he's mostly saying "hey come join my website".
Matt and Jess tend to know more people in terms of social connections, I don't know if that's less of an issue for them. I probably overthink it a lot too.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:51 PM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
If we've got an email address for them, know they don't have an account already, and think they'd be likely to want to drop by, yeah, one of us will sometimes just fire off a gift account.
It's a little tricky because just because someone has a web presence and is being talked about on mefi doesn't mean they're necessarily (a) really aware of what mefi is or what having an account here would mean or (b) interested in any case in leaping into a discussion here instead of doing whatever they'd otherwise be doing with their day. So I don't send a whole lot of invites like that because I don't want to be That Guy who might seem like he's mostly saying "hey come join my website".
Matt and Jess tend to know more people in terms of social connections, I don't know if that's less of an issue for them. I probably overthink it a lot too.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:51 PM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
It is cool when the subject of a post stops by. I started a list but can not find it right now. One of the best was when loquacious emailed Steve Wozniak which resulted in Woz's comment here.
posted by mlis at 12:54 PM on February 18, 2011
posted by mlis at 12:54 PM on February 18, 2011
*gush* My first call out.
Yeah, I guess this needs a ruling. I've emailed subjects of posts before, not my own posts, and not necessarily to see if they'll drop in, but because it seems cool if they're getting a lot of MeFi love they'd like to know. That post got a lot of favorites early on, and Caspar's website specifically elicits feedback so I thought it would be nice to let him know. I actually never in a million years thought the Famous Rock Star would think any thing else about it besides "That's nice." For what it's worth, Chris has emailed me a couple times since asking lots of questions about Metafilter, what is the site all about, how can he participate as a member, what are some of the community norms, etc. I don't think I did anything that wasn't in the spirit of the site, but yeah I could see a problem if everyone started making a bunch of posts about famous people just to see if they get their attention.
I told him you all were a bunch of shitbags and to clear his browser cache.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:01 PM on February 18, 2011 [10 favorites]
Yeah, I guess this needs a ruling. I've emailed subjects of posts before, not my own posts, and not necessarily to see if they'll drop in, but because it seems cool if they're getting a lot of MeFi love they'd like to know. That post got a lot of favorites early on, and Caspar's website specifically elicits feedback so I thought it would be nice to let him know. I actually never in a million years thought the Famous Rock Star would think any thing else about it besides "That's nice." For what it's worth, Chris has emailed me a couple times since asking lots of questions about Metafilter, what is the site all about, how can he participate as a member, what are some of the community norms, etc. I don't think I did anything that wasn't in the spirit of the site, but yeah I could see a problem if everyone started making a bunch of posts about famous people just to see if they get their attention.
I told him you all were a bunch of shitbags and to clear his browser cache.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:01 PM on February 18, 2011 [10 favorites]
Hey, whenever you can, think long and hard about this and ask yourself if you should email to the subject of your post. Because it's inconvienent and totally uncool to be infiltratied by a guy who is looking to score points with the FBI, CIA, DoJ and DoD and would cheerfully have you declared the enemy of the people because you misspell certain words exactly the same way the number three man in Al Qada does.
Chris Ballew is totally cool though.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:03 PM on February 18, 2011
Chris Ballew is totally cool though.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:03 PM on February 18, 2011
So I don't send a whole lot of invites like that because I don't want to be That Guy who might seem like he's mostly saying "hey come join my website".
I don't mind being "that guy" and I hand out free accounts to people if they want them. Usually I'll just ask "Hey, people are talking about your thing, want a free account so you can join the conversation?" and leave at at that.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:05 PM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
I don't mind being "that guy" and I hand out free accounts to people if they want them. Usually I'll just ask "Hey, people are talking about your thing, want a free account so you can join the conversation?" and leave at at that.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:05 PM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
You guys are talking about me now, Jessamyn, can I have my $5 back? Or hey, just buy me a beer next time you're in Seattle.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:12 PM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:12 PM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I guess this needs a ruling.
I read this as a positive callout.
posted by grouse at 1:14 PM on February 18, 2011
I read this as a positive callout.
posted by grouse at 1:14 PM on February 18, 2011
Oh, maybe you're right, I read it as sarcasm. I guess my filter is detuned.
By the way, nice hair grouse.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:19 PM on February 18, 2011
By the way, nice hair grouse.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:19 PM on February 18, 2011
I emailed Mubarak and Palin, but I don't think they've signed up for an account yet.
posted by empath at 1:36 PM on February 18, 2011
posted by empath at 1:36 PM on February 18, 2011
I read this as a positive callout.
It was in fact a positive callout.
As if
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:41 PM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
It was in fact a positive callout.
As if
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:41 PM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
TWENTY BUCKS SAME AS IN T oh hey sorry wrong thread I'll just see myself out
posted by scrump at 2:28 PM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by scrump at 2:28 PM on February 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Or hey, just buy me a beer next time you're in Seattle.
You're on! And yes: positive callout.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:56 PM on February 18, 2011
You're on! And yes: positive callout.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:56 PM on February 18, 2011
I highly recommend writing to your favorite authors, artists and musicians. It's often very rewarding. I like to write and thank creative people for their output and creations.
Also, summoning Woz to that AskMe is one of the high points of my nerdy life. Such a chill, cool and wonderfully dorky guy. Nerds for life, yo.
posted by loquacious at 4:24 PM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also, summoning Woz to that AskMe is one of the high points of my nerdy life. Such a chill, cool and wonderfully dorky guy. Nerds for life, yo.
posted by loquacious at 4:24 PM on February 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
I told him you all were a bunch of shitbags and to clear his browser cache.
Aww shucks Slarty, we love you too!
posted by TooFewShoes at 4:45 PM on February 18, 2011
Aww shucks Slarty, we love you too!
posted by TooFewShoes at 4:45 PM on February 18, 2011
Loquacious is right, there are few things as rewarding as writing to people you're a fan of. Whether it's a mash note or an interesting observation you want to share, it's good karma.
And I'm eternally surprised at how often they write you back! I would love to mention some of the (presumably super-busy) artists who have replied to my emails and tweets, but it would sound unseemly.
Suffice it to say, there are a lot of awesome people in the world. No matter how often it seems like it's all just jackholes as far as the eye can see.
posted by ErikaB at 6:33 PM on February 18, 2011
And I'm eternally surprised at how often they write you back! I would love to mention some of the (presumably super-busy) artists who have replied to my emails and tweets, but it would sound unseemly.
Suffice it to say, there are a lot of awesome people in the world. No matter how often it seems like it's all just jackholes as far as the eye can see.
posted by ErikaB at 6:33 PM on February 18, 2011
ThePinkSuperhero: "Let me see if I can find Anna Wintour's e-mail address....."
Most media outlets use a standard format for editorial and advertising emails. Conde Nast's email format is available to the public on multiple websites, including their media kit archive. They are firstname_lastname@nameofpublication.com
For the Conde Nasties, firstname_lastname@condenast.com also usually works.
posted by zarq at 7:01 PM on February 18, 2011
Most media outlets use a standard format for editorial and advertising emails. Conde Nast's email format is available to the public on multiple websites, including their media kit archive. They are firstname_lastname@nameofpublication.com
For the Conde Nasties, firstname_lastname@condenast.com also usually works.
posted by zarq at 7:01 PM on February 18, 2011
Does MetaFilter still comp accounts for people who are the subject of a post?
I paid $5 for a friend that was subject of a post. He made one comment and nothing else. How can I con him into giving me my five dollars back?
posted by troika at 9:42 PM on February 18, 2011
I paid $5 for a friend that was subject of a post. He made one comment and nothing else. How can I con him into giving me my five dollars back?
posted by troika at 9:42 PM on February 18, 2011
Although it is one of my favorite things when mefites suddenly realize other people can hear them -- when they've been totally snobby and snarky and dismissive up until the moment when (x) actually shows up and then they're suddenly like, "Oh, I was just thinking what a FASCINATING choice it was for you to write about it this way.....
Hahahaha, I find that more often than not, it's even funnier 'cause they preface that shit with "Mr. Last Name" or "Ms. Last Name" with all this false deference all of a sudden now that they're busted. Even better!
("Oh, hello Mr. Doctorow! Thanks for responding! I only called you a bullshit wannabe fucker BoingBoing asshole because I was ironically blahddee blah blah blewww.....")
posted by tristeza at 11:47 PM on February 18, 2011
Hahahaha, I find that more often than not, it's even funnier 'cause they preface that shit with "Mr. Last Name" or "Ms. Last Name" with all this false deference all of a sudden now that they're busted. Even better!
("Oh, hello Mr. Doctorow! Thanks for responding! I only called you a bullshit wannabe fucker BoingBoing asshole because I was ironically blahddee blah blah blewww.....")
posted by tristeza at 11:47 PM on February 18, 2011
shoot an email to the subject of your post
Doesn't always go so well.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:38 AM on February 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Doesn't always go so well.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:38 AM on February 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Gee, I would have e-mailed Leonard Cohen, but if I could e-mail Leonard Cohen, and Leonard Cohen would read my e-mail, there are roughly 10,020 things I would say rather than "Hey, here's this MetaFilter thread, Leonard."
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:15 AM on February 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:15 AM on February 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would love to mention some of the (presumably super-busy) artists who have replied to my emails and tweets, but it would sound unseemly.
I'll mention one that wrote me back -- the screenwriter of a much beloved Harold Ramis-directed Bill Murray comedy.
posted by empath at 8:19 AM on February 19, 2011
I'll mention one that wrote me back -- the screenwriter of a much beloved Harold Ramis-directed Bill Murray comedy.
posted by empath at 8:19 AM on February 19, 2011
Didn't all of y'all piss of Wil Wheaton (which is a shame, he had to turn to reddit instead) in the past?
posted by Mick at 12:13 PM on February 19, 2011
posted by Mick at 12:13 PM on February 19, 2011
You're confusing us with FARK, I think.
posted by Curious Artificer at 12:31 PM on February 19, 2011
posted by Curious Artificer at 12:31 PM on February 19, 2011
Gee, I would have e-mailed Leonard Cohen...
sung to the tune of Hallelujah:
I heard there was a Mefi thread
was it 'bout you or Radiohead?
cause you both get a lot of posts here, don'tcha?
I hope you'll read it 'n then sit down
type up a comment 'n send it 'round
and send Matt Haughey five bucks, Lenny, won'tcha?
comment, won'tcha?
Leonard, won'tcha?
comment, won'tcha?
comment, woh - oh - oh- - ooohhh, n'tcha?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:29 PM on February 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
sung to the tune of Hallelujah:
I heard there was a Mefi thread
was it 'bout you or Radiohead?
cause you both get a lot of posts here, don'tcha?
I hope you'll read it 'n then sit down
type up a comment 'n send it 'round
and send Matt Haughey five bucks, Lenny, won'tcha?
comment, won'tcha?
Leonard, won'tcha?
comment, won'tcha?
comment, woh - oh - oh- - ooohhh, n'tcha?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:29 PM on February 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
And Dave Dederer's on Reddit! With our powers combined...
posted by archagon at 7:23 PM on February 19, 2011
posted by archagon at 7:23 PM on February 19, 2011
So, just curious: He's the first former President of the United States of America on MeFi, right?
Grover Cleveland was on Metafilter on two nonconsecutive occasions.
posted by neuron at 8:10 PM on February 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Grover Cleveland was on Metafilter on two nonconsecutive occasions.
posted by neuron at 8:10 PM on February 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
flapjax at midnite: "shoot an email to the subject of your post
Doesn't always go so well."
Rarely goes well.
I've done this a handful of times, on threads that both were and weren't mine. On one embarrassing occasion had to explain that no, I couldn't delete my own post just because MeFites were calling the guy a moron.
Someone else declined to say hello in another thread because people were yelling at each other, calling each other trolls and accusations of mischaracterization were flying.
Nowadays, I figure if someone stumbles across a thread and gets roasted it's better. Kismet. I'd rather not be the guy who pointed them here.
posted by zarq at 7:16 AM on February 22, 2011
Doesn't always go so well."
Rarely goes well.
I've done this a handful of times, on threads that both were and weren't mine. On one embarrassing occasion had to explain that no, I couldn't delete my own post just because MeFites were calling the guy a moron.
Someone else declined to say hello in another thread because people were yelling at each other, calling each other trolls and accusations of mischaracterization were flying.
Nowadays, I figure if someone stumbles across a thread and gets roasted it's better. Kismet. I'd rather not be the guy who pointed them here.
posted by zarq at 7:16 AM on February 22, 2011
Rarely goes well.
I think this really depends on the sorts of threads you follow. I tend not to read the yelling threads except the ones I am doing some sort of moderation in, but I do read a lot of the "hey look at this cool thing that someone made" threads. If I see people saying nice stuff about someone I'll often drop them a note. I figure "Hey come join my internet argument about your topic" isn't maybe so nice but "Hey there are a lot of people who like your stuff here (and one or two cranky ones)" is often better.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:52 AM on February 22, 2011
I think this really depends on the sorts of threads you follow. I tend not to read the yelling threads except the ones I am doing some sort of moderation in, but I do read a lot of the "hey look at this cool thing that someone made" threads. If I see people saying nice stuff about someone I'll often drop them a note. I figure "Hey come join my internet argument about your topic" isn't maybe so nice but "Hey there are a lot of people who like your stuff here (and one or two cranky ones)" is often better.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:52 AM on February 22, 2011
jessamyn: "
I think this really depends on the sorts of threads you follow. "
Sometimes, perhaps. But not always.
The second incident I mentioned above was an invite made to Dr. Brin to participate in this thread, which was fascinating until it fell apart about 3/4 of the way through and two or three people started yelling and calling each other trolls. I invited him during the good part. He responded during the bad part in such a way that I wasn't comfortable pressing him on it to explain that just despite the yellers, we're still a nice, intelligent community and many of us are probably fans of his work and capable of speaking to each other without accusing people of stupidity, being morons or "gibbering."
I figured Dr. Brin had a thick enough skin to withstand some of kirk and crabby's in-thread criticism. He certainly hasn't had a problem addressing his critics online in the past. But once the thread moved beyond that to Mefites expressing outright hostility to each other, I could see why he begged off.
This wasn't the only incident, but at least that heated conversation was actually, you know, discussing the topic at hand. In that at least, it was superior to other incidents.
posted by zarq at 9:21 AM on February 22, 2011
I think this really depends on the sorts of threads you follow. "
Sometimes, perhaps. But not always.
The second incident I mentioned above was an invite made to Dr. Brin to participate in this thread, which was fascinating until it fell apart about 3/4 of the way through and two or three people started yelling and calling each other trolls. I invited him during the good part. He responded during the bad part in such a way that I wasn't comfortable pressing him on it to explain that just despite the yellers, we're still a nice, intelligent community and many of us are probably fans of his work and capable of speaking to each other without accusing people of stupidity, being morons or "gibbering."
I figured Dr. Brin had a thick enough skin to withstand some of kirk and crabby's in-thread criticism. He certainly hasn't had a problem addressing his critics online in the past. But once the thread moved beyond that to Mefites expressing outright hostility to each other, I could see why he begged off.
This wasn't the only incident, but at least that heated conversation was actually, you know, discussing the topic at hand. In that at least, it was superior to other incidents.
posted by zarq at 9:21 AM on February 22, 2011
However....
That's a good tactic for the future. (Not that I'm planning to invite the subject of a thread to MeFi again, but you never know.) So, thanks.
posted by zarq at 9:34 AM on February 22, 2011
That's a good tactic for the future. (Not that I'm planning to invite the subject of a thread to MeFi again, but you never know.) So, thanks.
posted by zarq at 9:34 AM on February 22, 2011
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posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 10:42 AM on February 18, 2011