is there a vaccine for your favorite X?

May 2, 2002 10:29 AM

We seem to be in the midst of another "what's your favorite X" mini-epidemic: a link which varies from interesting to trivial, followed by an invitation to opine. This time it's sandwiches, beverages, newspapers, snacks, arcade games, amusing childhood beliefs. I won't bother to criticize--we've covered that ground many times here already. But I think it's interesting how when these things happen, it only takes one precipitating post to generate several others, seemingly on a "yeah! And hey, what about this?" principle. What's your favorite favorite-X question?
posted by rodii to MetaFilter-Related at 10:29 AM (39 comments total)

This one.
posted by iconomy at 10:37 AM on May 2, 2002

Alas, as the Web gets less and less "new" and dynamic, this trend cannot but continue. Must Mefi become a slow motion chat room?
posted by ParisParamus at 10:42 AM on May 2, 2002

And life, rodii. You forgot life.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:47 AM on May 2, 2002

For the record, I didn't end my post with a question (an "interesting" trend I've noticed over the past month) or ask anyone what their favorite X is. Rather, I stumbled upon what I perceived to be a voluminous and interesting site with some odd products, felt some MetaFilter members might find it useful/entertaining, and searched the archives to ensure it wasn't a double post, thus satisfying the posting requirements as established by The Management.

Whether people choose to turn such a thread into a discussion of their favorite X is neither my concern nor under my control. The trend I grow most weary of, however, is 'every post warrants a complaint in MetaTalk'. In an era when half of the front page is NYTimes articles or rehashed Israel/Palestine diatribe, I figured some non-political content would be appreciated. Guess I was wrong.
posted by Danelope at 11:05 AM on May 2, 2002

While I would hate it if every post was "What's your favorite ____?", I have to say that I really, really enjoy these threads every now and then. I get to hear about movies and albums and books and foods that I never would have thought to try before. They almost never degenerate into "You're wrong" "No you're wrong" and everyone gets to link things that are important to them.

I think these posts fit the spirit of this site and bring us closer together. Tell me how that's wrong, please.
posted by ColdChef at 11:29 AM on May 2, 2002

I like them when they're done like Danelope's. For some reason that question at the end seems too chatty for me.
posted by perplexed at 11:45 AM on May 2, 2002

My favorite 'favorite question' always revolves around books... there's just so many out there to learn about.

Luckily MeFi is blessed with such diverse demographics, that 'favorites' will often prove interesting... no way will it ever become just another chatroom (I hope)... the moderator would just kill those kinds of posts anyway, right?


posted by MJoachim at 11:49 AM on May 2, 2002

We seem to be in the midst of another "what's your favorite X" mini-epidemic

Maybe they've all stumbled onto my Modern MetaFilter Front Page Post Generator again. On the web, everything old is new again at fifteen minute intervals.
posted by iceberg273 at 11:57 AM on May 2, 2002

While every other blog and community site links to the same type of "favorites" and "what X are you?" things, the reason I don't mind 'em that much is here we get better answers. The sandwich thread literally had me writing down restaurant addresses and recipies.
posted by jonmc at 12:01 PM on May 2, 2002

thanks, jonmc, that's what I was trying to say.
posted by ColdChef at 12:03 PM on May 2, 2002

Besides, it all started from the mighty unclefes way back when...
posted by jonmc at 12:14 PM on May 2, 2002

Indeed, I've actually gone out and bought music based on MeFi recommendations (thanks, guys). If it wasn't for these periodic favorite-X posts to offset the political posts, this place would get pretty dour.
posted by me3dia at 12:31 PM on May 2, 2002

my Modern MetaFilter Front Page Post Generator

(That's this, for those of you playing along at home.)

Danelope, Chef: I'm not criticizing the trend, merely noting it and especially noting the "cascade" effect. The last three threads I cited were in direct sequence. It's almost like there's a pent-up demand for this kind of thing, and once someone releases the floodgates, there she goes.
posted by rodii at 1:09 PM on May 2, 2002

I blame Spring. The cleaning, jutting flora, getting ready for the garage sale...garage sale...a MeFi garage sale!...the worlds first interactive global garage sale...
posted by clavdivs at 1:54 PM on May 2, 2002

..a MeFi garage sale!..

How much for that slightly used stacrosthewonderchicken doublepost over there? :)
posted by jonmc at 1:57 PM on May 2, 2002

I liked the childhood beliefs one, rodii, [sniff] because I got a chance to read other people's things that bothered them as kids, that they never got to sort out until they became adults, like me. I found it very comforting!
posted by Lynsey at 2:42 PM on May 2, 2002

just talking past you
posted by holloway at 2:45 PM on May 2, 2002

I'm not sure how just yet, but I'm certain this is all Miguel's fault.
posted by dong_resin at 3:01 PM on May 2, 2002

Who's your favorite Portuguese wordsmith?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:09 PM on May 2, 2002

I had MAROCK brand Portuguese sardines last night.
posted by ParisParamus at 3:10 PM on May 2, 2002

I find it's hard to write a good front page post (I have tried twice, the first was axed within minuts of posting). I think a lot of unexperienced lurkers see a Favorite-X post and think "Hey, that's a great way to formulate a posting" and try it themselves.

Or maybe it's because ending a post is tricky, and the Favorite-X helps give the posting a feeling of "now I'm done talking, y'all take a turn"

Now I'm done talking, y'all take a turn.
posted by jazon at 3:21 PM on May 2, 2002

I am my favorite me.
posted by jessamyn at 3:22 PM on May 2, 2002

I truly believe that lurkers and newbies have this strange sensation that forces them to post. There is no regulation to how often you post. There are no requirements; there are no secret clubs where you need x amount of posts to join. The same goes for comments. I think that because so many people bitch on MeTa all the time, more newbies and lurkers have a sense of obligation to try and help fix MeFi.

Again, nothing's wrong with MeFi; it simply has quite a few over-zealous cops who want the best. Just stop. Take your time and find something worth posting. Take your time and comment thoughtfully. That's all it takes...and the amusing thing is, the more MeTa threads we have of ridiculously miniscule infractions, the more posters try and "fix" the problem.
posted by BlueTrain at 3:27 PM on May 2, 2002

I had MAROCK brand Portuguese sardines last night.

You did not, PP. Those are Moroccan sardines and not entirely kosher. It's like saying I bought a pair of MEXICAMERICA brand American Levi's last night. Or CANUCK U.S. scallops. So there!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:29 PM on May 2, 2002

Again, nothing's wrong with MeFi; it simply has quite a few over-zealous cops

The first step is admitting it, BlueTrain.
posted by eyeballkid at 3:37 PM on May 2, 2002

Thanks, Blue Train. I was so terribly unclear after rodii's very succinct post (not criticizing anything, but pointing to a trend). The only one in this thread who seems to acknowledge a problem is you. I guess your view is pretty easy to defend when you can blame it on lurkers and newbies (those bastards!).

I don't find a thing wrong with "what's your fav" threads. I learn and go on. It is kinda unique that they come in waves (should we start applying "Metafiltered" as a meme term?). Its all about community, and wanting to belong, the more I learn about jonmc's (insert your favorite commenter here) favs, the more I call him a friend, and feel the love. Maybe it is just Spring ...
posted by Wulfgar! at 3:48 PM on May 2, 2002

I think we need a favorite librarian thread...
posted by patrickje at 4:11 PM on May 2, 2002

my favorite librarian is ryan because he's a rockstar and sometimes gives me free coffee.

uhm. yeah. i'm starting my own sub-cabal.

no. you can't join.
posted by fishfucker at 5:37 PM on May 2, 2002

The sandwich thread needed to happen, if anything, to remind us that the only ones who know anything about a good sandwich are New Yorkers.

rodiis' talking precidents yes? other then a desire to escape politics or tech, it seems to take the fashion of out-do-inksys. they can esculate to random acts of fun quick. while good, they put a unbalanced feel to the front page. It can take the turn as in...the dead threads...no one linked Lebeds' death?. nothing on Jesse and the man with the unloaded gun. why? to much scooby-doo politics clog up the front page. of course i dont know what the fuck i'm talking. I've never put up a link.
(still trying to get a ride the rinky-link dojo)

for the hell of it, my first post was going to be on 'Wacky Packs'


dam you Lagado.


posted by clavdivs at 6:23 PM on May 2, 2002

rodii, you're going meta-Meta on us, aren't you, you sly dog?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:57 PM on May 2, 2002

Again, nothing's wrong with MeFi; it simply has quite a few over-zealous cops who want the best. Just stop.

This is like the inescapable, stupefying fact that one can never gaze upon his own countenance.

Take a photograph: Representation of object by inaccurate pixels or splotches.

Look in the mirror: Reverse representation with mirror imperfections distorting the real object.
posted by crasspastor at 11:46 PM on May 2, 2002

The first step is admitting it, BlueTrain.

This is like the inescapable, stupefying fact that one can never gaze upon his own countenance.

To these comments I can only smile. My dear, dear MeFites...you do understand how easy it is to create an online persona, correct? You also understand how simple it is to respond to comments, considering we have hours to do so, conjure our thoughts, and string together an idea, a phrase, a paragraph?

Enjoy yourselves, because I certainly enjoy my presence, as well as yours. It's just a game folks, never forget that. Life's a stage and we're a bunch of actors. A group of phonies, swaggering, posturing. "I think my ass looks really tight in this thread."
posted by BlueTrain at 11:54 PM on May 2, 2002

I'll take that as, "I really have no answer for you, so let's change the subject to something garbled, but pretend it's sly."
posted by eyeballkid at 12:02 AM on May 3, 2002

::shrugs:: Do what you want with it, kid.
posted by BlueTrain at 12:07 AM on May 3, 2002

"But that train keeps a-movin', and that's what tortures me."

Who's your favorite 19th century poet-gunsmith? I'm not telling, till clavdivs asks, on the front page.



posted by liam at 12:45 AM on May 3, 2002

Enjoy yourselves, because I certainly enjoy my presence, as well as yours. It's just a game folks, never forget that. Life's a stage and we're a bunch of actors. A group of phonies, swaggering, posturing.

Hey! That's what I said!

You said:

Just stop.

FYI
posted by crasspastor at 1:29 AM on May 3, 2002

The trend I grow most weary of, however, is 'every post warrants a complaint in MetaTalk'
take it to MetaMetaTalk. word.
posted by quonsar at 7:51 AM on May 3, 2002

Actually, the whole thing is meg's fault.
posted by zzero at 2:08 PM on May 3, 2002

That was a joke.
posted by zzero at 2:08 PM on May 3, 2002