Newsy pet-issue post.

November 6, 2002 4:01 AM

Newsy pet-issue post. Goose or Gander?
posted by hama7 to Etiquette/Policy at 4:01 AM (16 comments total)

It's not only this one, but the sheer news that's grating.

"something interesting I found on the web that most people haven't seen before" anyone?
posted by hama7 at 4:06 AM on November 6, 2002

Agreed entirely. The barracking, hectoring tone used also rankles.

While there is and always be should be a place here to discuss contemporary issues here, there's a right and a wrong way to initiate them. IMHO, if you want to start a discussion on a topic then you should respect the views of the community by framing it in as dispassionate manner as you can.
posted by dmt at 4:11 AM on November 6, 2002

I agree dmt, and the recent election posts should be sent back to the news-sphere from whence they have come!
posted by hama7 at 4:34 AM on November 6, 2002

I don't so much mind the subject matter of the post. I think the shift in cultural perception of gays as evidenced by adoption policy is fascinating and important. However, this particular post did cross the line with respect to the manner in which the subject was framed; "hectoring," indeed. A topic is only perceived as a pet issue when the poster is clearly using the news as a platform to launch vigorous advocacy for one side or the other. The subject matter of the post should be able to stand on its own.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 5:48 AM on November 6, 2002

Didn't we just go over this here.
And Hama, seeing your ire in that thread, perhaps you just have a problem with the subject matter.
posted by FreezBoy at 5:53 AM on November 6, 2002

axe and grind.
posted by johnnyboy at 6:06 AM on November 6, 2002

MetaTalk: Let's Go See What the Bitchin' is About Today.
posted by Shane at 6:14 AM on November 6, 2002

MetaFilter: "Ya' Know What I Hate...."
posted by Dark Messiah at 6:26 AM on November 6, 2002

Ever vigilant against vigorous advocacy of human rights, eh? Good for you!
posted by sudama at 7:40 AM on November 6, 2002

i think there was a possibility of a good discussion in that thread, but it looks like it's disappearing now. pity the link didn't also include the gay sheep story (which has been deleted at least twice by matt) - perhaps that way it would have had more appeal.

hama7 would have a lot more authority if the concern for good posts didn't coincide so nicely with his/her own "political" agenda.
posted by andrew cooke at 7:50 AM on November 6, 2002

From reading the comments in that thread, it seems that hama7 isn't alone in his distaste for gay men and women, so I don't think he should be singled out. But I'm behind him (sorry if having a gay man behind you makes you queasy, hama ol' pal) regarding his disdain for rah rah newsfilter-type posts.
posted by sir walsingham at 7:56 AM on November 6, 2002

I fail to see how this is a "pet-issue" post. We want to adopt children so we can raise them, not so we can keep them as pets.

Oh.

Okay, to be serious -- I really do fail to see how this "pet-issue" post is less deserving than other "pet-issue" posts. But at least you made your views clear in the beginning, so it's easy to see that you're making your judgment based on the substance of the post itself, not on the MeFi posting process.
posted by Tin Man at 8:11 AM on November 6, 2002

Metafilter: Hey, check out what I uncovered on the front page of cnn.com.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:41 AM on November 6, 2002

Well, the post is gone now, which leaves me with ambivalent feelings.
1. - At least now I know of two other bigots on MeFi, which, if you believe the concept 'know thy enemy' is useful;
2. - Seemed to me the bigots were shrivelling in the daylight. Which is fine by me.
3. - It was a crap, überNewsFilter post, which hit a raw, topical nerve for me. Maybe I shoulda resisted, but I needed to participate in that very debate, 'cos I'm having doubts about my position; but even more, I have a sinking feeling that this is not about New Labour's desire for equality. Otherwise, why would Section 28 (the mythical 'Promotion of Homosexuality' Law) remain on the books - and there's no intention of repeal?

Still, thats another argument... & not one for MeFi... (",)

posted by dash_slot- at 10:25 AM on November 6, 2002

It was a crap, überNewsFilter post

Well put.
posted by hama7 at 3:33 PM on November 6, 2002

I know that this is dead as a doornail now but having slept on it, I'm thinking that to some extent all posts arede facto 'pet issue' posts.

I've yet to post to the front page but when I do, I'm sure that it'll be because I feel, well, something about that particular web page/issue/whatever.

'Pet issue posts' would seem impossible to define. Suffice to say, I think that I'll continue to find quality in content I'd have other wise misses, if I learn something interesting or am simply pleasantly diverted.
posted by dmt at 5:09 AM on November 7, 2002