The very worst kind of IraqFilter thread March 23, 2003 9:03 PM Subscribe
This is an example of the very worst kind of IraqFilter thread. Grabbing the first news story on a subject, a Fark-style minimal headline and people getting out the popcorn for a surely ensuing flamewar.
Can we please not have anymore crap like this on MeFi? There are many other places to get information like this.
Can we please not have anymore crap like this on MeFi? There are many other places to get information like this.
People who are posting FPPs need to exercise restraint. There is nothing to be gained by spreading rumours, hyperbole, and lies. Regardless your feelings about the war, the people who are fighting it deserve better than to be used as pawns in media conglomerate games.
I favour FPPs that contain real news, that provide insight into what's going on, and contain information that will help us understand where this might all be leading. These are the sorts of FPPs that have the potential for interesting discussions.
I do note that MeFi is a lousy warblog. Those wanting information on the war itself are far better off with The Agonist and its ilk. MeFi is better for meta-analysis of the war.
And to start my last sentence, too, with "I":
I'd like to see some FPPs addressing what else is happening in the world. The warblogs are pretty much focused on Iraq alone. But I've heard rumblings about Pakistan (closing of the American Embassy, a possibly frightening bad sign) and I/P (taking opportunity of the world's distraction), and although the SAR virus thing seems to be under control I'd really like to see someone with deep knowledge to post some good links on global illnesses, the threat of the next pandemic, and pancakes.
Just wanted to make sure you were still reading. Thanks. (good god, someone shut FFFish up!)
posted by five fresh fish at 9:43 PM on March 23, 2003
I favour FPPs that contain real news, that provide insight into what's going on, and contain information that will help us understand where this might all be leading. These are the sorts of FPPs that have the potential for interesting discussions.
I do note that MeFi is a lousy warblog. Those wanting information on the war itself are far better off with The Agonist and its ilk. MeFi is better for meta-analysis of the war.
And to start my last sentence, too, with "I":
I'd like to see some FPPs addressing what else is happening in the world. The warblogs are pretty much focused on Iraq alone. But I've heard rumblings about Pakistan (closing of the American Embassy, a possibly frightening bad sign) and I/P (taking opportunity of the world's distraction), and although the SAR virus thing seems to be under control I'd really like to see someone with deep knowledge to post some good links on global illnesses, the threat of the next pandemic, and pancakes.
Just wanted to make sure you were still reading. Thanks. (good god, someone shut FFFish up!)
posted by five fresh fish at 9:43 PM on March 23, 2003
But why pick only this one and not the kerjillion and a half anti-Iraq war threads and Iraq-related chicanery? Diabolical.
posted by hama7 at 11:00 PM on March 23, 2003
posted by hama7 at 11:00 PM on March 23, 2003
FFF - I think the basic problem is that almost all news coming out of Iraq now is suspect - as somebody's propaganda. And as such, it will possibly be disproved a day or a week later. |
I think I'm swearing of Iraq posts for the next few months - political posts too? No, but my next one will be a "something else" post. Cheerfull. Bipartisanly funny. Weird.
posted by troutfishing at 6:39 AM on March 24, 2003
I think I'm swearing of Iraq posts for the next few months - political posts too? No, but my next one will be a "something else" post. Cheerfull. Bipartisanly funny. Weird.
posted by troutfishing at 6:39 AM on March 24, 2003
This is an example of the very worst kind of IraqFilter thread.
No it's not!
Yes it is!
No it's not!
(ad infinitum)
: )
You're right, Coyote--"An unconfirmed report by Fox news..." does not an FPP make.
posted by Shane at 6:43 AM on March 24, 2003
No it's not!
Yes it is!
No it's not!
(ad infinitum)
: )
You're right, Coyote--"An unconfirmed report by Fox news..." does not an FPP make.
posted by Shane at 6:43 AM on March 24, 2003
Some mefites need to take a Klonopin or two before loading up the site.
*fires up webcam, gobbles klonopin*
posted by quonsar at 6:57 AM on March 24, 2003
*fires up webcam, gobbles klonopin*
posted by quonsar at 6:57 AM on March 24, 2003
Not that anyone cares, but the "popcorn" comment was kind of a quasi-Fark spoof. Obviously after an unconfirmed FoxNews FPP there's going to be 99% noise, and 1% signal in the ensuing thread, so what else can you do but sit back and watch? The pro-war side is going to be smug, and the anti-war side will be defensive and suspicious, and no one is better off for it.
BTW: Is Metafilter loading verrrry slowwwwly for anyone else today?
posted by Karl at 8:13 AM on March 24, 2003
BTW: Is Metafilter loading verrrry slowwwwly for anyone else today?
posted by Karl at 8:13 AM on March 24, 2003
While I agree that the post in question was fairly useless, I also have to say that I'm not averse to "IraqFilter" posts.
I've only been on metafilter for 6 or 8 months now, but I've considered it a source for news and opinions about stuff and things, without much in the way of restrictions.
Lately though, it seems that any news or opinions about stuff or things are now only acceptable to post if they're not about the Bush administration, the military, Saddam Hussein, Iraq, the UN, world opinion, protests, this war, the last gulf war, somalia, afghanistan, osama bin laden, media coverage, 9/11, anything liberal or well... let's just say my list is incomplete.
There have been a number of issues I would've loved to have raised in the past few weeks, but I did not, because I knew that the damned IraqFilter noise would be applied, and derail the interesting conversation.
posted by mosch at 2:23 AM on March 30, 2003
I've only been on metafilter for 6 or 8 months now, but I've considered it a source for news and opinions about stuff and things, without much in the way of restrictions.
Lately though, it seems that any news or opinions about stuff or things are now only acceptable to post if they're not about the Bush administration, the military, Saddam Hussein, Iraq, the UN, world opinion, protests, this war, the last gulf war, somalia, afghanistan, osama bin laden, media coverage, 9/11, anything liberal or well... let's just say my list is incomplete.
There have been a number of issues I would've loved to have raised in the past few weeks, but I did not, because I knew that the damned IraqFilter noise would be applied, and derail the interesting conversation.
posted by mosch at 2:23 AM on March 30, 2003
It's fairly simple mosch. For many people who have been using the site a bit longer than six to eight months, the "news and opinions about stuff and things" is the noise.
Many feel there are many other sites focussed on the discussion of news (such as plastic) and that, in the main, news and politics aren't subjects that metafilter does well.
Remember that the original idea or purpose of the site was to filter interesting websites and online phenomena, things which no single member would be able to find all for themselves, even with a lifetime of surfing at their disposal.
It seems very easy to grab the link of the latest news article you're reading, copy and paste it and post it to metafilter. If 17,000+ people did that each day, we wouldn't have a filter, exactly: the idea is to go the extra mile and find the best stuff. If you don't find anything to link or to discuss on a particular day, never mind: someone else probably did, or there's always tomorrow. I've never really found a link worth posting to metafilter, even though I've had a few goes. I don't think you can find worthy stuff by going and looking ... it has to drop from the tree like Newton's apple.
Having said all that, it's also true to say that a lot of people have started coming to the site, over the years, just to get news and current events. Communities involve, especially when they aren't predicated on hard and fast rules. It's a sad thing for people like me, who'd like metafilter to be the best of the web, and I suppose that makes some of us bitch and moan sometimes. Sorry if that's distracting for your news discussions.
posted by walrus at 12:20 AM on March 31, 2003
Many feel there are many other sites focussed on the discussion of news (such as plastic) and that, in the main, news and politics aren't subjects that metafilter does well.
Remember that the original idea or purpose of the site was to filter interesting websites and online phenomena, things which no single member would be able to find all for themselves, even with a lifetime of surfing at their disposal.
It seems very easy to grab the link of the latest news article you're reading, copy and paste it and post it to metafilter. If 17,000+ people did that each day, we wouldn't have a filter, exactly: the idea is to go the extra mile and find the best stuff. If you don't find anything to link or to discuss on a particular day, never mind: someone else probably did, or there's always tomorrow. I've never really found a link worth posting to metafilter, even though I've had a few goes. I don't think you can find worthy stuff by going and looking ... it has to drop from the tree like Newton's apple.
Having said all that, it's also true to say that a lot of people have started coming to the site, over the years, just to get news and current events. Communities involve, especially when they aren't predicated on hard and fast rules. It's a sad thing for people like me, who'd like metafilter to be the best of the web, and I suppose that makes some of us bitch and moan sometimes. Sorry if that's distracting for your news discussions.
posted by walrus at 12:20 AM on March 31, 2003
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posted by Space Coyote at 9:07 PM on March 23, 2003