With the utmost respect, blow me. WTF?!?!?

January 6, 2004 2:14 PM

With the utmost respect, blow me. WTF, FFF?
posted by timeistight to Bugs at 2:14 PM (50 comments total)

yowza. what the fish, indeed?
posted by stonerose at 2:18 PM on January 6, 2004

With the utmost respect, blow me.

I don't think that will help Dagobert's back.
posted by dhoyt at 2:42 PM on January 6, 2004

It looks to me like FFF thought that Icky was slagging him for offering advice to a Belgian about bicycling. In reality, it seems more like Icky was being humble and acknowledging that he (Icky) as an American probably couldn't offer much advice on the topic to a Belgian.

Probably just a miscommunication/misread on both parties' faults, which far from excuses FFF's knee-jerk assholism.
posted by Ufez Jones at 2:43 PM on January 6, 2004

In reality, it sure looked to FFFish that Icky was a rude Belgian -- I'm sure they exist -- telling him to stfu wrt seat-height advice.

It took a careful re-read to figure out that he might be an American living as a guest in Belgium, and might be referring to his own advice, such as it is.

I'll start some stretching exercises in preparation for blowing myself, k?
posted by five fresh fish at 2:59 PM on January 6, 2004

*sets up lights and webcam*
posted by quonsar at 3:03 PM on January 6, 2004

I'll start some stretching exercises in preparation for blowing myself, k?

Seriously, FFF. Your serial nastiness is neither fun nor funny. Maybe a little break from Metafilter would be better for you.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:28 PM on January 6, 2004

I find FFF's brutally honest responses to be a refreshing slap in the face.
posted by mischief at 3:44 PM on January 6, 2004

In that case, I fervently hope that all future slaps are aimed directly at you, since not everyone chooses to wallow in masochism.
posted by rushmc at 3:47 PM on January 6, 2004

I find FFF's brutally honest responses to be a refreshing slap in the face.

Maybe so - wait till you're on the receiving end...of a blow.
posted by dash_slot- at 4:07 PM on January 6, 2004

FFF's sincerity reads better than the holier-than-thou tripe that began this thread.
posted by mischief at 4:16 PM on January 6, 2004

I don't use my teeth, if that's what you're worried about.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:18 PM on January 6, 2004

on the receiving end...of a blow fish
posted by thomcatspike at 4:29 PM on January 6, 2004

FFF's sincerity reads better than the holier-than-thou tripe that began this thread.

Thus spake Mssr. Holier-Than-Thou.
posted by eyeballkid at 5:11 PM on January 6, 2004

FFF's sincerity reads better than the holier-than-thou tripe that began this thread.

Could you please be more specific, Mr. mischief?
posted by timeistight at 5:12 PM on January 6, 2004

I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU! YOU'RE NOT MY REAL PARENTS!
posted by Hildago at 5:26 PM on January 6, 2004

I knew this would end in tears.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:09 PM on January 6, 2004

FFF's sincerity reads better than the holier-than-thou tripe that began this thread.

Explain to me how lashing out in insult equals sincerity, but asking someone to step back and chill before posting in anger is insincere?

lol Hildago
posted by rushmc at 6:27 PM on January 6, 2004

With the utmost respect, blow me.
I don't think that will help Dagobert's back.
Probably not, but it may help him to forget about it for a few minutes, which is a start.
posted by dg at 6:31 PM on January 6, 2004

Y'all, can we just forget about it and go on? He apologised.

Besides, I can't seem to remember who makes what nasty comment...a little amnesia would do the rest of you some good, methinks.
posted by konolia at 7:24 PM on January 6, 2004

Y'all, can we just forget about it and go on? He apologised.

He did? Where?
posted by PrinceValium at 7:39 PM on January 6, 2004

Well, he offered to blow himself, and that's almost as good.

*waits for quonsar to post video*
posted by languagehat at 8:00 PM on January 6, 2004

Ah, Metatalk's blow by blow.
posted by troutfishing at 8:52 PM on January 6, 2004

on the receiving end...of a blow fish

Pike!

i've always seen him as more like one of those cute but angry little betta fishies.
posted by t r a c y at 9:16 PM on January 6, 2004

can't we all just blow eachother?
posted by angry modem at 9:18 PM on January 6, 2004

posted by madamjujujive at 10:43 PM on January 6, 2004

any word on icky? - if he in fact is belgian ... he's quite a pompous one - my delightful dutch friend mariette's brow furls at the mere mention of the word belgium ... i always wondered why...?
posted by specialk420 at 11:10 PM on January 6, 2004

Ummm, Icky lives in Maine (1, 2, 3) and was clearly referring to his own advice as he was advising Dagobert who is Belgian. FFF should definitely consider taking his head out of his ass.
posted by lazy-ville at 3:37 AM on January 7, 2004

Grow some skin, dudes.
posted by mischief at 3:58 AM on January 7, 2004

Wait.....
He can already get his head IN his ass ??
posted by johnny7 at 5:18 AM on January 7, 2004

He did? [apologized] Where?

In the very next comment in the damn thread - c'mon people, the initial line was inappropriate, but was quickly recognized as such and addressed by the poster - let's all just take a deep breath and blow it out. There, feel better?
posted by jalexei at 5:41 AM on January 7, 2004

Hump me.
posted by Witty at 6:20 AM on January 7, 2004

I just think it's wonderful that even more people know that I have a wonky back.
posted by Dagobert at 6:25 AM on January 7, 2004

I think FFF would prefer people concentrate on his front.
posted by dhoyt at 7:08 AM on January 7, 2004

Dagobert - I've been telling friends and people at work. I expect local media coverage by this evening.... But seriously, I hope the thread did give you some good ideas. And Witty, you forgot the "with all due respect" preamble.
posted by jalexei at 7:57 AM on January 7, 2004

where's fishfucker when you need him?
posted by matteo at 8:31 AM on January 7, 2004

FFF, so you don't hurt your back blowing yourself, I would recommend Bikram Yoga first to gain the necessary flexibility. You can even take a class with Dagobert.
posted by vito90 at 8:37 AM on January 7, 2004

Grow some skin, dudes.

Since you decline to answer my question, I will assume that you are acknowledging that you are wrong.

He did? [apologized] Where?

In the very next comment in the damn thread

Sorry, but that is not an apology.
posted by rushmc at 9:00 AM on January 7, 2004

fff gave a true response, while you guys are just reacting for the sake of propriety. poseurs!
since when is 'blow me' an insult?

[actually, i missed your question the last time through]
posted by mischief at 9:58 AM on January 7, 2004

Blow me, mischief.
posted by timeistight at 10:24 AM on January 7, 2004

I guess I'm missing your definition of "true." Apparently it involves "rude" as a necessary component, from what I can tell. If you'd like to explain why a call for civility is "untrue," I'd be curious to read it. In my book, unless someone is lying here (timeistight really doesn't want fff to control his knee-jerk insults and is just pretending?), then all responses are "true," even those that differ from mine.

Since it has been proven (and admitted) that fff's comment was mistaken in it's assumptions, it is even stranger that you would single it out as the only "true" input.
posted by rushmc at 10:25 AM on January 7, 2004

Well, my first reaction to FFF was: "I wasn't talking to you dumbass - I was talking to Dagobert, who's the one asking the question"

Then, I saw the retraction, and let it go.

The comment did annoy me a little since it added so little to the discussion and one of the things I really like about Ask is the high S/N ratio.
posted by Icky at 11:52 AM on January 7, 2004

Icky, you're being sensible and civilized. Don't you know that's not allowed on MetaTalk?
posted by languagehat at 12:51 PM on January 7, 2004

Forest for trees, yet again.

The point of threads like this, mischief and others, is not so much to censure FFF (or any other target of ire or resentment) for being nasty, serially or otherwise, as it is to collectively establish, re-establish and maintain community standards. This is what Metatalk is for, mostly. What part of that is hard to understand?

The idea here is to reassure ourselves, like a disturbed ant-colony, that whatever egregious behaviour in question is (still) not acceptable as common currency of the community. This is necessary because there is no set of 'rules' anywhere that has been laid out ten commandments style. That's how this community self-polices.

So saying 'grow a skin' is certainly amusing caustic and delightfully contrarian, oh dear me yes, but misses the point by an equally amusingly wide margin. Nobody here is crying about FFF hurting their widdle feelings, they're expressing and confirming what the group, for the most part, considers unacceptable. That is the point. Not pile-ons, and not vendettas, and not japery, and not whining, although all these do happen.

Not agreeing is fine (and by not agreeing, the implication is, I suppose, that you reckon vehement personal attacks are OK), but you really ought to be a little clearer about what it is you disagree with. To do otherwise seems to indicate that you have contempt for the entire community, rather than merely those with who you disagree, in this situation.

I am generally amazed at how many people don't seem to understand this primary function of Metatalk (about which, if I am incorrect in any measure, I am happy to be schooled), and blame any and all decreases in 'quality' in recent times to this single fact.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:24 PM on January 7, 2004

*taps mischief with his antennae*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:26 PM on January 7, 2004

The point of threads like this...is to collectively establish, re-establish and maintain community standards.

Precisely. One of those Standards is when dealing with someone who has nearly always been civil & thick-skinned and contributed tons of worthy links over the years, you should stop short of calling him a "fucking idiot" when he presents an outdated link. The culprit in this case is 2sheets. The target of his insult is hama7.

Stavros, since you feel strongly about maintaining the standards around here, I assume you won't mind posting this item to the main MetaTalk board? I would, but I'm heading to bed soon. Thanks, mate ;)
posted by dhoyt at 3:44 PM on January 7, 2004

Well, I feel less strongly than I used to. There can (not in the case you mention, particularly, but in general) be such a thing as too much vigilance, and there are always personality conflicts.

Still, for my part, I like to see the windows clean and the floor swept....
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:11 PM on January 7, 2004

(Sorry - that was unclear. 2sheets insult towards hama7 is out of line, of course, whether or not I or anyone else agrees with the sentiment. It's pissing in the pool. Someone else is most welcome to start a thread about it, of course, but since it's very much the same sort of behaviour FFF has been ineffectively castigated about in this thread, I don't see much point, as dhoyt has already mentioned it.)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:25 PM on January 7, 2004

The comment did annoy me a little since it added so little to the discussion and one of the things I really like about Ask is the high S/N ratio.

Both your comment and mine annoyed me: I read your comment as telling me to shut up about seat heights, which I thought was really quite rude; and I knew my comment wasn't contributing to AskMe, but also didn't feel that I should silently accept an attempt to shut-down the function of AskMe.

I guess I could have taken it to MetaTalk, but that would feel too much like making a very big deal out of a very little deal.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:45 PM on January 7, 2004

MetaTalk: Making a very big deal out of a very little deal.
posted by rushmc at 7:51 PM on January 7, 2004

Metatalk: only the names change.....
posted by konolia at 9:03 PM on January 7, 2004