"I'm making shit up to provoke a reaction." August 22, 2004 1:46 PM Subscribe
Trolling MetaFilter is not very useful: "I'm making shit up to provoke a reaction."
What mischief said. Reading that thread for the first time, I'm sincerely glad that I missed it. Jeez, this site has a bunch of short-tempered, narcissistic, potty-mouthed posters parading as "informative contributors".
posted by BlueTrain at 1:53 PM on August 22, 2004
posted by BlueTrain at 1:53 PM on August 22, 2004
Oh man, I knew there was a reason for why I've skipped those political threads. Thanks for reminder--it looks like things have gone from bad to worse. Worstward ho!
posted by DaShiv at 1:59 PM on August 22, 2004
posted by DaShiv at 1:59 PM on August 22, 2004
narcissistic
adj : characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance [syn: egotistic, egotistical, self-loving] - link
On more than one recent occasion, I've shown my "liberal, lefty" tendencies. If you'd like to play the victim, XQUZYPHYR, be my guest, but it was you who said this:
With every ounce of patience for the very concept that there is an excuse for this completely exhausted, I will divert the question of what the fuck is wrong with Bush, and ask what the fuck is wrong with you? - emphasis YOURS
Troll or not, you gain nothing, except perhaps an inflated sense of self, by acting like a condescending prick. And there were over a dozen examples of personal attacks and shouting to drown out opposing opinions littered throughout the thread. As an aside, I've been known to spout off my mouth, which is exactly why I've shut the fuck up in political threads.
posted by BlueTrain at 3:26 PM on August 22, 2004
adj : characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance [syn: egotistic, egotistical, self-loving] - link
On more than one recent occasion, I've shown my "liberal, lefty" tendencies. If you'd like to play the victim, XQUZYPHYR, be my guest, but it was you who said this:
With every ounce of patience for the very concept that there is an excuse for this completely exhausted, I will divert the question of what the fuck is wrong with Bush, and ask what the fuck is wrong with you? - emphasis YOURS
Troll or not, you gain nothing, except perhaps an inflated sense of self, by acting like a condescending prick. And there were over a dozen examples of personal attacks and shouting to drown out opposing opinions littered throughout the thread. As an aside, I've been known to spout off my mouth, which is exactly why I've shut the fuck up in political threads.
posted by BlueTrain at 3:26 PM on August 22, 2004
Wow, that was an ugly thread.
Then again, considering our history I figure anyone but the rankest newbie who willingly participates in one of those political cluster fucks deserves whatever they get.
Bring it on, bitch, indeed.
posted by cedar at 3:29 PM on August 22, 2004
Then again, considering our history I figure anyone but the rankest newbie who willingly participates in one of those political cluster fucks deserves whatever they get.
Bring it on, bitch, indeed.
posted by cedar at 3:29 PM on August 22, 2004
BlueTrain and DaShiv, people I respect (as quiet observer of the ridiculous 'Misogyny-zone!' thread - now that was an ugly thread!).
posted by SpaceCadet at 3:43 PM on August 22, 2004
posted by SpaceCadet at 3:43 PM on August 22, 2004
Ayn wasn't "giving an opposing opinion" and you know it.
I agree. But I wasn't necessarily referring to Ayn's comment when I wrote my statement. I'm not condemning tactless commentary, per se, because it's occasionally well done. Scathing, pointed comments can be very informative and useful. But only when used sparingly. And when you have 20 people using the same tactless behavior, with at best 10% with reasonable, necessary inpact, that leaves 90%, or 18 crappy comments.
That's why I made my comment above. Very few people here have the ability to make great comments that shut down their opponent through reason and rhetorical jabs. So few, in fact, that it's more useful to suggest positive, useful commentary, if only to avoid the unnecessary crap that is found in the thread in question.
Everyone here has shown that they can act like assholes. Only a couple are actually funny and intelligent. So why not just be productive?
posted by BlueTrain at 3:55 PM on August 22, 2004
I agree. But I wasn't necessarily referring to Ayn's comment when I wrote my statement. I'm not condemning tactless commentary, per se, because it's occasionally well done. Scathing, pointed comments can be very informative and useful. But only when used sparingly. And when you have 20 people using the same tactless behavior, with at best 10% with reasonable, necessary inpact, that leaves 90%, or 18 crappy comments.
That's why I made my comment above. Very few people here have the ability to make great comments that shut down their opponent through reason and rhetorical jabs. So few, in fact, that it's more useful to suggest positive, useful commentary, if only to avoid the unnecessary crap that is found in the thread in question.
Everyone here has shown that they can act like assholes. Only a couple are actually funny and intelligent. So why not just be productive?
posted by BlueTrain at 3:55 PM on August 22, 2004
as quiet observer of the ridiculous 'Misogyny-zone!' thread - now that was an ugly thread!
I will happily take inane ideological contortions over downright mean-spirited name-calling anyday, thank you. :)
I was genuinely surprised by how much the discourse in that thread resembled the discussion in other sites that I've since stopped visiting. Cedar said it more eloquently than I did: Wow, that was an ugly thread. Some will read my first comment in this thread as a snark or a put-down instead--it's the default assumption for any comment these days, it seems.
/me waits for quonsar to do his thing.
posted by DaShiv at 4:26 PM on August 22, 2004
I will happily take inane ideological contortions over downright mean-spirited name-calling anyday, thank you. :)
I was genuinely surprised by how much the discourse in that thread resembled the discussion in other sites that I've since stopped visiting. Cedar said it more eloquently than I did: Wow, that was an ugly thread. Some will read my first comment in this thread as a snark or a put-down instead--it's the default assumption for any comment these days, it seems.
/me waits for quonsar to do his thing.
posted by DaShiv at 4:26 PM on August 22, 2004
I thought that thread wasn't that bad, except for the insults. There have been much worse here. (i enjoyed myself--you put all the evidence against the Swift Boat Liars in one place and it's really a damning case--to everyone except Ayn, of course)
posted by amberglow at 4:34 PM on August 22, 2004
posted by amberglow at 4:34 PM on August 22, 2004
Very few people here have the ability to make great comments that shut down their opponent through reason and rhetorical jabs. So few, in fact, that it's more useful to suggest positive, useful commentary, if only to avoid the unnecessary crap that is found in the thread in question.
You seem to miss the very point of this call out. Amberglow is absolutely correct, the evidence against the Swift Boat vets is a really damning case ... to everyone except a) those who unbelieveable are still too obsessed with their own irrational straw men that they cannot, willnot ever see or accept the truth even when it bites them on the ass (see here) in which case, "what the fuck is wrong with you" is a perfectly acceptable query ...
or b) those who are shamelessly moronically trolling.
Either way, blaming the rest of us for an understandably explosive reaction to lunacy in our midst isn't very helpful, or, to use your term, "useful".
posted by Wulfgar! at 4:47 PM on August 22, 2004
You seem to miss the very point of this call out. Amberglow is absolutely correct, the evidence against the Swift Boat vets is a really damning case ... to everyone except a) those who unbelieveable are still too obsessed with their own irrational straw men that they cannot, willnot ever see or accept the truth even when it bites them on the ass (see here) in which case, "what the fuck is wrong with you" is a perfectly acceptable query ...
or b) those who are shamelessly moronically trolling.
Either way, blaming the rest of us for an understandably explosive reaction to lunacy in our midst isn't very helpful, or, to use your term, "useful".
posted by Wulfgar! at 4:47 PM on August 22, 2004
And BTW, BlueTrain, would you please grasp the concept that the rest of us are not here commenting for your pleasure or amusement. We're here for our own reasons, with our own goals and viewpoints of what is worthwhile, and what isn't. Thank you for your consideration of that fact.
posted by Wulfgar! at 4:51 PM on August 22, 2004
posted by Wulfgar! at 4:51 PM on August 22, 2004
I said nothing I wouldn't happily say in person. Civil discussion is wonderful, but sometimes you gotta call liars "liars." Besides, if weren't for Midas Mulligan's crazed fear and hatred of John Kerry or Ayn Marx's inability to get laid--that's the only explanation I can think of for her/his admitted trolling--the thread wouldn't have taken the course it did. Blame them. Or George Bush.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:02 PM on August 22, 2004
posted by octobersurprise at 9:02 PM on August 22, 2004
WHAT.
THE.
FUCK.
QUONSAR?
This thread needs you. Give us some lovin'.
posted by loquacious at 1:33 AM on August 23, 2004
THE.
FUCK.
QUONSAR?
This thread needs you. Give us some lovin'.
posted by loquacious at 1:33 AM on August 23, 2004
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posted by mischief at 1:50 PM on August 22, 2004