I'm getting hate mail from fellow MeFians

September 4, 2001 2:18 PM

This may be a good reason for people to take down their e-mail addresses from their user descriptions. (more)
posted by geoff. to Etiquette/Policy at 2:18 PM (20 comments total)

I just put my e-mail up a few days ago after reading some favorable things towards posting e-mail addresses. Now I'm getting hate mail. My comments are non-offensive and docile. This whole thing may be coincidence, I don't believe so from my server logs and such. Has anyone else happen to them, or am I the only one? I really find it immature and inappropriate.
posted by geoff. at 2:22 PM on September 4, 2001

Wow. I only get email from MeFi people when they find my comments (and this happen VERY occasionally) witty. But never any hate mail -- and I've even been accused of being a troll once.
posted by jennak at 2:51 PM on September 4, 2001

I've heard lots of similar reports. Are they all coming from this site?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:52 PM on September 4, 2001

I only got about 3 or maybe 4 emails from MeFi, and all but one were from Matt.
posted by tamim at 3:17 PM on September 4, 2001

Par for the course i think. Check out this one i got on Sunday 'Don't be offended, but someone you know has sent you a message through Just a Tip.Com. The information you are about to read may contain adult content that may be considered offensive by some. To see your friend (or ex-friend's) message, simply click on the link below...and be prepared!'.. Although it's obvious the service that the spineless jellyfish ><))*> of nothingness anonymously sent their empty little tantrum through is an email-addy harvester.. i just couldn't resist clicking. Bit of a let down when i discovered that their message was almost as weak as their chosen method of delivery. If their opinion counted for anything they'd tell me in the threads why i'm wrong about stuff and not just inform me that i am with tacky pop-up drenched spam. So don't worry about that stuff Geoff and just enjoy the mail that likes you ^__^

posted by Kino at 4:33 PM on September 4, 2001

every now and then, someone will write to me with additional information about a thread i post, or to continue a discussion we had in a thread, but i have to say that i've never gotten hate mail from something i've said on metafilter.
posted by moz at 4:38 PM on September 4, 2001

I got a few weird emails early on and created a new yahoo mail account just for MeFi. Most of the stuff I've gotten recently has been positive and informative. I think the good aspects of being accessible outweigh the bad.
posted by gimli at 5:15 PM on September 4, 2001

Yeah, they definitely do; Its great getting friendly words/intelligent communications from people who have made the effort to look-up your address for the task. That's the stuff that makes the world go round.
posted by Kino at 5:59 PM on September 4, 2001

I was actually hoping for some interesting e-mails via Mefi (perhaps from Yassar?), but nothing. Zilch.
posted by ParisParamus at 9:15 PM on September 4, 2001

I've never had abuse. Clarification, support, inquiries, yes; abuse, never. And considering how I'm often stepping on people's toes here, that's an utter tribute to the membership.
posted by holgate at 3:39 AM on September 5, 2001

I've had an email address up from the beginning and like holgate, I've never gotten nasty emails. Thank yous, questions, clarifications -- all of that, but never anything rude or stupid.
posted by lia at 3:52 AM on September 5, 2001

I have gotten one anonymous hate mail from a MetaFilter user. Otherwise, the dozen or so letters I have received were positive. I've also used e-mail to communicate directly with a few people when discussions got a little ugly, and I think it helped.

I think you're missing out on part of the community experience if you remove all contact information.
posted by rcade at 6:06 AM on September 5, 2001

I've only gotten one email through Mefi, despite my rabidly opinionated posting and arrogant posturing, and it was from thirteen, who is a headcase anyway.
posted by daveadams at 7:34 AM on September 5, 2001

rogers, if you don't mind me asking, why don't have your email listed on your profile?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:05 AM on September 5, 2001

Is it possible geoff.'s hate-mail comes from people who somehow think he's the Frugal Gourmet?
posted by xiffix at 10:16 AM on September 5, 2001

I use my real name as my MeFi username, put my domain name in as my URL (which has my full name), and generally have done nothing to hide myself at all, and I have only ever had a half dozen or so e-mails or contacts of any kind in almost a year here.

Granted, I may not be the most prolific or controversial poster here, but that doesn't seem to stop people from saying angry things. Still, no problems for me.
posted by briank at 10:16 AM on September 5, 2001

I've also enjoyed the dozen or so e-mails I've gotten from Metafilterites. All have been positive, some outright gushing, and considering the jackass and generally inane remarks I tend to make at this site, I'd have a hard time believing that any vitriol anyone is getting is really coming from here.
posted by dong_resin at 10:34 AM on September 5, 2001

if you don't mind me asking, why don't have your email listed on your profile?

Whenever possible, I link to my home page instead of providing an e-mail address (the page has a "Contact Me" link which goes to an e-mail form). It's one less place for spambots to harvest my address, and also has an additional advantage: The person who used Raging.Nu to send me anonymous hate mail visited my site from MetaFilter beforehand to find out my e-mail address. So I found out his IP address anyway.
posted by rcade at 10:54 AM on September 5, 2001

I've gotten some "unpleasantly confrontational" email mixed in with the generally inoffensive communications because of posts here, but it's going to a Yahoo! account set up for that purpose and most people back off when you call them on it.
posted by m.polo at 8:05 PM on September 5, 2001

ah, the rub lies down. Im not that thick skinned. hate mail would hurt. (though if ive hurt others((comments, not hate mail)), i guess i may deserve it.) also if one where to send a positive message, say to dong(which i would e-mail) what if they dont reply or put you down(got no time for newbie) But talking to another MeFi, he suggests that this would not be the case. sssooo...i realize that things I 'think' about this blog is wrong-like people are mean and liars and motivated by vanity and self-interest. This avatar thing leaves me befuddled, im considering making a formal apology to rcade(and rodii) esp. rodii, a fellow from my hometown, a teacher, etc. But at this point i think it is moot. I knew rcade has a contact on his site(a good site at that) In a ways, the full profile poster stands on better ground for argument sake(holgate for example) perhaps we seek to correct these very bright people on the content of the post and not the person. There are very heavy hitters on MeFi and this could pose a nice target for people who feel not up to par with the big time. Im learning. I think the best we can do at times is too edge forward, taking responsibility for ones past wrong actions(hate mailers would need a tonne of humility to rebound from hate mail they sent)
posted by clavdivs at 7:13 AM on September 6, 2001