My dear friends , where is migs ?

February 4, 2005 2:55 PM

My dear friends , where is migs ? how do you feel about migs ? what was your favourite migs moment ?
posted by sgt.serenity to MetaFilter-Related at 2:55 PM (82 comments total)

i've been away and have no idea what has happened to miguel esteves cardoso , where the hell is he ?
a mefi search throws up his wife .......
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:56 PM on February 4, 2005

yeah...where is he?
posted by amberglow at 2:59 PM on February 4, 2005

He appears every once in awhile. But certainly not much. He hasn't been on the blue since right before new user signups. Perhaps he is ALL of the new users?
posted by sciurus at 3:02 PM on February 4, 2005

exactly, mefi without the smell of port and cigars and the sight of cardoso reclining on the chaise longue in his y -fronts is no mefi at all.
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:04 PM on February 4, 2005

er...when were new user signups ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:07 PM on February 4, 2005

November.

I am kind of sad that he isn't around as much. Maybe if people weren't so harsh to him all the time...
posted by Quartermass at 3:08 PM on February 4, 2005

He drifted away before then. If I recall, he got sick of the extreme amero-centric flavor, pre-election, of the site.

Also, I think he said he was giving up smoking. They always say that when you're trying to cure an addiction, you should avoid the crowds with whom you used to hang out.
posted by crunchland at 3:10 PM on February 4, 2005

oh aye ....the election...it did for us all so it did.
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:12 PM on February 4, 2005

Yep sarge, for $5 anyone can be a member of MeFi. We also had a redesign contest and Matt is pregnant going to have a baby. (seriously!) Jessamyn also has some sort of admin privs now too. Did I remember everything? I miss Migs.
posted by sciurus at 3:13 PM on February 4, 2005

Sending up the Migs Signal now:


posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:14 PM on February 4, 2005 [3 favorites]

Hope it works crash. There is no one quite like Miguel and I miss him.
posted by Tarrama at 3:19 PM on February 4, 2005

He was murdered and his body washed on some beach in the Med. This was months ago. Hello?
posted by Witty at 3:21 PM on February 4, 2005

That is freakin hilarous crash.
posted by Quartermass at 3:25 PM on February 4, 2005

Where did Witty get his License to Troll® ?
posted by five dollars worth of thank you cake at 3:32 PM on February 4, 2005

let him write in peace
posted by matteo at 3:37 PM on February 4, 2005

Oh dear , witty is still here.
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:43 PM on February 4, 2005

*love* the Migs Signal. Hope it brings him back.
posted by Space Kitty at 3:46 PM on February 4, 2005

Short Version: Migs is enjoying life with his family, whilst reflecting upon life and eschewing the dried leaf. His continuing fascination with idioms is proof that the man bustles with activity, and hasn't forgotten us in the least.

Long Version: He may have glanced over a number of recent threads, muttered WTF? to himself,
and ducked away from the flinging poo. That's not entirely outside his MO.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:46 PM on February 4, 2005

crash needs a gold star. And I've got a new wallpaper.
posted by WolfDaddy at 3:49 PM on February 4, 2005

reflecting upon life and eschewing the dried leaf.
Looking how hot it can become around here; Was mefi mig’s cigar lighter?


Time for the Migs Signal?
And thanks for the love, Fes!
Posted by: tizzie on February 1, 2005 09:54 AM
posted by thomcatspike at 4:02 PM on February 4, 2005

January 12, 2003 : Sending up the Migs Signal
Just Mig's cycle.
posted by thomcatspike at 4:06 PM on February 4, 2005

what was your favourite migs moment ?

I have liked his contributions over the last couple of days.

/rimshot
posted by thirteen at 4:11 PM on February 4, 2005

I miss his insight as well.

My favorite Miquel moments were when he took the time to demonstrate (eloquently and without snark or rudeness so take note!) that I was part of the problem. And then, later, was gracious enough to recognize that I'd been working hard on changing. I will always be grateful (to the others in that first thread as well, the smacks upside the head seem to be working).

People like Miquel cannot and should not be taken lightly. Now let's go hunt him down and drag him back to the clubhouse so we can tie him up so he can never get away again!
posted by fenriq at 4:21 PM on February 4, 2005

Okay, time to confess. I was Miguel all along. It started out as a joke, but I just got carried away. You know how hard it was to maintain two separate identities for so long? And then when I came up with the "PinkStainlessTail" personality ...well, that's when I knew I had to cut back.

So now I just do the two.

I'm sorry for all of you that I've hurt, but I forgot where I wrote down my "MiguelCardoso" password, so I can't log back in.

Love me.
posted by ColdChef at 4:49 PM on February 4, 2005

I liked when he posted the same link within a couple of days. Or when he posted those really sweet pictures from an Italian newspaper . While searching for that FPP I inadvertently found a bug. Follow link scroll to 10/29/03.
posted by Cool Alex at 4:51 PM on February 4, 2005

My favourite moment was the first time I saw the Migs beacon. Thanks for bringing it back, crash.

Come back Miguel, we miss you.
posted by jokeefe at 4:52 PM on February 4, 2005

I thought of him the other day when I saw several new salty, crunchy treats suitable for serving alongside a drink. Funny how a cocktail nut can make you nostalgic for a friend you've never met (or in my case, even talked to).
posted by cali at 4:53 PM on February 4, 2005

What? You people expect that book he's writing about us to write itself? He's a great guy, hope he's back soon.
posted by 6:1 at 5:10 PM on February 4, 2005

I miss Miguel, too. Which is weird considering that I felt he attacked me egregiously and I came to strongly doubt his sincerity. But he certainly provided MeFi with some extra, um, character.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:13 PM on February 4, 2005

yes, Carlos Quevedo
posted by matteo at 5:31 PM on February 4, 2005

When I think of Miguel, I think of this plastic, blow-up punching bag with a smiley face that my brother had when he was four. No matter how hard or how often it was punched it would come right back up for more-- smiling the whole time. Unflappable-- that's Miguel.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:35 PM on February 4, 2005

** I miss Miguel, too. Which is weird considering that I felt he attacked me egregiously and I came to strongly doubt his sincerity. But he certainly provided MeFi with some extra, um, character.

Fuck you, EB.
posted by I EAT TAPES at 5:46 PM on February 4, 2005

I think perhaps you need more fiber in your diet.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:53 PM on February 4, 2005

maybe it's because he wasn't being "punched" anymore? (we had those too, Secret)

so many new people have come in and provided new targets--maybe Miguel felt neglected, in a StockholmSyndromeish way?
posted by amberglow at 6:01 PM on February 4, 2005

Fuck you, EB.
posted by I EAT TAPES at 5:46 PM PST on February 4

And people wonder why longtimers drift away.
posted by dash_slot- at 6:05 PM on February 4, 2005

I EAT TAPES is a longtimer's pseudonym, dash.
posted by amberglow at 6:34 PM on February 4, 2005

Miguel gave me the best/most hilarious compliment I've ever heard in my life: he called me a "happy-go-lucky Joan of Arc". That was my favorite moment, though I also remember fondly the pit-in-my-stomach feeling I'd get when I noticed he'd posted a likely contentious MeTa thread that had usually already ballooned up to 100+ comments. What a truly singular feeling that was. Dread, Miguel-love, and that "OMG the meta rules are being broken SOUND THE ALERT" feeling all smooshed together at once. It was sublime, I tell you!
posted by pikachulolita at 6:39 PM on February 4, 2005

The lovingly detailed exposition of the rich Portuguese vocabulary for describing different flavours of the sex act.

Can't find it though I've searched.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 6:52 PM on February 4, 2005

The fado thread.
posted by dhruva at 7:35 PM on February 4, 2005

fodinha obrigada
posted by DaShiv at 7:35 PM on February 4, 2005

I also whipped up a 3-minute-photoshop Migs Signal when MCD last went missing in action, but I like crash's much better.


posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:36 PM on February 4, 2005

I have always thought of Miguel as I think of everyone else here, a peer, an interesting guy with things to say. I think he's enjoyed more of a cult following than any other member, for sure, and that fact alone is definitely noteworthy. But the cult following gets boring not a little too often. I love crash's graphic (did you make that?), and have appreciated it many times in the past. Your graphic is good, too, stavros, but I don't recall seeing it in many "paging Migs" moments.

Anyway... the man is a member. In all truth, let the myth go.
posted by scarabic at 8:06 PM on February 4, 2005

migs was actually the first MeFite to email me and tellme that my contributions were valued. For that I'll be eternally grateful.

He also once suggested that we should live on a commune together.
posted by jonmc at 8:10 PM on February 4, 2005

Um... "guy" is gender neutral in the center of my brain. See the french "type."
posted by scarabic at 8:13 PM on February 4, 2005

I found this offhand remark about life in Portugal, followed by the complete shock and amazement of all other participants in the thread, to be very memorable.
posted by rustcellar at 8:13 PM on February 4, 2005

Your graphic is good, too, stavros, but I don't recall seeing it in many "paging Migs" moments.

Well, I've always been a little wary of accusations of being one of the miguelistas. And I think crash and I did ours at precisely the same time, and his was better, and he whips it out all the bloody time, damn his eyes.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:19 PM on February 4, 2005

"...damn his eyes."

Too late!


posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:36 PM on February 4, 2005

Crash, your Migs Signal is my new favorite thing.
posted by cmyk at 9:08 PM on February 4, 2005

So, what would the quonsar signal look like?
posted by wendell at 10:26 PM on February 4, 2005

"So, what would the quonsar signal look like? - Please no!
posted by arse_hat at 10:37 PM on February 4, 2005

*100 cracked versions of photoshop open simultaneously as #mefi falls silent*
posted by taz at 11:01 PM on February 4, 2005

For the love of god, wendell, I do not want to see a blue and white goatse.cx! Do not do this!
posted by graventy at 11:08 PM on February 4, 2005

DaShiv's link is not just my favorite Migs moment, but the most educational MeFi comment ever. I hope he comes back -- this place needs more civility and less flinging.
posted by fuzz at 3:57 AM on February 5, 2005

Favorite Miguel moment? Of course it was the time that we promised to marry each other, should he ever need a third wife, or I, a third husband.

"So consider me Simmerin' Miggs from now on; is all I'm allowed to say at this point. :)"
posted by tizzie at 6:12 AM on February 5, 2005

my favorite, from when i was very new here: The greatness of MetaFilter: Matt steps in to defend a post of his to a newbie. :)
posted by amberglow at 7:03 AM on February 5, 2005

Fuck you, EB.
posted by I EAT TAPES at 5:46 PM PST on February 4

I EAT TAPES is a longtimer's pseudonym, dash.

Correction: I EAT TAPES is a cowardly asshole's pseudonym.

And people wonder why longtimers drift away, as dash_slot- said.

Oh, yeah -- Miguel -- I sort of miss him too, but don't worry, he'll be back.
posted by languagehat at 7:05 AM on February 5, 2005

so i guess longtimers drift away because of other longtimers, huh?
posted by amberglow at 8:00 AM on February 5, 2005

it's all so meta
posted by matteo at 9:07 AM on February 5, 2005

I am forever grateful to Miguel for his fantastic Caipirinha-recipe. And for the mother of all FU phrases,

"Please, if you will, gently and slowly fuck the fuck off."

But I miss Ignatius J. Reilly more.
posted by mr.marx at 9:08 AM on February 5, 2005

rephrase:
This is why members [new, old, male, female, gay, straight, USian, non-USian...whatever] drift away: cowardly, unprovoked, irrelevant personal abuse. I've had enough of seeing it, and seeing it permitted. I EAT TAPES and his puppetmaster do not deserve posting privilges on a community website.

Back on topic:
"Please, if you will, gently and slowly fuck the fuck off."
Compare and contrast. Self-effacing and self-deprecating [qualities not often associated with miguel], polite and succinct use of the english language's most adaptable word to express frustration. Designed to invoke a smile, not a sneer, and not to be taken seriously. I EAT TAPES could not have chosen a better thread in which to show themselves up as a fool, if s/he'd tried.
posted by dash_slot- at 9:21 AM on February 5, 2005

what happened to Iggy? He get sick of us and quit?
posted by graventy at 9:22 AM on February 5, 2005

I believe the Seth got to him.
posted by mr.marx at 9:24 AM on February 5, 2005

Found it, I think...

Looks like you're right, marx.
posted by graventy at 9:27 AM on February 5, 2005

Who says he's left? As we've seen in this thread, old members seem to be reinventing themselves with the help of paypal.
posted by FunkyHelix at 9:33 AM on February 5, 2005

But I miss Ignatius J. Reilly more.

rodii, holgate, troutfishing -- the list goes on and on. but then, we also lost DenBeste, so it's not all bad
posted by matteo at 9:39 AM on February 5, 2005

where is migs ?

He's relurking.
posted by LouReedsSon at 12:50 PM on February 5, 2005

It's hard to imagine that Miguel will stay away. The same with trout. Although I think that at the end, trout's experience on mefi was punishing for him; so if/when he comes back, his persona will be different. More guarded, probably.

Did t r a c y really leave? Or has she just been busy?

When Miguel comes back, I hope he doesn't perform as much. I think a lot of us like Miguel because he's avuncular and charming; but when it becomes apparent that he's performing, the charm suddenly looks like a con.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:59 PM on February 5, 2005

I hope she's just busy. I really, really like t r a c y.

I miss that wacky Settle too.
posted by languagehat at 2:53 PM on February 5, 2005

I hope he comes back -- this place needs more civility and less flinging.

Miguel was usually quite civil and on the one hand raised the level of discourse here, for his part. On the other hand, he loved to drag out a whole bunch of navel-gazing, hands-across-the-Atlantic chit chat that degraded the signal-to-noise ratio.
posted by scarabic at 4:22 PM on February 5, 2005

I miss a lot of folks.

t r a c y, evanizer, rodii, MrBaliHai, aaron....
posted by jonmc at 4:27 PM on February 5, 2005

That I'm not gay was considered in 2000, by Portugal's main newspaper, as the "greatest national tragedy ever".

This post certainly made me appreciate him.
posted by A dead Quaker at 4:27 PM on February 5, 2005

oh yeah i remember the relurking post , you're telling me tracy isnt here ? i'll have to inquire about that.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:00 PM on February 5, 2005

Everytime you guys mention rodii, someone sets a kitten on fire, so knock it off.
posted by thirteen at 7:42 PM on February 5, 2005

When I said "burns a kitten" I really meant "stabs a dolphin". Sin no more.
posted by thirteen at 7:44 PM on February 5, 2005

Hey, hold the lifetime achievement awards and the trips down memory lane! I feel like Tom Sawyer watching his own funeral and it's not good. I'm still young! I'm even still smoking! Fuck, Sinatra was at least 60 before he started his two solid decades of "Very Last" concerts. Don't do this to me, guys. Of all the tortures I've endured on this beloved board, this has to be the cruellest.

I miss MetaFilter terribly and, as soon as my present troubles are over, I'll be back with the worst of you.

Still, you deserve an explanation - one of those classic "too much information" ones even.

I was beset by financial difficulties - two months ago, the taxman (mistakenly!) confiscated 100% of all my sources of income and I found myself having to find new ones, while still writing the already very sizeable quantity weekly columns and book stuff.

So I'm practically writing for every publication in Portugal at the moment, doing political interviews, reporting on the darnest things, new columns of every sort, a lot with pseudonyms. So I'm writing two or three long pieces every single day of the week - no time for proper writing, seeing my wife, eating, sleeping more than 4 hours.

That's why I haven't even had time to check in. But MetaFilter - as well as my wife, my daughters, friends and other passions - are simply out-of-bounds for the time being, until this whole thing is settled.

I'm not at all disheartened - just very, very tired - and, in fact, I'm quite enjoying this strange slice of life. But my heart if full of longing and missing - that thing we Portuguese call saudade.

Thank you all for being so sweet. Though it was disappointing to find I seem to have lost a few cherished enemies it took so long time and not a little effort to make, I'm sure the old, blessed "hatred" will blossom as soon as I can make it back.

And thanks, specially, to those who took the trouble to e-mail me and tell me about this thread. :)

Drinks all round!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 4:57 AM on February 7, 2005 [1 favorite]

That sucks, man.

*begins singing "Sunny Afternoon"...*
posted by jonmc at 1:22 PM on February 7, 2005

That sucks.

By the way, Migs, send me your snail-mail. I have something for you.
posted by Vidiot at 1:41 PM on February 7, 2005

Very sorry to hear that, Migs. Good luck and I hope you get everything worked out.

I'm having a bit of trouble of my own with the taxman. In 2001, I had no income but a huge capital loss on some stock trades. Anyway, since I had no income and had a loss, I didn't bother filing. Thing is, brokerages report to the US IRS all the proceeds of stock transactions. If one doesn't file, they just add up all the proceeds and consider that a gain or income or something. I don't know what, exactly, they calculate a tax and don't tell you the details.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 4:13 PM on February 8, 2005

Hey, thanks jon, Sam and Bligh.

Bligh: it's true I took a long time to warm to you but, when I did, I was too much of a coward to pull back. Some old rabbi liked asking people (specially married people) what were the three most important words. Everyone usually answered "I love you" or "I am sorry" but he nodded his head. No, he said, the three most important words were "I was wrong".

Well, I was wrong. About you and wrong in general. The fact that you were able to overcome my wrongness and wish me well just shows how much I have to learn about being a decent human being.

And this is no 12-step or Jewish thing. It hurt! :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 2:01 AM on February 9, 2005

Wow. I'm flumoxed. That's very gracious of you and I greatly appreciate it.

I hope you get your tax problems straightened out or otherwise get a moment to catch your breath. Don't work yourself to death!

I'm looking forward to your return to MetaFilter.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 2:26 AM on February 9, 2005

*doffs hat (which shouldn't be wearing at home, but wife is away shopping); extends just-mixed, ice-cold, very dry Martini; claps hands to summon olive-bringers; presses Lisbon housekey into EB's hand; burns cheap image of Virgin Mary in other palm or whatever is now done by Cosa Nostra chappies like us*
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:53 AM on February 9, 2005

Miguel - I'm sorry to hear about your tax difficulties. I hope it all works out.
posted by bshort at 9:54 AM on March 1, 2005