This is pretty egregious trolling.

February 7, 2005 5:06 AM

The reality is that they stand around thinking they are playing a video game until somebody gets hurt. This is pretty egregious trolling.
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket to Etiquette/Policy at 5:06 AM (50 comments total)

So ignore it...? It'll get deleted when Matt or Jessamyn wake up.

Don't. Feed. The. Trolls. Et voila! Problem solved.
posted by humuhumu at 5:42 AM on February 7, 2005

That's no fun.
posted by Plutor at 5:47 AM on February 7, 2005

The shame is that there are interesting points to be made about the impact of soldiering on the psyche, what kind of depersonalization is required to be effective in the field, etc. But this isn't the FPP for that.

Troll.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 5:51 AM on February 7, 2005

Lame attempt at trolling, I give it a 1.5...impossible to dance to.
posted by lobstah at 6:03 AM on February 7, 2005

I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.

I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 6:09 AM on February 7, 2005

uncanny...is that a quote??? I'm assuming not since you didn't credit it to anyone... therefore, you deserve a 'well said'!
posted by HuronBob at 6:20 AM on February 7, 2005

crap...never mind, found it, should have looked first...but, still, thanks for posting it uncanny...
posted by HuronBob at 6:23 AM on February 7, 2005

Sorry HuronBob, 'twas a quote.

I thought it was "famous" enough not to attribute. Apologies to all who want to sue my azz for plagiarism.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 6:24 AM on February 7, 2005

crap...never mind, found it, should have looked first...

No. My bad.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 6:25 AM on February 7, 2005

You want the truth? Milkwood can't take the truth. His post is a lame troll undeserving of a MeTa call out.
posted by DBAPaul at 6:37 AM on February 7, 2005

The first video is insignificant, and there is no context to explain what is going on.

That post isn't the best of the web, it's something that should be found in the comments of a higher caliber post.
posted by furtive at 6:45 AM on February 7, 2005

On a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being no chance and 10 being absolute metaphysical certitude, I'm giving this post a 10 for trolling and zealotry. Not responding.
posted by Captaintripps at 6:47 AM on February 7, 2005

The post needs to be deleted, but maybe the poster can be forgiven... I know that I've often felt like I was the "only one" who was noticing what was going on around me in real life, and I could see how one might mistakenly carry that idea over into an online community.

I don't know much about milkwood, but his/her other posts were very good, and maybe we could give one grace sanction for someone who doesn't, at first blush, seem to be all about the bling-agenda thing. (One time offer only)
posted by taz at 6:55 AM on February 7, 2005

Confirmed: Captaintripps is John McLaughlin.
posted by fatllama at 6:56 AM on February 7, 2005

Also, regarding this — this poster is not someone known to me, and I've only recommended two people (who already had blogs, so knew what this idea was all about) to join MeFi. Milkwood is not one of those two! Just heading off any suspicion.
posted by taz at 7:13 AM on February 7, 2005

I know that I've often felt like I was the "only one" who was noticing what was going on around me in real life, and I could see how one might mistakenly carry that idea over into an online community.

taz, this is MetaFilter. I'm sorry, but I find it impossible to believe that anyone could spend more than two minutes here and think they were the "only one" who was noticing what was going on. "These people have no idea there's bad stuff going down in Iraq -- I must show them -- with a meaningless video and a trollish remark about crybabies!" Your heart's in the right place, but there's no defense for this crap.
posted by languagehat at 7:14 AM on February 7, 2005

Milkweed

KNOWN EFFECTS

Irritates and stimulates gastrointestinal tract. Decreases thickness and increases fluidity of mucus from lungs and bronchial tubes. Increases perspiration.

Miscellaneous information:
ALL PARTS of milkweed plant may be toxic.

ADVERSE REACTIONS, SIDE EFFECTS OR OVERDOSE SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms: What to do.
Coma: Seek emergency treatment.
Diarrhea: Discontinue. Call doctor immediately.
Drowsiness: Discontinue. Call doctor when convenient.
Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes): Discontinue. Call doctor immediately.
Kidney damage characterized by blood in urine, decreased urine flow, swelling of hands and feet: Seek emergency treatment.
Lethargy: Discontinue. Call doctor when convenient.
Loss of appetite: Discontinue. Call doctor when convenient.
Nausea: Discontinue. Call doctor immediately.
Seizures: Seek emergency treatment.
Unsteady gait: Discontinue. Call doctor immediately.
Vomiting: Discontinue. Call doctor immediately.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:16 AM on February 7, 2005

huronbob said:

>uncanny...is that a quote??? I'm assuming not since you didn't credit it to anyone... therefore, you deserve a 'well said'!

That doesn't answer the question, did you order the Code Red?

And I second taz.
posted by gsb at 7:23 AM on February 7, 2005

I agree with taz.

I always do (offer void where illegal)
posted by sebas at 7:26 AM on February 7, 2005

I know that I've often felt like I was the "only one" who was noticing what was going on around me in real life,

taz, we all feel like that sometimes. But there's a word for people who feel that way all the time.
posted by jonmc at 7:29 AM on February 7, 2005

HuronBob: Wasn't the contextual point of that speech to demonstrate that absolutism in the military is not acceptable? That defence of the nation does not justify the military in applying any measure it wishes to take, but restricts the actions that may be taken such that they meet the freedoms granted by society and acceptable to society and the higher ideals of that society? Would anyone on MeFi really think it acceptable that the military should not be subject to oversight?
posted by biffa at 7:33 AM on February 7, 2005

You people never disappoint! Yet another callout for a bad post... why anyone cares is beyond me, but I so love the drama! Keep it real, yo! :)
posted by LouReedsSon at 7:40 AM on February 7, 2005

Maybe you're right, jonmc... I'll have to consider that. And, languagehat — I do agree with you that this post was way over the top, but if you look back on his/her other posts, they are really good... Like exactly what we want fron a MetaFilter poster, which is the only reason I'm arguing that maybe this poster is worth forgiving. (?)
posted by taz at 7:43 AM on February 7, 2005

Well, it's official. We've got people comparing the soldiers to babies, and Americans saying they hate America. Way to keep reinforcing the stereotypes.

I suppose milkwood and xammerboy thought conservative warhawks were pulling those clichés out of thin air all this time.

A real low point.
posted by dhoyt at 7:47 AM on February 7, 2005

I vote for account deletion. It was a deliberate troll, not a slip-up. Why should we tolerate this kind of thing? If milkwood wants forgiveness let him/her cough up another $5.
posted by Mark Doner at 7:57 AM on February 7, 2005

Mark me down for draw-and-quartering. Since that's already been taken care of in the thread in question, I say we let hir stick around. If aggravating opinions were prohibited on MeFi, this would be a very quiet place.
posted by Plutor at 8:04 AM on February 7, 2005

I don't second taz. As someone pointed out in the blue it reads like a 7th Grade project. Poorly written, no effort put into finding relevant links. Plus, how can milkwood be taken seriously if he doesn't include any information about himself on his user page? There are those members who have blank user pages and who have a record of well reasoned legitimate posts (see: occhiblu). Someone as new as milkwood w/no user page information must be considered a troll.

Or, what sciurus said early on in the blue.
posted by mlis at 8:07 AM on February 7, 2005

Wasn't the contextual point of that speech to demonstrate that absolutism in the military is not acceptable?

biffa: Yes. And, as fucking usual, the point is completely lost on those with more pride than brains.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:10 AM on February 7, 2005

I don't ban people for a single bad post.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:12 AM on February 7, 2005

Oh yeah?! Well I DO!! Milkwood STINKS!! Here ya go buddy!!



sorry my comedy button isnt working.. dangit..
posted by cavalier at 8:18 AM on February 7, 2005

[Note: this was going to be a comment in the thread; I saw the deletion on preview. Relevant here, though, as it concerns milkwood's possible intentions]

Does anyone else want to give milkwood the benefit of the doubt on the crying bit? For one thing, what milkwood actually wrote was "crying like babies," not "crybabies;" to me, the latter suggests getting overly worked up over very little, while the former just means crying very hard, perhaps with connotations of a loss of control.

What I took from the original post was that milkwood was trying to say (poorly, I'll grant you), "The government and military commanders talk a tough line about how experienced/cool/stoic our soldiers are, but the reality is that they don't have the mental tools to prepare for combat, and when the reality hits them they break down." I don't see that as derogatory at all, even if some of milkwood's language was badly-chosen. The point would be true of any 18, 20, 25-year-old plopped into a war zone for the first time.

And can we stop with the "milkfuck," "milkweed," etc, please? It really is unnecessarily juvenile.
posted by hippugeek at 8:22 AM on February 7, 2005

I don't think people are really being fair to milkwood. It was sort of a badly-thought post, but things like war get yer blood up, right? I say: easily forgivable.

Also, making fun of somebody's username is never the solution. We all know how we feel-- now milkwood knows how we feel, and has probably thought it over a little-- so hashing it out more does no good.

On preview: I'm with hippugeek.
posted by koeselitz at 8:24 AM on February 7, 2005

I don't ban people for a single bad post.

And thank god for that. I once posted an article from Roger Ebert on his thoughts on the Iraq war and the Oscars...
posted by Quartermass at 8:26 AM on February 7, 2005

Thread deleted, Matt has spoken.
[closed]
posted by Arch Stanton at 8:33 AM on February 7, 2005

Blah blah metaflaccid, blah blah cowards, blah blah censorship, blah blah Bushitler.

There, now the lame counter-trolling part of the argument is taken care of.
posted by darukaru at 8:37 AM on February 7, 2005

Conspiracy Theory: right-wing nutjob posts troll, then starts telling other right-wing nutjobs "Look at what those Evil Liberals™ are saying now!"
posted by eriko at 9:02 AM on February 7, 2005

If milkwood wants forgiveness let him/her cough up another $5.

Wow, that's some death penalty we've got here. What's the german word for the combination of outrage and impotence I'm feeling right now?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:17 AM on February 7, 2005

Wow, that's some death penalty we've got here. What's the german word for the combination of outrage and impotence I'm feeling right now?

Er hat Haschisch geraucht. Er ist etwas verpeilt...
posted by Quartermass at 9:39 AM on February 7, 2005

"Busch"?
posted by matteo at 9:42 AM on February 7, 2005

I'm also interested in knowing what the subtitles in the video say. I've made a note to ask my fine furry Persian friend if he can read it when he gets online. Perhaps this thread will still be open then. Dude-bro.
posted by loquacious at 9:49 AM on February 7, 2005

I'm deeply relieved this is all over as it has brought nothing but trouble to all upstanding users ever since it started and hope it remains in our annals - as deeply embedded as possible - as a lesson to all those who attempt to belittle our achievements and mischievously shorten the left leg of our jeans during our sleep.

(Sorry, just a lame excuse to say, to anyone who's vaguely interested, I'm still here.)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 9:53 AM on February 7, 2005

to anyone who's vaguely interested, I'm still here

Lord Matt help us.
posted by daveadams at 10:11 AM on February 7, 2005

Yay!
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:12 AM on February 7, 2005

hope it remains in our annals - as deeply embedded as possible

... oh God, I can't stop giggling, for any number of reasons.
posted by kindall at 10:37 AM on February 7, 2005

Update: My friend can't read Arabic. Oh well. Damn curiousity.
posted by loquacious at 11:00 AM on February 7, 2005

I don't understand why people cannot act like mature adults. You don't like Milkwood's FPP? Then criticize the FPP, but attacking him personally, making fun of his username, swearing at him, etc. is really uncalled for. Then again these attacks are status quo for many of the users here. Ho hum.

Or what hippugeek & koeselitz said.
posted by Juicylicious at 12:28 PM on February 7, 2005

MiguelCardoso said deeply embedded in our annals! oh my!
posted by nequalsone at 1:28 PM on February 7, 2005

Er hat Haschisch geraucht.

This belongs in the Tommy Chong thread, surely.
posted by cosmonik at 1:35 PM on February 7, 2005

If you post it , they will come....
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:11 PM on February 7, 2005

I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.

I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.

I find this attitude the equivalent of freshly expulsed waste matter. Perhaps from a large tasty creature with horns.
posted by Kleptophoria! at 4:58 PM on February 8, 2005