Should we have a Worst Of The Web day? June 8, 2005 5:15 PM Subscribe
Has anyone ever considered having a periodic "worst of the web" day?
I was thinking that folks would be able to post complete crap and get it out of their systems. It might be fun.
posted by snsranch at 5:19 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by snsranch at 5:19 PM on June 8, 2005
What... you mean we're not doing that now? Shit, I have this whole thing wrong.
posted by cedar at 5:27 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by cedar at 5:27 PM on June 8, 2005
Invariably someone would post a comment like "Worst of the web indeed."
posted by Fat Guy at 5:28 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by Fat Guy at 5:28 PM on June 8, 2005
There are plenty of places that do this already. Allow me to point you to Fark. Or possibly Something Awful. That should fix you right up.
posted by jenovus at 5:38 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by jenovus at 5:38 PM on June 8, 2005
Oh, I get my fix here, jenovus. I was just trying to consolidate it. ;)
posted by snsranch at 5:51 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by snsranch at 5:51 PM on June 8, 2005
i like the idea ... but the announcement ought to be a bit in advance so people can consider what they're going to post
mere mediocrity won't cut it
posted by pyramid termite at 6:20 PM on June 8, 2005
mere mediocrity won't cut it
posted by pyramid termite at 6:20 PM on June 8, 2005
I thought they did: it's called portal of evil. Let's not bring it here, please. (I say this as someone who reads PoE)
posted by absalom at 6:35 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by absalom at 6:35 PM on June 8, 2005
I think we should try that whole "best of the web" thing I keep hearing about first, then maybe the polar opposite.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 7:21 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 7:21 PM on June 8, 2005
S@L said it. There are probably more important priorities to be considered. It's also probably overly optimistic to think that "worst of the web" sessions will be confined to the mandated day.
posted by invitapriore at 7:33 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by invitapriore at 7:33 PM on June 8, 2005
I would say that there is always one day in any given month on which I would classify every posted link as 'worst of the web'. Of course, my one day would be different from someone else's. ;-P
posted by mischief at 7:36 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by mischief at 7:36 PM on June 8, 2005
yes, PoE, somethingawful, fark. they all have it covered. we don't need it here.
also, mirsky now leads to http://www.mirskt.com/ which is truely awful.
posted by puke & cry at 7:49 PM on June 8, 2005
also, mirsky now leads to http://www.mirskt.com/ which is truely awful.
posted by puke & cry at 7:49 PM on June 8, 2005
Mirsky got really drunk one night and fell off the internet.
Ironically, he was working on his drunk browsing test at the time.
posted by loquacious at 8:00 PM on June 8, 2005
Ironically, he was working on his drunk browsing test at the time.
posted by loquacious at 8:00 PM on June 8, 2005
Damnit, I totally forgot about Mirsk-T.
I really didn't want to be reminded.
posted by loquacious at 8:06 PM on June 8, 2005
I really didn't want to be reminded.
posted by loquacious at 8:06 PM on June 8, 2005
Today has been not very choice. Not that these have been bad posts or the sites linked on today's FPPs are badly done, but the content of a lot of them has been just one stone bummer after another.
Fuck this, I'm going bowling.
posted by warbaby at 9:09 PM on June 8, 2005
Fuck this, I'm going bowling.
posted by warbaby at 9:09 PM on June 8, 2005
worst of the web would probably be slashdot
posted by angry modem at 9:41 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by angry modem at 9:41 PM on June 8, 2005
You would have to make a prominent announcement on the front page, otherwise it would be hard to tell the difference.
posted by dg at 10:25 PM on June 8, 2005
posted by dg at 10:25 PM on June 8, 2005
rcd: "you know the difference between fark and metafilter?"
q: "what?"
rcd: "fark works."
posted by quonsar at 11:25 PM on June 8, 2005
q: "what?"
rcd: "fark works."
posted by quonsar at 11:25 PM on June 8, 2005
every day is 'worst of the web' day.
Everything bad for you is good, my ass.
posted by crunchland at 11:38 PM on June 8, 2005
Everything bad for you is good, my ass.
posted by crunchland at 11:38 PM on June 8, 2005
"Worst of the Web Day?" Isn't that Wednesday?
Damn. I've had it all wrong. *makes note to self.*
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:29 AM on June 9, 2005
Damn. I've had it all wrong. *makes note to self.*
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:29 AM on June 9, 2005
It might be fun to do this April Fool's Day or something.
posted by orange swan at 5:32 AM on June 9, 2005
posted by orange swan at 5:32 AM on June 9, 2005
warbaby writes "Fuck this, I'm going bowling."
Oh, come on. It can't be that bad.
posted by terrapin at 5:43 AM on June 9, 2005
Oh, come on. It can't be that bad.
posted by terrapin at 5:43 AM on June 9, 2005
I would be worried it would spill off the designated day. That people would post stuff and then make a comment saying it was worst of the web to justify it.
It might cut down on self-linking, though.
posted by OmieWise at 6:30 AM on June 9, 2005
It might cut down on self-linking, though.
posted by OmieWise at 6:30 AM on June 9, 2005
Wait, so all day we would just post useless junk? Well, OK . . .
posted by soyjoy at 6:51 AM on June 9, 2005
posted by soyjoy at 6:51 AM on June 9, 2005
Really, how could it get worse? If the goal is to find unique and interesting things on the web to share, then how could we get any further away from that?
The majority of posts these days are nothing more than discrete users' lists of things that they are Outraged over. And the FPPs rarely exist for the purpose of bringing forth something and sharing something that people aren't aware of; they primarily exist as a pretext to set the table for aagreement "discussion" about how other users agree how horrible X is.
And what's worse, we have the same discussions over and over and over about the same topics. How many times do we need someone to post about how stupid Christians are because they believe in the Bible and not evolution? We have that discussion at least a couple times a week. Or how the current administration is fascist? The latest FPP is just another thread trying to establish that link.
The few times this site is up to read or post, all it is now is just a platform/soundingboard to make shitty arguments regarding users outrage du jour ad nauseam.
Some may argue about the ontology of "the best of the web" and it might be interesting to find "the worst of the web," but right now, this website isn't about the web at all, for the most part. Sure there are a number of posts that fit the topic or idea of sharing the web. But for the most part, this is just a discussion forum/board that requires users to try to find some pretext before starting a discussion.
And Matt doesn't seem to care. Just look how shitty the last 24 hours have been. I submit numerous posts should have been deleted, but weren't. I flagged one particular post that was nothing more than a generalized gripe about the loss of some supposed right that was backed up with three completely unrelated and mischaracterized links. Surely Matt must have seen the flag and the resulting discussion, but the thread stayed--a tacit acknowledgement that such threads are acceptable.
So if you want the "the worst" a website can be, just wait. We are well on our way. As for me, I am just here for the party, personalities and to watch this bitch go down in flames.
Ahh.....
posted by dios at 7:55 AM on June 9, 2005
The majority of posts these days are nothing more than discrete users' lists of things that they are Outraged over. And the FPPs rarely exist for the purpose of bringing forth something and sharing something that people aren't aware of; they primarily exist as a pretext to set the table for a
And what's worse, we have the same discussions over and over and over about the same topics. How many times do we need someone to post about how stupid Christians are because they believe in the Bible and not evolution? We have that discussion at least a couple times a week. Or how the current administration is fascist? The latest FPP is just another thread trying to establish that link.
The few times this site is up to read or post, all it is now is just a platform/soundingboard to make shitty arguments regarding users outrage du jour ad nauseam.
Some may argue about the ontology of "the best of the web" and it might be interesting to find "the worst of the web," but right now, this website isn't about the web at all, for the most part. Sure there are a number of posts that fit the topic or idea of sharing the web. But for the most part, this is just a discussion forum/board that requires users to try to find some pretext before starting a discussion.
And Matt doesn't seem to care. Just look how shitty the last 24 hours have been. I submit numerous posts should have been deleted, but weren't. I flagged one particular post that was nothing more than a generalized gripe about the loss of some supposed right that was backed up with three completely unrelated and mischaracterized links. Surely Matt must have seen the flag and the resulting discussion, but the thread stayed--a tacit acknowledgement that such threads are acceptable.
So if you want the "the worst" a website can be, just wait. We are well on our way. As for me, I am just here for the party, personalities and to watch this bitch go down in flames.
Ahh.....
posted by dios at 7:55 AM on June 9, 2005
dios may have a point, but I wonder if s/he would have felt this way if there were more dittoheads around, with some decent (what s/he would consider) left bashing.
posted by gsb at 8:06 AM on June 9, 2005
posted by gsb at 8:06 AM on June 9, 2005
dios may have a point, but I wonder if s/he would have felt this way if there were more dittoheads around, with some decent (what s/he would consider) left bashing.
posted by gsb at 8:06 AM PST on June 9
Well, I either do or I don't have a point. My answer to your hypo shouldn't effect that.
But to answer it: yes, I would feel the same way. I find stupidity on both sides especially in the things that both sides get outraged over.
posted by dios at 8:10 AM on June 9, 2005
posted by gsb at 8:06 AM PST on June 9
Well, I either do or I don't have a point. My answer to your hypo shouldn't effect that.
But to answer it: yes, I would feel the same way. I find stupidity on both sides especially in the things that both sides get outraged over.
posted by dios at 8:10 AM on June 9, 2005
Best of the web does not equal Bush done good, protesters are bad, and voluntary amputees are crazy.
Also, *fap-fap-fap*
posted by Balisong at 8:23 AM on June 9, 2005
Also, *fap-fap-fap*
posted by Balisong at 8:23 AM on June 9, 2005
How exactly does one argue the ontology of "the best of the web?"
posted by soyjoy at 8:23 AM on June 9, 2005
posted by soyjoy at 8:23 AM on June 9, 2005
Balisong: now that you say it that way, of course I am wrong and please disregard my previous comment. Your brilliant tu quoque and mature masturbation humor have led me to disown the entirety of the comment I made previously. Clearly there is nothing wrong here at MeFi proper. Brilliant retort!
/me goes back to masturbating
soyjoy: I'm certain that you understand that ontology is the study of whether something can be conceived of or exists, so one might be inclined to discuss whether "the best of the web" is something that can be conceived in any manner that it could be used as a standard. But thanks for being willfully obtuse because of how I (poorly) constructed that sentence. I'm fairly certain that my construction didn't prevent you from understanding the point of my comment.
posted by dios at 8:42 AM on June 9, 2005
/me goes back to masturbating
soyjoy: I'm certain that you understand that ontology is the study of whether something can be conceived of or exists, so one might be inclined to discuss whether "the best of the web" is something that can be conceived in any manner that it could be used as a standard. But thanks for being willfully obtuse because of how I (poorly) constructed that sentence. I'm fairly certain that my construction didn't prevent you from understanding the point of my comment.
posted by dios at 8:42 AM on June 9, 2005
So I beat my personal high score by two points.
That new ball added 40 points to my game over the house balls.
I see I didn't miss much.
posted by warbaby at 9:01 AM on June 9, 2005
That new ball added 40 points to my game over the house balls.
I see I didn't miss much.
posted by warbaby at 9:01 AM on June 9, 2005
Clearly there is nothing wrong here at MeFi proper. Brilliant retort!
Sweet sweet dios, I wish I could pull up a link for your comment where we'd all be singing and dancing when Terri Schiavo finally passed on. For that matter, there are so many other examples where you pull a hit-and-run in other people's threads for no other reason than to start shit.
You're as much a part of the problem, if there is one.
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:20 AM on June 9, 2005
Sweet sweet dios, I wish I could pull up a link for your comment where we'd all be singing and dancing when Terri Schiavo finally passed on. For that matter, there are so many other examples where you pull a hit-and-run in other people's threads for no other reason than to start shit.
You're as much a part of the problem, if there is one.
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:20 AM on June 9, 2005
"Dios, time to go / You're too lame to post / No more postin' for you / We're taking you to a home / but we will metatalk about yooouuuu...."
apologies to tenacious d
posted by keswick at 9:27 AM on June 9, 2005
apologies to tenacious d
posted by keswick at 9:27 AM on June 9, 2005
Well, have fun piling on me.
I'll just comment that none of what you guys are saying is in refutation of what my original comment was. You aren't disagreeing with it, you are just trying to score points and try to be insulting as possible. And then you call me a troll.
posted by dios at 9:30 AM on June 9, 2005
I'll just comment that none of what you guys are saying is in refutation of what my original comment was. You aren't disagreeing with it, you are just trying to score points and try to be insulting as possible. And then you call me a troll.
posted by dios at 9:30 AM on June 9, 2005
You simply don't get it, do you?
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:38 AM on June 9, 2005
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:38 AM on June 9, 2005
I wish I could pull up a link for your comment where we'd all be singing and dancing when Terri Schiavo finally passed on.
Considering how often you refer to it, I'm surprised you don't have it bookmarked.
what exactly are you planning to do, the very moment she dies?
posted by mkultra at 8:19 AM PST on March 25
I suspect a lot of people are going to smile and smugly think to themselves "we won."
posted by dios at 8:28 AM PST on March 25 (dios+Schiavo+metafilter)
No singing. No dancing. Nor is it particularly difficult to think people might lose track of the person in face of the politics.
*ahem*
posted by Cyrano at 9:39 AM on June 9, 2005
Considering how often you refer to it, I'm surprised you don't have it bookmarked.
what exactly are you planning to do, the very moment she dies?
posted by mkultra at 8:19 AM PST on March 25
I suspect a lot of people are going to smile and smugly think to themselves "we won."
posted by dios at 8:28 AM PST on March 25 (dios+Schiavo+metafilter)
No singing. No dancing. Nor is it particularly difficult to think people might lose track of the person in face of the politics.
*ahem*
posted by Cyrano at 9:39 AM on June 9, 2005
You simply don't get it, do you?
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:38 AM PST on June 9
Well if whatever "it" is, is something I'd have to be like you to "get", then I don't want it.
Look, my point is plain, and I don't think *you* get it. You and assholes like you have turned this site into shit by acting as if it exists for no other purpose than to allow you to air your daily pet peeves and outrages and grind your axe ad nauseam. If you want to abuse the site for your purposes, why on what grounds do you think you can comment on my behavior? At least whatever I do, I don't do it on the front page.
On preview:
Cyrano, I've made that point before and mentioned numerous times that I stand by that comment, but it doesn't seem to matter to our friend the Drama Queen. He seems to think it is supremely damning and has mentioned it incessantly and will continue to do so.
posted by dios at 9:46 AM on June 9, 2005
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:38 AM PST on June 9
Well if whatever "it" is, is something I'd have to be like you to "get", then I don't want it.
Look, my point is plain, and I don't think *you* get it. You and assholes like you have turned this site into shit by acting as if it exists for no other purpose than to allow you to air your daily pet peeves and outrages and grind your axe ad nauseam. If you want to abuse the site for your purposes, why on what grounds do you think you can comment on my behavior? At least whatever I do, I don't do it on the front page.
On preview:
Cyrano, I've made that point before and mentioned numerous times that I stand by that comment, but it doesn't seem to matter to our friend the Drama Queen. He seems to think it is supremely damning and has mentioned it incessantly and will continue to do so.
posted by dios at 9:46 AM on June 9, 2005
The majority of posts these days are nothing more than discrete users' lists of things that they are Outraged over.
You're right. MeFi's totally circling the drain. Oh, how I long for the glory days of November 18, 2004, when every post was truly best of the web.
Mehhhhhhhm-ories... of the way we were....
posted by keswick at 9:46 AM on June 9, 2005
No singing. No dancing.
Close enough, frankly.
Nor is it particularly difficult to think people might lose track of the person in face of the politics.
I call bullshit. His comment was a perfect example of the very thing dios thinks we should be concerned about. Dios' politics aside, it was either a stupid, hateful comment or a troll.
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:48 AM on June 9, 2005
Close enough, frankly.
Nor is it particularly difficult to think people might lose track of the person in face of the politics.
I call bullshit. His comment was a perfect example of the very thing dios thinks we should be concerned about. Dios' politics aside, it was either a stupid, hateful comment or a troll.
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:48 AM on June 9, 2005
You can call bullshit all you want, Alex. I stand by my comment. I think people like yourself, who politicize everything, honestly smiled when the Court had her feeding tube removed and honestly thought to yourself that you had "won." People like you are so invested in your politics that everything is a fight to you and every victory is worth celebrating and every defeat, no matter how slight, is worth lamenting. One has to look no further than the daily list of FPPs to see that it is true.
You can say that I was wrong for thinking that, but it certainly isn't wasn't a disingenuous comment or a troll. I really do belive that pricks like you think that way. And you continual behavior that such a comment is so damning and worthy of scorn is the VERY reason that you DESERVE to be called a Drama Queen at every opportunity.
posted by dios at 9:53 AM on June 9, 2005
You can say that I was wrong for thinking that, but it certainly isn't wasn't a disingenuous comment or a troll. I really do belive that pricks like you think that way. And you continual behavior that such a comment is so damning and worthy of scorn is the VERY reason that you DESERVE to be called a Drama Queen at every opportunity.
posted by dios at 9:53 AM on June 9, 2005
He seems to think it is supremely damning and has mentioned it incessantly and will continue to do so.
You're a smug asshole, dios, and will obviously continue to be a smug asshole to your last days.
You're obviously doing so well here with your continual condescension. I honestly wonder if you behave this way when you're away from the keyboard. In any case, good luck with it.
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:54 AM on June 9, 2005
You're a smug asshole, dios, and will obviously continue to be a smug asshole to your last days.
You're obviously doing so well here with your continual condescension. I honestly wonder if you behave this way when you're away from the keyboard. In any case, good luck with it.
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:54 AM on June 9, 2005
I think people like yourself, who politicize everything, honestly smiled when the Court had her feeding tube removed and honestly thought to yourself that you had "won."
Which is one of many reasons why nearly everyone else on this site thinks you're a total prat. (It's not your politics, despite the poor-me song and dance you put on when someone points out why you're such a prat.)
posted by AlexReynolds at 10:01 AM on June 9, 2005
Which is one of many reasons why nearly everyone else on this site thinks you're a total prat. (It's not your politics, despite the poor-me song and dance you put on when someone points out why you're such a prat.)
posted by AlexReynolds at 10:01 AM on June 9, 2005
God, Dios, Alex, when are you two gonna finally consummate your long-smoldering lust? I mean, it gets annoying to see you guys doing your flirting in every goddamn thread. It's like in the romantic comedies, where they try to establish tension between the leads with verbal sparring, right before they fuck.
posted by klangklangston at 11:20 AM on June 9, 2005
posted by klangklangston at 11:20 AM on June 9, 2005
*fap-fap-fap*
posted by AlexReynolds at 11:23 AM on June 9, 2005
posted by AlexReynolds at 11:23 AM on June 9, 2005
Fuck you you goddamn poltroons, yellow bellied sons of a whore.
on preview, what klangklangston said...get a room.
posted by badger_flammable at 11:29 AM on June 9, 2005
on preview, what klangklangston said...get a room.
posted by badger_flammable at 11:29 AM on June 9, 2005
dios writes "I think people like yourself, who politicize everything, honestly smiled when the Court had her feeding tube removed and honestly thought to yourself that you had 'won.'"
Wow, we can certainly see how you never politicize anything. /sarcasm
posted by clevershark at 12:18 PM on June 9, 2005
Wow, we can certainly see how you never politicize anything. /sarcasm
posted by clevershark at 12:18 PM on June 9, 2005
Oh, I see... you're all trying to dump enough idiotic argumentative shit in this threat to make it one of the worst of the web.
What a finely developed sense of irony you all have! Bravo, MetaTalk, bravo.
posted by Jart at 1:28 PM on June 9, 2005
What a finely developed sense of irony you all have! Bravo, MetaTalk, bravo.
posted by Jart at 1:28 PM on June 9, 2005
Oh man, I left my popcorn over in Son of 9622. No one told me there was a drama fest over here! Hold on, I need snacks for this kind of interpersonal snarkfest.
MeFi may or may not be circling the drain these days, but these arguments have existed since day 2 - at which point people started bitching about how wonderful day 1 had been.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 1:32 PM on June 9, 2005
MeFi may or may not be circling the drain these days, but these arguments have existed since day 2 - at which point people started bitching about how wonderful day 1 had been.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 1:32 PM on June 9, 2005
Well, the first three hours of day 1 were pretty cool, but it went to hell in the afternoon.
posted by anapestic at 1:34 PM on June 9, 2005
posted by anapestic at 1:34 PM on June 9, 2005
Don't worry grapefruit, i ordered a TON of mexican food, there should be enough for everyone.
posted by schyler523 at 4:27 PM on June 9, 2005
posted by schyler523 at 4:27 PM on June 9, 2005
What are you talking about anapestic? The first post on day one was inspired and in a stroke of pure genius didn't contain a link! Then people started linking to stuff and it all turned to shit.
posted by meech at 5:11 PM on June 9, 2005
posted by meech at 5:11 PM on June 9, 2005
Poster posts about enjoying piling on dios.
Poster would pile on again. Excellent piling! A++++
"I really do belive that pricks like you think that way."
Ah, there's part of the problem. Seriously, dios, is this just some sort of masochistic entertainment for you, or are you really that self-obfuscated?
posted by loquacious at 5:31 PM on June 9, 2005
Poster would pile on again. Excellent piling! A++++
"I really do belive that pricks like you think that way."
Ah, there's part of the problem. Seriously, dios, is this just some sort of masochistic entertainment for you, or are you really that self-obfuscated?
posted by loquacious at 5:31 PM on June 9, 2005
This thread is a shame. dios made some good points in his original post, definitely worthy of discussion in their own right.
posted by event at 10:17 PM on June 9, 2005
posted by event at 10:17 PM on June 9, 2005
dios: "this website isn't about the web...for the most part, this is just a discussion forum/board that requires users to try to find some pretext before starting a discussion."
This is a fair point. Calling what goes on around here the best of the web doesn't make it so.
dios: "...FPPs rarely exist for the purpose of bringing forth something and sharing something that people aren't aware of; they primarily exist as a pretext to set the table for a agreement "discussion" about how other users agree how horrible X is. "
Everyone knows the kind of posts dios is talking about. Why? Because we see them all the time.
posted by event at 11:07 PM on June 9, 2005
This is a fair point. Calling what goes on around here the best of the web doesn't make it so.
dios: "...FPPs rarely exist for the purpose of bringing forth something and sharing something that people aren't aware of; they primarily exist as a pretext to set the table for a agreement "discussion" about how other users agree how horrible X is. "
Everyone knows the kind of posts dios is talking about. Why? Because we see them all the time.
posted by event at 11:07 PM on June 9, 2005
Uhm, what? That's a mighty broad paintbrush you're painting that strawman with.
Everyone? We? And you asked permission from whom to speak for the theoretical but fictional "us", when?
I freely admit I come here to discuss things, news, politics, tech, music, art and more.
I'll agree with the point of "for the most part, this is just a discussion forum/board" if we can discard the "requires" and "find some pretext before starting a discussion" parts.
That first part is valid, but the rest of it is probably a textbook example of why people pile on dios and give him shit. His 'debate' is almost always so deeply couched in an insanely paranoid, always defensive, "poor fuckin' me! damn libr'uls!" posturing that it's like trying to swallow a few morsels of cheap milk chocolate wrapped in a huge cake of rancid cesspool leavings. Nasty. And generally not worth it.
He consistently gets his ass handed to him when it comes down to real debate and logic and when people bother to peel away the wrapper of posturing and self-referential framing, and then retreats to the mental safety of thinking the whole site/world/commies is/are against him.
"they primarily exist as a pretext to set the table for a agreement "discussion" about how other users agree how horrible X is"
That just reeks of "Everyone else here agrees with each other but me. It must be a conspiracy!" and worse. There doesn't need to be a pretext or any sort of underhandedness for a large group of people to be like-minded. And the language of "how horrible X is" is indicative of his strangely focused pessimistic and paranoid mindset.
It's pretty well known that a lot of high quality links go by with not much more than a simple [This is good] or two, or a "thanks", and hundreds of bad links get hundreds and hundreds of negative comments.
This isn't a problem of MetaFilter's, it's a problem of Western Culture, if not Human Culture. It's a lot more entertaining for some reason to exercise your critical and analytical thinking skills on something lackluster then it is to do so on something good. Go on. Pick anything you really like and praise the fuck out of it. I beg you.
If there's one thing this world needs now (just after love) it is praise and positivity for people, places and things that truly deserve it. It's just not easy to do for very long, and frankly, gets pretty boring after a while. There's very, very few people I've met that can actually sincerely praise something worthwhile for any length of time - and even then, all of them have sharply-honed critical thinking skills and senses of sarcasm.
"The majority of posts these days are nothing more than discrete users' lists of things that they are Outraged over."
Oh really? Call the pot black much? Then what the hell is it you've been doing all this time, dios, planting wildflowers? All you ever do here is bitch and whine about whatever the fuck it is that you're outraged over. You're either trolling everyone here, including yourself, or you're a real whackjob of dubious mental clarity and stability. Or both.
If only dios could focus all that energetic, sharply-honed criticism and hyperdeveloped (but often malformed) sense of honor and fairness objectively at the world around him as a whole. We'd have an unstoppable cyborg Ralph Nader archetype on our hands.
Yet he fritters away his squalid disappointment on the things that matter the least. So much sound and so little fury.
I also strongly disagree with "FPPs rarely exist for the purpose of bringing forth something and sharing something that people aren't aware of", because I know I still come here for fresh links and content and stuff I'm not aware of. Maybe it's all old links to dios (or whomever else that likes to bitch about MeFi being link-stale), but maybe that's because he/they might need to get out more and stop mainlining the del.icio.us feeds.
If his links are so funky fly and fresh and MeFi so stale, and if he supposedly gives such a huge shit about the site and it's decline, then why the fuck doesn't he quit bitching and post something and school us proper? Shut up and dance. Dance like no one is watching.
But don't ever, ever only sit there to bitch about someone else's dancing. At least they're dancing. Dance or go home. Why else are you here?
posted by loquacious at 2:20 AM on June 10, 2005
Everyone? We? And you asked permission from whom to speak for the theoretical but fictional "us", when?
I freely admit I come here to discuss things, news, politics, tech, music, art and more.
I'll agree with the point of "for the most part, this is just a discussion forum/board" if we can discard the "requires" and "find some pretext before starting a discussion" parts.
That first part is valid, but the rest of it is probably a textbook example of why people pile on dios and give him shit. His 'debate' is almost always so deeply couched in an insanely paranoid, always defensive, "poor fuckin' me! damn libr'uls!" posturing that it's like trying to swallow a few morsels of cheap milk chocolate wrapped in a huge cake of rancid cesspool leavings. Nasty. And generally not worth it.
He consistently gets his ass handed to him when it comes down to real debate and logic and when people bother to peel away the wrapper of posturing and self-referential framing, and then retreats to the mental safety of thinking the whole site/world/commies is/are against him.
"they primarily exist as a pretext to set the table for a agreement "discussion" about how other users agree how horrible X is"
That just reeks of "Everyone else here agrees with each other but me. It must be a conspiracy!" and worse. There doesn't need to be a pretext or any sort of underhandedness for a large group of people to be like-minded. And the language of "how horrible X is" is indicative of his strangely focused pessimistic and paranoid mindset.
It's pretty well known that a lot of high quality links go by with not much more than a simple [This is good] or two, or a "thanks", and hundreds of bad links get hundreds and hundreds of negative comments.
This isn't a problem of MetaFilter's, it's a problem of Western Culture, if not Human Culture. It's a lot more entertaining for some reason to exercise your critical and analytical thinking skills on something lackluster then it is to do so on something good. Go on. Pick anything you really like and praise the fuck out of it. I beg you.
If there's one thing this world needs now (just after love) it is praise and positivity for people, places and things that truly deserve it. It's just not easy to do for very long, and frankly, gets pretty boring after a while. There's very, very few people I've met that can actually sincerely praise something worthwhile for any length of time - and even then, all of them have sharply-honed critical thinking skills and senses of sarcasm.
"The majority of posts these days are nothing more than discrete users' lists of things that they are Outraged over."
Oh really? Call the pot black much? Then what the hell is it you've been doing all this time, dios, planting wildflowers? All you ever do here is bitch and whine about whatever the fuck it is that you're outraged over. You're either trolling everyone here, including yourself, or you're a real whackjob of dubious mental clarity and stability. Or both.
If only dios could focus all that energetic, sharply-honed criticism and hyperdeveloped (but often malformed) sense of honor and fairness objectively at the world around him as a whole. We'd have an unstoppable cyborg Ralph Nader archetype on our hands.
Yet he fritters away his squalid disappointment on the things that matter the least. So much sound and so little fury.
I also strongly disagree with "FPPs rarely exist for the purpose of bringing forth something and sharing something that people aren't aware of", because I know I still come here for fresh links and content and stuff I'm not aware of. Maybe it's all old links to dios (or whomever else that likes to bitch about MeFi being link-stale), but maybe that's because he/they might need to get out more and stop mainlining the del.icio.us feeds.
If his links are so funky fly and fresh and MeFi so stale, and if he supposedly gives such a huge shit about the site and it's decline, then why the fuck doesn't he quit bitching and post something and school us proper? Shut up and dance. Dance like no one is watching.
But don't ever, ever only sit there to bitch about someone else's dancing. At least they're dancing. Dance or go home. Why else are you here?
posted by loquacious at 2:20 AM on June 10, 2005
It's pretty pathetic that people can't even devote half a neuron to thinking about what dios is saying because they hate his politics. "Ooh, look, dios made a nasty comment so he's a hypocrite!" So what? It doesn't matter who makes the point if the point is valid, and I think there's a lot of truth to it. But let's shout him down anyway, because it feels so good.
loquacious, I realize being loquacious is your thing, but it's a little scary how much time and effort you put into ranting at dios there.
posted by languagehat at 6:49 AM on June 10, 2005
loquacious, I realize being loquacious is your thing, but it's a little scary how much time and effort you put into ranting at dios there.
posted by languagehat at 6:49 AM on June 10, 2005
Languagehat, nothing personal, but your defense of this trolling prat is so misguided it is hilarious. Loquacious and Balisong are completely right: if dios had something to say, he'd go beyond FPPs filled with condescension, polemics and cripple jokes. Basically, dios is full of shit, does nothing to contribute to making this site feature the "best of the web", and any complaints he has about this place should be taken in that light until he mends his own house.
*fap* *fap* *fap*
posted by AlexReynolds at 8:15 AM on June 10, 2005
*fap* *fap* *fap*
posted by AlexReynolds at 8:15 AM on June 10, 2005
How meta is this? A thread about the worst of the web becomes one of the worst threads on the web. My head hurts, and I think my ears and nose are bleeding a little.
posted by absalom at 9:39 AM on June 10, 2005
posted by absalom at 9:39 AM on June 10, 2005
His post record is completely irrelevant.
dios: "The majority of posts these days are nothing more than discrete users' lists of things that they are Outraged over."
loquacious, et al.: "dios does it too!" "dios makes crap posts." "dios is pessimistic and paranoid."
These responses, true or not, do not invalidate the original point. This is almost word-for-word what happened in this thread.
posted by event at 9:45 AM on June 10, 2005
dios: "The majority of posts these days are nothing more than discrete users' lists of things that they are Outraged over."
loquacious, et al.: "dios does it too!" "dios makes crap posts." "dios is pessimistic and paranoid."
These responses, true or not, do not invalidate the original point. This is almost word-for-word what happened in this thread.
posted by event at 9:45 AM on June 10, 2005
His post record is completely irrelevant.
Many fail to see the irrelevance in pointing out how a troll complaining about trolling is an issue.
That said, first, he's wrong on many counts, because the real reason he complains about this place is because people are sick of his shenanigans. Secondly, even if he was right, he's as much a cause of his hypothetical problem, which he conveniently forgets to mention.
Meh. This has been argued and the consensus is pretty clear. My advice to you is to stop defending the prat and take up some other more worthy cause.
posted by AlexReynolds at 10:12 AM on June 10, 2005
Many fail to see the irrelevance in pointing out how a troll complaining about trolling is an issue.
That said, first, he's wrong on many counts, because the real reason he complains about this place is because people are sick of his shenanigans. Secondly, even if he was right, he's as much a cause of his hypothetical problem, which he conveniently forgets to mention.
Meh. This has been argued and the consensus is pretty clear. My advice to you is to stop defending the prat and take up some other more worthy cause.
posted by AlexReynolds at 10:12 AM on June 10, 2005
This has been argued and the consensus is pretty clear.
Do you have a link for this bullshit? Or you are just making stuff up again like your mischaracterization of my Schiavo comment in hopes no one calls you on your bullshit. You are becoming increasingly inscrutable, so maybe you will get away without retort because people will just give up.
When was a consensus reached? And what was the consensus? Who was part of this consensus? Was it a straw poll? Or are just relying on your characterization of whoever yelled the loudest?
________
Why doesn't someone else cut and paste my comment as their own to see if Alex can present an actual defense of the shit that Metafilter has become without addressing me. I doubt he can. He should, though, since he is one of the worst offenders of making this place nothing more than a place where he can repeat the same whines daily and let us know how Outraged he is with current events.
posted by dios at 11:30 AM on June 10, 2005
Do you have a link for this bullshit? Or you are just making stuff up again like your mischaracterization of my Schiavo comment in hopes no one calls you on your bullshit. You are becoming increasingly inscrutable, so maybe you will get away without retort because people will just give up.
When was a consensus reached? And what was the consensus? Who was part of this consensus? Was it a straw poll? Or are just relying on your characterization of whoever yelled the loudest?
________
Why doesn't someone else cut and paste my comment as their own to see if Alex can present an actual defense of the shit that Metafilter has become without addressing me. I doubt he can. He should, though, since he is one of the worst offenders of making this place nothing more than a place where he can repeat the same whines daily and let us know how Outraged he is with current events.
posted by dios at 11:30 AM on June 10, 2005
*fap fap fap*
posted by AlexReynolds at 12:55 PM on June 10, 2005
posted by AlexReynolds at 12:55 PM on June 10, 2005
Event, you seem to have a lot invested in defending someone who does hit-and-runs in other people's threads, someone who sends harassing emails to other people, someone who trolls at every other opportunity, someone who makes fun of the handicapped, someone who belittles and condescends to anyone who disagrees with him to any degree, and ultimately someone who is whining entirely about what his whole body of contribution here at Metafilter has so far represented.
So what's up? Serious question.
posted by AlexReynolds at 1:37 PM on June 10, 2005
So what's up? Serious question.
posted by AlexReynolds at 1:37 PM on June 10, 2005
I am not defending dios in any way shape or form. I don't care what his posting history is, I don't care what his politics are, and I don't care what he thinks of the handicapped.
What I DO care about, and what I've already said, is that dios made several very good points in his original post and they've been ignored in favor of a pile on. Let's just skip the discussion that could benefit MetaFilter and pile on dios, benefiting no one.
Don't you see what it says about you that you're trying to refute what dios said by telling us that he makes fun of handicapped people? There hasn't been a single post in this thread that rationally addresses his post, and it's just a shame.
posted by event at 2:18 PM on June 10, 2005
What I DO care about, and what I've already said, is that dios made several very good points in his original post and they've been ignored in favor of a pile on. Let's just skip the discussion that could benefit MetaFilter and pile on dios, benefiting no one.
Don't you see what it says about you that you're trying to refute what dios said by telling us that he makes fun of handicapped people? There hasn't been a single post in this thread that rationally addresses his post, and it's just a shame.
posted by event at 2:18 PM on June 10, 2005
I think the fact that he is a bully and a troll negates any "rational points" in his post. He's made no effort to take the chip off his shoulder since he started posting here, as he has so amply demonstrated even within this thread. In that light, his complaints about this site are just more trolling thuggery. If he wants to improve this place, he can shut up, walk the talk and start posting best-of-the-web FPPs. Until then, he's a oafish bully who, in many people's view, deserves no one's benefit of the doubt. It's a shame that you choose to ignore his continual attitude problem.
posted by AlexReynolds at 2:28 PM on June 10, 2005
posted by AlexReynolds at 2:28 PM on June 10, 2005
What you're doing is the very definition of an ad hominem attack. I've linked to two different definitions. Here's a third. I've explained it in my own words. But you're not listening to reason, you ignore it and attack dios again. In fact, is that not what a troll does?
posted by event at 3:50 PM on June 10, 2005
posted by event at 3:50 PM on June 10, 2005
The wheels the bus go round and round round and round round and round...who fucking cares!
Dios is usually a prick, but who cares? AlexReynolds cares, sometimes too much, and people have a snarking field day on his ass...
posted by schyler523 at 4:04 PM on June 10, 2005
Dios is usually a prick, but who cares? AlexReynolds cares, sometimes too much, and people have a snarking field day on his ass...
posted by schyler523 at 4:04 PM on June 10, 2005
Hey Chicken Little? Is the sky still falling?
*flings poo*
posted by loquacious at 8:23 PM on June 10, 2005
*flings poo*
posted by loquacious at 8:23 PM on June 10, 2005
I think the fact that he is a bully and a troll negates any "rational points" in his post.
In the history of all the Meta's, I'll wager there's only about a half-dozen or so threads that qualify as legendary. And you were the Outbreak Monkey for one of the most recent.
How many of those 800 or so posts were you just posting to provoke a response? That's pretty much the definition of a troll, isn't it? It shows either a remarkable lack of self-awareness or an equal level of self-absorbtion for you to throw someone else's comments back at them and declare (with a consensus, no less!) that the discussion is closed.
So does that mean all "rational points" you've made from there on out should be negated?
posted by Cyrano at 10:57 PM on June 10, 2005
In the history of all the Meta's, I'll wager there's only about a half-dozen or so threads that qualify as legendary. And you were the Outbreak Monkey for one of the most recent.
How many of those 800 or so posts were you just posting to provoke a response? That's pretty much the definition of a troll, isn't it? It shows either a remarkable lack of self-awareness or an equal level of self-absorbtion for you to throw someone else's comments back at them and declare (with a consensus, no less!) that the discussion is closed.
So does that mean all "rational points" you've made from there on out should be negated?
posted by Cyrano at 10:57 PM on June 10, 2005
People just like to be right.
It's one of those... personality things...
posted by Balisong at 11:15 PM on June 10, 2005
It's one of those... personality things...
posted by Balisong at 11:15 PM on June 10, 2005
How many of those 800 or so posts were you just posting to provoke a response? That's pretty much the definition of a troll, isn't it?
How many of those 800 or so were me trying to defend myself from people who had nothing to do with the issue in the first place, who got their impression of the situation from someone who didn't apologize to apologize, but framed his apology in such a way as to deliberately make me look like the bad guy? Is that trolling, or is that something entirely else?
Does that mean all "rational points" you've made from there on out should be negated?
I don't know. I think I'll let my behavior since then, and the number of people who respect and appreciate my contributions since then (especially in AskMe) speak for itself.
Near as many can tell, Dios is still an asshole. Apparently most people believe I am not. You're welcome to say otherwise — that's your right — but I'm happy to say that my posts indicate otherwise.
So unless you want to keep beating up on me, it's apples and oranges. You don't want to let it go, that's your problem, not mine.
Dios is a bully, a prick, and a troll. When he takes the chip off his shoulder, and starts contributing a little, maybe he won't be a bully, a prick, and a troll. As I've told him before, that's up to him.
posted by AlexReynolds at 1:40 AM on June 11, 2005
How many of those 800 or so were me trying to defend myself from people who had nothing to do with the issue in the first place, who got their impression of the situation from someone who didn't apologize to apologize, but framed his apology in such a way as to deliberately make me look like the bad guy? Is that trolling, or is that something entirely else?
Does that mean all "rational points" you've made from there on out should be negated?
I don't know. I think I'll let my behavior since then, and the number of people who respect and appreciate my contributions since then (especially in AskMe) speak for itself.
Near as many can tell, Dios is still an asshole. Apparently most people believe I am not. You're welcome to say otherwise — that's your right — but I'm happy to say that my posts indicate otherwise.
So unless you want to keep beating up on me, it's apples and oranges. You don't want to let it go, that's your problem, not mine.
Dios is a bully, a prick, and a troll. When he takes the chip off his shoulder, and starts contributing a little, maybe he won't be a bully, a prick, and a troll. As I've told him before, that's up to him.
posted by AlexReynolds at 1:40 AM on June 11, 2005
dios may be a bully, a prick, and a troll. He may also be a serial killer, a mass murderer, and a child pornographer. None of these has any bearing on the weight of his argument.
Your constant repetition of these statements make you the troll in this thread. Go back and reread your posts. With no exaggeration your sole contribution to this thread is, "dios is a bully, a prick, and a troll."
posted by event at 8:35 AM on June 11, 2005
Your constant repetition of these statements make you the troll in this thread. Go back and reread your posts. With no exaggeration your sole contribution to this thread is, "dios is a bully, a prick, and a troll."
posted by event at 8:35 AM on June 11, 2005
AlexReynolds, we've established that you're a troll. Bully and prick are both subjective, but I guarantee there is somebody out there who thinks you're a prick. But if you're a prick and a troll, why should I give weight to anything you have to say?
posted by event at 8:41 AM on June 11, 2005
posted by event at 8:41 AM on June 11, 2005
dios may be a bully, a prick, and a troll. He may also be a serial killer, a mass murderer, and a child pornographer. None of these has any bearing on the weight of his argument.
Event, your inability to see the irony in what you've just said is the reason why you're getting ignored from now on.
posted by AlexReynolds at 10:59 AM on June 11, 2005
Event, your inability to see the irony in what you've just said is the reason why you're getting ignored from now on.
posted by AlexReynolds at 10:59 AM on June 11, 2005
How many of those 800 or so were me trying to defend myself from people who had nothing to do with the issue in the first place.
Fair enough. But you didn't exactly help matters much. Nor does dois' tone of late help his cause any. I guess it's your, for lack of a better term, obsession with quoting his past statements in in threads, when you've got such a checkered history yourself, that I object to.
It's not a beating up on you thing (and, saying this without mailce, how is a statement like that any different from the persecution complex you lay on dios?) I would have taken this to email, but the contact page on your website is horked. ;)
posted by Cyrano at 9:37 PM on June 11, 2005
Fair enough. But you didn't exactly help matters much. Nor does dois' tone of late help his cause any. I guess it's your, for lack of a better term, obsession with quoting his past statements in in threads, when you've got such a checkered history yourself, that I object to.
It's not a beating up on you thing (and, saying this without mailce, how is a statement like that any different from the persecution complex you lay on dios?) I would have taken this to email, but the contact page on your website is horked. ;)
posted by Cyrano at 9:37 PM on June 11, 2005
Man, if you want Worst of the Web, check out Anne Couoltterr's website. Wow, what an opinionated person.
posted by gramschmidt at 12:36 PM on June 27, 2005
posted by gramschmidt at 12:36 PM on June 27, 2005
And why does he keep appearing?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:47 PM on July 7, 2005
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:47 PM on July 7, 2005
Who-wha?
posted by gramschmidt at 10:14 AM on July 8, 2005
posted by gramschmidt at 10:14 AM on July 8, 2005
This comment was put into Preview at 5:16PM PST on July 8.
This thread was officially closed at 5:15PM PST on July 8.
posted by wendell at 5:17 PM on July 8, 2005
This thread was officially closed at 5:15PM PST on July 8.
posted by wendell at 5:17 PM on July 8, 2005
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
But come on now, we all know the worst site on the internet is BikerFox. The images still haunt me.
posted by fenriq at 5:17 PM on June 8, 2005