October 2011 Archives (all archives)
October 31
Once more into the breach: DaShiv photos, and a video.
Death is the new black
Just in time for Halloween, MeFi Mag is back with deadly issue seven, in PRINT or free PDF.
Deadline for the next issue (SEX!) is November 15. This month, sub means SUBMIT! [more inside]
Steve Jobs obit threads
It isn't a mod issue, really, but since there are now functionally two Steve Jobs obit threads, would it be possible or desirable for the community to relocate arguments about his moral worth and/or Apple's products to one rather than the other? [more inside]
I already asked pb about this login problem
Does anyone else have this problem with Firefox? [more inside]
October 30
I'm kidding, I'm kidding.
I just got an Android phone. So everyone has to stop making good posts so I don't get fired. [more inside]
halloween fun
If you could dress-up as a television character for halloween who would it be? [more inside]
October 29
Duck! Or Get the Popcorn.
NaNoWriMo 2011!
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is starting in just two days. Are you participating in the blitz for 50,000 words of literary genius (or something)? [more inside]
AskMe rocks.
Every now and then I want to ask a question on AskMe and find that someone has already asked it in more or less exactly the way I needed it to be asked. (Obviously, the search function at the top of the new question window works). This is a thank you thread! [more inside]
October 28
Mixed Messages
This FPP was deleted by a junior mod (restless_nomad) well after a senior mod (cortex) made a comment. Is cortex's participation not a tacit approval (in a "this can stay" sense) of the post?
Self referential posts
Recent Activity Pony Power
Long, long time lurker, first time Pony... Any chance for Recent Activity to include the (# new) comment link at the top of each section? [more inside]
Who favorited my comments the most?
I feel like I am probably missing a very obvious answer to this question, but is there a way to see which users have most frequently favorited my comments? [more inside]
When is a self link not a self link/
Do you think it's okay to make a post about a band that I'll be playing with? [more inside]
Saying thanks for the allergy guidance
Just wanting to say "Thank You." [more inside]
Do Best Answers affect AskMe life?
Does the presence of a marked Best Answer in an AskMe keep it alive shorter or longer? [more inside]
October 27
Hyperbole and a barf
Maybe a post about depression isn't the best place to pull the "depression is self-centred" schtick, even if it's to make some sort of point. [more inside]
October 26
Even less okay.
Hi empath, I know you'll come hang out in this thread because you have a lot of downtime at work, and maybe then people over in this thread will get to discuss topics other than your defensive and overstated-to-the-point-of-redundancy opinions on what minorities have a right to feel offended by.
Sure, it's advertising, that's the point...
Deleting a thread on Loudsauce as 'advertising' seems off kilter.
I've put off posting about the service because its founder is a friend and I participate heavily in several campaigns - but I would totally rank it as 'best of the Web'
post delete (occupy metatalk)
October 26, 2011 1:33 AM Subscribe
Tear Gas is fired at Occupy Oakland(twitter hashtag search). NY Times live blog comments.
posted by Shit Parade (5 comments total) [!]
This post was deleted for the following reason: Metafilter is not a news site, and isn't the best spot for reporting every single new development on the OWS story; if OP or someone wants to work this news into a more in-depth MeFi sort of thing, that might work. -- taz [more inside]
October 25
Followup tab pony?
Could we maybe have a "followup" tab in AskMe? [more inside]
Apologies, MeFi.
Lazy single-link post, plus calling you stupid.
Apologies. [more inside]
A Hyperlink Style Guide..
How do you all decide which words to link when you make a post? I've noticed that everyone seems to have different styles (linking full sentences, or phrases, or individual words, site names, page titles, and so on). Has anyone put a great deal of thought into it or does everyone just kind of play it by ear?
Something seems slightly wrong with the design of the posting page.
Something seems slightly wrong with the design of the posting page. [more inside]
Secret Quonsar 2012: Let's Talk About It
It's getting to be time for Secret Quonsar (a gift swap that happens in December among a subset of Mefites. Anyone can join if he or she wants to) again. I'm willing to do it again, having learned a lot from last year's events. If people would rather I not do it, send me an memail (or call me out here!) and if I get a critical mass, I'll step down. I want to talk about the two big issues we had last year. [more inside]
Where has everyone gone?
Has site commenting become less frequent? It seems like threads are shorter on average these days, especially in the last few months. Is this due to the loss of a few prolific people?
Metafilter: blah blah blah
What are some of the best "Metafilter: description" phrases? [more inside]
October 24
66: Better Know a taz
Podcast 66 is almost two hours of jabbering, starting with a 30min interview with taz our newest moderator. Then we dilly dally about all things MetaFilter. It was recorded on Friday, October 21st. [more inside]
Everyone needs a hug.
I think MeFi needs more hugs. You can join me if you want. [more inside]
No foot puns, just a .
Follow-up to post about mystery shoe-clad feet washing up on shore in the Pacific Northwest: The majority have been identified as belonging to aquatic suicides (e.g. bridge jumpers). [more inside]
They can drive you crazy, if you let them
October 23
Inline player problem
Can I get some confirmation that it's just me or not? On my iPad 1 and iPhone 4 (software version 5.0 on both) the inline video player displays incorrectly. [more inside]
Profile page image self destructing
Second profile picture this week showing pixellation or blurring of some sort across the bottom about 8mm in height. [more inside]
October 22
Need help with the Google+ M.F. Taters account
I need help managing the Google+ M.F. Taters account and master list of MeFites on Google+. [more inside]
October 21
... and I feel fine.
Hey, remember on the blue last spring when we talked about how Harold Camping's Family Radio Worldwide bought all those billboards last spring announcing the end of the world for May 21? And then when that didn't happen, he disappeared and then later resurfaced to refine his prediction? Well, today was it: October 21, 2011 -- the end of the world. [more inside]
Halloween comment illustrated
This popular comment about reverse trick-or-treating was illustrated here (but not attributed to np312 or MetaFilter {that I could see}).
Glitch
Could we add Glitch to the profile social apps? There's already a MetaFilter group there and there are a lot of social aspects to the game. The more people you know in the game, the more fun it is. Thanks!
Orionid meteor shower
I've used my own post for today, but maybe somebody should post about the orionid meteor shower, before it peeks tomorrow morning.
Did you actually read the question?
It's not helpful to answer a question you haven't read. It's driving me nuts that people don't bother to understand what's being asked, what the situation is, or what the OP is actually saying. [more inside]
October 20
Single Link, No More
Is it just me or has the number of single-link entries increased drastically of late? And if that's the case, how can we get it back to the old way of links-rich entries?
Me MeMail MeTa
Pony Request: MeMail 'Sent Mail' Forwarding [more inside]
He's baaaack.
hooray for readability!
hey! Cool new triangle linked comment highlight! [more inside]
How can we reduce the number of similar comments?
I've been noticing more and more lately that many people who comment in a thread are not reading the thread very closely, and as a result they end up repeating things that other people have already said. This was especially apparent in this thread about the animal escape in Ohio, but it's by no means the only example. Can we do a better job? [more inside]
October 19
MetaFilter Quilting Bee
Let's start a MetaFilter quilting bee! No previous quilting experience needed (I've only been sewing for a month, let alone quilting): just an ability to sew pieces of fabric together. [more inside]
Correcting assumptions in AskMe?
Drug Awareness Hump day
About a year and a half ago, I asked this question trying to identify a dj-mix I had heard on the radio. It remained my great personal unsolved ask-me-stery, the only Q that truly stumped the masses - until a few hours ago. Praise ooklala! [more inside]
October 18
Peddle Your Wares Elsewhere
I'm fairly certain that Matt has to approve posts in the Projects section, so I'm unsure of how this post made the cut. The user has only one other contribution from earlier today and it's related to the site he's pushing.
October 17
Can I get a witness?
The offending link is, thankfully, gone, but I'd like a clarifying ruling from the mods on the policy of linking to user's private facebook (or G+, or what have you) discussions about other users, if that's not too much trouble. [more inside]
Kill the fat guy or not thought experiment post?
Hey, anyone remember that Metafilter post about a thought experiment involving a fat guy and whether you should push him off a bridge or front of a train to save a bunch of other people? If so, what's the link to the post? I searched under "thought experiment" and "philosophy" but couldn't find it.
Improving links to specific comments
Pony request: visual indicator of a linked comment or answer. [more inside]
Save a click, spoil a user
Could Recent Activity include the date the post was made? [more inside]
Maybe I'm just too lazy
Pony Request: Clickable calendar dates (on the blue) [more inside]
October 16
Spit it out, please.
Mods, I love you, and I have no beef with you, but the moderation in this thread is so oblique that I can't tell if it's aimed it me or someone else. Could you clarify please? [more inside]
Hi Roy. Love you on WWDTM!
mefi atc swapping group?
I know there are artists, hobbyists, and crafters among the Mefi members. Are any swapping ATCs? [more inside]
Thank you for existing, and for Ask's habit of suggesting therapy.
I decided to take the common advice AskMeFi gives and seek therapy (again) to get my SSRI's changed. [more inside]
October 14
We Could've Hit the Bigtimes
A fairly popular thread on the Blue of a month or so ago has been picked up by Warner Brothers. No credit to us -- that goes, rightfully, to the original Reddit thread, but fun to see all the same.
Popular Favorites Usability
I love the Popular Favorites page but maybe it could use a little work? It seems like it would be easier for people to follow if the trucated comments had a [Read More] link. Also, the titles of the posts on the left don't look like links, they are the same color as the text, maybe a [Read] link or color change or something there too? [more inside]
October 13
where, oh where
What happened to ashley801? It appears that her account is disabled. [more inside]
Pony Request: Require some additional info for Ask
Pony Request for Ask: Additional info *required* prior to asking a question? [more inside]
October 12
An infinite MeFi sidebar.
Monkey See Metafilter
MeFi's own Linda_Holmes gives us a shout-out for yesterday's book burning thread on NPR's Monkey See Blog.
This is why we have favorites, isn't it?
Working out while at work? I didn't imagine that post did I? [more inside]
October 11
WTF is a rotato?
Two good peas in a pod
I'd like to thank peagood for writing two sidebar-worthy treatises on completely different topics in the space of eight days. [more inside]
I'd love to know what others think is fantastic.
Pony request. Could we have a page view that would show threads and comments that have been flagged as "fantastic"? [more inside]
Loveletter askme?
Love letter ideas?
I'm sure I saw something in AskMe about great ideas for sending sweet (cheap) things to your LDR cutie, but loveletter as a tag aint doing it. Can you help me out?
Encryption Drive != Encrypted Drive
I realized when writing the ioerror post that, given the unrest this year, we should be encouraging people to use more encrypted communications whenever reasonable. How about a metafilter encryption pledge drive? [more inside]
Stop deleting comments.
Leukemia story makes (inter)national headlines, but is deleted from mefi
Maybe it was not written dispassionately enough, but a post I feel is newsworthy was deleted - please weigh in? [more inside]
rar bad idea may become bad law
Is this a good reason to delete a fpp: Can we maybe have this discussion once something has happened and not "rar bad idea may become bad law"? [more inside]
October 10
Metafilter Stanford Study Group
Interest in joining a Metafilter Study Group(s) for the now Stanford Online Courses? (Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Databases) [more inside]
How much use does MeFi Jobs get?
How much use does MeFi Jobs get? [more inside]
Pony Pony
October 9
The sun never sets on mathowie's birthday!
October 8
Yes she does, but she's working on it
The painfully brilliant and beautiful blog/autobiography/comic strip I Do Not Have An Eating Disorder featured here previously stopped publication for a while (the reason is disclosed in the blog) but has now resumed. I cannot possibly recommend it highly enough. Here's a bookmark for the first page; a bookmark for the blog as it stood at the time of the FPP; and the most recent strip.
How about a "best answer" tally in profiles under the "favorites" tally?
How about a "best answer" tally in profiles under the "favorites" tally? [more inside]
Pony Request
Pony request: blockquote button on the text entry box next to "B" "I" and "link". [more inside]
Where have all the new posts gone?
I've been looking for distraction for quite some time, but checking metafilter regularly for the last five hours has yielded nothing - just KernType lingering at the top. No new posts. Very disheartening. But it did lead me to wonder - what's the longest period of time between new metafilter posts that has occurred in recent years? All time? Same questions for ask and meta, though at least in my limited experience there's very little downtime between ask questions and there can be days without a meta post.
HUGGGGGS
I feel the need to schmoopy. Thank you, MeFi, for being there for me during the hard times. And the less hard times, but who needs praise for sticking around when things are easy, eh? [more inside]
October 7
Stars vs. Staves On Mod Names
Stars vs. Staves? [more inside]
Meta: we like crying babies
Problems with Ask parenting-thread deletions. [more inside]
Please help us buy your books.
So, I was reading the writer's block post, and I had a thought....is there a central repository of all of the published writers here? I'm a pretty big book buyer, and I'd happily support the authors here. [more inside]
Reddit vs Metafilter - London Oct 10th
Reddit has discovered that the London Mefites are going to a pub quiz at the Hat and Tun on 10th Oct, and are proposing to 'hand their asses to them', along with alien signs, hats, vuvuzelas, etc.
The gauntlet has been thrown, Mefites, and we must respond with overwhelming pancakes. [more inside]
October 6
Google Plus sharing button
Pony Request: Can we have a google plus sharing button besides twitter and facebook, please.
MeFi stream graphs updated
A few years back I posted some stream graph visualizations of MeFi user activity. cortex pointed out that these had fallen off of the web at some point, so I took the opportunity to update the images through 2011. [more inside]
War of the Wor(l)ds
As part of a test of the beta version of a Web project I've been working on, MeFites The Whelk and robocop is bleeding are going to throw down in a half-hour no-words-barred fiction writing battle next Tuesday at Fiction Fights! [more inside]
Bad grades
So, to this Askme, I posted this:
You do realize, don't you, I guess you even said it, that "'Analyze' something" is a horrible assignment. And though you said it, you still are looking for ways to get off the hook here. I know, I'm telling you things you've already said you don't need to hear, tough. 300 level, juniors, one step beyond sophomoric confidence (often that's a big step into a deep abyss), and you want creativity? Without reassurance? Really? Go in on Monday, or tomorrow if it's an MWF class and write a big "F" on the board - then tell them that's your grade. You still get off the hook in away you are trying to avoid letting them off, you don't have to make these asinine decisions, and the grade won't count against you the way it would them. Be honest with your kids (yeah, your and kids), it will make you a better teacher, and I've spent a lot of time on both sides of different level classrooms, and screwed up a ton too.And it was deleted. I know he admitted that he made a mistake, and didn't want to hear about it, I don't like hearing about my mistakes either, but the asker won't admit the mistake to his own students, which is the real step he needs to take. Is the only allowed answers the ones that say, "Poor, baby, hears how you escape responsibility and screw your students that did their best"?
Who's that greaser?
A few years someone made an FPP of an actor doing just the worst monologue ever. He was dressed like a greaser, but the video looked like it was from the 80s. Anyone have a link to the FPP or remember anything about it? [more inside]
October 5
Who was Hitler before Hitler before Who Was Hitler Before Hitler?
Who was Hitler before Hitler? Asked and answered in Askme five years ago, asked and answered in Slate today, hung lazily on Hank Williams II's recent reference to the Moustachioed One. [more inside]
The Oxford Handbook of Eye Movements
So the Amanda Knox thread has been pretty successfully trolled in the exact same way twice now, the first time apparently by a user operating under a secondary account. So, hey, are nerkul and fraac the same people? and could they knock it off?
The Wheel, now on sale!
Remember robocop is bleeding's masterful (and fictional) story about The Wheel? Ladies, gentlemen, children: Meet the real-life Consequence Spinner. [more inside]
Wired on Metafilter
So yesterday there were three separate FPPs linking to this month's Wired magazine. I'm not criticizing the posts (the discussions were interesting, the additional links in one of them were informative, etc.), I just find it odd. Was there any relation between the posts, or was it just random? [more inside]
October 4
Human Stain-Ing in November
It has been a month, so this is a quick reminder of upcoming MeTa Book Club discussion of Phillip Roth's The Human Stain on November 9, on MetaChat. Here's the prior post with all links and info.
Staff Markers in MetaTalk
We just added (staff) markers in the bylines here in MetaTalk if the commenter is a mod. [more inside]
if you don't have something nice to say
I am just curious regarding this post, how exactly it could be revised to be acceptable? Is the horror of the topic itself simply not appropriate for MeFi, or is linking to some vague news descriptions but not repeating them or posting the source material what's desired?
October 3
I Can't Wait for my Teaching Evaluations
My professor asked the class which of us are racist. [more inside]
Educated Guess
"Five years ago, I joined MetaFilter. MetaFilter began as—and primarily remains—an online space for members to share interesting links and comment on them. Period, end of sentence. But a few specialized subgroups have developed, including one of my favorite places on the entire internet: AskMetaFilter." —Liz Entman Harper, Editor/Stylist at The Morning News. [more inside]
A plea.
This has turned into one of the worst threads related to health, obesity and body image I've seen around here in ages. Can we please not generalize to assume people who are overweight have some sort of mental instability, gluttony and/or poor self or impulse control? It's rather ugly. Thank you.
October 2
Please Tag Your Advert Posts As Such
Posts about adverts are controversial on Metafilter. Some people think adverts are ok. Others find them intrinsically distasteful. Mystery meat posts that turn out to be 'hey look at this great advert' and nothing more can lead to derails and nasty arguments over whether or not using Metafilter to spread advertising in this way is acceptable or not. Accurate tagging of such posts with 'advert' or 'advertisement' could avoid this. [more inside]
Good posts on grar topics
I'd like to see a list of Metafilter posts about potentially dangerous topics that led to respectful, interesting conversations. [more inside]
Uimitoarele Aventuri ale Muschetarilor
What is the official guideline on posts in thematic series? How do MeFites feel about them? [more inside]
Ask Metafilter search result page looks bad in iOS Safari
iPod touch er, 4.2.1. In safari, ask.metafilter in-page search results have a white background with orange text. [more inside]
October 1
Would credentials make AskMe more useful?
Credentials. What about them? Are they useful? [more inside]