February 2015 Archives (all archives)
February 28
Should searching a sub-site make all search boxes go to the subsite?
Here's how I inevitably search Ask Metafilter:
- Click on "AskMeFi".
- Type a search in the search box.
- Realize I want to search for something else.
- Type a search in the top right (original) search box.
- Realize I've searched MetaFilter because I used the wrong box.
February 27
Mefite Amazon reviews of The Dress on Vox's famous website
I just wanted to give a shoutout to naju and NoraReed for having Amazon reviews quoted in this article from Vox about The Dress.
If other mefites were also featured, I apologize for not recognizing your username.
pdfs, the silent killer...
Small feature request: can we have pdfs mark themselves as such automatically? [more inside]
February 26
Modern theme with new post counter? Yes we can!
With help from pb, I've put together a Greasemonkey userscript to display the old "x new posts and comments since your last visit" message that's been removed from the new Modern Theme. [more inside]
February 24
#WomensMarch
I'm issuing a #WomensMarch* Challenge - can we add 100 extra FFPs by women in the month of March? [more inside]
New HTML Buttons in the Modern Theme
This is no longer a test. We just added new bold, italic, and link buttons to comment forms in the modern theme. [more inside]
Special snowflake question inside
I'm interested in the etymology of the descriptor 'snowflake', where it refers to a person stating inwardly unique emotions or situations. This has arisen out of finding a strangely amusing definition through a work task, but I can't find the root or origin of 'snowflake' as it is used on MetaFilter. [more inside]
February 23
Have there ever been any posts on the Blue you found too late?
I stumbled across the works of the poet Mark Strand very recently, and to my sadness found he had died not long ago. I found the MetaFilter thread in his memory and wanted to add a comment in memoriam about a very touching poem of his, as other MeFites had indeed done, but the thread was closed. So now I'm wondering: are there any threads on the Blue that you want to add to, but the thread is closed and perhaps on a subject that is unlikely to be raised again? [more inside]
February 22
Can we focus more on the intent of a post, and less on the phrasing?
It seems to me that people are often attacked over a poor choice of words, while the rest of their post goes unacknowledged. [more inside]
February 20
Splinters of Memory Keep Poking Me
"All my life I’ve been visited by unexpected flashes of memory unrelated to anything taking place at the moment."
– Roger Ebert
There was a MeFi or AskMeFi post on this topic some years ago. Many a MeFite was relieved to learn that it isn't an uncommon thing. I neglected to favorite this wonderful post and would like to see it again. Can someone help? Many thanks. I'll remember you -- when I least expect it.
Testing New HTML Buttons in the Modern Theme
Since we launched the modern theme, we've heard many times that the HTML bold, italic, and link buttons below comment forms don't seem to fit the new design. We're testing out some new buttons in this thread. [more inside]
Too Much False Rape?
Lately, I feel like there have been a lot of FPPs concerning false rape and related topics in the past few weeks. In addition to the one today , we had one on Emma Sulkowicz recently centered around an article arguing for the innocence of her rapist, one on a highly dramatic "false rape" trial in Toronto as well as a similar situation in Stanford, and one on an article arguing against more proactive approaches to campus rape. [more inside]
February 18
So, what would be the fallout of a MeFi security breach?
Are my embarrassing anonymous questions permanently associated with my regular account? I think I used a credit card to pay for my registration; is my credit card information (and thus real name and address) still on record? [more inside]
February 17
Being kind about framing
Sometimes bad framing can make a discussion instantly go pear shaped. I would ask other users to pause and try to give links at least a cursory read-through before responding to solely what is written on the front page. Especially when your response is overridingly negative. Even a post with bad framing can have content that will generate quality discussion. [more inside]
February 16
FPP about a "hotel" in NYC or brooklyn?
I've spent several long sessions of google hunting(with site:metafilter.com, etc) for an fpp from the past few years about a guy who worked for a shady "hotel" in new york or brooklyn that erroneously rented apartments, then put them up on airbnb... [more inside]
February 14
Keeping my word
I said I would report back when I got my letter of glitter filled hate. Unfortunately, I'm a day late and didn't make it before the thread closed! [more inside]
Discoverability of My Fanfare
I was pumped at the not so recent announcement that there would be a "my Fanfare" way to follow discussions on Fanfare, but I totally failed to find it and only just now did. I suspect this is a usability problem that could be fixed. [more inside]
February 13
Is this a queue?
noun
1.
BRITISH
a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed.
[more inside]
Curated Metafilter Store?
So currently:
1. any Amazon links posted onsite get a Metafilter affiliate url added to them.
2. We have the Metafilter mall of stuff made by us.
3. We have the Metafilter shirt store over at TopatoCo.
4. There are offsite collections of 'most popular' books on AskMe.
None of these are particularly obvious to find on (or off) the site. Why not have a real grown-up 'store' which could house all of the above, as well as a lightly curated collection of 'most popular' recommendations for stuff on AskMetafilter? This would aggregate the suggestions to make them more useful and browsable to members.
None of these are particularly obvious to find on (or off) the site. Why not have a real grown-up 'store' which could house all of the above, as well as a lightly curated collection of 'most popular' recommendations for stuff on AskMetafilter? This would aggregate the suggestions to make them more useful and browsable to members.
February 12
Random questions within AskMe categories
From what I can tell, the last improvement to the Random option was allowing users to search for random posts within their favorites. I have always dreamed of having the option to pull up random AskMe questions within a specific category archive. (When I want to get my human relations fix on, I don't feel like wading through computer questions from 10 years ago.) Is this something that would be easy enough to implement? Is anyone else interested in this?
February 10
Podcast Posts: Now Open Forever
Our recent discussion of thread closing got us thinking: why do Podcast threads close on the same schedule as other MetaTalk threads? We changed that today. Podcast threads in MetaTalk are now open to comments forever. Here's a handy list of those threads.
February 9
4 millions and millions
The 4,000,000th answer was posted to Ask MetaFilter today. No bigs.
Emoji in Metafilter posts
This isn't so much a complaint about emoji being present in a front page post or even in the title of a front page post. Mostly this is a comment about a micro-trend that's been surfacing where a front page post title consists only of emoji characters, or even just a single character with no context given in text. [more inside]
Can we add more options for the Contacts' relationship categories?
I find the options in the Contacts form for relationships somewhat limiting. I know this is trivial but I can't help thinking it could be awesomer. [more inside]
Annie Hall/Marshall Mcluhan moment in Stubbs the Zombie thread
So there's a post about the videogame and soundtrack to Stubbs the Zombie. Someone complains about the "dance off" feature. The creator of the game, having joined Metafilter seven years ago but never having posted before, comes to the thread and explains his design choice.
February 8
Open For Business
I just realized that MeFi project threads never close. Is that intentional? Why aren't other threads like that?
Why are we promoting Daesh on MetaFilter?
Why is this post allowed on MetaFilter? Everything ISIS does is aimed at propaganda and promoting their cause. By post this link MetaFilter is furthering the cause of ISIS. There is nothing worthwhile to discuss, and this post is a form of violence.
February 6
What are Meta's Values?
On its face, this site appears to be an instantiation of some of the best promises the internet has for humanity. For example: an open forum for collaboration, exchange of ideas and information, expression of unfettered art, science, and journalism. Central and vital to all of these things is freedom of speech. Anathema to these ideals is the way this site seems to be run, with censorship being a very common occurrence, I have noticed. [more inside]
Our long chatfilter nightmare is over
February 5
MeFi Cross Stitch Samplers?
So I was on my profile page, and accidentally hit the "Pin It" button on my browser.
The Pinterest window that popped up suggested just one rather surprising image to pin. [more inside]
February 4
Did Mefi make you fan of any of 'Mefi's Own' ??
Have you discovered any artists / writers / musicians / insert-artform-here, via Metafilter who are bone fide 'Mefi's Own', that you are now big fans of? [more inside]
February 3
Is this something I'd need a Twitter account to understand?
There are lots of Twitter links all over Metafilter these days. I'm not complaining, but I don't have a Twitter account. Is this why I can't access any of these links? [more inside]
New Feature: Add to Activity
Today we're rolling out a new feature that allows you to add a thread to Recent Activity even if you haven't commented in it. [more inside]
101: More Elegant Website for a Civilized Web
Podcast 101 clocks in around 90min and covers all our favorite bits from January, and was recorded yesterday, Feb 2. [more inside]
February 2
In praise of the edit window
I just used the edit window to close a parenthetical statement I'd left open by accident, and I was just thinking about how much I have appreciated it since its introduction. Hooray for the edit window! Saving mefites everywhere from the shame of inadvertent typos! Thanks, mods, for having implemented this incredibly useful feature.
February 1
And my winners are ......
Inspired by Eyebrows McGee's post Strange Fruit,
I decided to offer a $50 prize in the best of December contest.
On reflection after I finally got my broadband back I decided that I could do a bit better than that as I liked several posts very much.
Please would the following mefites memail me with a valid email adress to get a $20 Amazon gift card. You may do what you like with it but it would please me if you purchased a book(s) either electronic or traditional.
dhruva - The true history of the Paisley design
quiet earth - (Canine) Guardians of the Corpse Ways
Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey - No Gloves, No Rounds, Plenty of Blood
nebulawindphone - Find eyes within, look for the door into the unknown country
and Eyebrows McGee for the inspiration.
Thanks everyone for another great month of posts.
On reflection after I finally got my broadband back I decided that I could do a bit better than that as I liked several posts very much.
Please would the following mefites memail me with a valid email adress to get a $20 Amazon gift card. You may do what you like with it but it would please me if you purchased a book(s) either electronic or traditional.
dhruva - The true history of the Paisley design
quiet earth - (Canine) Guardians of the Corpse Ways
Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey - No Gloves, No Rounds, Plenty of Blood
nebulawindphone - Find eyes within, look for the door into the unknown country
and Eyebrows McGee for the inspiration.
Thanks everyone for another great month of posts.