August 2006 Archives (all archives)
August 31
Looks like the time zone code is broke.
Looks like the time zone code is broke. Everything is showing up PST for me, even though I've got Eastern set.
sub.domain references to my user profile?
What's the deal with these sub.domain references to my user profile? (more inside)
August 30
Cortex comes through, again!
Best reason for deleting a thread EVER.
Can anyone remember a sexy scene at a Metafilter party?
Can anyone remember a sexy scene at a Metafilter party?
Job listings in the Jobs section should have comment threads enabled.
Job listings in the Jobs section should have comment threads enabled.
Teachers wear Ask Me shirts
Thought you might get a kick out of the shirts that all of the staff members at my school had to wear for the first day of class (they were supposed to make us more recognizable/approachable).
Unbeknownst to anyone else I considered mine to be a subtle ask metafilter ad.... (more inside)
Unbeknownst to anyone else I considered mine to be a subtle ask metafilter ad.... (more inside)
My profile won't let me delete my homepage URL
Bug report: My profile won't let me delete my homepage URL. Changing the field to blank has no effect. The best I can do is make homepage: none
How does admin justify keeping this post about Gitmo but deleting this one about Chechnya?
How does admin justify keeping this post about Gitmo but deleting this one about Chechnya?
Yes, I realize I contributed to the Gitmo thread. But one newsfilter deserves another, right?
Yes, I realize I contributed to the Gitmo thread. But one newsfilter deserves another, right?
...if it hadn't been for you meddling kids
This stinks (and I know it was deleted), rinkjustice is supposedly raydexter's son. Although that might be true, the posting history in ask.me looks like ray is sockpuppet from the way the dates line up for the questions asked. They both have the same homepage in their profiles, and their answers and writing style line up as well. From his question in ask.me about his dad's comic promotion, it shows that he is involved in the success of the comic.
How do I properly create links?
MeFi link filter: I'm a self-proclaimed newbie and have unsuccessfully tried to answer my question by skimming the FAQs and searching the site.
How do I compose links so that a mouseover displays the title of the link and the related URL, as it does in the following posting?
http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/54372
How do I compose links so that a mouseover displays the title of the link and the related URL, as it does in the following posting?
http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/54372
August 29
San Francisco Meetup
I'd like to (help) organize an SF (California) meet up. Email me at ccenter@las-elc.org -- or comment away re preferences, past venues, etc.
Profiles: linking to commercial sites not OK?
Are we not supposed to have commercial homepage urls in our profiles?
Music hits 500!
Please help me understand this.
"This post was deleted for the following reason: this is 4-5 years old, the woman was fine, just knocked the wind out of her. It's from Georgia I think."
Please help me understand this.
Please help me understand this.
Nine photos of the Boston/Cambridge meetup on Saturday.
Nine photos of the Boston/Cambridge meetup on Saturday.
Kidnapped girl post is not a good Metafilter FPP
I don't want this to be a callout, but I'm wondering if the language in this post is appropriate for an FPP. It reads a bit like an email forward.
RSS for Favorited Comments
How about an RSS Feed that keeps track of when other people save your comment as favorites? Then you would never have to check that page manually to boost your self-worth.
August 28
Profile Changes
Suggested Posting History order:
MetaFilter:
Ask MeFi:
MeFi Projects:
MeFi Music:
(Jobs)
MetaTalk:
So that it matches the order of the navigation across the top?
Capitalizing 'Member Since' would be good too, to match the other page elements. I'll go away and stop being anal-retentive now.
MetaFilter:
Ask MeFi:
MeFi Projects:
MeFi Music:
(Jobs)
MetaTalk:
So that it matches the order of the navigation across the top?
Capitalizing 'Member Since' would be good too, to match the other page elements. I'll go away and stop being anal-retentive now.
what's the protocol, if any, for a situation like this?
So what's the protocol, if any, for a situation like this?
How anonymous is it really?
When someone asks an anonymous question on ask.metafilter, are people at Mefi or anyone else aware of the asker's identity? How anonymous is it really?
Google Apps for Metafilter?
Google apparently now provides email, calender, and IM services for your own domain. Do you think this would be a useful addition to MetaFilter?
Pittsburgh Meetup Reminder: Aug 2006
Pittsburgh Meetup Reminder: tomorrow, Tuesday August 29. 6:45 pm at the Quiet Storm Coffee House. [MI]
Seattle meetup. August 2006.
Seattle folks - let's meet up Thursday 8/31! Eamondaly's in town for Bumbershoot and he's staying downtown. I'd like to take recommendations for bars downtown that would be good for a group - doesn't a MeFite work at a bar in Belltown somewhere?
Can anyone help me understand why this post was deleted?
Can anyone help me understand why this post was deleted? The admin note was a little cryptic (no offense). I've read the FAQ, as far as I can tell it doesn't fall under self linking, although it could perhaps kind of be considered a double posting or re-posting as it were. Anyway, it was a post I enjoyed originally, and I just wanted to point out to people that it was working again - didn't want to piss anybody off. Maybe stuff from MeFi Projects isn't supposed to be posted in the blue? Any input is appreciated.
Sorting Favorites?
Sort options for Favorites?
In Opera 9.01 on XP there is a small footer problem on some pages
Footer Problems: In Opera 9.01 on XP there is a small footer problem on some pages:
Philadelphia meetup
Is anyone up for another Philadelphia meetup? I was thinking maybe the weekend of the 16th of September. Any suggestions for a place? My suggestions are always lame, so I will refrain from posting them right away.
August 27
Boston meetup September 2006
What? Boston again?
Don't need no fantastic flag
Suggestion: get rid of the 'fantastic post/comment' flag, and replace it wholeheartedly by the favoriting engine. In particular, recode the fantastic questions and answers page to pull the most favorited Qs and As, rather than the most flagged. For a brief interval there, that page was the best way to see the best of AskMeFi, but its usefulness is fading as people move to faving things rather than flagging them. Also, it would be super-ultra-mega-cool to have an analog of that page for the blue.
Let's Discuss Marginally Illegal Questions
This is the kind of borderline/gray area/marginally illegal question I love to see in AskMe.
August 26
Hurry up and tell us the winners already
Sidebar says "CONTEST. Best post of the day wins $30, all August." Out of (by my count) 73 posts on August 23 and 24, there were none that were any good?
New Jobs Section
Am I seeing things, or is there a Jobs section now?
Metafilter or MetaFilter?
NitFilter: In the title of the front page ("Metafilter | Community Weblog"), shouldn't Metafilter be Bactrian CamelCase? Or is this one of those sly MetaFilter conventions that only Original Mefites understand?
Come see my show in NYC!
If people feel this is Pepsi Blue or self linking/promoting, please accept my apology and flag away: I'd like to offer any MeFites in NYC FREE TICKETS to the final performance of my show, "Much Ado About Nothing." The performance is tomorrow (Sunday, Aug 27th) at 2pm. After the show, the actors and I are going out for drinks and MeFite attendees are welcome to join us. email me (address in profile) if you'd like to attend. Location and more info here.
Sydney Meetup
Floating the idea of a Sydney meetup in the next few weeks...?
August 25
Keep AskMe Clean, People.
Timezone offsets aren't applying DST
Hey Matt, you're applying daylight saving time to timezones labeled as "UTC+-X (someplace)" in preferences...
policy on FPPs hosted on own site - self-links?
What is the proper way to FPP a fantastic audio link which is no longer available on the original site, but can be hosted on my own server? Does that make a self link even if it just an MP3 file download? Is there a third party service I should use?
Record a cover of Elliott Smith's Waltz #2 for my friend
Followup / second call: record a cover of Elliott Smith's Waltz #2 [mp3]for a wedding gift for my friend. [original thread].
DragonCon 2006 meetup?
Its that time! It's been asked before, and the scorn... she has been thrown. Let's do this thing again... who all is attending DragonCon 2006 in Atlanta, GA this labor day weekend? Come and meet at least two posters of the most awesome posters on MeFi. Such a deal! All previous meetup links are considered null and void for the purposes of this offer. Claims of awesomeness based on interviews with each poster's mother and friends, by way of martini infusion.
My Recent Comments Pony
My comments pony: an option to only show comments made since the previous load of the "my comments" page.
Boston and Cambridge meetup reminder.
Reminder: Boston/Cambridge area meetup, tomorrow, Saturday, August 26. Cambridge Brewing Company at Kendall Square in Cambridge at 6pm for dinner, followed by a very short walk to Flat Top Johnny's for pool. (Previously)
August 24
Announcing MeFi Jobs!
Hey look, it's MeFi Jobs. Use it to list jobs you'd like to hire other MeFi members for. Also, it helps if you have a lat/lon stored in your profile, as you will be able to see how far listed jobs are from you. There are probably a few obvious bugs but me and pb will do our best to squash them as fast as you can list them.
Anyone going to be in Halifax around Labour Day?
Anyone going to be in Halifax around Labour Day? I'm paying my first visit to the East, and while I hear the people are lovely, it would be great to meet up with the local Mefites and gossip about mathowie.
Impromptu Tufte in NYC meetup?
Impromptu NYC meetup: anyone going to the Edward Tufte seminar tomorrow?
I'll be there for work and would love to break up the 6+ hour day with a few mefi folks.
If you want to get in last-minute, seems there are still tickets left... surprising, as these seminars usually sell out quickly.
I'll be there for work and would love to break up the 6+ hour day with a few mefi folks.
If you want to get in last-minute, seems there are still tickets left... surprising, as these seminars usually sell out quickly.
View only favorites in thread
Ponyfilter: would it be possible to allow us to view only the "favorited" comments in a long thread? Ditto viewing only the answers marked "best" in AskMe threads?
(Well, yes, of course it'd be possible. What I'm really asking is whether there's any chance of it happening.)
(Well, yes, of course it'd be possible. What I'm really asking is whether there's any chance of it happening.)
Civilization Vs. The Middle Ages
Civilisation Vs. The Middle Ages. This has got to be a self link. A single link to a 'framing' post on a blog with two posts and a miss-spelled title (and you know it's bad if I notice something being misspelled), all by someone who posted a handful of comments from over a year ago wherein he called for the execution of both Hugo Chavez and Cindy Sheehan.
August 23
Austin Meetup
Going to be in Austin for ACL fest (Sept 15-17.) I must meet all you wonderful Austin Metafiltarians.
What Comic Character Would You Be?
If MeFi was a comic, would we all be small furry creatures or what? Would we be drawn like Doonesbury? Would it be a one panel or a strip? Would Matt be the lead character? Would it be more than one strip?
Moderation discussion
Leon says: (There's a serious discussion to be had about how moderation systems tend towards broken as community size increases, but this isn't the place.)
This is the place, if my watching MeTa for the last month is any indication. We have a little bit o' this, in the flagging facility -- and even that is misunderstood by many. And yet people suggest more.
Discuss?
This is the place, if my watching MeTa for the last month is any indication. We have a little bit o' this, in the flagging facility -- and even that is misunderstood by many. And yet people suggest more.
Discuss?
The next big thing
What's it all for, anyway? Why do we fight? I mean, where's it going? What happens if the whole ball of wax just up and disappears one day? In short, why are we here? I'm speaking of Metafilter, of course! Pony-please: An admin blog detailing site-related news, plans in development, maybe a good call-out now and then. This seems preferable to combing MeTa for stray comments in re the next big thing.
Should we say "digg-effected" or "digg-affected"?
One of the links in this FPP references a "digg-effected link." This is probably overly nitpicky and more a matter of curiosity than anything else, but would it be "digg-effected" or "digg-affected?" It's a link that fell prey to the "digg effect," but on the other hand it was "affected by digg." Thoughts?
Trying to pick a fight
can't see the ads unless I log out
I just bought Google ads on MetaFilter for one of the projects I've posted here (still valiantly trying to get the word out)...but I can't see the ads unless I log out. Is there a way for me to choose to see the ads when logged in? FWIW, I'd imagine that some of the MeFi supporters would be happy to see them as another way to support the site (I would, and do this on another site which I am a paying member).
Unexpected font size in comments
When I view comments (in AskMe, MeFi, or MeTa), about half the time the called page comes up in a smaller font with ads displayed. I am logged in when this happens. This behaviour has just started in the last couple of weeks. Suggestions? (FF/XP2)
Question about a deleted AskMe
I posted a question to AskMeFi and it is not there. I don't see any post about it being removed here...Can anyone enlighten me on its fate? "Thought Experiment regarding light and mirrors..."
August 22
Swapping on MeFi
Feature request: I want swap.metafilter.com. I really want to unload my junk on my fellow MeFites, and buy their junk off them. Please, Matt? Craigslist and eBay don't require a 5-spot to join, unlike MeFi, so that cuts down dramatically on the skeezy lowlife scammer factor. Another advantage is that this place is a real community and people care about their reputations. The community self-policing is strong, and MeFi's full of interesting people with (most likely) compelling junk they want to get rid of. One man's junk is another man's treasure.
Also, people here are really creative. Wouldn't it be cool if Miguel could sell his books here, for instance? Or Steven Den Beste could trade anime with other otaku. MeFites who are painters could sell their paintings. Sculpture. And so on.
Also, people here are really creative. Wouldn't it be cool if Miguel could sell his books here, for instance? Or Steven Den Beste could trade anime with other otaku. MeFites who are painters could sell their paintings. Sculpture. And so on.
Chicago Meetup Followup
Image options in preferences?
Can we have image toggling as one of the choices in our preferences?
Egregious self-linking
And the award for most obvious self-linker goes to ...
Question about unique comments favorited
On the pages listing contributions by a particular user that have been favorited, each column says "Displaying 1 through n [posts | comments]", but the number given is the number of aggregate times such contributions have been favorited, not the number of unique items that have been favorited, as the text states. In other words, if a user has had exactly one post favorited, and its been favorited three times, the text will say "Displaying 1 through 3 posts."
CNN mentions MetaFilter (and Fark)
Favorited? No, I didn'ted.
"You already made this a favorite." Well, no, I didn't. Several other people seem to have done so, but I can't make the FPP a favorite. I can fave the comments. This has happened before.
Resetting Preferences and deleting cookies no help.
Firefox 1.5.06/XP Home
Resetting Preferences and deleting cookies no help.
Firefox 1.5.06/XP Home
Likely self-link
Likely self-link. [mi]
How do I make a multi-link post?
I find the posting interface *completely* baffling despite trying for quite a while on a few occasions. I can only figure out how to post one link, whereas most posts are multi-link. How do I learn how to do a complete post with more than one link?
August 21
Madison meetup August 2006
Reminder: This Thursday night, at wonderful Wonder's Pub in Madison, WI, is a Metafilter Meetup. Raise your hand if you're showing up. Remember to try and email some local folks that may not see this thread.
Chicago meetup: let's firm up a time and a place.
So are we still on for welcoming Jessamyn to Chicago? Let's firm up a time and a place. Waddaya say?
Burning Man 2006
Burning Man 2006
August 20
The AskMe RSS feed is often broken: here are stats for the last month
Just in case you were wondering "how often is that AskMe feed really borked, anyway?" [more inside]
Why was my post deleted?
I stand (humbly) deleted. Of course, first I went to FAQs. Closest conceivable reason for deletion was - "axegrindfilter - you posted on a hot-button topic that you frequently post about and/or used heavy-handed editorializing language." Still, I don't think my post fit this bill, exactly: no "frequently post about" or "heavy-handed editorializing" to be found, far as I can tell. Was it simply linking to a site about atheism, period? Or to a site containing Jesus' quotations? I'm really curious about this. And hats off to LarryC for being right. I mean that. BTW, I'd link to the post in question, but it seems to have disappeared without a trace. Or maybe I just don't know how to find it?
Congratulations, AskMe.
Congratulations, AskMe. This was a fantastic response to someone who probably thought she was losing her mind, the only person who ever felt like this or just plain evil. I felt so very sad for her when I read her question, and I'm glad she knows she's not alone in feeling like this.
August 19
Anyway to see to the exact second a post was submitted?
Just Curious Filter: Is there anyway to see to the exact second when a post was submitted? Extopalopaketle and I made similar posts about the San Francisco zombie mob within the same minute.
I would like to have the option of flagging posts "hilarious."
Flag feature | In addition to "fantastic post" I would like to have the option of flagging posts "hilarious."
Semen-eating monkeys aren't welcome on MetaFilter.
You knew it was coming, and here it is! Is this really what Metafilter is about? Matt almost got run out of town by a howling mob for allowing ads for a popular site with scantily clad women, but videos of monkeys eating their own semen is A-OK and best of the web?
Is it proper etiquette to request topics for FFPs?
Is it proper ettiquete to request topics for FFPs? I would like one on Ettore Majorana and also one on Federico GarcÃa Lorca, the opera Ainadamar, deep song...
Is YouTube a self-link?
Is youtube a self-link? [mi]
August 18
How do I search for video links?
Is there a good way to search for video links? It seems that so many have been posted and it's hard to tell from the context of a post what the video is about if they aren't discribed completely. Something that would make it easy to ensure that you are posting a unique video link would be very helpful.
What you REALLY wanted to ask was...
So, at what point does answering the question you feel someone *should* have asked cross the line?
Why was my answer on AskMe deleted?
A few weeks ago, I left an answer on this post. I went back to look at it again, and it's gone. It wasn't rude, it wasn't abusive, it didn't contain foul language or untruths.
It was a criticism of previous advice, but it was, I believe, a legitimate criticism. Frankly, I think it should still be there - no one else has made a similar point, and someone needed to.
I know that people will turn around and say 'this is Matt's site, we shouldn't complain...' - but I don't buy it. This site would be nothing without the community. And this sort of arbitrary moderation makes me much more reluctant to contribute to that community.
I'm not the most prolific member, I may not be a loss, but if it can happen to me...
It was a criticism of previous advice, but it was, I believe, a legitimate criticism. Frankly, I think it should still be there - no one else has made a similar point, and someone needed to.
I know that people will turn around and say 'this is Matt's site, we shouldn't complain...' - but I don't buy it. This site would be nothing without the community. And this sort of arbitrary moderation makes me much more reluctant to contribute to that community.
I'm not the most prolific member, I may not be a loss, but if it can happen to me...
From talking behind your back to...
How about creating including in each user profile a discussion thread, so that we can have a friendly conversation with and about the user whose profile we are viewing?
Toronto Meetup
Is anyone here on Consumating? They're having a Toronto meetup tonight beginning at 9 to 9:30 at Paupers on Bloor Street (539 Bloor Street West, just east of Bathurst). Sorry for the short notice, but it might be a nice time if you can spare a few hours from your breathless social lives;-)
First-ever Edinburgh Meetup
Come lads and lasses to the first-ever Edinburgh MeFi Meetup at The Villager (map) on this Sunday, August 20th at 12 noon. New, old, visting, lurking and resident MeFites all welcome. (previously)
August 17
what is a good font for browing metafilter?
Forgive me if this is too chatty, but I feel like it's a valid question (if it belongs in AskMe, kindly let me know and I'll post it in a couple of days).
What is a good font with which to browse Metafilter? I know, I should just be using Tahoma or Arial or whatever is the default, but what are my options, and what does everyone else use? Something easy on the eyes but just a little different from everything else - like MeFi, I guess.
Again, apologies if this isn't really an appropriate area for this sort of thing. I'm still (relatively) new at this.
What is a good font with which to browse Metafilter? I know, I should just be using Tahoma or Arial or whatever is the default, but what are my options, and what does everyone else use? Something easy on the eyes but just a little different from everything else - like MeFi, I guess.
Again, apologies if this isn't really an appropriate area for this sort of thing. I'm still (relatively) new at this.
Meetup in Toronto!
Any interest in a Toronto meetup Sept 8 or 9 (Fri or Sat)?
Unregistered User callout
You know, it would be nice if Unregistered User could exercise some restraint, and stop droppping screeds about the Iraq war and the Bush administration into every single thread. I don't necessarily have a problem with said ranting in the overtly political threads, although I personally don't like the style, but, come on, already.
q.v. And q.v. And q.v. If this isn't a case of Get Your Own Blog, I don't know what is.
q.v. And q.v. And q.v. If this isn't a case of Get Your Own Blog, I don't know what is.
I think that's my fault! Sorry!
I think that's my fault! Sorry! I was trying to do this and my fingers slipped! Color me embarrassed! I throw myself on the mercy of the court. Can someone fix it? Thanks!
Want usernames spelled out
It would be nice if one's username pointed to the spelled-out version somewhere on the front page—maybe on the upper right—so it could be easily found. It's useful for typing in other users' names when you want to see what they've been up to. Much more useful than, say, this.
August 16
Vegas Meetup
Heads Up, Vegas: Mefites (well, Mechazens, but most are Mefites, too) from around the country are heading your way September 21st-24th. Put it on your calendars. We'll want to meetup with you.
Sockpuppet "The Ghost Of Ken Lay" Found By Some To Be Unfunny
Funny once, hell yes. Funny twice, sure. Still funny some 60 odd times later? Ummm.
Is there even the least bit of humor left in the ghost of Ken Lay's shtick? I'd argue that even the best jokes can grow first stale, then tiresome, then positively annoying if overused. Think of all the characters that SNL has beaten to death over the years through overuse. Ghost, you're becoming the Church Lady. (I'd have taken this to email but none is listed in the profile. And if I am being a jackass, and everyone else is still holding their sides in laughter each time the Ghost speaks, then I humbly apologize and await chastisement.)
Is there even the least bit of humor left in the ghost of Ken Lay's shtick? I'd argue that even the best jokes can grow first stale, then tiresome, then positively annoying if overused. Think of all the characters that SNL has beaten to death over the years through overuse. Ghost, you're becoming the Church Lady. (I'd have taken this to email but none is listed in the profile. And if I am being a jackass, and everyone else is still holding their sides in laughter each time the Ghost speaks, then I humbly apologize and await chastisement.)
Yahoo Answers opens a web services API for developers.
fandango_matt callout
fandango_matt, please stop posting animal shitting pictures. Thanks.
August 15
Buckyballs and deletions
I'm just dying to tell this guy all about Bauersfeld and Snelson. Can I please?
Why can't I add this to my wishlist? (Metafilter on Amazon.com)
One link posts could be saved
Just a thought about one link posts: Maybe people could save them until they had at least two or three, then posted all at once as say "OneLinkFilter: X, Y, Z" or "YouTubeFilter: X, Y, Z". Others could then emply their one link pile into the comments. Doing this might give the admins more freedom to delete one link posts which were covered as mere comments previously and don't generate much new chat. Other ideas like "YouTube friday" might require too much organisation.
Please put your contact info in your profile so I can answer your question
Could people please put their email addresses or some other contact method in their profile? Especially if you post a question? Please? There's times when I'd like to answer an AskMe question or MeFi thread that got deleted as chatfilter, (UbuRoivas, I'm looking at you!) but can't.
August 14
Spectrum analyser in Music does nothing
Is there a reason for a spectrum analyzer on the player that clearly does absolutely nothing related to the music playing? I've noticed this on a few other flash mp3 players, including Myspace's. Is there a way to make it not there?
RSS Feeds
Per-thread RSS feeds? I'd like to subscribe to my own Axings, especially the one I just made which is unlikely to get very many answers.
Request: more ways to display popular favorites.
Low priority feature request: A "Favorites Hall of Fame", including things like Most favorited comments by week/month/year, Most favorited posts by week/month/year, all split between Mefi/MeTa/Axe, and even a list of users who have had the most personal contributions marked as favorites by others.
August 13
Vancouver meetup
Vancouver BC Meet-up Reminder: Black Frog at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15.
Why the You Tube hate on Metafilter/AskMefi?
Why the You Tube hate on Metafilter/AskMefi?
Hot Topics Request
OK, now I rarely venture into this grey area here, so I may be way off base but I was kinda thinking - no matter how popular a thread becomes it sinks down and out just as quickly as people post new links/questions/dumb feature requests. I was wondering, would it be possible to have a separate page for MeFi, AskMe and MeTalk in which the threads were listed by most recent comment. This might give threads a bit of a longer lifespan and give an easy way to see what topics are 'hot'
August 12
I can't prove that this is a self link, but I'd be willing to bet money that it is.
I can't prove that this is a self link, but I'd be willing to bet money that it is. (My BS detector is going off bigtime.)
"Best of" link borked?
FYI, the "Best of" link is a little borked. I'm seeing no winners for Aug 10th, and two winners for Aug 9th, with a ton of runners up on the 9th.
Another Pittsburgh meetup?
Another Pittsburgh meetup? Twice in one month? Unpossible! But wait, now that we're finally over the first successful meetup hump, maybe not. On August 29, in conjunction with the Restaurants for Relief Katrina aid event by Share Our Strength, the Quiet Storm Coffee House is donating 50% of their dinner income to help rebuild the Gulf coast. Anyone want to have a veg*n meal, some interesting conversation and contribute to a good cause all at once?
[-fave] button
In this thread, there is some horrifically bad advice being offered (along with a lot of good advice, I should add). Would it be a good idea to implement a [-fave] button as well as a [+fave] button? I would certainly have wanted to mark down a few of the answers if I had the chance.
August 11
Is there a MetaFilter watchlist?
Matt: Do you have a "watch list" like the Department of Homeland Security apparetly has? I mean a list of potential offenders in terms of breaking the MeFi code. Dumb posters like me. Do you look out for certain types of threads and within them do you purge threatening content? Do you profile? What does the "War On Terror" mean to MetaFilter in terms of spying stuff and administration people? Has George W. Bush's adminstration had an impact on MetFilter in a concrete way? Beyond NewsFilter have you been seriously pressured at any time beyond the five bucks? Sorry for the double query. has Karl Rove or his proxy knocked on your door?
dimeadozen.org, a torrent site, requires signing up for an account. Would it make a good post?
I just found a site, dimeadozen.org, that I think might make a good Metafilter post. It's got torrents of tons and tons of live concerts. (I'm listening right now to the Tom Waits show in Nashville that I saw last weekend.) The problem is that it requires you to sign up for an account, and there's a limited number of account slots available each day. Would this still make a good post?
Ways to improve the chances of getting good answers to AskMe questions.
Ways to improve the chances of getting good answers to your askMefi questions.
Deletion request
In this post, please delete the link to http://www.barnesreview.org/ from the text "What happened next is told in his own words". I didn't realize that the barnes review was a holocaust denier's journal.
August 10
Question counted in answer in contacts
When viewing a contact, you might see that they have "1 AskMe Question" and "3 AskMe Answers". But if you click on the linked "3" for the Answers, you will see 1 question and 2 answers listed. It appears that we're counting the question as an answer, also.
Sample: http://ask.metafilter.com/search_comments.mefi?user_ID=38732
Sample: http://ask.metafilter.com/search_comments.mefi?user_ID=38732
Shrill cries of "tasteless!"
Hello, JudgeMe! A guy asks about copyright infringement, and everyone jumps all over him. It may be tasteless to you...
Meetup: Brit's pub in Minneapolis. Does anyone give a shit?
Meetup: Brit's pub in Minneapolis. Does anyone give a shit?
Where's that wireless router hacking thread again...?
OK, I'm a MeTa noob, but an avid MeFi reader and have contributed a handful of threads. I am looking for a thread within the last two weeks that may have been deleted/moved/whatever, and I cant find it. I have been looking for over an hour now. Does anyone know where that thread about altering the settings in your wireless router to make people attempting to steal a connection see all their pictures upside down? It was a neat read, and I actually wanted to look at it again for a semi related work project. Thanks, and again I'm sorry if this isn't where its supposed to be.
How do you STILL not know the answer?
Am I dense? Why is this question about liquids on planes appropriate for ask metafilter when the answer had already been posted on practically every major English language news site in the world before the question was asked? And was being broadcast on TV and radio? And was just pretty much inescapable for anyone who actually wanted to find the answer?
Toronto Meetup
Toronto Reminder - Game Show Tonight!!!
The First Annual Metafilter Edinburgh Festival Meetup?
The First Annual Metafilter Edinburgh Festival Something or Other Meetup Anyone ?
August 9
Projects Searches MetaTalk
The Projects search box does a site-specific search of MetaTalk, not Projects.
Is the Google Earth Network link file broken?
Is the Google Earth Network Link file no longer being supported? It appears to be borked.
factually inaccurate thread
Um, three piggybacks in one thread?
Um, three piggybacks in one thread?
Excessive, and really unfair to the OP, or just another part of being in a community environment?
Excessive, and really unfair to the OP, or just another part of being in a community environment?
Boo, my Askme question was deleted.
Boo, my Askme question was deleted. I'm disappointed, because I did mean the question seriously-- I was actually hoping to get some scientific information/insight into radioactive half-lives, heavy-metal contamination, global warming, etc. Was the tone too flippant? Could I have phrased it better?
"Ignore Thread"
How about an 'ignore thread' option? That way people like this can ask for advice without people like this complaining about it.
What about a Ditto feature?
What about a Ditto feature? It would be like a fave, but more like re-inforcing what someone else said. This would not only be helpful for technical questions, but also for personal ones.
Jessamyn in Chicago
Jessamyn's coming to town. Time for another Chicago meetup.
How did these old comments get so many favorites?
How Phantom Favourites from the Past are rupturing the Fabric of Spacetime and How You Can Help [mi]
AskMe Relationship Questions
Is it time for freetherapy.metafilter.com? Nothing against this poster or their particular situation, but it's perhaps the most egregious example I've seen of the "I just want someone to talk to" style of non-question that seems to increasingly pollute AskMe.
August 8
Still banned?
Hey Matt, you mention here that Steve@ had been (unfairly, in your opinion) banned, and that you were lifting the ban. But I ran into him over on the IRC channel, and he claims to still be locked out. He promised to admit to his role in helping steal Ohio in 2004 and swore to never do it again if I posted this.
Interactive netvibes module
I would love to see an interactive netvibes.com module (an interesting RSS aggregator/ web 2.0 start page). Something creative could definitely be created. Also it would be great to see a +Netvibes button http://eco.netvibes.com/button/ in the "Subscribe via RSS feeds:" button list.
Vancouver meetup
Vancouver: Anyone interested in a get together and maybe a little drinky drinky? I'll be in Vancouver BC next week (August 14-17) and know next to nothing about the city, so I'll need to help organizing.
What if you really could page users?
What if you really could page users -- alert them to a thread they would interested and/or helpful in?
Moxie loves Metafilter
In light of all The Moxie shout-outs, which I appreciate immensely, I'm instating a "Moxie loves MetaFilter" discount at the theater. All MeFites who stop by will receive a bag of our famous popcorn as long as my wife, who doesn't understand why I'm always on "that blue website," isn't around! Thanks again for the support!
Status Blog Eliminated?
Has the status blog been eliminated? It takes me right back to the front page of the site like all of the joke subdomains that were all the rage back in the day.
Arriving in style like James Bond - update demanded
Maxpower, if you're out there, is there any chance we can get a follow up to my favorite AskMe thread of all time? It's been sitting on my links toolbar for months!
Fleshbot laughs at nerd-sex advice
This AskMe question wasn't good enough for MetaFilter, but it seems to have amused the folks over at Fleshbot (very NSFW). "Because whenever we want advice on sexual intimacy, the Borg-like wisdom of internet geeks is always the first place we turn."
Ask MeFi commented about on Download Squad
Yahoo Answers is a disaster - Ask MeFi commented about on Download Squad.
August 7
Asheville MeFi/MeCha meetup photos
Bunnystock 2006: The Asheville Mefi/Mecha Grand Convocation as seen through the lenses of mygothlaundry, mike9322, boringpostcards, matildaben, & moonbird.
Why was this post deleted?
Why was this post deleted? The asker seemed like he had a legitimate question, and some interesting answers were surfacing.
Best of... bug?
On the Best Of page I'm seeing two winners & four runners up for August 5th, with one winner & one runner up for August 6th. Is the page borked, or do the number of winners & near winners change depending on the value of the day's posts?
August 6
Two little html touches
Two little html touches can really help make complex FPPs much better. I am convinced that more people would use them if they knew how. Any chance of mentioning these to prospective posters on the "New Post Page," if not actually incorporating them into the MeFi menus?
Misleading Tags
On sympathy-begging non-questions in askme
This is what I'm talking about. Posting a long rant that is skewed to your opinion with an inane question tacked on in order garner some empathy from a faceless crowd is inconsiderate.
I'm not going to lie. I think this is fascinating. When my browser loads up, it loads grouphug.us because these stories are entertaining. However, in the AskMe venue, all it does is provide a place for non-questions to get non-answers, contributing to the noise and detracting from the attention answerable questions can get.
I'm not going to lie. I think this is fascinating. When my browser loads up, it loads grouphug.us because these stories are entertaining. However, in the AskMe venue, all it does is provide a place for non-questions to get non-answers, contributing to the noise and detracting from the attention answerable questions can get.
In case any of you slept through your Women's Issues class in college, here are the cliffnotes.
DC Meetup
August 5
YouTube Etiquette
Why the need to type (YouTube) next to the link in a post that goes to YouTube? I don't care if your post links to YouTube, and since you posted it, neither should you. Following that logic, wouldn't we need to put (Txt File) next to links that go to pages of text, for example? YouTube seems to be a fully accepted internet format and as such does it need special deliniation? (say, unlike 'Flash")
Why were there so many deleted threads today?
What the heck happened to the front page today? I have the Mefi Deleted Posts GM script, and when I visited the home page today there's about 18 deleted threads in a two and a half hour period, including about 13 in a row. They all go to truly deleted (as opposed to merely masked, which is what I like about this GM script) threads. What the heck where these?
Calling someone a rapist could be libelous
Calling someone a rapist on the sole basis of an accusation made to a reporter is wrong -- and could be libelous. The allegation against Girls Gone Wild producer Joe Francis is horrible and contains a lot of persuasive details, but that doesn't mean it's true.
kittyfilter! cutest of the web!
Ok, please. a third KittyFilter YouTube FPP. Come on. [more inside]
August 4
Ringle Bock Jell as delicious community inspired music.
I feel compelled to point out Ringle Bock Jell as delicious community inspired music.
The contest results for August are all posted
The contest results for August are all posted here. There's a small marker at the end of the post noting the winners and the runner ups for each day (we'll pick three good ones, and one winner from that). So far, no one is putting their paypal info in their profile, so I haven't sent out one red cent, so get to updatin' your profile already (the paypal info isn't displayed anywhere on the site).
Please give Robocop is Bleeding the $30 for today.
Unconsidered deletion
Matt, you might want to rethink this deletion. You seem to have taken it as simply random gibberish ("doesn't really make any sense at all"), when it's actually a link to an online code/puzzle; you've allowed those many times before, and people seem to enjoy them. Alongside the jokey comments (like mine), people were working to figure out the code. Maybe reconsider?
Manhattan Meetup
So it's pretty hot in Manhattan. Anybody for a pool party?
Tags For Deleted Posts Need To Be Deleted
It would seem to me that a deleted post with tags would be more useful than a tag that hasn't any posts. [example] (if the tags hadn't been deleted). Why aren't all deleted posts purged of tags [example] so that search results are less questionable?
"Wasn't there some kind of . ."
I hereby resolve to never answer an AskMe question with anything based on "I vaguely remember . . ." or "I seem to recall . . ." or "Wasn't there some kind of . ." Those answers are about as useful as "It came to me in a dream" would be.
So - who's with me?
So - who's with me?
Pittsburgh Meetup
Pittsburgh MeFi meetup today! We will meet at the Beehive on Carson Street at 8:00. Look for a woman wearing an equestrian helmet.
August 3
More functionality from project, music listings
In the projects RSS feed, the URL points to the submitted project, not the projects page, so in order to vote or comment I have to go to projects and find the link manually. Also, it would be nice if on the music page, you could favorite and playlist songs right from the main listing, rather then just on the individual song pages, so that if you're listening to a bunch of songs, in order, you could favorite without needing to change pages.
Defcon meetup?
Anyone going to Defcon this year?
What's the deal with this $30/day contest?
What's the deal with this $30/day contest? Is this a joke that went over my head or did I miss something? 'Cause goddammit, I need that 30 bucks.
What happened to the latest MeFi CD Swap?
Does anyone have info about the latest, greatest MeFi swap? There hasn't been any new updates on their site, and the "sending of the swapsets" date has come and gone. What gives?
Circumventing the one-week delay by posting to Projects
Can we keep the rule that n00bs can't post their first FPP on the same day they sign up? Especially when they are just trying to drive traffic to an escorts website?
Weirdest mention of MeFi in the press
Weirdest mention of MeFi in the press: in a press release about advice for college students by a boardgame company. They googled, got Ask MetaFilter, and printed it. I have no idea why.
Flag Reasons
this has been mentioned before, but.. i am sometimes hamfisted, and was trying to flag a post as fantastic and instead submitted a "pick a reason:" flag. all of the discussion in the previous thread was about superseding flags - but is it a lot of work to make the site simply reject the pick-a-reasons?
Use more inside more
I know you're eager to win the $30 for best post of the day, but please limit your linkstraganza to one paragraph on the front page. Paragraph breaks give the appearance of multiple posts on the front page and can cause confusion. Recent examples include this post and this post. If you absolutely must have more than one paragraph in your post, put the first on the front page, and the remainder in the first comment. Thanks in advance.
Plugin to open all links
Is there a hack/script/firefox plugin that will allow me to open all links in a metafilter post, sequentially and in tabs, followed by the comments, after right clicking "comments" on a MeFi thread?
Layout suggestion for horozontal rules on AskMe
Add a separator (horizontal line, blank line, whatever you deem appropriate) of some kind: (1) between answers in AskMeFi, and (2) between new and old questions on the front page. This would help break up the page a little more.
"Humorous" titles give no clue on content by rss
I find the MetaFilter font page unreadable. And I mean that in the best possible way. I joined MetaFilter so I could participate in its well-above-average discussions that kept turning up in my Google searches. But now that I'm here, I can't find posts I'm interested in on the front page.
I use an RSS reader, and often the jokey headlines give no clue of the post's content. This is just a bad idea. And I understand that links are encouraged, but the visual distraction of link-overloaded posts, compounded with the 15 minutes minimum it would take me to digest them all, leads me to move on before I'm even sure what the post was about. If I only want to click on few, how do I know which of the ten are the best? And where are they going?
Maybe this is just my problem. I'm not dedicated enough to enjoy M.F. But I think it would be better to have a style guide that encourages clarity.
I use an RSS reader, and often the jokey headlines give no clue of the post's content. This is just a bad idea. And I understand that links are encouraged, but the visual distraction of link-overloaded posts, compounded with the 15 minutes minimum it would take me to digest them all, leads me to move on before I'm even sure what the post was about. If I only want to click on few, how do I know which of the ten are the best? And where are they going?
Maybe this is just my problem. I'm not dedicated enough to enjoy M.F. But I think it would be better to have a style guide that encourages clarity.
Boston Meetup
Hey Boston, how are you? ... Yeah? ... Hey, that's great. ... Right in the mouth, you say? ... Wow, down a whole flight of stairs? ... I would have lent you my sandwich board if I'd have known. Anyhow, the reason I'm posting: How'd you like to get together to do a meetup thing sometime this month?
August 2
sry, but best of the web?
sry, but best of the web?
Closing AskMe Threads
Do AskMetafilter questions not close to new comments after 30 days the way Metatalk & Metafilter do?
it's high time for a separate category for NewsFilter
Maybe this has been proposed on the 'Talk before, and I know it's been suggested on the blue, but I think it's high time for a separate category for NewsFilter. IMHO, one-link posts to, say, a CNN story would be A-OK. The renewed air strikes in Lebanon prompts me to say this: I'd like to see fellow MeFier's immediate opinions on this, and don't feel the need to construct a multi-link, "worthy" FPP.
Toronto MeFites
Toronto MeFites - I'm going on a game show...wanna come watch?
Best Post contest winner #1
Ok, an update on the best post of the day. The first winner is... [more]
Santa Barbara meet-up?
SantaBarbaraFilter? I'm moving to SB in a few weeks and would like to meet MeFites in the area. Anyone for a meetup?
Looking for a video that was linked on AskMe or the Blue.
Looking for a video that was linked on AskMe or the Blue. It was probably AskMe because I believe the poster was asking for identification of the song. The video is mostly animated but features, as the main character, a Down's Syndrome man. It's very psychedelic and dreamlike. The highlight of the video to me was when the main character turns a cloud into a loaf of bread while driving down the road in a convertible. I've searched Google, AskMe and the Blue all to no avail. Please help!! Thanks.
DNS weirdness.
Metafilter's DNS is broken. (More inside.)
Can I Click 1 Link to Open All Links in a Post?
(I am not a programmer so I have no Idea how hard this might be...) Would it be possible to have a link attached to each original posting in Meta and AskMe, that could be clicked by the reader to open all the links the poster included in their original posting, in Firefox tabs? I know this sounds lazy, but I thought it might be a neat feature...
This post really sucks
I'd just like to let you know that this post really sucks. You know, not really a callout or anything, I'm just sayin'. Might want to think about it for a little bit. You know. Just because.
Adding unsolicited, uninformed "via"s to other people's posts is the height of rudeness.
Adding unsolicited, uninformed "via"s to other people's posts is the height of rudeness. And usually not even accurate.
Halifax meetup?
Halifax, anyone?
I'm going to be in Halifax from Friday night until Tuesday afternoon. The vast majority of the time will be spent visiting with a couple of friends, but I may be able to squeeze in a couple of hours if anyone would like to hang out?
I'm going to be in Halifax from Friday night until Tuesday afternoon. The vast majority of the time will be spent visiting with a couple of friends, but I may be able to squeeze in a couple of hours if anyone would like to hang out?
August 1
Best posts of the day
So, about this best post of the day thing.. are you announcing it on MeTa every day?
I think it would be kind of cool if you also highlighted it on Metafilter, ala AskMe favorited comments. That way, scrolling back a day or two on the front page I'll be able to tell the winning posts at a glance.
I think it would be kind of cool if you also highlighted it on Metafilter, ala AskMe favorited comments. That way, scrolling back a day or two on the front page I'll be able to tell the winning posts at a glance.
Posted yesterday?
In an attempt to be a better MeFier, I have a question about this post
I cannot find anything remotely similar to this one posted yesterday or any other day...
Can you point me in the right direction..??
I cannot find anything remotely similar to this one posted yesterday or any other day...
Can you point me in the right direction..??
Semantic Wording About Favorites
On the user profile page, the "# of comments marked by others as a favorite" is incorrectly worded. I think that the wording should be changed to something like, "# of times contributions by 'user x' were saved by others" instead. Or is it possible to snip the dupes and only include the unique posts and comments that were favorited (in the # itself)? I read this thread, but it didn't seem to discuss the language I'm referring to.
Chatfilter?
I really like this thread (and, in fact, participated in it, but isn't it pretty much the definition of chatfilter?
DC Meetup
Jessamyn will be in DC this weekend, so I believe a meetup is in order. I'm thinking the ultra-hip Palace of Wonders, say, 2:00 on Sunday. Any takers?
Preview displaying outdated versions of threads?
Preview displaying outdated versions of threads? [more inside]
Return to post link that doesn't work.
Clicking on a * users marked this as favourite link takes you to a page listing those users. That page contains a Return to post link that doesn't work.