Can I update my Askme in Metatalk?

October 9, 2005 4:14 PM

Is doing AskMe follow-up threads in MetaTalk an accepted thing now? I have a couple of things that I'd like to give updates on (if anyone cares) but I don't want to get told off. Guidance, O older and wiser ones?
posted by Lotto to MetaFilter-Related at 4:14 PM (26 comments total)

As of yesterday, Ask threads are open much longer (and it's retroactive). Try posting in the original thread.

I don't think anyone's wanting MeTa to be the defacto go to for updatefilter.
posted by dobbs at 4:19 PM on October 9, 2005

I'd still like to know what happened to Chalupa the chihuahua.
posted by boo_radley at 4:22 PM on October 9, 2005

My vote is to go for it.
posted by delmoi at 4:23 PM on October 9, 2005

Personally, I wouldn't be interested. But I can't see it becoming so common that it would constitute clutter; and anything positive would probably be constructive amidst the general tenor of MetaTalk. So yeah, I'd agree with "go for it."
posted by cribcage at 4:42 PM on October 9, 2005

Post updates in the thread itself. They're open for six months, retroactively as of yesterday.

If you want to update after six months, and there was general interest in the outcome, go for it.
posted by Count Ziggurat at 4:42 PM on October 9, 2005

"I can't see it becoming so common that it would constitute clutter"

That was my argument -- oh so many years ago -- in defense of NewsFilter.
posted by mischief at 4:49 PM on October 9, 2005

"I can't see NewsFilter becoming so common that it would constitute clutter"

I just had to put that into writing to see what it looked like with the benefit of hindsight.
posted by dg at 5:08 PM on October 9, 2005

Metatalk: My vote is to go for it.
posted by fire&wings at 5:11 PM on October 9, 2005

Given the choice between reading an update to what-happened-on-AskMe versus yet another fucking lame whingefest about some pissant little detail -- well, I say go for it: tell us about your AskMe experience. It will be a welcome relief to these eyes!
posted by five fresh fish at 5:25 PM on October 9, 2005

"I'd still like to know what happened to Chalupa the chihuahua"

It got dropped.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:33 PM on October 9, 2005

Do it here, I can't be bothered to keep up with those old threads over there. I have papers to write, after all.
posted by konolia at 5:50 PM on October 9, 2005

Most should now go back to the original thread. With the MyRecentComments pony (which still lacks a front page link Matt) it should get noticed. Only those updates of the most broad based interest should find their way here, IMHO.
posted by caddis at 6:18 PM on October 9, 2005

My feeling is that updates in the orgional threads are not going to be seen by most of the people who were intrested in finding out what happened.
posted by delmoi at 6:33 PM on October 9, 2005

My feeling is that if you're truly interested in finding out what happened, you should keep tabs on the original thread after it's scrolled off the front page.
posted by Vidiot at 6:54 PM on October 9, 2005

I'd say definitely post in the original thread, if it's < 6 months; if there was enough interest, maybe post it to meta.br>
On the one hand, delmoi makes a good point, that once a thread starts getting old, people who had an interest in it aren't likely to check it again after a while, and so a followup here ensures those people find out the (ultimate) outcome.

On the other hand, just posting a followup here (and not in the thread) means that someone who comes across the original AskMe thread is likely to miss out on the outcome since it was posted to an entirely different part of the site.

I do tend to agree with the sentiment that if you want to keep up on a topic, keep an eye on the thread. If/when we get the pony of a "bookmarks" thing for MeFi/AskMe threads, that should make it easier.
posted by Godbert at 7:10 PM on October 9, 2005

The conundrum is that everybody wants to accommodate this need, but te volume of AskMe threads so vastly outweighs the volume of MeTa threads that the Grey would very quickly be overwhelmed if the gates were fully opened. It's kind of a problem. I don't know what the answer is.
posted by scarabic at 7:11 PM on October 9, 2005

But yeah, in some instances it's just not worth it. I'm glad that Doohickie likes his new Hyundai and all but I am hard pressed to give even the faint aroma of two shits about it.
posted by scarabic at 7:13 PM on October 9, 2005

Or we could just create one catchall MeTa thread for AskMe updates, and people could bookmark that.
posted by Vidiot at 7:17 PM on October 9, 2005

And could we get the ability for the AskMe asker to close the thread?

[Extra Pony Request]Could this page: http://ask.metafilter.com/search_threads.mefi?user_ID=
show the number of comments in each thread?
posted by blue_beetle at 7:33 PM on October 9, 2005

And could we get the ability for the AskMe asker to close the thread?

No.

The answers are valuable to all, not just the asker, otherwise you might as well seek email answers. Good luck with those. The asker may have different needs or thoughts on the subject than others who might be interested. Why let one person cut off the flow of useful information? It reduces the utility for the community.
posted by caddis at 7:56 PM on October 9, 2005

What caddis said.
posted by grouse at 11:28 PM on October 9, 2005

What about a "threads I'm watching" page, similar to the "items I'm watching" page on eBay? I imagine this could be tricky to implement, but it would be a neat way for individuals to keep an eye out for updates on the threads they wanted to see.
posted by joshuaconner at 1:31 AM on October 10, 2005

It could be cool if the Asker could comment to the thread and then mark their comment as a follow-up. Then there could be list of recent follow-ups in the sidebar - and that is a feature I wouldn't mind reading regularly.

Probably too much work but it sounds like a nice idea.
posted by dodgygeezer at 6:14 AM on October 10, 2005

How about just a "recent comments" sort for AskMe, like we have on the main page?
posted by klangklangston at 7:17 AM on October 10, 2005

Maybe we could have updates added to the AskMetafilter sidebar. Everyone would see the update and it wouldn't clutter MetaTalk.
posted by Alison at 10:29 AM on October 10, 2005

How about just a "recent comments" sort for AskMe, like we have on the main page?

Bears repeating. This would be great. Also would be good for MeTa. That way we can ALL see which metatalk threads have become playgrounds for the bored kids over at metachat....
posted by dersins at 10:39 AM on October 10, 2005