5 things I learned today
January 24, 2012 7:13 AM   Subscribe

5 things I learned today: five interesting links posted (almost) every day
posted by flex (26 comments total) 17 users marked this as a favorite
 
Isn't this site scraping the TIL board on Reddit?
posted by zerobyproxy at 7:17 AM on January 24, 2012


Seems less about learning and more about linking. I mean, I learned that there was a Filipino traffic cop who danced while he directed traffic the other day, too, but I can't see much application for the knowledge.
posted by crunchland at 7:20 AM on January 24, 2012 [3 favorites]


Learn more, link less.
posted by tommasz at 7:28 AM on January 24, 2012 [1 favorite]


The site is called "5 things I learned today," but the OP has said that it's five interesting links posted (nearly) daily. So it's about the links, not really an educational thing.
posted by taz at 7:30 AM on January 24, 2012


I want it to be known that I am NOT a Jesus person, no matter what anyone says (or how the phrase is punctuated).
posted by HuronBob at 7:38 AM on January 24, 2012 [1 favorite]



Burhanistan: So why isn't it named that? I don't need another interesting link aggregator. I really don't.

5 short, interesting new facts/historical anecdotes a day would be interesting.
posted by IAmBroom at 7:50 AM on January 24, 2012 [1 favorite]


Metafilter: five interesting links posted (almost) every day.
posted by michaelh at 7:51 AM on January 24, 2012 [2 favorites]


I like it. I am going to make it a personal goal to learn 5 new things every day from now on.

I may even start a site that lets people list and share the 5 new things they have learned each day. I am calling it 5newthings.com
posted by Ad hominem at 7:51 AM on January 24, 2012


Mod note: We asked the OP to post again, with a bit of explanation. It's links. If you don't want to look at links, maybe just move on?
posted by taz (staff) at 7:56 AM on January 24, 2012 [1 favorite]


Maybe the problem with the deleted version of this post wasn't that it was framed poorly.
posted by crunchland at 7:59 AM on January 24, 2012 [2 favorites]


for my fellow old folks:

5 things I forgot today
posted by Postroad at 8:00 AM on January 24, 2012 [1 favorite]


This is not "things I've learned", it's just "things I think are neat". In other words, a less-nice repackaging of The Awesomer
posted by Old'n'Busted at 8:04 AM on January 24, 2012 [1 favorite]


I am seriously concerned that, in using MetaFilter to link to a site that posts links to interesting sites, we are rapidly approaching the point of a Yo Dawg meme.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:08 AM on January 24, 2012 [4 favorites]


Maybe the problem with the deleted version of this post wasn't that it was framed poorly.

Honestly, we had mixed opinions about it but none of us felt like it was really a bad post and were surprised by the poor reception it got the first time. If you don't think it's great, that's totally, totally fine, but it's kind of an It Is A Mystery feeling I'm having at this point.

If anybody really, really has a problem with the post existing, maybe articulate it over at Metatalk, otherwise just give it a pass as something you're not into?
posted by cortex at 8:09 AM on January 24, 2012


This is weird.

1. There's only five items on your lists - you really can't use a template that allows all five items to be read without going into individual post pages?

2. This is not 'things I learned today,' this is 'cool things I looked at/watched on the Internet today,' which is not bad of itself, but is a really weird bait-and-switch framing that simultaneously turns off people attracted by the title and doesn't attract people who would like the content.
posted by Hargrimm at 8:12 AM on January 24, 2012 [1 favorite]


I like it, each day features 3 or 4 things I've never seen before. That's a pretty good ratio.
posted by mathowie at 8:13 AM on January 24, 2012


1 - There is some good stuff there.

2 - I guess phrasing matters?
posted by edgeways at 8:19 AM on January 24, 2012 [1 favorite]


which is not bad of itself, but is a really weird bait-and-switch framing that simultaneously turns off people attracted by the title and doesn't attract people who would like the content.

Speak for yourself. I personally managed to survive the dissonance you articulate here, even when the link was first posted (ie: without the "five interesting links posted (almost) every day" bit).

The proof is finally in the pudding. That is, the #2 item for Jan-22 engages me regardless of how it's positioned. Guess I just can't get enough total devastation.
posted by philip-random at 8:56 AM on January 24, 2012


I learned that there was a Filipino traffic cop who danced while he directed traffic the other day, too, but I can't see much application for the knowledge.


Easy Fred Astaire.
posted by stormpooper at 9:35 AM on January 24, 2012


Yeah, aside from name, which sets up all sorts of false expectations, this thing is pretty great.
posted by ericost at 9:59 AM on January 24, 2012


The fact that he pumps everything through his own URL redirection service bugs the hell out of me. (Also, really, you use bit.ly links for your top nav?) I did like the dancing traffic cop, though.
posted by whir at 10:20 AM on January 24, 2012


1 - Black and white is always gray
2 - Yield to the right of way
3 - Never look straight in the sun's rays
4 - Oh wah oh oh oh oh oh oh
5 - Oh oh oh oh oh
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 11:36 AM on January 24, 2012 [1 favorite]


The fact that he pumps everything through his own URL redirection service bugs the hell out of me.

Me too. How do I access the true sources? Damned if I'm going to link directly to this crappy site.
posted by Rash at 12:00 PM on January 24, 2012


How is this any different from any random Tumblr blog?
posted by bradbane at 12:19 PM on January 24, 2012


If you're looking for something that will give you a true "random fact of the day"-type experience, I'd recommend Dan Lewis' Now I Know mailing list. For example, today I learned about a a hard-drinking New Yorker who unknowingly drank turpentine, rat poison, antifreeze (and various other substances known to kill when ingested)...and lived. I don't want to spoil it, so go read it and subscribe if you're interested.


(Metafilter, Reddit and Cracked will also do the trick in a pinch).
posted by marcusesses at 3:37 PM on January 24, 2012


Amusingly, you could have read about Mr. Malloy on the blue three months ago.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 4:24 PM on January 24, 2012


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