Any ideas
November 22, 2000 12:58 PM Subscribe
Any ideas how this happend? No matter how you slice it, this is what my mom used to call "creepy-ass shit."
It's part of Mysterio's plot to drive Daredevil insane.
posted by dogwelder at 4:34 PM on November 22, 2000
posted by dogwelder at 4:34 PM on November 22, 2000
A nine month's pregnant woman, dying alone in a desolate place, purportedly abandoned by the father, left to die....but people think it's hilariously funny. I think it's a slow, agonising, terrifying way to die. But this seems to be part of a ongoing pattern of behavior often exhibited here at metafilter, known as "Sadistic Personality Disorder" - one of the criteria of which is being "amused by, or taking pleasure in, the psychological or physical suffering of others"...Go figure.
posted by murray_kester at 6:36 PM on November 22, 2000
posted by murray_kester at 6:36 PM on November 22, 2000
Murray, what can we do to save ourselves from this disorder?
Actually, it's not a disorder, it's just a way of dealing with shocking/horrible/fucked up/sadistic news.
Humor is a standard and healthy way to deal with that.
It may appear sick and disgusting to some, but people aren't taking delight in making wisecracks, they're just saying it to make a joke, get you to crack a smile, to feel better about a terrible situation. You think quonsar up there actually thinks that dead pregnant women are funny?
I think it was Steve Allen or Mel Brooks that said "Comedy = Tragedy + Time"
another (paraphrased) classic:
"I get a papercut on my finger, and it's a tragedy, you fall in an open manhole and die, and it's hilarious."
Everything in the news is tragic and horrible on some level, and people's lives are devastated by the news. There also happens to sometimes be some humor in a tragic event, and if helps people deal with depression, I have no problem with it.
posted by mathowie at 6:53 PM on November 22, 2000
Actually, it's not a disorder, it's just a way of dealing with shocking/horrible/fucked up/sadistic news.
Humor is a standard and healthy way to deal with that.
It may appear sick and disgusting to some, but people aren't taking delight in making wisecracks, they're just saying it to make a joke, get you to crack a smile, to feel better about a terrible situation. You think quonsar up there actually thinks that dead pregnant women are funny?
I think it was Steve Allen or Mel Brooks that said "Comedy = Tragedy + Time"
another (paraphrased) classic:
"I get a papercut on my finger, and it's a tragedy, you fall in an open manhole and die, and it's hilarious."
Everything in the news is tragic and horrible on some level, and people's lives are devastated by the news. There also happens to sometimes be some humor in a tragic event, and if helps people deal with depression, I have no problem with it.
posted by mathowie at 6:53 PM on November 22, 2000
Now I don't want to get started on a rant here but The actual quote from Mel Brooks is: "Tragedy is I stub my toe. Comedy is you fall in a manhole and die." No offense meant and I don't mean to be petty about it, but this is one of the quotes I carry around in my head that keeps me going. =) Otherwise I agree 100% with Matt's sentiments.
BTW, it WAS Steve Allen who said the equation that comedy equals tragedy plus time. For example: What did NASA stand for after the Challenger explosion? Need Another Seven Astronauts. I think Allen wrote that equation in his amazingly historical tome, "How To Be Funny" which I highly recommend to anyone because Steve Allen was a comedian's comedian, a master of humor, and understood how it works perhaps better than anyone alive or dead. The first thing he understood was that by dissecting humor, you kill it. I'm sure Schroedinger's Cat theory has something to do with that.
In order to truly develop a cultured sense of humor, one should take the time to dissect a few classic examples, understanding that doing so kills humor. Then after you've done that, STOP doing that and go back to making fun of anyone who doesn't have a sense of humor.
And start telling AGGIE jokes again, because after the crap they are pulling with their now infamous bonfires, it's high time we start ragging on those idiots again. If you're going to hang in Metafilter, you need to develop a sense of humor, and a thick shell. If we all did that, there'd be a lot less bitching and a lot more useful content. =) But that's just my opinion you know I could be wrong.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:23 PM on November 22, 2000
BTW, it WAS Steve Allen who said the equation that comedy equals tragedy plus time. For example: What did NASA stand for after the Challenger explosion? Need Another Seven Astronauts. I think Allen wrote that equation in his amazingly historical tome, "How To Be Funny" which I highly recommend to anyone because Steve Allen was a comedian's comedian, a master of humor, and understood how it works perhaps better than anyone alive or dead. The first thing he understood was that by dissecting humor, you kill it. I'm sure Schroedinger's Cat theory has something to do with that.
In order to truly develop a cultured sense of humor, one should take the time to dissect a few classic examples, understanding that doing so kills humor. Then after you've done that, STOP doing that and go back to making fun of anyone who doesn't have a sense of humor.
And start telling AGGIE jokes again, because after the crap they are pulling with their now infamous bonfires, it's high time we start ragging on those idiots again. If you're going to hang in Metafilter, you need to develop a sense of humor, and a thick shell. If we all did that, there'd be a lot less bitching and a lot more useful content. =) But that's just my opinion you know I could be wrong.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:23 PM on November 22, 2000
My apologies to the zachrantologically challenged, but this is an area I am well-versed in, and feel very strongly about.
Comedy is subjective and has a lot to do with perspective. This is why ethnic jokes are not funny to the ethnic group in question but are more amusing to outsiders. This is why sexist humor IS sexist. This is why making fun of a complete stranger who is dead is easier to do than making fun of your own deceased. This is why me poking fun at you is funny to me but not to you, unless you are able to distance yourself from the moment a bit and take it goodnaturedly. It's not easy to do but speaking as one who has had to learn how, I highly recommend it. It can lead to self-deprecating humor which can be a lot of fun. =)
So if humor is in essence making fun of others, why is it not considered evil? Well, for one reason it's because there's a lot more to humor than just the fact that it's distancing. Humor can also bring people together. Humor often "breaks the ice" and allows people not to take themselves so seriously so they can go about finding comparison and contrasts that help them understand each other. A white person can tell a black person a joke that would otherwise be racist, if both individuals see themselves as individuals, and not as stereotypes. A lot has to do with knowing your audience as the one telling the joke, and whoever the audience is has to feel comfortable with the person telling the joke. There's trust and comfort zones and... well like I said before, dissecting humor tends to kill it, but it still is quite fascinating.
If you KNOW the person in Metafilter who leaves a one-liner in here about a dead pregnant woman found on a mountain, there's a higher chance you'll find it amusing, because you're more comfortable with the person. Matthowie knows many more people in here than perhaps anyone else, which may be one explanation for why he's more comfortable and cool with it than some others. Personally I feel Matt successfully sets a good example in Metafilter in this and many other ways, and that others should strive to emulate or at least take his general approach in here to heart.
Laughter is the best medicine. Countless studies have proven that laughter encourages the body to positively affect the nervous system, improves the body's immune system, as well as circulatory and respiratory systems. There's many medical professionals who question just how much of this is actual and how much is a placebo effect but very few doctors will tell you humor has no effect at all. Here's an example of people who take this fact to heart. And I recommend Patch Adams - both the book and movie.
Okay I'll shut up for the moment. =)
posted by ZachsMind at 7:56 PM on November 22, 2000
Comedy is subjective and has a lot to do with perspective. This is why ethnic jokes are not funny to the ethnic group in question but are more amusing to outsiders. This is why sexist humor IS sexist. This is why making fun of a complete stranger who is dead is easier to do than making fun of your own deceased. This is why me poking fun at you is funny to me but not to you, unless you are able to distance yourself from the moment a bit and take it goodnaturedly. It's not easy to do but speaking as one who has had to learn how, I highly recommend it. It can lead to self-deprecating humor which can be a lot of fun. =)
So if humor is in essence making fun of others, why is it not considered evil? Well, for one reason it's because there's a lot more to humor than just the fact that it's distancing. Humor can also bring people together. Humor often "breaks the ice" and allows people not to take themselves so seriously so they can go about finding comparison and contrasts that help them understand each other. A white person can tell a black person a joke that would otherwise be racist, if both individuals see themselves as individuals, and not as stereotypes. A lot has to do with knowing your audience as the one telling the joke, and whoever the audience is has to feel comfortable with the person telling the joke. There's trust and comfort zones and... well like I said before, dissecting humor tends to kill it, but it still is quite fascinating.
If you KNOW the person in Metafilter who leaves a one-liner in here about a dead pregnant woman found on a mountain, there's a higher chance you'll find it amusing, because you're more comfortable with the person. Matthowie knows many more people in here than perhaps anyone else, which may be one explanation for why he's more comfortable and cool with it than some others. Personally I feel Matt successfully sets a good example in Metafilter in this and many other ways, and that others should strive to emulate or at least take his general approach in here to heart.
Laughter is the best medicine. Countless studies have proven that laughter encourages the body to positively affect the nervous system, improves the body's immune system, as well as circulatory and respiratory systems. There's many medical professionals who question just how much of this is actual and how much is a placebo effect but very few doctors will tell you humor has no effect at all. Here's an example of people who take this fact to heart. And I recommend Patch Adams - both the book and movie.
Okay I'll shut up for the moment. =)
posted by ZachsMind at 7:56 PM on November 22, 2000
I used to be self-deprecating, but I wasn't any good at it, so I quit.
posted by baylink at 8:10 PM on November 22, 2000
posted by baylink at 8:10 PM on November 22, 2000
But this seems to be part of a ongoing pattern of behavior often exhibited here at metafilter, known as "Sadistic Personality Disorder" ...
Surely, there's a disorder named for people who think every personality trait is a disorder.
posted by rcade at 8:48 PM on November 22, 2000
Surely, there's a disorder named for people who think every personality trait is a disorder.
posted by rcade at 8:48 PM on November 22, 2000
Hardy Har Har :-)
posted by murray_kester at 10:08 PM on November 22, 2000
posted by murray_kester at 10:08 PM on November 22, 2000
Humor is just another defense against the universe. - Mel Brooks
Damn universe... -me
posted by john at 10:42 PM on November 22, 2000
Damn universe... -me
posted by john at 10:42 PM on November 22, 2000
From a comment I posted yesterday on Metatalk:
"A variation on the out-of-line poster is the one who thinks levity is always called for. I don't believe [levity is always called for]. If it feels like levity is called for though everyone else is discussing seriously, then that's a great sign that you might want to keep it to yourself. I've had some good laughs on Metafilter and they're almost always caused by a well-written, well-placed comment. We've got some clever people here who know that high-volume and high-quantity do not equal big funny."
Comedy may be subjective, but irrelevancy is objective.
posted by Mo Nickels at 12:23 AM on November 23, 2000
"A variation on the out-of-line poster is the one who thinks levity is always called for. I don't believe [levity is always called for]. If it feels like levity is called for though everyone else is discussing seriously, then that's a great sign that you might want to keep it to yourself. I've had some good laughs on Metafilter and they're almost always caused by a well-written, well-placed comment. We've got some clever people here who know that high-volume and high-quantity do not equal big funny."
Comedy may be subjective, but irrelevancy is objective.
posted by Mo Nickels at 12:23 AM on November 23, 2000
Mo,
Congratulations on your new position as "Arbiter of Humor and Relevancy". You must be very proud. Short may you reign. (And no, that's not another "Dead Midget" joke.
posted by Optamystic at 1:46 AM on November 23, 2000
Congratulations on your new position as "Arbiter of Humor and Relevancy". You must be very proud. Short may you reign. (And no, that's not another "Dead Midget" joke.
posted by Optamystic at 1:46 AM on November 23, 2000
Thank you. I am happy to accept the position. Seeing as how there are so many other candidates campaigning for the position in the comments above, it must be a job of awesome power. I feel all tingly.
A few rules to start us off:
1. You must worship Jackie Martling.
2. Keep your use of exclamation marks to ten or less per sentence.
3. If you think of a fart, ass or poop joke, you must include it in whatever forum you happen to be reading at the time.
4. Fags, midgets, retards, foreigners and fat people are perfect targets.
5. It's really funny to use the following spellings: Algore, Shrub, Micro$oft, Winblows, etc. These will get a chuckle every time.
posted by Mo Nickels at 3:14 AM on November 23, 2000
A few rules to start us off:
1. You must worship Jackie Martling.
2. Keep your use of exclamation marks to ten or less per sentence.
3. If you think of a fart, ass or poop joke, you must include it in whatever forum you happen to be reading at the time.
4. Fags, midgets, retards, foreigners and fat people are perfect targets.
5. It's really funny to use the following spellings: Algore, Shrub, Micro$oft, Winblows, etc. These will get a chuckle every time.
posted by Mo Nickels at 3:14 AM on November 23, 2000
So, this gay, retarded, foreign midget walks into a bar (stop me if you've heard this one)....
posted by Optamystic at 3:48 AM on November 23, 2000
posted by Optamystic at 3:48 AM on November 23, 2000
Optamystic...may you be reborn for the next thousand years as a 'gay, retarded, foreign midget ' and see if it is so wonderfully amusing...what goes around comes around.... of course, you are free to disagree and post another sarcastic comment....
posted by murray_kester at 3:58 AM on November 23, 2000
posted by murray_kester at 3:58 AM on November 23, 2000
"creepy-ass shit."
That's the standard of language and debate I've come to expect in this wonderful forum. All Hail Matt Howie and the 'Me-fi" debating team!
posted by murray_kester at 4:09 AM on November 23, 2000
That's the standard of language and debate I've come to expect in this wonderful forum. All Hail Matt Howie and the 'Me-fi" debating team!
posted by murray_kester at 4:09 AM on November 23, 2000
I think the appropriate companion rule of inappropriate posting to Mo's Law of Poorly-Timed Levity is Mo's Law of Poorly-Timed Seriousity.
When we're allowed to, we here at MeFi can get going pretty good, like Mo said in his Metatalk post, there's some sharp, funny people that hang around here.
If we can't have posts in which we're allowed to mock and ridicule and tangetalize, then we're going to do it in the ones people want to have serious discussions in, and then everyone gets annoyed, and that's just no fun whatsoever.
And murry, if your tongue is in your cheek on those last two posts, I can't see it. If you expect so little from MeFi, why bother?
posted by cCranium at 4:45 AM on November 23, 2000
When we're allowed to, we here at MeFi can get going pretty good, like Mo said in his Metatalk post, there's some sharp, funny people that hang around here.
If we can't have posts in which we're allowed to mock and ridicule and tangetalize, then we're going to do it in the ones people want to have serious discussions in, and then everyone gets annoyed, and that's just no fun whatsoever.
And murry, if your tongue is in your cheek on those last two posts, I can't see it. If you expect so little from MeFi, why bother?
posted by cCranium at 4:45 AM on November 23, 2000
Mr. Kester has always given me an impression of one who's On A Mission, and is determined to Save Us All From Ourselves, no matter how thankless the job.
posted by harmful at 9:02 AM on November 23, 2000
posted by harmful at 9:02 AM on November 23, 2000
Mo's Law of Poorly-Timed Levity
I'll buy anyone a case of beer who can get Red Herring to include that in an article or column in the next two months, preferably alongside Moore's Law.
posted by Mo Nickels at 9:26 AM on November 23, 2000
I'll buy anyone a case of beer who can get Red Herring to include that in an article or column in the next two months, preferably alongside Moore's Law.
posted by Mo Nickels at 9:26 AM on November 23, 2000
If you expect so little from MeFi, why bother?
I can only assume from his posts that Murray is being forced to read Metafilter at gunpoint; or perhaps his family and loved ones are being held hostage.
posted by webmutant at 9:48 AM on November 23, 2000
I can only assume from his posts that Murray is being forced to read Metafilter at gunpoint; or perhaps his family and loved ones are being held hostage.
posted by webmutant at 9:48 AM on November 23, 2000
Huh. And I thought with all the new readership Matt'd given up on his guerilla marketing tactics.
posted by cCranium at 10:30 AM on November 23, 2000
posted by cCranium at 10:30 AM on November 23, 2000
Yeah, I gave up on the gorilla marketing tactics. It turns out that people get turned off when chimpanzees and gorillas call them late at night and demand they go to certain web sites. Apparently screaming monkeys at 3am are bad for the MeFi brand image.
Wait, did you say guerilla marketing?
oh crap.
(thank you, good night! I'll be here all week! Be sure to tip your waitress!)
posted by mathowie at 9:53 PM on November 23, 2000
Wait, did you say guerilla marketing?
oh crap.
(thank you, good night! I'll be here all week! Be sure to tip your waitress!)
posted by mathowie at 9:53 PM on November 23, 2000
HAHAHA, this is funny because it didn't happen to me!! BWA HAHAHAHA
posted by ookamaka at 2:41 AM on November 24, 2000
posted by ookamaka at 2:41 AM on November 24, 2000
Yeah It's a scream !!! *laughing so much* I really love hearing about people dying slow painful terrifying deaths! makes my feel so good :-)
posted by murray_kester at 3:27 AM on November 24, 2000
posted by murray_kester at 3:27 AM on November 24, 2000
Freedom of speech is guranteed in the United States Consititution....freedom to be an asshole seems to be a sub clause that follows....
posted by murray_kester at 3:32 AM on November 24, 2000
posted by murray_kester at 3:32 AM on November 24, 2000
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