I agree with Jeanne. (and yes, I'm still here, I answered a dog question yesterday as it happens!), I read the threads which interest me, if I think I have something to contribute, then I contribute, but if what I'd say has already been said, I don't see any need to say it again just so I can say it (most of the time), unless someone says something I really disagree with.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 6:55 AM on April 16, 2008

I suggest that doing that will only make the person feel like they're receiving praise for their behavior nonetheless.

We've had the discussion about the fact that favorites aren't necessarily positive feedback and that people use them for different purposes before. If people insist on believing that the only possible reason people favorite something is because they agree with it and want to high five/butt slap/give a cookie to the author of said... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 3:49 PM on March 16, 2008

who wants me to mail them Andy Williams from Branson Missouri?

Can you please send me Shoji Tabuchi instead?
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 8:39 AM on February 18, 2008

human health question get a mix of answers and experiences but pet questions have an heightened sense of urgency and appeal to professionals.

Humans can generally decide to take responsibility for their own health issues, can describe how they feel, can answer questions about it. Animals can't do any of those things, and their owners often have no idea about how to describe or accurately assess their behaviour, and many owners don't do any research... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 7:10 AM on December 6, 2007

Woohoo...shout OUT!

And I SAY "MeFie", but in my head, AskMe is actually "ask Meffy", who I envision as a lower-jaw-jutting-out terrifyingly capable ponytailed preppie chick who has a wonnerfulwonnerful terribleterrible summer home in the Hamptons, but who's actually quite nice and very smart and full of good advice (and/or shit) anyway (because she probably went to Yah-lay).

Also, I am always a motherfucking Viking, asleep or awake.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 9:41 PM on October 26, 2007

I write a quarterly column for the American Kennel Club Gazette and have an article in the November issue of Dogs In Review magazine.

I am an official crazy dog lady.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 10:54 AM on October 21, 2007

You're inviting strangers to your house for doughnuts on Wednesday?

In case you're serious, Wednesday is the Fourth of July, which is a big 'ol holiday in the US of A. And yes, it's common practice to celebrate it in some fashion (being as I am from Canuckistan, their strange ways confuse and frighten me, too).
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 6:07 AM on July 2, 2007

We can make him not shower for a month and subsist on nothing but magic brownies washed down with patchouli oil and lentil shakes.

How much does this camp cost and do you have any spaces left for July? Will I need a tent or do we stay in cabins?
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 12:14 AM on June 24, 2007

flapjax at midnite looks suspiciously like Dr. Venture.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 4:28 PM on June 15, 2007

quonsar's Celine Dion mixtape question actually explained a lot...
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 8:57 AM on April 1, 2007

I'll ask the missus, but I expect we're up for something when we get there.

The missus (yes, that's me) will definitely be up for something when we get there.

(I will have to be both a Leafs fan and a Sabres fan. I'm just a wee bit enthused about living in a proper hockey town again, I think I remember what the Eastern Conference looks like)
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 6:53 PM on February 14, 2007

ikkyu2 not only offers good information, he's consistently one of the most compassionate, understanding posters on AskMe. I bet he's an excellent doctor and an excellent doctor who also has great bedside manner is worth his weight in gold, I'd feel very lucky if I were one of his patients...except for, you know, the broken brain aspect.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 9:42 AM on February 4, 2007

There's a world full of Amandas. Why would I want anyone to call me that?

*cries*
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 4:56 PM on January 24, 2007

I think I like my Donald Cammell post best of my (very few) FPP's (but the Underground French Cinema and the Thylacine Museum are close seconds). My very first one was deleted as a double, but the one which stands in its stead as my first FPP still on record is pretty crap (as is the Sinister Dolls one...which is distressingly much more recent...oh well...).... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 8:00 PM on October 5, 2006

Awwww...thanks Krrrlson, you're a sweetie (here's that fiver I promised you).

And *ahem*, iconomy, I believe I paid you for 2005...

At the risk of repeating myself, all you guys really did make my day (again!), thank you, I'm all verklempt. MeFi and AskMe are two of the coolest places on the inertweb.

(These Krrrlson/iconomy sock puppet accounts are the best $10 I ever spent...note to self: make the timing less obvious in 2008...)
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 6:45 PM on October 5, 2006

These are awesome. However, I blame interrobang for my new and burning desire to own a "grow a brain, morans!" t-shirt.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 4:53 PM on September 27, 2006

Yay! Live happily ever after! Congratulations.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 8:31 AM on September 24, 2006

Why is it that people give other people so little credit for being able to make their own minds up about their relationships that they think that an external person can actually "break up" a relationship? In the same way that I find the whole "covenant with society" thing borderline offensive, I find the idea that somehow we're all obligated to help other peoples' relationships survive offensive. If it needs external help to survive, maybe it's time to pull the plug, you... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 5:15 PM on July 4, 2006

Good luck Jon - definitely figure out a shoutout if you can. The internet's first kidney stone webcast!
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 7:08 PM on October 12, 2005

I like them. I don't like the comments I've seen recently which imply that somehow a one-link post (one word or not) is unacceptable. It completely depends on the link as to whether or not more information/links/words are needed, but there's nothing at all wrong with one word/one link posts in principle as far as I'm concerned. If you don't like them, or don't want to waste your time finding out, then don't click on them. /predictable
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 4:57 AM on September 29, 2005

Oh yay! That picture on NortonDC's homepage made me smile. Congratulations you guys!
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 10:36 PM on September 24, 2005

Well done you. And wow...cuteness...overload....
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 10:53 PM on September 16, 2005

Oh wow...that made me smile. How wonderful. Congratulations you two!
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 5:25 PM on April 9, 2005

I don't mind the self-linking as much as I mind the fact that his posts, whether they contain self-links or not, contain almost no original words, they're >90% quotes from other people. His posts read like they were made by a quote-bot. bevets needs to learn to use his words to communicate.

That said, I don't think he should be banned. I just ignore him unless I need a good dose of frustration, which is rare.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 11:10 AM on April 9, 2005

I've had a few MeFi emails and was happy to get them. Definitely not spam.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 8:03 PM on March 26, 2005

yes, he's got a crush on you To quote Calvin, sometimes I think of more modern bands who do that, what I was a fratboy high does not mean that he understands English, it means something different to another person, people asking for a kid who never missed an episode of The Galloping Gourmet) and I also wonder what the truth is, what happened can possibly help prevent its happening again with another kid. How can looking for that elusive feel good feeling of furthering science (whatever... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 11:35 AM on November 21, 2004

Hey cool! I got a shoutout! Thanks!
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 5:55 PM on November 8, 2004

Noticeably faster. Awesome. Thanks Matt!
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 12:01 PM on October 30, 2004

kenko read my mind, I was just about to post something along these lines. It's not so much the number of questions displayed on the front page that bothers me, as the fact that we lose the "new posts" feature once the question gets moved off the front page.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 8:25 PM on October 13, 2004

At the risk of ultimate redundancy: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 11:05 AM on October 10, 2004

(My husband just said "Hey, you've been called out in MeTa", and I thought "Uh oh....", so this was a relief, as well as a huge compliment!)

Awww....shucks...I am truly touched and all blushy ovah heah. What can I say, I likes the critters.

Thanks y2karl and all you guys, you've made my day. :)
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 5:40 PM on October 5, 2004

I've come up with all manner of ones I wish I'd chosen instead (like Sharrow or Diziet or Darckense, Xeny - and hi adrianhon!), but the truth is that I'm glad I'm biscotti - it was my last cat's nickname, and he was the Coolest Cat in the World, and now he's gone.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 8:01 PM on October 2, 2004

the first person to really get nasty was biscotti, who took fire's unspoken urge as a great personal affront and chucked some abusive language his direction.

As has been pointed out, it wasn't really unspoken at all, and I don't see how what I said was abusive (or even really nasty), I took fire's unpleasant comment and rephrased it. There's nothing personal about it, nobody has any business telling a complete stranger what to do (in an insulting... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 9:36 AM on July 20, 2004

O/T but ROU_Xenophobe's right.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 11:23 AM on April 12, 2004

I think that how much or how little one discusses is entirely a matter of personal choice, and as in real life, some people are more cautious than others. Most people are pretty aware that the Internet is simultaneously anonymous and anything but, but most things you say on the Internet are there forever, or at least for a long time, and I think that it's wise to remember these things when posting (NOT that I think this means we shouldn't discuss experiences, but just that we should do so from... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 11:32 PM on April 5, 2004

I'd also like to see the people who routinely ignore this simple courtesy to face the same sanctions meted out to me today. Delete the comments of those who cry "crap post" in the blue whenever an FPP is critical of Bush.

I certainly agree with this (within reason). A content-free crap comment once in a while is probably something we've all been guilty of now and then, but repeated offenses likely warrant some kind of sanction.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 10:40 PM on March 28, 2004

would this call out have occurred if the comment had fifteenth, rather than first?

I expect so (without the "kick off a thread" bit, obviously) - the call out was about the inappropriateness of the comment, not where it occurred in the thread, it would have been a valid call out regardless of what number the comment was.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 1:17 PM on February 29, 2004

I just get tired of atheists and science-heads pretending that they don't have a belief system of *any* kind simply because they don't employ the concept of *god* Last I checked, the basis of reality was still a mystery even to the most pointy-headed, lab-coated geeks in the world, and the more we learned about the creation and fundamental mechanics of the universe, the more "magical," a.k.a. "counter-intuitive" it appeared to be.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 3:39 PM on February 28, 2004

I have to agree with orange swan, I don't find this place aggressively male in any way which makes me uncomfortable being here. There are certainly some users here who seem misogynistic, but then there are also those come across as intolerant of all kinds of other things, that's how people are - at least here the vast majority of people seem to be relatively enlightened and evolved, and I suspect that in many cases that fact makes Metafilter a force for good - I know that my... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 11:14 PM on December 6, 2003

I don't think SpaceCadet is trolling, I think his world really looks like that to him. I feel sorry for him, and I think he needs help. He doesn't sound like a happy person at all, and that isn't going to change as long as he's this angry. However, he's entitled to his opinions, just as I'm entitled to argue with them.

In my opinion, posting bashing topics to the front page is perfectly acceptable - the way you show the idiocy of such things is through discussion, not... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 4:26 PM on November 23, 2003

Wha Shane, ya shore do talk purty.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 10:26 PM on November 23, 2003

Did biscotti deserve such verbal abuse? Her question was valid and her tone polite. Did SpaceCadet's rude, personal attack have any place in intelligent and civilized conversation?

Thanks, cup. I tend to view my ongoing argument with SpaceCadet (now over with (in that thread anyway), as I'm sure many will be glad to hear) as mental calisthenics. Mr. Cadet can't seem to stay on topic, especially when he's cornered by his own errors, and I find it... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 2:33 PM on November 24, 2003

Actually it surprises me that there aren't more tolerant atheists - who only seem to be asking to not have another belief system thrust upon them, and be allowed the freedom to think as they want and not be stereotyped by it.

There are LOTS of tolerant atheists, they just don't often get involved in discussions like this one, where nobody is going to convince anyone of anything and all that happens is people get defensive and their existing beliefs... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 12:15 AM on November 15, 2003

Maybe I just feel the need to "represent", as the kids say these days, for my soulless crew, just to make sure that the caterwauling is even on both sides or something.

I hear you, and am glad you do it. On rereading my comment, I realize that it came across as me saying that I wish atheists stayed quiet, and that's not what I really meant at all, it's more that people get so irate about this issue and people get to insulting each other so... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 11:52 AM on November 15, 2003

There is a God, and one day you will come before Him. I really would like that to be a happy wonderful day for you all instead of a day filled with bitter regret and the painful knowledge of what you could have had and what you could have been.

If there's a god who's as wonderful as you say, I'm sure s/he'll judge us on how we lived our lives, and not on whether or not we went to church and went through the motions of belief. It strikes me as... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 5:13 PM on November 16, 2003

Before I became a Christian I really tried to be good. It was quite a strain. As much as I wanted to be loving and unselfish, and might even have looked that way on the outside, inside what I really was was something else entirely

I'm glad your faith has helped you solve this problem, really, if your religion gives you the comfort and structure you need to be happy, then more power to you. I just don't find it a strain in my own life - I'm the only... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 9:39 PM on November 16, 2003

I don't understand why you people are arguing about this.

It's a discussion, not an argument. If anyone doesn't want to discuss it anymore, I assume they're capable of just not posting or reading anymore. Why should everyone stop discussing something they clearly find interesting just because you can't understand why they'd want to talk about it?
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 8:33 AM on November 17, 2003

Philip Pullman (among others) has an interesting take on this.

As does Jeremy Leven.
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 6:44 PM on November 17, 2003

Here's an honest question about something that's always confused me, konolia - why is it that your god is the "real" one? Are those who believe in other gods just plain wrong? How do you know? What about those who believe in the same god, but with different mythology and without the divinity of Christ?

I've said it before, but I'm of the opinion that if there is a god, it will turn out that all believers have just been describing different parts of the... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 11:14 PM on November 17, 2003

TCS - this in the original post here was one I read over and over again, including out loud. At first I just thought it was amusing, but it's definitely got real music to it.

"The ballerina had seen before,
way back in a cartoon as a kid,
yet it was a bear not a man."

...it has the feeling of something you could understand if only you were smarter/crazier/more educated/more creative/more stoned...just out of... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by biscotti at 3:43 PM on September 26, 2003