Displaying comments 1 to 50 of 106
MeTa post:
Should we FPP the Obama speech?
Gotta n'th other comments here - it was an important historical speech. Maybe eliminate the other Obama threads.
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 11:20 PM on March 18, 2008
On reflection, yeah, delete it. It’s not like it’s getting much attention.
Disclaimer: I’m not big on breaking news/political immediacy/ obit post. Hell, I’m bummed that Arthur Clarke died. I haven’t posted dick on it.
But I have to go with drpynchon et.al.
The speech itself is not just the speech itself. It’s significant because of the timing and current feel of the country and the state of politics. Not just what it... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 1:51 PM on March 19, 2008
(and I hope the implicit 2nding of iminurmefi’s comment as to there should have been some more “context about why this is so groundbreaking in U.S. political discourse” as something that would really have helped is also clear)
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 1:54 PM on March 19, 2008
"Many of us have lost track of the number of things that people thought would completely redefine a moment in time. If history teaches us anything, it's how extremely rare it is for people to actually know at the time what will be historic and what will not."
But that's my point, the fact that you (generally) don't know, or don't think it will be historic, just because you or whomever isn't plugged in, doesn't mean it isn't.
There are... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 7:52 PM on March 19, 2008
(Indeed, why is this here? We don't know that China holding talks with the Dali Lama is significant. We don't know if anyone is going to remember a week from now. It's topical. It's political. How's it differ from the last 48 times that Everything Changed in the Chinese rule in Tibet? (no offense to the actual post))
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 8:00 PM on March 19, 2008
"most people haven't seen it before, there is something interesting about the content on the page, and it might warrant discussion from others....
Look at the links that carry 10 or 20 comments to see what everyone is talking about. Is the link you're about to post provocative enough to show to everyone? If so post away.
A good thread values uniqueness over novelty."
That last bit seems to be what the debate is about. In this sole... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 8:05 PM on March 19, 2008
“you're saying that there would have been tremendous value to posting a link to a news article on the day of the Putsch instead of waiting a week to let people gain perspective on it and produce a much more comprehensive post giving context to the event?”
Not so much - more that there would have been value to making a post on the day of the Putsch that includes enough links to give people who aren’t aware of its signifigance some context on it.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 8:30 AM on March 20, 2008
“1. it was going to go any better than that?”
On it’s own, yep. With the history of the other politicsfilter posts, nope.
“2. it would have gone better than that with a better presentation or better timing?”
Yep. Could have been more neutral - as a benchmark in the discussion on race in the U.S. - as opposed to ‘rah Obama/Hillary/McCain.
“3. continued presence of these political threadwrecks is... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 11:48 AM on March 20, 2008
“...however it does sometimes mean that people rush to be first and their lame posts stay when others could have done a better job.”
Well, there ya go. Maybe rectify that in some way. I’m not saying the arguments on the opposite side here aren’t valid.
Merely that there are unique circumstances to some posts.
Hell the ink this got in the Sun Times alone... I personally think this particular issue (not necessarily the post itself) breaks those... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 2:07 PM on March 20, 2008
“Changing the rules or guidelines to accomodate these rare situations isn't really going to fix the larger problems/reasons why that thread didn't go better.”
Hence my - “maybe I’m not the best resource here” I’m not arguing with you there. Just offering my thoughts on general principles. I don’t know dick about running a web site.
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 12:48 PM on March 21, 2008
MeTa post:
Utter tripe!
Metafilter: careful, reasoned debate gets pretty boring sometimes
(making no point here at all, just couldn't help that)
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 8:49 AM on March 17, 2008
“Thus reinforcing my point about moronic injokes and Simpsons references.”
Is there a better place to make moronic injokes or Simpsons references than in a thread, as you say, decrying substantive thought?
But I am a big Gordy Rousseau fan. Best hips in the league, eh?
“Americans would generally say that they went to "a university."”
I mention whenever I’m at table that there are folks who say “I went to U of I”... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 1:58 PM on March 17, 2008
*hands wonderchicken a very tasty Matt’s chocolate chip cookie*
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 2:00 PM on March 17, 2008
So, uh...we still don’t want to see dicks out here, right?
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 10:47 PM on March 18, 2008
MeTa post:
Drawn MetaFilter comments
Metafilter: blah blah blah blah blah
That may be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, Blah blah blah, Every One!
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 11:08 PM on February 5, 2008
MeTa post:
LOLMIDGETS
“Smedleyman, you know better than this. Let's make this brief.”
Ok. I meant no offense. My mistake. Suggestion?
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 11:18 AM on January 31, 2008
“Ummm, you were pretty much pointing and laughing at little people (because they're LITTLE, SEE???) while using an insulting term. Very inappropriate.”
Funny. I’d’ve thought saying “my mistake” was an apology. Hm.
My reasoning:
I think it’s interesting that little people were hiding in luggage and stealing from people on Swedish trains. So I decided to post that.
I found that it had been done before and there... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 12:04 PM on January 31, 2008
“If you have a problem with my explanation, that's okay -- address that, rather than demanding an explanation.. yet again. It's just frustrating.”
Welcome to the party, pal.
There’s a difference between the justifiabe criticizism of the post as it was and castigating someone.
I said I meant no offense. I apologized. I universally ceded it was a lousy post (y’all been up 28 hours? not an excuse, but I should have anticipated poor... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 2:17 PM on January 31, 2008
“By the way, I am really tired right now, and possibly not making optimal levels of sense.”
Yeah, well, that cut no slack for me. I say ‘midget’ along with the star paper and the NYT and I’m a racist pure and simple.
You call me (indirectly) a ‘retard’ and it’s “contemporaneous location in the reclamation process.” Uh huh.
“Bring it! Will you pay me for my time, too? I'm pretty cheap nowadays. Sounds like fun. :) <> Yeah,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 3:15 PM on January 31, 2008
“I didn't call you a retard, dude. It was patently facetious, but if you want to be offended anyway, go nuts.”
I said I made a mistake regarding the thing. I didn’t know the term “midgets” was offensive.
*then*
*later*
You said “If you don't get how midget is, and always has been as offensive as cripple, faggot, or the "n-word," you are, well, a retard.”
Can you follow the logic where a reasonable... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 4:06 PM on January 31, 2008
“I don't think even your extravagant verbal talents could make me want to read one more word about him.”
Appreciated. And, much as I hate to target my own foot - I have to admit, I wasn’t all that extravagant today, verbally, in that post.
The criticism of the post is valid. What else can I do but admit that and apologize? Out of line is out of line.
And again, thanks for the support, but let’s not make this a personal thing. I... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 4:59 PM on January 31, 2008
Didn't set your tone correctly. Lot of that going around lately. Huh. Everyone gets asshat. It's common to the human condition. Putting someone on a pedistal pretty much assures they're gonna fall. Why the hell you think I'm so resistant to compliments? I'm cool? Only standard I want to live up to is my own.Fuck "Smedleyman" just a name on a board like everyone else's what I say is what counts. I said. It was pointed out to me it was out of line. So I apologized and restated. You... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 9:21 PM on January 31, 2008
Meh. Hell with it. I'm off. Lots to do tomorrow anyway and I'm already past running on fumes. (Odd how you get a little high, innit? After not sleeping for a bit)
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 9:31 PM on January 31, 2008
“My issue with "I meant no offense" was that, wow, how could you NOT REALIZE that pointing and laughing at little people”
And it was poorly executed and misunderstood - yeah, welcome to the club. I apologized b/c it came out wrong.
My thinking was here’s a group of people - who happen to be in ‘x’ class of people - in some pretty bizarre circumstances doing some pretty odd things. To me, it’s the things they were doing that I was... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 1:33 PM on February 1, 2008
"I'd suggest that when you go to Russia, you avoid calling it an Asian country"
Last time I was there, a lot of stuff sorta just blew up.
But that's my point exactly. It's in Asia. It is an Asian country. It is quite specificially on the Asian continent.
But folks there, and my buddy's wife, don't like being called 'Asian.' So I try to honor that. But it is possible to make unintended offense from otherwise reasonably derived reference points.
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 11:56 AM on February 2, 2008
nasreddin - Maybe you’re an expert on the subject. I don’t know. I’m looking at maps of Asia. Russia is included there.
I’m certain there’s ambiguity on the subject. The fact that certain references disagree is precisely the point. The fact of the matter is I can google a map of “Asia” and first thing that comes up includes Russia and the text “Asia, the largest part of the Eurasian land mass, consists of over 40 countries, including Russia, the largest country in the... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 12:35 PM on February 4, 2008
MeTa post:
Generic Celebrity Thread Blues
“I think that the answer is to hold Obitfilter to the same standard that we hold all other posts. If you are going to make a post about a person's death, you better make it interesting. Interviews, biographical information (besides Wikipedia or IMDB), something. If "OMG Larry Hagman died at 2:13 today!" is posted with a link to a one line news story, delete it. When someone can come up with a collection of links on the topic of the person and their death and why it matters, then let... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 1:45 PM on January 23, 2008
MeTa post:
Chicago Meetup
I could make that if someone can drag me from Emmit's (or Cavanaugh’s, or the gym) I'm not eating at the Billy Goat tho.
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 3:05 AM on December 7, 2007
Ach! Doesn't look like I can make it. Sorry.
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 1:59 PM on December 11, 2007
MeTa post:
Is "weird" AskMe too chatty?
Weirdest thing I’ve ever heard of was BUDH-ghalkabngsBDBUBUBUBUBUgitchygitchyF’tang-DKLHDGhgdnnbbbbhnggggi gi gi gi gig GAAAAA!
...oh, wait, sorry, that wasn’t in the form of a question: BUDH-ghalkabngsBDBUBUBUBUBUgitchygitchyF’tang-DKLHDGhgdnnbbbbhnggggi gi gi gi gig GAAAAA?
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 1:57 PM on December 11, 2007
MeTa post:
Why doesn't matthowie have a $200M valuation?
“Why do you hate MetaFilter?”
Hating MetaFilter is a feature, not a bug.
...course, anyone outside MetaFilter hating MetaFilter gets a boot to the winkies.
Never go against the family, Fredo.
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 1:53 PM on December 11, 2007
MeTa post:
RTFA
There’s no way that guy was safe, his foot was off the plate when the catcher tagged him. And I hope your insurance is going to cover the damage to my bumper. This canker sore is killing me and I keep probing it with my tongue, but that’s only making it worse. A thread is an intellectual process, commenting is just the automatic gainsaying of any statement the other person makes. That was never five minutes just now. If you RTFA nothing happens, you may as well not bother. Look at these shoes.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 4:28 PM on December 6, 2007
I like my Reubens non-orientable so the sauerkraut and dressing can’t spill out of it. I also drink Klein’s Beer. Well, I try to.
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 9:02 PM on December 6, 2007
MeTa post:
Loves music, loves to dance; real a-hole on AskMe though.
“I prefer to let my grudges come and go. I don't want a system that would help me keep them forever.” - posted by ThePinkSuperhero
N’thed. + what desjardins said about only judging the current words on the page, not the predefined perceptions about the user.
And vice versa.
I mean, someone says something I completely disagree with it would be contrary to a genuine dialogue to not invest my argument with full merit simply because I like them.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 7:29 PM on December 6, 2007
MeTa post:
Suspicious minds
“You got a funny fuckin' name Obama”
You know who else has a pretty mouth?
Dunno, gandledorf sez he voted for Kerry. I didn’t vote, and wouldn’t have voted, for Kerry. Can’t say I liked this “throw my vote away on an independant” nonsense, but some of his arguments have merit. I suspect some fact checking is in order, but otherwise why play the man instead of addressing the argument?
Never attribute to malice....all that.
*twirls fake... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 3:23 PM on September 26, 2007
Metafilter: fictional characters played by the openly gay actor Ian Mckellen.
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 6:13 PM on September 26, 2007
MeTa post:
MarkovFilter: Lemme see if any American supermarkets have taken in this stuff to decorate my dorm room.
“| Comments (0) | - repeat. MSN's...self...parody...is..too...thick....can't...type...properly... I suspect that it's just speculation”
Oddly appropriate
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 4:20 PM on September 11, 2007
I gotta agree with a robot made out of meat. It’s damn irritating.
(Although I’ve done it myself (in the distant past) when the conversation has gone completely awry and someone you’re debating with refuses to read. Of course, that’s intentionally being irritating. But that sucks too.)
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 4:23 PM on September 11, 2007
MeTa post:
Shooty McGunpants
Waaay late, but:
NotMeTaed
NotMeTaed
NotMeTaed
NotMeTaed
etc. etc. (just a cursory search)
Oh, but asserting your personal morality on gun control is just fine because guns are wrong. Speech on THAT topic has to be moderated, and that’s ok because it’s a “public health issue.”
How hypocritical.
If someone did and said the same thing and came in with that kind of self-righteousness and... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 7:44 PM on April 24, 2007
“The "omg liberals can complain and conservatives can't" is belied by the text of my question and the language of the comments in this thread. Take your persecution complex to a less sycophantic website.”
Horsecock. I said nothing about liberals or conservatives. If it’s implied I apologize for not making it more clear. But I think I’m far more judicious in my statement concerning pro-gun folks and applauding their adherence to principle than your assumption... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 4:04 PM on April 26, 2007
MeTa post:
Too much tragedy for one thread
/I’d love to see a cultural shift btw. Right now it’s adolescent the way firearms are treated in the U.S. For a time there, firearms were taken seriously as tools and as something to be cared for responsibly. Of course the media portrayal of them has been fairly consistent. I think Chandler and Hammett and some others are exempted. But for the most part (in movies, t.v. books, etc.) when someone has a gun in their hand it’s like the whole world is supposed to change. In many respects it’s the... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 7:00 PM on April 16, 2007
“when was the last time that someone successfully held off the authorities by being armed?”
For clarification:
False dillemma there. It’s not “the authorities” one fights. That’s ridiculous. If you have to stand and take on the whole police force you’re making a serious error of course.
A bit back up here we had a case of a police officer robbing houses. Explain to me where going out and marching is going to stop that.
Firearms are... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 11:05 AM on April 17, 2007
“As far as guns preventing totalitarianism, just look at Iraq.”
First: Guns don’t prevent totalitarianism. People prevent totalitarianism. Guns are merely tools with applications in specific circumstances.
Again “magical fairy dust” attitude. It doesn’t imbue it’s owner with any special properties of will or liberty seeking. It’s a tool. It has it’s uses in specific situations. Much like an allen wrench. You don’t need one until you need one.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 2:58 PM on April 17, 2007
“And not to trivialize the VT shooting, but that's what the 5 bucks MeFi membership is about*, isn't it?”
I have to second what some other folks have said here. That’s kind of what MeFi is about. I mean there is a good deal of consensual validation, checking of ideas and such. And yes it’s fairly rough and tumble and gets out of bounds sometimes, but that form of community is exactly what’s missing from firearm ownership. I don’t know that the government should or could... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 6:02 PM on April 17, 2007
“I could live with reasonably fair and balanced Pancake Control Laws. Nothing too draconian, you understand..”
You can have my maple syrup when you pry it from my warm, sticky hand.
“Most people--in a heartbeat--would settle for a law that prevented even a fraction of 30,000 deaths...” - y2karl
I agree with you in spirit. But yeah, people are willing to have in-ground pools, drive through liquor stores, all sorts of... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 1:05 PM on April 18, 2007
“It's just not all or one. You have to get a license to drive a car. That we could do with a little more in the way of that with gun ownership is not an unreasonable concept to me.” - posted by y2karl
Yeah, I have to agree with that. I don’t know (and I raise the point for clarification) if they need 2 peices of ID in VA. to buy a pistol and if one has to be a DL. But I suspect you could get a state ID and something else.
I myself think it’s insane to have... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 10:00 AM on April 19, 2007
MeTa post:
So Who Stands Where?
"So, dingleberries are huckleberries now ?"
But not a daisy. Not a daisy at all.
Oh, king eh? Very nice. And how'd you get that, eh? By exploiting the workers. By hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society.
Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government.
Supreme executive... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman
at 12:17 AM on April 18, 2007
