MetaFilter

One thing that having a JD will do for you is take the edge off an outrage-fest. It's a stay pending appeal. It's specifically provided for in the Rules of Appellate Procedure. It's not great, but it's not bad; it is, of itself, just a thing that happens in a Court of Appeals. Whether it is an indicator of how the wind is blowing in that Court is a different question; I don't know. The third link suggests that it's not necessarily a bad sign.
posted to MetaFilter by Countess Elena at 5:49 PM on August 16, 2010

Context noted, Uniformitarianism Now!

As I alluded to upthread, I tend to get confessions rather than abstruse rationalizations, so my understanding has been that there's been a culture of blame around (particularly, but not only) men's preferences that lead to these sorts of defensive justifications. What some of these men don't realize is that they have no explaining to do. It might be a societal problem if "men" prefer one thing (which... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Durn Bronzefist at 3:04 PM on August 16, 2010

You do not have full adult rights in the U.S. until you reach the age of 35.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by jock@law at 5:02 PM on January 20, 2010

Capitalizing FURIOUS doesn't really tell us what he does. It's hard to tell what's going on here communication-wise, with you or with him. With regard to the first example: is he a stand-up comic? I can't think of any other kind of performer who would get up on stage and say that, and it comes off like a joke even when you write it. If that's the case, you probably knew before you married him that he was going to get up on stage and talk about you, right? If this is a new career path for... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by amro at 2:24 PM on August 16, 2010

Well, particularly because he's suggesting couples' counseling, for pete's sake, GO! You have a kid, and while I won't go as far as to say that a kid must always have his/her two original parents, you owe it to your kid to do everything you can to make it work. You've said this, so that's good.

I am in no way minimizing the effects of what you describe. I've been there, and it's very tough. But there are things here that suggest that you're really, really holding onto... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Madamina at 2:24 PM on August 16, 2010

Once a place gets popular, the quality of discussion goes down. But I think everything's gotten fragmented and there's no "one place" for all the smart people.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by delmoi at 6:44 AM on August 16, 2010

Now that this thread is over, I have to say, the emotional blackmail of posting pictures of your little girl to make sure that all of MeFi wants to answer your question is positively machiavellian. I'm going to use her for all my future Ask.Mes.

"Should I have my cat declawed? Before you answer, think about my kitten scratching this adorable little girl."

"Is this guy a jerk, should I DTMFA? He made this charming tot cry.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by jacquilynne at 11:10 AM on November 18, 2008

The Straight Dope boards call these kinds of threads "Recreational Outrage" and confine them to their dumping ground for suck, The Barbeque Pit. And even within The Pit, they label them so people are aware they're more sucky than the usual suck.

Absent the ability to double label them as stupid, I'm fine with not having Recreational Outrage posts at all.
posted to MetaTalk by jacquilynne at 7:52 AM on August 16, 2010

"Once [we move in together/we get married/we have a kid/the kids move out], then our relationship problems will go away."
posted to Ask MetaFilter by juliplease at 12:17 PM on January 13, 2010

My $.02:

1) The early adopters you recall online in the mid-1990's really WERE more innovative than the many millions who got online a decade later.

2) Community fragmentation due to blogging (as you already mentioned); Interesting people today have many more choices of online fora than in previous years.

3) Maybe you're getting smarter? Or more pessimistic?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by applemeat at 6:38 AM on August 16, 2010

A friend of mine in her early 20s who went to public high school in a mid-sized city has confirmed that the reports aren't far off, based on what she saw.

From observations of my nieces and nephews (who recently, age 15 and 17, were taken home by police after found "hooking up" in a car in a church parking lot) the media is NOT far off.

I had friends who did stuff like that and friends who didn't.

I've... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Mike1024 at 2:59 PM on July 8, 2009

ineedtogotothegym.metafilter.com
posted to MetaFilter by Brandon Blatcher at 8:32 AM on April 24, 2009

Got a nice note from yhbc that he's going to take a walk for a bit, fyi.
posted to MetaTalk by jessamyn at 6:49 PM on August 15, 2010

My quick answer is that she's 18 and your 28. There is usually a tremendous difference in life experience and maturity b/w 18 and 28. No judgement here but if you want a partner with self confidence and security, I would look to someone in your age bracket. Get used to her emotional immaturity if you plan on staying.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by WhiteWhale at 4:48 AM on August 3, 2010

the page now has a topline that reads:
"WOW. HI, METAFILTARIANS. IT'S AS IF THE CUTEST GIRL IN THE SUPERMARKET JUST WALKED UP TO US AND CLUTCHED OUR HAND AND GRINNED AND KISSED US.
(CONFIDENTIAL TO GIRL IN SUPERMARKET: DEFINITELY WALK UP TO US AND CLUTCH OUR HAND AND GRIN AND KISS US, IN THAT ORDER, JUST AS WE HAVE DREAMED.)
posted to MetaFilter by warbaby at 9:56 AM on August 15, 2010

"As long as I don't build something that could potentially damage or destroy the property of another, why do I need 'permission' from the government?"

That's why.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by gjc at 8:04 PM on May 23, 2009

Where do you think property rights come from in the first place?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by paultopia at 1:59 AM on May 24, 2009

You'd install elevators on MetaFilter? I don't even know how that would work.
posted to MetaTalk by Think_Long at 1:19 PM on July 14, 2010

I'm mainly interested in this in order to contrast it against what I feel is an aging and failing American system. And also how China may be more efficient at developing industry and technology when compared with the American system.

You might be interested to read about the backgrounds of the Chinese leadership.

Hu Jintao: Graduated from the specialty of hub hydropower stations of the Department of Water Conservancy... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Mike1024 at 3:28 AM on August 15, 2010 marked best answer

The conversation started when we started talking about how China has been able to quickly move into renewable energies and became a world leader in that technology. While the U.S. has been left behind.

Ditto on rose colored glasses here.

I'd do some research into the actual numbers your friend is pulling- usually when I hear "China is a world leader in XYZ", it's mostly actually about "We produce the most... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by yeloson at 12:27 AM on August 15, 2010

The best response to this has almost nothing to do with the words that you use; it's not about a clever turn of phrase.

It's about allowing her negativity to pass right around you, so that it doesn't ruin your mood.

Whatever it is that you want to do at the dinner: get to know your coworkers in a social context, tell them about something funny that happened to you, unwind at the end of a long week; whatever that is, so long as it's reasonable and... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by surenoproblem at 7:53 PM on August 14, 2010 marked best answer

I would suggest begin making yourself some good soups, let some beans soak overnight or in a crock-pot and use those as your base of protein, it's closer to its more natural form.


Most cultures around the world use meat as an additive or side-dish. I wouldn't worry about your protein intake since most vegetarians suffer from not enough calories rather than a loss of protein.

I did not eat meat for the better part of a decade and... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by zombieApoc at 5:33 PM on August 14, 2010

Make up a religion with its idiosyncratic rules. Don't tell anybody. Make sure you have rituals that you follow. Don't hurt anyone while doing it. I'm completely serious.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by yaymukund at 8:18 PM on June 6, 2010 marked best answer

I don't know what the heck a recipe is. Anybody want to explain?

A recipe is a list of ingredients that make up a certain entree, dessert, or other dish, along with instructions for preparing that dish.
posted to MetaTalk by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:28 AM on August 14, 2010

It boggles my mind that someone's reading MeTa closely enough to pickup the recipe meme, but not the multiple instances where the mods have told them to cut it out. Very glad for the deletion, in this case. The site loses nothing if we make that the norm.

Except recipes.
posted to MetaTalk by SpiffyRob at 1:20 PM on August 13, 2010

The worst part of the whole recipe thing is that they are completely wasted. Because, when I'm reading metatalk, I'm not thinking about what I'm going to cook, they just end up being useless white noise that I skim irritably past to get to the next comment that is properly off-topic.

And because, if I'm actually looking for a recipe for something, I'm never going to remember the search terms to pull up a random meta thread, so it fails in both... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by quin at 1:08 PM on August 13, 2010

[Recipe removed. Cut it out.]
posted to MetaTalk by cortex at 1:06 PM on August 13, 2010

I would like to start a thread that is just "what is the one thing people do on MeFi that drives you batshit insane?"

I'm not sure if there is actually an official literary term for this highly annoying practice, but for me it's whenever people in relationship threads post any variation of:

"(Insert some story about the first time I met my significant other which would lead you to believe the relationship had no... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by The Gooch at 10:20 AM on August 14, 2010

I don't have much experience with online dating, so I won't comment on Situations 1 and 2.

One idea on the paying issue: When the check comes, don't just grab it and pay with no comment. Try something like this script:

You: "Since I invited you out, this is my treat." [Sort of act as though she has offered to pay or has reached for her wallet, even if she hasn't.]
Her: "Oh, I can pay for my part... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by aka burlap at 10:11 AM on August 14, 2010

The reason people will tell you to "do what feels comfortable and natural" is because, tragically, there is no such thing as a common pace. My experience with each partner has been entirely different, based on our ages, past experience, goals, and a whole host of other subjective factors that make this question mostly unanswerable in the abstract.

Your only hope is to learn to communicate with your partners when you want something, or when you fear being... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by thejoshu at 7:20 AM on August 14, 2010

@ justinian- I just like the symbol.
posted to MetaTalk by xbeautychicx at 6:44 PM on August 13, 2010

Beautiful. I especially love this part:

I was asked at lunch today who or what I worshipped. The question was asked sincerely, and in the same spirit I responded that I worshipped whatever there might be outside knowledge. I worship the void. The mystery. And the ability of our human minds to perceive an unanswerable mystery. To reduce such a thing to simplistic names is an insult to it, and to our intelligence.
posted to MetaFilter by Madamina at 8:12 AM on August 13, 2010

Gee, I was hoping this thread would become more awkward.
posted to MetaTalk by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:52 AM on August 13, 2010

The Daily Nail. Just... wow.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Madamina at 7:23 AM on August 13, 2010

@ cortex- Idle poking from like this from my end? Is upset, hurt, or offended poking better?
I've thought that the Metafilter world was an intellectual and helpful one. I also think you guys are all smart and some want to be right about your opinions that hurting someone in the process is an afterthought if one at all. I really have nothing to prove other than while I am receptive to the comments(even the snarky ones) I don't have converse in a low or mindless manner to get my point... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by xbeautychicx at 10:40 PM on August 11, 2010

Even if that's what I was doing I could still live with myself.

Congratulations.
posted to MetaFilter by nasreddin at 8:39 PM on August 12, 2010

Let's hope they weren't international assassins.
posted to MetaTalk by clockwork at 4:58 PM on August 12, 2010

Ugh, ENOUGH already. Let's move on. Helvetica is a fine typeface, but there are so many other wonderful faces worthy of praise, expensive hipster t-shirts and pretentious websites.

Helvetica is the Dave Eggers of type. Savvy folk like to show how savvy they are by proclaiming their love for it. Except by doing so they show that they are only merely aware of typography, but not actually interested in it.

Also, if that site is supposed to showcase... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by jnrussell at 12:33 PM on August 12, 2010

Wow, I really didn't expect everyone to hate this so much. Sorry guys.
posted to MetaFilter by Venadium at 12:40 PM on August 12, 2010

Christ, it even suggests Arial as an alternative in the style sheet. No Helvetica purist, he.
posted to MetaFilter by equalpants at 12:04 PM on August 12, 2010

Is there any way to signal the issue to dates early on so I don't waste time & embarrassment for either of us?

Sure. On your first or second date, say "I've made a decision to completely refrain from sexual activity until marriage. I don't mean this to be coy."

There's little point in going after religious people if religiosity is at best something you can tolerate. You can expect that many religious people who... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:22 PM on August 12, 2010

But you can warn people to take it with a grain of salt
Seriously, we're going to tell somebody how much salt to take?
sorry
posted to MetaTalk by juv3nal at 9:08 PM on August 11, 2010

But isn't there a social contract in place, too--a certain responsibility to be open to all kinds of answers, not just the ones you're looking for?

No. It's probably usually in the asker's best interest, but there's absolutely no mandate on ask that you actually follow the advice. It puzzles me that you think there is. It's advice from bored strangers on the Internet, not a court order.
posted to MetaTalk by edbles at 6:53 AM on August 12, 2010

This specific situation seems to have been covered now, but it seems like there's been an escalation of bad-faith users, lately, who seem to relish walking the line and acting entirely tone deaf within the Metafilter milieu.

This attitude has been making me crazy lately. Not everyone is good at articulating their problems, not everyone shares the same values you do. When you see someone post inarticulately or someone who ignores in thread advice,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by edbles at 6:08 AM on August 12, 2010

When she says, "give me a grandchild", I'd say, quietly and coldly and as often as necessary, "give me a mother who understands that I don't want to be a mother!".

And if that doesn't work, take trondant's advice.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by malibustacey9999 at 2:56 AM on August 12, 2010

There once was a steward named Slater,
And he was like "fuck this I've been listening to limericks for 28 years" and escaped down the inflatable slide.
posted to MetaTalk by Metroid Baby at 4:19 AM on August 12, 2010

You guys are my new "Hey you know those guys, i totally know those guys" line to seduce the sexy ladies at the big city discotheque where we do party dancing. Very sexy fresh.
posted to MetaTalk by The Whelk at 10:00 PM on August 11, 2010

"we've got top men working on it"

[inappropriately "humorous" remark regarding moderators' boudoir predilections forcibly restrained]
posted to MetaTalk by Sys Rq at 8:52 PM on August 11, 2010

Ehhh I hate metatalk.
You guys can have this one.
posted to MetaTalk by xbeautychicx at 9:14 PM on August 11, 2010

What Jessamyn said. I'm not sure what there is to publicly discuss besides unvettable "no wai" assertions and such, but if folks could just be chill and leave the question alone if it's bothering them that would very helpful.
posted to MetaTalk by cortex at 7:03 PM on August 11, 2010