wow.... just wow

December 9, 2004 10:13 AM

Oh yes - what i have been looking for, via odinsdream which btw, negates what i've said previously
posted by sourbrew (47 comments total)

I just love when front page posts are thoughtfully descriptive of the links held within. This post? I do not love. Withholding a desciption is just as helpful as just pasting the link itself and hitting "Post".
posted by Plinko at 10:17 AM on December 9, 2004

The idea behind that is that you get more reactions by being obscure. Most people will enjoy this video collection however many would simply pass by the link, getting a good number of comments on an fpp is a challenge.

I apologize for offending your senses good sir but i hope you went ahead and looked at the link anyway.
posted by sourbrew at 10:22 AM on December 9, 2004

heh, and odin, it came off of a website you linked
posted by sourbrew at 10:22 AM on December 9, 2004

Plinko - Doh... replace good sir with madam....

also I live in clemson, good to see SC people on metafilter, makes one happier about this state.
posted by sourbrew at 10:27 AM on December 9, 2004

Killed it as soon as the browser maximized itself without permission. Bad web designer! No biscuit!
posted by Foosnark at 10:28 AM on December 9, 2004

sourbrew, getting lots of comments isn't the main point of posting FPP's. Its a nice side effect but it really shouldn't be your main goal.

Especially if you're going to use intentionally obtuse FPP's to do it.

That said, I totally hate, hate, hate sites that resize my browser windows. No matter the content, unless its lots of nudity.

Foosnark said it better.
posted by fenriq at 10:30 AM on December 9, 2004

..getting a good number of comments on an fpp is a challenge.
Getting a number of good comments is a greater challenge.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:31 AM on December 9, 2004

fenriq - didn't mean to make it sound like that's my perogative, but i feel like a lot of people treat metafilter like i do, which is to only view the links that interest me. I think this site has a broad appeal, but would be glazed over by many. By being obtuse i ensure that more people will see something... i stand by my principles.
posted by sourbrew at 10:34 AM on December 9, 2004

Its okay to stand by principles, just keep your asbestos suit handy.

By the way, I like the threads with lots of comments and love the discussion angle of the site. I can't even begin to count how many times I've laughed out loud at comment threads. Its one of the things I truly enjoy about MeFi, in addition to coming across the most bitchin' sites on the web.

I try to take a look at posts that don't, on the surface, interest me and am almost always blown away by the link. People are doing some damned incredible things online, I love learning about them.

But I really do hate web sites that try to hijack my browser and resize it and pop up and all that stuff. Nothing will make me shut a site down faster. Except for flash pop ups with flashing graphics.

And Weapons-Grade Pandemonium, quite right.
posted by fenriq at 10:46 AM on December 9, 2004

Killed it as soon as the browser maximized itself without permission. Bad web designer! No biscuit!
posted by Foosnark at 1:28 PM EST on December 9

If you're using Firefox (which you should be :D) you can turn this off. Tools menu -> Options -> Web Features tab -> Advanced... button next to the JavaScript checkbox -> uncheck 'Move or resize existing windows'. Viola!

If you're not using Firefox, for shame! </shameless evangelism>
posted by cyrusdogstar at 10:47 AM on December 9, 2004

Oh, and that aside--yes, very bad web designer. However, you can't control how other people mangle make webpages, but you can control how much their questionable design ethics affect your own web browsing--with quality software! :D

On preview: sorry to beat you to the punch, odinsdream. And my way is a tad easier, too, although a year or so ago I do believe your method would have been the only that worked.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 10:51 AM on December 9, 2004

Oh... DAMN!
Nice find. There's some really fresh and inspirering stuff in there.
Thanks,
num-
posted by numlok at 10:55 AM on December 9, 2004

I find that most of the porn sites that automatically resize windows (fortunately, I use firefox now, so this no longer applies) tend to give you nasty virii/dialers, open "voting" pages, etc... I try to avoid any such sites and stick to "professional" pages.

BTW, i didn't check the link, but only cuz I don't have time.
posted by symbioid at 10:58 AM on December 9, 2004

The videos are great, but I have to admit that the instant my browser resized I blew out my monitor with a blunderbuss.
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:00 AM on December 9, 2004

To all above posts, im sorry i didn't realize it did such a vile thing.... i use firefox.
posted by sourbrew at 11:02 AM on December 9, 2004

odinsdream: true, true. I'm just glad that for some of the more commonly tweaked stuff, they finally threw it in the graphical config area.

Still refusing to discuss the actual topic :D
posted by cyrusdogstar at 11:07 AM on December 9, 2004

Thanks to you folks for helping get FireFox set up properly, now I can surf and not worry about browser jackings anymore!
posted by fenriq at 11:08 AM on December 9, 2004

This should be deleted.

sourbrew, the idea of Metafilter isn't to TRICK people into looking at whatever you link throw up there. If it isn't interesting enough on its own to be read, then it fails on its own merits. The post should be descriptive enough so that people can decide for themselves whether it is worthwhile going external for it.

I find your trick technique reprehensible and inapposite to to the point of FPPs.
posted by Seth at 11:14 AM on December 9, 2004

odinsdream, I don't think it should be deleted on the basis on the content, but rather because of the antics of the poster. By deleting it, Matt can send the appropriate message that "this post was deleted because it did not describe its contents." Standards have to be set and enforced before subpar behavior becomes acceptable.
posted by Seth at 11:22 AM on December 9, 2004

but i feel like a lot of people treat metafilter like i do, which is to only view the links that interest me. [...] By being obtuse i ensure that more people will see something

So if everyone follows your lead and all the FPPs become "obtuse", you're going to click on every link? Don't you think that might annoy you, given your preference for only viewing links that interest you?
posted by Armitage Shanks at 11:26 AM on December 9, 2004

Seth - Wow

well, be that as it may, did you go to the site?
posted by sourbrew at 11:26 AM on December 9, 2004

on preview: based on the comments i have effectively shot myself in the foot, it seems plenty of people haven't even looked at the site.

i have had success with this in the past
posted by sourbrew at 11:28 AM on December 9, 2004

No. I haven't looked at the link. Nor will I. Because I don't know what it is. And I resent your "principle" that you think I need to be tricked into seeing what you want me to see.

I only click on links that appear to be interesting, and I think a lot of people are the same way. So, if you want people to be interested in your links, here is an idea: start out with an interesting link and get people interested in following the link.
posted by Seth at 11:34 AM on December 9, 2004

Seth - I love when people make my argument for me
posted by sourbrew at 11:36 AM on December 9, 2004

I am now confident that the shady post and subsequent discussion has been a ruse to inform me of firefox's ability to disable window moving/resizing.

Great post!
posted by jungturk at 11:38 AM on December 9, 2004

Perhaps i have been too snarky, would that i could change the post title now i would. This site blew me away, i wanted everyone to share and enjoy, instead as fenriq pointed out i have fanned a flame war. Please all look and enjoy, these videos are phenominal there is a lot being said about culture around the world through video as an art form, something it frequently isn't.
posted by sourbrew at 11:41 AM on December 9, 2004

Are you still trying to be obtuse? Because otherwise, you need to re-read the comments above if you think I am making your point for you.



This is the point where you perform a mea culpa and ask Matt to delete this, never to be done again. Why are you still trying to defend such asininity?
posted by Seth at 11:42 AM on December 9, 2004

No. I haven't looked at the link. Nor will I.

sir you are screwing yourself not me with that attitude.
posted by sourbrew at 11:55 AM on December 9, 2004

Honestly, wtf is wrong with you?

I can't tell if you are illiterate, stupid or just don't *get it.* Irrespective of which one of the three it is, I am tired of trying to help you figure it out. Perhaps someone else can attempt to.
posted by Seth at 12:00 PM on December 9, 2004

I'm glad I read the comments here first, because now that I've heard that sourbrew was deliberately being obtuse, I too am refusing to click the link on principle. If it had been a mistake, that'd be one thing, but I strongly prefer that posts be described, so that I know what I'm getting into. sourbrew wants people to see the site, and his actions shouldn't be rewarded.
posted by gd779 at 12:02 PM on December 9, 2004

on the topic (!gasp! how dare he?)
check out #100 for the most awe inspiring fire dancing ever. Are those marshmalows?
posted by dorcas at 12:12 PM on December 9, 2004

This is the second FPP today that links to an organisation that's within walking distance of my home (the other was this one). Is this a sign? Should I go out more?
posted by kika at 12:17 PM on December 9, 2004

MetaTalk.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 12:29 PM on December 9, 2004

I agree with Seth! I agree with Seth! Hey Maw! I agree with Seth!
posted by jpoulos at 12:35 PM on December 9, 2004

So, this made me think (a rare occurrence):
Can we get a version of MeFi that has links ONLY?
No descriptions other than a sea of random yellow words, all heading off into the unknown.
Yes, I'm a "blind-clicker" (and Fireox user)... Bring it on!
posted by numlok at 12:39 PM on December 9, 2004

BTW: Everyone will be using Fireox in 2012...
posted by numlok at 12:41 PM on December 9, 2004

Can we get a version of MeFi that has links ONLY?

And this comment belongs in MetaTalk. Learn how to use the site, people.
posted by jpoulos at 12:43 PM on December 9, 2004

BTW: Everyone will be using Fireox in 2012...

2012? Hell, Fireox is is available now. Along with Mozilla Powersheep, Lightninggoat, and Waterelephant!
posted by Galvatron at 12:56 PM on December 9, 2004

Ok, some advice for the new users who aren't already aware.

Don't feed the Seth.

See also.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:59 PM on December 9, 2004

-sigh-
What, did everyone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Everyone at work is especially bitchy today as well... Maybe sunspots?
Perhaps you intended your post to be taken in the MeTotalitarian "Nuke the thread due to no descriptors, write your thought only on MetaTalk, move along people..." ironic sense and I'm simply being bitchy in my interpretation?
That said, my post was in reference to the thread's bend toward discussion over non-descriptive links of the FP.
My thought was a natural extension of that (already-deviated) thread, and thus has every right to be included in it (rather than MetaTalk).
Anyhow, this thread is tainted. Bad vibes. On to the next.
posted by numlok at 1:03 PM on December 9, 2004

maybe. i'll stop now. sorry.
posted by jpoulos at 1:22 PM on December 9, 2004

Dorcas - No they are sticks wrapped in a type of gauze that has been doused in lighter fluid.

/knew a guy who used to juggle fire at parties
posted by sourbrew at 1:28 PM on December 9, 2004

i enjoyed the post, i don't care how you posted it. honestly if you said something about neat videos i would have avoided the link. your approach worked well.

i am not sure what all the elitism is about around here, in fact it tends to sprout up on any web community. everyone wants to be someone.
posted by nearo at 3:32 PM on December 9, 2004

this post just really sums up what a post should NOT be.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 3:45 PM on December 9, 2004

Holy crap. I had no idea this would lead to a massive flamewar. I still looked at the pages even though I didn't care for the commenting style. It's not that important for me to bother be anal retentive about it.
posted by Plinko at 4:57 PM on December 9, 2004

Dude. This weekend, I'm totally going to start a flamewar in a MeFi topic by complaining on the blue about how the post doesn't fit site standards and effectively shut down any possible discussion of the topic. I'll then completely miss the irony caused by my complaining about standards on the blue instead of MeTa. I'm gonna singlehandedly detrail a FPP, increase tension in the community and it's gonna RULE!
posted by VulcanMike at 12:43 PM on December 10, 2004

*puts dogshit under seth's floormats*
posted by quonsar at 6:55 PM on December 10, 2004