MetaFilter

Oh, man. I'm so conflicted. I just had a second date, and there was lip nibblage and everything, so does that mean I'm single, or taken? I mean, no vows were exchanged, but I'm kinda unlikely to just randomly crack on to anybody - but what what if Winona Ryder MeFiMails me and says "I haz sekret metafilter akkount to follow ur awsum postage - u r teh hawt wiv ur mousey pikky in profilz"? Or what is she sees 'taken' in my profile and doesn't?... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Sparx at 3:08 AM on April 11, 2008

I welcome the ability to further advertise my increasingly unfathomable lack of a girlfriend.
posted to MetaTalk by StrikeTheViol at 8:35 PM on April 10, 2008

One of the things that I've learned in 11 years of making websites is that some people get quite irrationally irritated about having to scroll.

Growing up in America with a larger than average functional vocabulary, I had already known for a long time that some people get really irritated when people use big words or long sentences. Especially if the sentences are written with correct grammar.

E_B often started down two pegs, in other words.
posted to MetaTalk by lodurr at 4:18 PM on November 25, 2007

Viv, Al, Di (pronounced Dee) and I heartily approve of reading the entire thread.

On a more pertinent note, I miss people who were around long before I became a member and have now disappeared for whatever reason because I'm addicted to reading the archives. It's kind of like that thing where Slartibartfast takes Arthur Dent back to the beginning of the Krikkit Wars, or being inside a Pensieve in Harry Potter.

All very interesting, to be sure.
posted to MetaTalk by h00py at 11:04 PM on November 23, 2007

googly - don't worry about it, you were on the money. Somebody who pretends to be an asshole online, no matter what they are like in person, is in fact an asshole online.
posted to MetaTalk by Justinian at 7:29 PM on November 23, 2007

As I said, googly, you don't get it.

Maybe you should just decide to not worry about it.
posted by konolia at 10:18 PM on November 23 [+] [!]

I can accept that.

But I will reiterate that commenting on someone's public persona - without being privy to the supersecret backstory that gives them carte blanche to insult everyone - doesn't make me "out of line." New and naive, perhaps, but not out of line.
posted to MetaTalk by googly at 7:28 PM on November 23, 2007

He is one of the very best things about mefi, but he has been up to his feisty old ways lately which has had me wondering. There is a reason people love this guy, and why Matt put up with what has at times been completely unacceptable behavior. Underneath it all seems to lie a heart of gold...

I'm just a noob around these parts (3 years yesterday), but the whole time I've been here, I've heard from the old-timers about how quonsar is such a witty,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by googly at 6:21 PM on November 23, 2007

and one person is an immature emotional vampire.

Matt does a lot for this community, you shouldn't talk about him that way.
posted to MetaTalk by Falconetti at 4:42 PM on November 23, 2007

EB left and joined and left again because of a mix of unhappiness with the site and strong feelings about sexism on the site

And because the use of the word "disabled" on profile pages is, like, totally messed up. What's with you people?
posted to MetaTalk by dhammond at 4:31 PM on November 23, 2007

" TSA wants to suggest ways that people can help the lines move more quickly."

I'd like to suggest a way the TSA can help the lines move more quickly, too: ENGAGE IN LESS SECURITY THEATER.
posted to MetaFilter by majick at 7:52 AM on November 20, 2007

Stynxno, this has continued to be a very good conversation. Don't patronize the people here by telling them to “go outside”. Is your comment constructive? No. It's just a completely unnecessary implicit value judgment.
posted to MetaTalk by Ethereal Bligh at 9:09 PM on November 17, 2007

I guess my problem with AV's advice to "own" and follow her lead, etc., is that for quite a few women here, I think the silencing is probably less an artifact of being too timid to post, or too sensitive to personal and general attacks, as it is simply the weariness that occhi and some others have referred to, in the sense that when one has the will to engage, an interest in a given subject, and thoughts to share, but limited time to spend, you may become increasingly unwilling to... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by taz at 11:13 PM on November 16, 2007

“Perhaps you can explain why this isn't more ad hominem nonsense?”

Well, your disingenuous misstatement of my argument seems to be an ad hominem.

My actual argument was that he was wrong because most such accusations are wrong. And most such accusations are wrong because the people who make those accusations have very narrow and false views on what motivates other people.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Ethereal Bligh at 7:01 PM on November 16, 2007

“The blatant attention-grubbing is what bothered me, y'know.”

Oh, fuck off. That kind of accusation is pure middle-school asshattery.

There is, in fact, a personality type that is attention-seeking, always putting on a performance and hoping for praise or validation. But here on MetaFilter and the Internet, as in the middle-school classroom, false accusations of such outnumber the real thing by a five-to-one ratio.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Ethereal Bligh at 6:09 PM on November 16, 2007

Let me restate myself

You do that a lot, my friend. And you rarely seem to consider the context. This was not a good thread to restate your well-known opposition to anyone being serious about anything except rock-n-roll. But keep on keepin' on, you hell-raiser you.
posted to MetaTalk by languagehat at 5:37 PM on November 16, 2007

And if you start discussing some hypothetical humorless zealots in the middle of a conversation in which people are having a conversation about how difficult it is to have an honest discussion about these matters because they always get accused of zealotry, it's not unreasonable to be labeled part of the problem here.
posted to MetaTalk by occhiblu at 5:21 PM on November 16, 2007

jonmc: your comment sounded as if you were saying "of course you get shouted down for being humorless, since feminists are zealots and therefore humorless." Which is BS for the reasons mentioned above. But also your comment was directed at someone who was saying they often felt unable to contribute their perfectly reasonable views because people always shout them down, and then your comment took the form of shooting them down. Which just seems pointless and assholish in this context,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by LobsterMitten at 5:18 PM on November 16, 2007

I don't have a pet ism.

See, now I know you're just having us on.
posted to MetaTalk by dersins at 5:04 PM on November 16, 2007

jonmc, no one here has pounded a pulpit, yet you've dutifully shown up as you always do in threads regarding feminism to dismiss it. You've often talked about how shitty things can be here, and complained about how people have taken cheap shots at you, but in all this time you haven't developed the self-awareness or basic empathy required not to do that to someone else. That is just sad.
posted to MetaTalk by melissa may at 4:59 PM on November 16, 2007

I've watched every woman who has spoken out on MetaFilter against sexism here and generally on the subject of feminism be progressively silenced by the constant hostility and ridicule they receive.

GODDAMMIT HOW LOUD DO I NEED TO GET BEFORE YOU'LL STOP CALLING ME SILENT?
posted to MetaTalk by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:15 PM on November 16, 2007

You are all confusing fatalism for aggression.

Oh, is that what we're all doing. Must be my vagina acting up again, sorry.
posted to MetaTalk by thehmsbeagle at 11:55 AM on November 16, 2007

67% is still just a D+.
posted to MetaTalk by hermitosis at 6:53 AM on November 16, 2007

Mathowie, you seem perfectly happy with the idea that original music produced by your members could be worth listening to by people in general (if, indeed, you are not enraptured by the prospect), so why on Earth are you so determined that nothing your members might ever observe or think up, individually or collectively, could ever merit similar attention?

I think you have things backwards. The point is that the current membership collectively... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by chinston at 8:15 PM on November 15, 2007

A possible Woot! story:
Just last Saturday a girl yelled from her car at me, "Walk faster. Your t-shirt is [...unintelligible...]." My T-Shirt was plain black. I can think of no end to that sentence that could make any sense.
posted to MetaTalk by meech at 5:57 PM on November 15, 2007

Matt, what matters here is whether he deserves a punch in the mouth in your houseparty analogy.
posted to MetaTalk by Ambrosia Voyeur at 4:27 PM on November 15, 2007

four panels, I wasn't saying "four panels is a dick, therefore his point is incorrect."

I was saying "four panels is a dick."
posted to MetaTalk by dersins at 2:04 PM on November 15, 2007

I got wooted at once by two women

I hate you with a burning, vile passion that will outlive the universe. Empires will rise and fall. Stars will burn out. Whole galaxies will plunge into darkness, and yet my hatred will prevail. The last living thing in existence before the universe dies will bear witness to my unyielding fury.

...and in that final moment, I will at last have some measure of revenge. You may have your women,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by aramaic at 1:51 PM on November 15, 2007

Of course not all feminists (or Marxists or Republicans or Christians or whatever) are zealots, but in any ideology there are plenty of people who do meet that description and they tend to be the loudest.

So...

A. Some subscribers to various ideologies, like feminism, are zealots, but
B. You don't think anyone here is a zealot, or
C. That feminists in general or zealots, but
D. Felt the... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by supercrayon at 5:14 PM on November 16, 2007

So, gang, let's quit discussing women's experience on Mefi. I think we're pretty well done with that anyway, and it's been a lovely discussion.

New topic:
zealots are tiresome and humorless. Discuss.
posted to MetaTalk by LobsterMitten at 5:31 PM on November 16, 2007

It's like there is this secret underbelly to the internet, and anyone can get in, but nothing makes sense unless you are an initiate.

I believe you're romanticizing the cesspool that is #mefi on slashnet to an unwarranted extent. It's nothing like 'metafilter in realtime' a la shmegegge's hope; it's a downright blight. Think SomethingAwful hopping around in pain after being castrated and attempting to shriekingly prove its insipidity credentials.
posted to MetaTalk by Non Prosequitur at 10:16 PM on September 14, 2007

I am never going to the reptile house with quonsar.

"Sir, please! The sign clearly says 'DO NOT TAP ON THE GLASS'."
posted to MetaTalk by PinkStainlessTail at 12:55 PM on June 20, 2003

I think it's yhbc
posted to MetaTalk by caddis at 8:40 PM on January 6, 2007

quin, that person could post ANYTHING ... we have NO way of knowing what could happen

it's best to be safe
posted to MetaTalk by pyramid termite at 12:10 PM on January 7, 2007

*blinks*

Did yhbc really just call someone out for never having posted?
posted to MetaTalk by quin at 12:08 PM on January 7, 2007

a) Upload a new song, get a free ham!
b) Every twelfth visitor wins a smock
c) Wednesday: Sing along with Dick Cheney
posted to MetaTalk by mr_crash_davis at 9:03 PM on January 13, 2007

Women have been forward with me twice in my life. One instance I still remember with fondness and I am married to the second participant.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by mecran01 at 7:53 PM on January 3, 2007

I wish there were anonymous replies to anonymous questions, because I would love to hear what specific things this former friend did to drive you so crazy that you can't bear to be on the internet with her. Without knowing those details, the poster of this question comes off as much, much crazier than the person that's "stalking" him or her.

Honestly, as someone that used to be that obsessive over message boards five or six years ago, I can understand your... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by MegoSteve at 6:47 PM on December 30, 2006

Wait, seriously? Do you people honestly think this is even approaching a quality program (relative to Gervais and Merchant's previous output or otherwise)?

I'm a yank who's been downloading each episode after they've aired, and despite loving most of the first series--the Les Dennis episode being among the most hilarious and tragic things Gervais and Merchant have ever written--I rank the second far below even Gervais's appearance on the Simpsons last season (which was... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by incomple at 11:53 AM on October 6, 2006

looks good, sounds good, can't stand the taste syndrome.

as has been said many times already - next!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by narakunate at 2:50 PM on January 9, 2007

You can ask a bunch of strangers to validate your decision to break up with her. (Just so we're clear: break up with her.)
posted to Ask MetaFilter by sonofslim at 8:44 AM on January 9, 2007

What is this AskMetaFilter everyone speaks of? From what I hear, it must be the most awful thing ever created! And use of the product must be compulsory, hence all the abject bleating about the unfairness of various proportions and regulatory actions pursuant to AskMetaFilter.
posted to MetaTalk by Mister_A at 11:18 AM on January 11, 2007

[a few comments removed, metatalk will give you a seat any time]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by jessamyn at 6:39 AM on September 22, 2006

I'm not saying that pregnant women shouldn't be able to get seats on trains. I'm saying they just need to ask politely - in the same way that I'd ask them nicely if I wanted a small favour - and I'll be happy to get up for them. It's a matter of two people conversing on an equal level rather than a complex, bullshit network of implied entitlements.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by tommorris at 2:29 PM on September 21, 2006

If MetaFilter has taught me a single damned thing, it's that there are lots of different people in this world and many of them know when I'm out having dinner and fill MetaTalk up with strangeness.
posted to MetaTalk by jessamyn at 3:53 PM on December 18, 2006

"Mathowie, there has recently been a chorus of praise from all over the place for AskMe.

You and Jessamyn seem to be taking this as a signal to rigorously prune it back and tighten things up all across the board.

Translated as..........

"Mathowie, there has recently been a chorus of praise from all over the place for AskMe.

Clearly you're doing something wrong. My way is better.
posted to MetaTalk by Devidicus at 1:54 PM on January 10, 2007

You know, it seems to me I used to have an opinion about this, and perhaps even cared about it. Now, after reading this entire thread, all I have is a headache.

I'd post an AskMe question about it, but then what if I had a really important question in the next two weeks? Better not...
posted to MetaTalk by languagehat at 3:49 PM on January 8, 2007

Is this what happens when threads aren't closed?
posted to MetaTalk by Baby_Balrog at 2:41 PM on January 8, 2007

Can I get banned if I repeatedly ask the AskMeQ what I should have for lunch today? I'm thinking Chicken Tikka Masala but I have that *every* Monday. Should I change it up or stick with what works? [more inside]

I love tikka masala.
posted to MetaTalk by yeti at 8:41 AM on January 8, 2007

The biggest difference is that the second question was one that could be answered through a discussion of physics and wasn't totally retarded, whereas your question could be answered by a discussion of physics and was completely retarded.
posted to MetaTalk by klangklangston at 6:13 PM on January 8, 2007

Dude, let me say the magic wrapper words that will keep your question safe, next time.
I.
am.
writing.
a.
book.
posted to MetaTalk by bonaldi at 5:11 PM on January 8, 2007