MetaFilter

So when you're proofreading and you catch a typo, what's your instinctive reaction?
Oh crap, I made another mistake! I suck at writing! I'm so careless! It's really embarrassing how bad my first drafts are!
Yay, I caught another mistake! I'm great at proofreading! I'm so thorough! It's really satisfying making a bad draft better!
If you're doing #1, you're basically punishing yourself for proofreading well. When you kick yourself... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by nebulawindphone at 11:57 AM on June 9, 2012

I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on, including Sweet Valley High and The Little Mermaid (and Ray Bradbury and Andre Norton, etc.) and my gut instinct is that a robust love of reading, and omnivorous consumption across genres and genre types, is the single BEST guarantee that your daughter will grow up to be a feminist. Know why? Because avid readers read EVERYTHING, and as a result of being exposed to so many different opinions and viewpoints, they learn to think for themselves... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by artemisia at 7:39 PM on June 6, 2012 marked best answer

This is the best summary of reasons I've come across to not get involved with Klout.
posted to MetaTalk by urbanwhaleshark at 3:31 AM on May 23, 2012

My friends with children are almost always happy to have food brought, regardless of the kid's age. I think 6-8 weeks would be nice because at that point, the brigade that might have organized itself right after the birth will have disbanded.

If she's OK with your seeing her home looking somewhat disorganized, why not offer to cook and then come over and eat with her, instead of (or in addition to) simply dropping off meals? I have friends with small kids whom I would... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by brianogilvie at 8:11 AM on May 5, 2012

Just to follow up a bit on the pit/no-pit debate: I read an article by somebody who had experimented with this very issue, by comparing how long it took cut avocados to go bad, with and without the pits.

His conclusion was that exposing the inside flesh of the avocado to air made it go bad. If you kept the pit in, it covered up a small part of the flesh, and therefore helped a little bit in slowing the avocados decay. However, he found that it was much more effective to... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by yankeefog at 8:27 AM on March 21, 2006 marked best answer

Alton brown recently did a show on avocados.

He confirmed what yankeefrog said about the pit - it doesn't help, except to cover up a little bit from air.

He also pointed out that sticking it in the fridge completely stops the ripening process. So if you want it to ripen, keep it out of the fridge. Now, once it's ripe, you can stick it in the fridge, and it won't spoil for a week.

Woot!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by anonymoose at 10:33 PM on March 21, 2006 marked best answer

Shit. I really hoped she'd pull it together. (As far as one can hope for good things for a perfect stranger)

Her poor family.
posted to MetaFilter by Space Kitty at 5:31 PM on February 11, 2012

This happened to me to. Constant fights about it. We had twins, and it got worse.

Finally, I realized that my duty was to my marriage, and to fullfill that duty, I had to love the job of being a husband. I don't mean to say it's a "job", but that we all have our roles, and it's important to know you're taking care of your part, and with the right attitude. Much of my "not listening" was based on subtle anger on my part for working hard every... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by asavage at 8:29 PM on May 14, 2005

I have to say it. Sorry. But I really dislike the idea of "junior" moderators. If Matt chose someone to be a moderator then I hope we can treat them all with equal respect. Thank you.
posted to MetaTalk by taff at 8:22 PM on October 28, 2011

This book (From the Hips) isn't just about sleeping, although it is much more about baby care and becoming a parent than the pregnancy focused cover would suggest. It is the only book I've ever found on pregnancy and babies that covers a range of options without pushing one. It does a lot of it by quoting different parents about how they felt about their choices and why they made them. It's a really nice affirming, realistic book to have around for all aspects of pregnancy birth and baby care I... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by crabintheocean at 2:38 PM on October 25, 2011 marked best answer

Communities change. I've changed, an incredible amount in the last ten years.

I think he's got a point; when a community gets to be a certain size, the same percentage of signal to noise can still hold true, but suddenly what was 1 negative, derailing comment, is now 50.

And those assholey comments I might have identified with and cheered on 10 years ago, just make me want to go outside now.

It's also... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by danny the boy at 1:36 AM on September 15, 2011

Is there any park etc. nearby where you could plant a tree in their honour? This respects their desire not to receive "stuff," and you could give them a card in which you liken the growth of the tree to the growth of their relationship.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Bergamot at 12:06 PM on September 3, 2011

This from craigslist is an old favorite I always see posted here...but lemme tell ya: A while ago I was applying for multiple jobs in my industry. I got SO TIRED of writing the same old letter, and I felt at that point I was just rehashing/moving around the same trite phrases...so I said "f--- this, I'm just gonna do exactly what this link says".

Not only did it feel a lot more refreshing to be so frank, it also landed me several interviews/tests. I say give... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by sprezzy at 12:15 PM on March 21, 2011

Here is the canonical mefites on Google+ thread.
posted to MetaTalk by minifigs at 2:11 PM on July 11, 2011

I like doing stuff under my real name. It forces me to hold myself accountable for my words/actions. In fact, I was just talking to some Mefites on G+ (just got on today! woo!) about whether online disinhibition effect is stronger here because we're just jokey names on a screen.

(That being said, their privacy/filtering features over at google+ are terrific.)
posted to MetaFilter by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:20 PM on July 8, 2011

I am the reverse of the demographic you're looking for.

I mainly hang around on Ask, but not on the blue. I'm a writer and find Ask a goldmine of insight into the human condition.

I do read the blue, but not as much, and basically never comment because straight-up MeFi seems much more intimidating and overwhelming to me.
posted to MetaTalk by Andrhia at 1:36 PM on June 3, 2011

I will add, however, that as a young 30s mother, I have feelings about work/life balance that I didn't in my late 20s.

So, for example, I was a grad student when I had my 1st kid. I had a very luxurious pregnancy and early period with him because I was in a form of employment (TAing) that was very flexible AND I had student loans to fall back on (and, most importantly, a partner who was bringing in income). It was totally the pregnancy and early babyhood that I wanted as... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by k8t at 12:05 PM on May 8, 2011

Maybe it's a generational or organizational culture difference but I'm surprised by the level of paranoia in most of the answers given so far. So many people are on anti-depressants and other psych meds now that I just don't think it's such a big deal anymore. Treating it like its some sort of a shameful secret just extends how long it remains a stigma. You say you have a good working relationship with your boss, and I'd assume that after 6 years you should have a pretty good idea of how fair,... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Jacqueline at 8:15 PM on May 8, 2011

I wouldn't say, like, "YO I'M DEPRESSED," and then kind of sit there waiting for them to be all, "Oh, that's cool."

I WOULD and HAVE said something like, "My doctor recently prescribed me a new medication that takes some getting used to. She recommended that I take it easy at first. I'm really happy because I can still work. Is it okay if take some PTO from DATE to DATE and then telecommute X times per week until DATE? I've already checked with... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Snarl Furillo at 3:51 PM on May 8, 2011

Every little kid I've ever known, including my own son and daughter, loved to have their nails painted when the opportunity presented itself (usually prompted by observing mom, or aunt, or babysitter, or neighbor painting their own nails).

Kids with painted nails have nothing to do with "OMG GENDER CONFUSION!" and everything to do with "OMG BRIGHT COLORS ON MY NAILS = FUN!"
posted to MetaFilter by amyms at 6:33 PM on April 15, 2011

As a Canadian non-Harper-ista, I'm getting really tired of stuff like this. This is echo chamber shit. A bunch of people who aren't going to vote Conservative talking to each other about how awful the Harper government is. Meanwhile his poll numbers go up.

This is the downside of social media I'm noticing during elections...people see things like this, as well as Shit Harper Did, nod in agreement, and pat each other on the back for their cleverness. But this message... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dry white toast at 3:39 PM on April 16, 2011

You've survived there years. You've managed a toxic environment. That is commendable, but also a testament to your stubbornness. First, it sounds like you should change companies - stay within your field but leave that particular company. Failing that, you need to be proactive about taking responsibility. Your boss will never see you as growing unless you take growth paths. Suggest things. "Hey, can I head up a review of X - it's been bugging me that we didn't have that organized."... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by carlh at 8:05 AM on March 26, 2011

Same shit, different day.


OR: Same shit, different pants.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by XhaustedProphet at 3:06 AM on March 24, 2011

Here's the thing about admin positions. They are low stress in that you do indeed have set hours and don't take work home with you. But when you're there, you are the person who ends up taking care of everything either no one knows how to deal with or no one feels like dealing with. Some days will be slow and monotonous and you will want to run out into traffic just for kicks. Some days will be absolutely hectic and you will want to run out into traffic because you can't take it anymore. But... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by fairfax at 12:10 PM on March 5, 2011

I love how you trust random strangers on the Internet to teach you how to impress on your daughter that trusting random strangers on the Internet is DANGEROUS!!!

I wouldn't be worried about the "gave out some info" aspect of this at all, what is a bit off is the "didn't tell you about new online friend" aspect, and that is probably adequately explained by the fact that your kid knew you'd overreact. Working on that might be a better idea.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by themel at 12:23 AM on December 27, 2010

I like pinboard, but I missed delicious Firefox extension too much so I switched back. I found the extension much faster than the pinboard bookmarklet, and I didn't like the autocompletion of pinboard. Is there a bookmarking system with a great bookmarking interface? I don't need anything online, I could use something self-installed, but I really like delicious tag suggestions from other people who bookmarked the same url.
posted to MetaFilter by davar at 1:27 PM on December 16, 2010

I didn't realize until last week that clavdivs is CLAVDIVS, like CLAUDIUS. I was pronouncing it "klav-divs". I feel stupid. Also, elizardbits' name makes me giggle every time I read it, so I imagine she is someone that I'd get along well with.
posted to MetaTalk by specialagentwebb at 5:11 PM on November 29, 2010

I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time, mama.

My experience of breastfeeding-troubles discussions on the internet is that you're likely to get a bunch of "It is totally okay to give up!" comments, which may or may not be that helpful to you. I'm sure you already know, in theory, that switching to formula to preserve your sanity does not make you a lousy person. But it's totally understandable that you're conflicted - I don't even particularly agree with... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by thehmsbeagle at 9:07 AM on November 17, 2010

Two weekends ago, I sold my Citroën. It'd taken me about eight years to come to grips with letting it ago, and if that says something about me, so be it. I'd put eighty thousand insane miles on it, up and down the eastern seaboard, from spending four hours stuck in a solid traffic jam on the Cross Bronx Expressway with the ARRET! light falsely warning me that the car was about to overheat to moments on Route 301 in South Carolina where I did the little mental arithmetic to... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by sonascope at 6:38 PM on October 2, 2010

I loved that comment. We've already sidebarred sonascope once, maybe twice. I try, in some sort of weird way, to put people other than the usual suspects on the sidebar so it doesn't become just a list of the same [awesome] commenters making awesome comments. I was also going to mention him in the ericb thread as well but didn't want to make a comment prasing someone from my phone [typo laden and rushed]. So this is as good a place as any to say, yeah, it's been wonderful to read his stuff. He's... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by jessamyn at 8:27 AM on October 4, 2010

My first instinct upon reading this is to tell you not to cut your nose off to spite your face. It does suck that they lowballed you, but think about your long term earning potential. Are you on the right road with this firm? Don't bother comparing yourself to the receptionist - that is ridiculous. The both of you are on completely different paths - you have gone to law school and are building a career with immense earning potential. She is a receptionist on her own road. You should not be... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by pazazygeek at 2:06 PM on September 3, 2010

I have quite a few friends who swear by the Zero Balance Budget. I don't live paycheck to paycheck, but I actually tried it (for a couple of years, on a military income), and I actually had a lot more money at the end of the month than I had originally predicted.

My comment on that post:

I’ve been doing a “Zero Balance” budget for about 18 months now, with a twist:
I get paid every two weeks, and I have found it easier to budget by... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Master Gunner at 12:51 AM on August 22, 2010

Curious_Yellow already brought up The Shallows, which helped solidify for me my anti-multitasking stance. It's a great book, and the author's blog is also interesting. I avoid quoting from it every chance I get, because I'm scared people will think I'm some sort of productivity evangelist.

In my workplace, everyone is stressed out. Phones ringing, IM's going, a constant stream of email, decisions and plans and meetings, and everyone is struggling... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by mittens at 4:37 AM on August 20, 2010

I struggle with this too, but I don't have kids. On the other hand, I notice that I don't get as upset when I have a passenger in the car.

I wanted to point out though, that it's not really the words you are using, but the tone that is more troublesome. People pick up on the moods of others. For all your kid knows, you're yelling at him. To him, you're just yelling randomly, out of the blue. He doesn't know when to expect it. You're just suddenly yelling and he's... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by parakeetdog at 12:22 PM on July 9, 2010

For things like this, it's not just the words that children pick up, but a constant state of irritation and anger. These kinds of things can be learned, as well, which will model for your children that they also should be angry when they drive.

I think that ultimately, you need to figure out how to deal with anger. You say this: "people pride themselves on driving like self-centered monsters." I suspect that this perception of the situation is providing a... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by SpacemanStix at 12:22 PM on July 9, 2010

There are three strategies I've found that are helpful for getting through office life:

1) Do not join the complaining group or participate in bitching sessions; nobody feels any better and the negativity is draining. The office culture can absolutely make you feel worse; if you go out after work and simply bitch about work the whole time, you bring that negativity into your personal life too. Take steps to eliminate the amount of dwelling you do on the bad stuff.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Hiker at 5:10 AM on July 7, 2010

as an actual sock puppet--i think it's fine that people use sock puppets for questions they wish to ask anonymously. in looking over the anon questions today, i think the toe fungus question and the relationship one (the white lie) are ripe for that consideration.

overall, i think the moderators need to stiffen up their standards for anonymous questions. i see a lot of incomplete ones, i also see a lot of questions in which responders end up attacking the premise of the... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by lester's sock puppet at 7:20 PM on June 3, 2010

It seems that they are trying to do this... my Dad, sort of an oilman on a small scale, forwarded me an email he got from his buddy in Texas that had a powerpoint presentation explaining the whole situation. This part is relevant:

"They will use technology that is capable of drilling from a floating rig, over 3 miles deep to an exact specific point in the earth - with a target radius of just a few feet plus or minus. Once they intersect their target, a heavy fluid... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by pwally at 8:00 AM on May 15, 2010

Some random thoughts:

- Depends on how you define "work." One definition: if you stop paying attention, then things get fucked up (immediately). By this definition, the hardest work would be jobs like bus drivers, some classroom teachers, assembly line workers, etc., where any lapse of attention can have dire consequences. Many/most white-collar and some blue-collar jobs don't really fit that definition.

- Also important is the... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by 5Q7 at 10:46 PM on May 6, 2010

That said, this is an online service which well help you create your resume.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by kylej at 4:22 PM on November 11, 2009

For a couple of showers I've done a sort of questionnaire. With questions designed to bring out the guests' love and support for the family and child, but also giving guests a chance to be funny/irreverant. Then I read aloud the answers (or the good ones anyway).

Here are some examples:

I promise to take take Baby X to his first ____________________.

I will give Baby X a copy of my favorite book,... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by ClaudiaCenter at 9:53 AM on September 15, 2009 marked best answer

Voila.

I kept losing it too, so I finally just stuck it in my profile.
posted to MetaTalk by rtha at 5:52 AM on May 1, 2009

Think of it as text-messaging with an unknown amount of recipients and a public page for anyone to view the messages you sent previously

Why would I want that?

I have 6 email addresses, a website, a blog, flickr mail, mefi mail, iChat, Google Chat, a cell phone, a land-line, and a brass door-knocker. I'm just not that hard to find.
posted to MetaFilter by Devils Rancher at 8:08 AM on March 25, 2009

Very introverted stay-at-home Mom here. What I found most difficult at first was being very literally connected almost all the time (breastfeeding, baby-wearing), and equating that with being on a very short leash. Not exactly resenting it, but it left me desperate for an out I didn't have. I guess one thing that changed was that after the initial couple of months of typical newborn craziness, I began to be able to reframe my time with Baby Cocoa as being "alone together." Like Dads... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by cocoagirl at 4:23 AM on February 1, 2009

Her: "Babe can you get my phone?"

Him: "Sure, where is it?"

Her: "In my bag obviously."

*FORTEEN MINUTES OF EXASPERATED SEARCHING LATER*

Her: "Where's my fucking phone?"

Him: "I CAN'T FIND YOUR FUCKING PHONE! WHY DO YOU HAVE SO MUCH SHIT IN YOUR BAG?"

Her: "I need it!... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by turgid dahlia at 7:15 PM on January 29, 2009

I would like to apologize to Metafilter for having funny and interesting friends who make Facebook enjoyable to use.
posted to MetaFilter by The Straightener at 2:11 PM on January 15, 2009

too late now, stynxno, FB banned the BK app.

The best part of Facebook is sending friend requests to my teenage daughter, and watching her twitch in horror at even the prospect of her dad being part of her network. One day she left it open on our home PC and I changed her status to "appreciating all my Dad does for me each day." That was a hell of a blowup. Good times.
posted to MetaFilter by stupidsexyFlanders at 12:55 PM on January 15, 2009

I didn't like Facebook until my husband joined. Now I always have to make sure I have more friends than him.
posted to MetaFilter by desjardins at 12:52 PM on January 15, 2009

My kids are little still, but when I look back and remember how my mother mishandled my own teenage years, it seems like this wisdom might transcend the age difference:

Be consistent. Set boundaries. Set reasonable rules. Make clear what the (natural and logical) consequences of failing to follow the house rules are. Enforce that. Every time.

Don't engage when the kid is acting out. Don't allow them to pull you into their drama. Stay the adult,... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by padraigin at 6:02 PM on December 30, 2008

Confucius sat outside of the gates of the city, watching visitors arrive. One visitor approached the old man and greeted him with a question:

"Old man, tell me something. What sort of people will I meet in this city?"

Confucius reflected on this for a moment, then asked the traveler, "What sort of people did you meet in the last city you visited?"

"God, that whole city was miserable. The people... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Ian A.T. at 8:20 AM on December 1, 2008