How to stop the spread of "_____Filter"

January 20, 2006 11:32 AM

How to stop the spread of "_____Filter" in subject headings?
The wiki says (under the heading "inside jokes") that "___Filter" is used to indicate that a topic is so over-discussed as to risk taking over MetaFilter altogether. Examples are IraqFilter and NewsFilter. But current (and increasing) usage seems to be just an effort to be cute: BSDMFilter, CondomFilter, UmbrellaFilter, etc. I, for one, find this annoying and stupid and think it should be discouraged. It's like one of those things that is mildly amusing the first couple of times and thereafter just idiotic. I think that the WhatIsAGoodPost, WhatIsAGoodComment, WhatIsAGoodQuestion entries should be altered to discourage people from this dumb practice.
posted by dh65 to Etiquette/Policy at 11:32 AM (48 comments total)

ComplaintFilter.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2006

DoubleFilter.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 11:35 AM on January 20, 2006

AntiFilterFilter?
posted by monju_bosatsu at 11:35 AM on January 20, 2006

dh65 has posted no links to MetaFilter
posted by crunchland at 11:36 AM on January 20, 2006

TripleFilter.
posted by iconomy at 11:36 AM on January 20, 2006

KvetchFilter
posted by caddis at 11:40 AM on January 20, 2006

PartoftheProblemorPartoftheSolutionFilter
posted by tweak at 11:43 AM on January 20, 2006

I agree. But it won't stop.
posted by cribcage at 11:45 AM on January 20, 2006

I think there's an greasemonkey script that checks for _Filter and nukes them on user request.
posted by boo_radley at 11:46 AM on January 20, 2006

Here's an idea: Why don't some MeFites stop telling other MeFites how to enjoy the site? If it offendeth thee, avert thine eyes. Or eye, if you've only got one. Or braille reader if you've got none, or one, or more, that are non-functional.

Shit on a stick. If the worst thing to happen to you on any given day is that you have to see a few ***Filter references, you're a very lucky dude (or dudette) indeed.
posted by mad judge pickles at 11:47 AM on January 20, 2006

HeyDudeYouKnowItsAWikiRightFilter
posted by If I Had An Anus at 11:52 AM on January 20, 2006

You can change the wiki to indicate your preference.
posted by OmieWise at 11:52 AM on January 20, 2006

D'oh!
posted by OmieWise at 11:53 AM on January 20, 2006

IIHAA-I've been sitting here laughing at your comment for about a minute. I especially like the fact that you included "Right" in the mash. Well done.
posted by OmieWise at 11:54 AM on January 20, 2006

HorticultureFilter.
posted by Rothko at 11:56 AM on January 20, 2006

Ohhhh...whore to culture!


*smacks forehead*
posted by horsewithnoname at 12:01 PM on January 20, 2006

Analfilter.

I mean, really.
posted by konolia at 12:09 PM on January 20, 2006

Whocaresfilter
posted by puke & cry at 12:10 PM on January 20, 2006

GetReadyFor600CommentsLikeThisClearlyIntendedJustToPissYouOffFilter
posted by dgaicun at 12:11 PM on January 20, 2006

How to stop the spread of "_____Filter" in subject headings?
The wiki says (under the heading "inside jokes") that "___Filter" is used to indicate that a topic is so over-discussed as to risk taking over MetaFilter altogether. Examples are IraqFilter and NewsFilter. But current (and increasing) usage seems to be just an effort to be cute: BSDMFilter, CondomFilter, UmbrellaFilter, etc. I, for one, find this annoying and stupid and think it should be discouraged. It's like one of those things that is mildly amusing the first couple of times and thereafter just idiotic. I think that the WhatIsAGoodPost, WhatIsAGoodComment, WhatIsAGoodQuestion entries should be altered to discourage people from this dumb practiceFilter
posted by horsewithnoname at 12:13 PM on January 20, 2006

OpenthreadFilter
posted by adamvasco at 12:13 PM on January 20, 2006

Didn'tSeeThisComingFilter
posted by i_cola at 12:15 PM on January 20, 2006

closethreadfilter
posted by puke & cry at 12:15 PM on January 20, 2006

PffftFilter
posted by sourbrew at 12:17 PM on January 20, 2006

dh65 has posted no links to MetaFilter
So what?

Here's an idea: Why don't some MeFites stop telling other MeFites how to enjoy the site?
OK. You first.


I agree with you, dh65. But as you can see, you've got a lot of really clever assholes to overcome.

(Now, wait a couple posts and you'll see a "Metafilter: A lot of really clever assholes (to overcome)" tagline. Because people with nothing to say love beating that horse to death too.)
posted by 27 at 12:23 PM on January 20, 2006

Oh, that was worth a laugh. First we have people request a certain _filter tag so they know what's going on. Now people request that we don't use _filter.

I demand an immediate halt in the use of semicolons!
posted by Captaintripps at 12:25 PM on January 20, 2006

My arsehole may be clever but it's my foreskin that's down the library on a Friday night writing it's thesis...
posted by i_cola at 12:27 PM on January 20, 2006

I knew this would go well.
posted by fixedgear at 12:27 PM on January 20, 2006

I agree it's annoying. But I find your pronouncement that it must be discouraged because it annoys you even more annoying.
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:28 PM on January 20, 2006

'its thesis', dammit
posted by i_cola at 12:29 PM on January 20, 2006

I can write even smaller
posted by dgaicun at 12:35 PM on January 20, 2006

MetaFilter: People with nothing to say and who love beating that horse to death too
posted by mischief at 12:37 PM on January 20, 2006

HOLY SHIT I CAN WRITE REALLY FUCKING SMALL
posted by dgaicun at 12:37 PM on January 20, 2006

If I were going to pick just one thing about metafilter that annoyed me and I was a member for about 3 months and therfore perhaps didn't know that by posting this about three hundred people who live to take the piss have been filing their teeth and limbering up to kick my ass would hear the bell, well, I woulda picked something even more annoying. God bless you though. Drink up kiddos, there are sober people in China.
posted by Divine_Wino at 12:38 PM on January 20, 2006

I, for one, welcome our new _____Filter overlords.
posted by JeffK at 12:44 PM on January 20, 2006

Shit I forgot to file my teeth. brb.
posted by spicynuts at 12:48 PM on January 20, 2006

I'mGonnaDoItALLTHETIMENowToPissYouOff,N00B!Filter
posted by scody at 12:49 PM on January 20, 2006

So, 27, you're saying that whining about how other people use the site is how some get their enjoyment. In which case, I fold.
posted by mad judge pickles at 12:51 PM on January 20, 2006

MetaFilter: Yellow auto repair cartoon guy
posted by rxrfrx at 12:52 PM on January 20, 2006

IHaveNothingToAddExceptMyOutrightGleeInHavingLaughedAtYourExpenseFilter
posted by prostyle at 12:52 PM on January 20, 2006

1. Metafilter: I, for one, welcome our new _____Filter overlords.
2. ???
3. PROFIT!!!
posted by sveskemus at 12:53 PM on January 20, 2006

AnnoyingFilter: a lot of really clever assholes to overcome
posted by puke & cry at 12:57 PM on January 20, 2006

But are you pissed and slightly baffled?
posted by daveleck at 12:58 PM on January 20, 2006

Futilewhingefilter. Shut up and deal.
posted by Decani at 12:58 PM on January 20, 2006

So this Judge Pickles, he vibrates?
posted by If I Had An Anus at 1:01 PM on January 20, 2006

Oh, wait, what if we changed the name of metafilter to Joe Cocker?

NewsJoeCocker, IraqJoeCocker. It's just crazy enough to work.
posted by Divine_Wino at 1:05 PM on January 20, 2006

Oh, wait, what if we changed the name of metafilter to Joe Cocker?

Then we might be learningtolivetogetherfilter?
posted by kosem at 1:06 PM on January 20, 2006

This seems to have run its course.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:07 PM on January 20, 2006