Can we strip posts of unhelpful links?

September 6, 2006 6:34 AM

Metafilter: Unhelpful link text. Extra links added for padding that have little to do with the main topic of the entry. Are extremely loaded rhetorical questions the only thing that can save us now?
posted by onalark to MetaFilter-Related at 6:34 AM (44 comments total)

What?
posted by Floydd at 6:39 AM on September 6, 2006

Floydd, read down to the bottom of the article at onalark's first link...
posted by RichardP at 6:43 AM on September 6, 2006

What kind of name is Lore?
posted by smackfu at 6:44 AM on September 6, 2006

Are extremely loaded rhetorical questions the only thing that can save us now?

MeFi needs saving? I've been away for too long. When exactly was it decided that MeFi was headed due south?
posted by Shane at 6:46 AM on September 6, 2006

Is this Lore being completely sarcastic, faux-nasty (and ironic, considering he's posting on the equivalent of a 'blog), or is he the kind of snarky Intarweb asshole that ruins the "blogosphere" (ugh, I said the b-word) for everyone else?

It's kind of a funny article if it's the former. If it's the latter, this man needs a life and a blowjob.
posted by Shane at 6:52 AM on September 6, 2006

Also by this reporter: My Love Affair with Star Trek. Ahem.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:58 AM on September 6, 2006

Lore is right.

There's nothing wrong with single-link posts if your link is interesting.

If your link is weak, multiple other links won't help.

MeFi is not your soapbox.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 6:59 AM on September 6, 2006

Hey, Jesus of the Week is still going! I'd forgotten all about that.
posted by languagehat at 7:05 AM on September 6, 2006

I feel sorry for anyone that doesn't already know who Lore Sjöberg is.
posted by skynxnex at 7:08 AM on September 6, 2006

Heh. That was really clever.
posted by Kwantsar at 7:08 AM on September 6, 2006

Lore isn't exactly a stranger around these parts, anyway.
posted by cortex at 7:11 AM on September 6, 2006

Shane writes "It's kind of a funny article if it's the former. If it's the latter, this man needs a life and a blowjob."

Lore is very much the former.
posted by Bugbread at 7:13 AM on September 6, 2006

That was funny.
posted by caddis at 7:18 AM on September 6, 2006

Oh, now I get it. When I read bloggers blogging about blogs my eyes get all glassy and I start to nod off....
posted by Floydd at 7:20 AM on September 6, 2006

Shane: It's kind of a funny article if it's the former. If it's the latter, this man needs a life and a blowjob.

Ask him to add himself to the list.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 7:26 AM on September 6, 2006

Is that pronounced "show burg," or "suh jaew burg"?
posted by brownpau at 7:31 AM on September 6, 2006

heh.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:37 AM on September 6, 2006

My main goal as a humorist is to stomp the creative impetus out of all who behold me. If I can one day live in a world devoid of humor, indeed of entertainment, except that which I provide, perhaps I can find some small measure of peace in my soul.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:38 AM on September 6, 2006

Nice find gnfti; well played.
posted by OmieWise at 7:50 AM on September 6, 2006

I was wondering why a Wired article was making me laugh so much, until I looked at the byline and saw Lore's name. Well done, my umlauted friend, well done.
posted by UKnowForKids at 8:21 AM on September 6, 2006

I hate that crap too. Down with Link Inflation!
posted by delmoi at 8:40 AM on September 6, 2006 [1 favorite]

What can those of us who weren't very popular in high school and are trying to gain respect and admiration without actually having to be around people be, if not rhetorical?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:59 AM on September 6, 2006

MAKE blog: How to create a nuclear accelerator using a Flash drive, a Commodore 64 and a guy named Roger.

It only works if the guy is named Roger but answers only to Bob.
posted by muddgirl at 9:07 AM on September 6, 2006

wait so who are we calling out here?
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 9:34 AM on September 6, 2006

Unhelpful smurf text. Smurftastic! Extra smurfs added for padding that have little to do with the main topic of the entry. Are smurfily extremely loaded rhetorical questions the only thing that can save us now?
posted by y2karl at 9:41 AM on September 6, 2006

Is this Lore being completely sarcastic, faux-nasty (and ironic, considering he's posting on the equivalent of a 'blog)

Why are the choices sarcastic or snarky? It's possible to admit the internet sucks without meaning it in a bad way.

(though the Mac Rumors thing is wrong. They stopped being a rumors site a long time ago and are basically a weirdo news site)
posted by cillit bang at 9:46 AM on September 6, 2006

I couldn't agree with Lore more, really.

And what skynxnex said. Sad.
posted by dobbs at 9:47 AM on September 6, 2006

Shane: It's kind of a funny article if it's the former. If it's the latter, this man needs a life and a blowjob.

Ask him to add himself to the list.

The Oral Sex List

The following people deserve oral sex:

Steve Martin
David Sedaris
Alton Brown
Heather Havrilesky
Larry Wall
The Inventor of Oreo-O's
Fay Faron
Björk

Good call. Being a little older, I remember that as soon as Bjork first came on the scene I decided I wanted to bjoink her.

Lore is very much the former.

I assumed so.

Reports of MeFi's death seem to be premature. I'm having a fun time being back here (and on MeCha and MoFi) today.

SMUUUUURFY!!
posted by Shane at 9:49 AM on September 6, 2006

When exactly was it decided that MeFi was headed due south?

Sometime in late 1999, if I recall correctly.
posted by briank at 9:57 AM on September 6, 2006

Shane: How could you leave out the last two people on that list? Both of them are pop culture icons deserving of oral sex:

Rose Gumbo's Biker Chick Alter-Ego
Chairman Kaga
posted by ibmcginty at 9:57 AM on September 6, 2006

Cute Overload: A kitten licks a puppy while the puppy licks a bunny.

Fleshbot: Same as Cute Overload, only with coeds.

Ha!
posted by deborah at 10:55 AM on September 6, 2006

I like to think that I was being both sarcastic AND snarky!
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 2:19 PM on September 6, 2006

Down with Link Inflation!

He's also calling out Mystery Meat linking. Down with Mystery Meat!
posted by mediareport at 3:16 PM on September 6, 2006

Chairman Kaga only gets oral sex if it involves an ice cream machine and sexless trout.
posted by QIbHom at 5:37 PM on September 6, 2006

I like to think that I was being both sarcastic AND snarky!

I think I just got a little mathowie, right here. You, sir, are my hero.
posted by scrump at 5:39 PM on September 6, 2006

I like to think that I was being both sarcastic AND snarky!

Snarkastic!
posted by Lotto at 6:05 PM on September 6, 2006

Y'know, every time I click on one of these Wired links, I hear my song, several MuFi links away, playing. Is this a hint?
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 6:48 PM on September 6, 2006

If Björk married Lore Sjöberg she'd be Björk Sjöberg...

And they'd probably name their first child JöJö.
posted by wendell at 9:19 PM on September 6, 2006

This reminds me that a friend and I did a stellar (if I do say so myself, and I do say so myself) cover of "The Björk Song" several years ago, complete with a group of cowboys we recruited for the last chorus. Good times, good times.
posted by UKnowForKids at 7:40 AM on September 7, 2006

Daily Kos: Bush caught in three-way with Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh.

Little Green Footballs: Bush enjoys triumphant three-way with Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh.

This is funny. More of Lore at his finest.

Please, please update the Book of Ratings!
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:52 AM on September 8, 2006

Oops. Just posted this to the front page and it got deleted. Excuse me for having a life. :P
posted by keswick at 9:46 AM on September 11, 2006

Excuse me for having a life not understanding the difference between the blue and the grey.

Fixed.
posted by soyjoy at 10:03 AM on September 11, 2006

Excuse me for not giving a damn.
posted by keswick at 10:11 AM on September 11, 2006

Oh, sorry, now it needs fixing again.

Excuse me for not understanding not giving a damn about the difference between the blue and the grey.

(Good to have the most up-to-date information, thanks!)
posted by soyjoy at 12:00 PM on September 12, 2006