Can we please assume that AskMe questioners are honest? February 4, 2007 2:16 PM Subscribe
Instead of assuming that most AskMe users are cheats, let's assume they're honest.
I agree. I think the OP laid out his intentions clearly and was asking for clarification. Laws and rules are arcane enough especially to foreigners that It seems reasonable that he is asking if there were perhaps exemptions he didnt know about
You should have just flagged that comment. There was no call for it. But it wasnt obscenely rude either.
posted by vacapinta at 2:31 PM on February 4, 2007
You should have just flagged that comment. There was no call for it. But it wasnt obscenely rude either.
posted by vacapinta at 2:31 PM on February 4, 2007
Reducing one's tax liability is a national pastime. Why do you hate America?
posted by Saucy Intruder at 2:33 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Saucy Intruder at 2:33 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Oh for fuck sake, odinsdream was referencing the poster's own wording ("I'm not looking to cheat the rules here").
Mr President, go grind your axe elsewhere.
posted by cillit bang at 2:37 PM on February 4, 2007
Mr President, go grind your axe elsewhere.
posted by cillit bang at 2:37 PM on February 4, 2007
shut up shut up shut up!
posted by edgeways at 2:40 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by edgeways at 2:40 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
The real problem here is that these sort of technical questions cannot be answered by the random morons on AskMeta. Someone who says OMG YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BREAK THE RULES!!11 is someone who doesn't know anything, and is really just derailing the thread with their stupidity. The best answer in threads like these is most often, "You need to speak to an attorney/lawyer."
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:45 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:45 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
OF COURSE I mean accountant/lawyer. See, even I am useless.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:47 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:47 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Worst sockpuppet name ever.
Speaking of onerous, burdensome laws, say a close personal friend of mine recieved an e-mail from his ISP, wherein they mentioned that they had been contacted by the good folks at BayTSP regarding some alleged copyright infringement on my close personal friend's part... should my close personal friend be worried?
Would posting an AskMe on my close, personal friend's behalf be kosher, or be seen as falling into warez territority?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 2:48 PM on February 4, 2007
Speaking of onerous, burdensome laws, say a close personal friend of mine recieved an e-mail from his ISP, wherein they mentioned that they had been contacted by the good folks at BayTSP regarding some alleged copyright infringement on my close personal friend's part... should my close personal friend be worried?
Would posting an AskMe on my close, personal friend's behalf be kosher, or be seen as falling into warez territority?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 2:48 PM on February 4, 2007
I mean accountant/lawyer too. Hate clients. Hate them I do.
posted by hal9k at 2:49 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by hal9k at 2:49 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
cillit bang, that makes odinsdream's comment all the more inexplicable.
The asker already said they weren't trying to cheat. There's no need to tell them they are trying to cheat--because they're not. They just want to know whether they can get the items into Spain without paying VAT and without cheating.
If the answer is no, just say so.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 2:56 PM on February 4, 2007
The asker already said they weren't trying to cheat. There's no need to tell them they are trying to cheat--because they're not. They just want to know whether they can get the items into Spain without paying VAT and without cheating.
If the answer is no, just say so.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 2:56 PM on February 4, 2007
ThePinkSuperhero, that's exactly what I'm talking about. The people asking these questions aren't asking whether they can break the law. Of course they know they can.
They're asking whether they can accomplish their goals (which at first glance seem illegal) without actually breaking the law. It's completely different.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 2:58 PM on February 4, 2007
They're asking whether they can accomplish their goals (which at first glance seem illegal) without actually breaking the law. It's completely different.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 2:58 PM on February 4, 2007
random morons on AskMeta
That's random honest morons to you, thank you very much.
posted by amro at 3:11 PM on February 4, 2007
That's random honest morons to you, thank you very much.
posted by amro at 3:11 PM on February 4, 2007
The asker already said they weren't trying to cheat. There's no need to tell them they are trying to cheat--because they're not.
Well exactly. In context, taking the comment literally makes no sense, so the only possible interpretation is that he didn't mean it literally, yet you've decided you will so you can post a crappy disingenuous callout to show off your crappy username.
posted by cillit bang at 3:17 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Well exactly. In context, taking the comment literally makes no sense, so the only possible interpretation is that he didn't mean it literally, yet you've decided you will so you can post a crappy disingenuous callout to show off your crappy username.
posted by cillit bang at 3:17 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
cillit bang, more likely, he just didn't read the entire question.
You have a pretty stupid username too.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 3:24 PM on February 4, 2007
You have a pretty stupid username too.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 3:24 PM on February 4, 2007
Christ, what an asshole.
posted by grouse at 3:30 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by grouse at 3:30 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 3:33 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Except that cillit bang always makes me think of civets, and obviously, someone banging them. Who fucks the civets, sir? Not President Elvis McTriestohard, certainly!
posted by klangklangston at 3:45 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by klangklangston at 3:45 PM on February 4, 2007
He reminds me of clean pennies.
My close, personal friend is going to internet jail, isn't he?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 3:47 PM on February 4, 2007
My close, personal friend is going to internet jail, isn't he?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 3:47 PM on February 4, 2007
Yes, Alvy, he is. Ask him to leave you his Mp3 collection.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 3:51 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 3:51 PM on February 4, 2007
technical questions cannot be answered by the random morons on AskMeta.
True, but I always hope that a specific moron can be of help.
posted by The Deej at 4:08 PM on February 4, 2007
True, but I always hope that a specific moron can be of help.
posted by The Deej at 4:08 PM on February 4, 2007
Thanks for the PiL videos!
/wishes he had Metal Box in the metal box
posted by languagehat at 5:07 PM on February 4, 2007
/wishes he had Metal Box in the metal box
posted by languagehat at 5:07 PM on February 4, 2007
« Older Tried to make a post on AskMef...
This thread is closed to new comments.
Yeah. What?
posted by loquacious at 5:43 PM on February 4, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
Yeah. What?
posted by loquacious at 5:43 PM on February 4, 2007
Your username disappoints me.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:49 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:49 PM on February 4, 2007
So what's your real username mr president elvis guy?
posted by bob sarabia at 5:50 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by bob sarabia at 5:50 PM on February 4, 2007
bob sarabia, this is the only Metafilter account I've ever had. I lurked for a while (probably several years, on and off) but never created an account because I hate PayPal. I had to start using PayPal for something else, though, so I made an account here.
You guys are hilariously paranoid.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 6:01 PM on February 4, 2007
You guys are hilariously paranoid.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 6:01 PM on February 4, 2007
This joke is tedious.
Christ, what an asshole.
posted by loquacious at 6:05 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Christ, what an asshole.
posted by loquacious at 6:05 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Ha, ha; the comments on the PiL video amuse me:
posted by boo_radley at 6:34 PM on February 4, 2007
Please be careful when commenting. I respect opinion, but any comments posted containing language that I find to be vulgar, profane or just plain bad will be deletedYou got swears in my punk... Noooooooes.
posted by boo_radley at 6:34 PM on February 4, 2007
Groundhog day has come and gone!
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:57 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:57 PM on February 4, 2007
Giving people the benefit of the doubt is a good practice, particularly in Ask Metafilter, but also when considering a post to Metatalk.
Leave it at that.
posted by cortex at 7:05 PM on February 4, 2007
Leave it at that.
posted by cortex at 7:05 PM on February 4, 2007
o no pirates.
posted by exlotuseater at 8:06 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by exlotuseater at 8:06 PM on February 4, 2007
This joke is tedious.
Christ, what an asshole.
posted by loquacious at 3:05 AM CET
Hm, reacting badly when a joke of yours falls flat is rather assholeish in itself locq.
posted by jouke at 9:31 PM on February 4, 2007
Christ, what an asshole.
posted by loquacious at 3:05 AM CET
Hm, reacting badly when a joke of yours falls flat is rather assholeish in itself locq.
posted by jouke at 9:31 PM on February 4, 2007
You missed the punchline there, jouke.
posted by bob sarabia at 9:32 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by bob sarabia at 9:32 PM on February 4, 2007
You're late. And I don't see you bowing and scraping. Why aren't you bowing and scraping? And genuflecting?
Sarcasm calibration tags: I hate all of you. I'm a billionaire. I have 8 eyes and pedipalps.
posted by loquacious at 8:25 AM on February 5, 2007
Sarcasm calibration tags: I hate all of you. I'm a billionaire. I have 8 eyes and pedipalps.
posted by loquacious at 8:25 AM on February 5, 2007
I assume that most AskMe users are stoats.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:17 AM on February 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:17 AM on February 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
this is the only Metafilter account I've ever had.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 8:01 PM CST on February 4
Uh, bullshit? Attention all sock puppet makers: don't make obviously sockpuppet names for your accounts if you don't want to be identified as such.
New users who have the gusto to finally join after years of lurking don't jump into the scene with such stupid names. Maybe you are the exception to the rule, but I highly doubt it. Also, new users don't make a serious Metatalk callout in their first 25 comments to the site (if anything, they make uninformed Metatalk posts).
___
Also, what's the deal with this "make random links to youtube"noise practice? How long has this been going on and what's the point?
posted by dios at 9:45 AM on February 5, 2007
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 8:01 PM CST on February 4
Uh, bullshit? Attention all sock puppet makers: don't make obviously sockpuppet names for your accounts if you don't want to be identified as such.
New users who have the gusto to finally join after years of lurking don't jump into the scene with such stupid names. Maybe you are the exception to the rule, but I highly doubt it. Also, new users don't make a serious Metatalk callout in their first 25 comments to the site (if anything, they make uninformed Metatalk posts).
___
Also, what's the deal with this "make random links to youtube"
posted by dios at 9:45 AM on February 5, 2007
dios, Burhanistan started doing those YouTube things a few days ago in a callout thread dedicated to you, as explained here.
posted by cgc373 at 10:48 AM on February 5, 2007
posted by cgc373 at 10:48 AM on February 5, 2007
dios, since you don't actually have any way of independently verifying who is a new user and who isn't, you have no way of comparing new user behavior with sock puppet behavior. Basically, you're talking out of your ass.
I posted this because the behavior has been irritating me longer than I've had an account.
Metafilter is kind of a stupid web forum, as you can see from reading your posting history, so I decided on a stupid username. If you have a problem with that, suck my cock.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 11:37 AM on February 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
I posted this because the behavior has been irritating me longer than I've had an account.
Metafilter is kind of a stupid web forum, as you can see from reading your posting history, so I decided on a stupid username. If you have a problem with that, suck my cock.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 11:37 AM on February 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
If, in fact, you actually have one.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:41 AM on February 5, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:41 AM on February 5, 2007
MPDSEA, you are walking along a tightrope whose end-point is a timeout, or perhaps a ban.
dios didn't attack you personally; he speculated about your potential sockpuppet-ude. You are, so far as I can see, out of line. If you want to invite me to suck your cock, go ahead; you won't bother me. But it'd still be out of line.
posted by cgc373 at 11:43 AM on February 5, 2007
dios didn't attack you personally; he speculated about your potential sockpuppet-ude. You are, so far as I can see, out of line. If you want to invite me to suck your cock, go ahead; you won't bother me. But it'd still be out of line.
posted by cgc373 at 11:43 AM on February 5, 2007
New users who have the gusto to finally join after years of lurking don't jump into the scene with such stupid names.
Your assumption has no legs, dios: I can follow your reasoning, but it is not sound. A long-time lurker can damned well have noted the relatively recent trend toward long silly names; deciding to go that way is hardly a condemnation.
you have no way of comparing new user behavior with sock puppet behavior. Basically, you're talking out of your ass.
On the other hand, Mr. P Dr. SEA, that's also not true. We have verified in several cases, by varying routes, cases of sockpuppetry, and self-consciously long and silly usernames are damningly more common in that group than in general. So while I think you deserve the benefit of the doubt, dios isn't reacting outside of an understandable context.
And you're both acting like jerks and it'd be great if you'd cut it out.
posted by cortex at 11:44 AM on February 5, 2007
Your assumption has no legs, dios: I can follow your reasoning, but it is not sound. A long-time lurker can damned well have noted the relatively recent trend toward long silly names; deciding to go that way is hardly a condemnation.
you have no way of comparing new user behavior with sock puppet behavior. Basically, you're talking out of your ass.
On the other hand, Mr. P Dr. SEA, that's also not true. We have verified in several cases, by varying routes, cases of sockpuppetry, and self-consciously long and silly usernames are damningly more common in that group than in general. So while I think you deserve the benefit of the doubt, dios isn't reacting outside of an understandable context.
And you're both acting like jerks and it'd be great if you'd cut it out.
posted by cortex at 11:44 AM on February 5, 2007
dios didn't attack you personally; he speculated about your potential sockpuppet-ude.
Debatable. The cry of "bullshit" is a pretty direct attack on his honesty.
posted by cortex at 11:45 AM on February 5, 2007
Debatable. The cry of "bullshit" is a pretty direct attack on his honesty.
posted by cortex at 11:45 AM on February 5, 2007
"'cry of bullshit'" = "pretty direct attack" = true dat. It's more aggressive than I'd thought at first, yeah. But the President Doctor's response seemed out of line to me, even so, cortex. dios didn't sound pissed so much as slightly baffled, while Elvis America sounded aggrieved.
posted by cgc373 at 11:49 AM on February 5, 2007
posted by cgc373 at 11:49 AM on February 5, 2007
cgc373, replying with "bullshit" was not speculating. It was an ungrounded attack on my credibility.
I don't really care if I get banned, though. As far as I can tell, having an account isn't worth the drama and bullshit.
If I decide to throw down another $5, I'll definitely get my proposed user name vetted in advance.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 11:49 AM on February 5, 2007
I don't really care if I get banned, though. As far as I can tell, having an account isn't worth the drama and bullshit.
If I decide to throw down another $5, I'll definitely get my proposed user name vetted in advance.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 11:49 AM on February 5, 2007
I recommend Dramamine.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:51 AM on February 5, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:51 AM on February 5, 2007
Bah. I really have no desire to get into a pissing match over this, because I really don't care enough. To the extent I was being rude to someone who did not deserve it, my apologies for the offense. To the extent, if any, that I am correct, then I withdraw the apology for offending him. Regardless, it's a stupid issue that really doesn't deserve any more attention. I'm either right or I am not, and time will tell. I don't need to insult or fight with the guy over it, so you are right about that cortex. It was speculation that I would bet money on being accurate, but I retract the language that was jerkish.
cgc373: thanks for pointing that out to me. I don't read those threads.
posted by dios at 11:53 AM on February 5, 2007
cgc373: thanks for pointing that out to me. I don't read those threads.
posted by dios at 11:53 AM on February 5, 2007
Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America, I don't want you to get banned. I just don't want anybody to attack anybody else unless it's obviously either in fun or deserved. dios sometimes attracts vitriol 'round here, and I'm sensitive to the situation due to him calling me out on it some time ago, so I sprang to his defense even though—as cortex and you note about the "bullshit"—he didn't have the High Ground I'd thought he had.
</"Can't we all just get along?">
posted by cgc373 at 11:57 AM on February 5, 2007
</"Can't we all just get along?">
posted by cgc373 at 11:57 AM on February 5, 2007
No problem on the YouTube, dios. I thought you might stay away from those time-honored MetaTalk traditional dios-roasts, because, well, why would you want to be around for them?
posted by cgc373 at 11:59 AM on February 5, 2007
posted by cgc373 at 11:59 AM on February 5, 2007
This whole thing is twistin' my melon, man.
I learned it from YOU Burhanistan!
posted by Mister_A at 12:24 PM on February 5, 2007
I learned it from YOU Burhanistan!
posted by Mister_A at 12:24 PM on February 5, 2007
Well, Burhanistan, I can see why you are afraid for your soul, anyway.
posted by cgc373 at 12:35 PM on February 5, 2007
posted by cgc373 at 12:35 PM on February 5, 2007
Is that Elvis dude going to flame out or what? I haven't got all day.
posted by Mister_A at 1:22 PM on February 5, 2007
posted by Mister_A at 1:22 PM on February 5, 2007
Mr President, I just wanted to say that your handle is pretty awesome, but that may be because I hate Tha The Mad Misunderstood Professor Evil Maniac.
posted by The Castle at 1:33 PM on February 5, 2007
posted by The Castle at 1:33 PM on February 5, 2007
In other sockpuppetry news, am I the last to find out that the multiply-banned AlexReynolds/Rothko is back, with a vengeance, as Blazecock Pileon?
(BP's website is AlexReynolds' Wikipedia page.)
posted by matthewr at 1:40 PM on February 5, 2007
(BP's website is AlexReynolds' Wikipedia page.)
posted by matthewr at 1:40 PM on February 5, 2007
am I the last to find out
Maybe, maybe not. Why point it out?
posted by cortex at 1:44 PM on February 5, 2007
Maybe, maybe not. Why point it out?
posted by cortex at 1:44 PM on February 5, 2007
No reason, but I was under the impression that Matt had inflicted a more-permanent-than-usual ban on Rothko (I seem to remember Matt's comments at the time being along the lines of 'leave-and-don't-come-back', though I could be misremembering). I hasten to add that I have no intention of starting an OMG! ROTHKO! controversy, which is why I mentioned it on a fairly inactive thread rather than making a new post or anything like that.
posted by matthewr at 1:52 PM on February 5, 2007
posted by matthewr at 1:52 PM on February 5, 2007
Mister_A, I could probably be provoked to flame out, but I'm not there yet.
Sorry.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 3:03 PM on February 5, 2007
Sorry.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 3:03 PM on February 5, 2007
Mister_A, I could probably be provoked to flame out, but I'm not there yet.
That's no way to start a negotiation. What would it take? How can I make this happen?
posted by grouse at 3:08 PM on February 5, 2007
That's no way to start a negotiation. What would it take? How can I make this happen?
posted by grouse at 3:08 PM on February 5, 2007
I don't really care if I get banned, though.
Well, if you're taking that attitude, I think you owe us a flameout.
*nods encouragingly towards waiting stacks of pitchforks*
posted by languagehat at 3:13 PM on February 5, 2007
Well, if you're taking that attitude, I think you owe us a flameout.
*nods encouragingly towards waiting stacks of pitchforks*
posted by languagehat at 3:13 PM on February 5, 2007
If this thing is still on, does anyone else mind mentioning some famous sock puppets? Investigating this AlexReynolds business is a blast.
posted by Pacheco at 9:38 PM on February 5, 2007
posted by Pacheco at 9:38 PM on February 5, 2007
If you really, really need a famous sock fix, ready up on dhoyt. After that, nothing else really compares—and as its unlikely he's ever coming back around here, it's a bit less weird of an experience.
posted by cortex at 10:05 PM on February 5, 2007
posted by cortex at 10:05 PM on February 5, 2007
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
In the question I linked, it would've been perfectly adequate simply to say, "no, you do indeed have to pay VAT on that equipment" (if this is indeed the case), and let the asker and Spain sort out the rest.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 2:16 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]