Metafilter is really, really fucking good lately

February 18, 2007 4:13 AM

Metafilter is really, really fucking good lately. 'Lately' being weeks if not months on end. My theory is that favouriting encourages people Be Swell. Whatever it is, though, I offer a sincere thank you to everyone concerned, because this place is still the best damn game in town.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken to MetaFilter-Related at 4:13 AM (77 comments total)

The last many days in the blue have been amazing. I've been wanting to say something for a while, and so at the risk of mockery for being uncharacteristically uncurmudgeonly: I love this place.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:17 AM on February 18, 2007

Awwww. stavros is feeling the love.
posted by goo at 4:24 AM on February 18, 2007

I love this place too. And you're one of the reasons why, stavros.
Nice call-out.
posted by maryh at 4:27 AM on February 18, 2007

I mean, Aww-uh!
posted by maryh at 4:28 AM on February 18, 2007

MetaTalk on the other hand, has been shit.
posted by cillit bang at 5:20 AM on February 18, 2007

You shut up. You know who you are.
posted by shmegegge at 5:45 AM on February 18, 2007

Hey if we wouldn't have people complaining about the two week limit on AskMe, we would be good on MeTa, which is shocking. Aside from one self link on Wednesday, this place has been a lovefest as Jessamyn said on the podcast. I am impressed.
posted by wheelieman at 6:25 AM on February 18, 2007

mathowie and jessamyn get props for perspicacious pruning of pap posts. Another reason may have been the contests, which I think helped set the bar higher by featuring excellent posts. Let's not underestimate MeTa's invaluable role as a source of insight for people who may want contribute...and for those who did and perhaps shouldn't have...
woocha I say!
posted by nj_subgenius at 6:29 AM on February 18, 2007

I agree with stav, and I also think the Good Post Contests help as well. This AskMe haunter actually goes to the blue on purpose now!
posted by By The Grace of God at 6:36 AM on February 18, 2007

Agreed. Though perhaps a "worst post of the month" contest is also in order. Winner gets banned. ;)
posted by dobbs at 6:40 AM on February 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Woocha indeed. Woocha!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:52 AM on February 18, 2007

Unfortunately, it's all down hill from here.
posted by empath at 7:00 AM on February 18, 2007

Yeah, but whaddaya think about MeFi Music lately, stav? Dropping by every now and again?

/Just the latest in an ongoing series of attempts at getting people to check MeFiMu, even if there's not a new cortex song there.

But, anyway, there's always a new cortex song there. So non-visitors have no excuse.

Or... come for the cortex, stay for the other folks!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:11 AM on February 18, 2007

My theory is that favouriting encourages people Be Swell.

I agree with this. Knowing that someone is paying attention to what you're writing helps.
posted by Cyrano at 7:15 AM on February 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Response A: empath, your cynicsm is unfounded. Surely as a community we will not only be able to sustain the recent excellence in both posting and commentary, but to use this upturn in civility to inspire us all to loftier heights; free from the personal attacks and petty greivances that plagued us in the past.
Response B: "downhill" is one word, asswipe.
posted by yhbc at 7:18 AM on February 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

obviously everything has improved since the IMG tag went away.
posted by quarter waters and a bag of chips at 7:23 AM on February 18, 2007

Metafilter Music = MusMe?
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:39 AM on February 18, 2007

I like "the black." Yeah, whatever, it's dark gray, but it's more black than this place.
posted by danb at 7:42 AM on February 18, 2007

"The black" has a certain sexiness to it, and I'm fond of the color themes, but for now I still default simply to capitalized Music when talking about it on-site. (Elsewhere, "Metafilter Music—oh, here's a link".)
posted by cortex at 7:48 AM on February 18, 2007

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm in the mood to see a screaming fucking nutso flameout.
posted by ColdChef at 7:49 AM on February 18, 2007

I'd call it a Judge Joe Black.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:49 AM on February 18, 2007

What ColdChef said, needs more dios callouts.
posted by Balisong at 7:54 AM on February 18, 2007

High praise from someone who just last year claimed he came for the discussion and never clicked the links.

There's nothing new on the internet, and "The Blue" is all rehash these days. I only come here for the discussion anymore and, frankly, that's been shit lately here in MeTa and in "The Blue"—no small thanks to attention-whore drama queens like dios, cortex, jonson, mathowie, dame, ThePinkSuperhero, languagehat, ColdChef, and loquacious. So y'all can just shut the fuck up, pricks.
posted by saguaro at 9:02 AM on February 18, 2007 [4 favorites]

Hugs for everyone!
posted by cortex at 9:05 AM on February 18, 2007

this place is still the best damn game in town

The only place in town, as far as I'm concerned. Friends ask "What's that blue page you are always reading?"

"It's the Internet."
posted by Meatbomb at 9:05 AM on February 18, 2007 [3 favorites]

Hugs for everyone!

Yeah, I'm in on this shit.
posted by saguaro at 9:05 AM on February 18, 2007

Stavros, the Wondrously Easily Pleased Chicken. And fuck "favoriting", that only supports my contention that the social aspect of Metafilter is like 7th Grade.
posted by davy at 9:10 AM on February 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

I attribute the high quality to the fact that almost everything I post subsequently is perspicaciously pruned away.
posted by found missing at 9:15 AM on February 18, 2007

Hey davy, my inner Trotsky thinks you like to poo.
posted by baphomet at 9:17 AM on February 18, 2007

It's a non-election year.
posted by graventy at 9:25 AM on February 18, 2007

What if the rapture came, and this is heaven?
posted by AwkwardPause at 9:36 AM on February 18, 2007

Wake me when we get good enough to pass blow jobs around.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:39 AM on February 18, 2007

What if the rapture came, and this is heaven?

It's at least the place where we'll discuss what rapture tastes like.
posted by bru at 9:42 AM on February 18, 2007

Thank you, thank you. Obviously this has been caused by my decision to return to MetaFilter after being away for a while.

What?! You don't agree!

And you think I'm full of it?!

And you don't even know who I am??!!

Well fuck you too pal!!!

I'll go away then. Huh, how will you like that, huh? When it all goes down the tube because I'm not here don't come crying to me 'cause I'll just slam the door right back in your face.

Now, excuse me, there's a huff I must leave in.
posted by Kattullus at 9:46 AM on February 18, 2007

I've read a whole bunch of good posts on the blue as well. But it could do with a little less YouTube. Until that happens, I'll continue ignoring them.
posted by Roger Dodger at 10:21 AM on February 18, 2007

But it could do with a little less YouTube. Until that happens, I'll continue ignoring them.

* pouts and crosses arms *
But I don't like your reasoning!

Lotsa good links here lately. Yep, lotsa good links. Keep up the work, m'boys!
posted by carsonb at 10:27 AM on February 18, 2007

attention-whore drama queens

You say that like it's a bad thing.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 10:40 AM on February 18, 2007

no small thanks to attention-whore drama queens like dios, cortex, jonson, mathowie, dame, ThePinkSuperhero, languagehat, ColdChef, and loquacious

Wow, I'm in the same category as legends like mathowie, dios and ColdChef? ::cries tears of joy::
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:49 AM on February 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Wow, ThePinkSuperhero is in the same category as me? ::cries tears of pain::
posted by ColdChef at 10:56 AM on February 18, 2007

I hate you, lover.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:57 AM on February 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

I just realized two things.
1. I actually yelled that out loud just now, about shutting up.
2. That list of names was typed from memory, and I'm pretty sure all of the case and spelling is spot on.
3. I blame you gabby princesses for these revelations and happenings. MetaFilter's really gonna miss me when I don't come back after the next six or seven insult comments. I hate all you blowhard fucktards, and you can stick this where the sun don't shine.
posted by saguaro at 11:04 AM on February 18, 2007

Who are you???????
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:06 AM on February 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

A sock puppet flame troll, can we get this guy an IP ban?
posted by baphomet at 11:08 AM on February 18, 2007

I think we have a case of suicide-by-cop on our hands.
posted by jouke at 11:31 AM on February 18, 2007

Self-congratulatory pompous autofellating circlejerk-fest.

I didn't come here for this. I came here for my snaaaark.
Where's the snark. I mean where is the snark?
posted by lalochezia at 11:45 AM on February 18, 2007

I think saguaro is the most sagacious sagamore to sail the sagebrush in many a year, and all of the case and spelling was spot on, so three cheers for the Sage of the MetaFilter Saga! Now flame out, you bastard, before we have to bring out the chainsaw and do it for you.

Oh, and stavros is unquestionably right, the roller coaster of MeFi quality is at a peak, and I can feel the pleasant queasiness of gravity dropping away even as I type. Look out below!
posted by languagehat at 11:50 AM on February 18, 2007

Hey, Matt & Jess, Stav left himself logged in and somebody posted as him.

Nice call-out, Stavros.
posted by theora55 at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2007

Oooh! A troll is going to flame out! Lemme go get the popcorn!

Pancakes all around!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:41 PM on February 18, 2007

This thread warms my cockles.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:09 PM on February 18, 2007

Mouldy pancakes. There's no satisfaction in an account created to flame out flaming out.
posted by jack_mo at 1:13 PM on February 18, 2007

out-alliterated by the hat. Damn you!
posted by nj_subgenius at 1:16 PM on February 18, 2007

*throws gauntlet down for assonance duel*
posted by nj_subgenius at 1:18 PM on February 18, 2007

I like to poo.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:31 PM on February 18, 2007

there's no such thing as an assonance duel, subgenius. If you want to engage in fights of that nature, you have to challenge them to an assonance battle.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 1:46 PM on February 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

This place has gone all fuckin' mefisexual lately.
posted by klangklangston at 2:36 PM on February 18, 2007

De-fa-CA-tion CAN be F-U-U-U-N.
posted by davy at 2:51 PM on February 18, 2007

Christ, what an astonishing callout.
posted by grouse at 2:52 PM on February 18, 2007

OK, let's go. Whatevs!
posted by nj_subgenius at 3:37 PM on February 18, 2007

This place has gone all fuckin' mefisexual lately.

mefisexual? that's where someone offers you a devastatingly witty pickup line, which is then brutally dissected, followed bya confused retort, a vicious fight, and fumbling drunken coitus?

Then cigarettes are lit and some anti-smoking zealot complains, right?
posted by jonmc at 3:59 PM on February 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

Stavs got a woman.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:49 PM on February 18, 2007

an assonance battle

An "AssBat", the kids call it.
posted by cortex at 5:59 PM on February 18, 2007

No banhammer in this thread. All anyone needs is the AssBat.
posted by carsonb at 6:47 PM on February 18, 2007

What if the rapture came, and this is heaven?
Then it's just like I imagined it would be.
posted by dg at 7:25 PM on February 18, 2007

Self-congratulatory pompous autofellating circlejerk-fest.

Autofellating? Well thanks. I think.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 7:48 PM on February 18, 2007

Now flame out, you bastard, before we have to bring out the chainsaw and do it for you.

Your self-serving wisecracks are a thorn in my side.
posted by saguaro at 7:52 PM on February 18, 2007

Nah, I was just kidding.

I hate you all.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:33 PM on February 18, 2007

I love favoriting. It makes me look at what lots of interesting people have said. I go back to old posts too. . . The site's been great of late, that is for sure.

Let me spin this into the Grand Unified Theory Why MetaFilter Is Great (GUTWMFIG). Most great internet sites are based on a gimmick that nobody thought of before, Digg, FaceBook, YouTube, Plastic, SlashDot, etc. These sites, once they create the gimmick, stick with it forever and never make improvements of any sort above and beyond the original great idea.

MetaFilter is the opposite. Matt takes a regular concept, blog links and adds incremental modifications to make it continually improve. That's how something stays good for the long haul. I've always been a big believer in the idea that long-term greatness doesn't come from having one great thing that is incredibly and significantly greater than the others--it comes from attempting to do each thing that you do, little or big, a little better than the rest. It means continual improvement and growth.
posted by Ironmouth at 8:36 PM on February 18, 2007

Flagged as navelgazing.
posted by Eideteker at 9:12 PM on February 18, 2007

Is all this because Britney shaved her head?
posted by Dizzy at 9:31 PM on February 18, 2007

Huh? Britney Houston saved her shed?

What?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:19 PM on February 18, 2007

flapjax---
Don't they get the E! channel in the day room at your facility?
posted by Dizzy at 10:33 PM on February 18, 2007

I just want to learn how to move from the blue to the grey when I don't have any "feature requests, bugs etc" to post about...

I've had three posts perspi... .. whatever... removed and have been living in fear that anyday I'll get a check for $5 back and be thrown out if I don't toe the line and follow all the posting rules.

o woe ...

I wanna insult everyone else as well, how can I begin?
posted by infini at 1:58 AM on February 19, 2007

I wanna insult everyone else as well, how can I begin?

+1!
posted by Wolof at 3:20 AM on February 19, 2007

I wanna insult everyone else as well, how can I begin?

There's a very simple formula for that:

x+p+n+(a+b)+(a+b)+p+y+c+q

where

x is a username

p is ','

n is the pronoun 'you'

a is any of these insult prefixes: fuck-, ass-, shit-, republi-, douche-, micro-, dick-.

b is any of these insult suffixes, -fuck, -ass, -assed, -head, -headed, -can, -bag, -douche, -truck, -tard, -tarded, -soft, -dick.

y is the words 'why don't you'

c is one of the following: go hop up your own ass, pull your head out, sit on a lawnmower, poke yourself in the eye, go find inner peace on Free Republic, make like the wind and get bent, go cry about it to your mommy, strap yourself to the tail of a 747 and see where it takes you, die like the dog you are, fuck off and cry.

q is '?'

With this simple formula taped to your wall you should be able to construct such one-size-fits-all insults as:

Kattullus, you republisoft fuckfuck, why don't you die like the dog you are?

Kattullus, you microtarded douchetruck, why don't you strap yourself to the tail of a 747 and see where it takes you?

I trust you can take it from there, infini, you dickassed asscan, why don't you go cry about it to your mommy?

[Warning: Side effects include: Merely typing someone elses username may lead you to spout invective uncontrollably, getting hit with a banhammer, being an insufferable ass, constructing sentences with double colons, becoming late for work because instead of getting ready spending time writing silly comments on MetaTalk]
posted by Kattullus at 5:05 AM on February 19, 2007 [3 favorites]

*clears throat*

Kattalus, you supervile indentured denizen of the wild world web, you managed somehow to logically deconstruct the question with an answer whose quality defies the apparent capacity of your brainbox. Why don't you take your degraded ability and actually use it where it could do some good?

*hows that?*
posted by infini at 4:06 PM on February 19, 2007

It's always nice to receive back-handed insults :) Also, I'm sure you didn't realize, but your misspelling of my username means 'cat louse' in Icelandic.
posted by Kattullus at 6:18 PM on February 19, 2007

:p even better an insult by a slip of a finger, eh?

*wanders off looking for the unabridged dictionary to find the banned words*

*looks up at the blue*

scrotum! vile scrotum!
posted by infini at 7:40 PM on February 19, 2007