Metafilter Self-Exam April 13, 2007 8:31 PM Subscribe
As I stopped in here trying to catch up on threads, it was hard not to notice that LandedGentry's original post about Kurt Vonnegut's death had about 600 entries. (Will the more anal among us please count the periods?)
davidmsc threw in his dime early on, and it was both counter to the general opinion and given in a very flippant manner. That SINGLE comment generated nearly three hundred other comments on the brown.
Now I ask you all. Does this make any sense for the long term best interests of metafilter?
I'm not sure I get you, it's not like we're running out of space for comments or anything.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:33 PM on April 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:33 PM on April 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
He apologized later on, so I guess the system works after all.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:35 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:35 PM on April 13, 2007
Wow. Nice thread. Good show. I'd get you a cookie, but I just finished blowing my fucking brains out.
posted by purephase at 8:41 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by purephase at 8:41 PM on April 13, 2007
What the fuck are you talking about? I think you need to stop being so free and easy with your metatalk posts. This one and the last one are completely pointless.
posted by puke & cry at 8:43 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by puke & cry at 8:43 PM on April 13, 2007
... pound foolish.
posted by Dave Faris at 8:48 PM on April 13, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by Dave Faris at 8:48 PM on April 13, 2007 [2 favorites]
guys, this is serious ... surely you've heard of peak pixels? ... all the known sources of pixels are slowly being depleted and we have no sources to replace them and no alternatives ready and lined up
soon, we will have to ration our words
posted by pyramid termite at 8:49 PM on April 13, 2007 [3 favorites]
soon, we will have to ration our words
posted by pyramid termite at 8:49 PM on April 13, 2007 [3 favorites]
Are you someone's sock puppet?
posted by Falconetti at 8:49 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Falconetti at 8:49 PM on April 13, 2007
also, where is this brown you speak of?
posted by crackingdes at 8:50 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by crackingdes at 8:50 PM on April 13, 2007
If we're lucky, we can get this thread up past 300, easy. And this one is ten times as pointless as the other two.
posted by Dave Faris at 8:51 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Dave Faris at 8:51 PM on April 13, 2007
Chapter XI: Of the Remedies of the Foregoing Imperfections and Abuses of Words
1. Remedies are worth seeking. The natural and improved imperfections of languages we have seen above at large : and speech being the great bond that holds society together, and the common conduit, whereby the improvements of knowledge are conveyed from one man and one generation to another, it would well deserve our most serious thoughts to consider, what remedies are to be found for the inconveniences above mentioned.
2. Are not easy to find. I am not so vain as to think that any one can pretend to attempt the perfect reforming the languages of the world, no not so much as of his own country, without rendering himself ridiculous. To require that men should use their words constantly in the same sense, and for none but determined and uniform ideas, would be to think that all men should have the same notions, and should talk of nothing but what they have clear and distinct ideas of : which is not to be expected by any one who hath not vanity enough to imagine he can prevail with men to be very knowing or very silent And he must be very little skilled in the world, who thinks that a voluble tongue shall accompany only a good understanding ; or that men’s talking much or little should hold proportion only to their knowledge.
3. But yet necessary to those who search after truth. But though the market and exchange must be left to their own ways of talking, and gossipings not be robbed of their ancient privilege : though the schools, and men of argument would perhaps take it amiss to have anything offered, to abate the length or lessen the number of their disputes ; yet methinks those who pretend seriously to search after or maintain truth, should think themselves obliged to study how they might deliver themselves without obscurity, doubtfulness, or equivocation, to which men’s words are naturally liable, if care be not taken.
4. Misuse of words the great cause of errors. For he that shall well consider the errors and obscurity, the mistakes and confusion, that are spread in the world by an ill use of words, will find some reason to doubt whether language, as it has been employed, has contributed more to the improvement or hindrance of knowledge amongst mankind. How many are there, that, when they would think on things, fix their thoughts only on words, especially when they would apply their minds to moral matters ? And who then can wonder if the result of such contemplations and reasonings, about little more than sounds, whilst the ideas they annex to them are very confused and very unsteady, or perhaps none at all ; who can wonder, I say, that such thoughts and reasonings end in nothing but obscurity and mistake, without any clear judgment or knowledge?
posted by killdevil at 8:57 PM on April 13, 2007
1. Remedies are worth seeking. The natural and improved imperfections of languages we have seen above at large : and speech being the great bond that holds society together, and the common conduit, whereby the improvements of knowledge are conveyed from one man and one generation to another, it would well deserve our most serious thoughts to consider, what remedies are to be found for the inconveniences above mentioned.
2. Are not easy to find. I am not so vain as to think that any one can pretend to attempt the perfect reforming the languages of the world, no not so much as of his own country, without rendering himself ridiculous. To require that men should use their words constantly in the same sense, and for none but determined and uniform ideas, would be to think that all men should have the same notions, and should talk of nothing but what they have clear and distinct ideas of : which is not to be expected by any one who hath not vanity enough to imagine he can prevail with men to be very knowing or very silent And he must be very little skilled in the world, who thinks that a voluble tongue shall accompany only a good understanding ; or that men’s talking much or little should hold proportion only to their knowledge.
3. But yet necessary to those who search after truth. But though the market and exchange must be left to their own ways of talking, and gossipings not be robbed of their ancient privilege : though the schools, and men of argument would perhaps take it amiss to have anything offered, to abate the length or lessen the number of their disputes ; yet methinks those who pretend seriously to search after or maintain truth, should think themselves obliged to study how they might deliver themselves without obscurity, doubtfulness, or equivocation, to which men’s words are naturally liable, if care be not taken.
4. Misuse of words the great cause of errors. For he that shall well consider the errors and obscurity, the mistakes and confusion, that are spread in the world by an ill use of words, will find some reason to doubt whether language, as it has been employed, has contributed more to the improvement or hindrance of knowledge amongst mankind. How many are there, that, when they would think on things, fix their thoughts only on words, especially when they would apply their minds to moral matters ? And who then can wonder if the result of such contemplations and reasonings, about little more than sounds, whilst the ideas they annex to them are very confused and very unsteady, or perhaps none at all ; who can wonder, I say, that such thoughts and reasonings end in nothing but obscurity and mistake, without any clear judgment or knowledge?
posted by killdevil at 8:57 PM on April 13, 2007
GEEZ! Mathowie and jessamyn and cortex?.... all within eleven minutes of my original comment?
I would be honored if it were not for the dismissive nature of those comments.
I LOVE the "House that Mathowie Built". I love it enough to make sure it will stand for a long, long time.
posted by Penny Wise at 8:59 PM on April 13, 2007
I would be honored if it were not for the dismissive nature of those comments.
I LOVE the "House that Mathowie Built". I love it enough to make sure it will stand for a long, long time.
posted by Penny Wise at 8:59 PM on April 13, 2007
Brown?
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 9:03 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 9:03 PM on April 13, 2007
Beige? lol
posted by Penny Wise at 9:05 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Penny Wise at 9:05 PM on April 13, 2007
Penny Wise, you must not do this.
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:09 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:09 PM on April 13, 2007
And I would like to take this opportunity to ask the members of metafilter to stay "on point" with this discussion.
posted by Penny Wise at 9:11 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Penny Wise at 9:11 PM on April 13, 2007
MAYBE WE COULD IF YOU TOLD US WHAT THE FUCKING POINT IS?
with apologies to solistrato
posted by Firas at 9:15 PM on April 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
with apologies to solistrato
posted by Firas at 9:15 PM on April 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
I would like to take the opportunity to comment in this thread before it is summarily closed.
posted by found missing at 9:17 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by found missing at 9:17 PM on April 13, 2007
Dismissive is not what my comment was. Inquisitive, confused, entreating. Let me reiterate that here: can you please elaborate on your intent in asking this question?
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:18 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:18 PM on April 13, 2007
Stay "on point"?
CHARLIE'S TRACKING US, MAN, I CAN SMELL HIM
posted by scrump at 9:21 PM on April 13, 2007
CHARLIE'S TRACKING US, MAN, I CAN SMELL HIM
posted by scrump at 9:21 PM on April 13, 2007
Ah, I see now, Penny Wise is a tedious douche with a half-assed trolling plan. Neat.
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:21 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:21 PM on April 13, 2007
He'll take you by surprise, he's the clown they call... Pennywise.
posted by rob paxon at 9:21 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by rob paxon at 9:21 PM on April 13, 2007
APRIL FOOLS!
posted by found missing at 9:21 PM on April 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by found missing at 9:21 PM on April 13, 2007 [1 favorite]
So. Apropos of nothing in particular... does anyone know how to paste ascii art without Metafilter-added excess line breaks?
posted by killdevil at 9:24 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by killdevil at 9:24 PM on April 13, 2007
Some people just love hearing themselves type.
posted by maryh at 9:26 PM on April 13, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by maryh at 9:26 PM on April 13, 2007 [2 favorites]
killdevil, I always do it by coding in <br> tags instead of hard line breaks and wrapping the whole thing in a <blockquote>. The more you knowTM, etc.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:27 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:27 PM on April 13, 2007
Some people just love hearing themselves type.
*fap fap fap fap* etc.?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:34 PM on April 13, 2007
*fap fap fap fap* etc.?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:34 PM on April 13, 2007
I am sensing an "if you are not with me, you are against me" kinda vibe.
I will leave you to your next 300 threads.
Check in with you in the morning if I can.
Remember....this is a SELF exam.
posted by Penny Wise at 9:51 PM on April 13, 2007
I will leave you to your next 300 threads.
Check in with you in the morning if I can.
Remember....this is a SELF exam.
posted by Penny Wise at 9:51 PM on April 13, 2007
Did your mama not kiss you this morning, you solipsist twit?
posted by Firas at 9:56 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Firas at 9:56 PM on April 13, 2007
_______ _________ _______( ___ )|\ /| \__ __/|\ /|( ____ \| ( ) || ) ( | ) ( | ) ( || ( \/| | | || (___) | | | | (___) || (__ | | | || ___ | | | | ___ || __) | | | || ( ) | | | | ( ) || ( | (___) || ) ( | | | | ) ( || (____/\(_______)|/ \| )_( |/ \|(_______/
_______ _______ |\ /||\ /|( ____ \( ____ \| ) ( || ) ( || ( \/| ( \/| (___) || | | || | | (__ | ___ || | | || | ____ | __) | ( ) || | | || | \_ )| ( | ) ( || (___) || (___) || (____/\|/ \|(_______)(_______)(_______/ _______ _______ _ _______ _________ _______ _______ ( )( ___ )( ( /|( ___ )\__ __/( ____ \( ____ \| () () || ( ) || \ ( || ( ) | ) ( | ( \/| ( \/| || || || (___) || \ | || (___) | | | | (__ | (__ | |(_)| || ___ || (\ \) || ___ | | | | __) | __) | | | || ( ) || | \ || ( ) | | | | ( | ( | ) ( || ) ( || ) \ || ) ( | | | | (____/\| (____/\|/ \||/ \||/ )_)|/ \| )_( (_______/(_______/Remember....this is a SELF exam.
Bzzzt. Surely you meant a litmus test. Self exams are down the hall.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:10 PM on April 13, 2007
Bzzzt. Surely you meant a litmus test. Self exams are down the hall.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:10 PM on April 13, 2007
We went through the "It" thing in the last thread. sheesh.
posted by puke & cry at 10:10 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by puke & cry at 10:10 PM on April 13, 2007
Relax. Maniacs are everywhere.
In the lift...
Your doctor could be one...
posted by flabdablet at 10:18 PM on April 13, 2007
In the lift...
Your doctor could be one...
posted by flabdablet at 10:18 PM on April 13, 2007
Mr. V. is laughing his ass off, i betcha
posted by merelyglib at 10:37 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by merelyglib at 10:37 PM on April 13, 2007
You know who else generated lots of comments? That's right.
posted by Krrrlson at 10:42 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Krrrlson at 10:42 PM on April 13, 2007
Can someone hit the switch on the back of this guy's head that turns on the "making sense" function? Thanks.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 10:43 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 10:43 PM on April 13, 2007
Yeah well. I shall continue the It thing. Because that clip will never cease to make me laugh as much as it did when I first saw the thing on tv. I shall love it forever. The way Tim Curry's mouth currrrlllls around the word "float" makes me just giggle uncontrollably. And in case you didn't know, it's always all about me. So there.
posted by miss lynnster at 10:43 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 10:43 PM on April 13, 2007
I like the way Tim Curry's lips quiver as he pauses in the middle of the word "antici...pation".
posted by Meatbomb at 10:57 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by Meatbomb at 10:57 PM on April 13, 2007
I concur.
posted by puke & cry at 10:57 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by puke & cry at 10:57 PM on April 13, 2007
Harbla Nabarlican and the Ukranian Fold Dance Theatre.
That is all.
posted by slogger at 11:03 PM on April 13, 2007
That is all.
posted by slogger at 11:03 PM on April 13, 2007
And I even fucked that up. It's supposed to be folk.
God I suck at teh intrawebs.
posted by slogger at 11:04 PM on April 13, 2007
God I suck at teh intrawebs.
posted by slogger at 11:04 PM on April 13, 2007
Is this really happening? Can somebody explain it? Or It?
posted by cgc373 at 11:11 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by cgc373 at 11:11 PM on April 13, 2007
I swear, Penny Wise is NOT my sock puppet. I'd use one of those for something different!
And P.W., they refer to this part as "the GRAY." Maybe your monitor's colors need adjusting?
posted by davy at 11:15 PM on April 13, 2007
And P.W., they refer to this part as "the GRAY." Maybe your monitor's colors need adjusting?
posted by davy at 11:15 PM on April 13, 2007
This thread tastes like burning.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:26 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:26 PM on April 13, 2007
I LOVE the "House that Mathowie Built". I love it enough to make sure it will stand for a long, long time.
I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear this.
posted by scody at 11:27 PM on April 13, 2007
I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear this.
posted by scody at 11:27 PM on April 13, 2007
um, I'm gonna close this. Since penny wise didn't clarify, it seems all a little too "look at me, everybody!"
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:48 PM on April 13, 2007
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:48 PM on April 13, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dave Faris at 8:33 PM on April 13, 2007