No E-mail? No? Really? Why not? June 15, 2007 2:09 AM Subscribe
Please to put an email in your profile? Most of us don't bite, really. Okay, sure - if your "persona" here is attack-nerd or something, and you're sure you'll get spammed with hate mail, leave it out, but if you're a regular user who likes to participate, can't you at least set up a throwaway webmail address (in gmail, for one, you can create a filter to forward your messages to your regular mail, and you won't even have to log in to your account to check if you have any new messages). more...
hmm.... I have one, but I haven't checked it in ages. I guess I should log in and set up the filter as you suggested. Maybe I even have a pile of MeMail and everyone thinks I'm a snob because I never answer back. Seriously, it's great that you attempt to contact other members for non-creepoid reasons; I should send some nice notes like that.
posted by LadyBonita at 2:27 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by LadyBonita at 2:27 AM on June 15, 2007
You might get a nice compliment, or a useful suggestion, or the chance to help someone out with a recommendation (if you like that kind of thing), or even make a friend or two.
Or hate mail. Really, it runs the gamut. Good times.
posted by justgary at 2:42 AM on June 15, 2007
Or hate mail. Really, it runs the gamut. Good times.
posted by justgary at 2:42 AM on June 15, 2007
Oops, you included the possibility of hate mail in your post. My mistake.
posted by justgary at 2:43 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by justgary at 2:43 AM on June 15, 2007
*Logs into throwaway Gmail account to set up forwarding*
posted by sneakin at 3:00 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by sneakin at 3:00 AM on June 15, 2007
I send out e-mails every now and then. Only if you're awesome, that is. And no one ever replies!
People who don't reply are rude. Or have overzealous spam protection. Mostly rude.
posted by Kattullus at 3:04 AM on June 15, 2007
People who don't reply are rude. Or have overzealous spam protection. Mostly rude.
posted by Kattullus at 3:04 AM on June 15, 2007
Kattullus writes 'People who don't reply are rude. Or have overzealous spam protection. Mostly rude.'
Funny, I feel the same way about people who send me unsolicited e-mails.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:08 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
Funny, I feel the same way about people who send me unsolicited e-mails.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:08 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
Gmail's "It puts the email address in the profile" is arguably one of the most brilliant pop songs of the year.
posted by Rhomboid at 3:29 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Rhomboid at 3:29 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
I obsessively right-click on the gmail manager icon thingy at the bottom right of my FF statusbar, endlessly hitting the 'Check for mail now' menu item, refreshing in hopes that one of you bastards has sent me some email offering beer or blowjobs or a goddamn job or something, a kind word, a morsel, just a fucking textual pat on the back for all the hard work I put in here, just a little doggy treat to keep me going for another day, you know, a paper cup of human kindness. But nothing.
Bupkis. Sweet bugger-all. Zilch, daddy-o.
And it hurts so bad.
Actually, I hate getting email, for the most part, the obligation of it and stuff. But I do have an email address on my profile, you know, just in case blowjobs or high-paying executive wonderchicken positions are in the offing.
Also, listen to taz and obey her, or I'll hafta thump ya.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:38 AM on June 15, 2007
Bupkis. Sweet bugger-all. Zilch, daddy-o.
And it hurts so bad.
Actually, I hate getting email, for the most part, the obligation of it and stuff. But I do have an email address on my profile, you know, just in case blowjobs or high-paying executive wonderchicken positions are in the offing.
Also, listen to taz and obey her, or I'll hafta thump ya.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:38 AM on June 15, 2007
Email in profile is a good idea. It can come in handy if you AskMe a question. It's great for the really nasty invective that usually gets deleted 'round these parts. I'm for Emails In Profiles!
Just in case anyone comes up with questions like "If I put my email in my profile will it get picked up by spam bots?" or "Who exactly can see my email?" here's the answers (and it's good news):
To #1: I'm pretty sure your profile's metadata tells spambots to move along. They don't see anything there. You don't have to do anything—it's automatic.
To #2: As noted in the FAQ, if you list your email in your profile only logged-in users can see it. Casual surfers, lurkers, etc. get a stripped-down version of your profile, sans email.
I was sad yesterday when I wanted to pass a warm fuzzy on to someone I tend to disagree with and they didn't have email listed.
posted by carsonb at 3:45 AM on June 15, 2007
Just in case anyone comes up with questions like "If I put my email in my profile will it get picked up by spam bots?" or "Who exactly can see my email?" here's the answers (and it's good news):
To #1: I'm pretty sure your profile's metadata tells spambots to move along. They don't see anything there. You don't have to do anything—it's automatic.
To #2: As noted in the FAQ, if you list your email in your profile only logged-in users can see it. Casual surfers, lurkers, etc. get a stripped-down version of your profile, sans email.
I was sad yesterday when I wanted to pass a warm fuzzy on to someone I tend to disagree with and they didn't have email listed.
posted by carsonb at 3:45 AM on June 15, 2007
I don't know if I'm a regular user or not, but I don't want anyone emailing me for any reason. I could set set up a throwaway email address, but I would never care to check it, so it seems much more honest to post no contact information at all.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 4:02 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 4:02 AM on June 15, 2007
Yes, definitely don't put your email address in your profile, then. You can safely just... not put an email in your profile.
posted by taz at 4:13 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by taz at 4:13 AM on June 15, 2007
I think it's a good idea to include an email. I've been almost universally pleased by the emails I've received as a result. And if not, I can just ignore what comes my way.
posted by OmieWise at 4:32 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by OmieWise at 4:32 AM on June 15, 2007
It puts the email address in the profile
...or else it gets the hose again?
posted by grouse at 4:32 AM on June 15, 2007
...or else it gets the hose again?
posted by grouse at 4:32 AM on June 15, 2007
in case blowjobs or high-paying executive wonderchicken positions are in the offing
Check your email, stav.
posted by Meatbomb at 4:38 AM on June 15, 2007
Check your email, stav.
posted by Meatbomb at 4:38 AM on June 15, 2007
*checks, renews disconsolate weeping*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:41 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:41 AM on June 15, 2007
'resumes' was the verb I was shooting for, there, of course. Too late, too late, again too late.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:46 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:46 AM on June 15, 2007
Someone expressed an interest in a film studies class I took, but I couldn't send him or her the film list because he or she didn't have an email in his or her profile. Now they shall never know.
The emails I've received from other mefites have been uniformly nice and supportive.
posted by muddgirl at 4:46 AM on June 15, 2007
The emails I've received from other mefites have been uniformly nice and supportive.
posted by muddgirl at 4:46 AM on June 15, 2007
I display my email address even though I'm usually quite paranoid... and no one offers me nice anythings either.
But then I am mostly a lurker.
But I agree with taz (which is why I display my email address even though...).
posted by ClarissaWAM at 4:59 AM on June 15, 2007
But then I am mostly a lurker.
But I agree with taz (which is why I display my email address even though...).
posted by ClarissaWAM at 4:59 AM on June 15, 2007
I've received nasty emails from MeFites before. I took my address out for a while but it's back there now. I've also, for the record, received really nice emails, and additional questions to various answers I've posted.
posted by Brittanie at 5:06 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Brittanie at 5:06 AM on June 15, 2007
Sorry, stav, just fucking with ya... I give really substandard blowjobs anyways, so you aren't missing much.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:10 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Meatbomb at 5:10 AM on June 15, 2007
S'okay, mate. It's the thought that counts, after all.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:23 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:23 AM on June 15, 2007
your wish is my command, taz.....
*points* lookeee, my first EVER grey!
snurgle...
posted by taff at 5:26 AM on June 15, 2007
*points* lookeee, my first EVER grey!
snurgle...
posted by taff at 5:26 AM on June 15, 2007
I send nice emails only to those who deserve them. And Cortex too.
posted by Jofus at 5:37 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Jofus at 5:37 AM on June 15, 2007
I am hardly a high-profile user, but even I get nice emails from the happyfunmefipeople time and again. It's so nice. Everyone should do it. Except that weirdo misanthrope up thread. He can, as taz says, safely not do it.
posted by crush-onastick at 5:47 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by crush-onastick at 5:47 AM on June 15, 2007
I've had a few good, one bad/dumb, and a lot of private tracker invite requests.
posted by signal at 6:19 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by signal at 6:19 AM on June 15, 2007
I can't remember from when I signed up, but does mefi send an email or otherwise inform/encourage users about updating their profile? Does it explain that their email won't be displayed to the general public.
On the other hand, some people, like those filthy introverts, don't wanna be contacted.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:25 AM on June 15, 2007
On the other hand, some people, like those filthy introverts, don't wanna be contacted.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:25 AM on June 15, 2007
does mefi send an email or otherwise inform/encourage users about updating their profile? Does it explain that their email won't be displayed to the general public.
No to the first question and on the second, it's fairly clear form the edit your user page and the FAQ but we could probably make it clearer. The admins have the email address you used when you signed up as well and sometimes your paypal address (this is NEVER member facing for any reason). With a few exceptions everyone is contactable in the most extreme of circumstances by one of us, but we won't pass along messages. You could also consider setting up an IM address if you're one of those people who is on the chatmachine all the time.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:30 AM on June 15, 2007
No to the first question and on the second, it's fairly clear form the edit your user page and the FAQ but we could probably make it clearer. The admins have the email address you used when you signed up as well and sometimes your paypal address (this is NEVER member facing for any reason). With a few exceptions everyone is contactable in the most extreme of circumstances by one of us, but we won't pass along messages. You could also consider setting up an IM address if you're one of those people who is on the chatmachine all the time.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:30 AM on June 15, 2007
Why not an 'email this user' link with a captcha for people who prefer not to list their email publically?
posted by empath at 6:35 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by empath at 6:35 AM on June 15, 2007
I've often wondered whether I should put my gmail address on my profile. But, in the knowledge that it's gmail, someone could make an educated guess at it in half a dozen tries from the info that's already there.
The foundation of my reluctance - are hatemail and nastygrams really that common? Regardless of post content? Getting flamed on discussion board comments is nothing to worry about, unpleasantness reaching one's "personal space" in email is another.
posted by WPW at 6:42 AM on June 15, 2007
The foundation of my reluctance - are hatemail and nastygrams really that common? Regardless of post content? Getting flamed on discussion board comments is nothing to worry about, unpleasantness reaching one's "personal space" in email is another.
posted by WPW at 6:42 AM on June 15, 2007
I have 8 gmail addresses.
I don't understand what folks are talking about when they say 'my' address. You can have as many as you want -- it's fairy cakes and unicorn weiners all the way down, people!
Silly bastards.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:46 AM on June 15, 2007
I don't understand what folks are talking about when they say 'my' address. You can have as many as you want -- it's fairy cakes and unicorn weiners all the way down, people!
Silly bastards.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:46 AM on June 15, 2007
I'd say no, they aren't common. In my case it was just a random asshole.
posted by Brittanie at 6:48 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Brittanie at 6:48 AM on June 15, 2007
I'm really only interested if it's fairy weiners and unicorn cakes.
posted by OmieWise at 6:51 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by OmieWise at 6:51 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
If random assholes want to send me fairy weiners and unicorn cakes, I'd be open to it.
posted by Rhomboid at 6:55 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Rhomboid at 6:55 AM on June 15, 2007
I"m so glad I've posted mine, because actually a surprising amount of people have used it at one time or another, to ask follow-up questions or to totally scream at me. And I loved every second of it, my restraining order against ThePinkSuperhero notwithstanding.
I've also wound up writing plenty of people on the site, for one reason or another. Some have written back, some haven't. Look. I'm chatty and I'm bored at work a lot. Why do you think I'm here?
posted by hermitosis at 7:00 AM on June 15, 2007
I've also wound up writing plenty of people on the site, for one reason or another. Some have written back, some haven't. Look. I'm chatty and I'm bored at work a lot. Why do you think I'm here?
posted by hermitosis at 7:00 AM on June 15, 2007
MetaFilter: If random assholes want to send me fairy weiners and unicorn cakes, I'd be open to it.
posted by scottreynen at 7:11 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by scottreynen at 7:11 AM on June 15, 2007
::clenches fists, bites tonue::
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:16 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:16 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
::clenches cheeks, lights toque::
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:31 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:31 AM on June 15, 2007
Why not an 'email this user' link with a captcha for people who prefer not to list their email publically?
Which would then reveal their email address, or you mean a mailto form? A mailto form would be hell on earth to support. CAPTCHA's have accessibility issues and people dislike them. At some level if you don't want to be contacted it's your call, but I think there are a very slim group of people who would 1) like to be contacted generally but also 2) don't want to put an email address, any email address or an IM address on a members-only access page. I have my email address available and with a few notable exceptions even the email I get is all pretty tame.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:32 AM on June 15, 2007
Which would then reveal their email address, or you mean a mailto form? A mailto form would be hell on earth to support. CAPTCHA's have accessibility issues and people dislike them. At some level if you don't want to be contacted it's your call, but I think there are a very slim group of people who would 1) like to be contacted generally but also 2) don't want to put an email address, any email address or an IM address on a members-only access page. I have my email address available and with a few notable exceptions even the email I get is all pretty tame.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:32 AM on June 15, 2007
jessamyn: "A mailto form would be hell on earth to support."
It would? Make it accessible to logged-in users only, then you (or at least the recipient) would know who was abusing it. Captchas have accessibility issues, but "no you can't do that" is arguably an infinite accessibility issue, so it'd be an improvement.
posted by Plutor at 7:40 AM on June 15, 2007
It would? Make it accessible to logged-in users only, then you (or at least the recipient) would know who was abusing it. Captchas have accessibility issues, but "no you can't do that" is arguably an infinite accessibility issue, so it'd be an improvement.
posted by Plutor at 7:40 AM on June 15, 2007
Hey, I sort of had this idea the other day, as a solution to some personal attack problems we may or may not have around here.
posted by interrobang at 7:45 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by interrobang at 7:45 AM on June 15, 2007
I've received nasty emails from MeFites before.
So have I. Several times. In fact, I got mailbombed my first week on the site. And given the tenor of this place lately, I don't blame anybody who doesn't want MetaFilter seeping into their inbox.
posted by cribcage at 7:51 AM on June 15, 2007
So have I. Several times. In fact, I got mailbombed my first week on the site. And given the tenor of this place lately, I don't blame anybody who doesn't want MetaFilter seeping into their inbox.
posted by cribcage at 7:51 AM on June 15, 2007
It would? Make it accessible to logged-in users only, then you (or at least the recipient) would know who was abusing it.
I don't think people would abuse it, though they might, I just think that people would question its blackbox functionality and we'd get requests like "I emailed soandso via the mailform and never heard back, are you sure it's working...?" and then it puts us in the middle of user to user communications which is something we'd love to not have to do.
Maybe once every month or so we get a request from a member to send a message to another member about something and unless it's an anonyme followup, we try not to do this. We respect people's right to not want to be contacted, but especially in some cases (member in AskMe talks of depression, other member is worried they might be suicidal, is annoyed we won't allow them to get ahold of them) it can be problematic to be a member who wants to share information here and not give people some way to get in touch.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:02 AM on June 15, 2007
I don't think people would abuse it, though they might, I just think that people would question its blackbox functionality and we'd get requests like "I emailed soandso via the mailform and never heard back, are you sure it's working...?" and then it puts us in the middle of user to user communications which is something we'd love to not have to do.
Maybe once every month or so we get a request from a member to send a message to another member about something and unless it's an anonyme followup, we try not to do this. We respect people's right to not want to be contacted, but especially in some cases (member in AskMe talks of depression, other member is worried they might be suicidal, is annoyed we won't allow them to get ahold of them) it can be problematic to be a member who wants to share information here and not give people some way to get in touch.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:02 AM on June 15, 2007
I've found that people who are obnoxious on site tend to be much politer in email, rather than the other way around. The combativeness is often just a pose for an audience in the hope of being admired, and when it's one-to-one they revert to their more basic need which is just to be liked.
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:12 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:12 AM on June 15, 2007
I like to consider myself as big a jerk as any other random asshole around here but the only email I've received from other members has been uniformly polite.
Am I doing something wrong???
posted by leftcoastbob at 8:29 AM on June 15, 2007
Am I doing something wrong???
posted by leftcoastbob at 8:29 AM on June 15, 2007
I too wish more people had an email address on their profile. I wrote to several people yesterday thanking them for their very helpful responses to some of my recent AskMe questions, and there were several others (among them, ikkyu2, jamjam, and thehmsbeagle) that I wanted to thank personally but couldn't. (I actually thought about making my first MeTa post to do so, but alas, I'm embarrassingly wimpy about such things. I sort of suck that way.)
posted by justonegirl at 8:34 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by justonegirl at 8:34 AM on June 15, 2007
It seems like the old guard for the most part show their email address and a general location, whereas the new members do not. Has the sign-up page changed somehow? Providing that information improves the sense of community, and really it will not lead to spam, at least in my experience.
posted by caddis at 8:52 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by caddis at 8:52 AM on June 15, 2007
I've always thought we should have a private message functionality like many forums. I think it would pull the community together. There are so many people I want to thank for their great comments or ask questions, but if I post it in the thread, it's often a derail and directly emailing seems a little much.
posted by milarepa at 9:07 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by milarepa at 9:07 AM on June 15, 2007
I've gone back and forth on including my email in my profile, but considering the incredible lack of self-control I've seen around here at times -- what with people text dumping screens and screens of crap into a thread, or making a metatalk call out for the slightest of infractions just because they have the ability to do it -- I figure I'm easy enough to contact if someone needs or really wants to find me. I currently consider the lack of an email address in my profile is a barrier to keep the stupid and the insane away.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:10 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Dave Faris at 9:10 AM on June 15, 2007
I've gotten really nice messages from mefi folks a couple of times, and I've responded to most though one I didn't notice until so much time had passed that it would have been weird.
I've also contacted at least a few people through their mefi e-mails. Two to follow-up on old comments about mortgages I'd found in the archives -- their answers helped me buy my house. I've also reached out to people in my line of work, or who could help me with work. And I've put non-mefites in touch with metafilterfolk (with metafilterfolks permission) when I thought they could benefit from knowing each other.
I've also done the stalker thing, and tracked down people's e-mail addresses through their linked personal web sites (and through a flickr site linked on a personal site for someone who was really protective of his e-mail address).
I agree that the e-mail function is really great and helpful, even though I only check my account-listed e-mail address every week or two I get annoyed by people who don't have any contact info listed.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:14 AM on June 15, 2007
I've also contacted at least a few people through their mefi e-mails. Two to follow-up on old comments about mortgages I'd found in the archives -- their answers helped me buy my house. I've also reached out to people in my line of work, or who could help me with work. And I've put non-mefites in touch with metafilterfolk (with metafilterfolks permission) when I thought they could benefit from knowing each other.
I've also done the stalker thing, and tracked down people's e-mail addresses through their linked personal web sites (and through a flickr site linked on a personal site for someone who was really protective of his e-mail address).
I agree that the e-mail function is really great and helpful, even though I only check my account-listed e-mail address every week or two I get annoyed by people who don't have any contact info listed.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:14 AM on June 15, 2007
I finally broke down and set up an email account just for MetaFilter related communications, but all I get are constant offers for blowjobs and high-paying executive wonderchicken positions.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:17 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:17 AM on June 15, 2007
Actually, I've received several very nice messages from some pretty great people - I've sincerely appreciated every email I've received.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:21 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:21 AM on June 15, 2007
For what it is worth, I almost NEVER get nasty emails. Really! In fact I cannot think of the last time I got a nastygram from here, and that's even including, ahem, recently.
So if it's safe for me I think the rest of you should have no qualms about it.
posted by konolia at 9:22 AM on June 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
So if it's safe for me I think the rest of you should have no qualms about it.
posted by konolia at 9:22 AM on June 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
Done it. I wonder what will happen.
I'll tell you what will happen buddy: I just emailed you a story about a Chihuahua that adopts a bunch of baby possums.
Oh, yeah. This was a good idea.
posted by nanojath at 9:23 AM on June 15, 2007
I'll tell you what will happen buddy: I just emailed you a story about a Chihuahua that adopts a bunch of baby possums.
Oh, yeah. This was a good idea.
posted by nanojath at 9:23 AM on June 15, 2007
I'll tell you what will happen buddy: I just emailed you a story about a Chihuahua that adopts a bunch of baby possums.
I was not expecting that.
Baby possums are surprisingly cute. I call the big on "Bitey".
posted by WPW at 9:26 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
I was not expecting that.
Baby possums are surprisingly cute. I call the big on "Bitey".
posted by WPW at 9:26 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
None of the emails I've gotten from MeFi members have been unwelcome. I've gotten answers to long-forgotten questions on the green, suggestions for websites I might like based on my comments, and even a note from someone who thought we might have gone to the same middle school. (We didn't.) Anyway, yeah, email in profile is a good idea.
posted by danb at 9:30 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by danb at 9:30 AM on June 15, 2007
Funny, I feel the same way about people who send me unsolicited e-mails.
You only accept emails you ask for?
posted by ORthey at 9:32 AM on June 15, 2007
You only accept emails you ask for?
posted by ORthey at 9:32 AM on June 15, 2007
Actually, now that I think about my answer above, by not having the email in my profile, I'm probably preventing the people who want to send me a nice email from doing it, and that only the nutjobs who are really grinding an axe are the only ones who would bother to try to contact me.
Like I said, I'm of two minds about it.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:34 AM on June 15, 2007
Like I said, I'm of two minds about it.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:34 AM on June 15, 2007
All but one of the e-mails I have received from MeFites have been a delight. The other one was to continue an argument that started in comments, but it was probably better to do it over e-mail than on the web where everyone else can see.
posted by grouse at 9:39 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by grouse at 9:39 AM on June 15, 2007
We allow sock puppets. "Banned for life" means you need to pay another $5. I don't see how providing an (anonymous) e-mail address is going to build our sense of community.
posted by cribcage at 9:40 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by cribcage at 9:40 AM on June 15, 2007
I send out e-mails every now and then. Only if you're awesome, that is. And no one ever replies! *wails*
You know, I sent you an email every 2 or 3 days for months asking whether you were feeling less guilty about having sex yet. And what did I get? A god damned restraining order.
posted by nanojath at 9:46 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
You know, I sent you an email every 2 or 3 days for months asking whether you were feeling less guilty about having sex yet. And what did I get? A god damned restraining order.
posted by nanojath at 9:46 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
Dave Faris, I know how to find you.
And it's funny, but I sent you fanmail (only one!) long before I ever knew about metafilter... but basically, I left you alone after I realized you were here, because, you know - didn't wanna be creepy.
So... it's really the groupies you are trying to escape, right?
posted by taz at 9:46 AM on June 15, 2007
And it's funny, but I sent you fanmail (only one!) long before I ever knew about metafilter... but basically, I left you alone after I realized you were here, because, you know - didn't wanna be creepy.
So... it's really the groupies you are trying to escape, right?
posted by taz at 9:46 AM on June 15, 2007
--I don't see how providing an (anonymous) e-mail address is going to build our sense of community.--
I guess it's kind of subtle but it's just saying that you are contactable if needs be, and although there are a few negative reactions here, the vast majority report that they have in fact had positive experiences from the occasional interaction. For most of us, that reinforces the feeling that there are some nice people around...that sense of community.
I also agree with caddis. Is any tweaking of the signup page needed?
posted by peacay at 9:58 AM on June 15, 2007
I guess it's kind of subtle but it's just saying that you are contactable if needs be, and although there are a few negative reactions here, the vast majority report that they have in fact had positive experiences from the occasional interaction. For most of us, that reinforces the feeling that there are some nice people around...that sense of community.
I also agree with caddis. Is any tweaking of the signup page needed?
posted by peacay at 9:58 AM on June 15, 2007
I think it would pull the community together.
Mefi has meetups regularly, all around the world. What more do you want, MefiOrgy?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:06 AM on June 15, 2007
Mefi has meetups regularly, all around the world. What more do you want, MefiOrgy?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:06 AM on June 15, 2007
You know, the funny thing is, I'm not even that much of an emailer. Certainly, if you divided the number of emails I've sent to mefites by the number of years I've been here, it would have to be fewer than one a month (if you don't count the mefites that I've ended up being friends with, occasionally emailing back and forth).
But, I have whole lot of people here in my head, and feel something more than random-person-on-the-internet for them. Even friendly, omg. I don't mail most of them, because, oh... let's see: I don't want to come off as fawning; I don't want to alarm anyone; I'm not actually that terrific at answering email, so if I get something started, I might just end up being mostly a tease; I don't want any guyfites to think I'm hitting on them... and, finally, most of the time I can put it in the thread, whatever it is. But I seem to keep running into these deleted threads where I can't add a comment, and sometimes I want to respond to someone, and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't freak them out if I emailed them with whatever it was about.
posted by taz at 10:17 AM on June 15, 2007
But, I have whole lot of people here in my head, and feel something more than random-person-on-the-internet for them. Even friendly, omg. I don't mail most of them, because, oh... let's see: I don't want to come off as fawning; I don't want to alarm anyone; I'm not actually that terrific at answering email, so if I get something started, I might just end up being mostly a tease; I don't want any guyfites to think I'm hitting on them... and, finally, most of the time I can put it in the thread, whatever it is. But I seem to keep running into these deleted threads where I can't add a comment, and sometimes I want to respond to someone, and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't freak them out if I emailed them with whatever it was about.
posted by taz at 10:17 AM on June 15, 2007
What more do you want, MefiOrgy?
I'm guessing we'd call it "The Cream?"
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:19 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
I'm guessing we'd call it "The Cream?"
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:19 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
Please send all (female, BMI < 25) bikini pics to four_panels at yahoo. Thanks.
posted by four panels at 10:23 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by four panels at 10:23 AM on June 15, 2007
I sent you fanmail (only one!) long before I ever knew about metafilter... but basically, I left you alone after I realized you were here, because, you know - didn't wanna be creepy.
That is so totally not where I thought you were going with that. But thank you.
posted by Dave Faris at 10:37 AM on June 15, 2007
That is so totally not where I thought you were going with that. But thank you.
posted by Dave Faris at 10:37 AM on June 15, 2007
What is this, listserv?
posted by blue_beetle at 10:42 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by blue_beetle at 10:42 AM on June 15, 2007
Please send all (female, BMI < 25) bikini pics/strike> some class to four_panels at yahoo. Thanks.
posted by OmieWise at 10:55 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by OmieWise at 10:55 AM on June 15, 2007
Seeing snarky comments with blatant typos or broken HTML always reminds me of that time on Route 1A when a driver sped from behind and cut me off, then was pulled over by a police cruiser 2 miles down the road.
posted by cribcage at 11:04 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by cribcage at 11:04 AM on June 15, 2007
pssst, wanna see shocking pix of four_panels naked? No? Me either. Still... mail me. Nod, nod, wink, wink.
posted by taz at 11:22 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by taz at 11:22 AM on June 15, 2007
Whatever Mefi email messages come in are usually tech questions, the rest being thank-you's for AskMe, or other good stuff. I have had a bad experience with an anonymous creep, but on the whole I don't regret putting my email address up.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:43 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:43 AM on June 15, 2007
I think, like, once, I got a whiny email from someone who misconstrued something I said as a personal attack. Otherwise, it's been a resounding silence. 'course, I'm not exactly a high volume participant around here.
posted by Karmakaze at 11:43 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Karmakaze at 11:43 AM on June 15, 2007
are hatemail and nastygrams really that common?
No. I yak a lot around here and sometimes get in people's faces and I've never gotten any hatemail. I don't have a special address for MeFi, either, I just use my regular old e-mail. I wouldn't worry about it unless you're planning to be a Major League Asshole, in which case list cortex's address on your userpage and let him take the rap.
posted by languagehat at 11:53 AM on June 15, 2007
No. I yak a lot around here and sometimes get in people's faces and I've never gotten any hatemail. I don't have a special address for MeFi, either, I just use my regular old e-mail. I wouldn't worry about it unless you're planning to be a Major League Asshole, in which case list cortex's address on your userpage and let him take the rap.
posted by languagehat at 11:53 AM on June 15, 2007
Please do put your email address in your profile, and generally populate your profile.
I don't think there's any need to automate any emailing; the potential for abuse would end up making many people remove their email address from their profile.
posted by theora55 at 12:44 PM on June 15, 2007
I don't think there's any need to automate any emailing; the potential for abuse would end up making many people remove their email address from their profile.
posted by theora55 at 12:44 PM on June 15, 2007
I don't care what someone wants to send me. Unless I specifically say in a post, I don't want you to bother me.
Now get the hell off my lawn or I'll turn the sprinklers on.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:44 PM on June 15, 2007
Now get the hell off my lawn or I'll turn the sprinklers on.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:44 PM on June 15, 2007
People who don't reply are rude.
But "Hey, thanks for the email," seems so perfunctory and lame, even though I appreciate the handful of emails - all positive, I might add - that I've received. And, as others have pointed out, if you're too "scared" to list your email, you're either over thinking things or a huge asshole. Or both.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:49 PM on June 15, 2007
But "Hey, thanks for the email," seems so perfunctory and lame, even though I appreciate the handful of emails - all positive, I might add - that I've received. And, as others have pointed out, if you're too "scared" to list your email, you're either over thinking things or a huge asshole. Or both.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:49 PM on June 15, 2007
FYI WPW: You put your email in the general "blurb about you" section where anyone who visits your profile can see it. If you put it in the specific "your email" field and check "Display email to other members?" then only logged in users can see it.
posted by modofo at 12:53 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by modofo at 12:53 PM on June 15, 2007
as others have pointed out, if you're too "scared" to list your email, you're either over thinking things or a huge asshole
If this were a real as opposed to virtual community perhaps, but as it is there really isn't any sort of MetaEmergency that requires a contact list. Anything that is to be said here can be said on the site, by asking for an email contact or through convincing one of the mods to fork over an address.
I'm not afraid, I just don't want anyone's emails. I get enough inane and usually well meaning (if you can call them that) emails as it is on a daily basis at work. Here's a gem from today:
I have been travelling across states and I am in [location deleted] for 3 months and already i could easily find many illegal workers here. I have a big list, you may catch them red- handed. To start with there are these Indian mother fuckers running [Name Deleted], which is at [Location Deleted]. I think the police in this part is too free and easy ,they don't do their jon well.... I request you to take a firm action, and set an example. Long Live America. Thank you.
So please, just leave me alone. I appreciate pleasant thanks and so forth, but really favoriting or making a note in the post is enough. (not that anyone wants to thank me personally or anything, but I just wanted to point out my reasoning)
posted by Pollomacho at 1:11 PM on June 15, 2007
If this were a real as opposed to virtual community perhaps, but as it is there really isn't any sort of MetaEmergency that requires a contact list. Anything that is to be said here can be said on the site, by asking for an email contact or through convincing one of the mods to fork over an address.
I'm not afraid, I just don't want anyone's emails. I get enough inane and usually well meaning (if you can call them that) emails as it is on a daily basis at work. Here's a gem from today:
I have been travelling across states and I am in [location deleted] for 3 months and already i could easily find many illegal workers here. I have a big list, you may catch them red- handed. To start with there are these Indian mother fuckers running [Name Deleted], which is at [Location Deleted]. I think the police in this part is too free and easy ,they don't do their jon well.... I request you to take a firm action, and set an example. Long Live America. Thank you.
So please, just leave me alone. I appreciate pleasant thanks and so forth, but really favoriting or making a note in the post is enough. (not that anyone wants to thank me personally or anything, but I just wanted to point out my reasoning)
posted by Pollomacho at 1:11 PM on June 15, 2007
if you're too "scared" to list your email...
How did we get from "I don't want to," to "I'm scared"?
posted by cribcage at 1:29 PM on June 15, 2007
How did we get from "I don't want to," to "I'm scared"?
posted by cribcage at 1:29 PM on June 15, 2007
Oh, and I don't think people who don't list their emails are "scared". I think they are just being cautious. And some emails don't really require an answer, like the one mentioned above.
I had someone email me recently (not from mefi) about a "dangerous" turn in the sex ed in our local schools (they are going to *gasp* include birth control), asking me to oppose it, and I frankly didn't know what to say, so I never answered.
Maybe some mefite can come up with a nice generic, "thanks for thinking of me but I'm not interested in this type of thing," email for those situations.
posted by misha at 1:36 PM on June 15, 2007
I had someone email me recently (not from mefi) about a "dangerous" turn in the sex ed in our local schools (they are going to *gasp* include birth control), asking me to oppose it, and I frankly didn't know what to say, so I never answered.
Maybe some mefite can come up with a nice generic, "thanks for thinking of me but I'm not interested in this type of thing," email for those situations.
posted by misha at 1:36 PM on June 15, 2007
I have an email in my profile, and all the "unsolicited" emails I have received (just a handful, really) have been very nice.
I've in turn only send out a few, one asking about a book a girl mentioned in AskMe that I was wondering if I should get, some to MefiMusicians, which lead to this collaboration and to getting permission for doing this cover, and a couple more with guys from Music.
No hate mail no (blow or otherwise) job offers, no entire treaties of Westphalia. If someone has doubts, I would recommend doing it. Chances are you are going to be pleased rather than annoyed.
posted by micayetoca at 1:39 PM on June 15, 2007
I've in turn only send out a few, one asking about a book a girl mentioned in AskMe that I was wondering if I should get, some to MefiMusicians, which lead to this collaboration and to getting permission for doing this cover, and a couple more with guys from Music.
No hate mail no (blow or otherwise) job offers, no entire treaties of Westphalia. If someone has doubts, I would recommend doing it. Chances are you are going to be pleased rather than annoyed.
posted by micayetoca at 1:39 PM on June 15, 2007
I put mine back up...but I had never received a note from anyone here. Just photos of various animals eliminating...
posted by maxwelton at 1:42 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by maxwelton at 1:42 PM on June 15, 2007
Done.
I figure if I get a nice email, hooray.
If I get hatemail, it gives me something to blog about, hooray.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:59 PM on June 15, 2007
I figure if I get a nice email, hooray.
If I get hatemail, it gives me something to blog about, hooray.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:59 PM on June 15, 2007
Inspired by this thread, I just checked my spam folder -- and found pleasant e-mail from a MeFite. Whooops.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:01 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:01 PM on June 15, 2007
If I get another unexpected cock shot in my email, I'm taking my address OFF my profile page.
I'm looking at you underage orange freak. *
* may not be true. offer voild where prohibited. roosters, chickens, and raccoons are void from any of the stated offers.
posted by Stynxno at 2:04 PM on June 15, 2007
I'm looking at you underage orange freak. *
* may not be true. offer voild where prohibited. roosters, chickens, and raccoons are void from any of the stated offers.
posted by Stynxno at 2:04 PM on June 15, 2007
* may not be true. offer voild where prohibited. roosters, chickens, and raccoons are void from any of the stated offers.
Wait, what? Dammit, what offer am I excluded from now?
posted by kkokkodalk at 2:16 PM on June 15, 2007
Wait, what? Dammit, what offer am I excluded from now?
posted by kkokkodalk at 2:16 PM on June 15, 2007
I have a throaway email in my profile but I rarely remember to check it. Can someone please explain how to forward those emails to my regular account? They're both on gmail.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 2:20 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by CrazyLemonade at 2:20 PM on June 15, 2007
I just checked my spam folder -- and found pleasant e-mail from a MeFite.
My spam folder is set to display 200 messages per page; and the last time I checked, I had to click through a half dozen pages just to get past the spam dated "January 18, 2038." If something's in that folder, it might as well not have arrived.
posted by cribcage at 2:39 PM on June 15, 2007
My spam folder is set to display 200 messages per page; and the last time I checked, I had to click through a half dozen pages just to get past the spam dated "January 18, 2038." If something's in that folder, it might as well not have arrived.
posted by cribcage at 2:39 PM on June 15, 2007
...nevermind. I just figured it out.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 2:39 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by CrazyLemonade at 2:39 PM on June 15, 2007
Confession:
I only posted in this thread so people would email me nice things.
It worked! Thank you nice people.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 3:01 PM on June 15, 2007
I only posted in this thread so people would email me nice things.
It worked! Thank you nice people.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 3:01 PM on June 15, 2007
Shit! Everybody! Everybody! Code Lewd Nel! Code Lewd Nel! He's on to us! Execute Plan Kitkat Ishtar Lolrus Lolrus Wonka Endor Newquay Disco Endor Lolrus Lolrus!
posted by Kattullus at 3:02 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by Kattullus at 3:02 PM on June 15, 2007
Did you all get my friendly email?
(I know croutonsupafreak didn't get it because my copy of the email address wasn't correct and Yahoo bounced it in record time...)
posted by wendell at 3:03 PM on June 15, 2007
(I know croutonsupafreak didn't get it because my copy of the email address wasn't correct and Yahoo bounced it in record time...)
posted by wendell at 3:03 PM on June 15, 2007
I did, and I've already purchased 10,000 shares of CTTX at 13¢ like you suggested. Thanks for the heads up!
posted by Plutor at 3:05 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by Plutor at 3:05 PM on June 15, 2007
no no no... the first stock tip was WNDL at 37-42¢ a share...
posted by wendell at 3:09 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by wendell at 3:09 PM on June 15, 2007
ORthey writes 'Funny, I feel the same way about people who send me unsolicited e-mails.
'You only accept emails you ask for?'
Yup. I've been a servant to that damn thing for far too long. Now, if you want me for something, pick up the goddam phone. If you need to e-mail me something, pick up the phone and tell me it's coming.
Otherwise, I'm not gonna see it because I don't check email any more. Well, once a week maybe?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:10 PM on June 15, 2007
'You only accept emails you ask for?'
Yup. I've been a servant to that damn thing for far too long. Now, if you want me for something, pick up the goddam phone. If you need to e-mail me something, pick up the phone and tell me it's coming.
Otherwise, I'm not gonna see it because I don't check email any more. Well, once a week maybe?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:10 PM on June 15, 2007
Wait, hold on a second. I think I'm probably the last person to know this, but is Dave Faris crunchland?
posted by SeizeTheDay at 3:13 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by SeizeTheDay at 3:13 PM on June 15, 2007
hehe, yes.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 3:20 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 3:20 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
Wow crunchy, it is you. It's funny; after you've seen a poster for a while, you kinda get used to their acidic personality, and even get to like it in a "kick me the crotch" sort of way. Now I'm going to have to retrain myself to have those warm, fuzzy feelings to Dave Faris instead. Weird.
I'm serious, actually. crunchland was the guy who introduced MeFi to "Mmmm....pie" way back in the day. I'm not even sure if he remembers that post. So despite his acerbicity, you still gotta love him. Hmm...I just realized that I sound like a raving loon now. Well, anyway, carry on. Nothing to see here.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 3:21 PM on June 15, 2007
I'm serious, actually. crunchland was the guy who introduced MeFi to "Mmmm....pie" way back in the day. I'm not even sure if he remembers that post. So despite his acerbicity, you still gotta love him. Hmm...I just realized that I sound like a raving loon now. Well, anyway, carry on. Nothing to see here.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 3:21 PM on June 15, 2007
lol wendell.
You must be really hard up for companionship, is all I can think.
posted by leftcoastbob at 3:36 PM on June 15, 2007
You must be really hard up for companionship, is all I can think.
posted by leftcoastbob at 3:36 PM on June 15, 2007
Well, he's got a bunch of new friends now, I guess. So it has all ended well.
posted by Meatbomb at 3:49 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by Meatbomb at 3:49 PM on June 15, 2007
And as soon as I finish moving to Nigeria, Blazecock Pileon is going to give me a bunch of money!
posted by wendell at 3:51 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by wendell at 3:51 PM on June 15, 2007
"Please send all (female, BMI < 25) bikini pics to four_panels at yahoo. thanks.
Please send all (female, BMI > 25) bikini pics to me. Thanks.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:52 PM on June 15, 2007
Please send all (female, BMI > 25) bikini pics to me. Thanks.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:52 PM on June 15, 2007
I actually received an email. And it was nice. I did not see that coming.
Color me pleasantly surprised.
And Wendell I'm going to kill you if I don't stop getting "replay all's" from that damned mass email you sent out. As a direct result of the annoyance your email does not count.
Also you are not invited to my birthday party.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 4:03 PM on June 15, 2007
Color me pleasantly surprised.
And Wendell I'm going to kill you if I don't stop getting "replay all's" from that damned mass email you sent out. As a direct result of the annoyance your email does not count.
Also you are not invited to my birthday party.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 4:03 PM on June 15, 2007
All my e-mails from Wendell were marked as spam (SpamAssassin-3.2.0 (score=5.83, DNS_FROM_OPENWHOIS 2.43, WHOIS_WHOISGUARD 3.40)). I only found them because of the replies.
posted by grouse at 4:10 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by grouse at 4:10 PM on June 15, 2007
Fine, then I'm going to keep the iPhone I was going to give you as a birthday present.
Remember, "Tomorrow is another day." Or A Brand New Day. Whatever.
posted by wendell at 4:12 PM on June 15, 2007
Remember, "Tomorrow is another day." Or A Brand New Day. Whatever.
posted by wendell at 4:12 PM on June 15, 2007
This will not end.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:14 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:14 PM on June 15, 2007
I had to leave my last email account because it was getting annoying amounts of spam--never mind that I was sure I hadn't put that one up anywhere dodgy.
So, er... No.
posted by Many bubbles at 4:15 PM on June 15, 2007
So, er... No.
posted by Many bubbles at 4:15 PM on June 15, 2007
SpamAssassin assassinated me? Honestly, that was the first halfway spammy thing I have EVER done!
posted by wendell at 4:16 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by wendell at 4:16 PM on June 15, 2007
wendell: "SpamAssassin assassinated me? Honestly, that was the first halfway spammy thing I have EVER done!"
Thank goodness for the Department of Pre-Crime.
posted by Plutor at 4:31 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
Thank goodness for the Department of Pre-Crime.
posted by Plutor at 4:31 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
This will not begin well.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:35 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:35 PM on June 15, 2007
I've had my phone number in my profile for seven long years and nobody has called me. Sniff.
posted by nicwolff at 4:39 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by nicwolff at 4:39 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
wendell: Looks like it's wholly because of your shady whois data, not the message content.
posted by grouse at 4:39 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by grouse at 4:39 PM on June 15, 2007
It's Seargent Messaging - I work for a living!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:39 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:39 PM on June 15, 2007
PeterMcDermott, I could not see your phone number in your profile, but saw that you have no nickname. I think PeteyMac is not taken.
posted by Cranberry at 5:12 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by Cranberry at 5:12 PM on June 15, 2007
Private massaging?
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:19 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:19 PM on June 15, 2007
Regrets? I've now got a couple, Wendell.
modofo: You put your email in the general "blurb about you" section where anyone who visits your profile can see it. If you put it in the specific "your email" field and check "Display email to other members?" then only logged in users can see it.
Yes, I saw this and thought about it. The field says that I have to format my email correctly. Won't that mean that spambots harvest my email for fearful puposes? I have gmail's pretty nifty filtering, but still.
posted by WPW at 5:51 PM on June 15, 2007
modofo: You put your email in the general "blurb about you" section where anyone who visits your profile can see it. If you put it in the specific "your email" field and check "Display email to other members?" then only logged in users can see it.
Yes, I saw this and thought about it. The field says that I have to format my email correctly. Won't that mean that spambots harvest my email for fearful puposes? I have gmail's pretty nifty filtering, but still.
posted by WPW at 5:51 PM on June 15, 2007
Cranberry writes 'PeterMcDermott, I could not see your phone number in your profile, but saw that you have no nickname. I think PeteyMac is not taken.'
Ah, that's the advantage of not having a nickname, see. If I was registered as PeteyMac, you couldn't look me up in the book.
As it is, you can now, if you really, really want to.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:52 PM on June 15, 2007
Ah, that's the advantage of not having a nickname, see. If I was registered as PeteyMac, you couldn't look me up in the book.
As it is, you can now, if you really, really want to.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:52 PM on June 15, 2007
WPW: A properly formatted email address in the "your email" field will be converted to the format you used in your blurb field. My address is listed as an actual email address but displays as you see it in my profile.
posted by modofo at 5:57 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by modofo at 5:57 PM on June 15, 2007
I've received, at most, four emails regarding Mefi. And one of those was from jessamyn about her deletion of a comment of mine (I deserved it). Not one of them, including the one from jessamyn, was negative in any way.
I gotta learn to bemore controversial.
posted by deborah at 6:02 PM on June 15, 2007
I gotta learn to be
posted by deborah at 6:02 PM on June 15, 2007
I've received a few emails about Metafilter things, mostly about Greasemonkey scripts. But today, I became part of a lovely ridiculous thread that wendell started. I'll cherish it.
No, I'm not kidding.
posted by Plutor at 6:05 PM on June 15, 2007
No, I'm not kidding.
posted by Plutor at 6:05 PM on June 15, 2007
“The foundation of my reluctance - are hatemail and nastygrams really that common? Regardless of post content? Getting flamed on discussion board comments is nothing to worry about, unpleasantness reaching one's ‘personal space’ in email is another.”
Nastygrams are very uncommon, as shown by the high profile people who've said in this thread that they have gotten very few, if any. I'm moderately high-profile, and there has been only one mefite that sent me a number of hateful emails. Otherwise, I can't remember any at all, although there might have been one or two I've forgotten about over the years I've been here.
Also, I've had my real-life identity available through all my fourteen years of being heavily on the Internet, as well as the further twelve years before that of being on other online services. And I've never had anyone harass me in real-life in any way as a result. Of course, the situation is much different for women—how much different, I can't say. But the worries that people have about being harassed and whatnot as a result of bleed-over from their online life are greatly exaggerated, in my opinion.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:06 PM on June 15, 2007
Nastygrams are very uncommon, as shown by the high profile people who've said in this thread that they have gotten very few, if any. I'm moderately high-profile, and there has been only one mefite that sent me a number of hateful emails. Otherwise, I can't remember any at all, although there might have been one or two I've forgotten about over the years I've been here.
Also, I've had my real-life identity available through all my fourteen years of being heavily on the Internet, as well as the further twelve years before that of being on other online services. And I've never had anyone harass me in real-life in any way as a result. Of course, the situation is much different for women—how much different, I can't say. But the worries that people have about being harassed and whatnot as a result of bleed-over from their online life are greatly exaggerated, in my opinion.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:06 PM on June 15, 2007
For the record, of the 57 persons who made the first 100 comments (and who I manually reparsed the addresses of - I REALLY wasted time on this), less than 20 have replied using the "reply all" (I also got 5 replies only to me) and 2-3 of them were complaints.
I just checked my mail and a couple of others on the list are trying to set up an "opt-out" for this casual email gang... I'll work on that.
posted by wendell at 6:12 PM on June 15, 2007
I just checked my mail and a couple of others on the list are trying to set up an "opt-out" for this casual email gang... I'll work on that.
posted by wendell at 6:12 PM on June 15, 2007
Did you all get my friendly email?
Yeah. For anybody who didn't: Wendell copied about a hundred MeFites' e-mails into a group spam, which is now getting bounced around by a dozen users who keep clicking "Reply To All."
Honestly, I think you ought to be banned for that. And I'll bet that if somebody else did it (other than a "name" user), that's exactly what Matt would do. I just removed my e-mail from my profile. Hate mail is one thing, but I never considered that somebody would scavenge our e-mail addresses by hand and create a spam list. So much for trusting the community.
posted by cribcage at 6:15 PM on June 15, 2007
Yeah. For anybody who didn't: Wendell copied about a hundred MeFites' e-mails into a group spam, which is now getting bounced around by a dozen users who keep clicking "Reply To All."
Honestly, I think you ought to be banned for that. And I'll bet that if somebody else did it (other than a "name" user), that's exactly what Matt would do. I just removed my e-mail from my profile. Hate mail is one thing, but I never considered that somebody would scavenge our e-mail addresses by hand and create a spam list. So much for trusting the community.
posted by cribcage at 6:15 PM on June 15, 2007
*sob* I got unsolicited email to an email address that I posted on the Internet. I never imagined such a thing could happen. I feel so violated.
posted by Plutor at 6:26 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by Plutor at 6:26 PM on June 15, 2007
I have sent my last email to the List of the 57 persons who made the first 100 comments...
Here's my personal request to everybody: STOP WITH THE "REPLY ALL".posted by wendell at 6:26 PM on June 15, 2007
If you want to make an informal email list/group/gang out of this, reply TO ME ALONE to OPT-IN.
After this, I take no responsibility for the monster I have loosed on the MeFi community. You're the townspeople; you get your torches and pitchforks. I'm not in the castle, I'm at the beach.
-WW
It never wendells.
“I just removed my e-mail from my profile. Hate mail is one thing, but I never considered that somebody would scavenge our e-mail addresses by hand and create a spam list. So much for trusting the community.”
I think this is an overreaction. After eight years and ~30K members, if this were going to be a problem, it would already have been a problem.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:31 PM on June 15, 2007
I think this is an overreaction. After eight years and ~30K members, if this were going to be a problem, it would already have been a problem.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:31 PM on June 15, 2007
I am one one the persons in that list, and in total there were 29 emails (up to wendell's "last"). I am posting this to say that I don't think he should be banned for that. Sure, it was out of the ordinary, sure, it was out of the protocol, but c'mon, it's 29 emails, nothing irreparable happened.
It's silly little thing that happened out of something done with a good intention. No one needs to be chastised so that the rest can learn that this shouldn't be common practice.
posted by micayetoca at 6:34 PM on June 15, 2007
It's silly little thing that happened out of something done with a good intention. No one needs to be chastised so that the rest can learn that this shouldn't be common practice.
posted by micayetoca at 6:34 PM on June 15, 2007
FWIW, Wendell's bit of amateur spamming was precisely the sort of thing that I was worried about happening as a result of putting up my email, and now that it has happened, I find that I'm not in the least bothered. It was actually all quite entertaining.
Conclusion: I should worry less. And Gmail really does rock.
posted by WPW at 6:39 PM on June 15, 2007
Conclusion: I should worry less. And Gmail really does rock.
posted by WPW at 6:39 PM on June 15, 2007
My Privacy Policy: I have NEVER shared any email address I got access to as a MetaFilter member with anyone EXCEPT other MetaFilter members, via this 'mass mailing' or at anytime.
I did my little jokemail knowing therisk almost certainty that others would follow. If that is considered a serious breach of security, then I will accept whatever punishment.
When I first started blogging in 1999, I was very much honored when I was included in the blogroll of Original Blogster Camworld.com. Later that year, I put up a joke homepage claiming to be by some then-famous hackers who hacked my blog, got bored with it and were moving on to much better blogs, mentioning Camworld by name. The guy named Cam was not happy, fearing I had 'made him a hacker's target'. I did not agree, but did not complain when I became the first blogger ever DE-listed from Camworld's blogroll. Such are the dangers of my weird sense of humor.
posted by wendell at 6:42 PM on June 15, 2007
I did my little jokemail knowing the
When I first started blogging in 1999, I was very much honored when I was included in the blogroll of Original Blogster Camworld.com. Later that year, I put up a joke homepage claiming to be by some then-famous hackers who hacked my blog, got bored with it and were moving on to much better blogs, mentioning Camworld by name. The guy named Cam was not happy, fearing I had 'made him a hacker's target'. I did not agree, but did not complain when I became the first blogger ever DE-listed from Camworld's blogroll. Such are the dangers of my weird sense of humor.
posted by wendell at 6:42 PM on June 15, 2007
Ban him. That was damn annoying.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:04 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:04 PM on June 15, 2007
If doing something 'damn annoying' were a bannable offense here, who would be left?
posted by wendell at 7:08 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by wendell at 7:08 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
Dammit, wendell.
Pollomacho: I take it all back.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:17 PM on June 15, 2007
Pollomacho: I take it all back.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:17 PM on June 15, 2007
If doing something 'damn annoying' were a bannable offense here, who would be left?
Not you.
posted by Many bubbles at 7:28 PM on June 15, 2007
Not you.
posted by Many bubbles at 7:28 PM on June 15, 2007
I've seen a couple cool uses of the amazon s3 thing recently--music download download service, flickr competition-- Is there anyone building a large scale email service run through s3? @metafilter?
posted by acro at 8:21 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by acro at 8:21 PM on June 15, 2007
Please to put an email in your profile?
Yeah, cuz I don't already get enough spam, email hoaxes, right-wing rants, and whatever the fuck email "snowballs" are, I'll also get dozens of lovely reply-all spams.
No thanks.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:24 PM on June 15, 2007
Yeah, cuz I don't already get enough spam, email hoaxes, right-wing rants, and whatever the fuck email "snowballs" are, I'll also get dozens of lovely reply-all spams.
No thanks.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:24 PM on June 15, 2007
crossposted from the WTF Wendell thread...
Yes, it was a bad idea, which I realized about 20 minutes into my parsing all the email addresses, but in a logical move of George-W.-Bush-level stupidity, I decided "I have to finish or the time I've already spent would be wasted". I didn't even consider the idea of "sharing everyone's secret email address with everyone else" because these were all people who had access each other's addresses by all being MeFites. What I intended was to compile 57 addresses from the people who had commented in the thread, and let them all know that they were all getting the same jokey message... (upon preview I see it has already been posted)
I'm sorry for any annoyance this bit of nonsense caused or any fear of breached privacy (which I did not intend and still do not believe I really accomplished). Still, I apologize unconditionally.
posted by wendell at 8:31 PM on June 15, 2007
Yes, it was a bad idea, which I realized about 20 minutes into my parsing all the email addresses, but in a logical move of George-W.-Bush-level stupidity, I decided "I have to finish or the time I've already spent would be wasted". I didn't even consider the idea of "sharing everyone's secret email address with everyone else" because these were all people who had access each other's addresses by all being MeFites. What I intended was to compile 57 addresses from the people who had commented in the thread, and let them all know that they were all getting the same jokey message... (upon preview I see it has already been posted)
I'm sorry for any annoyance this bit of nonsense caused or any fear of breached privacy (which I did not intend and still do not believe I really accomplished). Still, I apologize unconditionally.
posted by wendell at 8:31 PM on June 15, 2007
There's a joke in this featuring 57 Varieties, a can of Spam and a plate of beans. But I can't think of it right now.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:05 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:05 PM on June 15, 2007
Hey wendell, let me chime in with a "I thought this was cool."
I thought it was cool. Well played, sir, well played.
posted by Kattullus at 9:28 PM on June 15, 2007
I thought it was cool. Well played, sir, well played.
posted by Kattullus at 9:28 PM on June 15, 2007
I've written to every single one of you damn people, but you don't write, you don't call ...
Actually, I've meant to write to you - to anyone who has ever made me laugh, think, ooh-and-ah, weep, or shake my fist - I've meant to write to say thanks. But since I am a horrible email slacker, let me take the opportunity now: Thanks - you are the best! And you know who you are, my little sugar plum. Yes, I mean you.
I have a corollary to taz's great suggestion: Please to also put "metafilter" or "mefi" in the subject line, you mefi sender of emails, can you do?
This would help to avoid this:
People who don't reply are rude. Or have overzealous spam protection. Mostly rude.
Remember, not all emails names match up with mefi names and spam filters can be very aggressive. To circumvent this, I have my g-mail filter set up to star the terms "metafilter" and "mefi" so any mail won't get lost in the daily ocean of spam.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:40 PM on June 15, 2007
Actually, I've meant to write to you - to anyone who has ever made me laugh, think, ooh-and-ah, weep, or shake my fist - I've meant to write to say thanks. But since I am a horrible email slacker, let me take the opportunity now: Thanks - you are the best! And you know who you are, my little sugar plum. Yes, I mean you.
I have a corollary to taz's great suggestion: Please to also put "metafilter" or "mefi" in the subject line, you mefi sender of emails, can you do?
This would help to avoid this:
People who don't reply are rude. Or have overzealous spam protection. Mostly rude.
Remember, not all emails names match up with mefi names and spam filters can be very aggressive. To circumvent this, I have my g-mail filter set up to star the terms "metafilter" and "mefi" so any mail won't get lost in the daily ocean of spam.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:40 PM on June 15, 2007
Ok taz. You've convinced me. I added an email address as well as an IM pointer back to my profile.
posted by Dave Faris at 10:00 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by Dave Faris at 10:00 PM on June 15, 2007
I have always had my email and website in my profile. All for nothing. Not even a 'hello' from the one person I put it there for.
Weep not for me. I shall find a way to move on.
Somehow.
posted by The Deej at 10:27 PM on June 15, 2007
Weep not for me. I shall find a way to move on.
Somehow.
posted by The Deej at 10:27 PM on June 15, 2007
Little Ol' Meeee???? Pshaw!
posted by miss lynnster at 11:18 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 11:18 PM on June 15, 2007
Actually as long as we're talking about people who've written us, I have a serious question... anyone here heard from Dizzy lately? He seems to have disappeared and I'm a little worried about him. It's a little strange.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:20 PM on June 15, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 11:20 PM on June 15, 2007
Hmm... yeah... Dizzy didn't show up for the Providence/Southeastern New England meet-up last Sunday, like he said he would (neither, for that matter, did anybody else). And he's not registered any activity since late May. I'll send him an e-mail.
posted by Kattullus at 12:13 AM on June 16, 2007
posted by Kattullus at 12:13 AM on June 16, 2007
you're either over thinking things or a huge asshole
If we accept this conclusion, shouldn't the e-mail address-less be commended for voluntarily assisting in the containment of over-thinking asshole pollution amongst the extended MeFi community.
That they're mutually exclusive conditions is a common fallacy, but there's substantial evidence that both over-thinking and assholity can simultaneously co-infect a single individual. Me, for example.
posted by normy at 8:52 AM on June 16, 2007
If we accept this conclusion, shouldn't the e-mail address-less be commended for voluntarily assisting in the containment of over-thinking asshole pollution amongst the extended MeFi community.
That they're mutually exclusive conditions is a common fallacy, but there's substantial evidence that both over-thinking and assholity can simultaneously co-infect a single individual. Me, for example.
posted by normy at 8:52 AM on June 16, 2007
mmm. I needed a friendly bite just about now. Go forth and make your mark, young man; I can teach you no more.
posted by taz at 10:47 AM on June 16, 2007
posted by taz at 10:47 AM on June 16, 2007
crossposted from the WTF Wendell thread
Languagehat wrote: He apologizes "unconditionally"... but he still doesn't believe he did anything wrong.
I did not intend to return to this discussion, in fact, I had intended to self-enforce a timeout, but languagehat, who I used to admire, seems to have maliciously misinterpreted my apology.
Let me restate:
I am sorry.
I did something wrong.
I used the MetaFilter resources to make a joke in a medium outside of MeFi, annoying some of the people receiving it and seemingly threatening others; other people carried it further, increasing the negative effects.
As wrong and as thoughtless as I admit I was in doing it, there were reasons some people felt it was wrong that I solidly disagree with, like the 'threat to privacy' angle which we can discuss separately (and later).
LH also wrote: wendell, who gets a pass on things because he's been around forever and is depressed and shit,
Cheap shot, hatman, I have never tried to "played the 'depressed' card". It is something that I have lived through and that I am currently dealing with. Part of that 'dealing' may be an overreactive tendency to take things too lightly - part of the thinking that brought about this stunt. For most of the worst of my depression, I was not even participating at MeFi, although it did come out in some of my most self-embarrassingly personal contributions here.
I have not just 'been around forever', I have a history here. I joined the site before jessamyn or quonsar. I'll admit when I recently went back to add tags to my oldest FFPs, some of them were awful, even by my current standards. My personal vision of what this site/community is (and should be) about is different from yours, lh, and it's different from matt's, but I'm still here. And I will continue to "Do My Own Thing" here and anywhere else it is welcome - and if it ever becomes not welcome here, I can live with that. But I do know that about half of the recipients of the original emailing have "opted IN" for more of the same.
I thank those of you who have come to my defense, especially taz and EB for calling me "one of the least malicious people ever", although I plead guilty to being occasionally thoughtless, which can have just as bad a result as maliciousness. Which is why I pointed out this incident in 1999. So, yes, I have done something like this before, and I'm not going to guarantee that I will never do anything like this again - although I do promise to give a lot more pre-thought to future 'internet stunts'.
Puke and cry, who I constantly disagree with on matters of 'what's funny', hit the nail on MY head with this comment:
Well, clearly the best part of this whole thing is that someone used a thread about trying to convince people to put their email addresses up to manually harvest a bunch of emails and send some unfunny "joke" to them, thereby giving people a really good reason not to put their email addresses up. I know that wasn't wendell's intent, but damn if it might be the only funny thing he's ever done.
Which brings us to the irony that may be my ultimate "punishment" for this prank. As I noted earlier, I have received a bunch of "opt ins" for further email nonsense. Several people in these threads have complained that they were NOT part of the original list. Emailing lists are not my favorite format for internet expression and I've never wanted to be in charge of one... but I guess I am going to be now.
And for all the seriousness in this long comment, I am still having too much fun. Yep, time to tell the doctor to REDUCE the antidepressants.
posted by wendell at 2:52 PM on June 16, 2007
Languagehat wrote: He apologizes "unconditionally"... but he still doesn't believe he did anything wrong.
I did not intend to return to this discussion, in fact, I had intended to self-enforce a timeout, but languagehat, who I used to admire, seems to have maliciously misinterpreted my apology.
Let me restate:
I am sorry.
I did something wrong.
I used the MetaFilter resources to make a joke in a medium outside of MeFi, annoying some of the people receiving it and seemingly threatening others; other people carried it further, increasing the negative effects.
As wrong and as thoughtless as I admit I was in doing it, there were reasons some people felt it was wrong that I solidly disagree with, like the 'threat to privacy' angle which we can discuss separately (and later).
LH also wrote: wendell, who gets a pass on things because he's been around forever and is depressed and shit,
Cheap shot, hatman, I have never tried to "played the 'depressed' card". It is something that I have lived through and that I am currently dealing with. Part of that 'dealing' may be an overreactive tendency to take things too lightly - part of the thinking that brought about this stunt. For most of the worst of my depression, I was not even participating at MeFi, although it did come out in some of my most self-embarrassingly personal contributions here.
I have not just 'been around forever', I have a history here. I joined the site before jessamyn or quonsar. I'll admit when I recently went back to add tags to my oldest FFPs, some of them were awful, even by my current standards. My personal vision of what this site/community is (and should be) about is different from yours, lh, and it's different from matt's, but I'm still here. And I will continue to "Do My Own Thing" here and anywhere else it is welcome - and if it ever becomes not welcome here, I can live with that. But I do know that about half of the recipients of the original emailing have "opted IN" for more of the same.
I thank those of you who have come to my defense, especially taz and EB for calling me "one of the least malicious people ever", although I plead guilty to being occasionally thoughtless, which can have just as bad a result as maliciousness. Which is why I pointed out this incident in 1999. So, yes, I have done something like this before, and I'm not going to guarantee that I will never do anything like this again - although I do promise to give a lot more pre-thought to future 'internet stunts'.
Puke and cry, who I constantly disagree with on matters of 'what's funny', hit the nail on MY head with this comment:
Well, clearly the best part of this whole thing is that someone used a thread about trying to convince people to put their email addresses up to manually harvest a bunch of emails and send some unfunny "joke" to them, thereby giving people a really good reason not to put their email addresses up. I know that wasn't wendell's intent, but damn if it might be the only funny thing he's ever done.
Which brings us to the irony that may be my ultimate "punishment" for this prank. As I noted earlier, I have received a bunch of "opt ins" for further email nonsense. Several people in these threads have complained that they were NOT part of the original list. Emailing lists are not my favorite format for internet expression and I've never wanted to be in charge of one... but I guess I am going to be now.
And for all the seriousness in this long comment, I am still having too much fun. Yep, time to tell the doctor to REDUCE the antidepressants.
posted by wendell at 2:52 PM on June 16, 2007
I send nice emails only to those who deserve them. And Cortex too.
Aww, thanks for—hey, wait a minute...
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:00 PM on June 19, 2007
Aww, thanks for—hey, wait a minute...
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:00 PM on June 19, 2007
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
It could happen.
posted by taz at 2:09 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]