Is it just me?

October 1, 2007 10:00 PM

Hey, I'm new to MetaTalk, so go easy on me, and I hope this hasn't been talked about before, but...

It's been a pet peeve of mine for a while when people put justifications for their FPP in their FPP. Sometimes it's harmless (First FPP, don't hurt!), and maybe sometimes worth pointing out, but often it's just rather... unprofessional, for lack of a better word. Here's the one that sparked me off.

Maybe something should be mentioned in the guidelines or something?

posted by Alex404 to Etiquette/Policy at 10:00 PM (77 comments total)

My pet peeve is people who apologize for MetaTalk callouts.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:07 PM on October 1, 2007 [2 favorites]

It's a joke.
posted by Alex404 at 10:10 PM on October 1, 2007

I get it!

But, yeah.

Sorry if it's been yeah'd before.
posted by The Deej at 10:10 PM on October 1, 2007

Alex404? More like Brain404 I say.
posted by Dr. Curare at 10:12 PM on October 1, 2007

I dunno, I think it might be a way to ward off inevitable snark. Like if you make an FPP about obese declawed circumcised kittens that happens to be a single-link YouTube post, you say [single link YouTube post, I'm so sorry] because if you don't about 800 people will berate you for the very same.

Actually, now that I think about it, that might make a pretty good FPP....
posted by Avenger at 10:14 PM on October 1, 2007

I agree. This isn't MetaMetaFilter.
posted by null terminated at 10:17 PM on October 1, 2007

Maybe something should be mentioned in the guidelines or something?

Then this must be a joke, too, right? Just what this world needs: more rules, and people who make jokes and then get miffed when their jokes are difficult to understand.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:24 PM on October 1, 2007

Wait, this is a joke? My head is lost in the Meta-Metaness of this MetaJoke.
posted by Avenger at 10:29 PM on October 1, 2007

But ya know this very post exhibits that no matter what you do, people won't get it, and it will be counterproductive.

I tried something like that in my last FPP. I ended it with "I saw this on Colbert Report, and so did you." Trying to head off the inevitable "I SAW THIS ON COLBERT!!!!" Yeah, well, it just really didn't help.
posted by The Deej at 10:31 PM on October 1, 2007

This is MeTaFucked^TM
posted by dg at 10:31 PM on October 1, 2007

i started a thread making this exact point a month or so ago. I believe the consensus response was 'meh'.
posted by empath at 10:31 PM on October 1, 2007

       dp       dp       ||      _||_     ' || `      ~/     ) || (     //     _)::(_    //     ) || (   //    (  \/  ) //     `-..-' /'  PG

Somewhere, a very small violin plays a mournful note.

posted by killdevil at 10:37 PM on October 1, 2007 [15 favorites]

Thank you empath, that was all I was looking for.

I really didn't think I was being so obtuse, but I'm happy enough to let this post be interpreted as some sort of higher order joke.
posted by Alex404 at 10:37 PM on October 1, 2007

I agree with you Alex404 - I'll add a warning if I've linked to embedded video or whatever, but otherwise I'm pretty much genuinely linking to something I think will be of interest (or maybe a bit of supporting info to a main link) even if often the stuff I choose is obscure to most.
Apologies should be saved for when you've actually done someone wrong, and "fuck the begrudgers" is a useful guide to life..
posted by Abiezer at 10:39 PM on October 1, 2007

Agreed. Either make the stupid post or don't.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 10:44 PM on October 1, 2007

It's not professional, but we're not professionals (at least, I'm not).

It is obnoxious, but, well, you finish that yourself.
posted by klangklangston at 10:44 PM on October 1, 2007

I am a very important professional!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:47 PM on October 1, 2007

No, I'm not.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:48 PM on October 1, 2007

Justifying your comment takes this thread to an even higher level.

It's delicious.
posted by Alex404 at 10:52 PM on October 1, 2007

Can somebody please flameout in this thread?... please... We haven't had a good one in awhile... And, while I understand that flameouts aren't good for the community, we just need one for entertainment now and then, amirite?
posted by amyms at 11:02 PM on October 1, 2007

What do you have to do to get your comments justified? Is that in the CSS? Mine always come out 'left ragged ' ...
posted by woodblock100 at 11:04 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite]

Can somebody please flameout in this thread?

Can't you read? S/he's new here! This means we should all make pancakes for Alex404.

(minced pet bunny topping optional)
posted by UbuRoivas at 11:29 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite]

Wanting,
needing,
waiting...
for you
to justify my post.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:56 PM on October 1, 2007 [2 favorites]

That's it. I'm fucking done with MetaFilter.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:21 AM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm back.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:21 AM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

did you really have to come back?
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:29 AM on October 2, 2007

That's what zombies do, Ubu. They die and come back.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:37 AM on October 2, 2007 [2 favorites]

Why didn't anyone tell me that MetaTalk is where all the cool kids hang out?

Please don't answer this question.
posted by Alex404 at 12:42 AM on October 2, 2007

I'm with you Alex404. That was one of four things I learned in grad school. Don't apologize during the presentation.
posted by salvia at 12:44 AM on October 2, 2007

Oh, and also about how all the cool kids are here, totally.
posted by salvia at 12:47 AM on October 2, 2007

Don't apologize ever. If someone has a problem with something you do, make it clear in no uncertain terms that the problem is with them and they either need to fall in line or fuck right off.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 12:48 AM on October 2, 2007 [3 favorites]

item said: Fine, I'll go: amyms, if your plane crashed in the mountains no one would look for you, you fu-

You're right, item, no one would look for me!... Okay, I'll flame out! But I hope you all know I'm doing this for the team!...

Nevermind, I'm back. The team doesn't give a shit about me.
posted by amyms at 12:58 AM on October 2, 2007

P.S. Congrats on a first (and at this point successful) callout, Alex404!
posted by amyms at 1:07 AM on October 2, 2007

Well that depends on how you define the words 'successful' and 'callout'. And probably 'congrats' for that matter.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:14 AM on October 2, 2007

Alex404 hasn't been pitchforked to death and/or shamed into flaming out, so I think he's pretty successful so far.
posted by amyms at 1:33 AM on October 2, 2007

Y'know, at this point in the night/morning, anything is better than another fucking adjusted trial balance. fucking accounting.

*sits self down in MeTa with the remaining dregs of her cold, cold coffee and waits for a proper flameout to come warm her up*
posted by Phire at 2:49 AM on October 2, 2007

You should bloody moan, phire! I've got to translate this fascinating tale of a Chinese airline buy-out. And it's the National Day holiday ffs! And do you think anyone appreciates - notices, even - the neat little ways I resolve these complex language issues? Oh no, they just...
/falls over
posted by Abiezer at 2:54 AM on October 2, 2007

Y'know, at this point in the night/morning, anything is better than another fucking adjusted trial balance infomercial. fucking accounting television.

Amen, sister!
posted by amyms at 2:55 AM on October 2, 2007

*puts a pillow neatly below Abiezer*

Normally I'm not this nice, but I think a case of sleep deprivation combined with show tunes is messing with my mind.

Note to self: Do not do account homework while listening to the Guys and Dolls soundtrack.

(That, and I've got complete sympathy for you. I'm Chinese, and I cringe at that assignment.)
posted by Phire at 3:02 AM on October 2, 2007

I would gladly take people justifying their post over people that put entirely meaningless and context-free words in their post body and relegate the actual meaning of their post to [more inside] where it is hidden when browsing the archives and in search results, etc.
posted by Rhomboid at 3:02 AM on October 2, 2007

Bless you, phire. And in all honesty, I am far more scared of book-keeping and numbers than any number of obscure characters, so you have my every respect.
posted by Abiezer at 3:06 AM on October 2, 2007

Fuck You, it took my mom years to edit out you yangban wannabes.日本語):今死ぬ
mordalo
posted by vapidave at 3:37 AM on October 2, 2007

There, there, vapidave. We still love you. Ish. Sort of. Not really. But you can pretend we still do, if that'll make you feel better. :D
posted by Phire at 3:43 AM on October 2, 2007

I hate that shit too, and I also think the linked FPP sucks choad.

Thankfully I have a cask-strength Laphroaig to take the edge off
posted by Joseph Gurl at 4:00 AM on October 2, 2007

That was one of four things I learned in grad school. Don't apologize during the presentation.

Hey, don't hold back. I don't want to go to grad school if I don't need to.
posted by smackfu at 5:33 AM on October 2, 2007

Grad school sounds rad, salvia. My transcript is not very good, but hopefully I can sleep with a busty administrator to get in. That's the usual method, right?
posted by Mister_A at 5:44 AM on October 2, 2007

It's not you Alex404, it's a hinky post.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:47 AM on October 2, 2007

That's the usual method, right?

Worked for me.
posted by Wolof at 5:50 AM on October 2, 2007

Wow, that post is shit.

And I should know, having posted more than my fair share of shit.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:42 AM on October 2, 2007

Alex404:

1) You're right.

2) It's been thus since the Tablets of Meta were first handed down by a bilious and vindictive god long ago, and thus it will be until the Final Flameout that turns us all into crispy little subatomic particles. So there's no real point to discussing it, except that it gives us something to do other than what we should be doing. So thanks for that.
posted by languagehat at 7:06 AM on October 2, 2007

3) Even so, it is just you.
posted by Mister_A at 7:24 AM on October 2, 2007

4) logically, you should profit from this, but i can't quite work out how.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:30 AM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

have you ever met that person who was kind of timid and nervous and seemed to suffer performance anxiety about everything? you know, the kind of person who keeps apologizing all the time and trying to ingratiate themselves to everyone whenever they do anything, but who jumps and starts at the slightest noise? Have you ever tried telling them to stop apologizing all the time? The first thing out of their mouths is another apology for apologizing, and then a second apology for apologizing for apologizing.

People are just like that sometimes. Sure it's annoying, but learn to deal.
posted by shmegegge at 8:38 AM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'M SORRY THAT I GOT FAT
I'M SORRY THAT I GOT FAT
I'M SORRY THAT I GOT FAT
I WILL SLIM DOWN
posted by Kattullus at 9:50 AM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

It's not you Alex404, it's a hinky post.

Yeah, less than perfect, but meh.

Also, "hinky"? I actually have never heard the term before. Awesome.

I'm going to start a band called "The Hinks" that plays rock classics except in 5/8 time.
posted by GuyZero at 10:23 AM on October 2, 2007

having posted more than my fair share of shit.

Hi everyone. My name is GuyZero and I'M A SHITTY POSTER.

CROWD: Hi GuyZero.
posted by GuyZero at 10:26 AM on October 2, 2007

Could it be Alex404 that your first concert experience is just to painful to remember?
posted by Sailormom at 10:54 AM on October 2, 2007

I think it's annoying too, but what can you do.

Now flame out.
posted by chunking express at 11:01 AM on October 2, 2007

It's like waving a red flag at a bull.
posted by smackfu at 11:45 AM on October 2, 2007

I would flag a post about Red Bull.
posted by brain_drain at 11:50 AM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

You'd flag a post about Schlitz "Red Bull" malt liquor? Whaddayou, some kinda Power Master fancier? Sheesh.
posted by breezeway at 11:58 AM on October 2, 2007

XQUZYPHYR: "Or, everyone could stop being complete cocks and whining about a post being a link to a site they personally dislike."

Can you please point out any threads that have been decried by more than a couple malcontents as "Single link YouTube post" and don't also fail the "shitty video" or "no context" tests? Because SLYT tend to miss both of those thresholds, but don't do so universally. Which is why many are kept and some are even loved.
posted by Plutor at 12:02 PM on October 2, 2007

I think the worse crime, above apologizing for some attribute of an FPP, is premeditating the thread's conversational content. I don't want a homework assignment.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:03 PM on October 2, 2007 [2 favorites]

But you're gonna give everyone else the homework assignment of figuring out what the hell "premeditating the thread's conversational content" means; thanks a lot!
posted by breezeway at 12:16 PM on October 2, 2007

Meh, my eyes roll when I see (First post, plz go easy on me!), but it's not as bad as the people who bitch that they saw it on BoingBoing, like, four hours ago, or the champs who think maybe it was possibly a double, but are too lazy to actually check.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:34 PM on October 2, 2007

Yeah, for my first post I decided, you know, fuck people.
posted by Plutor at 12:40 PM on October 2, 2007

4) logically, you should profit from this, but i can't quite work out how.

Well, this has been a highly enjoyable experience. It actually reminds me of my first concert...

DAMNIT
posted by Alex404 at 2:22 PM on October 2, 2007

Let me guess: GWAR?
posted by breezeway at 3:04 PM on October 2, 2007

Yeah, it's annoying. Ah well.
posted by gwint at 5:38 PM on October 2, 2007

"or the champs who think maybe it was possibly a double, but are too lazy to actually check."

Hey, that's me! I'm a champ!
posted by klangklangston at 8:16 PM on October 2, 2007

Champiness - that's where I'm a Viking!
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:44 PM on October 2, 2007

Champing at the bit!
posted by klangklangston at 8:55 PM on October 2, 2007

I thing it's actually chomping at the bat.
posted by smackfu at 9:13 PM on October 2, 2007

Bats down your hatches!
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:16 PM on October 2, 2007

I've been fucking in line ...

I want to get in your line.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:30 PM on October 2, 2007

Not behind me!
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:04 PM on October 2, 2007

They say the other line always comes faster.
posted by dg at 11:55 PM on October 2, 2007