I got to the preview screen only to find that I'd beat myself to the punch November 5, 2007 8:34 PM Subscribe
How did this happen?
I had written the BBC Introducing post when I hit a snag. I got an error message after I hit 'post' (I wish I could say I had copied it but I didn't). After stubbornly clicking 'post' a couple more times I figured out that the error must be that one of the tags I had added, whatsoundsawfullylikethesoundtrackforaNESgamewithhalf-heartedchantingoverit, was wreaking havoc. So I deleted that tag and hit 'post' again only to be greeted with this. I was at the preview screen but the post was already on the front page. I have that window still open, but I'm loath to find out what happens if I hit post. I don't want to have to write a chapter in my biography called "I loved this wonderful website so much that I hugged it and petted it and squeezed it and then I broked it."
Incidentally, the post, once it had appeared on the front page, was lacking all but the first six tags and I added the rest manually.
I had written the BBC Introducing post when I hit a snag. I got an error message after I hit 'post' (I wish I could say I had copied it but I didn't). After stubbornly clicking 'post' a couple more times I figured out that the error must be that one of the tags I had added, whatsoundsawfullylikethesoundtrackforaNESgamewithhalf-heartedchantingoverit, was wreaking havoc. So I deleted that tag and hit 'post' again only to be greeted with this. I was at the preview screen but the post was already on the front page. I have that window still open, but I'm loath to find out what happens if I hit post. I don't want to have to write a chapter in my biography called "I loved this wonderful website so much that I hugged it and petted it and squeezed it and then I broked it."
Incidentally, the post, once it had appeared on the front page, was lacking all but the first six tags and I added the rest manually.
I assume it showed you that because it had already posted and once you tried posting it again it hit the double-check. Btw, it's probably not a good idea to just keep hitting post over and over again like that.
posted by puke & cry at 8:41 PM on November 5, 2007
posted by puke & cry at 8:41 PM on November 5, 2007
Ah, but I got the same error message every time.
Oh, and you will have to pry the cutesy tags from my cold, dead hands.
Actually, being a mod and all, you could just delete them. But I'd be irked. Irked! I say.
posted by Kattullus at 8:43 PM on November 5, 2007
Oh, and you will have to pry the cutesy tags from my cold, dead hands.
Actually, being a mod and all, you could just delete them. But I'd be irked. Irked! I say.
posted by Kattullus at 8:43 PM on November 5, 2007
To clarify: instead of just hitting post again and again, you should hit post once, look at the error message, wait a couple minutes, refresh the front page to see if your post is there, if it's not use the contact form and copy the error message in there and ask the admins about it.
posted by puke & cry at 8:52 PM on November 5, 2007
posted by puke & cry at 8:52 PM on November 5, 2007
Hmm... I realize that I didn't actually mention what it was that most concerned me. It's that after the post went up I didn't get bounced to the "you already posted today" screen.
As to what I should've done... well, yes, puke & cry is absolutely right as what the best course of action is. However, I tried to first bludgeon my way out of it, then fix it on my own. Call me a cynical nogoodnik, but I don't think I'm the only MeFite who'd try that approach first.
I believe this is a case of the ol' saying: the road to hell is paved with unbought stuffed dogs.
posted by Kattullus at 9:02 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
As to what I should've done... well, yes, puke & cry is absolutely right as what the best course of action is. However, I tried to first bludgeon my way out of it, then fix it on my own. Call me a cynical nogoodnik, but I don't think I'm the only MeFite who'd try that approach first.
I believe this is a case of the ol' saying: the road to hell is paved with unbought stuffed dogs.
posted by Kattullus at 9:02 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
Cynical nogoodnik.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:04 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:04 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
Google thought they could beat Flickr.
posted by dhammond at 9:18 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by dhammond at 9:18 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
instead of just hitting post again and again, you should hit post once, look at the error message, wait a couple minutes, refresh the front page to see if your post is there...
As a sometimes usability type person, can I point out that ideally the actual recording of the post should be the last thing that happens in-code, and that all error messages appearing previously should specifically say the post hasn't been completed yet (you guys are catching exceptions, right?) unless, of course, it has been posted?
I don't think hitting post repeatedly is a good idea, but I also don't think throwing an error message but posting the post anyway is a good idea.
posted by davejay at 11:23 PM on November 5, 2007
As a sometimes usability type person, can I point out that ideally the actual recording of the post should be the last thing that happens in-code, and that all error messages appearing previously should specifically say the post hasn't been completed yet (you guys are catching exceptions, right?) unless, of course, it has been posted?
I don't think hitting post repeatedly is a good idea, but I also don't think throwing an error message but posting the post anyway is a good idea.
posted by davejay at 11:23 PM on November 5, 2007
Katallus, on your links I'm seeing a Picasa sign up/in page. (Is that showing up for everyone, or just me?)
posted by taz at 12:38 AM on November 6, 2007
posted by taz at 12:38 AM on November 6, 2007
jessamyn: "-10 for cutesy tags."
Can we make this official policy, please? I don't know what we'd subtract ten from, but I support it nonetheless.
posted by Plutor at 4:52 AM on November 6, 2007 [1 favorite]
Can we make this official policy, please? I don't know what we'd subtract ten from, but I support it nonetheless.
posted by Plutor at 4:52 AM on November 6, 2007 [1 favorite]
whatsoundsawfullylikethesoundtrackforaNESgamewithhalf-heartedchantingoverit
Yeah, I don't mind occasional cutesy tags, but that's really annoying. Control yourself, amigo.
posted by languagehat at 7:21 AM on November 6, 2007
Yeah, I don't mind occasional cutesy tags, but that's really annoying. Control yourself, amigo.
posted by languagehat at 7:21 AM on November 6, 2007
"-10 for cutesy tags."
No wonder it took me so long to hit 300.....
posted by Floydd at 7:23 AM on November 6, 2007
No wonder it took me so long to hit 300.....
posted by Floydd at 7:23 AM on November 6, 2007
In my universe, everyone automatically acquires the right to include ONE (1) frivolous tag as a reward for getting the actually useful tags right.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:16 AM on November 6, 2007
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:16 AM on November 6, 2007
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posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:38 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]