Where has everyone gone? October 25, 2011 8:05 AM Subscribe
Has site commenting become less frequent? It seems like threads are shorter on average these days, especially in the last few months. Is this due to the loss of a few prolific people?
As usual, the best answers here probably like in the Infodump. I really want to get a sort of Day/Week/Month/Year In Review snapshot thing at some point as a sort of activity meter for the site, but in the mean time I wouldn't be surprised if one of our resident datawankers can chuck out a few charts for activity by comment volume, thread volume, etc. over the last while.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:11 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:11 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I can't speak for everyone but the fall is much busier at work for me than the summer.
posted by 2bucksplus at 8:13 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by 2bucksplus at 8:13 AM on October 25, 2011
Qualitatively, I haven't felt like there's been any big drop-off, no. Site seems to have natural spikes and troughs of behavior and I think all of us tend to have our own specific sub-window into site activity that makes it hard to really predict in detail what the overall site activity is vs. how busy the specific things we're interested in or that we follow are.
And even that may tend to be "how busy is it vs. how much time do I have for it", where having more time to kill on the site might make a static amount of activity seem like a drop.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:13 AM on October 25, 2011
And even that may tend to be "how busy is it vs. how much time do I have for it", where having more time to kill on the site might make a static amount of activity seem like a drop.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:13 AM on October 25, 2011
I, as always, blame the mods.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:14 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by KokuRyu at 8:14 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Having 'MetaFilter datawanker-in-residence' on your resume would open all sorts of doors for you (no-one would want to let you touch the handle).
posted by Abiezer at 8:14 AM on October 25, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 8:14 AM on October 25, 2011 [6 favorites]
Just curious desjardins, can you think of any specific examples you've noticed, say political threads being shorter?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:15 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:15 AM on October 25, 2011
This could just be my own perception, but to me it seems that MeFi has gotten much more negative in recent months. Not that I remember us ever particularly being all sunshine and puppies, but there have been several recent threads I wanted to comment in that were so relentlessly negative that I didn't feel like wading in and trying to say something constructive by the time I got there--it seemed like a lost cause. I've never been prolific, but I lurk a lot more now. I read lots of threads, but seldom bother to try to comment.
Again, my experience may not be typical, but that's why I don't comment as much as I used to.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:20 AM on October 25, 2011 [18 favorites]
Again, my experience may not be typical, but that's why I don't comment as much as I used to.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:20 AM on October 25, 2011 [18 favorites]
but to me it seems that MeFi has gotten much more negative in recent months.
I think it's reflecting the fact that the entire world in general has gotten much more negative in recent months, tbh. It's hard not to let all the rage and frustration spill out everywhere.
on a side note my interoffice emails have gotten about 60% more short tempered and offensive, which is a new record for me.
posted by elizardbits at 8:29 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I think it's reflecting the fact that the entire world in general has gotten much more negative in recent months, tbh. It's hard not to let all the rage and frustration spill out everywhere.
on a side note my interoffice emails have gotten about 60% more short tempered and offensive, which is a new record for me.
posted by elizardbits at 8:29 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I think it's because there's just nothing more to discuss. We've long ago all agreed on which bands are good, which comedians are funny, which religion is the correct one, whether or not cats should be declawed, which operating system is the best, that we should send robots, not humans, to Mars, and that Cilantro tastes like soap and should not be consumed by anyone, ever.
posted by bondcliff at 8:32 AM on October 25, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 8:32 AM on October 25, 2011 [4 favorites]
I was going to say that you should wait till cortex drinks his morning coffee and takes his info poop. Looks like he already did.
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 8:33 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 8:33 AM on October 25, 2011
DU: Progress!
It's a scientific fact that my pet peeve is on the rise, as evidenced here, here, and here.
posted by gman at 8:36 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's a scientific fact that my pet peeve is on the rise, as evidenced here, here, and here.
posted by gman at 8:36 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
say political threads being shorter
Certainly a few of those would have been longer were it not for my best efforts at non-participation.
But I do comment less in general now. Part of that is work related. But there also seem to be fewer posts that I have anything - even a joke - to say anything about.
Three hypotheses present themselves. 1. Post subjects have gotten more arcane. 2. My inspiration has withered. 3. I've acquired higher standards.
Yeah, I'm guessing #2.
posted by Trurl at 8:39 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Certainly a few of those would have been longer were it not for my best efforts at non-participation.
But I do comment less in general now. Part of that is work related. But there also seem to be fewer posts that I have anything - even a joke - to say anything about.
Three hypotheses present themselves. 1. Post subjects have gotten more arcane. 2. My inspiration has withered. 3. I've acquired higher standards.
Yeah, I'm guessing #2.
posted by Trurl at 8:39 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sorry -- I've been really busy at work. It's a temporary problem that I am struggling to resolve with all due dispatch.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:40 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:40 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've not had time the past two weeks. That's probably 5-10 less comments for Ask. That the dropoff you're feeling? ;-)
posted by deezil at 8:41 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by deezil at 8:41 AM on October 25, 2011
Who would chew out griphus? griphus is the best!
posted by shakespeherian at 8:45 AM on October 25, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 8:45 AM on October 25, 2011 [8 favorites]
Huh, I'm wrong. Both have increased slightly over the last six months.
posted by desjardins at 8:49 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by desjardins at 8:49 AM on October 25, 2011
Yeah, let me chime in with Pater Aletheias. From my perspective things have been getting worse lately, a lot more tetchy. The recent iPod thread got ridiculous for instance, but it's practically the founding tradition of internet discussions to be an idiot on the subject of Apple Computers.
I've been thinking that perhaps my ability to wait out the tides of shit is lessening, but on the other hand a lot of others seem to be voicing the same thoughts. I don't really have any solutions to offer. The only thing I've thought of is to send people personal MeMails when I think things are getting out of hand, but that seems about as effective throwing rocks at the in-rushing tide, telling it to git.
posted by Kattullus at 8:51 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've been thinking that perhaps my ability to wait out the tides of shit is lessening, but on the other hand a lot of others seem to be voicing the same thoughts. I don't really have any solutions to offer. The only thing I've thought of is to send people personal MeMails when I think things are getting out of hand, but that seems about as effective throwing rocks at the in-rushing tide, telling it to git.
posted by Kattullus at 8:51 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Huh, I'm wrong. Both have increased slightly over the last six months.
Can I get a line graph comparing snark, lulz, derails, fights, and productive comments over the last two years? That's what I'm really interested in.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:53 AM on October 25, 2011
Can I get a line graph comparing snark, lulz, derails, fights, and productive comments over the last two years? That's what I'm really interested in.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:53 AM on October 25, 2011
I've been making fewer posts, mostly because I'll see something that I think is great or interesting but then I imagine the terrible reception it will get here and I post it to G+ and all the Metafilter people there go 'Oh neat!'
posted by shakespeherian at 8:54 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 8:54 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Who would chew out griphus? griphus is the best!
One day, I will be able to get paid on those virtues. Unfortunately for now, clients expect paperwork that isn't weeks behind because Metafilter.
posted by griphus at 8:58 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
One day, I will be able to get paid on those virtues. Unfortunately for now, clients expect paperwork that isn't weeks behind because Metafilter.
posted by griphus at 8:58 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I am commenting less. Am also trying to cut back on my post frequency.
posted by zarq at 8:58 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by zarq at 8:58 AM on October 25, 2011
(Also: you made my day, shakes.)
posted by griphus at 8:58 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by griphus at 8:58 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
oh god i am now envisioning some horrible vampire baby breaking dawn thing
did not want
posted by elizardbits at 8:59 AM on October 25, 2011
did not want
posted by elizardbits at 8:59 AM on October 25, 2011
Grr. Those graphs are over the last year and a half, not the last six months.
I WAS RIGHT.
posted by desjardins at 8:59 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I WAS RIGHT.
posted by desjardins at 8:59 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
did not want
I pictured it as a 1950s greaser-ballad about vampires in leather jackets gettin' it on at Makeout Point.
posted by griphus at 9:02 AM on October 25, 2011
I pictured it as a 1950s greaser-ballad about vampires in leather jackets gettin' it on at Makeout Point.
posted by griphus at 9:02 AM on October 25, 2011
Here's a quick chart of the average number of comments per post for each month, starting in January 2007.
And here's the data. Looks we're currently averaging 58 comments/post which is off from a high of 65 in March and June of this year.
posted by pb (staff) at 9:02 AM on October 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
And here's the data. Looks we're currently averaging 58 comments/post which is off from a high of 65 in March and June of this year.
posted by pb (staff) at 9:02 AM on October 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
I got chewed ooooouttt by my baaaaaaaaby
(Badum dum dum dum)
Last night at makeout pooiiiiint.
(Badoo doo doo doo)
The moon she wa-as skyyyyy hiiighhh
(Deedee dee dee dee)
And them fangs don't disappoint.
(Deedee pow pow pow)
posted by griphus at 9:05 AM on October 25, 2011
(Badum dum dum dum)
Last night at makeout pooiiiiint.
(Badoo doo doo doo)
The moon she wa-as skyyyyy hiiighhh
(Deedee dee dee dee)
And them fangs don't disappoint.
(Deedee pow pow pow)
posted by griphus at 9:05 AM on October 25, 2011
Ah - you may notice a slight downturn in site activity as I have been quietly dispatching, and then eating, the entire userbase, one person at a time. Most of these have turned out to be lurkers, so the effects may not be immediately visible. It might be more apparent once I start getting to some of the more active users.
If it's any consolation, most of you are delicious.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 9:09 AM on October 25, 2011 [20 favorites]
If it's any consolation, most of you are delicious.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 9:09 AM on October 25, 2011 [20 favorites]
Maybe potential commenters are tired of being GRAR-ed at, snarked at, name-called or otherwise discouraged. Just me? Confirmation bias?
posted by Lynsey at 9:18 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Lynsey at 9:18 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Have we reached Peak Filter?
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:21 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:21 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Slightly fewer posts, slightly fewer comments. People read into this trend what they will. We've had a few very prolific commenters/posters who have been dialing it back lately for a number of reasons and the Epic Thread stuff that followed recent natural disasters has really dropped off. I think this always happens around back to school time and picks up again around holidaytime. We'll see what happens this time around.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:23 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:23 AM on October 25, 2011
When was the last FPP concerning Sarah Palin?
posted by philip-random at 9:23 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by philip-random at 9:23 AM on October 25, 2011
I've noticed about the same comments (only slightly less) but a little less enthusiasm in some topics. Sometimes comments and responses are phoned in.
That's okay, though! As long as we recognize that and work to change it. It's like a very long term relationship. Maybe a lot of us are at the 7 year itch.
Remember, everyone. Sometimes love is a choice (even MeFi love).
posted by glaucon at 9:24 AM on October 25, 2011
That's okay, though! As long as we recognize that and work to change it. It's like a very long term relationship. Maybe a lot of us are at the 7 year itch.
Remember, everyone. Sometimes love is a choice (even MeFi love).
posted by glaucon at 9:24 AM on October 25, 2011
Metafilter is dying. Clearly.
Last one out, please turn off the lights.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:33 AM on October 25, 2011
It's like a very long term relationship. Maybe a lot of us are at the 7 year itch.
Huh. November 18th, 2004 (the day Matt opened up signups after keeping them closed for a while), was almost seven years ago.
Maybe we need to start scheduling date nights.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:35 AM on October 25, 2011 [9 favorites]
Huh. November 18th, 2004 (the day Matt opened up signups after keeping them closed for a while), was almost seven years ago.
Maybe we need to start scheduling date nights.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:35 AM on October 25, 2011 [9 favorites]
Oh, so now you want to start "seeing" other websites? This is the thanks I get?
*glare*
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:40 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
*glare*
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:40 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just put a pole in the server room, that'll spice things up.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:43 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:43 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
RE: negativity
Some people don't read the brown; some people are not yet willing to come to terms with their negativity; some people are too proud to say aloud "I was wrong". There are many reasons people don't say sorry.
I apologize on behalf of all of those people.
posted by Meatbomb at 9:54 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Some people don't read the brown; some people are not yet willing to come to terms with their negativity; some people are too proud to say aloud "I was wrong". There are many reasons people don't say sorry.
I apologize on behalf of all of those people.
posted by Meatbomb at 9:54 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Just put a pole in the server room, that'll spice things up.
Krzystof is on vacation, do you take Czechs?
posted by griphus at 9:56 AM on October 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
Krzystof is on vacation, do you take Czechs?
posted by griphus at 9:56 AM on October 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
It's October. Things should pick up in November or December.
posted by Sailormom at 9:57 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by Sailormom at 9:57 AM on October 25, 2011
What's special about October?
posted by desjardins at 10:01 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by desjardins at 10:01 AM on October 25, 2011
I've noticed that, too. But I'm sorry to say that I think I've probably contributed to the problem more than I've helped to solve it.
Yeah, in at least one bad moment recently I responded to the grumpiness with my own grumpiness about the grumpiness, which isn't really helping. Here I offer my confession.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 10:02 AM on October 25, 2011
Yeah, in at least one bad moment recently I responded to the grumpiness with my own grumpiness about the grumpiness, which isn't really helping. Here I offer my confession.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 10:02 AM on October 25, 2011
Rarely is the question asked: has our comments on the FilterNet become more few?
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:02 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:02 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I think we can all agree that Pater Aletheias is the most negative and problematic person on the site. He is the 1%.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:03 AM on October 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 10:03 AM on October 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
What's special about October?
It is a beautiful month ... too nice to sit with the Interwebz even if you are outside.
Plus, midterms.
posted by jgirl at 10:13 AM on October 25, 2011
It is a beautiful month ... too nice to sit with the Interwebz even if you are outside.
Plus, midterms.
posted by jgirl at 10:13 AM on October 25, 2011
I offer my services to lengthen and or cheerifiy any thread.
posted by The Whelk at 10:14 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:14 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
You forgot to add the obligatory "clearly we can do better" to your post, desjardins. This is Metafilter, where we constantly need to live up to faulty recollections and confirmation biases.
posted by crunchland at 10:17 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by crunchland at 10:17 AM on October 25, 2011
We've long ago all agreed on which bands are good, which comedians are funny, which religion is the correct one, whether or not cats should be declawed, which operating system is the best, that we should send robots, not humans, to Mars, and that Cilantro tastes like soap and should not be consumed by anyone, ever.
Could you refresh my memory on whether declawing cats is a good idea?
posted by BigSky at 10:21 AM on October 25, 2011
Could you refresh my memory on whether declawing cats is a good idea?
posted by BigSky at 10:21 AM on October 25, 2011
We've long ago all agreed on which bands are good, which comedians are funny, which religion is the correct one, whether or not cats should be declawed, which operating system is the best, that we should send robots, not humans, to Mars, and that Cilantro tastes like soap and should not be consumed by anyone, ever.
To refresh:
1. The Kinks, Love, The Dominos, no one else
2. Don Rickles, no one else
3. Wicca
4. Yes
5. NeXT
posted by shakespeherian at 10:29 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
To refresh:
1. The Kinks, Love, The Dominos, no one else
2. Don Rickles, no one else
3. Wicca
4. Yes
5. NeXT
posted by shakespeherian at 10:29 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Could you refresh my memory on whether declawing cats is a good idea?
I've been told that it is not a good idea.
posted by glaucon at 10:32 AM on October 25, 2011
I've been told that it is not a good idea.
posted by glaucon at 10:32 AM on October 25, 2011
2. Don Rickles, no one else
Wrong. Vitriol will be arriving shortly via MeMail.
posted by bondcliff at 10:35 AM on October 25, 2011
Wrong. Vitriol will be arriving shortly via MeMail.
posted by bondcliff at 10:35 AM on October 25, 2011
Also Jack Benny.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:39 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by shakespeherian at 10:39 AM on October 25, 2011
Yeah that list makes no sense, looks like you started off trying to give a real answer and gave up two thirds through number one.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:41 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:41 AM on October 25, 2011
I've seen a lot more haters hating lately, and so I've been avoiding commentary where I might otherwise post. Can't speak for others, but perhaps it's a common problem.
posted by sunshinesky at 10:45 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by sunshinesky at 10:45 AM on October 25, 2011
Cilantro tastes like soap and should not be consumed by anyone, ever.
Stay outside the green zone and we won't have to recycle your nutrients with prejudice, you filthy mutant.
posted by Aquaman at 10:46 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Stay outside the green zone and we won't have to recycle your nutrients with prejudice, you filthy mutant.
posted by Aquaman at 10:46 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah that list makes no sense, looks like you started off trying to give a real answer and gave up two thirds through number one.
You know nothing of my work. How you got to teach a course in anything is totally amazing.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:46 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
You know nothing of my work. How you got to teach a course in anything is totally amazing.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:46 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you people don't cut it out I'm going to start flagging and I promise you I will not move on.
posted by bondcliff at 10:59 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by bondcliff at 10:59 AM on October 25, 2011
The Kinks, Love, The Dominos, no one else
Just a band.
posted by Lexica at 11:06 AM on October 25, 2011
Just a band.
posted by Lexica at 11:06 AM on October 25, 2011
I think we can all agree that Pater Aletheias is the most negative and problematic person on the site. He is the 1%.
Fair warning for anyone who favorites that comment: I have a knife, and 20 years of employer-mandated niceness to make up for. I will cut you.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 11:11 AM on October 25, 2011 [11 favorites]
Fair warning for anyone who favorites that comment: I have a knife, and 20 years of employer-mandated niceness to make up for. I will cut you.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 11:11 AM on October 25, 2011 [11 favorites]
It is a beautiful month ... too nice to sit with the Interwebz even if you are outside.
What? It's been dismal and dark here. The winds have been so intense they destroyed a moored sailboat against the rocks. The next three days are all "49, chance of rain." On Saturday it's 50 and partly cloudy! Break out the flipflops!
posted by desjardins at 11:14 AM on October 25, 2011
What? It's been dismal and dark here. The winds have been so intense they destroyed a moored sailboat against the rocks. The next three days are all "49, chance of rain." On Saturday it's 50 and partly cloudy! Break out the flipflops!
posted by desjardins at 11:14 AM on October 25, 2011
If this thread is to encourage us to be prolix and unrelated I want to say that I miss jessamyn's gold star. "staff" just doesn't have the same swag.
posted by jfuller at 11:29 AM on October 25, 2011
posted by jfuller at 11:29 AM on October 25, 2011
staff" just doesn't have the same swag
I like it. It makes me picture a bamboo object with which they can whack errant disciples until they become re-aligned with The Way.
posted by Trurl at 11:37 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
I like it. It makes me picture a bamboo object with which they can whack errant disciples until they become re-aligned with The Way.
posted by Trurl at 11:37 AM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Pater Aletheias: Fair warning for anyone who favorites that comment: I have a knife, and 20 years of employer-mandated niceness to make up for. I will cut you.
Oh yeah! I'm in fucking Iceland! What the hell are you going to do about it, huh?
Hold on, someone's at the door, I'll be right back.
yeeeaaarrrgggh gurglegurgle gack gack gulckl schrick rip heeeeergghh herlpl herlpl mleeee thud fleghck ferp pruh
posted by Kattullus at 11:37 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah! I'm in fucking Iceland! What the hell are you going to do about it, huh?
Hold on, someone's at the door, I'll be right back.
yeeeaaarrrgggh gurglegurgle gack gack gulckl schrick rip heeeeergghh herlpl herlpl mleeee thud fleghck ferp pruh
posted by Kattullus at 11:37 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yow, he stabbed him in the keyboard.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:40 AM on October 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 11:40 AM on October 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
desjardins: "It's been dismal and dark here. The winds have been so intense they destroyed a moored sailboat against the rocks. The next three days are all "49, chance of rain." On Saturday it's 50 and partly cloudy!"
Take comfort in knowing that it's 85F sunny and breezy here, a pleasing, gentle, warm south wind.
posted by dancestoblue at 11:54 AM on October 25, 2011
Take comfort in knowing that it's 85F sunny and breezy here, a pleasing, gentle, warm south wind.
posted by dancestoblue at 11:54 AM on October 25, 2011
Yow, he stabbed him in the keyboard.
One of those old black hat things that everybody talks about but nobody dares do: switching the key bindings on some else's desktop remotely while they're typing, e.g. from Qwerty to Dvorak, which tends to break several of their fingers.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:03 PM on October 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
One of those old black hat things that everybody talks about but nobody dares do: switching the key bindings on some else's desktop remotely while they're typing, e.g. from Qwerty to Dvorak, which tends to break several of their fingers.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:03 PM on October 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
Take comfort in knowing that it's 85F sunny and breezy here, a pleasing, gentle, warm south wind
Then what are you doing inside?
posted by desjardins at 12:08 PM on October 25, 2011
Then what are you doing inside?
posted by desjardins at 12:08 PM on October 25, 2011
Welp, there's my signal to post every day and comment on every article. Look out, The Whelk, I'm gunning for your record!
posted by modernserf at 12:14 PM on October 25, 2011
posted by modernserf at 12:14 PM on October 25, 2011
yeeeaaarrrgggh gurglegurgle gack gack gulckl schrick rip heeeeergghh herlpl herlpl mleeee thud fleghck ferp pruh
Wait, don't tell me....it's from one of the Sagas, but which one...
posted by reynir at 12:17 PM on October 25, 2011 [4 favorites]
Wait, don't tell me....it's from one of the Sagas, but which one...
posted by reynir at 12:17 PM on October 25, 2011 [4 favorites]
The winds have been so intense they destroyed a moored sailboat against the rocks.
It's good to know Milwaukee hasn't changed!
posted by grapesaresour at 12:23 PM on October 25, 2011
It's good to know Milwaukee hasn't changed!
posted by grapesaresour at 12:23 PM on October 25, 2011
The World Famous: "Take comfort in knowing that it's 85F sunny and breezy here, a pleasing, gentle, warm south wind.
Sure, but at what cost?"
Cost is prohibitive for most sane people -- 100+ days over 100F May - September
desjardins: "Then what are you doing inside?"
Busted! No excuses, I'm a slug -- There might be something important on MeFi! -- but headed back out into the day now...
posted by dancestoblue at 12:39 PM on October 25, 2011
Sure, but at what cost?"
Cost is prohibitive for most sane people -- 100+ days over 100F May - September
desjardins: "Then what are you doing inside?"
Busted! No excuses, I'm a slug -- There might be something important on MeFi! -- but headed back out into the day now...
posted by dancestoblue at 12:39 PM on October 25, 2011
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby? Can you tell me where he's gone? I thought I saw him walk up over the hill, with Abraham, Martin and John...
posted by crunchland at 12:41 PM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by crunchland at 12:41 PM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I fully support sending Don Rickles to Mars.
As for the post topic... it's a busy month, where flu season coincides with the end of fall and the shadow of winter hangs over everything. Lots of sneezing and raking and sniffling and getting things done.
posted by Kevin Street at 12:58 PM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
As for the post topic... it's a busy month, where flu season coincides with the end of fall and the shadow of winter hangs over everything. Lots of sneezing and raking and sniffling and getting things done.
posted by Kevin Street at 12:58 PM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've been enjoying my sabbatical from work and actually spending a lot of time outside! It's great out here!
posted by rtha at 1:28 PM on October 25, 2011
posted by rtha at 1:28 PM on October 25, 2011
yeeeaaarrrgggh gurglegurgle gack gack gulckl schrick rip heeeeergghh herlpl herlpl mleeee thud fleghck ferp pruh
I'm choosing to believe that this is what Icelandic sounds like all the time.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:48 PM on October 25, 2011
I'm choosing to believe that this is what Icelandic sounds like all the time.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:48 PM on October 25, 2011
MARS NEEDS RICKLES.
posted by The Whelk at 4:06 PM on October 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:06 PM on October 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'll get through the next few days saying/thinking MARS NEEDS RICKLES whenever I need something to help me get through.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 4:11 PM on October 25, 2011
posted by Lesser Shrew at 4:11 PM on October 25, 2011
What is the distribution of thread comment length? I would guess there's sort of bowling type bimodal scenario going on here (<100), where most threads are under some average number and a few threads throw a lot of spares and strikes and make into the multi-hundreds.
posted by Chekhovian at 5:08 PM on October 25, 2011
posted by Chekhovian at 5:08 PM on October 25, 2011
nebulawindphone: I'm choosing to believe that this is what Icelandic sounds like all the time.
Not enough vowel variety. We have, like, somewhere between ten and twenty of them, depending on how you count.
posted by Kattullus at 5:39 PM on October 25, 2011
Not enough vowel variety. We have, like, somewhere between ten and twenty of them, depending on how you count.
posted by Kattullus at 5:39 PM on October 25, 2011
Maybe you can donate some of them to the Czech Republic.
posted by The Whelk at 5:46 PM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 5:46 PM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
You know nothing of my work. How you got to teach a course in anything is totally amazing.
Harvard makes mistakes too, you know. Kissinger taught there.
posted by mlis at 7:11 PM on October 25, 2011
Harvard makes mistakes too, you know. Kissinger taught there.
posted by mlis at 7:11 PM on October 25, 2011
From my perspective, there's been a big increase in the level of "if you're not a pot smoking polygamist who is adamantly against having children, and you're not at least 30 lbs overweight, and you don't think EXACTLY LIKE ME, then you're an ignorant, narrow-minded, anorexic asshole who shouldn't be allowed to vote!", so I've been spending less time commenting, and more time putting an electric fence around my yard and posting signs warning that all trespassers under the age of 37 will be vaporized on sight.
Also, I think it's seasonal. I seem to remember an uptick in that attitude around this time last year. Personally, I think it's all the college freshmen who are living away from home for the first time, and are drunk on their newfound semi-independence (and probably some sort of alcoholic concoction, as well.)
posted by MexicanYenta at 7:31 PM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also, I think it's seasonal. I seem to remember an uptick in that attitude around this time last year. Personally, I think it's all the college freshmen who are living away from home for the first time, and are drunk on their newfound semi-independence (and probably some sort of alcoholic concoction, as well.)
posted by MexicanYenta at 7:31 PM on October 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
During George Bush's presidency Mefites could happily fume en masse on long political threads as pretty much everything from the Crimean War to someone misplacing their car keys was clearly his fault. In the Obama era there's still a bunch of things people are upset about but blame Obama threads aren't going to fly here so there's a lot of impotent "grar" around which now bleeds into everything else.
posted by joannemullen at 8:54 PM on October 25, 2011
posted by joannemullen at 8:54 PM on October 25, 2011
Do you have any data to back up your contentious observation?
posted by Kattullus at 9:05 PM on October 25, 2011
posted by Kattullus at 9:05 PM on October 25, 2011
Don't we have a "blame Obama" thread about every other week? I haven't noticed any hesitation around here to point fingers his way.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:32 PM on October 25, 2011
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:32 PM on October 25, 2011
After getting up in the dark AGAIN this morning, I can definitely see why people are crankier. I never had seasonal affective anything before, but now I want to stab someone in the face with a fork.
posted by desjardins at 6:31 AM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by desjardins at 6:31 AM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Okay, all we need now is a pissed-off person with a spoon and this thread is complete.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 6:39 AM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Pater Aletheias at 6:39 AM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Did you ever try to prise away the mask?
Go ahead, take a spoon and try.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:00 AM on October 26, 2011
Go ahead, take a spoon and try.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:00 AM on October 26, 2011
I've noticed it, too, but I can only account for my own drop in activity.
I started posting here to pass the time, like I had on Plastic way back when. And it was fun, which is as it should be. Sure, there were some annoying quirks, but where is that not true in life? I didn't even know MetaTalk or AskMeFi existed for the longest time, and I was perfectly happy not knowing it.
And then a couple of things happened in the past few months. First of all, I've sworn off commenting on the internet several times, because if I get too deep into it, I don't like the person that I become. And I think I avoided that here somewhat successfully until I caught myself using the same tone in a few comments that I disliked so much from others.
There was the David Graeber thread on his most recent book "Debt: The First 5,000 Years" here a while back. I realize that people have strong opinions. I have strong opinions. And this isn't the first time I've seen Metafilter posters dismiss someone without actually reading the article or considering the argument based on personal issues. In fact, I think my first posts here were pointing this sort of thing out. But when Graeber himself showed up to respond, the response by MeFites was not impressive. Demands for him to "show his work", self-righteous diatribes about how so-and-so is distinguished in their field and how dare Graeber take offense and oh, look how iconoclastic we are here, yadda, yadda, yadda... It was sad. Very sad. When Graeber later posted that he wasn't coming back, there was a similar reaction from some posters.
It was almost if people here were proud of driving someone away. Proud of having someone regard them as boorish and arrogant. And then I saw exactly what prompted me to give up on Plastic, the high-school cliquishness - wherever you go, there you are, I suppose.
I posted a little bit after that - one of my posts was deleted, and justifiably so. The discussion in MetaTalk, again, was disappointing. Lots of talk about not wanting GRAR, but not much notice on its almost-ritualistic appearance in that thread itself. The very last comment, though, summed it up for me. I've been thinking about it, and I can't put it any better than that. There's too much alpha-geek whose-is-bigger posturing where it simply isn't necessary, and I just can't hack it anymore. I don't want to. I don't see the point.
My mom passed away a few months ago, and some family issues relating to that made me re-evaluate what is truly meaningful. She'd had advanced dementia for years, and her last coherent words were largely angry ones, fighting battles that no one remembered but her. If that's me in 50 years, I'd much rather ramble on about good things rather than ancient grudges, especially internet ones. Life goes by fast.
I'll still read FPPs - there's incredibly interesting posts that I'd never find otherwise (although I did read the octopus story in Orion before I saw it here. Go me). But I don't think I'll be commenting that much anymore, if at all. There's incredibly smart and warm-hearted people here, and I'll leave it to them.
posted by jhandey at 8:29 AM on October 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
I started posting here to pass the time, like I had on Plastic way back when. And it was fun, which is as it should be. Sure, there were some annoying quirks, but where is that not true in life? I didn't even know MetaTalk or AskMeFi existed for the longest time, and I was perfectly happy not knowing it.
And then a couple of things happened in the past few months. First of all, I've sworn off commenting on the internet several times, because if I get too deep into it, I don't like the person that I become. And I think I avoided that here somewhat successfully until I caught myself using the same tone in a few comments that I disliked so much from others.
There was the David Graeber thread on his most recent book "Debt: The First 5,000 Years" here a while back. I realize that people have strong opinions. I have strong opinions. And this isn't the first time I've seen Metafilter posters dismiss someone without actually reading the article or considering the argument based on personal issues. In fact, I think my first posts here were pointing this sort of thing out. But when Graeber himself showed up to respond, the response by MeFites was not impressive. Demands for him to "show his work", self-righteous diatribes about how so-and-so is distinguished in their field and how dare Graeber take offense and oh, look how iconoclastic we are here, yadda, yadda, yadda... It was sad. Very sad. When Graeber later posted that he wasn't coming back, there was a similar reaction from some posters.
It was almost if people here were proud of driving someone away. Proud of having someone regard them as boorish and arrogant. And then I saw exactly what prompted me to give up on Plastic, the high-school cliquishness - wherever you go, there you are, I suppose.
I posted a little bit after that - one of my posts was deleted, and justifiably so. The discussion in MetaTalk, again, was disappointing. Lots of talk about not wanting GRAR, but not much notice on its almost-ritualistic appearance in that thread itself. The very last comment, though, summed it up for me. I've been thinking about it, and I can't put it any better than that. There's too much alpha-geek whose-is-bigger posturing where it simply isn't necessary, and I just can't hack it anymore. I don't want to. I don't see the point.
My mom passed away a few months ago, and some family issues relating to that made me re-evaluate what is truly meaningful. She'd had advanced dementia for years, and her last coherent words were largely angry ones, fighting battles that no one remembered but her. If that's me in 50 years, I'd much rather ramble on about good things rather than ancient grudges, especially internet ones. Life goes by fast.
I'll still read FPPs - there's incredibly interesting posts that I'd never find otherwise (although I did read the octopus story in Orion before I saw it here. Go me). But I don't think I'll be commenting that much anymore, if at all. There's incredibly smart and warm-hearted people here, and I'll leave it to them.
posted by jhandey at 8:29 AM on October 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
People may be slowing down on the rest of the site but metatalk is OUT OF CONTROL.
Probably a sign of the apocalypse.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 9:07 AM on October 26, 2011
Probably a sign of the apocalypse.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 9:07 AM on October 26, 2011
What's special about October?
posted by pardonyou? at 9:56 AM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
- It's the only month that starts with "O"
- No other month starts on the same day of the week as October in leap years
- It's the only month to have a U2 album named after it
posted by pardonyou? at 9:56 AM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you can plausibly name a festival with something ending in "-ock," then your festival can benefit from being held in ROCKtober, BOCKtober, SMOCKtober, FLOCKtober, GROKtober, SHOCKtober, SPOCKtober, CLOCKtober, etc. The hackneyed and trite possibilites are almost endless!
Also, my birthday, though I don't greet it with any great enthusiasm any more.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:09 AM on October 26, 2011
Also, my birthday, though I don't greet it with any great enthusiasm any more.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:09 AM on October 26, 2011
Cocktober
And Kingdoms rise
And Kingdoms fall
But you go on...
posted by griphus at 10:51 AM on October 26, 2011
And Kingdoms rise
And Kingdoms fall
But you go on...
posted by griphus at 10:51 AM on October 26, 2011
I only celebrate Scotchtoberfest.
Devils Rancher, I want to find some XTC/October pun to give you more birthday enthusiasm, but all I can come up with is Chalk(hills)tober. I'm sorry. Worst birthday present ever.
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:00 AM on October 26, 2011
Devils Rancher, I want to find some XTC/October pun to give you more birthday enthusiasm, but all I can come up with is Chalk(hills)tober. I'm sorry. Worst birthday present ever.
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:00 AM on October 26, 2011
There's too much alpha-geek whose-is-bigger posturing where it simply isn't necessary, and I just can't hack it anymore. I don't want to. I don't see the point.
But I don't think I'll be commenting that much anymore, if at all.
There's incredibly smart and warm-hearted people here, and I'll leave it to them.
I felt that way at one point, too, but I've since realized that wading into those discussions and not feeding into the grar is an incredible exercise in self restraint and self discipline that's served me well in real world relationships.
(It may, in fact, be the only reason my mother is still alive, because if she had pulled last year's Thanksgiving stunt a few years earlier, I would have surely killed her. Instead I just flagged her and moved on.)
posted by MexicanYenta at 11:25 AM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
But I don't think I'll be commenting that much anymore, if at all.
There's incredibly smart and warm-hearted people here, and I'll leave it to them.
I felt that way at one point, too, but I've since realized that wading into those discussions and not feeding into the grar is an incredible exercise in self restraint and self discipline that's served me well in real world relationships.
(It may, in fact, be the only reason my mother is still alive, because if she had pulled last year's Thanksgiving stunt a few years earlier, I would have surely killed her. Instead I just flagged her and moved on.)
posted by MexicanYenta at 11:25 AM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just to round the list:
Pillow-stuffing enthusiasts: Kapoktober
Pistol enthusiasts: Glocktober
Pawnshop customers: Hocktober
Sailors: Docktober
Chinese Stir-fry enthusiasts: Woktober
Clay pot cookery enthusaists: Crocktober
Security experts: Locktober
Massive justice department search-warrant execution: No-Knocktober
Anachronistic wardrobe enthusiasts: Frocktober
Athletic supporters: Jocktober
Star Trek arcana enthusiasts: Kuroktober
Footwear vendors: Socktober
all I can come up with is Chalk(hills)tober.
I've recently re-connected with a large number of Chalkhillians, which was my original internet-clan. It's been really nice.
posted by Devils Rancher at 12:43 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Pillow-stuffing enthusiasts: Kapoktober
Pistol enthusiasts: Glocktober
Pawnshop customers: Hocktober
Sailors: Docktober
Chinese Stir-fry enthusiasts: Woktober
Clay pot cookery enthusaists: Crocktober
Security experts: Locktober
Massive justice department search-warrant execution: No-Knocktober
Anachronistic wardrobe enthusiasts: Frocktober
Athletic supporters: Jocktober
Star Trek arcana enthusiasts: Kuroktober
Footwear vendors: Socktober
all I can come up with is Chalk(hills)tober.
I've recently re-connected with a large number of Chalkhillians, which was my original internet-clan. It's been really nice.
posted by Devils Rancher at 12:43 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
That's awesome. I tried tracking down a bunch of people from the TMBG.org mailing list a while back, and had only one or two successes out of the dozens I sought.
posted by SpiffyRob at 6:35 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by SpiffyRob at 6:35 PM on October 26, 2011
It's the only month that starts with "O"
What about Oebruary?
posted by shakespeherian at 8:46 AM on October 27, 2011
What about Oebruary?
posted by shakespeherian at 8:46 AM on October 27, 2011
A business contact/friend of mine, got a hella deal on a 41 foot sportfisher in late September. It gulps fuel like a dehydrated sombitch, but it anchors over fishing spots where it's the only boat for days...
posted by paulsc at 12:58 AM on October 29, 2011
posted by paulsc at 12:58 AM on October 29, 2011
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Also, I read 'prolific' as semantically referring to making babies...baby MeFites, ruuuuuunnnnn...
posted by iamkimiam at 8:09 AM on October 25, 2011 [1 favorite]