SLYT My Wrists March 16, 2013 12:36 PM Subscribe

If we're going to have a higher bar for Palestine threads, we need a higher bar for viral adverts and cats being funny. Just like we need something to go on beyond GRARbait, we need something a bit deeper than Cute Overload-fodder or verbatim, analysis/critique-free reposts of ads from corporate channels on Youtube.

This is a problem in the same way that all the news sites running the same fluff stories is a problem: If we're going to have the same content as everywhere else, why should Metafilter even exist?

I appreciate the site for when we can have interesting conversations about things most of us didn't know about yet- but we all already know about cute cats and funny adverts. There are other websites where you can watch nothing but that, all day. We need to have a standard that's higher than the rest of the Net.

Yes, this might be a break from previous precedents, but as time goes on and mainstream Internet culture gets increasingly homogenous, we need more to distinguish ourselves beyond a $5 signup and a blue background. Many curated outlets become more selective over time as they become more popular: Newspapers, record labels, collaborative blogs even. We can do better.

posted by dunkadunc to Etiquette/Policy at 12:36 PM (225 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite

See also: Buzzfeed, Cracked, Grantland, SL-NYT even.

Long-form well-researched posts are where this site really shines.
posted by dunkadunc at 12:37 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Just to establish this at the outset, we're unlikely to take an official position against fluff pieces as long as the community generally enjoys them.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:38 PM on March 16, 2013 [22 favorites]

I can't even imagine what an "official position against fluff pieces" would look like. ("I know fluff when I see it"?) And the fights such a policy would engender would be incredibly wearying, I'm sure.

Anyhow, I like fluff. I like serious. I'm glad we have both here.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 12:41 PM on March 16, 2013 [14 favorites]

It helps that the cat videos are posted ironically, right?

Right?
posted by Monsieur Caution at 12:42 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

FIAMO
posted by carsonb at 12:42 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

Mmmm ... fluffernutters!
posted by ericb at 12:43 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

You need a higher bar for your [more inside]. Say, after the first paragraph, not the third.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 12:43 PM on March 16, 2013 [5 favorites]

I am with dunkadunc, lolcats, viral marketing and one-hit you tube stuff generally just gets skipped.
posted by marienbad at 12:45 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Not all cat videos are good.
MetaFilter has the best cute cat videos. Other sites have schlock.
I don't bother wading through the junk at cutekitty.com or whatever, but people post things that they enjoy here, and I enjoy them too.
If this place were nothing but long form multi link posts that take me hours and hours to explore completely I would drift away pretty quickly.
posted by SLC Mom at 12:47 PM on March 16, 2013 [12 favorites]

I tend to agree... I'd much rather have an I/P discussion than a cat discussion.. I mean, cats are ok... but.....why????
posted by pearlybob at 12:49 PM on March 16, 2013

We need to have a standard that's higher than the rest of the Net.

Well, one would hope that standard is being tolerant about (or at least ignoring) what other people clearly find entertaining and fun and a positive aspect and to a website they participate in, but I guess getting all het up about it is just as good.
posted by griphus at 12:49 PM on March 16, 2013 [24 favorites]

If the dog and cat people arguing caused as many mod headaches as IP does, there would be a higher bar. I don't think it's about the quality of the content, more the repercussions of the discussion.
posted by Drinky Die at 12:55 PM on March 16, 2013 [8 favorites]

Higher standards for the sake of higher standards has never been the issue for the I/P threads, that I'm aware of. It is entirely a pragmatic issue. I/P threads cause a whole lot of problems on a discussion and moderation level. Can you point to a similar problem with fluff pieces? If so, you might have a point of comparison for new policy, otherwise I don't see the need to simply say we can create more competitive content if we try harder.
posted by SpacemanStix at 12:56 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

OMG KITTIES!
posted by Artw at 12:57 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

I think there's a huge difference between the occasional (or even frequent) SLYT post and the 700-1000-comment fiestas de grar that sit there like a volcanic mass of septic indignation.
posted by Celsius1414 at 12:57 PM on March 16, 2013 [8 favorites]

I/P threads cause no end of migraines and sleeplessness for our fearless mods, as well as wicked bad feelings all over the place that really do affect other discussions. Kitty vids, not so much.

Might I submit that if you don't want to see kitty vids, you avail yourself of your scroll wheel? Unless it's broken, of course, in which case you can use the slightly more clunky but equally functional scroll bar to the right of the page.
posted by MissySedai at 1:01 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

To be fair, Fiesta de Grar is the only time you can get really good pan de furioso.
posted by griphus at 1:04 PM on March 16, 2013 [48 favorites]

WHY U HATE KUTE?
KUTE LUVZ U!
posted by xingcat at 1:06 PM on March 16, 2013 [6 favorites]

To be honest, I skew more towards the kitten subcategory, and corgis, of course.
posted by SLC Mom at 1:08 PM on March 16, 2013

Might I submit that if you don't want to see kitty vids, you avail yourself of your scroll wheel? Unless it's broken, of course, in which case you can use the slightly more clunky but equally functional scroll bar to the right of the page.

I'm very sympathetic to this concept, but I don't understand why we don't apply it more widely.

For example, that same scroll wheel can move you past fighty Israel/Palestine threads, posts about Mackintoshes, and various potentially hurtful comments.

How is it that we feel people can muster up the agency to do this when it comes to kitty vids, but are utterly powerless when it comes to other things that they don't like or don't approve of?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:08 PM on March 16, 2013 [9 favorites]

Your tacky suicide joke makes me sort of doubt your aesthetic and curatorial judgment.

I suggest you read my FPP history. I have enough introspection to not be proud of everything I have posted, but hope I've done better than some.
posted by dunkadunc at 1:10 PM on March 16, 2013

"SLYT My Wrists"

Can we please instead not make jokes like this? That is pretty awful.
posted by Blasdelb at 1:10 PM on March 16, 2013 [22 favorites]

And kinda clever.
posted by Justinian at 1:14 PM on March 16, 2013 [9 favorites]

SLYT My Wrists

The number one piece of advice I give to anyone who asks me about how to make a MeTa post is to really try to avoid jokey plays on words or sarcasm or fake outrage if they want people to pay attention to the substance of the thing they care about.

I'm pretty shruggo on cute cat/skunk/pig posts myself and don't disagree with the general premise that they don't add that much to my personal MeFi experience, but they do not, almost ever, detract from it either. The same can not be said for I/P posts which is why the higher bar is there.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:15 PM on March 16, 2013 [18 favorites]

You know, I haven't seen a really good cat video in a while...

Just sayin'...
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:15 PM on March 16, 2013

For example, that same scroll wheel can move you past fighty Israel/Palestine threads, posts about Mackintoshes, and various potentially hurtful comments.

You don't see a difference between hurtful comments, mod-time sucking IP threads and kitty videos? (I've omitted Macs in my list, because I think they're also harmless and scrollable.)

I think some of the cute animal stuff that gets posted to MeFi is kinda lame, but, eh, it's not exactly overwhelming the site that I can see.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:16 PM on March 16, 2013

Sometimes you are having a shitty day (or maybe a shitty year!) and stupid cat videos and news anchors who snort over them are TOTALLY OKAY and probably therapeutic.

and now, I'm going to switch over to a new tab and check out what's new with the aww sections of Buzzfeed and Reddit.
posted by vespabelle at 1:18 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

FMIAOW
posted by Omnomnom at 1:30 PM on March 16, 2013

we need something a bit deeper than Cute Overload-fodder or verbatim, analysis/critique-free reposts of ads from corporate channels on Youtube

From the guidelines:

A good post to MetaFilter is something that meets the following criteria: most people haven't seen it before, there is something interesting about the content on the page, and it might warrant discussion from others.

I see nothing there that says that it has to be about the deeper meaning of anything or must be a critique of something you personally disagree with. It's "Best of The Web," not "The Web is Serious Business." Sometimes people just want to lolbutts.

I miss elizardbits.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:33 PM on March 16, 2013 [12 favorites]

Instead of trying to ban something completely harmless and something that a good portion of the members enjoy, can we instead ban "clever" meta titles making light/poking fun at serious issues? Like, I don't know, mental health.
posted by FirstMateKate at 1:34 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

I have a kitty. I like kitties. I like kitty SLYT's. I wouldn't mind seeing the half dozen must-see kitty SLYT's posted here over the course of each year. And I wouldn't mind seeing the bar raised a bit to see fewer, but cuter kitties.
posted by klarck at 1:38 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

The low intellectual level of public discourse depresses me enough that I reserve the right to make whatever jokes I like.

Yes, fluff posts are popular. The problem in journalism today is that editors abdicate their duty in favor of giving readers intellectually easy material that they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear.

My point remains: If you can find it everywhere else on the Internet, why post it to Metafilter?
posted by dunkadunc at 1:41 PM on March 16, 2013

I think that the rule should be that cat videos are only acceptable if the cat has been declawed.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:45 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

The low intellectual level of public discourse depresses me enough that I reserve the right to make whatever jokes I like.

You're not wrong, Walter...

The problem in journalism today is that editors abdicate their duty in favor of giving readers intellectually easy material that they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear.

What does that have to do with Metafilter?

If you can find it everywhere else on the Internet, why post it to Metafilter?

Because maybe here we can talk about it without rape jokes and other rampant sexism, random pics of actual buttholes, spam, or any of a number of other shitty things that happen everywhere else on the Internet?
posted by zombieflanders at 1:47 PM on March 16, 2013 [37 favorites]

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, right? I'm fine with a mix of highbrow and lowbrow and all kinds of in-between brow.

The bar is already pretty high across the board. The bar for I/P threads is even higher for very understandable reasons. There might be a logical argument for extending that higher bar to other topics that are contentious and tend to end in flameouts (obesity, circumcision, the anti-vaxxers, religion in general, etc.) but raising that bar to include those moments of levity that keep us balanced seems like a bad idea.

I like broccoli and brown rice, but dammit, I like the occasional cookie too.
posted by ambrosia at 1:50 PM on March 16, 2013 [5 favorites]

*trashes idea for today's post*

*sniffle*
posted by zarq at 1:50 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

If you can find it everywhere else on the Internet, why post it to Metafilter?

1. Define "everywhere else".

2. It's a global website, where anyone with $5 and 2 minutes can make a post. That's almost the definition of lowest common denominator. Sometimes things are getting get to fluffy. Just roll with it or channel your rage into the type of post you want to see.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:51 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

The low intellectual level of public discourse depresses me enough that I reserve the right to make whatever jokes I like.

Translates to: this isnt going my way so I get to say whatever I want regardless of anyone's feelings.

Yeeaaah. Youre doing a great job of trying to prove that you're arguing for the betterment of metafilter.
posted by FirstMateKate at 1:52 PM on March 16, 2013 [10 favorites]

> My point remains: If you can find it everywhere else on the Internet, why post it to Metafilter?

That would extend to Israel/Palestine posts too, no? By your logic, this site should be excluded from discussing it because discussions about it are available so many other places online.
posted by ardgedee at 1:52 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

My stepmother died in Friday. My husband is out of town leaving me alone to figure out funeral plans with a toddler who has a cold and is also working on his two year molars - oh, and his misses his daddy and just in general won't stop with the tantrums.

I'm alone until Tuesday with grief and tantrums. I used to have cats, but they had to move in with a friend when we moved to a smaller apartment. I misses them even on good days, and even more now. If you were planning on posting any cute cats, you can send them directly to me.

Fuck. I hadn't cried about my stepmother's death but now thinking if how much I wish I had my stupid fat cat, here come the tears.

This is why people share fluff. Because a stupid cat video can make a huge difference on a shitty day.
posted by sonika at 1:58 PM on March 16, 2013 [60 favorites]

The problem in journalism today is that editors abdicate their duty in favor of giving readers intellectually easy material that they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear.

This isn't a journalism site so I don't understand what point you're trying to make here.
posted by rtha at 1:58 PM on March 16, 2013 [16 favorites]

I actually thought "SLYT my wrists" was funny.
posted by jonmc at 2:00 PM on March 16, 2013 [6 favorites]

Technically there wasn't much fluff in that piece; it was more matted and soggy.

If you can find it everywhere else on the Internet, why post it to Metafilter?

I don't go everywhere else on the internet. I primarily go to MetaFilter, which filters things from the internet (In a meta sort of way, or so they tell me). Those things vary in quality and subject matter. Sometimes I'm in the mood for something light and silly, sometimes I prefer something with more depth. There's room for both, and if I'm not in the mood for what have you, well, that's tough shit for me. There are options available if I have an issue, be it flagging, participating in a discussion, or taking a break. Pulling a 'We can do better' snobby-bossy sort of thing rubs me the wrong way, though.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 2:01 PM on March 16, 2013 [14 favorites]

I HATE long-form, well-researched posts.

So, you're wrong.
posted by Curious Artificer at 2:02 PM on March 16, 2013 [5 favorites]

Greg Nog took the fur ball out of my mouth.
posted by Namlit at 2:04 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

The low intellectual level of public discourse depresses me enough that I reserve the right to make whatever jokes I like.

At least make good jokes, Jesus.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:10 PM on March 16, 2013 [7 favorites]

Hey, you're not the boss of Jesus.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:12 PM on March 16, 2013 [17 favorites]

Wait. You don't have to be thoughtful about your jokey title because you like it, but you're asking people to be thoughtful about the funny cat videos that they liked enough to post?
posted by nuala at 2:13 PM on March 16, 2013 [35 favorites]

The whole "MeFi deletes SERIOUS ISSUES in favour of OMG CUTE KITTY VIDZ" trope needs to take a flying leap.
posted by tantrumthecat at 2:14 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

Wait. You don't have to be thoughtful about your jokey title because you like it, but you're asking people to be thoughtful about the funny cat videos that they liked enough to post?

It's a good argument, isn't it?
posted by DoubleLune at 2:14 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Hey, you're not the boss of Jesus.

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.

So yeah, I am.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:15 PM on March 16, 2013 [6 favorites]

The low intellectual level of public discourse depresses me enough that I reserve the right to make whatever jokes I like.

Boo. Also, you are wrong. Thanks, though.
posted by mintcake! at 2:19 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Jesus serves.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:20 PM on March 16, 2013

The same can not be said for I/P posts which is why the higher bar is there.

Shouldn't the question generally be "what do the users want?" rather than "what is easier on the mods?" The I/P posts don't bother me one bit, primarily because I don't read them if they get too shitty. Which anyone can do.

I could be grossly underestimating how much work they are for you, though. Since I don't have to wade through them if I don't want to do so.
posted by Justinian at 2:25 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

Might it be possible to make individual users behave rather than ban the threads in which they tend to misbehave? Or is that way too much work?
posted by Justinian at 2:26 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

My favorite thing about the Fiesta de Grar is the ventilar las quejas.
posted by octobersurprise at 2:28 PM on March 16, 2013 [8 favorites]

If you really want to talk about I/P specifically, this very recent MeTa is a better place to start.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 2:29 PM on March 16, 2013

dunkadunc, I pretty much disagree with every single word you wrote. Your definition of need and mine are obviously not the same.

I am with dunkadunc, lolcats, viral marketing and one-hit you tube stuff generally just gets skipped.

And feel free to keep doing so. No one makes anyone read anything. Don't like it? Don't read it. Think it's a bad post? FIAMO. As far as the content being elsewhere? Not everyone hangs out at the places you do.

This is a crap meta.
posted by cjorgensen at 2:33 PM on March 16, 2013 [7 favorites]

nitpick: my Homely Planet guide says that it's Fiesta DEL Grar.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:33 PM on March 16, 2013

I think what is being missed here is that it is a kitty that is being put in water in a little float vest and has a funny expression on it's face.
posted by Artw at 2:33 PM on March 16, 2013 [10 favorites]

What's being missed here is a premature link to an unfinished KatPreserver Kickstarter.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:36 PM on March 16, 2013

Sometimes days or weeks go by and I see nothing that interests me on Metafilter, so I ignore those things that don't interest me. Seems to work pretty well. Please note, however, when there's a cute dog video, I'll watch it a bunch of times..... cats, ehhhhh...not so much, but they can stay for those that like them.
posted by HuronBob at 2:37 PM on March 16, 2013

What's being missed here is a premature link to an unfinished KatPreserver Kickstarter.

Kitstarter links have been banned, so I'm going to grar at all posts about, I dunno, whatever I don't give a shit about, sports or something.
posted by Artw at 2:39 PM on March 16, 2013

The low intellectual level of public discourse depresses me enough that I reserve the right to make whatever jokes I like.

This isn't the only place I see this happen, but simply posting contentious or outrageous political posts is not in and of itself some sort of intellectually superior or inherently virtuous act. It does not automatically heighten discourse, nor does something humorous or frivolous necessarily lower it.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:39 PM on March 16, 2013 [23 favorites]

Justinian: Shouldn't the question generally be "what do the users want?" rather than "what is easier on the mods?" The I/P posts don't bother me one bit, primarily because I don't read them if they get too shitty. Which anyone can do.

What the users want, and I'm gonna go out on a limb here, is a community site they can visit that doesn't feel actively hostile with massive amounts of personal grudges and infighting among the user base. I/P threads do almost nothing except foster ill will between many MeFites, and that ill will carries over into their interactions in posts about pretty much everything else.

I/P is a topic that consistently pushes users into serious anger toward one another that colors all of their further interaction in all other threads. A massively touchy subject that fuels user rage, plus is incredibly, disproportionately more work for the mods than any other topic ever? Yeah, I'm fine with a high bar.

There is a political/personal/emotional investment in I/P that you cannot possibly compare to "cute kitty video" posts. Several users *are compelled to engage* on I/P, whenever it comes up, because it is deep in their bones for various reasons. Cat videos? Fucking scroll on.
posted by tzikeh at 2:41 PM on March 16, 2013 [6 favorites]

The difference between cute aminat and contentious political FPPs is the difference between delivering a teddy bear and a vial of nitroglycerin.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:43 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.

He came to serve man? He turned the seder into his blood and his body?

My God. The New Testament. It's a cookbook! IT'S A COOKBOOK!
posted by maryr at 2:45 PM on March 16, 2013 [17 favorites]

He came to serve.
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 3:00 PM on March 16, 2013

Maybe every lolcat or lolcat-like post needs to have a first comment that includes this link. You know, just to Godwin the whole thing. Also because cats ARE like Hitler, while dogs are like Stalin. (Or I could argue for cats being like Mao... you know, Me-ao...)

Bunny rabbits are far more worthy of FFP status, yet they have been spun-off to another semi-related site. Maybe we would be better served (by Jesus and others) if someone started MeowtaFffft.com (no, I'm not volunteering).
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:05 PM on March 16, 2013

It's my sense that single-link, "light" posts get skipped over by those who aren't interested (though perhaps that's my bias as I almost always skip them over). Palestine posts tend to generate a lot of work for the mods, as has been remarked above.

As for service, I don't know from Jesus, but Spock's people seem to have the right idea.
posted by audi alteram partem at 3:08 PM on March 16, 2013

cats ARE like Hitler, while dogs are like Stalin

No, no, cats are more like Lenin.
posted by zombieflanders at 3:12 PM on March 16, 2013

Yet all they talk about is Mao, Mao, Mao...
posted by maryr at 3:13 PM on March 16, 2013 [8 favorites]

...guess who didn't read oneswellfoop's comment to see that joke had already been made? Oh, it's me.
posted by maryr at 3:14 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

I agree with the basic premise that there need not be a higher bar for cat videos because even when they add nothing to MeFi, they take nothing away.

That said, I will take this opportunity to say for the record, for the love of Pete, enough with the goddamned cat videos already.

I don't think it's necessary to start deleting those posts, but I think the people who insist on making them ought to be aware how painfully thin and unsatisfactory many of us find said posts.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:15 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'll put another vote on the side that cute cat videos (or other animals) add a lot to My MetaFilter Experience.
posted by jeather at 3:22 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

I don't think it's necessary to start deleting those posts, but I think the people who insist on making them ought to be aware how painfully thin and unsatisfactory many of us find said posts.

I do know, and I don't care. Scroll past.
posted by josher71 at 3:25 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

occasional cat vids are fine and this is a troll metatalk post.
posted by lampshade at 3:25 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

If you really want to talk about I/P specifically, this very recent MeTa is a better place to start.

Hey, if you're very lucky, you'll get called a racist or an antisemite!
posted by zarq at 3:26 PM on March 16, 2013

Probably just posted by someone new who doesn't quite get the feel of the place yet.

hmmm... name's familiar, over 400 posts... favorited by others 82816 times...

Yeah, we should get more selective over this guy's posts.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 3:27 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

DirtyOldTown: I don't think it's necessary to start deleting those posts, but I think the people who insist on making them ought to be aware how painfully thin and unsatisfactory many of us find said posts.

And many (MANY!) of us love them. You won't find them unsatisfactory if you don't engage with them. Scroll. Past. There's plenty else to read.
posted by tzikeh at 3:29 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

Long-form well-researched posts are where this site really shines.

Can't stand 'em. I don't have time to slog through several dozen examples of the same thing. MetaFilter should be a filter. Show me the best, and then move along. I don't need to see your dissertation.
posted by Rock Steady at 3:35 PM on March 16, 2013 [8 favorites]

This meta is total bullshit.

dunkadunc, if we all admit that you are probably better than us, will you promise to keep it to yourself?
posted by lrobertjones at 3:36 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

Or you could just skip the posts that don't interest you. You're not obligated to click on all the links. It's a big internet; you don't need to see it all.

If you don't want discuss something then just skip that post. (See also, SportsFilter.)
posted by 26.2 at 3:38 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

I should clarify: when I said I hoped people realized how thin and unsatisfactory cat posts are, what I was trying to imply was a hope that this would motivate people to strive for a higher bar of their own accord. I'm certainly capable of scrolling past weak posts. I don't think there's any harm in nudging people to do better, though.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:39 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

I should clarify: when I said I hoped people realized how thin and unsatisfactory cat posts are, what I was trying to imply was a hope that this would motivate people to strive for a higher bar of their own accord....I don't think there's any harm in nudging people to do better, though.

Oh, you were encouraging MOAR KITTEHS?

I withdraw my objection. :D
posted by tzikeh at 3:42 PM on March 16, 2013

GhostintheMachine: "Yeah, we should get more selective over this guy's posts."

Lest anyone else spend fruitless minutes clicking random usernames in this thread trying to figure out who GhostintheMachine is talking about, it's The Whelk, who made this cat FPP about an hour before this MetaTalk went up.

(It's the MetaTalk equivalent of a subtweet!)
posted by Phire at 3:44 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

The amount of festering condescension that occurs here is far more intolerable than pictures of cats and YouTube videos and is the reason why I tend to avoid this place.

Nobody's stopping you from creating your own website where you can forbid YouTube videos, cats, and whatever the hell else you want.
posted by Redfield at 3:46 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

New information pertinent to this thread.
posted by Artw at 3:48 PM on March 16, 2013 [25 favorites]

drjimmy11:I don't have a strong objection to those kind of posts (though I flag some of them if they're super lazy, and especially if it's just free advertising like the trailer for Superbro part 8 or whatever)

That said, the "you can just skip it" argument is pretty disingenuous. The whole point of the site is that there are standards for what's posted, and if the ratio of mediocre to good stuff gets too high, the site becomes less useful and enjoyable for everyone. I'm not saying this is happening now, but the principle should be fairly obvious.

Yes. This. A thousand times this.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:49 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

*off to make a SLYT cute dunkadunc video FPP*
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 3:49 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

"Flag it and move on" is a thing for a reason.
posted by Artw at 3:49 PM on March 16, 2013

I'm very sympathetic to this concept, but I don't understand why we don't apply it more widely.

For example, that same scroll wheel can move you past fighty Israel/Palestine threads, posts about Mackintoshes, and various potentially hurtful comments.

How is it that we feel people can muster up the agency to do this when it comes to kitty vids, but are utterly powerless when it comes to other things that they don't like or don't approve of?

AFAIC, that should be the user default. No one gave me the MeFi User Remote Control, though, so I'm afraid I can't enforce it. For my part, I skip I/P threads, most sports threads, and posts that just don't interest me. I only have so much time in a day to wander around MeFi, so I use my time in such a way that enriches rather than angers me. (For the most part.)

Universal behavior SHOULD be to make abundant use of scrolling functionalities. It isn't, though, so I'm all in favor of the mods doing what is needful so we don't have a site full of GRAR and they don't have time to eat, sleep, or pee. If that means they nip potentially fighty threads before they blossom, I'm A-O-Good with that.
posted by MissySedai at 3:53 PM on March 16, 2013

"Flag it and move on" is a thing for a reason.

I always interpreted FIAMO as an appeal not to derail the threads themselves with metacommentary, not that we shouldn't discuss deletion/non-deletion standards in Metatalk. I don't have any problem with this post existing, even if I totally disagree with the poster in this particular case.
posted by dsfan at 3:57 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

Now I'm thinking about the painfully thin and unsatisfactory cats and feeling sad for them.

But seriously, "we need more to distinguish ourselves beyond a $5 signup and a blue background". You've gotten it wrong, as to what it is that distinguishes us. It's the moderation. I don't know how it came to be, what combination of dumb luck and foresight, but they seem to have gotten the moderation just right.

Have you ever wondered what the heck MeFi and AskMeFi have in common, that they're part of the same website? It's the moderation. It's like WalMart has supply chain integration and Amazon has service-oriented architecture; once you've figured out your special process you can apply it to many different things.

I do get a chuckle out of people saying what high and noble purpose MeFi was created for. Have they not seen the ur-post?
posted by benito.strauss at 4:02 PM on March 16, 2013 [11 favorites]

I don't have a strong objection to those kind of posts (though I flag some of them if they're super lazy, and especially if it's just free advertising like the trailer for Superbro part 8 or whatever)

That said, the "you can just skip it" argument is pretty disingenuous. The whole point of the site is that there are standards for what's posted, and if the ratio of mediocre to good stuff gets too high, the site becomes less useful and enjoyable for everyone. I'm not saying this is happening now, but the principle should be fairly obvious.

The SLYT, analysis/critique-free post for the corporate-advertisement-as-trailer to The Avengers had almost 500 comments, which seems to me like a lot of people wanted to have an interesting conversation. By dunkadunc's and your standards, it was unworthy of being posted here because of the high potential of mediocre content.

Which criteria would have made the site less useful and enjoyable for everyone again?
posted by zombieflanders at 4:05 PM on March 16, 2013

Whatever your post is about, if it includes a PDF, please label the link.

Mouseover on a touchscreen is no picnic.

Thank you.
posted by notyou at 4:07 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Where you come from it is called Siesta del Grar. Everyone lying in hammocks drinking beer and trying to fling bottle caps into snorers open mouths.

I would post a single link to a YouTube video of the infamous 1988 Siesta del Grar in Santa Rosalia, but some people frown at SLYT posts.
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 4:07 PM on March 16, 2013 [5 favorites]

best of the mother-fucking web!
posted by cjorgensen at 4:08 PM on March 16, 2013

So.

Who wants to talk about Gaza?
posted by kaibutsu at 4:08 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Dang it, I knew there was a simple response to this, and it only comes to me after I've posted a tediously long comment. To wit:

If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution.
- (attributed to) Emma Goldman
posted by benito.strauss at 4:10 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

Where you come from it is called Siesta del Grar. Everyone lying in hammocks drinking beer and trying to fling bottle caps into snorers open mouths.

And that is why I wear a bandana over my face when I sleep outdoors. Some mock me and call me The Nap Bandit, but it is they who will awaken sputtering and choking.
posted by louche mustachio at 4:12 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Or you could just skip the posts that don't interest you. You're not obligated to click on all the links. It's a big internet; you don't need to see it all.

No, the internet needs to be a hugely efficient and non-redundant repository of information that serves archival purposes before lesser important social ones. If you would have just googled first, we could have avoided this unnecessary communication about the matter.
posted by SpacemanStix at 4:16 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

At the risk of a derail, can anyone give a serious, non-jokey answer for why cat stuff proliferates so wildly on the internet? In the US, there are more households who own dogs than cats, so I don't think anyone can seriously argue that it's just pet owners having their fun. Owners of other types of pets just don't post pics and vids at even a fraction of the rate.

I own both cats and dogs, and truthfully, the cats just get up to more silly shit than the dogs do. Repeatedly. And since they're supposed to be so dignified, it's just extra hilarious when they get up to silly shit, then look all indignant at being caught being silly.
posted by MissySedai at 4:21 PM on March 16, 2013 [10 favorites]

can anyone give a serious, non-jokey answer for why cat stuff proliferates so wildly on the internet?

1) While more people have dogs, the majority of dog owners have one dog. The majority of cat owners have at least two cats. There are approximately 78.2 million pet dogs in the U.S., but approximately 86.4 million pet cats.

3) Cats are FUCKING HILARIOUS.

And I honestly mean this in a serious, non-jokey way.
posted by tzikeh at 4:23 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'm another who hates most of the "long-form, well-researched posts". They suck in a dozen different ways. They're usually stuffed full of pointless Wikipedia links so it's impossible to find the one or two substantive links, if there are actually any. Often the links seem to be just a figleaf for a tedious, rambling, overly comprehensive, GYOB discursus on topics of marginal interest with no interest hooks, news value or social relevance (like obscure regional indie bands). Here's a tip. Rather than writing a 20-paragraph mediocre post yourself, why not find a great article written by an actual writer and link that?

Give me a short, sharp, shamelessly populist cat video any day. Indeed, in this postmodern age of cultural omnivorism, I'm not sure your highbrow/lowbrow dichotomy even makes sense any more.

And anyway, you'll often see more interesting discussion in an SLYT aww clip than in the obscure-indie-band-longpost anyway (which usually inspires about five comments, all variations of "thanks for that!"). Like the detective work in the pig-rescues-goat video, or the commenter in the swimming cat thread who pointed out that the reason the cat is walking in such an awkward "hilarious" way is that it's probably in crippling pain.
posted by dontjumplarry at 4:24 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

I have heard the theory (probably here) that cats have more universal appeal because they vary from each other less than dogs - all cats look more or less like your cat. I think there may be some merit to it, and the fondness not for dog videos but for specific breed videos may be part of the same thing.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 4:25 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

On preview, yes to MissySedai's comments as well. Dogs are undignified right from the start (not in a bad way! In a wonderful way!), so it's not nearly as funny when they're startled, or take a mis-step. Plus cats still have some of that "wild animal" thing going on which is fascinating. Dogs... mostly not. Dogs are extremely loving and lovable, and being with them is a joy, but cats are entertaining, whether you have them at home or are watching them on the net.
posted by tzikeh at 4:26 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

Those are reasonable-ish serious answers and I appreciate 'em.

All I can come up with personally are jokes. That's why I'm gonna chalk the cat pic/vid posting up to a side effect of toxoplasmosis, some kind of biological imperative to transmit cat images.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:28 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

Dear sonika:
Here you go. Hipster cat Spike and his photobombing canine sister send their love.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 4:32 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

Dogs are undignified right from the start (not in a bad way! In a wonderful way!)

Oh gods, yes. My Boxer mix is not the sharpest knife in the drawer to begin with, and even though his little sister Pit Bull is pretty clever and has to be the brains for both of them, they are BOTH just so...goofy. They don't even make an effort to pretend to have any dignity, they wear their hearts on their figurative sleeves and don't make me work for their affections at all. My mere existence entitles me to worship, as far as they're concerned.

The cats, OTOH, stalk about like they own the place, all seriousness and gravitas and bitch-you'd-better-respect-mah-authoritah and you only get attention when they deign to give it. The Persian never takes No for an answer, ever, and is the most stubborn, arrogant, fussy-britches little critter in all of the universe. So when SHE does something dumb, it's all I can do to not pee my pants from laughing at her, and the face she makes just makes it that much funnier. It tickles the hell out of me to watch other people's cats getting caught acting the fool.
posted by MissySedai at 4:38 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

Man, this is a personal opinion, I know, but I have to say that I'm pretty tired of really long-form posts. I've made some myself, but I won't again. They're generally a waste of everyone's time; the number of high-quality links in such posts is usually not huge anyway. I think it takes a lot more skill to write a shorter post with a number of good links that covers everything you want to cover.
posted by koeselitz at 4:40 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

I think it takes a lot more skill to write a shorter post with a number of good links that covers everything you want to cover.

"The present post is a very long one, simply because I had no leisure to make it shorter."

(with apologies to Monsieur Pascal)
posted by MissySedai at 4:43 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

MissySedai: And since they're supposed to be so dignified, it's just extra hilarious when they get up to silly shit, then look all indignant at being caught being silly.

I think this is very astute. Aristotle said that humour arises from ridiculous incongruity that nonetheless perfectly fits the situation. Many of the cat videos I love combine this one-two punch of an elegant, dignified cat doing something silly (incongruity) that is nevertheless perfectly fitting (cats will be cats). As you say, dogs are silly by nature so there's no incongruity when they chase their tails or wear funny hats.
posted by dontjumplarry at 4:43 PM on March 16, 2013

I feel like those of us who like longer form posts are increasingly in the minority around here. Which kinda makes me sad. I love making 'em.
posted by zarq at 4:46 PM on March 16, 2013 [8 favorites]

dunkadunc: we need more to distinguish ourselves beyond a $5 signup and a blue background

This is why some of us opt for a professional white background.
posted by Len at 4:47 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

dunkadunc, it appears, from your user profile, that your basic argument is "Metafilter: This place would be awesome, if only it were an altogether different website."
posted by tantrumthecat at 4:48 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

tantrumthecat: dunkadunc, it appears, from your user profile, that your basic argument is "Metafilter: This place would be awesome, if only it were an altogether different website."

Well, to misquote Mandy Rice-Davies: you would say that, wouldn't you?
posted by Len at 4:50 PM on March 16, 2013

All this hand wringing is giving me Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome-By-Proxy.
posted by y2karl at 4:52 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

There are better ways to get it, dude.
posted by jonmc at 5:00 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

I'm not entirely sure there's a differentiation.
posted by Artw at 5:04 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

zarq: "I feel like those of us who like longer form posts are increasingly in the minority around here. Which kinda makes me sad. I love making 'em."

Keep it up! I'll read them.
posted by dunkadunc at 5:04 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

Whatever your post is about, if it includes a PDF, please label the link.

With a page count, even if just approximate.

In re the actual topic, there's plenty of room for both OH LOOK HILARIOUS CAT and HERE IS THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF A THING, WITH EXHAUSTIVE LINKS TO EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. They're both fun. People who don't like one or the other are free to, y'know, not read 'em.
posted by Etrigan at 5:06 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

What about a complete history of feline hilarity, starting with Ancient Egyptian cats getting their heads stuck in coptic jars a la Maru?
posted by sonika at 5:12 PM on March 16, 2013 [7 favorites]

I feel like those of us who like longer form posts are increasingly in the minority around here.

Can't people like both?
posted by jeather at 5:13 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

Can't people like both?

Of course not. It is known.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:14 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

The cute animals posts don't really do anything for me because I don't really like animals that much. But you know what? I just don't read them. I read the posts on topics that do interest me and I fail to see why that's not an approach that could be adapted to anyone's interests.
posted by Aquifer at 5:16 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

I admire the long form posts for the effort that they must take but seldom actually read more than one or two of the links because I'm too lazy.
posted by octothorpe at 5:21 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

At the risk of a derail, can anyone give a serious, non-jokey answer for why cat stuff proliferates so wildly on the internet?

The serious, non-jokey reason why cat stuff proliferates over dog stuff on the Internet is that dog owners actually go outside.

Seriously.*

* For certain values of serious.
posted by Celsius1414 at 5:32 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

At the risk of a derail, can anyone give a serious, non-jokey answer for why cat stuff proliferates so wildly on the internet?

I seek out funny cat videos fairly often, and I know exactly why.

My work life is full of suffering. I work with people who have been the victims of horrifying childhood abuse with lasting, significant consequences which impair not only their ability to act in the world, but their ability to enjoy anything they do. My personal life is full of fear - both from the utterly mundane like my seeming inability to pay a bill in time, to more serious ones like the beginning of antibiotic-resistant infections which could return us to the time of plagues, to simply horrifying ones like rape culture and the marginalization of lots and lots of people in small and large ways, including their blatant and unpunished murders.

Cat videos make me smile. They make me laugh. During the day I can feel the tension gradually rachetting up in my body as different influences come into play. I get home and have to do more things, and have more tension about how I'm a failure in a variety of ways. When I watch a cat video, I can physically feel myself relax. Sometimes I end up literally falling over onto my chair, I'm laughing so hard. It always makes me smile.

For some reason, the human need for laughter and pleasure and relaxation are considered lower, lesser, unimportant, and an indication one is an unintellectual rube without taste. I'll add that to "personal life full of suffering," as it hurts when I'm insulted, even indirectly, and watch another cat video (or seek out the calming manatee).
posted by Deoridhe at 5:35 PM on March 16, 2013 [39 favorites]

Deoridhe, thank you for what you do.
posted by MissySedai at 5:41 PM on March 16, 2013 [3 favorites]

Bah.

A pointless, dumb complaint not made better by the lack of concrete examples, even if the latest cat video post, the fat cat swimming posted by The Whelk is indeed a bit crap and has been doing the rounds for at least a week already.

There really aren't that many pet videos being posted here, they are easy to skip and they don't suck up oxygen on the site the way a really contentious more serious post can.

I'm also not sure how serious I can take anybody who talks about curated content, because gag me with a spoon that's why, but what MeFi benefits from is a wide focus and range of posts, not some poofaced attempt to only get significant links posted.

In short we're all farting about here while being bored at work and we shouldn't take it more serious than that.
posted by MartinWisse at 5:46 PM on March 16, 2013 [6 favorites]

My second favorite thing about MetaFilter is the variety of content. So I'm happy to have lots of things here that don't interest me if it also means being exposed to things I wouldn't ordinarily seek out. My first most favorite thing here are the people. Again, I really enjoy interacting with people that may be very different than I am. The price of that is that on any given day, I may only really be interested in 10% of the site. But the benefit is literally everything else that I like here. Also, hang in there, sonika.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:48 PM on March 16, 2013 [11 favorites]

kaibutsu: " Who wants to talk about Gaza?"

o man ppl are always tellin me i gaza do dis, i gaza do dat. i only gaza do wat i wanna do.
posted by krinklyfig at 6:14 PM on March 16, 2013

At the risk of a derail, can anyone give a serious, non-jokey answer for why cat stuff proliferates so wildly on the internet?

Because off the internet, the only people who like animals are crazy cat ladies, even though that's nowhere near true.
posted by jeather at 6:19 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Deoridhe, do you think it's maybe a bit hyperbolic to say that people who don't like cat videos don't understand the "human need for laughter"? That's what you've got? Really, that we just hate joy?

Some of the arguments people make for why we need cat videos here are, on the face of them, entirely reasonable. But honestly, y'all come off a bit like a hoarder explaining away the heaps of newspapers in his living room with an impassioned plea for the necessity of quality print journalism. I can get why a person might really love cat videos. I can. I am less clear on why they need them pouring out of every bedroom, closet and dresser drawer of the entire Internet.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:35 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

I appreciate the site for when we can have interesting conversations about things most of us didn't know about yet- but we all already know about cute cats and funny adverts. There are other websites where you can watch nothing but that, all day.

Yeah, but I don't go to those websites, because they're terrible. And I know that anything really amusing that gets posted there will end up on MetaFilter.

That said, I don't look at cat posts nor do I really engage with the hundred-link monsters.

However, the "obscure regional indie band" posts are the freaking best, are you kidding me??
posted by escabeche at 6:39 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

For a second I was confused why everyone considered posts about Intellectual Property contentious.
posted by mokin at 6:48 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

Thank gawd, mokin. I thought it was just me.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:49 PM on March 16, 2013

> The serious, non-jokey reason why cat stuff proliferates over dog stuff
> on the Internet is that dog owners actually go outside.

Of course they do, they have to walk the dog.

(related: take_a_walk_by_tknk)
posted by jfuller at 7:01 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Deoridhe, do you think it's maybe a bit hyperbolic to say that people who don't like cat videos don't understand the "human need for laughter"? That's what you've got? Really, that we just hate joy?

That's particularly uncharitable interpretation of their comment. And just possibly more than a little hyperbolic itself.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:02 PM on March 16, 2013 [12 favorites]

Deoridhe, do you think it's maybe a bit hyperbolic to say that people who don't like cat videos don't understand the "human need for laughter"? That's what you've got?

First of all, I didn't say you didn't understand laughter and joy. I said that laughter and joy is often devalued as a low standard, as fluff, as uninteresting, unimportant, a waste of time, and stupid. In this thread alone, the op opined:

"The low intellectual level of public discourse depresses me enough that I reserve the right to make whatever jokes I like.

Yes, fluff posts are popular. The problem in journalism today is that editors abdicate their duty in favor of giving readers intellectually easy material that they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear."

Cat videos as fluff which is an indication of journalistic cowardice, low public discourse, and a cause of depression. People who enjoy cat videos as individuals without intellectual ability or desire who seek out only what they need to hear. That's a lot to hang on a cat playing with a toy that takes less than a minute to watch and that makes people smile.

It is also a false dichotomy. Shockingly, I can read Socrates (though man, his axioms are crap) and then watch Simon's Cat bother him for food. I can be aware of all kinds of suffering around the world, including the Stubenville Rape case, and watch a cat who enjoys climbing inside a hamster ball and rolling around. I can dig into the nuance of the current events in Venuzuela and North Korea and watch Maru run around an apartment with a bag on his head.

Characterizing intellectual discourse (with the implied superiority of mind) and the enjoyment of animals being cute as mutually exclusive does a disservice to our understanding of the breadth of human capability; I am Legion and I contain multitudes (also relevant quotes from historical literature, but not a spellchecker).

Also, I was no more hyperbolic than someone saying people who share cat videos have "toxoplasmosis, some kind of biological imperative to transmit cat images" or that I'm a cat video hoarder and that cat videos are pouring out of "bedroom, closet and dresser drawer of the entire Internet" because I sent a bunch of my favorites to someone who earlier expressed having a rough time of it. Physician, heal thyself.
posted by Deoridhe at 7:03 PM on March 16, 2013 [35 favorites]

Amoebas ate my sense of humour!
posted by Artw at 7:12 PM on March 16, 2013

Amoebas ate my sense of humour!

Here, take some of mine as a transplant!
<hands Artw a rubber chicken>
posted by benito.strauss at 7:22 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

I am less clear on why they need them pouring out of every bedroom, closet and dresser drawer of the entire Internet.

Cat videos are like jello. There's always room for jello.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:37 PM on March 16, 2013 [5 favorites]

I just had an interaction with my teenage son in which, although we have been not seeing eye to eye for days (aaarrrgghh), we had a pleasant interaction over cat behavior. We even talked in our 'pidgin affectionate cat talk' way that I think serves to verify our love and affection for each other. That is what cat videos are all about. Joseph Campbell uses myths to personify basic truths, we use cute animals in order to baby-talk and show love.
posted by readery at 7:41 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

I tried my damnedest to put together an FPP that would cleverly weave back and forth between cute cat videos and I/P news items, cause I thought that'd be well received by all, but it just didn't quite come together. Never fear, however, for I've got one in the works now that's a combination anti-vaccine, 9/11 conspiracy theory and homeopathy post, all tied together with dogs-playing-piano videos. Something for everyone, and so intellectually superior to everything else on the web!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:47 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

You guys are so last year anyway.

Everyone knows that dancin' grandma videos are this year's cute cat videos.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:50 PM on March 16, 2013

Growing up, we had a thing called a newspaper. It had articles about all sorts of things -- current events, sports, lifestyle, and business. Football is popular here. I do not like football. I like hockey. Not once did I ever think of writing a letter to the editor (which is what this MeTa is, really) about the paper having too much football coverage. I just skipped it.

In other words, I don't like Doctor Who, Game of Thrones or the Beatles and I still manage to get heaps of enjoyment out of MeFi.
posted by kimberussell at 7:53 PM on March 16, 2013

I once told one of my customers at work that the true purpose of the Internet was cat pictures.

Anyway, my take on this is this place needs the serious stuff but the frivolous stuff is just as important. We live in a serious world with serious problems and just as the poster above said, sometimes you just need a cat video to laugh at.

As to why it's cats and not another animal? Cats are serious and pompous and deadpan a lot of the time and that just makes them the funniest animal in existence. They take themselves too seriously, and those videos remind me that maybe, just maybe I shouldn't take myself so seriously either.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:00 PM on March 16, 2013

Y'all needn't be so defensive anyway.

It's fairly clear that in the matter of People Who Want Cats Everywhere on the Entire Internet vs. Everyone Else, y'all are slated for another stunning victory this year and every other year.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:04 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Deoridhe, I'm not real clear on how to go down the rabbit hole of whether cat videos are unappreciated cultural discourse. Having not offered an opinion on that in the first place, I wouldn't know where to begin answering your criticisms there. I think you're maybe sweeping me up with the OP's thoughts.

The OP started a thread about how cat videos were opium of the masses.

You agree with him, and further ask why anyone could ever like cat videos.

I respond with my reason, which I've actually put some thought into prior to this thread because I'm a Therapist and it's what we do. I put it in the context of a broader society, because I'm into Social Justice, and it's what we do. We also do Somewhat Random capiTals.

You misinterpreted my post, complain about hyperbole, and compared me to a hoarder - something interpreted as ironic by myself but apparently not by you.

I respond again to clarify and expand on my thoughts in a, dare I say it, intellectual manner. I include a certain amount of dry humor because the irony of having an intellectual conversation about whether cats are destroying the capability for intellectual pursuits is recursive enough to give me the giggles.

You indicate you can't remember the thread or read back over two hundred posts and accuse me of not being able to differentiate between yourself and the OP.

You comment again to call other people defensive and to somewhat hyperbolically claim (again) that cats are taking over the internet.

I make a rather brief and hyperbolic list of the history of a ~200 post thread because my emotions about this thread are now evenly mixed amusement at the irony / humor people are expressing and annoyance at being inaccurately portrayed by you multiple times.

That should make us current.
posted by Deoridhe at 8:12 PM on March 16, 2013 [15 favorites]

Perhaps we can have a special medal minted for Most Heroic and Properly Contextualized Defense of Cat Videos Against a Guy Who Said Maybe It Isn't Entirely Necessary to Have Cat Videos Everywhere.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:18 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'd like that. I like shiny things.
posted by Deoridhe at 8:24 PM on March 16, 2013 [6 favorites]

New conspiracy theory: Deoridhe is a cat. Explains everything.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:26 PM on March 16, 2013

You're thinking Magpie, not cat. Common mistake.
posted by Deoridhe at 8:27 PM on March 16, 2013

Just wanted to thank everyone who MeMailed me cat videos. The MeFi love (and, y'know, cats) really improved my evening a bajillion percent. Thank you.

Also quasi relevant, my toddler spent a seriously long time sitting in his crib and meowing. No idea what that was about, but it was hilarious.
posted by sonika at 8:29 PM on March 16, 2013 [12 favorites]

I do not know why these videos need to be a cultural juggernaut that seeps into every crevice of the internet.

Because they are awesome and they improve every site they appear on?
posted by jeather at 8:59 PM on March 16, 2013

We can do better.

So, what's in the Sunday New York Times Magazine this week ?
posted by y2karl at 10:34 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

This was never a suggestion for a moratorium.

As I said before, we just need something a bit deeper than "cat being cute" or "here is this viral ad but you won't find out until you've clicked".

If it's just a repost of a video that's been hashed out on all the other sites including Cheezburger Network, it doesn't really have to be here. If it's a viral advertisement that's been covered by every other site in existence and is being posted without analysis or an added angle, it doesn't really have to be here.

We can have cat videos, and we can have viral ads. This is a question of proportion and quality. The special sauce that makes such a post good (IMHO) is "Here is this thing that everyone else is talking about, and here is this angle that hasn't been picked up on yet".
posted by dunkadunc at 10:39 PM on March 16, 2013

As I said before, we just need something a bit deeper than "cat being cute" or "here is this viral ad but you won't find out until you've clicked".

No, you need that, along with some other people. Please stop laying out the "needs" of the MetaFilter community. There are a lot of us who like what this place is, or who are at least a little tired of you condescending about how this place should be.
posted by Etrigan at 10:43 PM on March 16, 2013 [10 favorites]

In my mind, the subject of the video in question wasn't so much the cat as the new anchor totally losing her composure over a swimming cat.
posted by Orb at 11:01 PM on March 16, 2013 [4 favorites]

There's something weird about the way cat lovers assume that all normal people share their love for cats (and thus cute cat videos). It's a bit like parents thinking that everybody is interested in cute toddler videos, except that humanity benefits in general from doting parents even if we have no personal interest in children; the general benefit of cats is more dubious.

I suspect that the cat indifferent do indeed tend to shrug an skip over the plethora of dreary cat posts and similarly don't feel moved to bother with threads like this, while cat lovers get all riled up and try to tell us all very loudly that the "majority" around here loves the posts.

I'm thoroughly indifferent to cats and would usually just skip this sort of meta, but for the record I agree with dunkadunc that a lazy post is a lazy post, even if it has a cat in it.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 11:45 PM on March 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

In my mind, the subject of the video in question wasn't so much the cat as the new anchor totally losing her composure over a swimming cat.

Yup. That was the best part! The cat was just gravy.
posted by MissySedai at 11:52 PM on March 16, 2013

dunkadunc, your user profile screams of a person who takes themselves and their Internet way too seriously. I suggest increasing your consumption of silly cat videos to alleviate this condition post-haste.
posted by Anonymous at 12:42 AM on March 17, 2013

I just want more capybara videos, is all. There are cats living on my block, but not capybaras.

Also pangolins, if you've got 'em.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:48 AM on March 17, 2013 [4 favorites]

Cat gravy does not sound appealing, by the way.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:49 AM on March 17, 2013

Long-form well-researched posts are where this site really shines.

I was sort of with you up until then.
posted by bongo_x at 1:35 AM on March 17, 2013

I suggest increasing your consumption of silly cat videos

You'd think that people would have had enough of silly cat videos.
But I look around me and I see it isn't so.
Some people wanna fill the world with silly cat videos.
And what's wrong with that?
I'd like to know, 'cause here I go again:

Meow, meow, meow...
Meow, meow, meow...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:55 AM on March 17, 2013 [8 favorites]

The main difference between cat videos here and everywhere else on the internet is that MeFi doesn't allow self-links. I love a good meaty discussion, but I don't want to wade through the boring cat videos on YouTube any more than I want to read op-eds about I/P from local news sites, because 99% of both are crap. People with a specific interest in any topic filter it for the ret of us, and that makes a really great general-interest site.

The people who don't like cat videos probably aren't a good judge of the quality of the ones posted here, the same way I'm a terrible judge of the sports posts.
posted by harriet vane at 3:05 AM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

There's something weird about the way cat lovers assume that all normal people share their love for cats (and thus cute cat videos).

There's something weird about the way $enthusiasts assume that all normal people share their love for $topic (and thus $topic_example).

I love the juxtaposition of people who like things with "normal people".
posted by Deoridhe at 4:15 AM on March 17, 2013 [15 favorites]

The difference between sports posts and cat posts, harriet vane, is that intense love for sports does not typically make MeFites post single link, context free videos because sports! There are literally dozens of clips that sports fans find immensely satisfying to watch every day, amazing catches, hilarious errors, etc. Despite this, MeFite sports fans generally try to only post the very best sports things here, properly contextualized to provoke debate. Because otherwise, what's the point in posting something that is available absolutely anywhere?

Cat videos are not held to the same standard. Nice people I like assure me that is for good reason. And it's tiresome being treated like a villain for asking why. So I won't ask anyone to change on that anymore. But I will stand up and speak out when people say cat video posts are just like __________ posts. Because they're not.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:47 AM on March 17, 2013 [2 favorites]

It's not cat posts that are flooding metafilter and showing the low, degraded quality of journalism these days.
It's the inevitable collection of Atlantic, New Yorker and Harper's - sourced posts that appears like clockwork. I am as guilty of this as anyone (probably more so). Also, using "intellectual" as shorthand for "conforms to my sensibilities" is really annoying.

If you think there need to be better posts, make them.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 6:56 AM on March 17, 2013 [2 favorites]

Bring back the honey badger.
posted by bookrach at 6:58 AM on March 17, 2013

but why would you want to worsen my life? diminish my joy? see my little sad face? that is you, giving sadness
posted by angrycat at 7:14 AM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

Because otherwise, what's the point in posting something that is available absolutely anywhere?

Because people don't go "everywhere." I spend a fair amount of time on the internet parts that are not mefi and yet! I do not encounter these videos "everywhere" and so I'm happy to see them here. When not in the mood for a cat video, I skip it. But watching it here also means that I will almost certainly get to see pictures of mefite cats and read stories about mefite cats that do that thing in the video etc. That is not gettable "everywhere" and I appreciate it being available here.

Cat videos are not held to the same standard.

No one is "holding" sports videos to a different standard and ignoring that cat video FPPs don't meet that standard; the conventions are different.
posted by rtha at 7:44 AM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

Not different standards, just different conventions. Sure.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:54 AM on March 17, 2013

Hi. So I recently (earlier this year) posted a link to the Puppy Bowl that was one of those single links to basically advertising (though advertising for a good cause!). Due to this, and the fact that while Puppy Bowl was new to me, it was not new to others, my post was deleted. I reformulated it with more context and additional links, including the link for viewing Puppy Bowl but no longer as the featured link. It turned into a much better post than my original attempt. In retrospect, I agree that it's nice when even cute light-hearted links have a little bit of extra context or something.

I'm also not a fan of the cryptic, single phrase (not even complete sentence sometimes) just-a-link posts: I like to know roughly the subject before I go clicking on something, because limited time, etc. Clear, non-cryptic just-a-link posts aren't so bad. Likewise, for the long form posts, there have been some really amazing ones, and some where the interesting links are hard to find and the post is fattened up with kind of fluff links. Same deal goes for in-between length posts. It's possible to craft a good post of any size, or a not as good post of any size. As a reader, I appreciate the well-crafted posts. As a poster, they are of course a bit harder and more time consuming, especially when you're excited about sharing the interesting thing despite being rushed for time because of life and stuff. But still a good standard to strive for, I think.

Despite arguably problematic framing of this metatalk post, I'm very glad that duncadunc posted it. When the Israel-Palestine post that prompted the other MeTa linked upthread was deleted, I was saddened, because it seemed like the discussion in that thread had been going okay to me, and I was uncomfortable with the idea that MetaFilter would avoid certain issues merely because they were contentious, and that there were unwritten conventions surrounding posting content (that was the first time I had heard of the higher bar for Israel-Palestine posts). I'll explain more in the other MeTa thread where it is more relevant, but the executive summary is that, while I'm sensitive to the issue that tone of debate in the comment threads affects the community, the moderatorial decision kind of many me feel a tiny bit distanced from MetaFilter and less invested in the MetaFilter community. But on reading this thread, I have come up with some positive suggestions that I can suggest in the other MeTa, which is a positive outcome!
posted by eviemath at 8:18 AM on March 17, 2013 [2 favorites]

The main difference between cat videos here and everywhere else on the internet is that MeFi doesn't allow self-links.

It's almost like you're challenging people to post photos of their cats in this thread.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:20 AM on March 17, 2013 [3 favorites]

I find myself hoping like hell that somebody will be able to post a SLYT about adorable kittens in I/P, just to see if this thread will fully implode.
posted by .kobayashi. at 8:25 AM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yeah, post what you want. I could do without Metafilter turning into my facebook feed, though.

I felt cheated when the cat video turned out to be just a... cat video. By virtue of it being on Metafilter, I thought there would be something substantial IN the video, or maybe it was an example of something bigger to talk about... I don't know what I wanted.

But no, just a cat video. I like cat videos, I do. But I know where to get them.

I'm not for a rule, or anything. Just, everybody, come on, now. Save it for Facebook, please.
posted by ctmf at 8:31 AM on March 17, 2013 [2 favorites]

Huh. Want to swap friends? Most of mine post those sarcastic greeting card things, pix of their kids, and reposts from George Takei. Oh, and there's the guy who posts photos he takes of raptors up in the Klamath Basin - I'm definitely keeping him. Not so much with the cat videos, though. What's up with that, facebook friends?!
posted by rtha at 8:48 AM on March 17, 2013 [4 favorites]

Dear everyone,

Not all MetaFilter users visit all (or possibly any!) of the same sites you do. Therefore, "can be seen/read/discussed everywhere else" doesn't mean shit.

Thanks,

a MeFite who pretty much hangs out at MetaFilter and... nope, can't think of another website, really.

Oh. Tumblr. For the Sherlock posts.
posted by tzikeh at 8:50 AM on March 17, 2013 [11 favorites]

Most of mine post those sarcastic greeting card things, pix of their kids, and reposts from George Takei.

Oh, um. Awkward.

*makes note to find cat videos for rtha*
posted by ambrosia at 8:59 AM on March 17, 2013 [3 favorites]

In general, if people can flag posts they think are too weak, that's a very helpful indication of "yeah, users agree that this one should probably go." Often if a post is right on the edge, it will stay if nobody flags it (because mods figure people think it's ok), but go if even a few people flag it.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:22 AM on March 17, 2013

This user says: Keep the cute kitty SLYTs coming - since they're posted by people in this community they do tend to be better than average, and I love the comments. I revisited Whelk's "Screaming Cat Babbles, Screams" the other day to find a link to an Achewood strip that I loved, and just to look at the title of the post.

Often an SLYT on the blue keeps me going through the day. Really.

And also, keep the long-form posts coming. BTW, has there been a Trurl sighting recently?
posted by Currer Belfry at 9:51 AM on March 17, 2013

"here is this viral ad but you won't find out until you've clicked".

I'll save you the time. It's a ski area in Taos, NM.
posted by ericb at 11:37 AM on March 17, 2013

Oh ... and "Be Sure To Drink Your Ovaltine!"
posted by ericb at 11:38 AM on March 17, 2013 [2 favorites]

In general, if people can flag posts they think are too weak, ...

LM, what's the flag reason that we should use for "I think this post is too weak and clutters up the site"?

Also, DirtyOldTown, bring on those amazing sports clips if you feel like it.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:49 AM on March 17, 2013

SINGLE LINK YOUTUBE CATS THAT LOOK LIKE HITLER MASHUP VIDEO OF EVERY SINGLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SONG EVER MADE
posted by Sonny Jim at 11:55 AM on March 17, 2013

Also, DirtyOldTown, bring on those amazing sports clips if you feel like it.

That's what Sportsfilter is for. That way, we can present an endless stream of short posts on our specialized interest without boring and irritating everyone else.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:00 PM on March 17, 2013

Doesn't matter what reason; I would tend to use "other" for this, some people use "breaks the guidelines".
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:03 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

Funny story; "Does what it says on the tin" is a pepsi blue in some regions.

As a basis for posts "You need to see this", tends to be less good, while "you should see this", better.

I love people's long "boring" posts as much as the next pee'dant (that is to say that boring to one person is not boring to another, and frequently people here show why what was assumed to be boring is not so, it sucks that these sorts of discussions seem to always fall back to people saying how much they categorically dislike a category of posts, on both ends of the spectrum, possibly disinclining longer post makers like zarq, or dozens of awesome others, which would be a site-negative, good faith allows all sorts, and through diversity of posts, be they fluffy, or long, or long and fluffy, or cold and dark, or dark and fluffy, there is a stronger site, all of any sort would be limited for no benefit, "henceforth only posts dedicated to the removal of land mines, and their eradication from use in war", while 'laudable', why that issue, cats and animals are used in treatment of PTSD, and dozens of other medical/social purposes, recent studies showed that people who look at images of cute/funny animals are more productive, who is to say what is "valid" useful or not; [though comparing them as if "this is to be in a versus with that" is strange to me, one is not *supposed* to be in opposition to the other, and there isn't exactly "limited space" on the internet/metafilter])
... but at the same time...

Pug Puppies In A Tub

Pug Puppies In A Tub gif

Tumblr of pets doing pet things

Maybe if this post had made a case that pets are unethical and no species ought to be considered a companion species, and it is a terrible human abuse of power [I would not agree with that either, mostly]... where does this perennial motif that "pet/cat/cute posts are squeezing out reason, logic, and hard-fuss issues from view of sunlight"-- that is to say, the premise of the post sounds flawed, it just argued for "this type of boring post instead of that kind of boring post". Who is to be the fluff-cider? I know fluff when I see it... swiftly becomes lint seeking navel gazing.

And dirty old town, I am sure you are fine person, but your belief that "Having not offered an opinion on that in the first place" conflicts with at the same time resorting to an analogy comparing liking pets/petsiana to a diagnosable disorder of the mind (hoarding). I mean, it is a topical and florid image (particularly considering that motivational poster with the cats squeezing out of the sock drawers...) so, that is understandable.
posted by infinite intimation at 12:05 PM on March 17, 2013 [2 favorites]

That's what Sportsfilter is for. That way, we can present an endless stream of short posts on our specialized interest without boring and irritating everyone else.

That SportsFilter exists (is there a midcap? I'm too lazy to go look) does not mean that cool SLYT sports posts can't be posted here (and they are). Every post is going to be irritating and/or boring to some not-insignificant number of mefites. Nothing must be interesting, new, or in-depth for absolutely everyone.
posted by rtha at 12:10 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

Sorry for... badgering.... you, your analogies here so far on this issue seem to trend to the "un-fair". I don't think you need to agree to anything. Others are likewise allowed to see things differently from your suggestion, and it isn't abuse towards you if people feel that way, or say it, or refer to comments that say there are too many on X, or that they are weak.

Every post is going to be irritating and/or boring to some not-insignificant number of mefites. Nothing must be interesting, new, or in-depth for absolutely everyone.

This should be repeated. Maybe put on the blue until the first 10 comments have been made, like "Everyone needs a pug" on this sub-site. Because it is true. Because it happens that there are often smaller and larger posts on the same (and related) topics, and this isn't a flaw, it is a feature, and it allows for multiple entries, over time, into topics that are not simple (animals are not a simple unifacial topic, nor are sports, no topic is so simple that a single post can sum up the topic).

Science fiction is just corporate films... sci-fi is social commentary... Sci-fi is for nerds with no life... sci-fi can shape the way we move into the future... Sci-fi is fluff for the over-indulged western bloat...telivision is opiate for masses... television featured some of the very first integrations of people who were still unequal under the most powerful law system on earth... Sci-Fi is Good.. Sci-Fi is Bad. Really? All of it? Letting the likes and dislikes of some dictate the directions for all..- all of those disparate ideas are possible valid topics for whole posts.
posted by infinite intimation at 12:37 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

No one is suggesting cute cat posts be banned. No one has suggested any topic be banned. We all love the breadth of interests on MetaFilter. We all recognize we will never like everything here.

The point was raised that perhaps cute cat posts are made in a number that exceeds reasonable proportion and with a fairly lax eye toward quality. There's room for everybody, but it doesn't mean we can't say anything if one guy is taking up three chairs and puts his feet on the table. This point was rejected because fuck you, cats are awesome and they make us happy. So be it.

But let's not try to pretend people are lamenting the cat videos because they don't appreciate variety or the smaller pleasures or because they're beholden to snobby ideas about what is or isn't worthy to share. Maybe some people are, but all most of us were ever saying was that maybe the cat post people are a bit loud here relative to their size. If the community disagrees, so be it.

I have a penchancy for colorful metaphors. Sue me; I'm Southern. But it's getting really tiresome watching people parse said metaphors looking for ways to villainize me. The sum total of what I was ever trying to say was: do we need this many thin posts about cute cats? There's a large enough contingent that says yes that I'm willing to let it go. But if I'm not going to stand in the way of the thing you like, maybe stop badgering me for not liking it, too, okay?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:56 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

so...Stargate Universe is cancelled.
posted by clavdivs at 12:58 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

timing

I bring you Sarcophagus of Prince Thutmose's cat

Then came along Mr. Aten
posted by clavdivs at 12:58 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

penchancy

Not to be pedantalist, but that ain't no word.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:54 PM on March 17, 2013

True story: I actually just got a MeMail implying I was paranoid for saying people were skipping the meat of what I was saying in order to parse for small things to try and make me look bad with.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:56 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

Given that I've already bowed on the "Can't we have fewer (or better) cute kitten posts?" argument, insisting I now agree that there's not an unusual amount of them and that they're not weak posts is a bit like when my older brother wasn't just content to sit on my head and fart, but also punched me until I said it smelled great.

People having a different opinion and posting about it portrayed as analogous to punching someone in the head...

That is an ....interesting comparison. I'm not sure it's apt.

I personally think you can hate cat posts all you want and say so, but this continual series of comparisons to destroying the social fabric, claims that people who like cat videos seek out only what they enjoy, and now claims that by posting in this thread I have physically harmed you really bothers me.

Calling posting in a thread in response to a post bullying simply because the people posting disagree with you - didn't even use any insulting language, no implications that you're intellect is inferior even though you did as much in your second post - is really inappropriate.

Do you really feels as if by disagreeing with you on the internet, people are causing you physical harm? Or is this hyperbole because lots of people disagree with you and that feels uncomfortable, so you want to make us go away by calling us violent?
posted by Deoridhe at 2:13 PM on March 17, 2013 [4 favorites]

so...Stargate Universe is cancelled.

*I* was enjoying it, even if no one else was.
posted by Artw at 2:26 PM on March 17, 2013 [3 favorites]

@Deoridhe: I think I was just saying you ought to have enough class to stop coming after someone who isn't standing in your way.

The bulk of what you said was mostly fake outrage at a deliberately hysterical reading of a not particularly hard to grasp analogy. (Taking analogies overly literally is a pretty tiresome rhetorical trick. Surely I can't mean physical violence? Just as surely as I was literally calling you my older brother. Criminy...)

I'm not sure if it was meant to shame me into being quiet or to goad me into arguing further. But at this point, I think I've made my point as well as I could and you've either heard me or you just don't care. Even my natural urge to debate is pretty well exhausted by this point, so I'm done either way. Consider yourself victorious. I not only will not oppose your opinions, I will no longer speak of mine here.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:30 PM on March 17, 2013 [3 favorites]

And I did mix you and the OP in that post, DirtyTown, so I'm sorry... but seriously, getting accused of physically attacking someone when I'm posting my opinion on the internet is really getting old.

"have enough class"

"mostly fake outrage"

"shame me into being quiet"

Dude, I'm not the one saying someone posting words on the internet is punching me. I'm saying people devalue simple fun things and have in this thread done so, and I object to that. I also object to how you have repeatedly portrayed me as fake and insulting, while simultaneously calling me now low-class and a bully. If you think I'm fake and classless, ignore me. I was trying to actually take you seriously and engage in your ideas and have a dialogue, but I'll cease that now.
posted by Deoridhe at 2:34 PM on March 17, 2013 [3 favorites]

Catbus baby!
posted by Artw at 4:43 PM on March 17, 2013

I misread that as cactus baby, and was very confused when I clicked on the link.
posted by eviemath at 4:47 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

I do think the SLYT make particularly bad posts, but no one is making me read them.
posted by spaltavian at 5:19 PM on March 17, 2013

so...Stargate Universe is cancelled.

*I* was enjoying it, even if no one else was.

So was I. Flawed series in a few ways, but the character development was excellent. They cancelled it just as it was getting very interesting, and on a damned cliffhanger, no less.
posted by zarq at 6:54 PM on March 17, 2013

I think that we should mandate that the user name angrycat be changed to grumpycat.
posted by y2karl at 7:18 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

Or Tardar Sauce, for that matter.
posted by y2karl at 7:19 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

Two people care!
posted by Artw at 7:25 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

*I* was enjoying it, even if no one else was.

But then it inexorably would have led to Stargate:CSI, Stargate:Cops, Stargate:Burn Notice and, eventually, Stargate:Abandoned Shopping Mall.
posted by y2karl at 7:27 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

I would totally watch Stargate: Abandoned Shopping Mall.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:50 PM on March 17, 2013 [2 favorites]

Indeed.
posted by homunculus at 8:13 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]

Does this thread have any Catbug in it? You know, I just want to make sure we're on trend with our memes here.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 8:25 PM on March 17, 2013

do we need this many thin posts about cute cats?

I say yes; if you say no, then flag them and move on already.

It's almost like you're challenging people to post photos of their cats in this thread.

I'm shocked, shocked that you would suggest such a thing!
posted by harriet vane at 3:11 AM on March 18, 2013

there is a world of difference between grumpy and angry. There is a bit of an overlap between the two, but only on a very good day.
posted by angrycat at 5:42 AM on March 18, 2013 [2 favorites]

I bring you Sarcophagus of Prince Thutmose's cat

Then came along Mr. Aten

So First Prince Thutmose's cat mysteriously dies, and then he mysteriously dies, and then little brother Ankhenaten becomes Pharoah? How convenient.

I dunno, it sounds fishy to me. I'm laying odds one day we'll find, hidden in a secret chamber off of one of the pyramids, a room full of mummification tools where little Ankhenaten conducted disturbing "experiments" on all the royal pets.

"In the Game of Thrones, you win or ~~you~~ your cat dies."
posted by misha at 7:35 AM on March 18, 2013

I just want more capybara videos, is all. There are cats living on my block, but not capybaras.

A capybara named Cheesecake adopts a litter of Doxies at the Rocky Ridge Refuge.
posted by homunculus at 9:54 AM on March 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

But then it inexorably would have led to Stargate:CSI, Stargate:Cops, Stargate:Burn Notice and, eventually, Stargate:Abandoned Shopping Mall.

Stargate: Hoarders.
posted by Pudhoho at 2:38 PM on March 18, 2013 [3 favorites]

The Real Housewives of Stargate
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:17 PM on March 18, 2013 [2 favorites]

there is a world of difference between grumpy and angry. There is a bit of an overlap between the two, but only on a very good day.

No doubt.
posted by y2karl at 11:22 PM on March 19, 2013

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