We're not facebook, right? August 15, 2013 12:43 AM Subscribe
Is this post really the best of the web?
I know I posted in it, but I guess this post kind of bugs me. I mean, a 127 point test in which we learn what D&D character we are? I guess its not a big deal, but its kind of weird that theres a thread full of people posting what stats a test told them they are. Is that of interest to anyone? I mean, are there users going through the thread going "ooh, homunculus has a dexterity of 16 and Elizardbits has a charisma of 14! How exciting!" There are a scattering of comments which are more than just a stat dump and a comment "huh, I didn't think I'd be a wizard", but they are rare.
I guess it reads to me like one of those inane threads on a forum which everyone posts in but no-one really reads. Unless this is all part of a plan to involve metafilter in a massive game of D&D?
I know I posted in it, but I guess this post kind of bugs me. I mean, a 127 point test in which we learn what D&D character we are? I guess its not a big deal, but its kind of weird that theres a thread full of people posting what stats a test told them they are. Is that of interest to anyone? I mean, are there users going through the thread going "ooh, homunculus has a dexterity of 16 and Elizardbits has a charisma of 14! How exciting!" There are a scattering of comments which are more than just a stat dump and a comment "huh, I didn't think I'd be a wizard", but they are rare.
I guess it reads to me like one of those inane threads on a forum which everyone posts in but no-one really reads. Unless this is all part of a plan to involve metafilter in a massive game of D&D?
Huh. I thought Metafilter was still aiming to aggregate 'the best of the web'.
I have to agree with Cannon Fodder here. As a FPP, this makes a pretty good FB status update.
posted by Salamander at 12:58 AM on August 15, 2013
I have to agree with Cannon Fodder here. As a FPP, this makes a pretty good FB status update.
posted by Salamander at 12:58 AM on August 15, 2013
Seems like a perfectly fine post to me. There's a place for huge link fests and single links to mildly interesting things both.
posted by Justinian at 1:06 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:06 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
"Huh. I thought Metafilter was still aiming to aggregate 'the best of the web'."
It still is and I don't agree that it's a deprecated standard. But this sort of thing is pretty much well within what many people consider BotW. There have always been posts like this.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 1:06 AM on August 15, 2013 [7 favorites]
It still is and I don't agree that it's a deprecated standard. But this sort of thing is pretty much well within what many people consider BotW. There have always been posts like this.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 1:06 AM on August 15, 2013 [7 favorites]
I looked at that and quickly realized that it's the part of MetaFilter that I don't read. It's been a sobering, but pretty important realization that even on a website I generally like, the majority of things posted just don't interest me very much. The majority of comments could be removed without affecting my enjoyment of the site. Sometimes there will be a post where the user has taken the time to craft the FPP with painstaking care and makes the topic fun — and it could be almost any topic, from trashy 80s pop to bacteriology. But most of the time people casually post links to rehashed content from other sites and it just goes in circles like an inane merry-go-round. I guess that goes with being a generalist site for light entertainment.
posted by Nomyte at 1:09 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by Nomyte at 1:09 AM on August 15, 2013
It still is and I don't agree that it's a deprecated standard.
The official guidelines, for reference:
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.
This post meets all of those guidelines. It also wasn't offensive in any way, and probably didn't generate a bunch of flags.
posted by empath at 1:16 AM on August 15, 2013 [11 favorites]
The official guidelines, for reference:
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.
This post meets all of those guidelines. It also wasn't offensive in any way, and probably didn't generate a bunch of flags.
posted by empath at 1:16 AM on August 15, 2013 [11 favorites]
I would never follow the instructions in a link like that, but if other people want to, that's up to them?
posted by Dumsnill at 1:25 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by Dumsnill at 1:25 AM on August 15, 2013
Metafilter: a generalist site for light entertainment
posted by ericost at 1:26 AM on August 15, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by ericost at 1:26 AM on August 15, 2013 [10 favorites]
Not sure why you're titling this, "We're not facebook, right?" when obviously 100+ plus personality questions to find out your D&D character is very clearly this community's version of an OkCupid personality test.
posted by dogwalker at 1:26 AM on August 15, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by dogwalker at 1:26 AM on August 15, 2013 [10 favorites]
and by up to them question mark I mean obviously up to them.
posted by Dumsnill at 1:32 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by Dumsnill at 1:32 AM on August 15, 2013
No. This is not Facebook. Now, let's be honest. If this was a Facebook phenomenon, the color of your shirt would have determined you character class. And I can still see being highly meh about one of those 10 question "what Star Wars or Lord of the Rings character are you" kind of affairs, where, after you were done, all you could do is scratch your head and say "I'm not seeing a lot in common between Princess Leia and me." or "OK, I guess I can see Gandalf."
But this thing was at least as thorough as Meyers-Briggs and when you were done you not only were given your output, but you got to see where you stood on each class, and alignment axis. Compared to a dubious scheme to generate your Star Wars name, that's pretty deep into best of the web territory.
Yeah yeah, lawful good wizzard, or maybe sorc, with paladin as a distant third. OK, I get it, I'm effing Gandalf!
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:39 AM on August 15, 2013 [9 favorites]
But this thing was at least as thorough as Meyers-Briggs and when you were done you not only were given your output, but you got to see where you stood on each class, and alignment axis. Compared to a dubious scheme to generate your Star Wars name, that's pretty deep into best of the web territory.
Yeah yeah, lawful good wizzard, or maybe sorc, with paladin as a distant third. OK, I get it, I'm effing Gandalf!
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:39 AM on August 15, 2013 [9 favorites]
Even if it was a bad post (which I don't think it is) don't you think raising the alarm over a single FPP is an overreaction? I would agree with your complaint if it became a trend, or somehow crowded out other more important content, but as it stands it's just a single piece of harmless fun.
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:41 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:41 AM on August 15, 2013
It also wasn't offensive in any way, and probably didn't generate a bunch of flags.
Yeah, only one flag. It's perfectly fine from a moderation standpoint, for what that's worth. We're pretty happy with a wide variety of things being posted here, from super-light playful stuff to thoughtful posts on significant cultural, social, or political trends or issues. We're happiest when it's a good, broad mix of stuff.
For people who don't want to wade through things that they have no interest in, though, it might be useful to have a look at the "My Mefi" page (available from tabs on the front page), where you can include tags for the sorts of posts you like, and also list tags that you want excluded from your view. It won't catch everything, because not every post is comprehensively tagged, but it might cut down on stuff you don't want to see, while also making the posts on the topics you like a bit more visible.
posted by taz (staff) at 1:46 AM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
Yeah, only one flag. It's perfectly fine from a moderation standpoint, for what that's worth. We're pretty happy with a wide variety of things being posted here, from super-light playful stuff to thoughtful posts on significant cultural, social, or political trends or issues. We're happiest when it's a good, broad mix of stuff.
For people who don't want to wade through things that they have no interest in, though, it might be useful to have a look at the "My Mefi" page (available from tabs on the front page), where you can include tags for the sorts of posts you like, and also list tags that you want excluded from your view. It won't catch everything, because not every post is comprehensively tagged, but it might cut down on stuff you don't want to see, while also making the posts on the topics you like a bit more visible.
posted by taz (staff) at 1:46 AM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
D&D stats are stupid. Everyone knows that there's only two things about a person you need to know in order to understand EVERYTHING about them. And if you disagree you must fight!
QUIDNUNC KID
SKILL 8 STAMINA 10
posted by the quidnunc kid at 1:48 AM on August 15, 2013 [19 favorites]
QUIDNUNC KID
SKILL 8 STAMINA 10
posted by the quidnunc kid at 1:48 AM on August 15, 2013 [19 favorites]
That thread was worth it if only because I learned about Pathfinder (I was mostly a Shadowrun/White Wolf kid), and bought the core rulebook PDF for some weekend beach reading.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 1:54 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Elementary Penguin at 1:54 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
quidnunc kid scowls and spits at your feet. "Coward!" he cries, brandishing his vorpal letter-opener, "you do not dare to fight me!" You quickly search your backpack for an item to use against the savage and deranged monster.
If you have a 127 point test in your backpack and wish to use it, turn to 146.
If you have a flag in your backpack and wish to use it, turn to 53.
If a majority of things don't interest you very much, turn to 387.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 1:58 AM on August 15, 2013 [57 favorites]
If you have a 127 point test in your backpack and wish to use it, turn to 146.
If you have a flag in your backpack and wish to use it, turn to 53.
If a majority of things don't interest you very much, turn to 387.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 1:58 AM on August 15, 2013 [57 favorites]
Everyone knows that there's only two things about a person you need to know in order to understand EVERYTHING about them.
Actually, it's GUTS and MOXIE.
posted by empath at 2:19 AM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
Actually, it's GUTS and MOXIE.
posted by empath at 2:19 AM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
Look. It's beast of the web. Beast. Not best but beast. And the beast needs to be feed a mixed diet of light and heavy. So we all chip in to prevent the blue the beautiful from becoming super heavy. Feed the beast, hug the beast.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 2:27 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Foci for Analysis at 2:27 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
The correct way to order Shadowrun stats is Body, Strength, Quickness, Willpower, Intelligence, Charisma.
This is because that way they spell BSQWIC, and who doesn't like Bisquick?
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:28 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
This is because that way they spell BSQWIC, and who doesn't like Bisquick?
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:28 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
Actually, it's GUTS and MOXIE
Pfft! - you think you can just stroll over the Shamultanti Hills, take the subway across Kharé (Cityport of Traps), wander through the Badlands, rock up at the black tower of the Archmage of Mampang and say, "Hey buddy, I've got 'Guts' and 'Moxie' so can I have my Crown of Kings back please?" HA HA HA! Someone sure rolled low for SKILL!
posted by the quidnunc kid at 2:35 AM on August 15, 2013 [12 favorites]
Pfft! - you think you can just stroll over the Shamultanti Hills, take the subway across Kharé (Cityport of Traps), wander through the Badlands, rock up at the black tower of the Archmage of Mampang and say, "Hey buddy, I've got 'Guts' and 'Moxie' so can I have my Crown of Kings back please?" HA HA HA! Someone sure rolled low for SKILL!
posted by the quidnunc kid at 2:35 AM on August 15, 2013 [12 favorites]
And if you disagree you must fight!
I kind of got out of role playing games about the time I started beating people with sticks for fun.
Your move.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 2:45 AM on August 15, 2013
I kind of got out of role playing games about the time I started beating people with sticks for fun.
Your move.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 2:45 AM on August 15, 2013
Your move
Uh, OK ... I move backwards, quickly, waving my arms in a placatory manner and crying like a coward.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 3:02 AM on August 15, 2013 [15 favorites]
Uh, OK ... I move backwards, quickly, waving my arms in a placatory manner and crying like a coward.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 3:02 AM on August 15, 2013 [15 favorites]
Quidnunc Kid you just made me vote for you harder.
I'd like to get you lost in my Forest of Doom, if you know what I'm saying. You're welcome to scale my Citadel of Chaos any day of the week, whilst I tenderly probe your Chasms of Chaos.
posted by smoke at 3:09 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
I'd like to get you lost in my Forest of Doom, if you know what I'm saying. You're welcome to scale my Citadel of Chaos any day of the week, whilst I tenderly probe your Chasms of Chaos.
posted by smoke at 3:09 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
See, here's the problem with this "best of the web" concept that you noobs keep throwing out there. MetaFilter IS the "best of the web", so if you use a "best of the web" criteria to vet FPP's, links on MetaFilter would, eventually, ALL point back to Metafilter, and soon, it would like like THIS. Is that what you want, really?
posted by HuronBob at 3:10 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by HuronBob at 3:10 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
smoke, I'd love to - but my "Crypt of the Sorcerer" is a real "Scorpion Swamp" at the moment, and my doctor tells me I need to hold off being a "Midnight Rogue" until the ointment clears everything up.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 3:22 AM on August 15, 2013 [17 favorites]
posted by the quidnunc kid at 3:22 AM on August 15, 2013 [17 favorites]
It was light and fun content, not worth raising a MeTa over. Forgiven though, because smoke and tqk are adorable.
posted by arcticseal at 3:34 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 3:34 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
"See, here's the problem with this "best of the web" concept that you noobs keep throwing out there."
Noobs?
Hrm. *looks at your profile* I totally would have pegged you as six-figure member, not a november-five-dollar bloke. It seems like you're way more active these days than you were from 04-08. Not that that's a bad thing. It's a good thing. I enjoy your comments. Man, remember when the 14kers made us1 17kers feel like children?
1 Not valid for my present persona or in the Maldives.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 3:36 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Noobs?
Hrm. *looks at your profile* I totally would have pegged you as six-figure member, not a november-five-dollar bloke. It seems like you're way more active these days than you were from 04-08. Not that that's a bad thing. It's a good thing. I enjoy your comments. Man, remember when the 14kers made us1 17kers feel like children?
1 Not valid for my present persona or in the Maldives.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 3:36 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hmm, I guess I'm alone in really, really disliking those kind of threads. Ah well, I shall mark it up as not for me and pretend future threads do not exist while secrelty harbouring a burning, unending resentment.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 3:42 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by Cannon Fodder at 3:42 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
That's the spirit!
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 3:47 AM on August 15, 2013 [16 favorites]
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 3:47 AM on August 15, 2013 [16 favorites]
Don't feel bad, Cannon Fodder; any Metatalk thread that invokes the Hasselhoff Recursion is a good Metatalk thread.
posted by taz (staff) at 3:51 AM on August 15, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 3:51 AM on August 15, 2013 [8 favorites]
The correct way to order Shadowrun stats is Body, Strength, Quickness, Willpower, Intelligence, Charisma.
This is because that way they spell BSQWIC, and who doesn't like Bisquick?
Wherees in Fallout everybody's SPECIAL.
Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, Luck.
posted by ersatz at 3:51 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
This is because that way they spell BSQWIC, and who doesn't like Bisquick?
Wherees in Fallout everybody's SPECIAL.
Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, Luck.
posted by ersatz at 3:51 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
I liked it better than the usual political onanism.
posted by jenkinsEar at 4:12 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by jenkinsEar at 4:12 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Color Me Chaotic Badd also elizardbits traded some charisma points for a taco so who knows where that's at now
posted by mintcake! at 4:17 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mintcake! at 4:17 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Does political onanism mean I'd have to use my left hand? Because that would feel weird.
posted by spectrevsrector at 4:21 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by spectrevsrector at 4:21 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
also elizardbits traded some charisma points for a taco
A Fish Taco. With Fanta.
posted by zarq at 4:25 AM on August 15, 2013
A Fish Taco. With Fanta.
posted by zarq at 4:25 AM on August 15, 2013
while secrelty (sic) harbouring a burning, unending resentment. Yep, the story of my life, but in terms of relationships...
posted by HuronBob at 4:42 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by HuronBob at 4:42 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
That fits, because the grey is where people go to post their AskMe relationship style questions about their special snowflake relationship with MetaFilter.
posted by bleep-blop at 4:55 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bleep-blop at 4:55 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hmm, I guess I'm alone in really, really disliking those kind of threads.
Not at all, that thread was pretty inane. Just ignore what you don't like and move on.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:17 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Not at all, that thread was pretty inane. Just ignore what you don't like and move on.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:17 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Also, make the kinds of posts that you want to see.
posted by box at 5:47 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 5:47 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Someday I will find a copy of The Crown of Kings, and then I will play through the entire Sorcery! series in one epic go.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:08 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:08 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
I guess I'm alone in really, really disliking those kind of threads.
As others have said, you're not. "Inane" is an accurate and polite adjective for those threads. But they attract many, many comments indicating that a significant portion of the MetaFilter community enjoys them. So I ignore them and don't flag.
Actually, I think that thread is a best-case example. It does exactly what it says on the tin. What annoys me is when an otherwise substantive post is derailed by somebody posting some godawful quiz as a comment, and then this crowd shows up to do their thing. "Oh, somebody's talking about Adam West's career? Let me post WhichBatManVillainRU.com. EVERYBODY POST URS!!"
posted by cribcage at 6:36 AM on August 15, 2013
As others have said, you're not. "Inane" is an accurate and polite adjective for those threads. But they attract many, many comments indicating that a significant portion of the MetaFilter community enjoys them. So I ignore them and don't flag.
Actually, I think that thread is a best-case example. It does exactly what it says on the tin. What annoys me is when an otherwise substantive post is derailed by somebody posting some godawful quiz as a comment, and then this crowd shows up to do their thing. "Oh, somebody's talking about Adam West's career? Let me post WhichBatManVillainRU.com. EVERYBODY POST URS!!"
posted by cribcage at 6:36 AM on August 15, 2013
Ivan Fyodorovich: "It still is and I don't agree that it's a deprecated standard."
- "best of the web" even though it's a deprecated phraseposted by Chrysostom at 6:39 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:04 AM on October 20, 2009
I liked it better than the usual political onanism.
Seriously!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:41 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Seriously!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:41 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
But most of the time people casually post links to rehashed content from other sites and it just goes in circles like an inane merry-go-round. I guess that goes with being a generalist site for light entertainment.
Can you point me to the specialist sites of only original content, serious entertainment, and in-depth intelligent discussion?
posted by cjorgensen at 6:51 AM on August 15, 2013
Can you point me to the specialist sites of only original content, serious entertainment, and in-depth intelligent discussion?
posted by cjorgensen at 6:51 AM on August 15, 2013
Came to do what the quidnunc kid did. Glad I checked first, because I wouldn't have done it any better.
posted by Decani at 6:52 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Decani at 6:52 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Did you have that cite handy for cases such as this, Chrysostom?
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 6:55 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 6:55 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Can you point me to the specialist sites of only original content, serious entertainment, and in-depth intelligent discussion?
I think you're looking for zombo.com
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:10 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
I think you're looking for zombo.com
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:10 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
I tell you what Quidders, the only way I could favourite that post of yours more is if you'd managed to slip a couple of "ROCKS FALL, YOU DIE, THE END" posts into the thread in advance so that you could link to them.
Also, no love for TWERPS from the acronymmers yet? It's The World's Easiest Role-Playing System (according to the ads anyhow).
posted by comealongpole at 7:11 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, no love for TWERPS from the acronymmers yet? It's The World's Easiest Role-Playing System (according to the ads anyhow).
posted by comealongpole at 7:11 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Marisa Stole the Precious Thing: Did you have that cite handy for cases such as this, Chrysostom?
"best of the web" even though it's a deprecated phrase generally still means we want you to be talking about things online. This is why we don't do "open threads" and other stuff on the blue. -- jessamyn (charity west), "Not on the internet? Impossible!" (October 20, 2009)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:16 AM on August 15, 2013
"best of the web" even though it's a deprecated phrase generally still means we want you to be talking about things online. This is why we don't do "open threads" and other stuff on the blue. -- jessamyn (charity west), "Not on the internet? Impossible!" (October 20, 2009)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:16 AM on August 15, 2013
Good thing all my posts and comments are in code.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 7:19 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 7:19 AM on August 15, 2013
Mordenkainen's Burning Resentment
Evocation [Fire]
Level: MeF 3
Components: S
Casting Time: 1 MeTa
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
posted by griphus at 7:21 AM on August 15, 2013 [12 favorites]
Evocation [Fire]
Level: MeF 3
Components: S
Casting Time: 1 MeTa
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
posted by griphus at 7:21 AM on August 15, 2013 [12 favorites]
Is that of interest to anyone?
It has over 200 comments, so obviously it was of interest to someone, right?
Now. Since I have you all here, here's what I've been digging lately: Did you know that scans of the entire run of the old East Village Eye are available for downloading. The very first issue (May, '79) has a piece on James Chance and Anya Phillips and James is all "anyone who stays on the lower east side will become the inevitable victim of provincial mind rot, also known as unsophisticated cancer ..." and Anya is like, " ... anyone who isn't interested in making money isn't interested in living and breathing. money bought us a first class ticket out of the lower east side pisshole ..." And then in the next issue Lisa Baumgardner writes in to say "I can't believe the balls of Anya Phillips ... I'm glad you printed it, however 'cuz it's the biggest slap in the face she'll feel all year."
I think I might print all these out on cheap paper and then pretend I'm living in some cold-water flat in 1981.
Also, I came across this old-ish New York Magazine piece on George Trow, author of In The Context Of No Context. It's a pretty good piece, but what I'd never twigged to, I guess, was that since Trow was pals at Harvard with Doug Kenney, the Lampoon guy who wrote Caddyshack and also Tim Mayer, the director and playwright, then he must have at least known Peter Ivers as well because Ivers was pals with Kenney and Mayer. And it's weird—because Trow was such a devotee of Mr. Shawn's New Yorker—to imagine such a close link between the Age of Shawn and the New Wave Theater.
Thank you for listening.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:23 AM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
It has over 200 comments, so obviously it was of interest to someone, right?
Now. Since I have you all here, here's what I've been digging lately: Did you know that scans of the entire run of the old East Village Eye are available for downloading. The very first issue (May, '79) has a piece on James Chance and Anya Phillips and James is all "anyone who stays on the lower east side will become the inevitable victim of provincial mind rot, also known as unsophisticated cancer ..." and Anya is like, " ... anyone who isn't interested in making money isn't interested in living and breathing. money bought us a first class ticket out of the lower east side pisshole ..." And then in the next issue Lisa Baumgardner writes in to say "I can't believe the balls of Anya Phillips ... I'm glad you printed it, however 'cuz it's the biggest slap in the face she'll feel all year."
I think I might print all these out on cheap paper and then pretend I'm living in some cold-water flat in 1981.
Also, I came across this old-ish New York Magazine piece on George Trow, author of In The Context Of No Context. It's a pretty good piece, but what I'd never twigged to, I guess, was that since Trow was pals at Harvard with Doug Kenney, the Lampoon guy who wrote Caddyshack and also Tim Mayer, the director and playwright, then he must have at least known Peter Ivers as well because Ivers was pals with Kenney and Mayer. And it's weird—because Trow was such a devotee of Mr. Shawn's New Yorker—to imagine such a close link between the Age of Shawn and the New Wave Theater.
Thank you for listening.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:23 AM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
That's the spirit!
No, *my* slaughter!
Seriously though the post seemed fine; certainly better than Yet Another How The US Government Is Screwing Us Over and by us we mean americans Post or some mystery meat post with a single word description (or single piece of punctuation).
posted by Mitheral at 7:32 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
No, *my* slaughter!
Seriously though the post seemed fine; certainly better than Yet Another How The US Government Is Screwing Us Over and by us we mean americans Post or some mystery meat post with a single word description (or single piece of punctuation).
posted by Mitheral at 7:32 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
How DARE people have lighthearted fun on a WEBSITE of all places
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:37 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:37 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
It still is and I don't agree that it's a deprecated standard. But this sort of thing is pretty much well within what many people consider BotW. There have always been posts like this.
Seconded. Some of the first posts I ever read on MeFi, months before I signed up in 2001, were "What _____ are you?" posts, with most people just posting their results in comments.
posted by LionIndex at 7:48 AM on August 15, 2013
Seconded. Some of the first posts I ever read on MeFi, months before I signed up in 2001, were "What _____ are you?" posts, with most people just posting their results in comments.
posted by LionIndex at 7:48 AM on August 15, 2013
Someday I will find a copy of The Crown of Kings, and then I will play through the entire Sorcery! series in one epic go.
I was a Lone Wolf kid. Not sure if the Fighting Fantasy stuff is online anywhere; I know there are a few iOS ports, but they aren't well done.
posted by curious nu at 7:54 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
I was a Lone Wolf kid. Not sure if the Fighting Fantasy stuff is online anywhere; I know there are a few iOS ports, but they aren't well done.
posted by curious nu at 7:54 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
Someday I will find a copy of The Crown of Kings, and then I will play through the entire Sorcery! series in one epic go
Who wants to write Sorcery! The Musical! with me?
posted by the quidnunc kid at 7:55 AM on August 15, 2013
Who wants to write Sorcery! The Musical! with me?
posted by the quidnunc kid at 7:55 AM on August 15, 2013
My only complaint about the post that inspired this Metatalk thread is having to take a 127 question test to find out I'm what I would have guessed I would have been. It's like taking a 300 question "Which Golden Girl Are You?" only to find out I'm equal parts Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia... no shit.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:56 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:56 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
The iOS Fighting Fantasy ports aren't great, but the DS Homebrew was pretty fun.
The iOS port of Sorcery! is magic.
posted by griphus at 7:56 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
The iOS port of Sorcery! is magic.
posted by griphus at 7:56 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Huh, so it is. Reviews seem pretty solid as well. Sold!
posted by curious nu at 8:00 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by curious nu at 8:00 AM on August 15, 2013
Although I'm still working my way through the tome that is To Be Or Not To Be.
posted by curious nu at 8:00 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by curious nu at 8:00 AM on August 15, 2013
FetaMilter: West of the Beb.
posted by tilde at 8:02 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by tilde at 8:02 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
There's also the Fighting Fantasy Project which seems to be well-done, if rather minimalist.
And Project Aon which is the main project of the people who did the DS homebrew. Although I think they just got the license and digitized the books.
Also, the old iOS Fighting Fantasy games were removed permanently and now Tin Man Games has the license and is released their own version (which now has a fucking map built in.)
posted by griphus at 8:06 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
And Project Aon which is the main project of the people who did the DS homebrew. Although I think they just got the license and digitized the books.
Also, the old iOS Fighting Fantasy games were removed permanently and now Tin Man Games has the license and is released their own version (which now has a fucking map built in.)
posted by griphus at 8:06 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
"Huh. I thought Metafilter was still aiming to aggregate 'the best of the web'."
Is there an emoji for "sarcastic" "finger quotes"?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:06 AM on August 15, 2013
Is there an emoji for "sarcastic" "finger quotes"?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:06 AM on August 15, 2013
_|_ (-.-) _|_
(though I may be doing that wrong)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:09 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
(though I may be doing that wrong)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:09 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
curious nu: "Although I'm still working my way through the tome that is To Be Or Not To Be."
Ryan North has gone totally over the top with that project!
posted by Chrysostom at 8:13 AM on August 15, 2013
Ryan North has gone totally over the top with that project!
posted by Chrysostom at 8:13 AM on August 15, 2013
_|_ (-.-) _|_
Thank you for that.... It will forever be on my clipboard, and used often!
posted by HuronBob at 8:21 AM on August 15, 2013
Thank you for that.... It will forever be on my clipboard, and used often!
posted by HuronBob at 8:21 AM on August 15, 2013
Ryan North has gone totally over the top with that project!
My only issue with it is that it's not written by North so much as by T. Rex. Which is okay in small doses, but this much is kind of maddening. And I know he CAN write in a more traditional style, because he had a story in This Is How You Die (and that book is the best, most amazing thing I've read in years).
posted by curious nu at 8:24 AM on August 15, 2013
My only issue with it is that it's not written by North so much as by T. Rex. Which is okay in small doses, but this much is kind of maddening. And I know he CAN write in a more traditional style, because he had a story in This Is How You Die (and that book is the best, most amazing thing I've read in years).
posted by curious nu at 8:24 AM on August 15, 2013
I'm not sure what it says about my relationship that the above is the only emoji we've ever used to communicate with each other, but that's why I know it.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:25 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:25 AM on August 15, 2013
_|_ (-.-) _|_
That looks more like the double flip-off.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:27 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
That looks more like the double flip-off.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:27 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Huh, I always thought e-airquotes was "\('-')/"
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 8:31 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 8:31 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
-__-
posted by Ad hominem at 8:35 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by Ad hominem at 8:35 AM on August 15, 2013
╮ (. ❛ _ ❛.) ╭
didn't mean to actually post -__- up there.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:38 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
didn't mean to actually post -__- up there.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:38 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
_|_ (-.-) _|_
That looks more like the double flip-off.
Yeah, that's what I was using it as well -- so it was truly my response to sarcastic air quotes.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:42 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
ლ (❛ _ ❛) ლ
posted by Ad hominem at 8:43 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Ad hominem at 8:43 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENJOY THINGS THAT I DO NOT ENJOY
posted by Sys Rq at 8:44 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 8:44 AM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 8:47 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 8:47 AM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
(ง'̀-'́)ง ︵ ʞooqǝɔɐℲ
Lil guy knocked facebook the fuck out.
ok ill stop now
posted by Ad hominem at 8:49 AM on August 15, 2013 [10 favorites]
Lil guy knocked facebook the fuck out.
ok ill stop now
posted by Ad hominem at 8:49 AM on August 15, 2013 [10 favorites]
✌(¬､¬)✌
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 8:52 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 8:52 AM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
particularly the possibility of finding out people I know are SECRETLY GNOMES
Even before the test was posted, this was pretty much the main reason for going to meetups methinks.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:58 AM on August 15, 2013
Even before the test was posted, this was pretty much the main reason for going to meetups methinks.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:58 AM on August 15, 2013
Metafilter used to be "best of the web" in the sense that "hey, here's something cool from IRL that is finally put up here on the interwebs and it's executed well." IRL is now routinely executed directly on the web so "best of the web" now just sort of means "best".
Metafilter is the place I go to read about things I'm not interested in because posts here tend to be, none the less, objectively interesting.
posted by klarck at 9:30 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Metafilter is the place I go to read about things I'm not interested in because posts here tend to be, none the less, objectively interesting.
posted by klarck at 9:30 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Metafilter is the place I go to read about things I'm not interested in because posts here tend to be, none the less, objectively interesting.
Quoted for truth. Do you know how much I don't really care about roguelikes or most tumblr sites or so many types of music or so many other things that Metafilter has convinced me that are interesting? So many.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:18 AM on August 15, 2013
Quoted for truth. Do you know how much I don't really care about roguelikes or most tumblr sites or so many types of music or so many other things that Metafilter has convinced me that are interesting? So many.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:18 AM on August 15, 2013
If you do not consider an online D&D character creation tool as "best of the web", I don't think you really understand who is using this site. That was an awesome, neat post.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:48 AM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by KokuRyu at 10:48 AM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
MetaFilter is NOT Facebook. Which, when it was not deleted in 15 minutes, was why I felt I could semi-safely fill out the questionaire without Mark Zuckerberg and James Clapper knowing all about it. My previous D&D experience came from watching the Saturday Morning cartoon (which aired when I was 28), and from reading the Order of the Stick, Looking for Group, Commisisoned and Goblins webcomics. I was rather surprised that there were 4 D&D webcomics that are at least semi-entertaining, so my interest in the game and its culture has been growing and this post and its link was definitely of value to me.
MetaFilter is just about the only place on the web I can find such things that serve my casual interests and that I can trust. If I had seen the survey linked at Facebook or Reddit, I'd have never gone near it. (But then, I NEVER go to Facebook or Reddit anymore)
Anyone who doesn't realize that this is what is GOOD about MetaFilter earns a place on my "users to ignore" list.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:26 PM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
MetaFilter is just about the only place on the web I can find such things that serve my casual interests and that I can trust. If I had seen the survey linked at Facebook or Reddit, I'd have never gone near it. (But then, I NEVER go to Facebook or Reddit anymore)
Anyone who doesn't realize that this is what is GOOD about MetaFilter earns a place on my "users to ignore" list.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:26 PM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Here I stand, quietly heartbroken. Sniffle, sniffle.
posted by cribcage at 12:36 PM on August 15, 2013
posted by cribcage at 12:36 PM on August 15, 2013
I know I posted in it, but I guess this post kind of bugs me.
And that's okay. Lawful characters have their place too.
ooh, homunculus has a dexterity of 16
Please stop staring at my stats. My eyes are up here.
posted by homunculus at 1:33 PM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
And that's okay. Lawful characters have their place too.
ooh, homunculus has a dexterity of 16
Please stop staring at my stats. My eyes are up here.
posted by homunculus at 1:33 PM on August 15, 2013 [5 favorites]
Girl please. Even if my facebook was active, would I be posting this all up onto it?
posted by oceanjesse at 2:14 PM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by oceanjesse at 2:14 PM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, that's what I was using it as well -- so it was truly my response to sarcastic air quotes.
\m/ (_ . _) \m/
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:33 PM on August 15, 2013
\m/ (_ . _) \m/
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:33 PM on August 15, 2013
Please stop staring at my stats. My eyes are up here.
Yeah, all twelve of them.
Polymorph Self is a privilege, not a right, mister.
posted by griphus at 2:40 PM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
Yeah, all twelve of them.
Polymorph Self is a privilege, not a right, mister.
posted by griphus at 2:40 PM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
Anyone who doesn't realize that this is what is GOOD about MetaFilter earns a place on my "users to ignore" list.
Since MeFi has consistent moderation it is not only GOOD but LAWFUL GOOD.
posted by ersatz at 2:52 PM on August 15, 2013
Since MeFi has consistent moderation it is not only GOOD but LAWFUL GOOD.
posted by ersatz at 2:52 PM on August 15, 2013
Whenever I wonder "Is this really a good post for Metafilter?" I remember that it all began with cat-scan.com and then I move on.
posted by Novus at 4:07 PM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Novus at 4:07 PM on August 15, 2013 [4 favorites]
D&D is best of the web.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:48 PM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Ironmouth at 4:48 PM on August 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
For the record, I went to a mefi meetup last night, and I, late in the night and a little drunk, was like, "SO DID YOU GUYS SEE THE D&D THREAD" because it was indeed of interest to me, particularly the possibility of finding out people I know are SECRETLY GNOMES
Yo that was at like 745 dog not at all late also I didnt tell you this but im a Damn Wizard.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:01 PM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yo that was at like 745 dog not at all late also I didnt tell you this but im a Damn Wizard.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:01 PM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
For a second there in assumed this was another Nomyte Meta. Luckily they showed up to share their distaste for most of the site. Maybe all of the curmudgeons of MeFi should build MeFiFi
posted by lordaych at 5:06 PM on August 15, 2013
posted by lordaych at 5:06 PM on August 15, 2013
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.
Wow what? that's an official guideline? I'd swear on a stack of bibles i've seen the mods say "don't post something just because you're eager to see what people have to say about it on here" or something to that effect.
Like, i'm paraphrasing here because i saw that in some MeTa months ago, but seriously i remember seeing that and going "what the crap? that's half the reason i'm usually excited to see stuff posted here unless it's some meticulous giant post"
posted by emptythought at 5:17 PM on August 15, 2013
Wow what? that's an official guideline? I'd swear on a stack of bibles i've seen the mods say "don't post something just because you're eager to see what people have to say about it on here" or something to that effect.
Like, i'm paraphrasing here because i saw that in some MeTa months ago, but seriously i remember seeing that and going "what the crap? that's half the reason i'm usually excited to see stuff posted here unless it's some meticulous giant post"
posted by emptythought at 5:17 PM on August 15, 2013
something to that effect.
It's more nuanced than that. Basically if you see something at another discussion site (Reddit is often the one that's brought up but Hacker News is another, I'm sure other people can list some more), don't just post it here because you want to talk to OUR community about it. Post it here because you think it will be a good thing that MeFites might want to talk about and haven't seen before.
If you want to track down exactly what you saw us say and ask about that specifically, please feel free but otherwise: yes, that's a guideline and has been on the site pretty much since the beginning.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:46 PM on August 15, 2013
It's more nuanced than that. Basically if you see something at another discussion site (Reddit is often the one that's brought up but Hacker News is another, I'm sure other people can list some more), don't just post it here because you want to talk to OUR community about it. Post it here because you think it will be a good thing that MeFites might want to talk about and haven't seen before.
If you want to track down exactly what you saw us say and ask about that specifically, please feel free but otherwise: yes, that's a guideline and has been on the site pretty much since the beginning.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:46 PM on August 15, 2013
My first call-out (as far as I know)! I just need to post a song, a job, and get brought up on the podcast by mathowie and I think I'll have the full collection of MeFi cheevos.
Anyway, as it happens I did first see the site on Facebook, but I thought it was a reasonable fit for MeFi because a) it's much more complex than most "what X are you" quizzes, in both input and output and b) the output can actually be used for something. Playing as yourselves or as characters based on yourselves is something most RPG groups try at one point or another, and quite a few MeFites play or have played D&D or another RPG.
I'll admit it wouldn't be to everyone's taste, but neither are German country music, old hand tools, St. Louis diner cuisine, or any of the other typically obscure or niche topics I post about. I'll admit I was surprised by the number of people simply replying with their stats and nothing else, but I think it produced an interesting discussion apart from that.
posted by jedicus at 7:35 PM on August 15, 2013
Anyway, as it happens I did first see the site on Facebook, but I thought it was a reasonable fit for MeFi because a) it's much more complex than most "what X are you" quizzes, in both input and output and b) the output can actually be used for something. Playing as yourselves or as characters based on yourselves is something most RPG groups try at one point or another, and quite a few MeFites play or have played D&D or another RPG.
I'll admit it wouldn't be to everyone's taste, but neither are German country music, old hand tools, St. Louis diner cuisine, or any of the other typically obscure or niche topics I post about. I'll admit I was surprised by the number of people simply replying with their stats and nothing else, but I think it produced an interesting discussion apart from that.
posted by jedicus at 7:35 PM on August 15, 2013
MetaFilter is more than the sum of its parts -- nothing posted on it by itself is necessarily the best of [the, my, your, ...] web...
..but I'm goddamn sure that MetaFilter itself is the fuckin' best of the web.
Good post, jedicus!
posted by not_on_display at 8:45 PM on August 15, 2013
..but I'm goddamn sure that MetaFilter itself is the fuckin' best of the web.
Good post, jedicus!
posted by not_on_display at 8:45 PM on August 15, 2013
Anyone who doesn't realize that this is what is GOOD about MetaFilter earns a place on my "users to ignore" list.
:( Is that in a formal book where you carefully write down each user you will from now ignore, noting and signing it, place on a pedestal on the centre of your room? Or maybe a document where each user on metafilter has an "ignore" and "favourite everything they do" score, where if you get below or above a certain threshold you either deliberately blank everything they write or cover everything they write in kisses?
Jedicus, while I know technically this is a call out of you, I sort of don't think of it as such. I don't think you're a terrible person, just that you have awful taste (hamburger).
Well, apparently people get value out of these lits things beyond just posting their own stats, so I guess I'm wrong! I guess I will be magnanimous, and allow meta filter to continue as it is. You are all welcome
posted by Cannon Fodder at 11:17 PM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
:( Is that in a formal book where you carefully write down each user you will from now ignore, noting and signing it, place on a pedestal on the centre of your room? Or maybe a document where each user on metafilter has an "ignore" and "favourite everything they do" score, where if you get below or above a certain threshold you either deliberately blank everything they write or cover everything they write in kisses?
Jedicus, while I know technically this is a call out of you, I sort of don't think of it as such. I don't think you're a terrible person, just that you have awful taste (hamburger).
Well, apparently people get value out of these lits things beyond just posting their own stats, so I guess I'm wrong! I guess I will be magnanimous, and allow meta filter to continue as it is. You are all welcome
posted by Cannon Fodder at 11:17 PM on August 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm in a band from Analand
I'll best your traps in the cityport of Khare
I'll beat seven serpents like ET for Atari
I'll make the bells rang
for the archmange of Mampang
ZAP! FOF! LAW! DUM! HOT!
Going across Kakhabad with all I got!
posted by josher71 at 6:30 AM on August 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'll best your traps in the cityport of Khare
I'll beat seven serpents like ET for Atari
I'll make the bells rang
for the archmange of Mampang
ZAP! FOF! LAW! DUM! HOT!
Going across Kakhabad with all I got!
posted by josher71 at 6:30 AM on August 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
<3 josher71 !
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:05 AM on August 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:05 AM on August 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
post good. never known jedicus to fool around with FFPs'
posted by clavdivs at 8:01 AM on August 16, 2013
posted by clavdivs at 8:01 AM on August 16, 2013
Sea slug approved, jedicus!
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:21 PM on August 16, 2013
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:21 PM on August 16, 2013
Maybe all of the curmudgeons of MeFi should build MeFiFi
It's late, but I'm picturing the Pon Farr music playing and MeFites showing up to duke it out with words. Two enter! One leaves!
posted by corb at 1:12 AM on August 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
It's late, but I'm picturing the Pon Farr music playing and MeFites showing up to duke it out with words. Two enter! One leaves!
posted by corb at 1:12 AM on August 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
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posted by empath at 12:53 AM on August 15, 2013 [17 favorites]