What's the worst post you posted on the blue? February 27, 2014 6:32 AM Subscribe
Lipstick Thespian points out that my latest post about clothes is "absolutely the dumbest thing I've ever read on Metafilter." They've got a point! I admit I've posted some real stinkers in my time that I would gladly take back. So I'm wondering, what are some things that you yourself have posted, that in retrospect you would take back, and why?
For my own post, I think the K-Hole content was miles above more interesting (millennials! belonging! individualism!) than the link I posted, which was just a shallow, timewasting spin on "fashionistas talk past non-fashionistas" Other posts of mine were.... wow, so obviously flamebate that they should have just been deleted immediately.
For my own post, I think the K-Hole content was miles above more interesting (millennials! belonging! individualism!) than the link I posted, which was just a shallow, timewasting spin on "fashionistas talk past non-fashionistas" Other posts of mine were.... wow, so obviously flamebate that they should have just been deleted immediately.
Since I was called out (for the first time ever on the Grey, in fact!) I will direct those curious about failure to this post on Ryan Trecartin. I wish I hadn't ever heard of him, and wish I had never posted this.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 6:37 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 6:37 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
....Lipstick Thespian isn't the only person with an opinion on Metafilter, you know. Him hating a post doesn't make it, like, law that it's bad.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:41 AM on February 27, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:41 AM on February 27, 2014 [7 favorites]
i would take back my post on salt -bad science journalism on food is not a good post for metafilter.
i'd also take back the post about the male sex drive - i mistakenly thought far more people were aware of michael ian black and the way i read the linked post was very different than the way many others read it.
in retrospect both of these are easy to see as flame bait, even though i didn't post either of them with that intention.
posted by nadawi at 6:45 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
i'd also take back the post about the male sex drive - i mistakenly thought far more people were aware of michael ian black and the way i read the linked post was very different than the way many others read it.
in retrospect both of these are easy to see as flame bait, even though i didn't post either of them with that intention.
posted by nadawi at 6:45 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
I thought the comment was saying that the person the article is about is a moron and the entire idea is stupid, not that you were stupid for posting it.
posted by agress at 7:02 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by agress at 7:02 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
I regret nothing.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:02 AM on February 27, 2014 [20 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:02 AM on February 27, 2014 [20 favorites]
This belongs ... in MetaWeirdSelfPromotion.
OK MetaTalk, looks like I've got myself a NEW favourite subsite - smell you later!
posted by the quidnunc kid at 7:03 AM on February 27, 2014 [29 favorites]
OK MetaTalk, looks like I've got myself a NEW favourite subsite - smell you later!
posted by the quidnunc kid at 7:03 AM on February 27, 2014 [29 favorites]
I regret everything but it doesn't stop me.
posted by JanetLand at 7:03 AM on February 27, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by JanetLand at 7:03 AM on February 27, 2014 [9 favorites]
(Hey I'm not taking judgement from Lipstick Thespian, they just eloquently pointed out the same thing that I have come to believe, which I mentioned in the post - that there was a much better post than what I posted, and in hindsight, I should have posted the better post and not the worst post. Sorry that I didn't make that more clear!
I didn't want to go into more detail because I don't want this to be self promotional and make the top post all about me me me.)
posted by rebent at 7:05 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
I didn't want to go into more detail because I don't want this to be self promotional and make the top post all about me me me.)
posted by rebent at 7:05 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
I hadn't looked back at my FPPs in a long time until this post prompted me to, and it's kind of interesting how many of them I don't remember at all, or that I can't imagine why I would post. My drinking problem might be worse than I realize.
All in all, this is probably the single dumbest thing I've ever posted on Metafilter, and I suspect it only survived deletion because I was such a noob.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 7:08 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
All in all, this is probably the single dumbest thing I've ever posted on Metafilter, and I suspect it only survived deletion because I was such a noob.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 7:08 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Non, je ne regrette rien.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:09 AM on February 27, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 7:09 AM on February 27, 2014 [8 favorites]
I'm pretty sure this is the dumbest thing I've posted but I don't really regret it.
Also, I'm not sure why people are acting confused by this MeTa. The point of it is completely explained by the part in boldface letters which is hard to miss.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:12 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Also, I'm not sure why people are acting confused by this MeTa. The point of it is completely explained by the part in boldface letters which is hard to miss.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:12 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
"so obviously flamebate"
I've never flamebated but some of my friends have, and I don't judge. I feel that whatever you do with your body - or whatever two consenting adults do with their bodies - is none of my business. It's not for everyone, in no small part because of the high risk of burns. But hey, you know ... whatever you're into. Like I said, I don't judge. As always, though, if you're with someone that's into that scene and they attempt to do this with you or to you without your express consent, get out of that situation and DTMFA (dump the misanthropic flamebater already).
posted by komara at 7:13 AM on February 27, 2014 [16 favorites]
I've never flamebated but some of my friends have, and I don't judge. I feel that whatever you do with your body - or whatever two consenting adults do with their bodies - is none of my business. It's not for everyone, in no small part because of the high risk of burns. But hey, you know ... whatever you're into. Like I said, I don't judge. As always, though, if you're with someone that's into that scene and they attempt to do this with you or to you without your express consent, get out of that situation and DTMFA (dump the misanthropic flamebater already).
posted by komara at 7:13 AM on February 27, 2014 [16 favorites]
[there, now I at least know the dumbest comment I've ever posted]
posted by komara at 7:13 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by komara at 7:13 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
What! What! But I thought *I* posted the worst post ever on Metafilter. AND I REGRET NOTHING. You haters just can't appreciate.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:14 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:14 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Rebent, you really shouldn't feel bad about this. You honestly thought it was interesting so you posted it. What else could we ask? It actually generated really interesting discussion as people came through and posted more in-depth links about normcore. For me, I posted a bunch of links about the Krokodil scare last year, and got called out in meta about how dumb they were. Fair play, and it could have been deleted, but if it had been we wouldn't have learned a ton of interesting shit about what Krocodil actually is, how heroin production works, Russian addiction issues, and the facile nature of US blog reporting on Russia. Don't be defensive, be thankful there is an informed community here that will, on the whole, patiently correct misleading links with more robust info (and a crew of discerning mods that make a judgement call about whether a link is worthwhile of being discussed or too inflammatory to not just be deleted).
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:19 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:19 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
And Suri's Burn Book is freaking hilarous. Totally understand why it was deleted though--Metafilter does not do edgy mean humor.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:20 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:20 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
What! What! But I thought *I* posted the worst post ever on Metafilter. AND I REGRET NOTHING. You haters just can't appreciate.
Holy mothballs has restless_nomad really been a mod that long? Am I Metafilter old? Eeesh.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 7:22 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Holy mothballs has restless_nomad really been a mod that long? Am I Metafilter old? Eeesh.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 7:22 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
oh first thing in the morning typos. now i'll be giggling about flamebate all day.
posted by nadawi at 7:22 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 7:22 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
oh man - i'm so against the paparazzi celebrity kid thing. it's awful and scary. but i freaking love suri's burn book and it's hard to reconcile the fact that it only exists because all the awfulness.
posted by nadawi at 7:24 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 7:24 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
I posted the infamous Syra/Miley Cyrus FPP. I thought it was pretty clever, but some people really hated it. Esp. anyone trying to moderate it.
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 7:28 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 7:28 AM on February 27, 2014
I regret not learning french.
posted by srboisvert at 7:30 AM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 7:30 AM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
I made two FPPs about technology that were going to CHANGE THE WORLD: The Sonys-PEGNR70V (not sure how many years this pre-dates the notion of Pepsi Blue) and By Christmas [2002], Microsoft could become the nation's fourth-largest phone company. Oops.
posted by gwint at 7:31 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by gwint at 7:31 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Well you were close! It was just Apple, and in 2008.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:32 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:32 AM on February 27, 2014
Neil Gaiman, by a country mile. Terrible flaming bunfight. Rough introduction to the principle that sometimes people do not read the initial link, or subsequent linked content, or the discussion, or the words in the FPP itself.
posted by running order squabble fest at 7:40 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by running order squabble fest at 7:40 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
I once posted a 10-12 second video of the opening scene of Duke Nukem Forever where he is gone down upon by two ladies except then one of them looks up and it's Richard D. James' face and then some really creepy Aphex Twin music starts playing.
The post was quickly deleted and the video doesn't seem to exist anymore but I'm convinced this happened.
I regret nothing.
posted by griphus at 7:44 AM on February 27, 2014 [9 favorites]
The post was quickly deleted and the video doesn't seem to exist anymore but I'm convinced this happened.
I regret nothing.
posted by griphus at 7:44 AM on February 27, 2014 [9 favorites]
cashman: "No you don't."
Apparently.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:48 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Apparently.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:48 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
I once posted a 10-12 second video of the opening scene of Duke Nukem Forever where he is gone down upon by two ladies except then one of them looks up and it's Richard D. James' face and then some really creepy Aphex Twin music starts playing.
i wish the milkman would deliver my milk ... in the morning
posted by winna at 7:48 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
i wish the milkman would deliver my milk ... in the morning
posted by winna at 7:48 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
I really have no problem with these kinds of threads. A good trainwreck gives us all a better understanding regarding the physical limitations of passenger trains and rails.
posted by solarion at 7:48 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by solarion at 7:48 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
Shoot, some of my older posts were so bad, I straight up changed my username.
posted by likeatoaster at 7:54 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by likeatoaster at 7:54 AM on February 27, 2014
I once posted a 10-12 second video of the opening scene of Duke Nukem Forever where he is gone down upon by two ladies except then one of them looks up and it's Richard D. James' face and then some really creepy Aphex Twin music starts playing.
Oh my God that sounds amazing link please.
(And seconding Solarion, somewhat - in the midst of the Gaiman bunfight, there was some really interesting discussion of Minnesota taxation, the Minnesota legacy fund, Minnesota's Tea Party contingent, the strengths and weaknesses of Minnesota public radio and the cultural primacy of Garrison Keillor... I just wish I'd known better and included more detail in the FPP, which might have tuned out some, though not all, of the static.)
posted by running order squabble fest at 7:57 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh my God that sounds amazing link please.
(And seconding Solarion, somewhat - in the midst of the Gaiman bunfight, there was some really interesting discussion of Minnesota taxation, the Minnesota legacy fund, Minnesota's Tea Party contingent, the strengths and weaknesses of Minnesota public radio and the cultural primacy of Garrison Keillor... I just wish I'd known better and included more detail in the FPP, which might have tuned out some, though not all, of the static.)
posted by running order squabble fest at 7:57 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Eight years ago, I was struggling to teach myself CSS and web design when I stumbled on a tutorial for customizing pages on the then-dominant social network.
"Say, this is useful!" I said. "I bet that Meta-Filter site I just joined would appreciate this and offer insightful commentary on it!"
And that's how I posted about best design practices for Myspace.
I remember the thread as a trainwreck, with a flaming space station deorbiting on top of the crumpled cars, but, reviewing it now, I see it went about as well as could possibly be expected. A few people even nudged in polite thank-yous between the guffaws. (Not that I'm ever, ever posting about design practices or Myspace again, though.)
posted by Iridic at 8:01 AM on February 27, 2014 [7 favorites]
"Say, this is useful!" I said. "I bet that Meta-Filter site I just joined would appreciate this and offer insightful commentary on it!"
And that's how I posted about best design practices for Myspace.
I remember the thread as a trainwreck, with a flaming space station deorbiting on top of the crumpled cars, but, reviewing it now, I see it went about as well as could possibly be expected. A few people even nudged in polite thank-yous between the guffaws. (Not that I'm ever, ever posting about design practices or Myspace again, though.)
posted by Iridic at 8:01 AM on February 27, 2014 [7 favorites]
In 2003 and 2004, I didn't understand what Metafilter was for, and I made six boneheaded posts in the spirit of "This is important to me and PEOPLE MUST KNOW!" This streak culminated with this awful post about political correctness on university campuses.
I realized that I didn't get Metafilter and I needed to stop posting until I did. I stopped submitting FPPs for three-and-a-half years and then returned with my post about barbed wire, whose reception seems to indicate that I now understood what MetaFilter was about.
I would give anything to remove those six dumb posts.
(also: I love this MeTa)
posted by DWRoelands at 8:06 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
I realized that I didn't get Metafilter and I needed to stop posting until I did. I stopped submitting FPPs for three-and-a-half years and then returned with my post about barbed wire, whose reception seems to indicate that I now understood what MetaFilter was about.
I would give anything to remove those six dumb posts.
(also: I love this MeTa)
posted by DWRoelands at 8:06 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Oh my God that sounds amazing link please.
Thanks, deleted posts blog. And holy shit how was that almost three years ago.
(I don't think I need to mention that it is NSFW, do I? Did I?)
posted by griphus at 8:06 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Thanks, deleted posts blog. And holy shit how was that almost three years ago.
(I don't think I need to mention that it is NSFW, do I? Did I?)
posted by griphus at 8:06 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
There are no limits to my non-regrettinguity. Also I never look back. Hey what are you all doing smirking behind me?
posted by Namlit at 8:09 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by Namlit at 8:09 AM on February 27, 2014
Not everyone seems to know that NSFL means Not Safe For Lunch but I don't care, I loved this post about Hairball Awareness Day.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:09 AM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:09 AM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
Regrets? I've had a few. But, then again... too few to mention.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:12 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:12 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
I was under the impression NSFL was "Not Safe For Life." Have I been misled?
posted by solarion at 8:13 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by solarion at 8:13 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
I have made one post that I almost immediately realized was pretty dumb: It didn't get deleted, and will haunt me forever.
posted by Dr Dracator at 8:14 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by Dr Dracator at 8:14 AM on February 27, 2014
No Stopping For Lutherans
posted by mullacc at 8:14 AM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by mullacc at 8:14 AM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
i'd also take back the post about the male sex drive - i mistakenly thought far more people were aware of michael ian black and the way i read the linked post was very different than the way many others read it.
No regret! This was a great FPP. So much was revealed about so many that day. It was brilliant.
I do find myself wondering: what if the article were exactly the same, but the author had been Steve Martin? I strongly suspect it would have gone much differently. I recommend (re-)reading the article with that in mind.
posted by davejay at 8:15 AM on February 27, 2014
No regret! This was a great FPP. So much was revealed about so many that day. It was brilliant.
I do find myself wondering: what if the article were exactly the same, but the author had been Steve Martin? I strongly suspect it would have gone much differently. I recommend (re-)reading the article with that in mind.
posted by davejay at 8:15 AM on February 27, 2014
Not suitable for labia, surely. Anyway, getting back on topic, I once posted this, which in retrospect was pretty fucking thin.
posted by h00py at 8:20 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by h00py at 8:20 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
The post I actually regret making most I regret mostly for my framing. What I wanted to highlight was a bunch of charming, vaguely magical-realist vignettes about what ice hockey players were doing while they were locked out of the NHL, but I botched the framing and the discussion was entirely about hockey and not at all about the vignettes.
The post I probably should regret most is one I made while blackout drunk and being heckled/egged on by a user who's since left the site, but that one somehow went OK.
posted by Copronymus at 8:21 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
The post I probably should regret most is one I made while blackout drunk and being heckled/egged on by a user who's since left the site, but that one somehow went OK.
posted by Copronymus at 8:21 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
NSFL means "Not Safe For Life."
posted by entropicamericana at 8:21 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by entropicamericana at 8:21 AM on February 27, 2014
Or have I just been trolled by Jessamyn? If so, well done.
posted by entropicamericana at 8:22 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by entropicamericana at 8:22 AM on February 27, 2014
Nah, I'm no troll, just sometimes a bit credulous.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:23 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:23 AM on February 27, 2014
Of 92 posts, there's 18 I wish I hadn't posted. My only critique of moderation on here is that the bar for posting is perhaps a little too low, and more of mine should have been deleted by the mods. Or, better, I need to take responsibility and pause to consider "Is this really a cool thing? Honestly?"
Bad posts include this one as it's pointing out poor journalism (completely unoriginal), this one as giving publicity to a singer who doesn't need it and is also pseudo-moking, this one as "teccies say silly things" is completely unoriginal, this one as the conflicting sources meant it didn't actually make sense, this one as after an email chat with a certain Mr T. Berners-Lee it turned out to be actually factually incorrect, this one as again factual inaccuracies, this one as I should have linked to all the videos but didn't and got called out for it on a MetaTalk, this one as the title was both sarcastically stupid and misleading (it's nothing to do with torrenting) causing a derail and -ve feedback, this one as it's a non-story, and this one as again sarcastic title but Rebecca Black, and all the crap she put up with, grew on me as someone who fought and made a come-back despite being vilified.
So self-rating my own posting as at best "variable in quality".
posted by Wordshore at 8:23 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Bad posts include this one as it's pointing out poor journalism (completely unoriginal), this one as giving publicity to a singer who doesn't need it and is also pseudo-moking, this one as "teccies say silly things" is completely unoriginal, this one as the conflicting sources meant it didn't actually make sense, this one as after an email chat with a certain Mr T. Berners-Lee it turned out to be actually factually incorrect, this one as again factual inaccuracies, this one as I should have linked to all the videos but didn't and got called out for it on a MetaTalk, this one as the title was both sarcastically stupid and misleading (it's nothing to do with torrenting) causing a derail and -ve feedback, this one as it's a non-story, and this one as again sarcastic title but Rebecca Black, and all the crap she put up with, grew on me as someone who fought and made a come-back despite being vilified.
So self-rating my own posting as at best "variable in quality".
posted by Wordshore at 8:23 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Cortex deleted my first 3 FPPs. I will be eternally grateful for that.
posted by Sophie1 at 8:24 AM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 8:24 AM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
I don't know if I'd take it back (I still think it's pretty amazing) but the comments on my post on a cool photoshop technique revealed it wasn't nearly as uniquely awesome as I thought. I'd certainly construct the post differently though.
posted by Mitheral at 8:33 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by Mitheral at 8:33 AM on February 27, 2014
Is this the Earhart Electra?
I've been had. Remember the rule.
posted by hat_eater at 8:39 AM on February 27, 2014
I've been had. Remember the rule.
posted by hat_eater at 8:39 AM on February 27, 2014
I made the clickbaity Raleigh Mystery House post (THE HOUSE IS REALLY A PUMP; you don't need to click).
I phrased it that way because the surprise of finding out what was in the house delighted me, and I enjoyed being surprised when I read the article. I didn't realize how much it sounded like an Upworthy article title, and it occurs to me now that this is exactly what the "More Inside" is made for and it would have made much more sense to have the More Inside be "surprise: it's a pump! and here are some other examples of infrastructure being disguised as other things".
posted by capricorn at 9:03 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
I phrased it that way because the surprise of finding out what was in the house delighted me, and I enjoyed being surprised when I read the article. I didn't realize how much it sounded like an Upworthy article title, and it occurs to me now that this is exactly what the "More Inside" is made for and it would have made much more sense to have the More Inside be "surprise: it's a pump! and here are some other examples of infrastructure being disguised as other things".
posted by capricorn at 9:03 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
NSFL originally meant Not Safe For Lunch way back inna day. It became NSFL as /r/WTF embraced it, and NSFL links started going well beyond the stomach-turning and deep into serious soul abrasion.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:21 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:21 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
I knew it!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:29 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:29 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
i feel like the nsfl move happened way before r/wtf - maybe even as far back as stileproject - but yeah, it can mean either lunch or life.
posted by nadawi at 9:31 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by nadawi at 9:31 AM on February 27, 2014
Not Safe For Longhorns
Do Not Show This Link To A Cow
Or A UT Austin Student
posted by capricorn at 9:32 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
Do Not Show This Link To A Cow
Or A UT Austin Student
posted by capricorn at 9:32 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
If I have to pick a single worst post, it's this one about the mad Russian composer Scriabin, which has some good stuff under the fold, but which leads with a title from Rimbaud and a cascade of irrelevant links to Wikipedia.
Still, I regret my Ravi Shankar obit post for not being nearly fleshed out enough for an artist of his stature; this nostalgic classist waffle (please imagine this literally) from The Millions; and this essay by Adam Kirsch, who sucks.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:37 AM on February 27, 2014
Still, I regret my Ravi Shankar obit post for not being nearly fleshed out enough for an artist of his stature; this nostalgic classist waffle (please imagine this literally) from The Millions; and this essay by Adam Kirsch, who sucks.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:37 AM on February 27, 2014
I just found it amusing that a relatively obscure book on physics started selling big time after a copy turned up in the back seat of Tiger Woods' SUV on that fateful night a couple years ago. For me it was mainly a whimsical view of the weird, unexpected sparks that can be thrown off by our tabloid culture.
But the results went awry in such a diversity of directions that I was astonished some of those directions even existed.
posted by Naberius at 9:50 AM on February 27, 2014
But the results went awry in such a diversity of directions that I was astonished some of those directions even existed.
posted by Naberius at 9:50 AM on February 27, 2014
I really have no problem with these kinds of threads. A good trainwreck gives us all a better understanding regarding the physical limitations of passenger trains and rails.
Me neither, but do they have to be posted when we're in the middle of trying to break a new record for most days without a post?
posted by Melismata at 10:03 AM on February 27, 2014
Me neither, but do they have to be posted when we're in the middle of trying to break a new record for most days without a post?
posted by Melismata at 10:03 AM on February 27, 2014
All of my stinkers got deleted. My favorite one also got deleted and cortex yelled at me. Silenced all my life, etc...
posted by double block and bleed at 10:03 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by double block and bleed at 10:03 AM on February 27, 2014
rebent: "what are some things that you yourself have posted, that in retrospect you would take back, and why?"
How much time do you have?
posted by zarq at 10:04 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
How much time do you have?
posted by zarq at 10:04 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
I think metatalk threads stay open for 2 months...?
posted by rebent at 10:07 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by rebent at 10:07 AM on February 27, 2014
My worst (and first) post was an exceedingly thin obit for Benoit Mandelbrot. It probably shouldn't have been allowed to stand.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:14 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:14 AM on February 27, 2014
rebent: 1 month. My point is, mine would probably be a long list.
posted by zarq at 10:14 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by zarq at 10:14 AM on February 27, 2014
Sometimes only 2 minutes.
posted by double block and bleed at 10:15 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by double block and bleed at 10:15 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
When I happen upon this early post of mine, I cringe every. single. time. Ugh.
I thought the first link was comically interesting, and then went waaaaaay too far in trying to make it more relevant than it could ever be. And one of many of my worst comments ever is in there, too. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
Why am I drawing attention to this?!?
As a Pisces, I offer profound and whole-hearted apologies for the whole boring, confusing mess. Not that anyone cared. Or does now. Still. Clearing the air and all that. Maybe that's a mitigating factor for being prompted to reveal this shame.
posted by batmonkey at 10:18 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
I thought the first link was comically interesting, and then went waaaaaay too far in trying to make it more relevant than it could ever be. And one of many of my worst comments ever is in there, too. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
Why am I drawing attention to this?!?
As a Pisces, I offer profound and whole-hearted apologies for the whole boring, confusing mess. Not that anyone cared. Or does now. Still. Clearing the air and all that. Maybe that's a mitigating factor for being prompted to reveal this shame.
posted by batmonkey at 10:18 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
I would take back my first post about early twentieth century Latino guitar composers, because in the course of the intervening years I've come to feel that that music is pretty uninspired, that megaposts are dumb (mine wasn't quite one, I guess, but it was straining in that direction), and that mostly linking to a record company website and Wikipedia is pretty lame, since if you have to do a Google search to find something on the internet that has to do with the topic you want to post about then it's probably not in the spirit of "best of the web."
posted by invitapriore at 10:41 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by invitapriore at 10:41 AM on February 27, 2014
I regret nothing.
My drinking problem might be worse than I realize.
words to live by. Indeed, I recently got bored and went searching through http://mefideleted.blogspot.ca/ for some of my past triumphs, and stumbled upon this nugget which I'd completely forgotten about. Was I drunk at the time? Probably. Yet it did get 69 comments before it was exterminated.
For the record, I think the link was to this particular performance. WARNING: like it says on the original label, contains footage of Rod Stewart.
posted by philip-random at 10:41 AM on February 27, 2014
My drinking problem might be worse than I realize.
words to live by. Indeed, I recently got bored and went searching through http://mefideleted.blogspot.ca/ for some of my past triumphs, and stumbled upon this nugget which I'd completely forgotten about. Was I drunk at the time? Probably. Yet it did get 69 comments before it was exterminated.
For the record, I think the link was to this particular performance. WARNING: like it says on the original label, contains footage of Rod Stewart.
posted by philip-random at 10:41 AM on February 27, 2014
This is far better by the way, and indicates that even my framing for that post was wrong. Faces - Stay With Me, BBC Sounds For Saturday, 1971
still contains footage of Rod Stewart
posted by philip-random at 10:46 AM on February 27, 2014
still contains footage of Rod Stewart
posted by philip-random at 10:46 AM on February 27, 2014
if you have to do a Google search to find something on the internet that has to do with the topic you want to post about then it's probably not in the spirit of "best of the web."
Yes.
posted by Wolfdog at 10:47 AM on February 27, 2014
Yes.
posted by Wolfdog at 10:47 AM on February 27, 2014
You know, there's actually an even greater use for this post: it's like a master class for the perpetual "What makes a good post?" pondering - pointing someone to this and saying, "Read this and aim to not have these regrets." could be really useful.
posted by batmonkey at 10:56 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by batmonkey at 10:56 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
In this one on Blackfish, I didn't realize that the other documentary I posted about was 16 years old, not from last January, which I claim in the post. Realization of that occurs here. I even watched the entire thing and didn't put two and two together.
In this one about Maria Bamford, I didn't realize she had a breakdown after this show, not before, and while the premise of the show was that she just had a breakdown, it was a fiction at the time the show was being recorded. Realization occurs here.
In this one I claim Bezos' company Blue Origin had just launched and vertically landed a rocket. It actually happened a year before I posted. Realization occurs here.
This one about Kristen Wiig's last SNL was only visible to a fraction of our audience. Realization occurs here.
I think this post is the one I'm most proud of, taking literally months of work and research. But not only did I leave a glaring typo in the headline, I got the very last fact wrong. Typo realized here.
This one was too clever by half.
And in this one, only my second post to the blue, I misspelled the subject's name.
Why you people continue to let me post, I do not know.
On the other hand, in this one I guessed that the whole world had been duped into thinking a chimp was a movie star, and it turned out I was right and the world was wrong.
posted by Toekneesan at 11:01 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
In this one about Maria Bamford, I didn't realize she had a breakdown after this show, not before, and while the premise of the show was that she just had a breakdown, it was a fiction at the time the show was being recorded. Realization occurs here.
In this one I claim Bezos' company Blue Origin had just launched and vertically landed a rocket. It actually happened a year before I posted. Realization occurs here.
This one about Kristen Wiig's last SNL was only visible to a fraction of our audience. Realization occurs here.
I think this post is the one I'm most proud of, taking literally months of work and research. But not only did I leave a glaring typo in the headline, I got the very last fact wrong. Typo realized here.
This one was too clever by half.
And in this one, only my second post to the blue, I misspelled the subject's name.
Why you people continue to let me post, I do not know.
On the other hand, in this one I guessed that the whole world had been duped into thinking a chimp was a movie star, and it turned out I was right and the world was wrong.
posted by Toekneesan at 11:01 AM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Personal rule of thumb - applicable to posting on MetaFilter - is to try and not do anything spontaneous while tired/pre-coffee, angry, upset, post-orgasm or worst of all hungry. Follow that rule and you massively reduce the chances of embarrassing yourself in real life or online.
posted by Wordshore at 11:04 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Wordshore at 11:04 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Funny, I'd think post-orgasm would be an ideal time to post. You'd be feeling all warm and fuzzy and happy with the world.
OTOH if posts could in and of themselves induce orgasms...
Hey Silicon Valley, have I got an idea for you...
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:13 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
OTOH if posts could in and of themselves induce orgasms...
Hey Silicon Valley, have I got an idea for you...
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:13 AM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
I mistakenly thought the article I'd linked in this ball lightning post had the video which was the whole subject of the frickin' article embedded, but I had it confused with an article on another site that I'd opted not to include. Second comment politely asked if there was a link to the video anywhere.
Foreheads were smacked, and regret ensued.
But I remain defiantly proud of my objectively terrible first FPP.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:23 AM on February 27, 2014
Foreheads were smacked, and regret ensued.
But I remain defiantly proud of my objectively terrible first FPP.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:23 AM on February 27, 2014
For the record, it was the subject of the post - Normcore itself - rather than the fact that Rebent posted it. The post is fine. I just think Normcore is beyond belief as far as "I seriously know about that, now?"
Seriously - it's the only thing I've come across in the pop culture world that makes twerking look brilliant by comparison.
Post away, Rebent! You're always welcome on my lawn of Cultural Rigidity.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 11:27 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Seriously - it's the only thing I've come across in the pop culture world that makes twerking look brilliant by comparison.
Post away, Rebent! You're always welcome on my lawn of Cultural Rigidity.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 11:27 AM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Although I can't find it on the deleted posts blog, I could've sworn I made an FPP in 2005 about California rolling out a legalized marijuana program state-wide. Since the post consisted of essentially nothing but me going, "Woo-hoo! Weed for everyone!!!" it was quickly deleted (thankfully.)
posted by hapax_legomenon at 11:35 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by hapax_legomenon at 11:35 AM on February 27, 2014
I have still never posted anything on Metafilter proper, but I once made a comment in which I confused Jonathan Lethem for Jonathan Franzen. :(
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:42 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:42 AM on February 27, 2014
I wrote 'there' instead of 'their'. That is similar to writing "flame bate" instead of "flame bait". Snark.
posted by Cranberry at 11:52 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by Cranberry at 11:52 AM on February 27, 2014
Personal rule of thumb - applicable to posting on MetaFilter - try and not do anything spontaneous while tired/pre-coffee, angry, upset, post-orgasm or worst of all hungry
That rule explains all my problems...
posted by nubs at 11:57 AM on February 27, 2014
That rule explains all my problems...
posted by nubs at 11:57 AM on February 27, 2014
The way I live my life, any post I make is likely to be made after a recent orgasm.
I've had a few posts deleted because I was confused about some basic fact when I posted it and realized my error too damn late. I think the dumbest thing I ever did was participate in elephant day, a now-forgotten phenomenon where a few posts that were coincidentally about elephants happened and then a whole bunch of stunt posts, including mine. That being said, I think the post itself was pretty interesting.
I've done a lot of posts about subjects nobody gives a shit about, such as my post about the amazing song Greta Garbo Home for Wayward Boys and Girls, whose title I have repeatedly pilfered for my own work. And the video of Hitler in a dress singing showtunes about being gay. And my obsessive post on the monkey gland fad.
Even to myself, my Astro Zombie years seem peculiar.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:16 PM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
I've had a few posts deleted because I was confused about some basic fact when I posted it and realized my error too damn late. I think the dumbest thing I ever did was participate in elephant day, a now-forgotten phenomenon where a few posts that were coincidentally about elephants happened and then a whole bunch of stunt posts, including mine. That being said, I think the post itself was pretty interesting.
I've done a lot of posts about subjects nobody gives a shit about, such as my post about the amazing song Greta Garbo Home for Wayward Boys and Girls, whose title I have repeatedly pilfered for my own work. And the video of Hitler in a dress singing showtunes about being gay. And my obsessive post on the monkey gland fad.
Even to myself, my Astro Zombie years seem peculiar.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:16 PM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
I rely on the mods to ban anything too stupid I might post (and they have!) and otherwise, well, it's just a post on a website. Life is too short to live in regret for such a tiny thing.
posted by emjaybee at 12:20 PM on February 27, 2014
posted by emjaybee at 12:20 PM on February 27, 2014
Even if you are so glad to have those awkward years behind you. Even moreso then!
This, now, is what you'll regret in 10 years.
posted by Meatbomb at 12:22 PM on February 27, 2014
This, now, is what you'll regret in 10 years.
posted by Meatbomb at 12:22 PM on February 27, 2014
I was curious — I thought my shit was always on point, yo — so I delved back in. Most embarrassing, terrible post? This one, easily, though my first post ever had the Schoolboy German problem.
posted by klangklangston at 12:36 PM on February 27, 2014
posted by klangklangston at 12:36 PM on February 27, 2014
I've done a lot of posts about subjects nobody gives a shit about
My biggest flop was a post about about a newly discovered song by Harry Nilsson, which happened to be a song written for the L.A. Dodgers. I really thought people would be interested in hearing a new song by him -- even the novelty song angle -- but I think the only interest it garnered was from a couple of people who thought their sports team's song was the best. Not a disaster, but I'd go back and add a "sad trombone" tag if I could.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:44 PM on February 27, 2014
My biggest flop was a post about about a newly discovered song by Harry Nilsson, which happened to be a song written for the L.A. Dodgers. I really thought people would be interested in hearing a new song by him -- even the novelty song angle -- but I think the only interest it garnered was from a couple of people who thought their sports team's song was the best. Not a disaster, but I'd go back and add a "sad trombone" tag if I could.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:44 PM on February 27, 2014
Bunny Ultramod: "I've done a lot of posts about subjects nobody gives a shit about..."
Yeah, but the threads are usually stress-free. :)
posted by zarq at 12:48 PM on February 27, 2014
Yeah, but the threads are usually stress-free. :)
posted by zarq at 12:48 PM on February 27, 2014
"I would like to apologize for posting about Mr Snuffleupagus who, I have since learned is not actually an elephant but more like a mammoth and definitely a snuffleupagus. I am thoroughly chastened.
At least it wasn't about elephants getting picked off behind the front lines..."
posted by nevercalm at 5:44 PM on October 8, 2006
posted by zarq at 1:03 PM on February 27, 2014
I stand behind all of my FPPs
posted by sgrass at 1:04 PM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by sgrass at 1:04 PM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, Nassau-Suffolk Football League, National Swiss Football League, Nano Systems Fabrication Laboratory, Northwestern Students for Life or National Swine Fever Laboratory (various locations). Just sayin'.
I know I'm gonna regret posting that.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:07 PM on February 27, 2014
I know I'm gonna regret posting that.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:07 PM on February 27, 2014
There's one post I made early on. I don't regret the link, which was good, but I used the article's catchy time-travel/kill-Hitler framing, which completely derailed and dominated the thread, far overshadowing the original point of an interesting piece. It was entirely my fault and totally avoidable.
Was a good lesson for me to choose my words carefully, and remember how many people won't rtfa, but also won't really read the op.
On preview, that sounds snitty, it's not intended to be. The error was mine
posted by smoke at 1:14 PM on February 27, 2014
Was a good lesson for me to choose my words carefully, and remember how many people won't rtfa, but also won't really read the op.
On preview, that sounds snitty, it's not intended to be. The error was mine
posted by smoke at 1:14 PM on February 27, 2014
All my posts are the worst.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 1:22 PM on February 27, 2014
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 1:22 PM on February 27, 2014
US out of Iraq in the year 2525, er 2011 was my first post. It turned out to be true, but really, that was what I thought would make a good first post? Oh well. It went over better than Martin Liebscher's series of scenes staged only with him.
We will learn nothing from our mistakes (I own this shirt, specifically for that line).
posted by filthy light thief at 1:23 PM on February 27, 2014
We will learn nothing from our mistakes (I own this shirt, specifically for that line).
posted by filthy light thief at 1:23 PM on February 27, 2014
Non, je ne regrette rien
Moi non plus. My posts have been uniformally interesting, I think, to those who read them.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:28 PM on February 27, 2014
Moi non plus. My posts have been uniformally interesting, I think, to those who read them.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:28 PM on February 27, 2014
As my profile proudly declares (it keeps me humble):
"Result of first FPP?
Your mother? Flagged.
posted by skallas at 11:30 AM PST on May 3"
Sorry, Mom."
I've learned my lesson, and will never again use my mother's phone calls as a framing device for Metafilter posts.
posted by redsparkler at 1:48 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
"Result of first FPP?
Your mother? Flagged.
posted by skallas at 11:30 AM PST on May 3"
Sorry, Mom."
I've learned my lesson, and will never again use my mother's phone calls as a framing device for Metafilter posts.
posted by redsparkler at 1:48 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
My entire posting history is filled with regrets (but more from my 'wendell' era showing that I've either matured or changed my personal definition of 'regretable').
Here's The Worst of Wendell, starting with some of wendell's least-favorited (after favorites were introduced):
The Best Phallic Image You Will See in the News Today
Philately Will Get You Nowhere
Anatomically Incorrect and Not Safe For Wendell
(one favorite each, ALL from limeonaire - dude you're worse off than I am, let me recommend a therapist)
In honor of the 8th Anniversary of MetaFilter, here are 8 YouTube links to... CAT SCANS (WAY too Meta for Meta)
"Saddam did not wendell"
Why are clowns considered scary by kids of all ages? (with the easily misread title LOLCLOWNSNOT)
It's the Pew News IQ... Comin' right at you...
Shark Virgin Birth! Praise Jawsus! (punchline stolen from Halcyon)
(NO favorites)
And before the favorites (leaving me to judge my own awfuliciousness)
ME mocking the company name Blonder Tongue
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Social Security AND the Roller Derby
Was I really first to do a Ronald Reagan obitfilter post? WHY?
A now-deeply-regretted semi-mocking post on Asexuality
The Douglas Adams/Dilbert-sponsored Weasel Awards (now with dead link - even Adams regretted them)
A post about Emoticon Abuse that abused the soon-to-be-disabled BIG html tag
Just for the record, I am NOT Wendigo...
and the time I wrote in a FPP "it's been such a bad day for new posts on MeFi, I had to do something"
My early days on MeFi were so filled with over-editorializing and newsfilter (mostly with YahooNews future dead links) that I'd call all of 2000 my Worst Posts on MeFi, with one exception (and it's kind of a double).
In fact, my last post under my former wendell identity probably influenced my decision to change names.
And this doesn't even include my DELETED posts... I will have much more to attone for... later; I'm taking a break for lunch.
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:12 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Here's The Worst of Wendell, starting with some of wendell's least-favorited (after favorites were introduced):
The Best Phallic Image You Will See in the News Today
Philately Will Get You Nowhere
Anatomically Incorrect and Not Safe For Wendell
(one favorite each, ALL from limeonaire - dude you're worse off than I am, let me recommend a therapist)
In honor of the 8th Anniversary of MetaFilter, here are 8 YouTube links to... CAT SCANS (WAY too Meta for Meta)
"Saddam did not wendell"
Why are clowns considered scary by kids of all ages? (with the easily misread title LOLCLOWNSNOT)
It's the Pew News IQ... Comin' right at you...
Shark Virgin Birth! Praise Jawsus! (punchline stolen from Halcyon)
(NO favorites)
And before the favorites (leaving me to judge my own awfuliciousness)
ME mocking the company name Blonder Tongue
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Social Security AND the Roller Derby
Was I really first to do a Ronald Reagan obitfilter post? WHY?
A now-deeply-regretted semi-mocking post on Asexuality
The Douglas Adams/Dilbert-sponsored Weasel Awards (now with dead link - even Adams regretted them)
A post about Emoticon Abuse that abused the soon-to-be-disabled BIG html tag
Just for the record, I am NOT Wendigo...
and the time I wrote in a FPP "it's been such a bad day for new posts on MeFi, I had to do something"
My early days on MeFi were so filled with over-editorializing and newsfilter (mostly with YahooNews future dead links) that I'd call all of 2000 my Worst Posts on MeFi, with one exception (and it's kind of a double).
In fact, my last post under my former wendell identity probably influenced my decision to change names.
And this doesn't even include my DELETED posts... I will have much more to attone for... later; I'm taking a break for lunch.
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:12 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
I try to post clever comments, but as MeFi's own jscalzi sez, "The failure mode of clever is asshole." Probably the worst things I've posted have been comments striving to be clever and superior. In that case, the success mode is asshole. Those comments of mine make me seriously reconsider my belief that I possess any good judgement at all.
posted by infinitewindow at 2:14 PM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by infinitewindow at 2:14 PM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
I have only tried to post to the blue once. It was promptly deleted.
If you aren't being promptly deleted, hey, you are more successful than I am.
posted by Michele in California at 2:21 PM on February 27, 2014
If you aren't being promptly deleted, hey, you are more successful than I am.
posted by Michele in California at 2:21 PM on February 27, 2014
This got deleted? Thanks for saving me a lot of laughs.
posted by telstar at 2:22 PM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by telstar at 2:22 PM on February 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
I wrote 'there' instead of 'their'. That is similar to writing "flame bate" instead of "flame bait". Snark.
A flame bate would be a useful thing, though!
posted by running order squabble fest at 2:51 PM on February 27, 2014
A flame bate would be a useful thing, though!
posted by running order squabble fest at 2:51 PM on February 27, 2014
I ran into a fence I'd put up the other day. There's the post I made that I really regret.
posted by maryr at 2:55 PM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by maryr at 2:55 PM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Boy I tell you what I really regret is my posts to Music. I'd be just mortified if anyone went over and listened to, or - heaven forfend - left comments on something like this or this or this terrible embarassment.
Gosh.
posted by Wolfdog at 3:08 PM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
Gosh.
posted by Wolfdog at 3:08 PM on February 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
I would probably take back all of my FPPs, ever. I am pretty comfortable with my commenting history, but when it comes to composing FPPs I think the part of my brain responsible for critical thinking and taste and restraining hysteria goes on vacation. Inevitably if I look back on them even a few weeks after the fact I wince. So I've stopped writing them and leave that job to the experts.
posted by Anonymous at 3:17 PM on February 27, 2014
posted by Anonymous at 3:17 PM on February 27, 2014
Of 92 posts, there's 18 I wish I hadn't posted.
As the inaccuracies mount, make that 19 out of 93. Ho hum. #FailedCataloger
I should probably have just linked to the Seinfeld quote and nothing else.
posted by Wordshore at 3:55 PM on February 27, 2014
As the inaccuracies mount, make that 19 out of 93. Ho hum. #FailedCataloger
I should probably have just linked to the Seinfeld quote and nothing else.
posted by Wordshore at 3:55 PM on February 27, 2014
This post was ill conceived. A mefite (probably) goatse'd the site in the link after it was posted.
This one turned into a train wreck. The subsequent Metatalk post about it was also a train wreck.
This one, too.
I'm posting more nostalgic stuff these days for a reason.
posted by zarq at 4:26 PM on February 27, 2014
This one turned into a train wreck. The subsequent Metatalk post about it was also a train wreck.
This one, too.
I'm posting more nostalgic stuff these days for a reason.
posted by zarq at 4:26 PM on February 27, 2014
As oneswellfoop, I deeply regret "50 Worst Pageviews Ever" for being very intentionally NOT the Best of the Web (but still rather well received).
Also my "Petition to Bring Back Mayor McCheese", for intentionally and snarkily skirting a MeFi prohibition, Pepsi-Bluing McDonalds (which everyone knows serves Coke), pointing to a temporary site that got taken over by an equally-temporary bad political blog, a Time Magazine link and, well, general cheeziness...
My most embarrassing Front Page typo: "Romeo inblueblack jeans". Second place: It's from Belgium, not Germany, dummy.
My most-regretable post title is: "My suspenders are attached directly to my genitals... Los Osos, California!"
My most uncharacteristically NSFW: The Frog's Bollocks (and others).
And my topic-most-repeated-ad-nauseum, posting about Lake Superior State University's List of Banished Words (and other similar "Word of the Year" "Worst Word of the Year") announcements, first done at the end of 2003 and last done at the end of 2012 (when I felt too guilty to include 'Previouslys') and in recognition of my self-control*, not repeated at the end of 2013
* I lied, I was sick with the flu over the holiday, but I do promise never to do it again,
(and I haven't even gotten into my DELETED posts...)
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:05 PM on February 27, 2014
Also my "Petition to Bring Back Mayor McCheese", for intentionally and snarkily skirting a MeFi prohibition, Pepsi-Bluing McDonalds (which everyone knows serves Coke), pointing to a temporary site that got taken over by an equally-temporary bad political blog, a Time Magazine link and, well, general cheeziness...
My most embarrassing Front Page typo: "Romeo in
My most-regretable post title is: "My suspenders are attached directly to my genitals... Los Osos, California!"
My most uncharacteristically NSFW: The Frog's Bollocks (and others).
And my topic-most-repeated-ad-nauseum, posting about Lake Superior State University's List of Banished Words (and other similar "Word of the Year" "Worst Word of the Year") announcements, first done at the end of 2003 and last done at the end of 2012 (when I felt too guilty to include 'Previouslys') and in recognition of my self-control*, not repeated at the end of 2013
* I lied, I was sick with the flu over the holiday, but I do promise never to do it again,
(and I haven't even gotten into my DELETED posts...)
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:05 PM on February 27, 2014
Going over my history of Deleted Posts, I'm surprising not-so-ashamed... a few undiscovered Doubles, a few single-link newsfilters that fell over into outragefilter (but I WAS outraged at the time), only six deletes since I became oneswellfoop, including one self-admitted "Single Link, Short, One Joke YouTube" that was my single worst example of letting my love of punnery control me.
And from my wild days as wendell:
Of course, a contentious Global Warming/Bush Administration post with TWO BoingBoing links easily earned a first-comment reference to the "this will not wendell" meme.
And an otherwise unremarkable story that reminded me of a great Smothers Brothers routine (since deleted from YouTube) earned me this deletion message from coretx in 2009: "I know you're kind of new here, but this sort of thin news-of-the-weird blurb really doesn't make for good post material." That was an owie, matt.
Still, I found much more to be ashamed of in posts that didn't get deleted... another reason I LOVE this place!
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:25 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
And from my wild days as wendell:
Of course, a contentious Global Warming/Bush Administration post with TWO BoingBoing links easily earned a first-comment reference to the "this will not wendell" meme.
And an otherwise unremarkable story that reminded me of a great Smothers Brothers routine (since deleted from YouTube) earned me this deletion message from coretx in 2009: "I know you're kind of new here, but this sort of thin news-of-the-weird blurb really doesn't make for good post material." That was an owie, matt.
Still, I found much more to be ashamed of in posts that didn't get deleted... another reason I LOVE this place!
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:25 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
"I've never hated a video or a Metafilter post more." Which, okay, fine. But I don't regret it.
This post about Taco Photography was not the best of the web, I admit.
And, sadly, my first post ever was about Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls. I only regret that because the film turned out to be rubbish.
posted by crossoverman at 6:00 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
This post about Taco Photography was not the best of the web, I admit.
And, sadly, my first post ever was about Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls. I only regret that because the film turned out to be rubbish.
posted by crossoverman at 6:00 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
My worst one was down to procrastination. There had been this nifty music browsing website posted to Mefi around 2009 -- thesixtyone. Some time afterward, they implemented a sweeping redesign and published a free and neat-looking iPad app. I meant to post about it at the time, but let it slide for a few years.
In the meantime, the redesign had proved unpopular with the site's userbase and eventually drove most of them away, suffocating the community. The owners apparently gave up and moved to other projects, but the site and app remained online and functional, albeit with scads of bugs like being unable to create new accounts (or log in to existing ones).
By the time I got around to posting it, it seemed like all was normal on the surface, but the content turned out to be stale and basic functions almost unusable. Very frustrating.
Other stuff:
This BREAKING INTERNATIONAL SCANDAL involving drug cartels and Iranian spycraft didn't really amount to much.
I still like the series, but this intro was best left to the professionals.
The Creature Creator was cool, but Spore was a dissapointment, and its one-time shits-and-giggles video blog did not merit a post.
And Offplanet Films was hard done by one of the worst above-the-folds I've ever written, here or anywhere else.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:19 PM on February 27, 2014
In the meantime, the redesign had proved unpopular with the site's userbase and eventually drove most of them away, suffocating the community. The owners apparently gave up and moved to other projects, but the site and app remained online and functional, albeit with scads of bugs like being unable to create new accounts (or log in to existing ones).
By the time I got around to posting it, it seemed like all was normal on the surface, but the content turned out to be stale and basic functions almost unusable. Very frustrating.
Other stuff:
This BREAKING INTERNATIONAL SCANDAL involving drug cartels and Iranian spycraft didn't really amount to much.
I still like the series, but this intro was best left to the professionals.
The Creature Creator was cool, but Spore was a dissapointment, and its one-time shits-and-giggles video blog did not merit a post.
And Offplanet Films was hard done by one of the worst above-the-folds I've ever written, here or anywhere else.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:19 PM on February 27, 2014
MetaFilter: Realization occurs.
posted by homunculus at 6:39 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 6:39 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
I have some regrets about the crooked roller derby person, and Hillary Clinton's campaign theme song.
posted by box at 6:44 PM on February 27, 2014
posted by box at 6:44 PM on February 27, 2014
Speaking of posts to the blue, yesterday I noticed that my latest post was my six hundredth. I want a prize. Belgian chocolate would be fine.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:28 PM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:28 PM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
"This is the worst post I've seen on Metafilter. You suck."
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 7:58 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 7:58 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
I miss the old MetaFilter so much.
posted by entropicamericana at 8:00 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by entropicamericana at 8:00 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Ugh. I just can't read this whole thread right now. But I have met Lipstick Thespian in person, and he's a wicked nice guy.
And I have thought of about a bazillion posts but haven't made them, due to things like this.
Maybe you will all look better tomorrow with coffee, I don't know. But this is the lamest callout I've seen in a while.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:59 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
And I have thought of about a bazillion posts but haven't made them, due to things like this.
Maybe you will all look better tomorrow with coffee, I don't know. But this is the lamest callout I've seen in a while.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:59 PM on February 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
My post about fashion designer didn't go over as well as I'd hoped. People really hated the Breaking Calvin post. And my thing on Mealku was just a dumb NYT trendpiece basically.
Because of these, I've actually been hesitant ever since to make a lot of posts I'm inspired to.
posted by knile at 9:22 PM on February 27, 2014
Because of these, I've actually been hesitant ever since to make a lot of posts I'm inspired to.
posted by knile at 9:22 PM on February 27, 2014
I wish I'd made a better post about Kalamazoo Promise. The oddball added a bunch of links from his post that made it a lot better, but something that awesome really deserved a top-notch post. Instead, it was meh, and not a lot of people saw it, it seems.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:57 PM on February 27, 2014
posted by Ghidorah at 9:57 PM on February 27, 2014
My first ever Mefi post announced itself with the immortal words "more fallout from the Winona trial" and linked to the Smoking Gun. I've spent the last 11 years searching for FPP material that comes anywhere near the standard set by that first post.
posted by Sonny Jim at 3:02 AM on February 28, 2014
posted by Sonny Jim at 3:02 AM on February 28, 2014
There's a reason I generally find posting on the Blue much too scary. It's clearly really hard. This thread makes that more obvious than it already was.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:48 AM on February 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:48 AM on February 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
A lot of my posts, in retrospect, are pretty terrible. (not worth linking to because of link rot unfortunately) There's only a couple I'd take back, but really only about 5 of them live up to the standards I judge the rest of you by.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:53 AM on February 28, 2014
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:53 AM on February 28, 2014
Reflecting back at my posts I see that every one of them would have benefitted from a bit of... lagering? Maturing might not be the right word.
If it has to be posted right now, it's probably news, if it has to be posted right now, because it's important, it's probably not the best of the web, if it has to be posted right now, because it's OH SO COOL, probably it's time to go take a walk.
If it's good today, it'll be better tomorrow. I think I might've read it somewhere around here.
posted by hat_eater at 5:36 AM on February 28, 2014
If it has to be posted right now, it's probably news, if it has to be posted right now, because it's important, it's probably not the best of the web, if it has to be posted right now, because it's OH SO COOL, probably it's time to go take a walk.
If it's good today, it'll be better tomorrow. I think I might've read it somewhere around here.
posted by hat_eater at 5:36 AM on February 28, 2014
Awhile back I made a jokey comment that was (privately) called out for being triggering. I regret having made it, and have tried not to repeat it.
posted by jquinby at 5:51 AM on February 28, 2014
posted by jquinby at 5:51 AM on February 28, 2014
Man, I loved thesixtyone but yeah their redesign was a nightmare.
posted by winna at 5:55 AM on February 28, 2014
posted by winna at 5:55 AM on February 28, 2014
So it's not even ten in the morning and I'm obsessively clicking every link in a list of worst posts
what am I doing with my life
posted by ook at 6:39 AM on February 28, 2014 [9 favorites]
what am I doing with my life
posted by ook at 6:39 AM on February 28, 2014 [9 favorites]
And here I am wondering if my post was the best worst post. It is a sad life and so it is; it is mine.
posted by h00py at 6:44 AM on February 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by h00py at 6:44 AM on February 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
I've never made a post on Metafilter. I've made lots of comments though, and they've all been unfailingly magnificent.
posted by Decani at 6:47 AM on February 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Decani at 6:47 AM on February 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
ook - i've read so many threads linked here! i keep wanting to comment only to remember why i was reading it in the first place.
posted by nadawi at 7:04 AM on February 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 7:04 AM on February 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Every single post I made in 2000 is irredeemably bad. One Israel / Palestine thread (that got a whole 8 comments). One that asks a question. One that links to the front page of CNN. One that links to the front page of Drudge Report on election day.
The standards sure were lower back then. They were all received pretty well.
posted by smackfu at 7:39 AM on February 28, 2014
The standards sure were lower back then. They were all received pretty well.
posted by smackfu at 7:39 AM on February 28, 2014
I guess I regret at least one post that I made that I knew was going to be deleted for thinness reasons. I regret the one I made of the cat puppet. I regret posting the Prometheus trailer, as the experience of that movie was like expecting a wonderful dinner and getting a moldy potato. God, I'm really sorry I flamed the fires of anybody's anticipation with that post. I regret the fiery Metatalk thread I made after like being a member for a week, 'cause oh man, don't do that.
And of course, I've been an asshole here and there, and I regret that too.
Is this what confession is like for Catholics? If so, what sorts of prayers should I say to save my soul and go to Metafilter heaven?
posted by angrycat at 7:42 AM on February 28, 2014
And of course, I've been an asshole here and there, and I regret that too.
Is this what confession is like for Catholics? If so, what sorts of prayers should I say to save my soul and go to Metafilter heaven?
posted by angrycat at 7:42 AM on February 28, 2014
And no I'm not putting in links so others can go back and relive my folly.
posted by angrycat at 7:44 AM on February 28, 2014
posted by angrycat at 7:44 AM on February 28, 2014
Is this what confession is like for Catholics? If so, what sorts of prayers should I say to save my soul and go to Metafilter heaven?
No, inasmuch as public confession was done away with some time ago.
In any event, having confessed your sins, you make an Act of Contrition (I am sorry for screwing up), hear the Prayer of Absolution (You are forgiven...) and then go to perform whatever penance the priest has offered (...but go fix it).
Despite the cliches associated with it, the sacrament of Reconciliation is quite beautiful.
posted by jquinby at 7:54 AM on February 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
No, inasmuch as public confession was done away with some time ago.
In any event, having confessed your sins, you make an Act of Contrition (I am sorry for screwing up), hear the Prayer of Absolution (You are forgiven...) and then go to perform whatever penance the priest has offered (...but go fix it).
Despite the cliches associated with it, the sacrament of Reconciliation is quite beautiful.
posted by jquinby at 7:54 AM on February 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
I had a dream last night that Metafilter accidentally shut down the city of Boston with an inadvertent gay rights protest when someone used Google Maps to plan a meet up that was going to walk to the museum that was holding an exhibit on the history of legos in GBLTQ culture. Google Maps sent us over a freeway bridge with no pedestrian access.
Afterwards, Mathowie got in a shouting match with Ted Nugent about it, which we found out about during the inadvertent protest due to a front page story in a time traveling copy of the Boston Globe. I actually exclaimed, “it’s a time traveling copy of the Boston Globe, kind of like from the TV show Early Edition.”
When we got to the museum, the staff all congratulated us and waved a pink apron like a finish line flag. They were a little upset that Boston commuters were going to associate the traffic jam with their exhibit, though.
The gay legos exhibit was really freaking awesome and was totally worth it.
(Should I make this a FPP?)
posted by Skwirl at 8:02 AM on February 28, 2014 [8 favorites]
Afterwards, Mathowie got in a shouting match with Ted Nugent about it, which we found out about during the inadvertent protest due to a front page story in a time traveling copy of the Boston Globe. I actually exclaimed, “it’s a time traveling copy of the Boston Globe, kind of like from the TV show Early Edition.”
When we got to the museum, the staff all congratulated us and waved a pink apron like a finish line flag. They were a little upset that Boston commuters were going to associate the traffic jam with their exhibit, though.
The gay legos exhibit was really freaking awesome and was totally worth it.
(Should I make this a FPP?)
posted by Skwirl at 8:02 AM on February 28, 2014 [8 favorites]
YES
posted by rebent at 9:12 AM on February 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by rebent at 9:12 AM on February 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
Thank you for reminding me of Elephant Day. Noticing that as it was unfolding put a huge smile on my face at the time.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:02 AM on February 28, 2014
posted by Chrysostom at 10:02 AM on February 28, 2014
I regret that I didn't put more effort into the Planet Money T-shirt post (and thanks to everyone who dropped in background links in the comments); it sort of lost something without the proper context.
I don't think I regret it, but I do feel weird that my post on Laverne Cox (which I thought was a kind of small-scale story) spawned two MetaTalks and a combined thousand-plus comments and led to a lot--a lot--of teeth-gnashing.
On the bright side, I think I may have made the only post in MeFi history that included the words "Sarah Palin" in the first line and didn't generate a bunch of teeth-gnashing.
posted by psoas at 10:50 AM on February 28, 2014
I don't think I regret it, but I do feel weird that my post on Laverne Cox (which I thought was a kind of small-scale story) spawned two MetaTalks and a combined thousand-plus comments and led to a lot--a lot--of teeth-gnashing.
On the bright side, I think I may have made the only post in MeFi history that included the words "Sarah Palin" in the first line and didn't generate a bunch of teeth-gnashing.
posted by psoas at 10:50 AM on February 28, 2014
I'm still waiting for Decani's Viv Stanshall post.
posted by homunculus at 10:57 AM on February 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 10:57 AM on February 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Ah, Wolfdog....
If you only knew how many places around the world I've played your Sudenpolkka song as loud as the volume would go....I've played this song in Aberdeen, I've played this song in Jakarta. I've played this song in North Dakota, I've played this song in the Sahara.
And if you only knew how many times I've been asked, "Who is that?" and I've replied only, "Wolfdog," with no other explanation...because "Wolfdog" speaks for itself....
You wouldn't need to link here.
posted by barchan at 11:50 AM on February 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
If you only knew how many places around the world I've played your Sudenpolkka song as loud as the volume would go....I've played this song in Aberdeen, I've played this song in Jakarta. I've played this song in North Dakota, I've played this song in the Sahara.
And if you only knew how many times I've been asked, "Who is that?" and I've replied only, "Wolfdog," with no other explanation...because "Wolfdog" speaks for itself....
You wouldn't need to link here.
posted by barchan at 11:50 AM on February 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
I'm pretty sure Wolfdog was going for the opposite effect, barchan. It worked!
posted by batmonkey at 1:40 PM on February 28, 2014
posted by batmonkey at 1:40 PM on February 28, 2014
From the depths of the deleted: George Takei replies to 9 young people who wrote they were supporting "traditional" marriage at National Organization for Marriage's Marriage March. I realize that it makes for a fairly weak post by MeFi standards, but I still find his responses amusing in the face of the young people's comments.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:24 PM on February 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by filthy light thief at 2:24 PM on February 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
On the bright side, I think I may have made the only post in MeFi history that included the words "Sarah Palin" in the first line and didn't generate a bunch of teeth-gnashing.
There's always the possibility of someone (not me) doing an FPP over the weekend about Sarah "predicting" the current Ukraine-Russia problems a few years back.
...which would lead to the distinct possibility of the mods quickly nuking it from orbit.
This is not a challenge.
posted by Wordshore at 3:34 PM on February 28, 2014
There's always the possibility of someone (not me) doing an FPP over the weekend about Sarah "predicting" the current Ukraine-Russia problems a few years back.
...which would lead to the distinct possibility of the mods quickly nuking it from orbit.
This is not a challenge.
posted by Wordshore at 3:34 PM on February 28, 2014
Sarah Palin posts were good times. First the fear, then the savage, savage mockery.
posted by angrycat at 5:02 AM on March 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by angrycat at 5:02 AM on March 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Sure was.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:19 AM on March 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:19 AM on March 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
most of my regrets are for not researching or framing posts more thoroughly. One of my challenges is being short of time to really do good depth on any post, as I'm usually going "huh" and tossing something together during downtime at work which on reflection is a really terrible time to try to frame a mefi post or look into the backstory, and then it leads to me over editorializing or whatever.
so maybe I'll try to do a better job of saving interesting stuff to evernote or whatever to work on the framing and fleshing out part but honestly I doubt it. I'll probably just not make many or any FPPs. there are so many other users on here who are better at it and have more time to devote to doing it right.
posted by lonefrontranger at 7:27 AM on March 1, 2014
so maybe I'll try to do a better job of saving interesting stuff to evernote or whatever to work on the framing and fleshing out part but honestly I doubt it. I'll probably just not make many or any FPPs. there are so many other users on here who are better at it and have more time to devote to doing it right.
posted by lonefrontranger at 7:27 AM on March 1, 2014
Very clever, trying to get previously banned posts back on to the site. [golf clap]
posted by Renoroc at 9:38 AM on March 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Renoroc at 9:38 AM on March 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
I use to be a card-carrying member of the Republican Party, much of my early posting history now makes me cringe.
posted by Mick at 1:59 PM on March 1, 2014
posted by Mick at 1:59 PM on March 1, 2014
Well, while not all my posts were masterpieces, the one I most see as a mistake now is this MeTa post.
However it prompted a comment from mathowie that began "penis penis penis fire salvia penis penis penis penis" which inspired the enormous oil portrait I eventually had commissioned so it all worked out.
posted by salvia at 9:58 PM on March 1, 2014 [7 favorites]
However it prompted a comment from mathowie that began "penis penis penis fire salvia penis penis penis penis" which inspired the enormous oil portrait I eventually had commissioned so it all worked out.
posted by salvia at 9:58 PM on March 1, 2014 [7 favorites]
Thank you for reminding me of Elephant Day. Noticing that as it was unfolding put a huge smile on my face at the time.
Is there some kind of Worf thing going on on the Blue at the moment, or is it just coincidence? The six most recent FPPs include:
- "I am Worf, Son of Mogh."
- "Fans of both Joy Division and Star Trek TNG may be amused by the imposition of the pulsar graph as Worf's ridges"
- "I wasn't drawn to Worf at first... it was just another job."
... and also a "If you go down to the Wharf today..."
Hmmmm.
posted by Wordshore at 3:35 AM on March 5, 2014
Is there some kind of Worf thing going on on the Blue at the moment, or is it just coincidence? The six most recent FPPs include:
- "I am Worf, Son of Mogh."
- "Fans of both Joy Division and Star Trek TNG may be amused by the imposition of the pulsar graph as Worf's ridges"
- "I wasn't drawn to Worf at first... it was just another job."
... and also a "If you go down to the Wharf today..."
Hmmmm.
posted by Wordshore at 3:35 AM on March 5, 2014
My worst post was my first (and only) post. I was a newbie and tried to link to a NYT article, not realizing it was a paywall. Got called out in the first or second comment. I have not posted on MetaFilter since. Haven't even wanted to try again.
I've posted on AskMe since then, and ended up having one of my posts removed (at my request) by the mods, due to some comments that strongly suggested removing it.
posted by sundrop at 2:51 PM on March 8, 2014
I've posted on AskMe since then, and ended up having one of my posts removed (at my request) by the mods, due to some comments that strongly suggested removing it.
posted by sundrop at 2:51 PM on March 8, 2014
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Rebent, what is your goal here? Where do you intend for the community discussion to go?
posted by leotrotsky at 6:35 AM on February 27, 2014 [6 favorites]