Open For Business February 8, 2015 9:25 PM Subscribe
I just realized that MeFi project threads never close. Is that intentional? Why aren't other threads like that?
Do you know what it is about certain subsites that it doesn't create a problem? I mean, it could get abused, it just doesn't. Is it related to traffic numbers?
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:47 PM on February 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:47 PM on February 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
The classic example of thread abuse was the legendary #1142 from the early days.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:59 PM on February 8, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:59 PM on February 8, 2015 [7 favorites]
Yeah, I think it's mostly a matter of traffic and visibility. Ask spam is pretty much the definitive "why it can be a headache" example, and that's also the part of the site that we get the most incoming search traffic from. Comment spammers are almost always people who don't care one way or the other about Metafilter but know a forum-type space that comes up on the first page or two of a keyword search when they see it, and so we get people signing up to try and dump links into ask threads. That we close those after a year at least limits the scope of questions for which we have to monitor late comments to a discrete rolling window.
On the blue, spam is less of an issue but not never one; people getting into weird on-going shit with each other is a little more likely to be an issue because there's not the "answer the question" expectation like there is on the green.
And Metatalk, hooboy.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:23 PM on February 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
On the blue, spam is less of an issue but not never one; people getting into weird on-going shit with each other is a little more likely to be an issue because there's not the "answer the question" expectation like there is on the green.
And Metatalk, hooboy.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:23 PM on February 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Whoa, I did not know about #1142. That's .... something, is what it is.
posted by rtha at 10:33 PM on February 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 10:33 PM on February 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
If MetaTalk threads never closed, then we wouldn't need more than one MetaTalk thread - an endless, ongoing fight about everything, with countless bannings, time-outs and flame-outs; trolls would fight strawmen until only one true Scotsman was left with this head on his shoulders to claim The Prize (soundtrack by Queen). In other words, there need be, and could be, only #1. Just a thought. Well, actually it's several thoughts all jammed together into an incoherent mess, but isn't that "A Kind of Magic?" No? Well, who wants MetaTalk to live forever anyway.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 10:49 PM on February 8, 2015 [14 favorites]
posted by the quidnunc kid at 10:49 PM on February 8, 2015 [14 favorites]
Good old serious quidnunc.
posted by longtime_lurker at 11:50 PM on February 8, 2015
posted by longtime_lurker at 11:50 PM on February 8, 2015
METAFILTER: an endless, ongoing fight about everything, with countless bannings, time-outs and flame-outs
posted by philip-random at 12:07 AM on February 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 12:07 AM on February 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
the quidnunc kid: "If MetaTalk threads never closed, then we wouldn't need more than one MetaTalk thread..."
That's crazy.
Speaking of crazy, don't forget to vote #1 double block and bleed...
posted by double block and bleed at 5:03 AM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
That's crazy.
Speaking of crazy, don't forget to vote #1 double block and bleed...
posted by double block and bleed at 5:03 AM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I think it's mostly a matter of traffic and visibility.
I was wondering if the nature of the subsite also has something to do with it. The projects and music ones especially are so personal that they don't seem to springboard well into banter or hijinks. I'd feel much more guilty making trouble there, almost like graffiti in someone's house rather than a public space.
posted by SpacemanStix at 6:28 AM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I was wondering if the nature of the subsite also has something to do with it. The projects and music ones especially are so personal that they don't seem to springboard well into banter or hijinks. I'd feel much more guilty making trouble there, almost like graffiti in someone's house rather than a public space.
posted by SpacemanStix at 6:28 AM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh, just use watercolors, it'll fade in time, while giving you an arty look.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:35 AM on February 9, 2015
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:35 AM on February 9, 2015
> The classic example of thread abuse was the legendary #1142 from the early days.
You call it abuse, I call it one of the things that made me want to join MetaFilter; I was devastated that by the time I finally got in, Matt had started closing threads. I wanted to leave my mark in the cult threads!
> Whoa, I did not know about #1142.
n00b
posted by languagehat at 8:53 AM on February 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
You call it abuse, I call it one of the things that made me want to join MetaFilter; I was devastated that by the time I finally got in, Matt had started closing threads. I wanted to leave my mark in the cult threads!
> Whoa, I did not know about #1142.
n00b
posted by languagehat at 8:53 AM on February 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
The classic example of thread abuse was the legendary #1142 from the early days.
Also it's younger sibling #9622.
Neither of which are abuse in any form (well, maybe a little self-abuse here and there), but a little piece of MeFi folklore. Neither of which I got in on, even though I was (just) here while they were still open. It's a permanent reminder of my lack of credibility here.
posted by dg at 3:16 PM on February 9, 2015
Also it's younger sibling #9622.
Neither of which are abuse in any form (well, maybe a little self-abuse here and there), but a little piece of MeFi folklore. Neither of which I got in on, even though I was (just) here while they were still open. It's a permanent reminder of my lack of credibility here.
posted by dg at 3:16 PM on February 9, 2015
I kind of love that I will never not be a n00b here, at least as long as The Old Ones remain.
posted by rtha at 3:21 PM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 3:21 PM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Projects threads never close...?
Good, good.
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:47 PM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Good, good.
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:47 PM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Why aren't other threads like that?
MeFi threads should stay open for 90 days.
For other sites, we had people abuse it
MeFi was young and rambunctious then. We're older and wiser now, I'm sure that wouldn't happen again.
Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease.
posted by homunculus at 8:13 PM on February 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
MeFi threads should stay open for 90 days.
For other sites, we had people abuse it
MeFi was young and rambunctious then. We're older and wiser now, I'm sure that wouldn't happen again.
Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease.
posted by homunculus at 8:13 PM on February 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I kind of love that I will never not be a n00b here, at least as long as The Old Ones remain.
Excuse me, I understand your confusion but languagehat is a classic 14K n00b. One of the better of his generation, but by no means not a n00b.
sub-10K'ers 4 lyfe!
posted by donnagirl at 7:40 AM on February 11, 2015 [2 favorites]
Excuse me, I understand your confusion but languagehat is a classic 14K n00b. One of the better of his generation, but by no means not a n00b.
sub-10K'ers 4 lyfe!
posted by donnagirl at 7:40 AM on February 11, 2015 [2 favorites]
I had some really relevant info for the person commenting on toilet seat heights in another MeTa thread - where can I go with that info?
(to wit: 'comfort height' is a misnomer; while it is true that that for people with mobility issues, higher seats can be beneficial, for anyone else, the ideal is the lowest possible seat. Since we all evolved before the Romans, the most efficient evacuation posture is squatting as low as possible - this reduces the need for tissue and alleviates muscle effort. One unfortunate side effect of the ADA is that for many locations with only one toilet it is going to be ADA complaint and higher than the previous norm; unless you need access to an ADA compliant stall, if you have the option, always go with the non-ADA option).
Yes, I know I'm being a smart ass, but I also am really invested in talking about construction standards.
posted by 99_ at 9:52 PM on February 12, 2015
(to wit: 'comfort height' is a misnomer; while it is true that that for people with mobility issues, higher seats can be beneficial, for anyone else, the ideal is the lowest possible seat. Since we all evolved before the Romans, the most efficient evacuation posture is squatting as low as possible - this reduces the need for tissue and alleviates muscle effort. One unfortunate side effect of the ADA is that for many locations with only one toilet it is going to be ADA complaint and higher than the previous norm; unless you need access to an ADA compliant stall, if you have the option, always go with the non-ADA option).
Yes, I know I'm being a smart ass, but I also am really invested in talking about construction standards.
posted by 99_ at 9:52 PM on February 12, 2015
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posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:27 PM on February 8, 2015 [1 favorite]