I...apologize January 16, 2017 3:05 PM Subscribe
Wanda: No. Not to me. To Archie. And make it good, or we're dead.
It's been very politely brought to my attention that several of the links I've pointed to in the latest incarnation of the Great Trump Inaugural Thread had already been posted by others. I could blame the length of the thread & the loading time or whatnot but the truth is I haven't been as diligent in checking first as I should have been. I honestly feel quite bad about it & decided to make a post here as both penance for myself & reminder to others. I apologize to all & will make sure to check more thoroughly going forward.
Between now and when frimble's widget goes live, how does someone definitely ensure that a link has not been repeated?
With youtube vids, one can Ctrl-V the gobbleygook into the search bar. Which also seems to kind of work for Amazon links (you just want the number after /dp/).
But for like news articles and stuff? It's not like we've got enforced naming conventions for links or anything.
I mean, assuming that a user is on a desktop browser that can handle the whole thread, maybe we should be taking the extra step to view-source and search for relevant bits of the URLs that way? But goodness knows my html parsing wetware is out of date, and from what I understand they let people on the internet these days without that package anywhere in their meatspace at all.
Which is just to say... it seems kind of shitty to call someone out for repeating a link?
posted by sparklemotion at 3:33 PM on January 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
With youtube vids, one can Ctrl-V the gobbleygook into the search bar. Which also seems to kind of work for Amazon links (you just want the number after /dp/).
But for like news articles and stuff? It's not like we've got enforced naming conventions for links or anything.
I mean, assuming that a user is on a desktop browser that can handle the whole thread, maybe we should be taking the extra step to view-source and search for relevant bits of the URLs that way? But goodness knows my html parsing wetware is out of date, and from what I understand they let people on the internet these days without that package anywhere in their meatspace at all.
Which is just to say... it seems kind of shitty to call someone out for repeating a link?
posted by sparklemotion at 3:33 PM on January 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Current ways to search for a link:
Right now, if you plug in the URL you're considering into the site search box, it'll return all the places that URL was linked-to in comments. Even if the URL only appears in the html and the link text is something else. It's not limited to just the one thread you're in, but presumably if it's a current thread those comments would be at the top of the list of search results.
You can also ctrl-f for key words in the thread, if there's a unique enough key word in your news update or an author's name if it's an essay.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 3:38 PM on January 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Right now, if you plug in the URL you're considering into the site search box, it'll return all the places that URL was linked-to in comments. Even if the URL only appears in the html and the link text is something else. It's not limited to just the one thread you're in, but presumably if it's a current thread those comments would be at the top of the list of search results.
You can also ctrl-f for key words in the thread, if there's a unique enough key word in your news update or an author's name if it's an essay.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 3:38 PM on January 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Nobody called me out. It was a very polite memail from a user not a mod, almost apologetic. I've called myself out, largely to reminds others to do what I hadn't. It was several links apparently, all in one day. With a fast moving story like Trump, I see something breaking here & I repost it there. I just didn't make a thorough check to make sure I was the first.
posted by scalefree at 3:43 PM on January 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 3:43 PM on January 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also if anybody's wondering about that Wanda thing, it's a line from A Fish Called Wanda that came to me as I was writing it up. It just seemed appropriate.
posted by scalefree at 3:57 PM on January 16, 2017
posted by scalefree at 3:57 PM on January 16, 2017
This is the most pleasant, ineffectual, consequence-free MeFi thread that now I want to encourage scalefree to post more repeated links, but with cleverer descriptions so that they will be clicked by more people than the previous.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 4:17 PM on January 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Pyrogenesis at 4:17 PM on January 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Because sometimes that actually happens. A single word "relevant" or "link" will not always make me click, but, say, "see how scalefree's kittens defeat a tumbleweed, with hilarious consequences" will.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 4:19 PM on January 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Pyrogenesis at 4:19 PM on January 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Come on now, I've been waiting for fifteen minutes, where are my kitten tumbleweed videos?
posted by Pyrogenesis at 4:34 PM on January 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Pyrogenesis at 4:34 PM on January 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
frimble's widget
...would be a good band name or, possibly, YA novel.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:10 PM on January 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
...would be a good band name or, possibly, YA novel.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:10 PM on January 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
I'm excited for frimble's widget when it's ready, but really, not remotely a big deal (which is easy for me to say, since I, too, have posted duplicate links). I stopped counting comments in the election/politics threads a while ago, but the number is staggering, and duplicates will happen. Sometimes they're a good reminder that I should go read something I didn't dig into the first time around.
posted by zachlipton at 5:39 PM on January 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 5:39 PM on January 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
And, you know, thanks a ton for your contributions of interesting links to the threads!
posted by zachlipton at 5:40 PM on January 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:40 PM on January 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
scalefree I think you are ok. What else needs community input here?
posted by dmh at 5:41 PM on January 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by dmh at 5:41 PM on January 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
But for like news articles and stuff? It's not like we've got enforced naming conventions for links or anything.
The Search function seems to have a bit of intelligence, in that I believe it ignores everything after the first "?" in a URL when checking for dupes. It won't prevent links from different sites that are about the same story, but that's okay because different sources offer different perspectives.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:22 PM on January 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Search function seems to have a bit of intelligence, in that I believe it ignores everything after the first "?" in a URL when checking for dupes. It won't prevent links from different sites that are about the same story, but that's okay because different sources offer different perspectives.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:22 PM on January 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I had a frimble's widget once, but new shoes took care of it.
posted by Etrigan at 7:41 PM on January 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 7:41 PM on January 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
So....we...ritualistically sacrifice scalefree in this thread to...summon frimble? Hmmmm....
Well, sorry, scalefree, but you are definitely not worth more than a search widget. TO THE WICKER MAN
posted by wenestvedt at 7:50 PM on January 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Well, sorry, scalefree, but you are definitely not worth more than a search widget. TO THE WICKER MAN
posted by wenestvedt at 7:50 PM on January 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Pffft. Those threads move so damn fast it's hard to hunt for duplicates. No harm, no foul. You're all good.
posted by sciatrix at 9:12 PM on January 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by sciatrix at 9:12 PM on January 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
mmmm...ok but. Before I got weary of everything Trump I was reading every comment in the threads for months. But I also admit to not clicking every link in every comment. Before I link something offsite, I don't do a search to make sure nobody else has already linked it - maybe I should I guess. I mainly rely on "I haven't seen it yet, and since I've read the whole thread..."
I guess I'm saying it would ALSO help if people were careful to describe what they're linking in text instead of posting like this so that I would be tipped off even if I'm too lazy to search first.
posted by ctmf at 10:17 PM on January 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
I guess I'm saying it would ALSO help if people were careful to describe what they're linking in text instead of posting like this so that I would be tipped off even if I'm too lazy to search first.
posted by ctmf at 10:17 PM on January 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
I remember thinking that I would be glad for November when we'd be done with all these giant election threads.
posted by octothorpe at 3:48 AM on January 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 3:48 AM on January 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
scalefree, now would be the appropriate time to don your hair shirt and start the self-flagellation.
Go ahead, we'll wait.....
posted by cooker girl at 6:06 AM on January 17, 2017
Go ahead, we'll wait.....
posted by cooker girl at 6:06 AM on January 17, 2017
MetaFilter decided to throw the gates open to eternal November, and now we have it. Good work everybody.
posted by Wolfdog at 6:06 AM on January 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 6:06 AM on January 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
frimble's widget
...would be a good band name or, possibly, YA novel.
D&D magic item
posted by Dr Dracator at 6:13 AM on January 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
...would be a good band name or, possibly, YA novel.
D&D magic item
posted by Dr Dracator at 6:13 AM on January 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Anyone who makes A Fish Called Wanda reference is 110% forgiven in my book. Super bonus points if you make a Clue reference, though I'm not sure how that would apply to this situation.
posted by AFABulous at 8:24 AM on January 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by AFABulous at 8:24 AM on January 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Clue reference for basically 2017 and the foreseeable future
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:41 AM on January 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:41 AM on January 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Super bonus points if you make a Clue reference, though I'm not sure how that would apply to this situation.
I will rewatch this tonight & see what I can come up with.
posted by scalefree at 8:42 AM on January 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I will rewatch this tonight & see what I can come up with.
posted by scalefree at 8:42 AM on January 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
McMikeNamara, you have that gif saved on your desktop like I do, don't you?
posted by AFABulous at 8:46 AM on January 17, 2017
posted by AFABulous at 8:46 AM on January 17, 2017
frimble's widget
...would be a good band name or, possibly, YA novel.
Fraggle Rock episode
posted by briank at 8:50 AM on January 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
...would be a good band name or, possibly, YA novel.
Fraggle Rock episode
posted by briank at 8:50 AM on January 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
McMikeNamara, you have that gif saved on your desktop like I do, don't you?
I do now!
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:03 AM on January 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I do now!
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:03 AM on January 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Me at the beginning of 2016.
Me for basically 2017 and the foreseeable future.
posted by phunniemee at 11:15 AM on January 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Me for basically 2017 and the foreseeable future.
posted by phunniemee at 11:15 AM on January 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
D&D magic item
That would be Frimble's Extraordinary Widget and it would grant the possessor +1 INT, +1 WIS, and a +3 on saving throws against illusion and distraction.
posted by octobersurprise at 4:19 PM on January 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
That would be Frimble's Extraordinary Widget and it would grant the possessor +1 INT, +1 WIS, and a +3 on saving throws against illusion and distraction.
posted by octobersurprise at 4:19 PM on January 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Ok, ok so to derail a bit - is there anyway for people to quote the text of tweets, see when I come back from reading the tweet, my phone wants to re-boot the whole thread. Which takes grrrrrr. And so I've taken to skipping a lot of tweets because grrrrr.
Please
Thank you
posted by From Bklyn at 5:21 AM on January 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Please
Thank you
posted by From Bklyn at 5:21 AM on January 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah, clicking through just to be able to read a tweet isn't my idea of a good time either.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:52 AM on January 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:52 AM on January 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Frimble Appreciation Society, you guys.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:40 AM on January 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:40 AM on January 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
The delay was because I wanted to confirm something before we put it through, and that's: frimble has made a widget that will check comments for already-posted-in-the-thread links. We're hoping to roll it out in the early part of this year, although we don't have an exact timetable. So hopefully soonish this problem won't come up as much.
But also, perspective and forgiveness, be kind to yourself. It's good practice to check the big threads to see if your link has been posted, but it's also not something that you need to make a big apology for -- it's ok, you're ok, it happens.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 3:12 PM on January 16, 2017 [31 favorites]