How is a comment from 2016 related to a post from 2018? April 9, 2025 3:10 PM Subscribe
An obscure question about why a comment from 2016 with lots of favorites suddenly got a lot more favorites in 2018.
The first comment on this post has 405 favorites. If you look at the timing of the favorites, the vast majority are from the week following the posting of the comment. Then, over two years later on April 20, 2018, there's a burst of new favorites. Checking the archive, I'm assuming that these new favorites are related to this post. However, I see no mention of the comment from 2016 in the comments following this post. SO, what's the connection? Obscurely curious. Thank you!
The first comment on this post has 405 favorites. If you look at the timing of the favorites, the vast majority are from the week following the posting of the comment. Then, over two years later on April 20, 2018, there's a burst of new favorites. Checking the archive, I'm assuming that these new favorites are related to this post. However, I see no mention of the comment from 2016 in the comments following this post. SO, what's the connection? Obscurely curious. Thank you!
Actually, looking at archive.org, the first comment on the 2018 post used to be a reference to the 2016 post with a direct callback to the comment in question, but the 2018 comment has subsequently been deleted by an account wipe of a user (but not the account wipe of the poster of the 2016 post, as I initially speculated).
posted by RichardP at 3:44 PM on April 9 [6 favorites]
posted by RichardP at 3:44 PM on April 9 [6 favorites]
Since we are on account wipes, has anyone else noticed that Ivan Fydorovich fka Ethereal Bligh fka kmellis, among possibly others, has closed his account? I presume this was on his own since his posts and comments appear to be intact. And some of the latter date from but a few weeks ago. Well, this is not the first time he has closed an account and from his comments, I see nothing to suggest why he left this time. Anyone out there have a clue?
He and I crossed swords in the past but all the same I hope he is not gone for good. His absence diminishes us.
posted by y2karl at 5:27 PM on April 9 [10 favorites]
He and I crossed swords in the past but all the same I hope he is not gone for good. His absence diminishes us.
posted by y2karl at 5:27 PM on April 9 [10 favorites]
One of my metafilter protips is that you can take the unique url identifier, in this case either "157578" from the FPP or "6424738" from the comment permalink, pop it into mefi search, and quickly find every place that url has ever been linked elsewhere on the site. [example using an old popular comment of mine, you can change the subsite and see all mentions]Since no other comments come up when you search, it's certain that whoever linked it in 2018 has since wiped all their shit.
I hope he is not gone for good. His absence diminishes us.
Dozens and dozens and dozens of long time and big contributing mefites have left. Travesty.
posted by phunniemee at 7:15 PM on April 9 [19 favorites]
I hope he is not gone for good. His absence diminishes us.
Dozens and dozens and dozens of long time and big contributing mefites have left. Travesty.
posted by phunniemee at 7:15 PM on April 9 [19 favorites]
phunniemee: "One of my metafilter protips is that you can take the unique url identifier, in this case either "157578" from the FPP or "6424738" from the comment permalink, pop it into mefi search, and quickly find every place that url has ever been linked elsewhere on the site. [example using an old popular comment of mine, you can change the subsite and see all mentions]Since no other comments come up when you search, it's certain that whoever linked it in 2018 has since wiped all their shit.
I hope he is not gone for good. His absence diminishes us.
Dozens and dozens and dozens of long time and big contributing mefites have left. Travesty."
yep.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 7:23 PM on April 9 [2 favorites]
I hope he is not gone for good. His absence diminishes us.
Dozens and dozens and dozens of long time and big contributing mefites have left. Travesty."
yep.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 7:23 PM on April 9 [2 favorites]
...Thrasybulus led the man who had come from Periander outside the town, and entered into a sown field. As he walked through the corn, continually asking why the messenger had come to him from Corinth, he kept cutting off all the tallest ears of wheat which he could see, and throwing them away, until he had destroyed the best and richest part of the crop. Then, after passing through the place and speaking no word of counsel, he sent the herald away.languagehat, if you are watching -- or anyone else as knowledgeable -- how do you translate the following phrase into Classical Greek or Latin:
The Histories
Herodotus
Who shall moderate the moderators?
posted by y2karl at 8:49 PM on April 9
Actually, looking at archive.org
This is a good reminder that wiping your account from Metafilter does not provide a tremendous amount of increased privacy!
posted by restless_nomad (retired) at 4:48 AM on April 10 [7 favorites]
This is a good reminder that wiping your account from Metafilter does not provide a tremendous amount of increased privacy!
posted by restless_nomad (retired) at 4:48 AM on April 10 [7 favorites]
This is a good reminder that wiping your account from Metafilter does not provide a tremendous amount of increased privacy!
I’m glad to see one of the (former) staff saying that part out loud.
As a general rule, deletion of anything that’s been on MetaFilter for more than 3 days will stick out like a sore thumb if anyone cares to go looking.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:19 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
I’m glad to see one of the (former) staff saying that part out loud.
As a general rule, deletion of anything that’s been on MetaFilter for more than 3 days will stick out like a sore thumb if anyone cares to go looking.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:19 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]
Dozens and dozens and dozens of long time and big contributing mefites have left
Change happens. People mature in different ways. The majesty of life continues.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:24 AM on April 10 [2 favorites]
Change happens. People mature in different ways. The majesty of life continues.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:24 AM on April 10 [2 favorites]
I’m glad to see one of the (former) staff saying that part out loud.
We said it for years! Very loudly! It was in fact one of our chief arguments against account wipes - that the privacy it afforded was almost (although not entirely) illusory. The legal landscape changing made that moot as a policy choice but it didn't change the reality.
posted by restless_nomad (retired) at 7:10 AM on April 10 [17 favorites]
We said it for years! Very loudly! It was in fact one of our chief arguments against account wipes - that the privacy it afforded was almost (although not entirely) illusory. The legal landscape changing made that moot as a policy choice but it didn't change the reality.
posted by restless_nomad (retired) at 7:10 AM on April 10 [17 favorites]
Yeah, account wipes aren't an ironclad thing, but they can certainly help and we'll do them if a user wants.
I think it's just that the nature of the world has changed, where the more "free exchange of ideas" has turned to something generally darker. So members often want to get free of past comments and posts that reveal too much about themselves.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 7:18 AM on April 10
I think it's just that the nature of the world has changed, where the more "free exchange of ideas" has turned to something generally darker. So members often want to get free of past comments and posts that reveal too much about themselves.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 7:18 AM on April 10
cortex was always against account wipes but MetaTalk demanded them, for Safety (they also come in handy for fits of pique and covering up bad behaviour).
In other news, did this post always have a content warning? Do posts about comedy on a website for adults generally need content warnings? If it was added later, where's the mod note?
posted by Klipspringer at 7:23 AM on April 10 [2 favorites]
In other news, did this post always have a content warning? Do posts about comedy on a website for adults generally need content warnings? If it was added later, where's the mod note?
posted by Klipspringer at 7:23 AM on April 10 [2 favorites]
Oh, since we’re sliding in tangents, I thought we agreed that “wrong” (or not absolutely correct) answers in Ask, if they are offered in good faith, are not to be stricken? And yet when a commenter suggested raw milk as a possible solution to Eustachian tube inflammation (from drinking milk), it was struck on the kindergarten grounds that “the cdc says raw milk is bad for you.” What’s that about? Can the OP not evaluate whether they want to drink raw milk, given that the health information is abundantly available? The response was respectful and germane, even if people disagree and there’s evidence against it.
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:37 AM on April 10
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:37 AM on April 10
Change happens. People mature in different ways. The majesty of life continues.
Metafilter continues to grow more and more majestic as time passes, if not more mature :)
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 7:57 AM on April 10
Metafilter continues to grow more and more majestic as time passes, if not more mature :)
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 7:57 AM on April 10
In other news, did this post always have a content warning?
It showed up in my feed reader with the content warning. My reader usually grabs things before any edits are made to the post, so probably? Maybe just send Wordshore a MeMail and ask?
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 8:14 AM on April 10 [2 favorites]
It showed up in my feed reader with the content warning. My reader usually grabs things before any edits are made to the post, so probably? Maybe just send Wordshore a MeMail and ask?
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 8:14 AM on April 10 [2 favorites]
In the spirit of just asking, does your username mean anonymous coward? That's how I've always read it. [not mouse-ist]
posted by phunniemee at 9:13 AM on April 10 [5 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 9:13 AM on April 10 [5 favorites]
it is a play on that, yes.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 11:13 AM on April 10 [10 favorites]
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 11:13 AM on April 10 [10 favorites]
You know I am terrible at wordplay, I never ever parsed that out before. In fact I always thought it was probably a reference to some extremely obscure work of absurdist literature that I had just never come across. Seriously. That is what I thought and sometimes I even wondered, huh, is it Ionesco? Something from the 1920s maybe? A non mouse? A cat, maybe?
….this says a lot about my brain. Well played!
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:39 PM on April 10 [7 favorites]
….this says a lot about my brain. Well played!
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:39 PM on April 10 [7 favorites]
damn it Karl. I just rewatched the original planet of the apes Saturday night and I found an error. very small and I need to go back and verify it then, I'm going to put it up on blue sky.
when the three astronauts are going across the wasteland there's one shot we're Landon or was it dodge was not carrying his backpack.
du-du-du-do....Sheush...Wan-Wahnnnn.
posted by clavdivs at 1:09 PM on April 10 [1 favorite]
when the three astronauts are going across the wasteland there's one shot we're Landon or was it dodge was not carrying his backpack.
du-du-du-do....Sheush...Wan-Wahnnnn.
posted by clavdivs at 1:09 PM on April 10 [1 favorite]
Mod note: Klipspringer: In other news, did this post always have a content warning? Do posts about comedy on a website for adults generally need content warnings? If it was added later, where's the mod note?"
The post always had that content warning, no edits have been made to the post.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 3:32 PM on April 10 [1 favorite]
The post always had that content warning, no edits have been made to the post.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 3:32 PM on April 10 [1 favorite]
Given bird flu etc., I am all for deletions on recommendations to drink raw milk at this point in time. It has never been particularly safe, but now it is particularly risky. (Of course, since we are dismantling our health agencies in the US, I'm not sure people are really spreading this message the way they should be.)
posted by gudrun at 4:37 PM on April 10 [2 favorites]
posted by gudrun at 4:37 PM on April 10 [2 favorites]
how do you translate the following phrase into Classical Greek or Latin:
Who shall moderate the moderators?
Ποιος θα μετριάζω τους συντονιστές? [wiki]
posted by HearHere at 5:51 PM on April 10 [3 favorites]
Who shall moderate the moderators?
Ποιος θα μετριάζω τους συντονιστές? [wiki]
posted by HearHere at 5:51 PM on April 10 [3 favorites]
toodleydoodley: "Oh, since we’re sliding in tangents, I thought we agreed that “wrong” (or not absolutely correct) answers in Ask, if they are offered in good faith, are not to be stricken? And yet when a commenter suggested raw milk as a possible solution to Eustachian tube inflammation (from drinking milk), it was struck on the kindergarten grounds that “the cdc says raw milk is bad for you.” What’s that about? Can the OP not evaluate whether they want to drink raw milk, given that the health information is abundantly available? The response was respectful and germane, even if people disagree and there’s evidence against it."
The OP can and did evaluate on their own, but not every wrong answer will remain, no matter how earnestly given. Since theFDA recommends not drinking raw milk and cited cases where it made people sick, that particular recommendation was worth removing.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 5:52 PM on April 10 [5 favorites]
The OP can and did evaluate on their own, but not every wrong answer will remain, no matter how earnestly given. Since theFDA recommends not drinking raw milk and cited cases where it made people sick, that particular recommendation was worth removing.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 5:52 PM on April 10 [5 favorites]
what's the fda got to say about creamed corn anybody know
posted by phunniemee at 6:02 PM on April 10 [4 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 6:02 PM on April 10 [4 favorites]
Okay but no for real, the NIH classifies chiropractic as a pseudoscience, so maybe y'all should reconsider your moderation stance.
posted by phunniemee at 6:05 PM on April 10 [11 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 6:05 PM on April 10 [11 favorites]
phunniemee: "what's the fda got to say about creamed corn anybody know"
And are there any kernals of truth there.
phunniemee: "Okay but no for real, the NIH classifies chiropractic as a pseudoscience, so maybe y'all should reconsider your moderation stance."
The op requested people not do something, people did it anyway, so comments that were all about doing the thing that the OP requested people not do was removed.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:19 PM on April 10
And are there any kernals of truth there.
phunniemee: "Okay but no for real, the NIH classifies chiropractic as a pseudoscience, so maybe y'all should reconsider your moderation stance."
The op requested people not do something, people did it anyway, so comments that were all about doing the thing that the OP requested people not do was removed.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:19 PM on April 10
That seems orthogonal to whether Metafilter should be moderating in accordance with government recommendations, which it seems to be in some cases? This was one of the things that always seems to start fights - should moderators be a force for scientific consensus? Health concerns? Illegal acts?
posted by sagc at 6:50 PM on April 10 [1 favorite]
posted by sagc at 6:50 PM on April 10 [1 favorite]
That seems orthogonal to whether Metafilter should be moderating in accordance with government recommendations, which it seems to be in some cases? This was one of the things that always seems to start fights - should moderators be a force for scientific consensus? Health concerns? Illegal acts?
Depends. Does the activity in question have a documented history of directly killing people?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:15 PM on April 10
Depends. Does the activity in question have a documented history of directly killing people?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:15 PM on April 10
Does the activity in question have a documented history of directly killing people?
Why my goodness yes, thank you for asking.
posted by phunniemee at 8:24 PM on April 10 [9 favorites]
Why my goodness yes, thank you for asking.
posted by phunniemee at 8:24 PM on April 10 [9 favorites]
"what's the fda got to say about creamed corn anybody know"
Canned cream-style field corn conforms to the standard of fill of container and label statement of substandard fill prescribed for canned cream-style corn [ecfr]
are there any kernals of truth there
Explaining the nature of truth becomes an application of some metaphysical system, and truth inherits significant metaphysical presuppositions along the way [sep]
posted by HearHere at 2:00 AM on April 11 [2 favorites]
Canned cream-style field corn conforms to the standard of fill of container and label statement of substandard fill prescribed for canned cream-style corn [ecfr]
are there any kernals of truth there
Explaining the nature of truth becomes an application of some metaphysical system, and truth inherits significant metaphysical presuppositions along the way [sep]
posted by HearHere at 2:00 AM on April 11 [2 favorites]
Count me as in favor of moderating out bullshit woo Ask answers that could increase risk of a flu pandemic, which we extremely do not need at this point in time. That said, the CDC is on track to become a less reliable source and I don’t want to come back here in six months and see that we’re deleting recommendations to vaccinate your kids against measles once RFK’s “autism study” has resulted in some self published preordained bullshit “findings” a la Andrew Wakefield.
posted by eirias at 3:40 AM on April 11 [2 favorites]
posted by eirias at 3:40 AM on April 11 [2 favorites]
P.S. How do I know that it will be preordained bullshit? A, RFK is a wackaloon, B, see A, C, study startup for actual human subjects science takes like a year, never mind recruitment and data analysis and write up. The only way that team has something to publish in six months is they already have the conclusion written and just need a large language model to fabricate the rest.
posted by eirias at 3:46 AM on April 11 [1 favorite]
posted by eirias at 3:46 AM on April 11 [1 favorite]
The op requested people not do something, people did it anyway, so comments that were all about doing the thing that the OP requested people not do was removed
Just to be clear, as the OP of the Ask in question, I did NOT request any answers to be removed. And to my recollection (without going back to look, as I am posting this from my phone) I don't believe I explicitly asked users not to mention "creamed corn" but merely mentioned I didn't have it.
I was as surprised as anyone else that the comment was removed. I always expect to get a few answers from people who misread the question (as I have been guilty of myself on occasion) and I'm happy to scroll past them.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 4:18 AM on April 11 [2 favorites]
Just to be clear, as the OP of the Ask in question, I did NOT request any answers to be removed. And to my recollection (without going back to look, as I am posting this from my phone) I don't believe I explicitly asked users not to mention "creamed corn" but merely mentioned I didn't have it.
I was as surprised as anyone else that the comment was removed. I always expect to get a few answers from people who misread the question (as I have been guilty of myself on occasion) and I'm happy to scroll past them.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 4:18 AM on April 11 [2 favorites]
Brandon Blatcher: "The post always had that content warning, no edits have been made to the post."
Thanks Brandon! I must have just missed it first time.
posted by Klipspringer at 5:25 AM on April 11
Thanks Brandon! I must have just missed it first time.
posted by Klipspringer at 5:25 AM on April 11
Why my goodness yes, thank you for asking.
yes that is rather the point
Fair enough.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:05 AM on April 11 [1 favorite]
yes that is rather the point
Fair enough.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:05 AM on April 11 [1 favorite]
NIH classifies chiropractic as a pseudoscience
BTW the NIH doesn't classify anything -- it supports scientific research. What they have to say about chiropractic is here.
The CDC does classify things, and does not say anything about chiropractic being a pseudoscience.
If you would like to "do your own research" on the topic, I'd suggest you start with the NIH list of recently published Chiropractic Randomized Controlled Trials.
If you would like to just hang on to your beliefs no matter what else happens, I would suggest you consider the company you're keeping.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:30 AM on April 11
BTW the NIH doesn't classify anything -- it supports scientific research. What they have to say about chiropractic is here.
The CDC does classify things, and does not say anything about chiropractic being a pseudoscience.
If you would like to "do your own research" on the topic, I'd suggest you start with the NIH list of recently published Chiropractic Randomized Controlled Trials.
If you would like to just hang on to your beliefs no matter what else happens, I would suggest you consider the company you're keeping.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:30 AM on April 11
I would suggest you consider the company you're keeping.
Are you high? Serious question. I don't want the moderators of Metafilter making these calls. Why should the moderators of Metafilter be making calls like this?
posted by phunniemee at 7:36 AM on April 11 [6 favorites]
Are you high? Serious question. I don't want the moderators of Metafilter making these calls. Why should the moderators of Metafilter be making calls like this?
posted by phunniemee at 7:36 AM on April 11 [6 favorites]
Ποιος θα μετριάζω τους συντονιστές? [wiki]
Sorry to be That Person, but the phrase above is not Classical Greek (as requested). It's Modern Greek.
Fun fact: to tell Ancient and Modern Greek apart, look at the accents. If you only see one kind looking like (ά έ ί ό ύ) and do not see lots of different kinds of accents (ἄ ἆ ἀ κτλ.), it's Modern Greek (δημοτική / dimotiki to be specific).
Google Translate only provides responses in Modern Greek, not Ancient.
posted by lysimache at 3:46 PM on April 12 [4 favorites]
Sorry to be That Person, but the phrase above is not Classical Greek (as requested). It's Modern Greek.
Fun fact: to tell Ancient and Modern Greek apart, look at the accents. If you only see one kind looking like (ά έ ί ό ύ) and do not see lots of different kinds of accents (ἄ ἆ ἀ κτλ.), it's Modern Greek (δημοτική / dimotiki to be specific).
Google Translate only provides responses in Modern Greek, not Ancient.
posted by lysimache at 3:46 PM on April 12 [4 favorites]
"Socrates's answer to the problem is, in essence, that the guardians will be manipulated to guard themselves against themselves via a deception often called the "noble lie" in English."
It may be said that other cultures had a more sharper approach.
posted by clavdivs at 4:08 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
It may be said that other cultures had a more sharper approach.
posted by clavdivs at 4:08 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
...what's the fda got to say about creamed corn anybody know
It gives you decorated poop.
posted by y2karl at 5:55 PM on April 12
It gives you decorated poop.
posted by y2karl at 5:55 PM on April 12
Speaking of old timers who have since left us, I am glad y2karl is still kicking it here.
I have been hanging around this particular site for a long time myself, but I have never been a prolific poster so I wouldn't expect anyone to notice too much if I dropped out. I comment a fair bit, but not on the level of those revered and honored in the MeFi Valhalla.
What I do have is memory of those who came before. A lot of thoughtful commentary from many who are no longer active here.
posted by caution live frogs at 12:47 PM on April 14 [2 favorites]
I have been hanging around this particular site for a long time myself, but I have never been a prolific poster so I wouldn't expect anyone to notice too much if I dropped out. I comment a fair bit, but not on the level of those revered and honored in the MeFi Valhalla.
What I do have is memory of those who came before. A lot of thoughtful commentary from many who are no longer active here.
posted by caution live frogs at 12:47 PM on April 14 [2 favorites]
given your username and today's fascination with frogs in the Free Thread I'm calling Monday Coincidences for $200, Alex
posted by ginger.beef at 1:16 PM on April 14
posted by ginger.beef at 1:16 PM on April 14
Wait there were frogs and I missed it? Oh no
posted by caution live frogs at 1:32 PM on April 14
posted by caution live frogs at 1:32 PM on April 14
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posted by RichardP at 3:32 PM on April 9 [2 favorites]