Local notices beneath our notice?

June 5, 2003 3:33 PM

Should local concert cancellations be FPP worthy? How about traffic jams? Weather conditions? Other transitory localized phenomena?
Or maybe I really am snarky...
posted by jpburns to Etiquette/Policy at 3:33 PM (40 comments total)

Some better links and it might have been, it was a huge concert, and there was series of pretty interesting municipal dramas (a law suit involving an endangered sparrow, some pretty sad stories for local businesses, and some dramatic fights between local and county government). Ok, it might not have been fascinating, but it could have easily been made relevant for non-NY readers.
posted by malphigian at 3:55 PM on June 5, 2003

I've got to agree with metrocake and a few others in the original post. Sure the original FPP could have been made a bit more big picture (or at least a bit less announcement sounding), but this is bigger then some local concert getting canceled, and I too know folks who were flying in for all parts to attend (all though i really didn't care much, and wasn't planing on attending).

I wouldn't go so far as to say its quite on the level of say "Woodstock" canceled, but am wondering if there be objections to FPPs in that hypothetical situation.
posted by 10sball at 4:35 PM on June 5, 2003

Yeah jpburns, I was going to fly in from England. OK, I lie.
posted by squealy at 4:59 PM on June 5, 2003

One of my pet peeves is when people in [the New York area] think their local news is worthy of being reported nationally, even internationally. It's just arrogant. This is ultimately just a concert cancellation, and I personally don't see how it's suitable for the front page.
posted by Hildago at 6:19 PM on June 5, 2003

I agree with Hildago. No one would care if the Utah State Fair was cancelled, and it sure wouldn't merit a post.

There is a Utah State Fair, isn't there?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:30 PM on June 5, 2003

What is a Utah?
posted by dg at 7:01 PM on June 5, 2003

I'm happy that there was this post. My friends and I thought it would have been awesome to have gone, ultimately the ticket prices were too high. Is this the best post, no, but it does matter to people outside of the New York area.
posted by philcliff at 7:10 PM on June 5, 2003

philcliff - you weren't going to it and it still matters to you?

and what is this New York area you refer to? Oh, you mean NYC? in your little, itty biddy mind you think NYC is representative of New York?

"but it does matter to people outside of the New York area."

The post sucks. Even the majority of New Yorkers, myself included, don't give a rat's ass about your local barbecue.
posted by DBAPaul at 8:07 PM on June 5, 2003

I guess the question is, are all concert cancellations worthy of front page posts, or just this one? People do come to concerts from all over, but does that make them events of national importance?
posted by Hildago at 9:39 PM on June 5, 2003

but does that make them events of national importance?

if that were a requirement of front page posts, then metafilter would completely suck.

the post about the concert isn't the best fpp ever. nor is it the worst. it's not the end of the world.

oh, and there's a chance of a.m. thunderstorms in austin on friday.
posted by birdherder at 10:01 PM on June 5, 2003

and what is this New York area you refer to? Oh, you mean NYC? in your little, itty biddy mind you think NYC is representative of New York?

No, Schenectady is representative of New York.
NYC is an island off the coast of America, thank god.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 10:17 PM on June 5, 2003

offtopic, is music.metafilter.com ever gonna be updated ever again?
posted by kv at 10:32 PM on June 5, 2003

Other transitory localized phenomena?

The first air-raid siren I've heard for a long time here in Korea went off this morning. I rolled over and ignored it, as I used to do for the frequent ones in Busan when I lived there years ago, 500 kms further away from the DMZ than I am now.

I'd never consider posting on Metafilter about something like that, of course, but it does have some major tie-ins to possible events of global significance, and so might be justifiable, perhaps? Just devils-advocating a bit....
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:41 PM on June 5, 2003

MetaFilter -- News You Can Use

on the other hand, Matt didn't kill the thread, so he must think it's alright. but I guess it'll be a one-time thing, probably future concert-cancellation fpp's will be deleted, unless we turn MeFi into ConcertFilter, or, as pointed out already, TrafficFilter
posted by matteo at 2:27 AM on June 6, 2003

So... you're saying that I'm not snarky...

(That's what important, here)
posted by jpburns at 3:57 AM on June 6, 2003

offtopic: if my brother comes here with his guitar it will.
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:33 AM on June 6, 2003

in your little, itty biddy mind you think NYC is representative of New York?

I live in New Hampshire and I was definitely considering a trip to Field Day. Where is the anger coming from here? This concert was a fairly big deal on the East Coast (I thought) and might have given us something approaching a UK fest (not really, but better than nothing).

NYC is an island off the coast of America, thank god.

And yet used as a synecdoche itself.
posted by yerfatma at 5:02 AM on June 6, 2003

DBAPaul-you weren't going to it and it still matters to you?
Yeah. And remember that post was a follow-up.
posted by philcliff at 5:19 AM on June 6, 2003

Wait a minute - philcliff is having a barbecue?

Excellent. You need anything?
posted by yhbc at 6:27 AM on June 6, 2003

One of my pet peeves is when people in [the New York area] think their local news is worthy of being reported nationally, even internationally.

Hey, we read all your hundreds of grunge-this, coffee-house-that Seattle posts back in the 90s. Haven't heard word from Seattle in a while. Is it still a city, or did everyone drop dead of boredom-induced mass suicide on Capitol Hill circa 1999? Oh wait, that's right: Frasier is still on, everything must be okay. Anyway, give us our own tiny moment in the black hole sun, mmkay?
posted by RJ Reynolds at 7:34 AM on June 6, 2003

Yeah, 'cuz ya know, posters of those meaningless-for-the-nonobsessed-debates of mass cultural trivialities should be immediately hauled in MeTa and flailed until they repent their sins...
posted by JollyWanker at 8:43 AM on June 6, 2003

Should there be metatalk posts about front page posts about concert cancellations... Christ on a pogo stick, let it go already, ya snark!
posted by metrocake at 8:45 AM on June 6, 2003

Anyway, give us our own tiny moment in the black hole sun, mmkay?

Yeah, 'cause New York City never gets any attention...
posted by me3dia at 8:46 AM on June 6, 2003

Not givin' a rat's ass here boss...

[/chaingang]
posted by i_cola at 9:26 AM on June 6, 2003

MetaFilter: all the news that would have fit in the New York Times if it wasn't full of lies.
posted by Mick at 9:32 AM on June 6, 2003

Christ on a pogo stick, let it go already, ya snark!

Gee, I did... I asked the question here, stood back, and lo and behold, some folks had an opinion about it. A discussion ensued. Sorry if it upset you...
posted by jpburns at 10:03 AM on June 6, 2003

At least Jason Sehorn won't be there.
posted by The God Complex at 2:06 PM on June 6, 2003

actually, i thought it was interesting because a: i was planning on going (but now am getting a refund) and b: the story behind the cancelation is interesting (according to greeplastic).

Sure, it probably isn't the most fascinating piece of information in the world, but the story behind the story..behind the story...is what matters man!
posted by Stynxno at 5:54 PM on June 6, 2003

Hey, we read all your hundreds of grunge-this, coffee-house-that Seattle posts back in the 90s. Haven't heard word from Seattle in a while. Is it still a city, or did everyone drop dead of boredom-induced mass suicide on Capitol Hill circa 1999? Oh wait, that's right: Frasier is still on, everything must be okay. Anyway, give us our own tiny moment in the black hole sun, mmkay?

Wait... are you trying to get me angry by insulting my city? As though I took it as personally as you are apparently taking this thread?

Come on, man. It's a shitty post, it's got nothing to do with the internet, it's got nothing to do with world events, it doesn't tell us anything interesting, and it leaves little room for discussion if you didn't happen to have tickets.

It's not the fact that it has to do with New York that I mind, it's the fact that it's an irrelevant story that is portrayed as news only because it has to do with New York. Do not take it personally.
posted by Hildago at 6:30 PM on June 6, 2003

Uh, actually, I posted it because I knew people were planning to attend from outside of the NY/NJ/CT area. I considered it newsworthy because it was affecting attendees throughout the East Coast, people who might not have their local radio stations/other media outlets telling them about the change in venue.

It wasn't portrayed as news 'cause it had to do with New York. I posted it because it affected others beyond my local area, because it was a major change in venue, and because the actual concert was happening so quickly after the change.

Having said that, Hildago -- hey, kettle, you're black! Your own recent post on Father's Day items had nothing to do with the internet, had nothing to do with world events, and I sure didn't consider it interesting or even discussion-worthy. In fact, I did what people usually do when something doesn't interest them: they move on, and don't comment. Hmmmmmm.
posted by metrocake at 11:24 PM on June 6, 2003

Having said that, Hildago -- hey, kettle, you're black! Your own recent post on Father's Day items had nothing to do with the internet, had nothing to do with world events, and I sure didn't consider it interesting or even discussion-worthy.

Psshh. Sorry you didn't like the fpp, dude, but I'm comforted that at least some people did. And certainly it was closer to what a post is supposed to be about -- your own personal dislike for the subject matter does not enter into the equation, unfortunately. And again, why the fuck are you making this personal?

In fact, I did what people usually do when something doesn't interest them: they move on, and don't comment. Hmmmmmm.

Did I comment in the original thread? I don't recall commenting in that thread. I did comment in this metatalk thread about the post, though, which is exactly what metatalk is for.
posted by Hildago at 4:27 PM on June 7, 2003

Your own recent post on Father's Day items had nothing to do with the internet

Oh, and you weren't supposed to actually think it was about Father's Day items.
posted by Hildago at 4:28 PM on June 7, 2003

Hildago:

I don't understand you. You've listed your personal (subjective) criteria for FPPs, and said that my post didn't meet them. But then, when I point out that your own post doesn't meet your own criteria, you cry, "oh, but mine was closer!" According to whom? To quote you, your own personal dislike for the subject matter does not enter into the equation, unfortunately. And others said they found my post to be a useful piece of information -- so it fulfilled my purpose in posting it.

So you know, I'm not making this personal. Since you're critiquing my post, I have just as much right to critique yours.

Lastly: That's "m'am," not "dude."
posted by metrocake at 9:23 AM on June 8, 2003

What the hell? You said that YOU didn't find my post interesting, thus it didn't meet the criteria. I said that some people found it interesting, and left you to figure out what that entailed. Guess I should have spelled it out.

Plus, they're not my criteria. The posting guidelines request that a post be interesting and/or spur debate. I added that it could be related to the internet or to world events, since that seems to be (fortunately or unfortunately) what posts are about these days.

The fact that others found your post to be useful is just wonderful, except that Metafilter isn't, at least the last time I checked, a community bulletin board. In fact, the relevance of that particular news update is the exact thing that people are complaining about. Of course it's useful information, if you had planned to go to the festival. The issue is that most people couldn't possibly be expected to give a rat's ass about it unless they happened to live nearby, because it is essentially community news, and of no interest to a wider audience.

Metafilter is not the place to post concert cancellations, period, unless that concert cancellation is part of a larger, more interesting story, which this wasn't, or at least wasn't made out to be in the post. If a concert cancellation in Boise, Idaho doesn't merit a post, then one in New Jersey doesn't either, and you've yet to even argue that point, so I suspect you know it's true.

Jpburns phrased it right. Should transitory, localized phenomena be posted on the front page? Would the site be better or worse if everybody else did what you did?
posted by Hildago at 12:23 PM on June 8, 2003

"The issue is that most people couldn't possibly be expected to give a rat's ass about it unless they happened to live nearby, because it is essentially community news, and of no interest to a wider audience."

So what do you consider to be "nearby?" Philadelphia? Kansas? Toronto? What, exactly? Because quite a few people from outside of the local NY area responded to my post, which, for the last time, is the reason why I posted it to begin with. I did not post it for a local audience. It did have interest to a wider audience. My post met guidelines one and two. Your point is moot.

"If a concert cancellation in Boise, Idaho doesn't merit a post..." If there was a large, multi-day, multi-band festival in Idaho that suddenly had a major change of venue, I'd expect to see it on Metafilter. Period. I'm not arguing that point because I don't see that there's a point to be argued.

"Would the site be better or worse if everybody else did what you did?" I haven't done anything wrong. I stand by my post. I'm glad I posted it. I generally don't post much -- only one more link than you, apparantly, even though I've been around for a bit longer. Do I see lots of items that I'd like to post to MeFi? Sure. Do I post them? No. To me, this was important enough to merit posting. I've already explained why, ad nauseum. And, yes, if the same set of circumstances came up a year from now, I'd be likely to post about it again. This is a community, after all, and there are different facets to this community.
posted by metrocake at 1:09 PM on June 8, 2003

Fine, stand by your post. Good on you. I don't think concert cancellations are interesting, that's all.
posted by Hildago at 2:50 PM on June 8, 2003

I live in New York. Amazingly enough, there are web sites that concentrate on news and entertainment for New Yorkers. I have no idea why people would want to discuss this show -- or, for that matter, the cancellation of any show -- on MeFi.
posted by subgenius at 7:43 AM on June 9, 2003

metrocake: The point is to post interesting things you find on the web, not public service announcements. Do you have any farking idea how many concert cancelations, traffic jams and baby showers would be posted to the fronts pager a day if your criteria was used????
posted by signal at 9:06 AM on June 9, 2003

I live in DC. But for work, I would have been going to this concert. I was interested in reading about it being cancelled and rescheduled. I find this MeTa callout thread unnecessary and snarky, particularly since:

(1) The Field Day concert was initially announced on Metafilter with no tremendous opposition in this thread (which included a comment from Matt, all the way on the West Coast). Having heard about it here first, I frankly expected a follow-up.

(2) The post meets the basic posting guidelines, which say that [a] good post to MetaFilter is something that meets the following criteria: most people haven't seen it before, there is something interesting about the content on the page, and it might warrant discussion from others. Nothing about needing nationwide impact here, just interest. There was interest.

(subgenius: people outside NY don't necessarily know about or have time to find the right NY sources to go to to find out about it.)

I'm sorry you didn't like the thread, but it's not like it was some dinky concert in Potunck that 100 people were going to. It was a major camp-out event with lots of interesting artists drawing people from all along the east coast, cancelled and rescheduled at the last minute. Frankly, I wish someone would follow up in the thread with some reviews of the Giant Stadium event.
posted by onlyconnect at 10:54 AM on June 9, 2003

Concertfilter.
posted by pmurray63 at 7:40 AM on June 10, 2003