MetaChat - first of the day.

New theory: Posting a MetaFilter downtime link to MetaChat resets the server and brings MetaFilter back.

Discuss.
posted by dg 21 June | 00:21

Well I tried.

posted by arse_hat 21 June | 10:20

nah, still broken.

posted by kellydamnit 21 June | 10:24

I can't connect either :(

posted by mlis 21 June | 10:28

It's kind of like going to pick up a book that you're reading and finding blank pages and a note that the book is temporarily down and to please check back later.

posted by papercake 21 June | 10:29

yep, keep-a-knockin' but i can't get in.

posted by hojoki 21 June | 10:30

Or someone on the other side of a conversation has decided to have a little nap. gah

posted by peacay 21 June | 10:32

Is this really the first downtime for a fortnight?

posted by blag 21 June | 10:34

It's a huge shame as right now nothing gives me greater pleasure than watching dozens of MeFites swarming over each other to insult and belittle one another with nary a thought for maturity and common sense.

/drifts back into the hazy and possibly non-existent past when this was not the case.

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 10:43

yeah the insomnia_lj-picturethread is awful. so many anal people yet so little anus.

posted by mr.marx 21 June | 10:50

Metafilter: so many anal people yet so little anus.

posted by kenko 21 June | 10:52

blag: doubt that, I recall it beeing down only a few days ago. But is is better.

mr.marx: fnissfniss.

posted by dabitch 21 June | 10:56

Big anus. I mean GOD big.

posted by arse_hat 21 June | 10:56

yeah the insomnia_lj-picturethread is awful. so many anal people yet so little anus.

I really, seriously propose we have a dueling system set up. Can be one of those FPS you kids love to play or a game of bid whist (chutes and ladders? candyland? speed rules sorry?). Just, whenever people get to a fussin' and a feudin', someone throws up a picture of a white glove and the arguers are forced out of the thread until there is a winner. The winner of the duel, wins the arguement and everyone must act as such. The loser is banned for a day and buried (metaphorically) with somber, slightly ashen-faced dignity.

OK?

posted by Divine_Wino 21 June | 10:59

arse_hat: hysterical

posted by papercake 21 June | 11:01

Mefi's turned into quite the gladitorial arena as of late, eh?

Well, peaks and valleys, I suppose. Used to love Mefi, desperately wanted to join. Introduced friends to it. We were all heartbroken that new memberships were off, with no resumption in sight. Then war started. Mefi went poopy, I started taking little 1 or 2 month breaks from reading it, and friends reported that they stopped reading it entirely because it had become a political flame board. Now it's far less political, but all the outrage is being channeled into pretty amusing topics. It's not the Mefi I fell in love with, but it's pretty amusing in its own way (key difference I note is that I now enjoy MeTa more than the blue).

posted by bugbread 21 June | 11:05

But is is better.

depends on how you define "is"

;)

posted by mr.marx 21 June | 11:05

Oh arguing is good for the soul. But there were some very strange things being said in that one. No duel - that gives the turds some way to win. A quorum of 6 observers get to lash the stupidest participant. Better. violence. good.

posted by peacay 21 June | 11:05

y'know, I just went out in front of the building to have a smoke. As I squatted against the wall sucking my Camel Light, a guy came up to me and bummed one.Then he said "You look like you know about computers," [what that means I don't know]. "I know some," I said. "How do I hack into a system?" "Umm..well.." And I told him to Google "hax0rs," and go from there. Why am I such a screwball magnet?

posted by jonmc 21 June | 11:05

But, but-- Some people just beg for a poor response, and there is something cathartic about giving it to them. I really hate it when people who aren't comfortable with X say the not doing X is "mature." Blech.

posted by dame 21 June | 11:13

Which thread is the one being referred to as "that one"?

posted by bugbread 21 June | 11:14

It's insomnia_lj's photo thread(s) - I just despair of the general disrespect shown to people like thedevildancedlightly and dios just purely on the basis that they are on the wrong "side". dios has shown himself to be quite intelligent and willing to discuss some subjects as has tddl, and they both get labled stupid names (tiddles? I mean, come on...)

I disagree with what they may say sometimes but that doesnt mean that I will automatically disregard every statement made because it doesn't fit in with my worldview.

/Joins jonmc's International Brigade For Making The Left Look Sensible, Decent and Mature.

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 11:16

I'm not opposed to responses. I'm opposed to 10 x 10 000 word comments that argues about, eh, whatever they argue about, I never get through them. Tddl is a master at this game.

posted by mr.marx 21 June | 11:17

"Why am I such a screwball magnet?"
They go for the handsome ones.

posted by arse_hat 21 June | 11:18

Well, dios used to toss around quite a few turds. I suspect that's half the problem there (but, perhaps, the reason that he hasn't been forgiven and forgotten, while reformed posters on the "right side" have been, is because he's on the "wrong side").

posted by bugbread 21 June | 11:19

I'm opposed to 10 x 10,000 word comments that argues about, eh, whatever they argue about

(ducks head, tries to look inconspicuous)

posted by bugbread 21 June | 11:20

"You look like you know about computers,"

They go for the handsome ones.

...does not compute...*head asplodes*

posted by jonmc 21 June | 11:20

Are you kidding, longbaugh? Dios is anything but intelligent. He often makes sweeping generalizations with little to no basis in actual reality. He has no nuance whatsoever and yet goes around whining that he is a victim. If you look at the bottom of the Sacco and Vanzetti thread, at the Paul Berman discussion, you'll see that even the more virulent lefty posters--in this case warbaby and davy--are willing to discuss nuanced rightists reasonably.

posted by dame 21 June | 11:21

dios means well, he just overreacts and hasn't learned not to take things personally. If you tell him what he's doing to annoy you, while making it clear that you aren't attack him, he actually listens.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 11:25

Anyway, there were a few silly people in that photo thread. Very strange.
dios is defensive -- once people establish a persona and when that is on the 'other' side for the mostpart, it's pretty hard to rein it back. But I certainly don't think he's dumb. He may have taken a umm difficult path though. Tact and time is the only way I guess.

posted by peacay 21 June | 11:25

/Joins jonmc's International Brigade For Making The Left Look Sensible, Decent and Mature.

count me in, too... I was gonna respond on that thread but was drained by the time I got to the bottom. And I think dios & tddl are being pretty reasonable there (on preview, haven't checked the sacco & vanzetti thread, maybe reactions are seeping in from other arguments)- the pics on their own, without any claims or context, don't say "war crimes" - sadly, they may just say "war." Not saying they're pretty or make war look good, but it would help if there were specific allegations.

posted by mdn 21 June | 11:27

I guess the point for some is that the pix with/without weapons ARE the allegations. But you could list a 10 explanations and still be no closer to knowing for sure.

posted by peacay 21 June | 11:33

I am referring to the (admittedly) rare times when he says something sensible and the first thing everyone does is jump on him. Unlike ParisParamus who has no redeeming characteristics whatsoever (possibly as comedy) dios can occasionally comment sensibly. It's usually something along the lines of "you are reading too much into this story" at which point everyone goes off the deep end when in fact, if they actually stopped and thought about it they'd maybe go "oh yeah, I am taking this too seriously - I shall save my outrage for something worthwhile".

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 11:33

tddl annoys me far more than dios. dios most of the time takes a stand and argues for it (how ever fucked up that stand may be). and you can easily see when he's merely trolling.
but tddl just blablablabbers. no opionions, just what if this and what if that. blabber.

bugbread: yes, you can be long sometimes. but at least your arguments are coherent.

anyway, more anus please.

posted by mr.marx 21 June | 11:34

But dios did that to himself, longbaugh. And then he bitches about it! If it really bugged him, he could (a) get a new account or (b) begin a quiet campaign of sanity, which would pay off in about six months. However, you can't wear red twenty-nine days, green on the thirtieth and demand to be known as the guy who wears green.

You know, sometimes I'm reasonable and sometimes I'm an asshole, but I don't go home crying if people think I'm being an asshole when I am.

As for people taking a step back, only the most reasonable person is ever going to have that effect--say mdn or jessamyn. That's just human and has nothing to do with "maturity."

Mdn: There is no argument in that thread. Just people discussing right-ish Paul Berman reasonably. My point was merely that it's possible.

posted by dame 21 June | 11:42

I was just checking out my J.I.B.F.M.T.L.L.S.D.A.M. badge and I can safely say that we need a new acronym. Anyone got a suggestion at all?

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 11:47

Be that as it may, dame, it still makes me uncomfortable when there's one particular person who's whipping boy for everybody (and yeah, I realize that I've brandished the whip a time or two myself, I realize). It's uncomfortably close to designating one kid on the schoolyard as OK to kick around. (this is all regardless of what dios has done to "deserve" it all). I've talked to him via e-mail and found that if you treat him reasonably he's not a bad guy. I've also advised him that he should give the same benefit to other people.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 11:50

Well, actualy Metafilter seems to be a lot better these days, since Matt gave AlexRenolds, Witty and a couple other guys a timeout. Dios has been circumscript lately. It's almost like a totaly diffrent board.

posted by delmoi 21 June | 11:51

Alex isn't so bad once he figures you out. Witty scared the hell out of me once by saying I was one of his favorite posters. I am not you, dude.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 11:56

*rushes in*

It's back!

*rushes out again*

posted by carter 21 June | 12:00

Maybe we like it here carter, ya maybe think of that?

/rushes back to MeFi

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 12:01

it still makes me uncomfortable when there's one particular person who's whipping boy for everybody

You would say that, bushy pubic-haired unhip-music-lover.

posted by bugbread 21 June | 12:19

Raaaaawwwrrr!

*cranks up "Train Of Consequences," sniffs Carbona, goes on school shooting spree*

posted by jonmc 21 June | 12:20

You're right, jon, ganging up on people is unsightly, and I don't do it. However, that doesn't mean I think dios is a victim. Really, in my scale of people who I feel bad for, he doesn't even rate.

posted by dame 21 June | 12:21

You're right, jon, ganging up on people is unsightly, and I don't do it.

I believe you, dame, and I'm not saying that it's wrong for anyone to tell dios to fuck off. He's a big boy. It's just that often it does turn into a fusillade of people sniffing blood in the water. That fact that we're all here talking about how "bad" dios is, isn't a particularly good sign.

But enough about all that, I'm just wondering how my sidewalk l33t hax0r buddy is making out.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 12:26

He is frantically closing 8000 popup windows, redirects to cumdrunk russian sluts and cursing you a bunch, unless they've changed the traditonal response to googling hax0r.

posted by Divine_Wino 21 June | 12:47

well, that's what you get for seeking tech support on a streetcorner.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 13:11

I always ask for tech support on street corners, car advice from people driving Suzuki Samurais and cooking tips from Irish-Americans who still live in Queens, thus completing the bad advice trifecta and winning $17.90 at Belmont.

posted by Divine_Wino 21 June | 13:18

cooking tips from Irish-Americans who still live in Queens,

Always use extra vigin olive oil, and kraft mexican cheese shreds. It's a good thing.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 13:27

I always think of extra-virgin olive oil as that tragic catholic girl in high school with the faint mustache who always kept her knees pressed firmly together and clutched her books to her chest, as if one could get pregnant mearly by acknowledging the existance of genitals.

Except it's better on spinach salad.

posted by Divine_Wino 21 June | 13:45

a virgin on spinach salad? you mean like in tokyo?

posted by mr.marx 21 June | 13:52

I am so glad I went back to MeFi only to find myself embroiled in an argument with a tosser...

I shall henceforth request to be known as "longbaugh : hypocritical wanker" and ask that you each refer to me by this name until I can work off the shame in a nearby charity soup-kitchen.

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 13:59

Did I arrive too late for the discussion of huge anuses? I have the inside track.

posted by Hugh Janus 21 June | 14:00

you talking about nervousfritz? He stikes me as a humorless and stiff, but hey, we need everyone' right?

posted by jonmc 21 June | 14:01

Really, longbaugh? In what thread? I need evidence to punish you correctly.

posted by dame 21 June | 14:02

"Did I arrive too late for the discussion of huge anuses?" Is it ever too late?

posted by arse_hat 21 June | 14:03

This one where I made a throwaway (and admittedly) crap joke only to have nervousfritz poke his shiny proboscis in and enquire as to whether I wished to libel the god-like Tom Cruise.

I wonder how Tom Cruise feels about huge anuses? With his penis I would imagine.

/ba-dum-tish.

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 14:05

He wasn't fooling anyone when he made up his stage name.

posted by Hugh Janus 21 June | 14:09

I shall call you by the more acronymous "lhw". Simply because I wanted the conversation to wander off into a long and nostalgic trip involving my poor David Essex impersonation... "Bic Meta fings wi legs on."

posted by seanyboy 21 June | 14:12

enough internicine MeFi bickering. On to a question of Monumental Importance:

Should I go to White Castle after work?

posted by jonmc 21 June | 14:12

Sure.

posted by arse_hat 21 June | 14:13

Why wait until after?

posted by papercake 21 June | 14:15

Why wait until after?

Because the nearest one is up by Penn Station and I'm way the hell down by the Holland Tunnel.

So, then, what should I have?

posted by jonmc 21 June | 14:16

Should I go to White Castle after work?

Why is the sky blue, why is water wet, why did Judas rat the Romans while Jesus slept?

Don't ask brother, EAT. Get them things in you. Hup, hup, hup.

longbaugh:

Nervous Fritz has a "thing" about pedophilia. I can't (and am unwilling to) isolate what that thing is, but it's there.

posted by Divine_Wino 21 June | 14:16

Longbaugh, that is nothing. In MeTa it wouldn't even get an eyebrow. You, sir, are too hard on yourself.

posted by dame 21 June | 14:23

It is a moral imperative that you go to White Castle, jonmc. I believe they have something they call a "Slyder?" You should try one of those. Bill in Marketing's job depends on it.

More to the point, should I go to Palace Fried Chicken after work?

posted by Hugh Janus 21 June | 14:23

I believe they have something they call a "Slyder?" You should try one of those.

I've eaten umpty million slyders in my life. my parent's first date was at the White Castle on Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside. I haven't tried that new garlic chicken contraption yet, however.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 14:25

Thank you dame. I just don't like to shit in the blue and I feel really bad when I do. I also don't like dickheads and I am in an extremely bad mood right now. I'd prefer to be the nice guy at all times but sometimes THE VOICES MAKE ME WANT TO FUCK OTHER MEN.

Woah...

Sorry about that, was just channeling Xenu.

It happens.

Can I get my free 24 year old starlet now? Huh? Can I?

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 14:33

The great thing about not having White Castles around is that when you hear a phrase like "garlic chicken contraption", your mental image is of this thing made of bread, chicken, lettuce, miniature smoke belching engines, rusted steel, and creaking winches.

posted by bugbread 21 June | 14:37

"should I go to Palace Fried Chicken" Hell yes!

posted by arse_hat 21 June | 14:40

Greek junk food: Well, I had a chicken gyro today, but what I really wanted was a "doublerider", which is something like souvlaki, but it's in a large wrap with two sets of kebabs rolled toward each other from either end. Yum.

posted by taz 21 June | 14:41

In trying to Google about whether Xenu was homosexual or not, I came across this nice editorial correction.

posted by bugbread 21 June | 14:42

you like Greek junk food, taz? You need to come to my 'hood. We've got like 7 or 8 gyro/souvlaki joints withing two blocks.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 14:44

jonmc: I'm guessing taz can beat that. Which I guess you already knew. p.s. taz - Cool surname.

posted by seanyboy 21 June | 14:51

Although Zoltar would have been better.
And... wow. I was thinking anime, and I found ... this.

posted by seanyboy 21 June | 14:58

Oh, I'm sure, seanyboy, but Astoria is the largest concentration of Greek-Americans in the US. It's like Athens with subways and gunfire.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 15:05

With any luck I will come to your neighborhood sometime in the next few months, jon. We want to visit the u.s. soon, and I want to stop off in NY - and of course see Astoria.

Seanyboy, that link is totally cracking me up.

posted by taz 21 June | 15:09

I was in Astoria for dinner Friday night. While we didn't dine Greek (we tried a great Brazilian joint, Sabor Tropical, chasing skirt steaks with fried cassava and Bohemia), we desserted at Omonia, which my dining partner pronounced "Ammonia," dampening my enthusiasm from the start.

The service was negligent but the goodies were good. Particularly the coffee.

Now you've got me rethinking the PFC plans. I'm a fickle fucker, I am.

posted by Hugh Janus 21 June | 15:23

Somebody have a Cuban sandwich.

posted by taz 21 June | 15:25

There's a great cuban joint on Ditmars & Crescent called Fatty's but it's a bit pricey for today. I'm stickin' with the Slyders.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 15:30

Seanyboy,

That link is bizarre. From sailing across the bay and over to Greenland to hardcore porn to cutting a guy's face off. That is just...odd.

posted by bugbread 21 June | 15:34

Omonia is a very fashionable neighborhood in Athens, IIRC.

posted by kenko 21 June | 15:37

I'm really close to La Vuelta, in LIC, who provide me with delicious, crispy, warm Cuban sandwiches whenever I feel the need. Now I feel the need.

Awesome. I'm so hungry now. I'll never decide.

posted by Hugh Janus 21 June | 15:38

Unlike ParisParamus who has no redeeming characteristics whatsoever (possibly as comedy)

PP can be helpful in Ask on occasion.

Jonmc, I thought Chicago had one of the highest Greek populations outside of Greece? Astoria, huh.

posted by kenko 21 June | 15:40

Chicago's got a lot to be sure, but Astoria, especially up around Ditmars, near the Park, is unbelievably Greek.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 15:48

Astoria, like Chicago, also has Bohemians. And a Bohemian Beer Garden to hold them on weekend afternoons.

Prosit!

posted by Hugh Janus 21 June | 15:51

Evidently, the Zoltar the Magnificent site is from a shop by the same name in London (here). I'm going to make dodgygeezer go there and take photos. Anyone else here in London?

(go for the Cuban sandwich, Hugh!)

posted by taz 21 June | 16:00

Bohemian Hall doth fucking rule, Hugh. As does Zlata Praha around the corner from it. Excellent Sauerbraten.

posted by jonmc 21 June | 16:06

Huh. I was wondering what that "F" was for (it's all over major website ad-thingies). Now I know. Thanks, seanyboy, I think.

But wasn't Zoltar the fortune telling machine from "Big"?

posted by deborah 21 June | 16:07

I want some corned beef.

posted by kenko 21 June | 16:09

Anyone ever go out to Corona for ices? I like mint chocolate chip, and since the devil has taken dairy products from me (Fie! Fie! There are some things I will not tolerate!), Italian ice is the way to go.

I feel like a reg'lar fuckin' Chamber of Commerce, me.

posted by Hugh Janus 21 June | 16:13

For you, kenko, I am prescribing a Reuben sandwich (I am the lunch doctor, heed me).

posted by taz 21 June | 16:13

STOP TALKING ABOUT FOOD!!!!
It's 9:30pm, I'm still at work, and I'm HUNGRY!!!!
So stop it!
ARRRRGGHHHHHHHHH!

posted by seanyboy 21 June | 16:19

Right now I'm eating some sort of caramel creme ice cream thingy. It tastes like soft frozen caramel whipped cream.

... Okay, I just gave some to mr. taz to try; he's describing it as "creme brulee ice cream". Party in my mouth.

posted by taz 21 June | 16:19

heh.

posted by taz 21 June | 16:20

I always ask for tech support on street corners

Reminds me of the old Roz Chast cartoon, The Kid Who Learned about Math On The Street. "If you divide by zero, you DIE!"

posted by matildaben 21 June | 16:21

ARRRGGGGGGG!

posted by seanyboy 21 June | 16:23

Is everyone invited, taz?

posted by Hugh Janus 21 June | 16:25

Cooking chicken with garlic and herbs.

Nummy.

enjoy seany... :D

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 16:25

::sobs, watches update crawl along::
::imagines computer as lovely, lovely roasting chicken::

posted by seanyboy 21 June | 16:27

Well, it's only a tiny little cup, but if everyone's coming over I'll run out and buy more.

posted by taz 21 June | 16:27

I like me some homemade granita. A few weeks ago I made a lot of cantaloupe granita. I recommend highly.

posted by kenko 21 June | 16:27

Sweet. Party in taz's mouth.

posted by kenko 21 June | 16:29

ah! That party. Careful. It's kind of chilly in there right now.

posted by taz 21 June | 16:31

kenko, was your granita something like this?

posted by taz 21 June | 16:39

Ahah - finished. You shall trouble me no more.

posted by seanyboy 21 June | 16:40

Yes, but what are you going to eat?

posted by taz 21 June | 16:43

I've shot some rabbits in my garden. They'd make a lovely stew.

posted by longbaugh 21 June | 16:54

Something like that, except with one melon, less lime, some ginger liqueur (homemade, natch), and some simple syrup.

posted by kenko 21 June | 16:58

Dame, I protest! Virulent can't be the word you are looking for:

Extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous. Used of a disease or toxin.
Capable of causing disease by breaking down protective mechanisms of the host. Used of a pathogen.
Intensely irritating, obnoxious, or harsh.

Irascible, maybe, but not virulent.

posted by warbaby 21 June | 17:10

Vehement? Vociferous?

posted by matildaben 21 June | 17:45

Omonia, which my dining partner pronounced "Ammonia"

Well, that's how you pronounce it (in English, anyway -- in Greek the first O is nice and clear, oh-, but we don't do that in English). It means 'concord, harmony' and is the name of a famous square in Athens (which I believe was named after Place de la Concorde in Paris).

There hasn't been really good Greek food in Astoria for, oh, 10-15 years now.
*misses Taygetos and the old Barba Yiorgis*

posted by languagehat 21 June | 21:09

quonsar.

because no 111 comment thread should be without a mention of quonsar.

posted by quonsar 21 June | 22:22

er, 112.

posted by quonsar 21 June | 22:22

ah CRAP! 113.

posted by quonsar 21 June | 22:23

DAMMIT!!!! ATDT+++no carrier

posted by quonsar 21 June | 22:23

I dunno warbaby. Sometimes you can be harsh. Hell, sometimes I can be harsh.

posted by dame 22 June | 12:02

Not that anybody cares, that "F" thingie, well, I'm a dork. I installed FlashBlock and that's the little thing to get the flash-thingie to play. Ha. Did I mention I'm a dork?

posted by deborah 22 June | 12:47

I'm still confused.
What is the "F" thing you keep referring to?

posted by seanyboy 22 June | 13:00

I hope it's the same "F" thingie I keep referring to.

(Fluffernutter)

posted by Hugh Janus 22 June | 13:06

"F" thing

Sorry, Hugh. Haven't had a Fluffernutter in ages.

posted by deborah 22 June | 17:53

21 June 2005