MetaChat - A change of policy.

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

30 December 2005

A change of policy. Lately there have been instances of Metatalk squabbles being brought over here and also discussion of Mefi users without their knowledge. This needs to be dealt with and here's what is going to happen.
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From now on if you make a post about a Mefi user, particularly if it's in a disparaging or critical way, I will inform that user they are being discussed and invite them to respond. If they don't have an account then an account will be supplied.

I hope this will discourage these posts from happening at all - but they will not be prohibited.

If there are any reasonable objections or alternatives to this that you'd like to suggest then I'd love to hear them otherwise this is going to be the new policy.

post by: dodgygeezer at: 09:40 | 39 comments

Hmmmmm.... sounds a lot more reasonable than anything I was imagining before clicking the More Inside.

I was thinking about calling you out on MeTa, but Matt probably wouldn't see that humor in that. And also, I can't think of any pretense to call you out on.

posted by Doohickie 30 December | 09:49

I like it.

It's uncool for people to come here and rag on mefi users. Keep it there, where it belongs.

Like it says on one of my favorite bumper stickers:

O O L

What's missing? P. Let's keep it that way.

Don't pee in my pool!

posted by iconomy 30 December | 09:50

posted by Hugh Janus 30 December | 09:51

posted by iconomy 30 December | 09:54

Point of clarification: Does this apply only to posts, or also to comments? For example, say, this thread was certainly not started with the intent to discuss anyone who's not already here, but what if someone made such a comment in that thread?

I don't object, of course, to any policy you feel you need to implement, and I've already apologized for my part in the most recent thread. I just hope you're not bringing too much extra work on yourself by vowing to keep such a close eye on who's mentioning who.

posted by Gator 30 December | 09:55

I love it! Very good.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 December | 09:56

In cases where the person being talked about doesn't have any contact information, what will the protocol be?

posted by PinkStainlessTail 30 December | 09:57

Good plan geezer. Good krist, if we ever need a MetaChat MetaTalk, I'll flame out in a blaze the likes of which have never before been seen.

How many times has this been said? I love MetaChat because it is what I always wanted MetaFilter to be. I rarely rarely even go over to that other place.

C!

posted by tr33hggr 30 December | 09:58

posted by Hugh Janus 30 December | 10:00

That sheep has dreads! Should I call the cops?

posted by tr33hggr 30 December | 10:01

Good question, PST. In a case like that, it seems like the only way to let someone know they're being discussed would be to make a public comment on MeFi where they, and everyone else, can see it, which would really bring on the looky-loos. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.

posted by Gator 30 December | 10:01

Fair enough. We were wrong to bring it here. Apologies, taz & dodgy.

posted by jonmc 30 December | 10:06

This seems reasonable and wise.

Anyway. What's up with that blow vaccuming lecherous disease-infested bastard anonymous? What's his or her problem eh?

posted by Capn 30 December | 10:10

Another for reasonable and wise - I guess the wise part comes with the geezer territory.

;)

posted by porpoise 30 December | 10:23

Good policy.

posted by orthogonality 30 December | 10:48

From now on if you make a post about a Mefi user, particularly if it's in a disparaging or critical way, I will inform that user they are being discussed and invite them to respond. If they don't have an account then an account will be supplied.
posted by: dodgygeezer at: 09:40 | 15 comments

*shane runs over to MeTa to talk about dodgygeezer behind his back*

posted by shane 30 December | 10:50

[Oops, doohickie beat me to that joke.]

posted by shane 30 December | 10:51

Nice!

posted by omiewise 30 December | 11:06

That sounds fair enough. : )

posted by sisterhavana 30 December | 11:11

Can we make fun of rabbits?

posted by DeepFriedTwinkies 30 December | 11:20

What if I post about a user named "CommieWise"?

posted by orthogonality 30 December | 11:27

I'm already thinking of abusing this policy by posting "fire&wings is a doodyhead" so someone'll call him over here and I can get him to finally tell me what happened to his cat.

I'm kidding.

posted by Gator 30 December | 11:28

If I wanted to snark about ortho's magic keyboard in repsonse to a MeTa comment, where would be the best place for me to stick it?

posted by danostuporstar 30 December | 11:31

danostuporstar, write me. I have pictures.

posted by arse_hat 30 December | 11:34

No one should feel that they're being told off for any recent behaviour - I'd like to look on this as a fresh start and that from now on we have a bit more clarity. Let's put those previous threads behind us and be sure we know where we all stand in future.

In cases where the person being talked about doesn't have any contact information, what will the protocol be?

I will try my best to contact that person but if I can't locate any contact info anywhere then unfortunately I can't do anything else. That should be pretty rare though...

Does this apply only to posts, or also to comments?

It really would depend on the nature of the comments and the direction of the thread. My view is this: if the comments and posts were about me how would I feel? I know that's probably a bit vague and open to interpretation but it's all I've got at the moment.

I would also ask the rest of the community to feel free to contact me if they think a right of reply is owed to someone. You may not like the people who are being discussed but it seems only fair that those people should be able to respond.

Can we make fun of rabbits?

Never. Unless they have toilet paper stuck to their shoe.

where would be the best place for me to stick it?

Don't tempt me

posted by dodgygeezer 30 December | 11:45

What if I post about a user named "CommieWise"?

I laughed. Out loud.

posted by iconomy 30 December | 12:02

That's a good policy, dodgy, but it still seems like the best thing to do would be for people to keep the metafilter drama on metafilter, and not drag it over here in the first place.

posted by cmonkey 30 December | 12:23

Public shaming. That's the ticket.

posted by cmonkey 30 December | 12:23

Can we have public paddlings? Can we please?

posted by iconomy 30 December | 12:59

We were thinking of Pubic Shamings.

The itchy stubble serves to continually remind you of your sin.

posted by taz 30 December | 13:03

You mean Shavings.

Score!

posted by danostuporstar 30 December | 13:06

i support pubic shaving.

posted by quonsar 30 December | 14:24

Maybe there can be a special icon on the front page for "slagging on MeFi users" threads so people who don't want the drama can just avoid them.

/signs up for public paddlings

posted by matildaben 30 December | 14:25

and of course I just read that as asking for a special icon for "shaving on MeFi users".

posted by taz 30 December | 14:37

I like it.

posted by seanyboy 30 December | 15:34

Will someone please start talking ill about me so I can a free MeFi account? Pretty please? Taunt me all you like!

posted by Lipstick Thespian 30 December | 16:11

I freakin' hate lipstick thespian! He's a moron! He's nothing but a stupid actor!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 December | 16:21

StickyT gave me asscooties.

posted by danostuporstar 30 December | 16:35

wouldn't that just cause more crappy egobluster threads here?
some people already seem to think mecha and its irc are for venting or finding supporters.
couldn't they just be emailed to deal with it in a separate chat or email and then update on the resolution or conclusion?
maybe we could have a gif or word that people use at offenders that links to a venting room?
or is the idea that they air it in public so some neutral party will referee or when it is read in review the banality of it all will dawn on them?

i'm probably too out of the loop to comment on it and in the middle of six different thing right ow anyway

posted by ethylene 30 December | 18:11

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