MetaChat - If you were able to write one post on Mefi,

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.

06 January 2009

If you were able to write one post on Mefi, what would it be? Ever since I got back, and was able to post, Ive been crushing myself on what to--but no go. I'm thinking it's just a temporary lapse, and I'll be back to my old self in no time, hey?

post by: hadjiboy at: 06:46 | 22 comments

Hi hadjiboy! Glad to see you're recovering!

I must say, though, that this sort of post is... well, inappropriate?

posted by Specklet 06 January | 07:33

I never forced posts on MeFi back when I was still a member. They forced themselves on me, screaming to be posted. Even then, such posts are not always good.

When I left the interest ratio for me was down to 1 in 20. I occasionally return, but the interest ratio now has worsened still. MediocrityFilter

posted by Ardiril 06 January | 08:29

Wait till something interesting comes your way. Also, seconding Specklet.

posted by special-k 06 January | 08:39

If I had oodles of time and motivation, I'd put together a post covering the history of the current financial mess as viewed through metafilter posts. That is, a set of links back to old metafilter posts covering events leading up to where the financial crisis is now. Metfilter has a pretty good historical base of news and political posts going back a few years now. It might be interesting looking back at them knowing what we know now.

I'd find such a post interesting, but it's more work than I'd want to do and it may have already been done, or it might be against metafilter guidelines for all I know. I've only done 1 metafilter post, and haven't felt much motivation to do another.

posted by DarkForest 06 January | 08:55

Seconding Ardiril and special-k, thirding Specklet.

posted by TheDonF 06 January | 10:00

Give yourself time to recover from the accident first.

As you know, people on MeFi can be quite cruel to posts and posters that they consider subpar.

Make sure you're at 100% physically and emotionally before you decide to wade into the shark pool.

posted by jason's_planet 06 January | 10:12

Yeah, waiting for a post topic that comes to you organically will likely make for a better post.

With that said. I'm a little surprised that no one has made a post around Jett Travolta/Kawasaki Syndrome/Autism/Scientology considering the general internet buzz it received.

posted by geekyguy 06 January | 11:25

Nah, just go ahead and force it, go to wikipedia and hit ctrl-x and google the shit out of whatever comes up. If you put enough links in, no-one will notice that none of them are interesting.

posted by Wolfdog 06 January | 11:26

It's usually not a good idea to post just because you want to make a post. Wait until you find something you really think is worth sharing. That's what keeps the overall reading quality of the site so high.

posted by Miko 06 January | 12:12

What makes this post inappropriate?

posted by Hugh Janus 06 January | 12:12

The second rule of MeCha is "do not talk about MeFi" (because it invites animosity, I suppsoe). But yeah, this post seems good-natured enough.

posted by muddgirl 06 January | 12:23

I don't understand what's inappropriate about this post here on MetaChat, but I will join the pileon and say please don't do this

posted by grouse 06 January | 12:28

From the FAQ:

Posts about or links to Metafilter are usually fine unless:

* You want to bring some drama to our attention.
* You want us to laugh at someone you think is an idiot.
* You feel you've been on the receiving end of some injustice either from Matt or Jess or another user. MetaFilter issues belong on Metatalk, and will be deleted here.
* "Wouldn't it be cool if we all went to Mefi and did X?" No. No it wouldn't.

So I think this is fine.

posted by grouse 06 January | 12:30

Also from the FAQ:

Many Metachat users also use Metafilter which has a self-policing policy - that is, users are encouraged to publicly call attention to poor quality posts, doubles, self-linking, etc. usually within the thread.

This is heavily discouraged in Metachat.

Metachat's policy is so loose that no user should ever feel the need to admonish another user for not meeting the guidelines.

If you see a post or comment that you think should be deleted or edited then e-mail the mods and they'll deal with it.

So, just chill out, enjoy yourself and leave all that crap to someone else.

posted by Hugh Janus 06 January | 12:37

Okay, okay, sorry!

Sorry I was unclear: for me, it wasn't about MetaFilter. If it had been cuteoverload instead, I would have had the same reaction: if I had something to post on cuteoverload I would have done it already; so find your own things to post about! Sheesh.

Sorry if I found the post redundantly redundant.

posted by Specklet 06 January | 12:41

So, I guess now you have a week to craft a new fpp?

Relax, man, let it come to you . . .

posted by geekyguy 06 January | 12:48

Nah, nah, nobody's asking for an apology, Specklet. Easy with the sheeshes.

I took hadjiboy more as saying, hey, I must not be altogether all the way back together yet, because temporarily I just don't even have a clue about what I want to post. So the usual supportive murmuring seemed more in request than actual topics for posting. "Hey, you'll be back on your brain in no time, buddy" that kind of thing.

I really was just curious, and only posted what I did from the FAQ after following grouse's link... more a gentle reminder than anything else.

Hard as it may be to believe, I'm really not here to talk shit.

posted by Hugh Janus 06 January | 12:52

Every time I come up with something to post, someone has already beat me to it. Last time it was mathowie hisself. *grumble*

posted by deborah 06 January | 15:11

Similar thing happened to me when I went to Digg the frozen soap bubbles. *shakes fist at the OP*

posted by TrishaLynn 06 January | 16:02

deborah: I can go one better. I once posted a link that got slammed for disinterest though not deleted. 5 months later, mathowie posted a link to the same video only on youtube and got major lolz in the comments. No one even called it out as a double. I laughed; I find humor in such events rather than reasons to get upset.

posted by Ardiril 06 January | 19:40

Yeah, nthing (both in and out of admin capacity) the Wait For The Post thing. There's a reason I barely ever post to the front page myself, and it's that I barely ever come across something (or up with something) that strikes me as must-post stuff.

Nobody ever got their chops busted for erring on the side of caution with their posting, so don't sweat it, take it easy, and save the post for when you've got something really great.

And mathowie has actually double-posted himself at least once. So did, I think jonson.

posted by cortex 06 January | 21:22

Oddly enough, thanks to Marxchivist, I was able to post something today.

posted by deborah 07 January | 17:30

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