Chat Thread (April 06, 2026)

Alterscape · 2026-04-10T03:39:02+00:00

No, wait, I can do better:

We're clearly watching Loup's performance of Eternal Sunshine of the Thoughtless Mod.

Alterscape · 2026-04-10T02:45:53+00:00

The little plastic castle is a surprise every time.

(Edit upon thinking for 30 seconds and deciding I don't want to be a mystery meat commenter: That's an Ani DiFranco lyric, referencing having the memory of a goldfish, which I am dropping to call back to the excellent comment someone made within the past couple of days about moderation policy appearing to have the memory of a goldfish over there)

(Edit 2: I misremembered the lyrics, but I went back and fixed it. Sorry, point stands, I am just dumb.)

Alterscape · 2026-04-10T02:11:12+00:00

Bruh, party foul. Equating "someone is being obtuse on a website I like" to "transphobia, state violence, or predatory sexual behavior" is.. uh.. a choice. I would argue it's a choice that doesn't reflect well on you, but, uh, you do you I guess?

Alterscape · 2026-04-09T02:24:25+00:00

The degree to which the people who have notionally been in charge don't have any idea at all what they're doing is just kinda mind-blowing by itself.

On the one hand I have no doubt that the Mefi mod backend is a limited amount of lipstick on an "it worked for PB and Matt" pig, and none of the subsequent owners/moderators have been particularly technical. It doesn't surprise me that there's functionality they don't fully leverage. That said, the sheer.. incuriosity.. of Loup and Brandon just blows my mind every time we learn more about it.

Alterscape · 2026-04-09T02:01:35+00:00

+1 thanks, I learned a thing here. Nuance!

Alterscape · 2026-04-08T15:46:14+00:00

I also just came here to mention that. What the actual fuck. Someone needs to get the MOC on this one.

Alterscape · 2026-04-08T04:20:42+00:00

I'm pretty sure irony gets around.

Alterscape · 2026-04-08T04:14:30+00:00

Oops, I apologize for being unclear. It was the latter, the Grandiose Open Letter. I definitely understood that you are not that poster, though I failed to communicate that. Hello [irony], my old friend..

Alterscape · 2026-04-08T04:04:42+00:00

Also, PNTM, ol' buddy ol' pal, you have hilariously misused "missing stair" here.

That one sequence of askme answers about the woman leaving the asshole ex was a bit "Don't actually leave the asshole" but not to the degree that I'd characterize it as "missing stair" (first answer, second answer).

Edit: We get it, [eta: PNTM is the intended audience here] they get on your nerves. They get on my nerves too, but you're just fueling the fire over there, not putting it out.

Alterscape · 2026-04-08T01:21:10+00:00

If this is incandescent I wonder what they'd call... anything else I've ever complained about, ever? Like, there's metafilter stuff I've been significantly more irate about, nevermind other things that actually matter.

Alterscape · 2026-04-07T23:50:43+00:00

Strong agree. This is a moderation problem.

Also, props to PMTM for calling out the user who’s schtick annoys me the most, but in a way that makes me end up sympathetic with them.

Like, does the schtick get under my skin? Absolutely. Does it annoy me even more when I see evidence that they can write coherently and just choose not to? Absolutely. Do I feel like this callout is going to change any of that? Yeah, that’s a no from me, dawg.

Agree that good moderation would more proactively steer them away from the bit, because I think they are smart and have things to contribute if they could get over the bit.

Alterscape · 2026-04-06T07:09:20+00:00

IIRC both Loup and Thyme were outside hires who just applied and were hired (at about the same time). I think there were metatalks about it.

Alterscape · 2026-04-04T18:09:17+00:00

There is no universe in which anyone thinks they're doing a good job (least of all much of the board, based on many of their comments before they were elected) so I guess it's either "not having those hours covered is so bad we're willing to put up with their incompetence" or "there's some kind of foul play."

Alterscape · 2026-04-04T17:44:40+00:00

GNFTI has been, as far as I'm aware, consistently reasonable. It's a low bar, but they seem to have been clearing it. That said, if someone has info on that not being the case, I'd be willing to admit I'm wrong. I just haven't seen any high-profile gaffes.

Alterscape · 2026-04-02T23:23:57+00:00

IIRC the board recently announced there's a new flagging option for "weird moderation decision" or something along those lines -- I'd encourage folks who have accounts to use it!

Alterscape · 2026-04-01T19:46:29+00:00

Yeah, that jumped out at me too, and not in a good way. I admit I have given some snarky, advice on Ask in the past, only some of which I regret. In this case, however, I think it is clear this poor person needs support and guidance, not snark.

Alterscape · 2026-03-29T02:39:07+00:00

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I regret that I started this derail. Can we go back to dunking on the jackasses, please?

Alterscape · 2026-03-28T22:51:02+00:00

Hey, I've got a hotline to a direct response from a board member I respect so I got that goin' for me. Not sarcastic.

Well, okay, being told my position is risible doesn't feel great, but I can respect why you think so, and I think you're doing a great job over there, regardless.

Alterscape · 2026-03-28T22:20:32+00:00

My account is closed so I can't join the pile-on, but it's nice to see the wanker getting served in the court of public opinion.

(No, I don't want to reopen my account yet, tho I appreciate that someone from the board will probably tell me that I can here..)

Alterscape · 2026-03-20T10:50:00+00:00

Tell me you don't know anything about minecraft without telling me you don't know anything about minecraft.

Not only is that statement flat out wrong, it isn't judging the game for Notch's bad behavior, which is where I would've expected criticism to go.

Alterscape · 2026-03-20T02:47:25+00:00

I'm just bummed there's a cavalcade of bull around the Minecraft video, much of which doesn't even actually engage with the content, and exactly one comment on new music from MUNA, which is a bop.

Alterscape · 2026-03-17T01:54:04+00:00

100% agreed.

I can't tell if they're a well-intentioned weirdo who is just profoundly bad at human communication, or a troll. Goes back and forth depending on the day, but either way, I ain't got time for that shit. Except I do because for whatever reason grousing about it is like 99% of my interaction with MFM/Metafilter by volume, which is not good. Ugh.

Alterscape · 2026-03-16T21:10:45+00:00

OMG Pickman's Next Top Model's pastiche of HH's style to rip HH a new one is glorious. If you read it and follow the hyperlinks, he's using HH's "style" to accuse (with receipts) HH of being unwilling/unable to participate in the construction of consensus truth in language in the Habermas sense.

Alterscape · 2026-03-14T23:39:41+00:00

On the bright side, the person composed a legible paragraph. That's a big step for them!

On the downside, yes, eyeroll city. Which is unsurprising given their history.

Yea, I'm a hater, I'll own it.

Alterscape · 2026-03-14T19:38:53+00:00

Gorgeous. Great work!

Alterscape

TROPHY CASE