MeFi mod log archive
An archive of MetaFilter's Recent Mod Actions log

Mod actions on Ask

413 mod actions · Page 1 of 5

Mod note on 'Bro, back off from the machines in [names redacted] counties!'

anoldfriend6: commenting this much in your Ask threads is generally discouraged. It's fine to pop in to respond to clarifying questions, but arguing directly with answers is not something you should be doing.

Mod note on 'Help me calm down about poison ivy exposure'

Removed a duplicate comment.

Mod note on 'The Case of the Terrible Senior Girlfriend'

Three deleted. amtho, it's not a good idea to ascribe someone's bad behaviors to neurodivergence. The other comments were deleted for responding to the deleted comment.

Mod note on 'What do hiring managers think of this form of recruiting?'

Two deleted; answers in Ask must answer the question rather than getting into side conversations with other users (or with mods). If you have an issue with moderation, please take it to MeTa or the contact form.

Mod note on 'Doctor's Office wants my disabled friend to fax papers'

Two deleted for not answering the question. Further notes:

a) Posting a list of several unvetted internet fax services from an internet search isn't helpful; OP has made clear that they have tried those services and they have not worked.

b) Answers should definitely assume that physically taking records to the office is a nonstarter.

Mod note on 'Bro, back off from the machines in [names redacted] counties!'

Folks, this question has picked up numerous flags and feedback on the contact form. I'm not choosing to remove it at this time; however, that doesn't mean it's without issues.

anoldfriend6: This question is written in a way that (a) seems deliberately inflammatory and (b) reads as soliciting answers which would be straightforwardly illegal; neither of those are things we encourage on Ask (and (b) is straightforwardly against the rules). Please be more careful in the future. It looks like you have been following along and has selected some best answers for productive ways you can move forward which aren't illegal, however.

Everyone else: please remember that gambling isn't illegal, even if you don't like it or see any moral value in it. If you are unable to view this as a problem to solve within OP's gaming community, consider skipping the thread.

Mod note on 'What do hiring managers think of this form of recruiting?'

Candleman: i'm not removing this comment, but do be aware that language like "Bob in India" reads to some folks as racist; please work on your phrasing in the future.

Mod note on 'Which Phone Next?'

One deleted for not answering the question.

Mod note on 'Doctor's Office wants my disabled friend to fax papers'

One deleted for not answering the question.

Mod note on 'From Mom and Dad to Just Mom'

One Answer removed as requested by its author.

Mod note on 'Reverse dupe jewelry question'

virve: i fixed the typos in your post and deleted the typo-correction comment!

Mod note on 'Is it a thing now for Trump speeches to be shown before movies?'

One comment removed. Please avoid starting a side conversation in response to orther comments. AskMeFi comments should answer the question being asked.

Deleted ask post 'Noise Code Compliance'

Ask MetaFilter post Noise Code Compliance deleted. Poster's request

Mod note on 'Seeking: messenger bag of my dreams'

Two comments deleted. (The first was a link to a closed store that also didn't fit the Asker's parameters; the second was a response to the first.)

Mod note on 'where in the world is Graham Platner?'

Another comment deleted. Folks, it's definitely against the guidelines to accuse Askers of having nefarious purposes. If you suspect someone has a nefarious purpose, please flag it with a note; breaking the commenting guidelines isn't helpful.

Mod note on 'Why do World Cup matches create more hassles than football games?'

One deleted as noise.

Mod note on 'Where to find good hair consultant in Boston area?'

One deleted. Again, folks, "ask an LLM", much like "just Google it", is not an appropriate answer in Ask under almost any circumstances.

Mod note on 'The struggle to command the alt key is real - moving from mac to pc'

Fixed a typo in this comment.

Mod note on 'Field Deployment Checklist?'

Fixed a typo in this comment.

Mod note on 'where in the world is Graham Platner?'

One deleted for being hostile and not really answering the question.

Mod note on 'Travel research/planning nowadays โ€” for a broad overview?'

One deleted. Anyone who wants to use chatbots for research is already aware that chatbots exist; answers along the lines of "ChatGPT will do this for you" are not materially different from "you can just use Google", which is also obviously a bad answer.

Mod note on 'Looking for comfortable mens dress shoe'

Fixed link in this comment to be clickable.

Mod note on 'Sponge Bath Recommendations'

Fixed link in this comment to be clickable.

Mod note on 'Removing Rubber Gel X Residue from Nails'

One deleted; HearHere, you have been warned multiple times about throwaway answers in Ask, and about answers on subjects where you have no expertise. You're getting a weeklong timeout; the next step is a ban.

Mod note on 'Leave it open!'

Deleted chives' pet tax comment at their request, because the upload site turns out to be kind of dodgy.

Mod note on 'This pattern - is it okay? (Take a look at these hands!)'

Bottlecap: "This does not read that way to me. It just reads like hands. I think you may be getting vibes because of the scheme, which is often associated with kente cloth."

Bottlecap: you are totally not in trouble and this is overall a good answer! However, a user has requested, via flag note, that we clarify that there's a difference between kente (a Ghanaian woven fabric) and kitenge (a wax-print fabric like the one pictured here). And i concur that for reasons of cultural sensitivity, that's a good thing to do, so here we go!

Mod note on 'Advice on using Canadian pharmacies (from US) - Cat asthma meds'

One comment removed, please avoid just posting a link to Goggle search results.

Mod note on 'Is there a word or a phrase for this?'

Two deleted. Folks, this is Ask, and you need to answer the question rather than fighting with other commenters.

Mod note on 'Fellow night owls, where are thou?'

salad, i am not deleting this comment because the Asker has replied to it directly, but this is not coolโ€”it interrogates the premise of the question, fails to answer the question, and assumes the asker's genderโ€”and you need to not do it again.

Mod note on 'How can I try on sandals without leaving a footprint?'

One deleted for questioning the premise and not answering the question.

Folks, i understand that many people think the Asker is doing something unethical here; if you are also answering the question it's reasonable to say so, but you can't do that instead of answering.

Mod note on 'Signed "Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship" and regret'

Two deleted. Folks, please do not argue with the Asker or with each other in Ask.

Mod note on 'Anti-diet culture podcast episodes'

One deleted for being off-topic, not answering the question, and being potentially triggering. MattD, when you see the words "disordered eating" in an Ask, you really need to not get on your hobbyhorse.

Mod note on 'I want a clock radio that doubles as an iPhone charger. More details...'

Fixed this comment so the links are clickable.

Also, please do read the clarifying comments from the OP in the thread before posting answers. Nothing is really over the line here, but some of the answers subsequent to those comments do not take into account the OP's clarifications.

Mod note on 'Instructions for a gรขteau St-Honorรฉ'

One deleted for not actually answering the question. "Have you tried checking out French language baking sites?" is not helpful without, at a minimum, links to some of those websites.

Mod note on 'Cleaning raccoon poop'

flabdablet, this comment has useful advice, but it's borderline as far as actually answering the question. I'm leaving it up for now, but please be mindful about your framing.

Mod note on 'buying a house in Hamilton, Ontario'

Folks, please be mindful about how much or how little your experience in an entirely different region and jurisdiction will generalize when answering an Asker. I am leaving this comment up because some of the advice is generalizable, but the process of buying a home in Canada is quite different in many respects from the process in the US.

Mod note on 'Cleaning raccoon poop'

One deleted for not answering the question.

Mod note on 'Small acts of rebellion'

One comment deleted, please let's be sensitive to context and avoid one line drive-by comments, moreover if these are sexist or said ironically.

Mod note on 'Catching fewer illnesses (and mitigating the ones I do catch), non-woo'

Fixed links in this comment to be clickable.

Mod note on 'Medical conditions that require cold ambient temperature'

One deleted as noise.

Mod note on 'Stop bugging me!'

Fixed links in post to be clickable.

Mod note on 'Why does my partner do retail therapy after we fight?'

Another comment deleted, let's remember that AskMeFi comments MUST address the question being asked. If you have another comments about moderation on Ask, please feel free to do so here instead.

Mod note on 'Why does my partner do retail therapy after we fight?'

Iteki: "What? Cos they're too woke or too chicken to hit you."

This comment is an answer to the Asker's question, and as such i am choosing to leave it, but Iteki, this is both facile and mean. Your answers in Ask are generally quite good; this is unworthy of you.

Folks, just in general, you need to treat the Asker with at least a modicum of compassion and respect or else skip this question.

Mod note on 'Why does my partner do retail therapy after we fight?'

Fixed pronouns in another answer as agreed with the user.

Mod note on 'Why does my partner do retail therapy after we fight?'

One (more) deleted -- no arguing with other posters in here.

Mod note on 'Why does my partner do retail therapy after we fight?'

Folks, with questions like this it can be useful to encourage an Asker to examine their part in the relationship dynamic as part of your answer, but at the same time, you need to be very careful not to shade into victim-blaming. A couple of comments are at least arguably on the wrong side of that. HearHere and Winnie the Proust, please be more mindful.

Mod note on 'Why does my partner do retail therapy after we fight?'

One deleted. Comments need to answer the question. Non-answers will be deleted.

Mod note on 'Why does my partner do retail therapy after we fight?'

One comment removed. Please do not mock someoneโ€™s question or call it "hilarious".

Mod note on 'Why does my partner do retail therapy after we fight?'

Fixed pronouns in one of the answers as requested.

Mod note on 'Any suggestions for a new computer (PC) monitor?'

Leaving the comment above as it includes useful information, but please, let's stop chastising the OP.

Mod note on 'What are these contraptions?'

This comment edited to remove a bad link at the user's request; one follow-up comment about the (now gone) bad link deleted.

Deleted ask post 'Iโ€™m not a six-million little pieces!'

Ask MetaFilter post Iโ€™m not a six-million little pieces! deleted. Breaks the guidelines

Mod note on 'What is the best concentration of vinegar for killing weeds?'

One removed for not answering the question.

Mod note on 'In search of unicorn recipes for meal prepping'

Fixed broken link in this comment.

Mod note on 'Debilitating work burnout/career change desire'

One deleted as both offensive and a non-answer (it was missed earlier).

Mod note on 'Debilitating work burnout/career change desire'

One deleted. Please answer the question without derailing the thread. Non answers will be deleted.]<

Mod note on 'Grief counselling in India'

One deleted. I understand that you were trying to be helpful, HearHere, but this is the sort of question where the answers probably need to be from folks with directly related experience of some kind.

Mod note on 'Women's swimsuit with specific needs'

Deleted a duplicate comment.

Mod note on 'How to create an away status in Home Assistant'

Just a quick note that people come to Ask for advice from other humans, and "go Google it" or "go ask a chatbot" isn't really the kind of thing that they're generally looking for.

Mod note on 'Losing My Religion and/or Lover'

Updated post to fix typo, and removed a comment about the typo.

Mod note on 'Teenaged daughter + creepy dudes'

haptic_avenger: you are tripling down here and it isn't okay. I am leaving your comment because it is not, on its face, bad advice to talk to other parents in one's neighborhood. However, OP has directly addressed your concerns about their neighborhood, and while you are under no obligation to believe them in your heart of hearts, you are required to follow the guidelines for Ask MetaFilter. Please take a break from this thread.

Mod note on 'Phone reboot from hell'

(made link clickable in the post)

Mod note on 'Is buying an e-bike a good idea? If so, what e-bike should we buy?'

Edited this comment to make the link clickable.

Mod note on 'Teenaged daughter + creepy dudes'

One deleted as noise. I am not deleting this comment, because it is potentially useful advice for the future/other people, but i would note that nobody is likely to believe a wedding ring on the hand of a 13-year-old girl is anything other than a prop of some kind and that therefore this isn't really a particularly good answer to this Asker's question.

I also want to note, in general, that while of course there do actually exist bad neighborhoods, the concept in the popular imagination of "bad neighborhood" is a very fraught one and is very often deployed in racist and classist ways. Please exercise caution, and be aware that poor and minoritized men are not, actually, the only or primary perpetrators of street harassment.

Mod note on 'In search of the most delicious salad'

The_Vegetables: "Black bean/jicima salad:
Canned black beans, corn, jicama, cilantro, mini bell peppers, and a dressing typically made with olive oil, lime, and cilantro., but it can be left off. Only a tiny bit of dressing is used.
"

I'm making the executive decision to leave this answer, because it's always been true that posts in Ask are for more than just the Asker. However, the Asker specifically said absolutely no beans; please read the question carefully before you answer it!

Mod note on 'Teenaged daughter + creepy dudes'

Two deleted; one was nonresponsive to the question, and the other was a response to that comment.

Mod note on 'Teenaged daughter + creepy dudes'

Post edited to remove the hijab sentence as agreed with OP. Also deleted the comment addressing it and it's response.

Also, please be considerate and respectful here, OP is going through a difficult situation with their young daughter; so let's not attack his choice of words.

Mod note on 'Who is most consistently appealing in music?'

Just a note for transparency: this Ask has gotten flagged multiple times as chatfilter. I don't particularly want to delete itโ€”it's picked up a lot of answers, whatever its shortcomings as a question, and the restrictions on what counts as "chatfilter" have been loosened over the yearsโ€”but for everyone's future reference, this is way too open-ended to be a good Ask post.

Mod note on 'Secret, silent social gathering in unoccupied flat?'

Two deleted: answers must answer the question, and this is not a place for discussion.

Mod note on 'Secret, silent social gathering in unoccupied flat?'

One deleted; i don't think that baseless speculation about an elderly gay guy secretly running a cult, a drug dealing business, and/or a glory hole is sufficiently answer-shaped to remain in this thread.

Mod note on 'Heliocare Advanced Dietary Supplement'

falsedmitri: i've edited the broken link in the post to reflect the link you intended, and deleted the comment which only contained the link.

Mod note on 'Is it ok for a teacher to show Peppa.exe to 7 year old kids?'

And one deleted for not answering the question.

Mod note on 'Bay Area Post-Inpatient Adolescent Psychiatric Care Options'

Hey knobknosher: i've fixed the links in two of your comments to be clickable. They are otherwise unedited!

Mod note on 'Is it ok for a teacher to show Peppa.exe to 7 year old kids?'

One comment deleted as a duplicate.

Mod note on 'Please explain this cartoon'

One deleted; Ask isn't a good place for quippy one-liners that don't answer the question.

Mod note on 'How can I refuse to sell 18" of my property with no hard feelings?'

One deleted as a duplicate.

Mod note on 'Bay Area Post-Inpatient Adolescent Psychiatric Care Options'

(Made link clickable in aramaic's comment.)

Mod note on 'Bay Area Post-Inpatient Adolescent Psychiatric Care Options'

One deleted for not answering the question.

Mod note on 'Uncomfabun?'

One comment removed for not answering the question. Please carry on.

Mod note on 'Do I have to send my landlord a photo to provide to the HOA?'

And two more deleted for not answering the question; sorry, missed them on my first go-around!

Mod note on 'Do I have to send my landlord a photo to provide to the HOA?'

Two deleted, one for being unnecessarily rude to the asker (without answering the question) and one for replying to that comment.

Mod note on 'I'm very sorry but this is another question about a friend-break up.'

Hi folks, please remember that engaging in a back-and-forth in Ask is not encouraged. Please leave your answer to OP's question and move on. Please refrain from engaging any further.

Mod note on 'I am in Google Sites Purgatory'

Corrected post to redact some personal information, at the user's request.

Mod note on 'Final update on the anger management issues question'

evilmonk: "you were not safe. he could have hurt or killed you. stop making excuses for him."

This is an answer, and it's not wrong, but it's also profoundly unkind to an Asker who has done nothing to deserve it. Please, folks, in questions that are about abuse, consider being gentler to Askers who are already feeling fragile.

Mod note on 'Examples of style standards in sports cultures?'

One deleted for both arguing with another answerer and not answering the question as asked.

Mod note on 'Too Passive?'

One deleted as noise.

Mod note on 'How can I refuse to sell 18" of my property with no hard feelings?'

One comment deleted for continuing to do the thing i said to stop doing (and for not answering the question).

Mod note on 'How can I refuse to sell 18" of my property with no hard feelings?'

Hi, folks! There's a weird dynamic in here with some of the answers, and i don't love it: several folks have validated the Asker's right to say no, but then gone on to point out that she could in fact say yes instead. This seems to me to be a kind of low-key interrogation of the premise of the question.

I'm leaving all of those up for now, but please note that "well, you could say yes" is not an answer to the question "how can i say no in a way that won't have negative effects on me/my property".

Separately, one comment deleted for not even attempting to answer the question.

Mod note on 'Best High-Yield Savings Account for a Small, Independent Website'

One deleted for not answering the question.

Mod note on 'Worst Case Scenario Strategy: Lost Airbnb Keycard'

One deleted for not answering the question.

Mod note on 'Co-worker trouble'

Folks, Ask is not a good place to encourage people to violate the law (many jurisdictions require two-party consent for audio recording) or their employment agreement (which may also prohibit recording, for privacy and security reasons). At the very least, if your answer recommends that people do either of these things, it should be carefully considered and done with very good reasons, and you will need to show your work on that.

I'm not deleting anything out of the thread at this point, but please be mindful.

Mod note on 'Citation Frustration'

Mod note on 'Tiles, Airtags, Chipolo, or ?'

Spoke too soon: i'd missed a different comment which was not an answer at all; it has been deleted. Please do not quibble with the premise of an Asker's question in order to make a side point.

Mod note on 'How to handle manager with bad time skills?'

Mod note on 'Tiles, Airtags, Chipolo, or ?'

I'm not deleting anything, not least because i would have to leave a giant hole in the thread here, but please do not advocate things that are likely to get people in trouble with the cops in Ask. Especially do not do it if you are joking, because, also, please do not post joke answers in Ask.

Mod note on 'Is my laptop too heavy or is my arm too weak?'

Whoops, my bad. A second comment was referencing the deleted comment, and i missed it. So i have now deleted that one too. Sorry, all!

Mod note on 'What was a studio made for?'

Post updated to fix a typo, at the Asker's request.

Mod note on 'Is it okay to leave the toilet seat up in a shared office space?'

Hey, folks. Please keep the conversation focused on genuine, non-snarky answers.

Mod note on 'Did this crow poop on me deliberately?'

One deleted for violating the LLM content policy.

Mod note on 'What is "playdate" in other languages?'

Several comments deleted. Folks, Ask is not a place for attacking the premise of the Asker's question, or getting into the weeds about one's grievances about modern life. Modern life sucks in many ways! But people still have questions irrespective of that fact!