Glenn Beck vs. Bob the Wonder Poodle
March 11, 2010 2:03 PM Subscribe
"You don't hear the words 'poodle,' 'tinfoil hat,' and 'First Amendment' in the same sentence often, but they are indeed linked in a classic Facebook melodrama." On February 8 Dale Blank created a Facebook page called 'Can this poodle wearing a tinfoil hat get more fans than Glenn Beck?.' He received 273,582 fans before Facebook stepped in and "publish blocked" the page on February 18. "That put the tin-hatted poodle at the center of a dispute over First Amendment free speech rights and censorship. There were virtual howls that Facebook was actively siding with Glen Beck over the Poodle, that perhaps someone at Facebook was siding with the conservatives, or at least had developed a hatred for left-wing sarcasm."
Facebook's original note to Blank:
Facebook's original note to Blank:
"The page 'Can this poodle wearing a tinfoil hat get more fans than Glenn Beck?' has had its publishing rights blocked because it violates our Pages Terms of Use. Amongst other things, Facebook restricts the publishing rights of Pages that impersonate other entities, represent generic concepts, spam users, or otherwise violate our Terms of Use."A follow-up explanation came this week.
'"A Facebook administrator looks into each report thoroughly in order to decide the appropriate course of action. If no violation of our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities has occurred, then no warning will be sent,' wrote a woman identifying herself as Marissa from Facebook's User Operations department, according to an e-mail provided by Blank. 'If a violation has occurred, then a warning or more severe actions are taken. Unfortunately, for technical and security reasons, we are unable to provide details regarding the removed content. We apologize for any inconvenience.'""Blank spent a lot of time reading the Facebook policy for fan pages. They require that a fan page be devoted to some kind of sincere commercial enterprise....Blank feels he's satisfied the requirement by purchasing the domain BobTheWonderPoodle.com, and linking to that site."
It is physically impossible for me to care any less about this.
posted by sanka at 2:08 PM on March 11, 2010 [29 favorites]
posted by sanka at 2:08 PM on March 11, 2010 [29 favorites]
Interesting. These fan pages have been popping up all over in the past 6 months or so. Think Left was promoting one called "Can this horse's ass get more fans than Mitch McConnell?" recently. I don't think that one got banned.
posted by KGMoney at 2:09 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by KGMoney at 2:09 PM on March 11, 2010
What about the pickle that got more friends/fans than Nickleback?
posted by msali at 2:10 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by msali at 2:10 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
There are a lot of "Pages" on Facebook that don't represent organizations or individuals, like they're intended to. Before that, there were a lot of "Groups" that did the same thing. I wish the terms of use were enforced better, but I'm happy see even one of those worthless attention hogs taken down as a matter of principle.
No, random friend that I haven't talked to in three years, I will not accept your invitation to become a fan of Walking Into A Room And Forgetting What You Were Going To Do There!
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 2:10 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
No, random friend that I haven't talked to in three years, I will not accept your invitation to become a fan of Walking Into A Room And Forgetting What You Were Going To Do There!
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 2:10 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Facebook regularly disappears content. It's actually pretty creepy, in a smiley-face-fascist-we-apologize-for-any-inconvenience way. They'd probably disappear users, if they could, except that Facebook needs them to keep the money coming in.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:11 PM on March 11, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:11 PM on March 11, 2010 [9 favorites]
Don't fuck with that pickle, it might have given me the most exciting two weeks of my life. There was a barrage of pickle updates through the bunnycup household, with the constant joyful refrain of "Oh my bunny, the pickle got another thousand fans!" I will never forget that pickle, or let the memories of its fandom die. NEVER.
posted by bunnycup at 2:14 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by bunnycup at 2:14 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
Yeah, just found this page, on the 19th of February, the pickle beat Nickelback (I spelled it wrong the first time).
I can't believe I just wasted five minutes chasing down the pickle story. Lord, I really need a hobby.
posted by msali at 2:14 PM on March 11, 2010
I can't believe I just wasted five minutes chasing down the pickle story. Lord, I really need a hobby.
posted by msali at 2:14 PM on March 11, 2010
On the internet, no one knows you're a poodle wearing a tinfoil hat.
posted by defenestration at 2:17 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by defenestration at 2:17 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
"Facebook restricts the publishing rights of Pages that impersonate other entities, represent generic concepts, spam users, or otherwise violate our Terms of Use."
Or they could just say "WTF is this supposed to be, MySpace?"
posted by Artw at 2:20 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Or they could just say "WTF is this supposed to be, MySpace?"
posted by Artw at 2:20 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Wow, Facebook people get into the biggest froth about the most worthless, trivial things.
posted by xmutex at 2:20 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by xmutex at 2:20 PM on March 11, 2010
Do ya think that woman will really name her baby Megatron?
posted by fixedgear at 2:21 PM on March 11, 2010 [19 favorites]
posted by fixedgear at 2:21 PM on March 11, 2010 [19 favorites]
There's also an onion ring that got about 8X more fans than Canadian PM Stephen Harper.
Though to be fair, the onion ring was significantly less greasy.
posted by gompa at 2:23 PM on March 11, 2010 [15 favorites]
Though to be fair, the onion ring was significantly less greasy.
posted by gompa at 2:23 PM on March 11, 2010 [15 favorites]
It seems like a good idea now, but in a few years when there are three Megatrons and a Robotron in the kid's kindergarten class, she will regret her choice.
posted by Mister_A at 2:24 PM on March 11, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 2:24 PM on March 11, 2010 [8 favorites]
First Amendment free speech rights
...so sayeth everybody that has never actually read the First Amendment.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 2:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [7 favorites]
...so sayeth everybody that has never actually read the First Amendment.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 2:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [7 favorites]
Lil' Robotron would be all moving on one direction and shooting lasers in another...
posted by Artw at 2:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 2:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
And when they posted a GRAR about MySpace, I did not speak up because I had deactivated my MySpace account.
And when they posted a GRAR about Twitter, I did not speak up because I still hadn't actually checked that site out.
And when they posted a GRAR about Facebook, I did not speak up because I only ever log in there to make sure breaking up with those exes was, in fact, a good idea.
But when they posted a GRAR about MetaFilter...
posted by greekphilosophy at 2:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
And when they posted a GRAR about Twitter, I did not speak up because I still hadn't actually checked that site out.
And when they posted a GRAR about Facebook, I did not speak up because I only ever log in there to make sure breaking up with those exes was, in fact, a good idea.
But when they posted a GRAR about MetaFilter...
posted by greekphilosophy at 2:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
Stupid Facebook groups are yet another reason I'm not on Facebook.
posted by graventy at 2:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by graventy at 2:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
They're all ripping off the "can the pickle get more fans than Nickleback" group, which wasn't even that funny to begin with. This trend needs to die. Especially the blatantly unoriginal ones like "can this tub of cottage cheese get more fans than Beyonce" or whatever.
posted by DecemberBoy at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by DecemberBoy at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2010
I've noticed a lot of these self-aware Facebook pages lately: where the name of the page explicitly states a desired number of fans. They're really irritating, even by Facebook standards.
posted by brundlefly at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by brundlefly at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2010
Stupid Facebook groups are yet another reason I'm not on Facebook.
I made a group called "If some amount of people join this group nothing in particular will happen" as a parody of these. It has a few hundred members. Join if you're on Facebook, it has no purpose and I never even look at it but you may as well, right?
posted by DecemberBoy at 2:28 PM on March 11, 2010
I made a group called "If some amount of people join this group nothing in particular will happen" as a parody of these. It has a few hundred members. Join if you're on Facebook, it has no purpose and I never even look at it but you may as well, right?
posted by DecemberBoy at 2:28 PM on March 11, 2010
So many people would be so happy if you could block 'so-and-so became a fan of...' from your newsfeed. So many people. But it would run counter to Facebook's business model, so it'll never happen.
posted by gurple at 2:28 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by gurple at 2:28 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
This trend needs to die.
Yeah goddammit, inspired by that sentiment I'm going to go start a Facebook fan "1,000,000 old farts strong for outlawing fun, walking on grass, and those damn kids these days"
posted by bunnycup at 2:29 PM on March 11, 2010 [12 favorites]
Yeah goddammit, inspired by that sentiment I'm going to go start a Facebook fan "1,000,000 old farts strong for outlawing fun, walking on grass, and those damn kids these days"
posted by bunnycup at 2:29 PM on March 11, 2010 [12 favorites]
What does this have to do with the First Amendment?
posted by Jaltcoh at 2:30 PM on March 11, 2010 [7 favorites]
posted by Jaltcoh at 2:30 PM on March 11, 2010 [7 favorites]
To be fair to Facebook last time I checked in on their site they'd moved things around a little so that it was much less of a confusing wall of crap. Still doens't make me want to go back for more than my once every couple of months or so maintenance visit.
posted by Artw at 2:31 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Artw at 2:31 PM on March 11, 2010
You don't hear the words 'poodle,' 'tinfoil hat,' and 'First Amendment' in the same sentence often...
...unless you still spend most of your time in Alt newsgroups.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:31 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
...unless you still spend most of your time in Alt newsgroups.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:31 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Yeah goddammit, inspired by that sentiment I'm going to go start a Facebook fan "1,000,000 old farts strong for outlawing fun, walking on grass, and those damn kids these days"
Wow, you've really got the wrong guy here, pal. I think it's more that you think it's a lot funnier than it really is.
posted by DecemberBoy at 2:32 PM on March 11, 2010
Wow, you've really got the wrong guy here, pal. I think it's more that you think it's a lot funnier than it really is.
posted by DecemberBoy at 2:32 PM on March 11, 2010
I am dogsitting my mom's poodle. I am tempted to return it to her with a tinfoil hat.
posted by desjardins at 2:34 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by desjardins at 2:34 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
DecemberBoy, I think that you think I am being way more seriouser than I really am. All in good fun my friend... I joined your group!
posted by bunnycup at 2:35 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by bunnycup at 2:35 PM on March 11, 2010
There's a common theme to the fans of these "IF 1,000,000 PEOPLE JOIN I WILL DO [CRAZY THING X]" pages.
My Facebook contacts who are 'fans' tend to be people who, if they were 20 years older, would be talking on parenting forums about their "DH" and writing all their emails in Comic Sans. I bet they post lots of questions to Yahoo! Answers, too.
posted by dunkadunc at 2:36 PM on March 11, 2010
My Facebook contacts who are 'fans' tend to be people who, if they were 20 years older, would be talking on parenting forums about their "DH" and writing all their emails in Comic Sans. I bet they post lots of questions to Yahoo! Answers, too.
posted by dunkadunc at 2:36 PM on March 11, 2010
(I mean really, did you see my comment where I said the pickle was the most exciting two weeks of my LIFE?!?!?! I know I come off as Ms. Gloom and Doom and Cancer and Depressed and Angst, but...)
posted by bunnycup at 2:37 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by bunnycup at 2:37 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Something Awful had a thread about this the other day, and this was my favorite.
posted by graventy at 2:39 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by graventy at 2:39 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
Lady, I got buddies who died face-down in the muck so you and I could enjoy this website!
Drunken web designers?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:45 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
Drunken web designers?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:45 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
Also, this seems like as good a place to shill for the Facebook group Fans, instigated by Mefi's own Fuzzy Monster.
Become a Fan of Fans! We're just one away from a cool breeze 100 strong!
posted by gompa at 2:46 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
Become a Fan of Fans! We're just one away from a cool breeze 100 strong!
posted by gompa at 2:46 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
If 1,000 people favorite this comment, I'll steal John Mellencamp's cigarettes.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:46 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:46 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
This seems like such a fun thread, and I really wanted to make some snarky joke about Farmville or some shit, but Facebook just bores me to tears and I can't think of anything amusing to say about it that isn't just 'fuck that noise.'
posted by shakespeherian at 2:47 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 2:47 PM on March 11, 2010
If 500 people favorite this comment, I'll steal Astro Zombie.
posted by The Whelk at 2:47 PM on March 11, 2010 [15 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 2:47 PM on March 11, 2010 [15 favorites]
How DARE anyone try to stealthily steal away my right to represent generic concepts. It's IN the CONSTITUTION! (anyway it should be written down somewhere official If it isn't.)
What is life without the right to represent generic concepts.
I dislike that Facebook has TOS which state that you can only have one "you"... there is no thought given that some users would want compartmentalization. (abusive ex, crazy boss, wild political opinions.) And so many more reasons for wanting to have a 'semi-private' life... like the suggestion that living in the modern world where the internet isn't going away, we should have to choose between a dichotomy, like,
A) well then don't post everything you do onto facespace (ok, so we are also supposed to never have contact with people who DO choose to do so, as that would expose said person to being "on" facespace...
or do,
and
b) your boss can fire you for being a weirdo...
Just like with Genes(see Gattica), we need a BILL of Rights for the Modern World... Preferablybefore the technology outpaces the politics.
posted by infinite intimation at 2:49 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
What is life without the right to represent generic concepts.
I dislike that Facebook has TOS which state that you can only have one "you"... there is no thought given that some users would want compartmentalization. (abusive ex, crazy boss, wild political opinions.) And so many more reasons for wanting to have a 'semi-private' life... like the suggestion that living in the modern world where the internet isn't going away, we should have to choose between a dichotomy, like,
A) well then don't post everything you do onto facespace (ok, so we are also supposed to never have contact with people who DO choose to do so, as that would expose said person to being "on" facespace...
or do,
and
b) your boss can fire you for being a weirdo...
Just like with Genes(see Gattica), we need a BILL of Rights for the Modern World... Preferablybefore the technology outpaces the politics.
posted by infinite intimation at 2:49 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
If 250 people favorite this comment, I'll smoke The Whelk.
posted by gompa at 2:50 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by gompa at 2:50 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
It is physically impossible for me to care any less about this.
Then why take the time click the link, presumably read the post, and then comment on it?
posted by belvidere at 2:52 PM on March 11, 2010 [6 favorites]
Then why take the time click the link, presumably read the post, and then comment on it?
posted by belvidere at 2:52 PM on March 11, 2010 [6 favorites]
FOR THE LAST TIME I AM NOT FLAMMABLE.
posted by The Whelk at 2:52 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 2:52 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
If eleventy people favorite this comment, I'll bring back sixcolors.
posted by special-k at 2:52 PM on March 11, 2010 [16 favorites]
posted by special-k at 2:52 PM on March 11, 2010 [16 favorites]
If 2 or 3 people favorite this comment, I'll drink a beer....
....Oh, fuckit, already!
*drinks beer*
Save the effort.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:53 PM on March 11, 2010 [13 favorites]
....Oh, fuckit, already!
*drinks beer*
Save the effort.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:53 PM on March 11, 2010 [13 favorites]
Some idiotic part of me is tempted to reactivate my Facebook account for the sole purpose of fanning* this poodle.
Then the rest of me remembers that it'd create a constant trickle of friend requests from Egyptian dudes who're trying to friend everyone that shows up when they search for "egypt" + "female", that none of my circle of friends does its business on Facebook, and I wonder what I can do to shut that idiotic part of me up.
Then I remember that we have some liquor around the house. Three days later, when I wake up wearing someone else's clothes, with drunken rants in my LJ, photos of genitals I don't recognize in my phone, and a sketchbook full of incomprehensible but still somehow obscene scribblings, I will rue the day I read about Bob the Wonder Poodle. Probably.
*or whatever awkward verbification is current among Facebook users for "pressing the button that marks me as a fan of this account".
posted by egypturnash at 2:54 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Then the rest of me remembers that it'd create a constant trickle of friend requests from Egyptian dudes who're trying to friend everyone that shows up when they search for "egypt" + "female", that none of my circle of friends does its business on Facebook, and I wonder what I can do to shut that idiotic part of me up.
Then I remember that we have some liquor around the house. Three days later, when I wake up wearing someone else's clothes, with drunken rants in my LJ, photos of genitals I don't recognize in my phone, and a sketchbook full of incomprehensible but still somehow obscene scribblings, I will rue the day I read about Bob the Wonder Poodle. Probably.
*or whatever awkward verbification is current among Facebook users for "pressing the button that marks me as a fan of this account".
posted by egypturnash at 2:54 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
If we keep this up we can keep IRFH drunk for days.
posted by The Whelk at 2:54 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 2:54 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
If we keep this up we can keep IRFH drunk for days.
The word is "drunker."
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2010 [8 favorites]
The word is "drunker."
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2010 [8 favorites]
If no one favorites this comment, I'll eat a whole bag of chips for dinner and cry myself to sleep.
posted by The Whelk at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
I didn't want to contribute to more chip-induced misery in this world.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 2:56 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 2:56 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
What is life without the right to represent generic concepts?
There's a group for that.
posted by minifigs at 2:57 PM on March 11, 2010
There's a group for that.
posted by minifigs at 2:57 PM on March 11, 2010
FOR THE LAST TIME I AM NOT FLAMMABLE.
But, I heard you were a real flamer.
posted by ericb at 2:57 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
But, I heard you were a real flamer.
posted by ericb at 2:57 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
I keed, I keed.
posted by ericb at 2:57 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by ericb at 2:57 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
What is life without the right to represent generic concepts.
my life IS a generic concept
posted by pyramid termite at 2:58 PM on March 11, 2010
my life IS a generic concept
posted by pyramid termite at 2:58 PM on March 11, 2010
But, I heard you were a real flamer.
*z-snap*
posted by The Whelk at 3:02 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
FOR THE LAST TIME I AM NOT FLAMMABLE.
*starts collecting hickory chips*
posted by pompomtom at 3:14 PM on March 11, 2010
*starts collecting hickory chips*
posted by pompomtom at 3:14 PM on March 11, 2010
If corporations are our new governments — or buy the legislation and enforcement that makes our government what it is — shouldn't said entities be bound to the same limits that the Founding Fathers wrote into our Constitution?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:33 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:33 PM on March 11, 2010
What does this have to do with the First Amendment?
Lady, I got buddies who died face-down in the muck so you and I could enjoy this website!
Your wacky comment does not explain what this FPP has to do with the First Amendment.
posted by Jaltcoh at 3:34 PM on March 11, 2010
Lady, I got buddies who died face-down in the muck so you and I could enjoy this website!
Your wacky comment does not explain what this FPP has to do with the First Amendment.
posted by Jaltcoh at 3:34 PM on March 11, 2010
That doesn't sound like it would effect our positive profit curve in a meaningfully rising way Blazecock.
posted by The Whelk at 3:34 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 3:34 PM on March 11, 2010
I live about a block from the provincial legislature, which I suppose makes me more interested in most than protests - I can watch them unfold in real time.
A few months ago the local traditional media was in an uproar about an actual rally organized via Facebook that attracted about 1000 people (they were protesting cuts to arts funding), and it took about 48 hours to organize the protest. In this sleepy provincial capital, 1000 people protesting (albeit peacefully) was a big deal.
The message: Facebook activism was not "slack-tivism" anymore, and Facebook and Twitter was changing social movements.
So, the traditional media was ready for the next Facebook-organized rally, this time against the Olympics or something... The proposed rally was promoted on Facebook, as well as indirectly in the paper and on TV.
Come the day of the protest, 10 people showed up.
I don't know what this means.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:36 PM on March 11, 2010
A few months ago the local traditional media was in an uproar about an actual rally organized via Facebook that attracted about 1000 people (they were protesting cuts to arts funding), and it took about 48 hours to organize the protest. In this sleepy provincial capital, 1000 people protesting (albeit peacefully) was a big deal.
The message: Facebook activism was not "slack-tivism" anymore, and Facebook and Twitter was changing social movements.
So, the traditional media was ready for the next Facebook-organized rally, this time against the Olympics or something... The proposed rally was promoted on Facebook, as well as indirectly in the paper and on TV.
Come the day of the protest, 10 people showed up.
I don't know what this means.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:36 PM on March 11, 2010
Cue "It's not censorship if a Corporation does it!" (I'm not saying I disagree - I just get tired of the same ol' rhetoric every fuckin time.
That said, I'm a fan of the Pickle AND the Poodle.
posted by symbioid at 3:50 PM on March 11, 2010
That said, I'm a fan of the Pickle AND the Poodle.
posted by symbioid at 3:50 PM on March 11, 2010
Metafilter: people get(ting) into the biggest froth about the most worthless, trivial things.
posted by symbioid at 3:54 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by symbioid at 3:54 PM on March 11, 2010
What does this have to do with the First Amendment?
Nothing. But, some online debates are (mistakenly) focusing on it.
The referenced quote in the FPP from MSNBC's Bob Sullivan expands on this point:
Nothing. But, some online debates are (mistakenly) focusing on it.
The referenced quote in the FPP from MSNBC's Bob Sullivan expands on this point:
"That put the tin-hatted poodle at the center of a dispute over First Amendment free speech rights and censorship. There were virtual howls that Facebook was actively siding with Glen Beck over the Poodle, that perhaps someone at Facebook was siding with the conservatives, or at least had developed a hatred for left-wing sarcasm.posted by ericb at 3:59 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
In the grand tradition of the Internet, that's overstating things a bit. Facebook, as a private company, has wide latitude in its ability to take down posts and pages that it decides run afoul of its terms of service. Even Blank said he doesn't want to raise the possibility of a conservative, subversive anti-poodle attack -- that's just the kind of knee-jerk reaction he's trying to mock.
'I'm not coming from a place where I think everything is a conspiracy,' said Blank, who lives near Milwaukee. In fact, he didn’t really have his heart set on poking fun of Beck. He simply picked the most popular target, in part to demonstrate how cheap popularity is on the Internet and on Facebook. 'I’m not so much anti-Glenn Beck as I am pro rational thought.'
Still, the conspiracy theories appeared. It didn't help that Facebook initially failed to give Blank an explanation for taking away his ability to publish. Then, when an explanation finally arrived this week, its vagueness only added fuel to the fire."
msali: What about the pickle that got more friends/fans than Nickleback?I created a status update on FB a while back making fun of this, asking in jpeg form "Can this nickel get more fans than Kellie Pickler?".
Not one of my so-called friends even acknowledged my awesomely topical humor. Facebook only brings me misery and shame...
posted by hincandenza at 4:01 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Corporations are not elected entities
To be honest, I'm not certain we even really elect our own officials, past a certain level.
But that aside, corps have power because we buy shit from them and let them make and enforce our laws in various ways and to various degrees — however semantically indirect that process may be, there is the end result.
This is evident when their PR crew uses public airwaves to denounce boycotts or when they use the government to break up labor strikes, etc.
I'm playing devil's advocate to some degree. I understand my idea wouldn't hold up in a court of law as written (because, well, who writes these laws in the first place, right?).
I'm just saying that maybe we need to reinterpret the First Amendment the same way and for the same reasons that we reinterpret the Second Amendment.
If we want to protect the people from whoever is in charge — or, if the Constitution was written as a contract that protects the people from whoever is in charge — then maybe, as a logical exercise on Metafilter, or one day as a country of human beings, we need to rethink about who is in charge, on the basis of who is controlling and enforcing the system.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:05 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
To be honest, I'm not certain we even really elect our own officials, past a certain level.
But that aside, corps have power because we buy shit from them and let them make and enforce our laws in various ways and to various degrees — however semantically indirect that process may be, there is the end result.
This is evident when their PR crew uses public airwaves to denounce boycotts or when they use the government to break up labor strikes, etc.
I'm playing devil's advocate to some degree. I understand my idea wouldn't hold up in a court of law as written (because, well, who writes these laws in the first place, right?).
I'm just saying that maybe we need to reinterpret the First Amendment the same way and for the same reasons that we reinterpret the Second Amendment.
If we want to protect the people from whoever is in charge — or, if the Constitution was written as a contract that protects the people from whoever is in charge — then maybe, as a logical exercise on Metafilter, or one day as a country of human beings, we need to rethink about who is in charge, on the basis of who is controlling and enforcing the system.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:05 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
It is physically impossible for me to care any less about this.
You should consider taking apathy supplements.
posted by brain_drain at 4:08 PM on March 11, 2010 [7 favorites]
You should consider taking apathy supplements.
posted by brain_drain at 4:08 PM on March 11, 2010 [7 favorites]
It is physically impossible for me to care any less about this.
In contrast, I could care less.
posted by Jaltcoh at 4:10 PM on March 11, 2010
In contrast, I could care less.
posted by Jaltcoh at 4:10 PM on March 11, 2010
I recommend Yawnstones Shruggable VitamehnsTM
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:11 PM on March 11, 2010 [17 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:11 PM on March 11, 2010 [17 favorites]
If we want to protect the people from whoever is in charge ...
I think this is a bit much as a response to Facebook doing whatever it wants with its pile of crap. Bad companies come and go, bad legislation sticks around practically forever. No one suffers from the tyranny of Facebook.
posted by me & my monkey at 4:18 PM on March 11, 2010
I think this is a bit much as a response to Facebook doing whatever it wants with its pile of crap. Bad companies come and go, bad legislation sticks around practically forever. No one suffers from the tyranny of Facebook.
posted by me & my monkey at 4:18 PM on March 11, 2010
There's also an onion ring that got about 8X more fans than Canadian PM Stephen Harper.
Though to be fair, the onion ring was significantly less greasy.
Oily, you mean?
posted by jamjam at 4:21 PM on March 11, 2010
Though to be fair, the onion ring was significantly less greasy.
Oily, you mean?
posted by jamjam at 4:21 PM on March 11, 2010
IF ONE PERSON FAVORITES THIS COMMENT I'LL HAVE HAD A COMMENT FAVORITED.
posted by everichon at 4:24 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by everichon at 4:24 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
Your wacky comment does not explain what this FPP has to do with the First Amendment.
This sentence makes me laugh when I read it in Sheldon Cooper's voice.
posted by octobersurprise at 4:24 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
This sentence makes me laugh when I read it in Sheldon Cooper's voice.
posted by octobersurprise at 4:24 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
Huh. In This thread about an independent student newspaper that ran a holocaust denial ad, pretty much everyone (except for a few people) argued that business should actively censor things, and that they were "morally responsible" for what they did publish.
I think removing content for being stupid is actually a lot more reasonable, provided that it is enforced in a consistent and non-ideological way.
On the other hand, since Facebook is so huge and becoming a more and more important way that people communicate with each other their active management of people's expression is kind of problematic.
I don't think most people actually care about freedom of speech so long as their own personal views are allowed to be expressed.
posted by delmoi at 4:29 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
I think removing content for being stupid is actually a lot more reasonable, provided that it is enforced in a consistent and non-ideological way.
On the other hand, since Facebook is so huge and becoming a more and more important way that people communicate with each other their active management of people's expression is kind of problematic.
I don't think most people actually care about freedom of speech so long as their own personal views are allowed to be expressed.
posted by delmoi at 4:29 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
I don't think most people actually care about freedom of speech so long as their own personal views are allowed to be expressed.
I may not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right not to say it.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:31 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I may not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right not to say it.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:31 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think this is a bit much as a response to Facebook doing whatever it wants with its pile of crap.
If it was only Facebook, I'd agree with you.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:49 PM on March 11, 2010
If it was only Facebook, I'd agree with you.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:49 PM on March 11, 2010
HIDE
third facebook thread in three days...
we're on a role with senseless shit, folks... can we put the brakes on this?
posted by HuronBob at 5:22 PM on March 11, 2010
third facebook thread in three days...
we're on a role with senseless shit, folks... can we put the brakes on this?
posted by HuronBob at 5:22 PM on March 11, 2010
I'd like to see those people laughing when that dog sacrifices all of its 273,582 for Burger King sandwiches.
posted by qvantamon at 5:25 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by qvantamon at 5:25 PM on March 11, 2010
If this comment gets a certain number of favorites, I'll join Facebook.
posted by ardgedee at 5:41 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by ardgedee at 5:41 PM on March 11, 2010
You don't hear the words 'poodle,' 'tinfoil hat,' and 'First Amendment' in the same sentence often
Oh, if only this were true.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:54 PM on March 11, 2010
Oh, if only this were true.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:54 PM on March 11, 2010
The message: Facebook activism was not "slack-tivism" anymore, and Facebook and Twitter was changing social movements.
That's horseshit of the highest order. I was told the other day, on this very webpages, that the social compendium of the internets was not in these new-fangled socialist networkings, but would rely upon communities built and moderated through vanity blogs for some long, indeterminate time into the future and to even think of discussing otherwise was a sign of ignorance and lack of fealty.
Oh, that and he who owns the network makes the rules. You're not a citizen with rights, just another customer in need of some monetizing.
50,000,000 Elvis fans knowing that Glen Massa fondled Stone Zuckerberg's front bottom can't be wrong.
posted by jsavimbi at 7:50 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
That's horseshit of the highest order. I was told the other day, on this very webpages, that the social compendium of the internets was not in these new-fangled socialist networkings, but would rely upon communities built and moderated through vanity blogs for some long, indeterminate time into the future and to even think of discussing otherwise was a sign of ignorance and lack of fealty.
Oh, that and he who owns the network makes the rules. You're not a citizen with rights, just another customer in need of some monetizing.
50,000,000 Elvis fans knowing that Glen Massa fondled Stone Zuckerberg's front bottom can't be wrong.
posted by jsavimbi at 7:50 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
we're on a role with senseless shit, folks... can we put the brakes on this?
So close, Bob, if only you'd have gone for 'breaks.'
posted by fixedgear at 7:52 PM on March 11, 2010
So close, Bob, if only you'd have gone for 'breaks.'
posted by fixedgear at 7:52 PM on March 11, 2010
Also, this seems like as good a place to shill for the Facebook group Fans, instigated by Mefi's own Fuzzy Monster.
I love it and I fanned it!
posted by hapax_legomenon at 8:45 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I love it and I fanned it!
posted by hapax_legomenon at 8:45 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
If 10 people favorite this comment it will have 10 favorites.
posted by daniel_charms at 10:19 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by daniel_charms at 10:19 PM on March 11, 2010
I run Facebook Purity for Greasemonkey, and never see any of those 'became a fan of' or '$someDoucheFromHS found a bunch of Special Prizes!' updates. FB code changes bork it sometimes, but there's usually a new version up in a week or two at most.
There are fewer pickles, poodles, or mafioso vampires in my life, but I find the strength to carry on.
There may be a Profound Interweb Lesson in here, somewhere: I wouldn't pay a dime to use Facebook, but I've donated to the makers of Facebook Purity twice.
posted by ActualStackhouse at 11:00 PM on March 11, 2010
There are fewer pickles, poodles, or mafioso vampires in my life, but I find the strength to carry on.
There may be a Profound Interweb Lesson in here, somewhere: I wouldn't pay a dime to use Facebook, but I've donated to the makers of Facebook Purity twice.
posted by ActualStackhouse at 11:00 PM on March 11, 2010
There are SIX groups celebrating pulling mascara off with your fingers.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:32 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:32 AM on March 12, 2010
My favorite FaceBook group is "If 1,000,000 People Join This Group Then It Will Have 1,000,000 Members" or some such thing. It links to the XKCD Tautology comic. I can't look it up right now, but it's brilliant.
And everything is funnier in Sheldon Cooper's voice.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 7:36 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
And everything is funnier in Sheldon Cooper's voice.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 7:36 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
If ten people favorite this comment it will have eleven favorites.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:40 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 7:40 AM on March 12, 2010
It's better than "Put Betty White on SNL as host" FB bullshit. I hate Betty White. I heard she won as being host. Now SNL will suck more. I wonder how many "aww look old lady does something outrageous" skits they'll have. Ugh. Who cares? I want to see Glenn Beck and Betty White have a smackdown. Then I'll care.
posted by stormpooper at 7:57 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by stormpooper at 7:57 AM on March 12, 2010
The thing is, the poodle wearing a tinfoil hat should totally have more fans than Beck, because I saw the piece where they were discussion health care reform and the poodle wearing a tinfoil hat raised some really salient points that Beck was totally unable to refute with any kind of rational arguments. He was forced to devolve into a sort of sputtering sobbing mess. In fact, it was actually pretty embarrassing how badly he got ass kicked by a dog on his own show.
posted by quin at 8:31 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by quin at 8:31 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Censorship yes, first amendment no. The bill of rights doesn't work like that. Microsoft can quarter troops in your house and it wouldn't be unconstitutional.
posted by craven_morhead at 10:09 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by craven_morhead at 10:09 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Q: Can this poodle wearing a tinfoil hat get more fans than Glenn Beck?
A: No.
posted by finite at 12:41 AM on March 13, 2010
A: No.
posted by finite at 12:41 AM on March 13, 2010
The Jon Stewart Clip That Will Make Glenn Beck Cry Real Tears
posted by homunculus at 5:26 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by homunculus at 5:26 PM on March 19, 2010
Also, this seems like as good a place to shill for the Facebook group Fans, instigated by Mefi's own Fuzzy Monster.
Become a Fan of Fans! We're just one away from a cool breeze 100 strong!
Thanks for the shout-out, gompa. And thanks and welcome to the new Fans of Fans! I'm looking at you, hapax_legomenon.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 1:12 PM on March 20, 2010
Become a Fan of Fans! We're just one away from a cool breeze 100 strong!
Thanks for the shout-out, gompa. And thanks and welcome to the new Fans of Fans! I'm looking at you, hapax_legomenon.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 1:12 PM on March 20, 2010
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New York Post: Put on a Funny Face -- "Fans of crunchy leaves and dogs in tin hats join groups on Facebook."
posted by ericb at 2:05 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]