- NEW!
by HasntBeen on September 22nd, 2009
This question was provoked by a thread in which The Chief casually mentioned that one can provide additional explanation for a question in the following manner (with some refinements of my own):
1. Compose your explanation offline in a text editor.
2. Post your question.
3. Cut-and-paste your explanation into an answer, answering your own question.
4. Edit the question (within the 5-minute window) and post the permalink to your explanatory answer in the "Reference URL:" field.
Voila! You have just broken the 256-char question limit, and can now rant and rave and soapbox and whine to your little heart's content, as long as you remember to stick a question mark at the end.
Beautiful, yes? I regret only that after 3 years of listening to people complain about this on Answerbag, I never thought of it myself. So, I have named this "the Mobius Method" in a pathetic attempt to grab some reflected limelight.
But the main question remains: who thought of this first? Who invented the Mobius Method™?
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EDIT: The current status of the investigation suggests that BigDaddyBS should be credited as originator of the method. However, Iwnit gets an honorable mention (and wins the year's supply of hamster pellets) for having previously come up with the idea of editing a question to include a URL that points to itself... not quite the same thing, and it lacked the system support for live links, but we're in a generous award-giving mood today: http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7809893
by iwnit on September 23rd, 2009
I did not invent it and I don't think that I ever used it.
But long ago (before the "Reference URL:" field was created), I had the idea of editing a question to include a link to itself:
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/518401
by BigDaddyBS on September 22nd, 2009
Well, before that link was installed, I DID say something about how to do it, and DID create at least ONE very long question/answer: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/777874
Here's a quickie answer in March, 2008 - http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/2498077
I mention it in this comment thread: http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/4113932 (Referral URL was relatively new)
And, here's MY step-by-step for doing it (from one year ago, today): http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/4152206
I won't claim, myself, to be the first to explain it, but I was early in the process! ;-)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on September 22nd, 2009
She did and she doesn't want to hear about it anymore. It's been the scourge of her existence.
http://blog.bekahbrunstetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/mean-old-lady.jpg
by Jadey - Vive la difference on September 22nd, 2009
Well, I don't know but that is indeed very smart! I realise that I haven't provided an answer to your question here... never mind me!
by robertbridge on October 13th, 2009
The Mobius method is a name for a product which has been developed by one of the top internet marketers in the world. It has been priced as being $400 and is worth this amount.
Some of the top internet marketers are talking about the benefits of using this method. Google it for more information, if you are using the Road Runner search engine you might want to try Google.
by Yarnlady is happy every day on September 27th, 2009
And I thought answering questions was a time waster, you people really take the cake.
by Bull wears a COAT of many colours on November 8th, 2009
Very convenient. Bunch of showoffs. Definitely worth 5! Oh, wait, make that 10.
What was the old Answerbag like?
by Curiosity Killed the Cat on May 7th, 2011
| 7 people like this
what was the old answerbag like? why do people miss it so much? how was it different?
by Anonymous on January 9th, 2011
| 2 people like this
Hey guys, an oldie here who's just returning recently who really misses the old AB. Anyone out there feel the same way?
by Xtreme2252 on May 9th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Ok, so I just saw in the questions about AB that there are AB clubs. What AB club should I join?
by Jane Danvers on April 22nd, 2011
| 6 people like this
Answerbag was founded when?
by shunyata on January 16th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
You're reading Who invented the Answerbag "Mobius Method" for providing explanatory context for a question? (see link)
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Comments
I'm really not sure, HasntBeen, but you win the Genius Award for the evening.
by Fiddle Playing Creole Bastard on September 22nd, 2009
lol! That's just the problem: I didn't invent the method. I'm trying to find out who did, so I know who to hate for being smarter than me.
by HasntBeen on September 22nd, 2009
I know you didn't invent the method itself, but you did construct a lovely dissertation explaining and rationalizing the method. For that, you have earned massive kudos.
by Fiddle Playing Creole Bastard on September 22nd, 2009
Excellent. That's that 'reflected limelight' which was the project's real goal :)
by HasntBeen on September 22nd, 2009
I dunno if BigDaddyBS is the originator of this idea, but he can certainly update his Answerbag User Guide with this info!
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http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp2m_faq_ab_guide.shtml
by The Chief on September 22nd, 2009
Wow, never saw that one before.
by HasntBeen on September 22nd, 2009
And you thought he was wordy here...
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:):):)
by The Chief on September 22nd, 2009
@Chief :-P LOL
by BigDaddyBS on September 22nd, 2009
This Mobius Method™ is a brilliant method you suggested, HasntBeen. I haven't seen anyone giving a link to their own answer in the question itself till now. Therefore the credit for the invention goes to you unless I am convinced otherwise!
iwnit regularly answers his own questions, but I haven't seen him giving the URL to the answer in the question.
by Suby the Coat on September 22nd, 2009
We've pretty much established that BigDaddyBS invented it, told it to Chief, and then I stumbled onto it and got all worked up in my inimitably charming way. Now looking back, I do see that I never really grew up and this is compensation behavior. But what the hell? :)
by HasntBeen on September 22nd, 2009
OK, Suby, here's your proof it's been used before!
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http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1550967
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Dated July 2, 2009 from yours truely!
by The Chief on September 22nd, 2009
Thanks, Chief. I just visited that question.
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Instead of editing the answer before hand, we could also Type just one word as an answer, get its permalink and add it to the question and then return to re-edit our answer and do all the 'rant and rave and soapbox and whine to your little heart's content'!
But Hasn'tBeen's method is better in the sense that our answer and question both get posted within a 5 minute time window.
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Hasn'tBeen: Your comment reminds me of some 5000 year old epics narrating a succession of events!
by Suby the Coat on September 22nd, 2009
Hehe. And it came to pass, that The Method was delivered unto the people by a prophet, and the prophet was named BigDaddyBS, which meaneth he who puts many words on web page. And the people were greatly pleased with The Method and said unto him this is a good thing, let it be known throughout the land and let each family teach it to their children, for verily The Method is powerful and will allow us to defeat the Medianites and the Mediocrites and the Patheticites and we shall take their women and know them and kill their men and take their houses and teach The Method to their children. Hail the prophet!
by HasntBeen on September 22nd, 2009
Yep. That's how I did that one, in fact, Suby.
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:):):)
by The Chief on September 22nd, 2009
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
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THAT was worth a real belly laugh, HasntBeen!
by The Chief on September 22nd, 2009
Great comment, Hasn'tBeen! Long time since I have a hearty laugh this big!
"The Great Method!'.
by Suby the Coat on September 22nd, 2009
You LIKE me! You REALLY LIKE me! LOL
Thank you all! ;-)
by BigDaddyBS on September 22nd, 2009
You created a loop worthy of Douglas R. Hofstadter.
Thank you HasntBeen for bringing this one up :)
by palmagma on September 27th, 2009
Thanks. The 'Edit' section of the answer has been updated with the current status of the investigation :)
by HasntBeen on September 27th, 2009
You will notice that I had mentioned iwnit's name in my first comment above as one who very often answers his own questions.
by Suby the Coat on September 27th, 2009
What a capital idea! Hats off to you, HasntBeen and to BigDaddyBS, The Cheif and Iwnit as well. I needed this!
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In fact, I was just asking about how badly the 256 character restriction limits us. See http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8154875
by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on November 2nd, 2009
Finally, someone recognizes our genius! Surely a Nobel Prize cannot be far behind!
by HasntBeen on November 2nd, 2009
Hope it comes soon. I could use the money! LOL
by BigDaddyBS on November 2nd, 2009
Hey, push me for the committee, and I'll nominate you.
by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on November 2nd, 2009
I think I understand the Bilateral Commission now. Whose the 3rd?
by HasntBeen on November 2nd, 2009
I will be happy to stand as an innocent bystander when BigDaddy's nomination is taken up for consideration.
by Suby the Coat on November 3rd, 2009
Hear Hear!
by palmagma on November 3rd, 2009
I have asked the first question using the 'Mobius Method' today. Please comment. Thanks, HantBeen, for introducing this great 'Method' to all of us in the Answerbag!
http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8190454
by Suby the Coat on November 4th, 2009
Answered. And here's my Mobius of the day. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1789891
by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on November 4th, 2009
Lol. HasntBeen's invention 'Mobius' has become standard terminology in the AB now. Congratulations, BigDaddyBS for inventing it, HasntBeen for popularizing it. Special mention to The Chief and iwnit...
by Suby the Coat on November 5th, 2009
Heh! You guys crack me up!
by The Chief on November 5th, 2009
You were already cracked up. We just painted the cracks white to provide contrast.
by HasntBeen on November 5th, 2009
HAHAHAHA!
by The Chief on November 5th, 2009
Honorable Mention to all the followers of the 'The Method'.
by Suby the Coat on November 5th, 2009
:-)>
by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on November 5th, 2009
To all participants in this thread: Major Tom lost his wife to a bus accident some 9 hours back. Please offer your condolences.
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1796707
by Suby the Coat on November 6th, 2009
Thank you Suby.
by BigDaddyBS on November 6th, 2009
HasntBeen, would you please email me asap? I need you.
by Phillis - Zacks little sister on November 6th, 2009
:)
by Evil Pregnant Master on November 20th, 2009
YAY... I FINALLY got a TRUE Mobius Method Question - http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1844772 LOL
Have fun with it! ;-)
by BigDaddyBS on December 2nd, 2009
Excellent use of THE METHOD. :-)
by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on December 3rd, 2009