How can I exclude $(this) from a jQuery selector?

Question

Try using the not() method instead of the :not() selector.

$(".content a").click(function() {
    $(".content a").not(this).hide("slow");
});

You can use the not function rather than the :not selector:

$(".content a").not(this).hide("slow")

You can also use the jQuery .siblings() method:

HTML

<div class="content">
  <a href="#">A</a>
  <a href="#">B</a>
  <a href="#">C</a>
</div>

Javascript

$(".content").on('click', 'a', function(e) {
  e.preventDefault();
  $(this).siblings().hide('slow');
});

Working demo: http://jsfiddle.net/wTm5f/

You should use the "siblings()" method, and prevent from running the ".content a" selector over and over again just for applying that effect:

HTML

<div class="content">
    <a href="#">A</a>
</div>
<div class="content">
    <a href="#">B</a>
</div>
<div class="content">
    <a href="#">C</a>
</div>

CSS

.content {
    background-color:red;
    margin:10px;
}
.content.other {
    background-color:yellow;
}

Javascript

$(".content a").click(function() {
  var current = $(this).parent();
  current.removeClass('other')
    .siblings()
    .addClass('other');
});

See here: http://jsfiddle.net/3bzLV/1/