Metafilter City Pages? April 10, 2007 7:13 AM Subscribe
Metafilter city pages: How about creating a section on the site, or in the metafilter wiki, that is a guide to various cities across the world, using links to ask.mefi responses to give the information?
A similar proposal.
I'd say that the wiki'd be a natural testbed for this sort of thing, and that it'd be hard to say how well it works without seeing a prototype writeup. Seriously, drezdn, if you'd be willing to have a go at putting together a wiki page for the city of your choice that might be a good way to start thinking about this.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:43 AM on April 10, 2007
I'd say that the wiki'd be a natural testbed for this sort of thing, and that it'd be hard to say how well it works without seeing a prototype writeup. Seriously, drezdn, if you'd be willing to have a go at putting together a wiki page for the city of your choice that might be a good way to start thinking about this.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:43 AM on April 10, 2007
I think there is a long-term project idea like this in the works. It's a good idea.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:47 AM on April 10, 2007
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:47 AM on April 10, 2007
wouldn't proper tags on the questions do a better job of this?
posted by popechunk at 7:50 AM on April 10, 2007
posted by popechunk at 7:50 AM on April 10, 2007
I'm working on Travelfilter. It'll be half Ask MeFi questions about travel grouped by city, half reports from people that have taken trips to those cities.
I'll probably launch it in May.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:05 AM on April 10, 2007
I'll probably launch it in May.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:05 AM on April 10, 2007
Ooh, I'd really like this. Bust magazine has something similar on their site and I use it a lot when I travel, but I would imagine Metafilter's version would be a lot nicer.
posted by MsMolly at 8:17 AM on April 10, 2007
posted by MsMolly at 8:17 AM on April 10, 2007
Yay!
I hope the dates will be emphasized, since many of the travel/housing/eating recommendations have limited shelf lives. Perhaps the Travelfilter interface will allow MeFites to post amendations/supplements/updates to otherwise archived AskMe threads?
Oh, and I'm assuming this will include threads related to "I'm thinking of moving to X?" as well as "I have three days plus 7 hours in X, where should I Y?."
posted by janell at 8:38 AM on April 10, 2007
I hope the dates will be emphasized, since many of the travel/housing/eating recommendations have limited shelf lives. Perhaps the Travelfilter interface will allow MeFites to post amendations/supplements/updates to otherwise archived AskMe threads?
Oh, and I'm assuming this will include threads related to "I'm thinking of moving to X?" as well as "I have three days plus 7 hours in X, where should I Y?."
posted by janell at 8:38 AM on April 10, 2007
we should have a subsection called newyorkpride.travel.metafilter.com.
In there all the nyc mefites can argue about where the best pizza place is, which one is the ORIGINAL original famous ray's, where the best burgers are at, and which bartenders are the hottest or give the most generous buybacks.
posted by shmegegge at 8:57 AM on April 10, 2007
In there all the nyc mefites can argue about where the best pizza place is, which one is the ORIGINAL original famous ray's, where the best burgers are at, and which bartenders are the hottest or give the most generous buybacks.
posted by shmegegge at 8:57 AM on April 10, 2007
Ooh, I've been lots of places! I would enjoy sharing my impressions and whatnot about where I've been, and perhaps travelfilter would even inspire me to get out of my bubble more often and see what all is out there to be seen in the world. Fantastic idea!
posted by goml at 9:00 AM on April 10, 2007
posted by goml at 9:00 AM on April 10, 2007
"Ooh, I've been lots of places!"
Shut up.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:01 AM on April 10, 2007 [2 favorites]
Shut up.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:01 AM on April 10, 2007 [2 favorites]
why on earth did that crack me up as much as it did?
posted by shmegegge at 9:11 AM on April 10, 2007
posted by shmegegge at 9:11 AM on April 10, 2007
Heh. I said I had been lots of places, not that they were good places.
posted by goml at 9:32 AM on April 10, 2007
posted by goml at 9:32 AM on April 10, 2007
Buybacks are when the bartender 'buys' you a drink (just gives it to you actually), and in return you tip them more. The bartender makes more money, and you end up paying a little bit less then you would otherwise.
It's a good way of creating loyal customers, but bar owners like to keep it to a minimum because it clearly costs them money. A good bartender will do it just often enough to turn people in to regulars, but not often enough to piss of management.
posted by voidcontext at 9:34 AM on April 10, 2007
It's a good way of creating loyal customers, but bar owners like to keep it to a minimum because it clearly costs them money. A good bartender will do it just often enough to turn people in to regulars, but not often enough to piss of management.
posted by voidcontext at 9:34 AM on April 10, 2007
Could there be an option on MeTravel for people to leave their e-mails for other MeFites to see in relevant regional sections? So that people with very specific questions could ask individual MeFites for information that wouldn't be covered by more general what-should-I-do-in-X AskMe posts.
For instance, I'm an Icelander who lives in Providence, so I could put my e-mail on the Providence and Iceland pages so that people could contact me with questions on minute issues instead of adding to the AskMe questionstream (example questions: How far is the main youth hostel in Reykjavik from a swimming pool? Is the White Electric coffeehouse on Westminster Street named after the old tractor repair shop on Broadway?). This would probably lessen the load on AskMe and funnel questions to people who have the knowledge and inclination to furnish answers. I wouldn't mind having my e-mail on there for MeFites to see so that I could help them out. This could even be an option on the profile page.
Ideally there'd be a sternly worded warning to tell people not to treat the nice, helpful MeFites as their unpaid travel agents (which I recognize could be a problem). Hell, maybe there'd be an encouragement to buy the nice people who help you a warm beverage or an ice cream cone when you visit their part of the world ;)
posted by Kattullus at 9:47 AM on April 10, 2007
For instance, I'm an Icelander who lives in Providence, so I could put my e-mail on the Providence and Iceland pages so that people could contact me with questions on minute issues instead of adding to the AskMe questionstream (example questions: How far is the main youth hostel in Reykjavik from a swimming pool? Is the White Electric coffeehouse on Westminster Street named after the old tractor repair shop on Broadway?). This would probably lessen the load on AskMe and funnel questions to people who have the knowledge and inclination to furnish answers. I wouldn't mind having my e-mail on there for MeFites to see so that I could help them out. This could even be an option on the profile page.
Ideally there'd be a sternly worded warning to tell people not to treat the nice, helpful MeFites as their unpaid travel agents (which I recognize could be a problem). Hell, maybe there'd be an encouragement to buy the nice people who help you a warm beverage or an ice cream cone when you visit their part of the world ;)
posted by Kattullus at 9:47 AM on April 10, 2007
Kattullus, I think that would be a great idea, the best way to implement it might be to include a link to your profile page on the relevant travel section, although then your email would only be viewable to mefi members.
posted by drezdn at 9:55 AM on April 10, 2007
posted by drezdn at 9:55 AM on April 10, 2007
There will be a way to demonstrate that you are an expert on a certain city or region, so I guess it'll be kinda what kattullus asked for.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:59 AM on April 10, 2007
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:59 AM on April 10, 2007
bar owners like to keep it to a minimum because it clearly costs them money
According to every bar employee I've discussed this with (lots), it's common to have an actual buyback policy handed down from the management -- the bartender may even have a budget they're expected to "spend" on buybacks as they see fit. I've heard of employees getting reprimanded for not comping enough drinks. With the high margins on alcohol, your average watering hole can take a hit on a few rounds per shift because it builds loyalty and those customers are likely to spend more in the long run. God knows I am.
/derail
posted by sonofslim at 10:01 AM on April 10, 2007
According to every bar employee I've discussed this with (lots), it's common to have an actual buyback policy handed down from the management -- the bartender may even have a budget they're expected to "spend" on buybacks as they see fit. I've heard of employees getting reprimanded for not comping enough drinks. With the high margins on alcohol, your average watering hole can take a hit on a few rounds per shift because it builds loyalty and those customers are likely to spend more in the long run. God knows I am.
/derail
posted by sonofslim at 10:01 AM on April 10, 2007
TripMe
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:21 AM on April 10, 2007
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:21 AM on April 10, 2007
w-g p: TripMeOkay, that has to stick. AskMe was pretty fantastic, but TripMe is positively inspired. Hm.... I think for similar namey-goodness reasons, we need a Metafilter dating spin-off....
sonofslim: According to every bar employee I've discussed this with (lots), it's common to have an actual buyback policy handed down from the managementWow, I didn't know that practice had a name or was officially sanctioned. I am king of the buybacks, apparently. I've had nights where I put back 5-7 mixed drinks, plus meal, plus a snack later, plus the occasional free shot with the bartender, taking up a bar stool for 4-5 hours... and my "bill" shows up as something like $9.79.
Just wanted a thinly veiled excuse to brag about my
posted by hincandenza at 11:41 AM on April 10, 2007
I think for similar namey-goodness reasons, we need a Metafilter dating spin-off....
and one specializing in blow drying tips.
posted by shmegegge at 11:57 AM on April 10, 2007
and one specializing in blow drying tips.
posted by shmegegge at 11:57 AM on April 10, 2007
I think for similar namey-goodness reasons, we need a Metafilter dating spin-off....
My suggested name for that: MateFilter.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:36 PM on April 10, 2007
My suggested name for that: MateFilter.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:36 PM on April 10, 2007
Has a DateMe ever been considered in any sort of serious way? That's the sort of thing #1 can just wave his magic web-wand to conjur from the ether with no time nor toil, right?
posted by sonofslim at 12:54 PM on April 10, 2007
posted by sonofslim at 12:54 PM on April 10, 2007
I was thinking more DateMe (and, along with shmegegge's idea, a raunchier one for people looking for one-night-stands, namely F***Me).
posted by hincandenza at 12:55 PM on April 10, 2007
posted by hincandenza at 12:55 PM on April 10, 2007
This is a great idea. Looking forward to it.
posted by Milkman Dan at 2:59 PM on April 10, 2007
posted by Milkman Dan at 2:59 PM on April 10, 2007
Well, for my part, I reckon things like this could be done well emergently, leveraging the tagging system, at least to some extent. A syntax like (for example) city:Seoul or country:Canada (with coalescence for the various names of the USA and things like that, I guess) could be encouraged when appropriate, and questions and posts tagged that way could be filtered and presented by city/region/country, either as a first step towards TravelFilter or as part of the finished, top-down structured subsite. For what it's worth.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:43 PM on April 10, 2007
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:43 PM on April 10, 2007
I dreamed of TravelFilter from the earliest days of the site, and it's one the most frequent search types I do whenever about to travel. Thanks for beginning work on it. I eagerly await and look forward to being able to offer virtual guide services and highly biased but extremely reliable recommendations to total strangers.
posted by Miko at 7:24 PM on April 10, 2007
posted by Miko at 7:24 PM on April 10, 2007
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posted by grouse at 7:17 AM on April 10, 2007