MeFiMail the mod currently on duty June 4, 2009 5:00 PM   Subscribe

Pony request: On the main MeFi Mail page, how about a link to "MeFiMail the mod currently on duty"?
posted by jbickers to Feature Requests at 5:00 PM (72 comments total)

Yep, we got one: it's called the contact page.

Seriously, the best and fastest way to catch us is via the contact form, at the bottom of every page (lower right). Whoever gets to the problem first cc's all the other mods so they know that the problem is solved, and we usually respond within a few minutes.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 5:03 PM on June 4, 2009


Too facebooky. Kills all the mystery. Mods should be allowed to lurk too.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:03 PM on June 4, 2009 [1 favorite]


This is effectively what the contact form does.
posted by Mitheral at 5:04 PM on June 4, 2009


That would involve something fairly complicated which is that there would have to be a way to determine when we're on duty. Most of our clicking in and out happens like this

jessamyn@gmail.com [10:32]: I'm gonna be out hiking in the middle of the day, you gonna be around?
*cortex [10:33]: Yep, home all day today.
jessamyn@gmail.com [10:33]: yay

For example, I know that I will be the first to respond to this because cortex is in the shower. I know this not because he's at my house (he is not) but because he told me. The contact form sends a message to all the mods and pb and should be used for this. I dislike getting admin email via MeFiMail because

1. it tells you not to do that and people do it anyhow
2. I don't check it as much when I'm travelling (which I do often) and so people send me ZOMG URGENT requests and I don't see them for half a day.

So, this will not happen, but it's a nice idea. IM works pretty well for telling if we're around.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:04 PM on June 4, 2009


Note: I forgot it's not a weekend, so I was wrong about mathowie's speedy reply function.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:04 PM on June 4, 2009


What she said. She beat me to it because I was in the shower.

The contact form is the best way to get optimal response time. IM works too, but I'm not reliably on just because gmail thinks I am, etc.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:09 PM on June 4, 2009


essamyn@gmail.com [10:32]: I'm gonna be out hiking in the middle of the day, you gonna be around?
*cortex [10:33]: Yep, home all day today.


Oh, my god ... cortex's reply is coming from inside the house!

I know this not because he's at my house (he is not) . . .

Oh, okay, nevermind. Phew!
posted by barnacles at 5:15 PM on June 4, 2009


Could we get a Mod Status feature in 20 point blinking type in the top middle of the screen, updated every five minutes or so? Examples:

CORTEX IS IN THE SHOWER
CORTEX IS BLOW-DRYING HIS HAIR

MATHOWIE IS KIND OF TIRED AND HAS A STUFFY NOSE

JESSAMYN IS DOWN THE BLOCK HAVING A NICE CUP OF TEA AND TRYING TO BLOT OUT THE MEMORY OF ALL THOSE LOSERS YAMMERING ON AND ON INCESSANTLY ABOUT WOMEN STICKING GOOP IN THEIR VAGINAS
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:16 PM on June 4, 2009 [14 favorites]


For example, I know that I will be the first to respond to this because cortex is in the shower.

This sounds like when one my kids comes running upstairs and is like MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY and I'm she's in the shower and they're all oh...DADDY DADDY DADDY.
posted by DU at 5:22 PM on June 4, 2009 [3 favorites]


Related question: only in MetaTalk, can you put some sort of designation that ya'll are the mods? I think the ability to distinguish people (especially for people who are new and who wouldn't naturally explore every nook and crannie of the site initially) from moderators in MetaTalk is important.

(I understand that it's not a good idea on the other sites since ya'll want to be yourselves, and not site administrators.)
posted by SeizeTheDay at 5:22 PM on June 4, 2009


I don't blow-dry my hair, fwiw. It'd be more like:

CORTEX IS SORT OF RUNNING HIS FINGERS THROUGH HIS HAIR LIKE A COMB
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:23 PM on June 4, 2009 [3 favorites]


I know that I will be the first to respond to this because cortex is in the shower.

Ok, what's he doing.....NOW?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:27 PM on June 4, 2009


He's at the store.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:31 PM on June 4, 2009


Or trying to get to the store.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:34 PM on June 4, 2009


SeizeTheDay: Related question: only in MetaTalk, can you put some sort of designation that ya'll are the mods? I think the ability to distinguish people (especially for people who are new and who wouldn't naturally explore every nook and crannie of the site initially) from moderators in MetaTalk is important.

I think every comment the mods make should be marquee and in comic sans.

Actually, now that I've made my silly joke, I like the fact that the mods aren't distinguished from other commenters.
posted by Kattullus at 5:38 PM on June 4, 2009


Related question: only in MetaTalk, can you put some sort of designation that ya'll are the mods?

I prefer the method they currently use, where they introduce themselves as mods to new people and then go into their moddy language. It feels warmer, kinda like sitting in another person's chair after they've gotten up. Yeah, warm.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:41 PM on June 4, 2009 [1 favorite]



Related question: only in MetaTalk, can you put some sort of designation that ya'll are the mods? I think the ability to distinguish people (especially for people who are new and who wouldn't naturally explore every nook and crannie of the site initially) from moderators in MetaTalk is important.


The MeFi Navigator Greasemonkey script does this, if you're interested.
posted by eyeballkid at 5:47 PM on June 4, 2009


The fastest way to contact the mods is just to self-link on the front page.
posted by klangklangston at 6:05 PM on June 4, 2009 [6 favorites]


What this plan doesn't take into account are those glorious twenty to thirty five minute intervals when NO MOD IS ON DUTY! Oh and they happen my brethren. They happen every single day! The signs are subtle, but you can't miss them if you know what to look for. These are the wilding times, when the shadow of the mighty hammer moves off the land and the sun of freedom shines. But it is too bright! It burns me. I need the shadow. I need to see the hammer.
posted by ND¢ at 6:06 PM on June 4, 2009 [10 favorites]


I was buying burrito fixin's and a new toilet seat on account of I broke the old one yesterday by sitting on it!

I didn't quite beat the rain, but there was some thunder and that was pretty cool.

I prefer the method they currently use, where they introduce themselves as mods to new people and then go into their moddy language.

That's pretty much what I prefer, too. I don't mind the Navigator script for folks who are so inclined, but it seems like it's pretty rare that we end up with someone actually commenting/posting in Metatalk who doesn't know who we are and can't figure it out from context, and I'm not convinced that a marker on our usernames is the thing standing between those wonderful outrénauts and successful interaction with the grey anyway.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:15 PM on June 4, 2009


Related question: only in MetaTalk, can you put some sort of designation that ya'll are the mods?

I'm a relatively new here (91079), and it didn't take long to figure out who the mods were. Their authority glints off their hammers and shines in my n00b eyes.

Now I just look for comments that are taciturn; verbose, detailed and kindly; or inscrutable yet authoritative. Or pb's username.
posted by jeoc at 6:27 PM on June 4, 2009 [7 favorites]


A Troll's Guide to Metafilter.

Step 1: Wait till Saturday Night.
Step 2: Send MeMail to Mod Currently on Duty.
Step 3: Recieve automated reply: No Mods currently on Duty.
Step 4: Rome burns.
posted by Effigy2000 at 6:31 PM on June 4, 2009


Brandon Blatcher: "I prefer the method they currently use, where they introduce themselves as mods to new people and then go into their moddy language."

I'm asking all the things that are in the faq,
Chatting it up day and night,
I gotta handle this thread right,
you know what I mean
I wrote you an inquiry on the gray,
then ignored every reply
there's nothing left to talk about,
unless it's "Closing this up"!
Let me hear your moddy talk... moddy talk
on the metatalk... metatalk
posted by boo_radley at 6:56 PM on June 4, 2009 [1 favorite]


it didn't take long to figure out who the mods were

Protip: it's in the FAQ
posted by Rhomboid at 7:08 PM on June 4, 2009


I'm feeling really guilty now about all the times I've memailed cortex directly because I didn't see the note about just using the contact page. Jessamyn's the only mod on my gchat list, and to be honest, I've always been way too intimidated to actually take advantage of that fact, and the idea of using it to basically say something like, "Hey I've got a bad link, go fix it!" would seem unspeakably rude to me.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:24 PM on June 4, 2009


Don't feel guilty about having mefimailed me; I don't mind it, per se, if you don't mind the disadvantages that come with it (longer response time, greater chance of getting missed) and as long as it's not something that inter-mod communication is going to be important for.

But that's just me speaking for me, not for Matt or Jess, and in general the contact form is the ideal way to go regardless.

Do not be afraid to use the contact form. It's there to help!
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:27 PM on June 4, 2009


Oh, oh, oh! I know how we can keep track of the mods. Integrate a Twitter thingie on the front page of MetaTalk. I mean, everyone loves Twitter. Right?
posted by deborah at 7:27 PM on June 4, 2009


I was buying burrito fixin's and a new toilet seat

Have you ever thought that burritos might be the cause of your toiletseatlessness?
posted by qvantamon at 7:40 PM on June 4, 2009


@deborah yeah that's a great plan!
posted by russm at 7:45 PM on June 4, 2009


Ok, what's he doing now?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:54 PM on June 4, 2009


"Do not be afraid to use the contact form. It's there to help!"

You told me that pb had rigged it to shoot poison into my eyes if I used it!
posted by klangklangston at 8:06 PM on June 4, 2009 [1 favorite]


I always thought that I should only worry about going blind when clicking on porn links.

Is the contact form porn?
posted by qvantamon at 8:08 PM on June 4, 2009


Is the contact form porn?

Depends what you do with it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:23 PM on June 4, 2009


klangklangston: "You told me that pb had rigged it to shoot poison into my eyes if I used it!"

Oh, my, no. That's not true at all.

* watches klang use the contact form *

It turns out that the poison Matt bought was intravenous, so we had to go with darts.

SFX: pneumatic noises, then screaming.
posted by boo_radley at 8:26 PM on June 4, 2009


Wait, so cortex tells you every time he takes a shower? Can we just get some kind of script that tells us whenever that happens? Maybe after the 10th anniversary parties we could just toss the notification up where the "Metafilter is turning ten!" currently is? I think that would be quite useful.
posted by allkindsoftime at 10:11 PM on June 4, 2009


If only someone had invented a twitter.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:00 AM on June 5, 2009


FelliniBlank: "Could we get a Mod Status feature in 20 point blinking type in the top middle of the screen, updated every five minutes or so? Examples:

CORTEX IS IN THE SHOWER
CORTEX IS BLOW-DRYING HIS HAIR

MATHOWIE IS KIND OF TIRED AND HAS A STUFFY NOSE

JESSAMYN IS DOWN THE BLOCK HAVING A NICE CUP OF TEA AND TRYING TO BLOT OUT THE MEMORY OF ALL THOSE LOSERS YAMMERING ON AND ON INCESSANTLY ABOUT WOMEN STICKING GOOP IN THEIR VAGINAS
"

We have this. It's called the mods' accounts on Twitter.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:23 AM on June 5, 2009


Ha, should have scrolled down to the end before I answered.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:26 AM on June 5, 2009


ALL CHATTY NORTH AMERICANS ASLEEP.
EUROPE AND ASIA: NOW'S THE TIME ON METAFILTER WHEN WE DANCE.
posted by vacapinta at 2:22 AM on June 5, 2009 [1 favorite]


We turn the mod over to reveal... Ants! Ants! Ants!
posted by boo_radley at 2:36 AM on June 5, 2009 [1 favorite]


LOUD MUSIC FROM EUROPE!
posted by Free word order! at 3:03 AM on June 5, 2009


Y'know, I've been on this site almost three years, and I can honestly say I've never noticed that contact link at the bottom. Sorry.
posted by jbickers at 4:48 AM on June 5, 2009 [1 favorite]


I like using the contact form to suggest my own comments for the sidebar and see whether I get back a terse Mathowie no, a ha-ha-dude-aren't-we-all-having-so-much-fun-but-no from cortex or just a long suffering sigh from jessamyn.
posted by ND¢ at 5:54 AM on June 5, 2009 [10 favorites]


He's not really kidding.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:26 AM on June 5, 2009


Like every time I did it it wasn't completely justified!
posted by ND¢ at 6:28 AM on June 5, 2009


Did you SEE my Hall & Oates post? Come on!
posted by ND¢ at 6:32 AM on June 5, 2009


I'm gonna try it here in a minute. I'm gonna use it to suggest threaded comments, three days between questions instead of seven, and a reinstatement of sixcolors' account.
posted by jbickers at 6:40 AM on June 5, 2009


The mods are busy people. Don't waste their time with trivialities. Just use the contact form when you see something I say that you think belongs on the sidebar.
posted by ND¢ at 6:47 AM on June 5, 2009 [3 favorites]


The mods are busy people.

Clearly not. If I've learned anything from this, it's that they spend all their time shopping and messing with their hair.
posted by jbickers at 6:53 AM on June 5, 2009 [1 favorite]


That sigh feature only works if you have google gears installed.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:54 AM on June 5, 2009


My friend is a teacher, and all of her students call her the Shark Lady. It's because on the first day of class she put up a discipline chart shaped like an iceberg, and the student's names were written on little penguins, and each time one got in trouble she advanced his or her penguin down a notch, closer to the edge of the iceberg. She gave them this explanation:

"In Antarctica, the way penguins find out if it's safe to swim is they all crowd around the edge of the ice and jostle around until eventually one of them falls in. If that one gets eaten by a shark or something, they know it's not safe and they go somewhere else. If it doesn't get eaten, then they all jump in and play."

At this point she leans across her desk and tries to make eye contact with every kid in the room.

"Let's get one thing straight from the first day: You are the penguin, and I am the shark -- and I am ALWAYS there!"
posted by hermitosis at 7:20 AM on June 5, 2009 [11 favorites]


Do not be afraid to use the contact form. It's there to help!

And it's way easier to use than what the Cabal has to do. From what I've heard, when they need to get a mod's attention, they have to all gather in a ring in the forest under a new moon and chant for a full day to purify themselves before they make the blood sacrifice. This summons the demon Asgotitozini who must then be placated by offering a bottle of fortified wine and a couple of DVDs of Two and a Half Men or According to Jim, thus befuddled, he can briefly be commanded, and he is sent to search the world for the modly ones, who, when found, must battle him each time that he might be sent back to the infernal place from which he was spawned.

Invariably this happens at the worst time, like when they are at the movies, or sitting down to dinner, which I'm sure it's really invasive and a rude.

So use the contact form; it's better than relying on a summoned demonic messenger.
posted by quin at 8:15 AM on June 5, 2009


Guys, don't be dicks with the contact form. I like mathowie better without the veins popping out of his head. I can see the devilish glint in half the eyes of those commenting here.
posted by frecklefaerie at 8:38 AM on June 5, 2009


It's a nice Friday. Let's let the mods enjoy their succulent grilled cheese sandwiches.
posted by Skot at 8:52 AM on June 5, 2009 [1 favorite]


Wait, so cortex tells you every time he takes a shower?

Every month, whether he needs it or not.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:55 AM on June 5, 2009


It's a nice Friday. Let's let the mods enjoy their succulent grilled cheese sandwiches.
posted by Skot at 8:52 AM on June 5 [+] [!]


Sorry but isn't Friday when everyone here collective drinks their stress from the work week away and starts making really God awful posts? I doubt the mods will have time for their grilled cheese. Too bad, they looked quite succulent. (Me/ Looks at a bag full of cheap margarita mix and even cheaper tequila with a devilish grin!)
posted by Mastercheddaar at 9:01 AM on June 5, 2009


It really is a nice Friday.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:02 AM on June 5, 2009


Guys, don't be dicks with the contact form.

Every time you're sexist, baby jesus kills a manly tv star in a humiliating fashion.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:03 AM on June 5, 2009


What I really want to know is why you people are so prejudiced against rockers?
posted by dersins at 9:15 AM on June 5, 2009


I'm not, dersins. Promise. Me'n the boy are rockers for life. Mod crushers!
posted by Night_owl at 9:52 AM on June 5, 2009


What about a script where the MiFi blue begins to darken after a subjective 187 comments, and darkens, darkens the further down the thread you read, as if you are soundlessly drifting downward into the inky blackness of a frigid ocean.

Then at 461 comments, you could have the Kraken.
posted by deliquescent at 11:34 AM on June 5, 2009 [2 favorites]


ah, dammnit - posted the above in the wrong thread. nevermind, then.
posted by deliquescent at 11:35 AM on June 5, 2009


Mamas, don't let your babies be dicks with the mod form.
Don't let 'em pick grudges or ask "Hey, why no?"
Let 'em make SLYT posts and chops out of plo.
Mamas, don't let your babies be dicks with the mod form.
'Cos they'll ask to sidebar their comments you see,
Even their snark in the green.
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:53 PM on June 5, 2009


Loose lips sink longboats.
posted by qvantamon at 1:49 PM on June 5, 2009


Maybe a suitable uniform would help distinguish mod from modee at any one time. A stylish, yet durable, tabard for example? Or a hat?
posted by freya_lamb at 2:21 PM on June 5, 2009


I, for one, do not use twitter to follow mods as a mark of respect for their hard work, and their incredible Ska band, that should be allowed to succeed on its own merits.
posted by Sparx at 3:19 PM on June 5, 2009


Is the contact form porn?

Depends what you do with it.

I would really like to see the contact form submissions you received in the fifteen minutes following this exchange.

Guys, don't be dicks with the contact form...I can see the devilish glint in half the eyes of those commenting here.

I remember when you were just a devilish glint in half the eyes of those commenting here...
posted by davejay at 4:57 PM on June 5, 2009


It really is a great Friday. Beautiful night, too.
posted by box at 10:22 PM on June 5, 2009


The mods all have iPhone's, right? I think you all need to use one of those GPS programs, so that we can all see where you are at every minute of every day. Our $5 should definitely include stalker's privileges.

That way, the next time you delete one of my comments, you can expect to meet up with me when you're grocery shopping and have a lengthy face to face conversation about the merits of SLYT posts.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:19 AM on June 7, 2009


I do not have an iphone, well not a functional one. If I don't know what day it is most of the time, it seems unfair to strap me to a geolocative device.

That said, if you'd like to come visit the one grocery store within 20 miles of my house, I'm sure I'd be delighted to run into you.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:11 PM on June 7, 2009


For what its worth, I dont have an iphone either and usually leave my cell phone behind when I go out.

All that said, who needs GPS? I live here. Just come by and ring the buzzer.
Oh, and I usually shop at this grocery store. And I have a coffee most mornings here. You can ask Terry if she's seen me recently.
posted by vacapinta at 12:40 PM on June 7, 2009


Yeah I'm here and my local coffee shop is here and I sometimes work at this library (but my cell phone doesn't work there).
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:46 PM on June 7, 2009


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