Mini-MeFites Unite July 5, 2009 6:23 PM Subscribe
In the heat of all of the ongoing 10th Anniversary preparations, should we consider ... a MeFi playdate?
In a response to a patently absurd question that I asked about toddlers and brain-freeze, ellenaim brought up what seems to be to be an entirely novel twist on the whole meetup thing ... a MetaFilter playdate.
Could it be that there are enough of us with small children who have time to read MetaFilter, respond to the toddler-oriented AskMe questions, and marvel at the adult version of a toddler meltdown over at MeTa, that a MetaFilter-oriented playdate is possible? The way I figure it, if my two year old daughter is calling the other kids in the sandbox "asshat" then she's ready to meetup with other MeFi kids.
We're in NW Philadelphia (Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill). There are some excellent playspaces that we could descend on, like The Little Treehouse, or The Jenks School playground. Imagine the shock and horror of other parents to have a hoard of MeFites and their spawn taking over the room, replacing joy with snark, looking too cool for the swings, and drinking beer. Or milk.
Any interested parties?
I have no idea, of course, how I would even begin to explain this to my wife ...
In a response to a patently absurd question that I asked about toddlers and brain-freeze, ellenaim brought up what seems to be to be an entirely novel twist on the whole meetup thing ... a MetaFilter playdate.
Could it be that there are enough of us with small children who have time to read MetaFilter, respond to the toddler-oriented AskMe questions, and marvel at the adult version of a toddler meltdown over at MeTa, that a MetaFilter-oriented playdate is possible? The way I figure it, if my two year old daughter is calling the other kids in the sandbox "asshat" then she's ready to meetup with other MeFi kids.
We're in NW Philadelphia (Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill). There are some excellent playspaces that we could descend on, like The Little Treehouse, or The Jenks School playground. Imagine the shock and horror of other parents to have a hoard of MeFites and their spawn taking over the room, replacing joy with snark, looking too cool for the swings, and drinking beer. Or milk.
Any interested parties?
I have no idea, of course, how I would even begin to explain this to my wife ...
Maybe we could set up some kind of exchange program between the parents who will be busy that weekend, and those of us who would like to attend but don't have any small children. I'll be at the 10th anniversary meetup so I could just grab a kid on the way out, and mail them back once the playdate is over.
posted by theiconoclast31 at 7:29 PM on July 5, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by theiconoclast31 at 7:29 PM on July 5, 2009 [2 favorites]
Time t break out the Playskool My-First-Pony-Request.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 7:40 PM on July 5, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 7:40 PM on July 5, 2009 [2 favorites]
I think this has been suggested before and people attempted it, but I can't remember how it turned out. If anyone remembers and I'm not just imagining it, perhaps they can post a link. If I recall correctly it was sometime in summer 2007 or 2008.
posted by necessitas at 7:40 PM on July 5, 2009
posted by necessitas at 7:40 PM on July 5, 2009
I'll run it by my mom.
posted by brain_drain at 8:30 PM on July 5, 2009
posted by brain_drain at 8:30 PM on July 5, 2009
I know I've posted this before, but it still cracks me up: Future MeFites.
posted by ColdChef at 8:37 PM on July 5, 2009
posted by ColdChef at 8:37 PM on July 5, 2009
Well, ok, but I'm gonna let y'all explain what an asshat is. We may need little nametags that say "cussing is ok". Or for the pre-lits, an angry face with $#@#! coming out of it and a green circle around it. Then when we all leave we put on the angry face with the red circle and a line through it to remind them that we're back in the outside world.
Man, I should just make those up myself and sell them.
posted by lysdexic at 9:20 PM on July 5, 2009
Man, I should just make those up myself and sell them.
posted by lysdexic at 9:20 PM on July 5, 2009
I utterly lack children, but i would be willing to hang out with parent-Mefites in a place where their kids can do kid-ly things.
(Which I intend to use as a lame excuse to totally play with the kids, 'cause that's fun too. I give 'em back when they cry or need changing, though, like a responsible childless person.)
posted by desuetude at 9:29 PM on July 5, 2009 [3 favorites]
(Which I intend to use as a lame excuse to totally play with the kids, 'cause that's fun too. I give 'em back when they cry or need changing, though, like a responsible childless person.)
posted by desuetude at 9:29 PM on July 5, 2009 [3 favorites]
Well, ok, but I'm gonna let y'all explain what an asshat is
i'll go if cortex agrees to raffi-ize one of his greatest hits.
posted by the aloha at 9:54 PM on July 5, 2009
i'll go if cortex agrees to raffi-ize one of his greatest hits.
posted by the aloha at 9:54 PM on July 5, 2009
I have a dog. I taught him to say asshat in preparation for the Philadelphia 10th Anniversary Meetup, which is at our place. Can we come too?
posted by greekphilosophy at 9:55 PM on July 5, 2009
posted by greekphilosophy at 9:55 PM on July 5, 2009
Dear poopcap
You were being a poopcap
And I cleaned up your poopcap comments
Your poopcap comments
Nap time!
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:53 PM on July 5, 2009
You were being a poopcap
And I cleaned up your poopcap comments
Your poopcap comments
Nap time!
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:53 PM on July 5, 2009
This is just to say
I have dranken
the juiceboxes
that were in
the cooler pack
and which
you were probably
saving
for this meetup
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
posted by not_on_display at 11:00 PM on July 5, 2009 [3 favorites]
I have dranken
the juiceboxes
that were in
the cooler pack
and which
you were probably
saving
for this meetup
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
posted by not_on_display at 11:00 PM on July 5, 2009 [3 favorites]
This idea has been floated at at least two Seattle meetups I've been at, to generally positive response, but I don't know if it ever happened. I think all the Seattle meetups I've been to have been in bars.
posted by hattifattener at 12:14 AM on July 6, 2009
posted by hattifattener at 12:14 AM on July 6, 2009
This does sound like a fun idea. I'll run it by my two little ones (almost 4 and almost 6), but I'm pretty sure that they'll insist on their usual "no monsters" clause. Fairies, dragons, wizards, tigers, dinosaurs, etc. are OK. Yes, I am talking about the lunch menu.
posted by Mister_A at 5:21 AM on July 6, 2009
posted by Mister_A at 5:21 AM on July 6, 2009
I am all for this idea, although my spawn is currently in beta testing, with go live scheduled for 10/5. Of course, post-release, developers fully anticipate several months of further refinements and tweaking, so I don't anticipate participating in a users' group until at least mid-2010.
Which is another way to say: yeah, I do think this is a wonderful idea, even though I won't have a sociable rugrat to contribute until sometime next year. I think the MeFites would be a million times more tolerable than the usual mommy culture.
On a related note, this MeTa renews my wish for a MetaFilter parent site somewhere. Throughout my pregnancy, I've been relegated to the BabyCenter.com forums, whose participants are only barely a step above the HOW IS BABBY FORMED contingent. Oh, how I crave intelligent, proper-grammar-loving discourse.
posted by shiu mai baby at 7:23 AM on July 6, 2009 [6 favorites]
Which is another way to say: yeah, I do think this is a wonderful idea, even though I won't have a sociable rugrat to contribute until sometime next year. I think the MeFites would be a million times more tolerable than the usual mommy culture.
On a related note, this MeTa renews my wish for a MetaFilter parent site somewhere. Throughout my pregnancy, I've been relegated to the BabyCenter.com forums, whose participants are only barely a step above the HOW IS BABBY FORMED contingent. Oh, how I crave intelligent, proper-grammar-loving discourse.
posted by shiu mai baby at 7:23 AM on July 6, 2009 [6 favorites]
shiu mai baby, Congratulations! :)
On a related note, this MeTa renews my wish for a MetaFilter parent site somewhere.
That's a GREAT idea. I know that AskMe users have been incredibly helpful when I've had questions, and of course the archive is a treasure trove of valuable information.
Throughout my pregnancy, I've been relegated to the BabyCenter.com forums, whose participants are only barely a step above the HOW IS BABBY FORMED contingent.
Plus the site itself dumbs everything down.
Their "Your baby is now as big as a {random fruit or vegetable}" emails made me laugh. I once wrote out all the comparisons in a single blog post, to amuse myself.
posted by zarq at 7:54 AM on July 6, 2009
On a related note, this MeTa renews my wish for a MetaFilter parent site somewhere.
That's a GREAT idea. I know that AskMe users have been incredibly helpful when I've had questions, and of course the archive is a treasure trove of valuable information.
Throughout my pregnancy, I've been relegated to the BabyCenter.com forums, whose participants are only barely a step above the HOW IS BABBY FORMED contingent.
Plus the site itself dumbs everything down.
Their "Your baby is now as big as a {random fruit or vegetable}" emails made me laugh. I once wrote out all the comparisons in a single blog post, to amuse myself.
posted by zarq at 7:54 AM on July 6, 2009
I don't have kids but I'm with desuetude - I can sidewalk chalk and play geotrax like nobody's business. If extra babysitters/sets of eyes are welcome, I'd love to stop by a mefi playdate.
posted by 8dot3 at 8:13 AM on July 6, 2009
posted by 8dot3 at 8:13 AM on July 6, 2009
I'd also love a parent site, as well as a mefi playdate. It would be great to trade info with rational human beings rather than scaremongering idiots. The only thing worse than BabyCenter.com was the books (especially the dreaded "What to Expect", clearly designed for certifiable morons).....arrgghhh! Any Torontonian mefis with spawn out there?
posted by Go Banana at 8:35 AM on July 6, 2009
posted by Go Banana at 8:35 AM on July 6, 2009
scblackman, I live in Jenkintown and spend a great deal of time over in Chestnut Hill/Mt. Airy. My 5-year-old and I would totally be up for a MeFi playdate! I would propose the 19th (Sunday after our official 10th Anniversary meetup), but my husband might balk at losing me to a whole weekend of Metafilter. :-)
I heartily second the Little Treehouse, particularly if there are many toddlers/babies, as it's a very safe place for them to play. The air-conditioning and great coffee for the parents doesn't hurt! I find that Jenks playground, while awesome, is frequently overrun with big kids who aren't as gentle as they could be around the little people.
posted by chihiro at 8:48 AM on July 6, 2009
I heartily second the Little Treehouse, particularly if there are many toddlers/babies, as it's a very safe place for them to play. The air-conditioning and great coffee for the parents doesn't hurt! I find that Jenks playground, while awesome, is frequently overrun with big kids who aren't as gentle as they could be around the little people.
posted by chihiro at 8:48 AM on July 6, 2009
This is sounding an awful lot like a weekend-afternoon NW Philly Meetup? Afterwards, the parental units can provide feedback to MeFites wanting to organize MePlayFi/KidFilter dates in their own areas.
(As for a quick subsite, you could put a parenting index in the FAQ, like we did with food-related stuff.)
posted by desuetude at 9:08 AM on July 6, 2009
(As for a quick subsite, you could put a parenting index in the FAQ, like we did with food-related stuff.)
posted by desuetude at 9:08 AM on July 6, 2009
Heh. A bunch of the BDSM swingers I knew through work called their get-togethers "playdates." I saw this and was like, wow, bold, let's see who's in (and has profile pics!), and then on the more inside my internal Foley artist added the needle-dragged-off-record sound.
posted by klangklangston at 9:19 AM on July 6, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by klangklangston at 9:19 AM on July 6, 2009 [5 favorites]
Heh. A bunch of the BDSM swingers I knew through work called their get-togethers "playdates."
I can't speak for everyone else, but I certainly won't be spanking anyone.
posted by zarq at 9:46 AM on July 6, 2009
I can't speak for everyone else, but I certainly won't be spanking anyone.
posted by zarq at 9:46 AM on July 6, 2009
Thanks, klangklangston. As soon as the NSA filters extracts the location and topic from my posting, pompomtom's bit about "... a call for small children ...", your bit about BDSM swingers, my user info, and then call the local FBI office ...
[knocking sound]
... hold on, someone's at the door. Back in 15-20 years.
posted by scblackman at 10:24 AM on July 6, 2009
[knocking sound]
... hold on, someone's at the door. Back in 15-20 years.
posted by scblackman at 10:24 AM on July 6, 2009
Any playdate hopefuls in Chicago? We have a fenced in backyard and LOTS of toys...would love that.
posted by jeanmari at 11:28 AM on July 6, 2009
posted by jeanmari at 11:28 AM on July 6, 2009
Oh, how I crave intelligent, proper-grammar-loving discourse.
Huh. And you're about to become a parent, you say? Good luck with that!
posted by Sys Rq at 12:03 PM on July 6, 2009
Huh. And you're about to become a parent, you say? Good luck with that!
posted by Sys Rq at 12:03 PM on July 6, 2009
If anything, Sys Rq, becoming a parent will only heighten my desire for said discourse.
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:09 PM on July 6, 2009
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:09 PM on July 6, 2009
Oh, and zarq, I hear you on babycenter.com's weird "your baby is the size of {$VEGETABLE}" obsession.
As of today, I'm in the head-of-a-cauliflower stage of my pregnancy, having just left the English-hothouse-cucumber term.
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:55 PM on July 6, 2009
As of today, I'm in the head-of-a-cauliflower stage of my pregnancy, having just left the English-hothouse-cucumber term.
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:55 PM on July 6, 2009
ColdChef, I am sorry to say it but I'm pretty sure your girls are going to grow up to be SA goons.
posted by SassHat at 3:11 PM on July 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by SassHat at 3:11 PM on July 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
This idea has been floated at at least two Seattle meetups I've been at, to generally positive response, but I don't know if it ever happened. I think all the Seattle meetups I've been to have been in bars.
i've certainly floated it, but I;ve failed to do anything about it. Hmm... howabout something at Golden Gardens?
posted by Artw at 4:09 PM on July 6, 2009
i've certainly floated it, but I;ve failed to do anything about it. Hmm... howabout something at Golden Gardens?
posted by Artw at 4:09 PM on July 6, 2009
Count me in, of course. I'm in South Jersey but I welcome any chance to cross the Ben Franklin. Mornings work best for us, due to afternoon toddler nap time.
posted by ellenaim at 7:47 PM on July 6, 2009
posted by ellenaim at 7:47 PM on July 6, 2009
ColdChef, I am sorry to say it but I'm pretty sure your girls are going to grow up to be SA goons.
It has begun.
posted by ColdChef at 9:23 PM on July 6, 2009
It has begun.
posted by ColdChef at 9:23 PM on July 6, 2009
I'm in the Dallas area (for a given value of "area"), have a 6 year old and often a 5 year old. Until school starts, any day but Wednesdays are good for us. I'd love to have someone to talk to at play dates that shares any common interests. ;) There's tons to do in the area, plus we have a house and yard filled with adventure and a waterpark as part of the neighborhood. (With lifeguards and umbrellas and 60 foot waterslides.)
posted by dejah420 at 1:23 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by dejah420 at 1:23 PM on July 7, 2009
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"So anyway, I was online the other day and put out a call for small children... hey there's someone at the door."
posted by pompomtom at 6:28 PM on July 5, 2009 [5 favorites]