Hapyy birthday, MetaFilter, from TechRadar! July 14, 2009 5:38 AM Subscribe
> Liked this? Then check out our exclusive interview with Fark founder Drew Curtis
posted by ardgedee at 5:56 AM on July 14, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 5:56 AM on July 14, 2009 [3 favorites]
...the kind of people who hang around MeFi aren't post-first think-later blowhards...
and
The stuff that ruins other community sites, such as endless posts about nothing in particular, sock puppetry, astroturfing, trolling and so on, simply doesn't happen.
I thought this article was about MetaFilter?
posted by Loto at 5:59 AM on July 14, 2009 [3 favorites]
and
The stuff that ruins other community sites, such as endless posts about nothing in particular, sock puppetry, astroturfing, trolling and so on, simply doesn't happen.
I thought this article was about MetaFilter?
posted by Loto at 5:59 AM on July 14, 2009 [3 favorites]
It's amusing that they attribute MetaF's higher level of discussion to some vague community spirit rather than 10 years of consistent, thoughtful and stringent moderating. That's what sets this apart from many other sites where the mods are either power junkie hypocrites or hands-off.
Cheers, overlords.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:06 AM on July 14, 2009 [22 favorites]
Cheers, overlords.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:06 AM on July 14, 2009 [22 favorites]
Happy 10th, MeFi, I've got a 6-pack of Guinness waiting for me.
My endless thanks to Mattcorvacapbamyn (the p's silent) for doing such a great job, and here's to another 10 just as good.
posted by empyrean at 6:11 AM on July 14, 2009
My endless thanks to Mattcorvacapbamyn (the p's silent) for doing such a great job, and here's to another 10 just as good.
posted by empyrean at 6:11 AM on July 14, 2009
What makes MetaFilter really special, though, is the discussions - the comments on posts, and the free-for-all conversations on Ask MetaFilter.
Ban him.
posted by saladin at 6:16 AM on July 14, 2009 [9 favorites]
Ban him.
posted by saladin at 6:16 AM on July 14, 2009 [9 favorites]
Don't blame him, he just researched his article on chatfilter day.
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:28 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:28 AM on July 14, 2009
I expected cake.
posted by elmer benson at 6:38 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by elmer benson at 6:38 AM on July 14, 2009
It has now been July14th on the East Coast (of the United States) for over nine hours. I still do not see any cats jammed into their scanners.
* taps foot impatiently *
posted by yhbc at 6:41 AM on July 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
* taps foot impatiently *
posted by yhbc at 6:41 AM on July 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
Potomac avenue: 10 years of consistent, thoughtful and stringent moderating
Agreed. At this level, over 10 years, consistency is not something you decide from the start, it's an inner compass of decency, curiosity and fun.
ardgedee: > Liked this? Then check out our exclusive interview with Fark founder Drew Curtis
... and? Drew Curtis is certainly one of the coolest guys around. I don't know him personally and I rarely visit Fark, but since all the native community sites popped up around 2000 (slashdot, metafilter, something awful, fark, worth1000 and a few others), he has shown over the years another facet of decency, curiosity and fun.
posted by bru at 6:43 AM on July 14, 2009
Agreed. At this level, over 10 years, consistency is not something you decide from the start, it's an inner compass of decency, curiosity and fun.
ardgedee: > Liked this? Then check out our exclusive interview with Fark founder Drew Curtis
... and? Drew Curtis is certainly one of the coolest guys around. I don't know him personally and I rarely visit Fark, but since all the native community sites popped up around 2000 (slashdot, metafilter, something awful, fark, worth1000 and a few others), he has shown over the years another facet of decency, curiosity and fun.
posted by bru at 6:43 AM on July 14, 2009
I'm just glad that we don't do sockpuppets here.
posted by My Bloody Pony at 6:51 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by My Bloody Pony at 6:51 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
Where the hell is the cat-scan post?
posted by macadamiaranch at 6:52 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by macadamiaranch at 6:52 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
Another post about dios!??!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 6:56 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 6:56 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
Matt is too busy rolling out autotune.metafilter.com.
posted by lukemeister at 7:01 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by lukemeister at 7:01 AM on July 14, 2009
iPhone autocorrect would have had that, "another post about dips?!?!" but really, for all our heterogeneous dillettantery and deep veins of raw, nommy awesome, we don't give nearly enough coverage to the delicious, delicious dip, nor it's sociable, crispy conveyance, the chip.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:02 AM on July 14, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:02 AM on July 14, 2009 [4 favorites]
Did no one post cat-scan today?
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:06 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:06 AM on July 14, 2009
It would be ironic if in all the excitement and build-up to the 10th Anniversary the cat-scan post was never posted.
posted by yeti at 7:12 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by yeti at 7:12 AM on July 14, 2009
He should have at least visited the site before writing the article.
posted by fire&wings at 7:33 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by fire&wings at 7:33 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
I had a post lined up for today, but now I think I'll wait until tomorrow. I hope cat-scan just sits there at the top all day.
posted by anastasiav at 7:37 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by anastasiav at 7:37 AM on July 14, 2009
Another bit of coverage, somewhat less glowing.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:02 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:02 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
Why is this guy making up all these flattering lies about Metafilter?
posted by orville sash at 8:11 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by orville sash at 8:11 AM on July 14, 2009
MetaFilter: where civil people hang outSo I was supposed to be civil all this time? Someone should have told me.
posted by octothorpe at 8:17 AM on July 14, 2009
Thank God, then, for MetaFilter.
So, I'm thinking... Church of mathowie?
You know, there could be some positive tax implications to something like this...
That was a really nice article.
posted by quin at 8:18 AM on July 14, 2009
So, I'm thinking... Church of mathowie?
You know, there could be some positive tax implications to something like this...
That was a really nice article.
posted by quin at 8:18 AM on July 14, 2009
P.S.: I am 20 years (to the day) older than Metafilter. So happy 30th to me.
posted by orville sash at 8:22 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by orville sash at 8:22 AM on July 14, 2009
octothorpe: Don't sweat it. There's a special version of the site that goes out to IP ranges belonging to the press. You and a few others are filtered out.
posted by ODiV at 8:43 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by ODiV at 8:43 AM on July 14, 2009
Happy birthday, orville sash!
posted by lukemeister at 8:59 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by lukemeister at 8:59 AM on July 14, 2009
octothorpe: "MetaFilter: where civil people hang out"
That's only because there's some sort of Maxwell's Demon-like force pushing us uncivil folks to MetaTalk.
posted by Plutor at 9:11 AM on July 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
That's only because there's some sort of Maxwell's Demon-like force pushing us uncivil folks to MetaTalk.
posted by Plutor at 9:11 AM on July 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
Ko-Ko.
There is beauty in extreme old age
Do you fancy you are elderly enough?
Information I'm requesting
On a subject interesting:
Is a maiden all the better when she's tough?
Katisha.
Throughout this wide dominion
It's the general opinion
That she'll last a good deal longer when she's tough.
Ko-Ko.
Are you old enough to marry, do you think?
Won't you wait till you are eighty in the shade?
There's a fascination frantic
In a ruin that's romantic;
Do you think you are sufficiently decayed?
Katisha.
To the matter that you mention
I have given some attention,
And I think I am sufficiently decayed.
Both.
If that is so,
Sing derry down derry!
It's evident, very,
Our tastes are one.
Away we'll go,
And merrily marry,
Nor tardily tarry
Till day is done!
posted by Jofus at 9:19 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
There is beauty in extreme old age
Do you fancy you are elderly enough?
Information I'm requesting
On a subject interesting:
Is a maiden all the better when she's tough?
Katisha.
Throughout this wide dominion
It's the general opinion
That she'll last a good deal longer when she's tough.
Ko-Ko.
Are you old enough to marry, do you think?
Won't you wait till you are eighty in the shade?
There's a fascination frantic
In a ruin that's romantic;
Do you think you are sufficiently decayed?
Katisha.
To the matter that you mention
I have given some attention,
And I think I am sufficiently decayed.
Both.
If that is so,
Sing derry down derry!
It's evident, very,
Our tastes are one.
Away we'll go,
And merrily marry,
Nor tardily tarry
Till day is done!
posted by Jofus at 9:19 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
Apparently Metafilter is in cahoots with bears! Oh noes! (Or does this mean that we can join the teddybear picnics this weekend?)
posted by filthy light thief at 9:25 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by filthy light thief at 9:25 AM on July 14, 2009
MetaFilter: where civil people hang out
It's true.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:33 AM on July 14, 2009
It's true.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:33 AM on July 14, 2009
Fuck you.
posted by absalom at 9:44 AM on July 14, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by absalom at 9:44 AM on July 14, 2009 [4 favorites]
Religion? We're pretty sure that God's been a member for years.
Yes, but the mods did have to give him a time-out a few years back for posting too much LOLXTIANS stuff.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:51 AM on July 14, 2009 [5 favorites]
Yes, but the mods did have to give him a time-out a few years back for posting too much LOLXTIANS stuff.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:51 AM on July 14, 2009 [5 favorites]
No, I'm pretty sure He was banned for those flamewars He had with P_PiLaTe.
I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner, honestly, with all the shit he heaped on Job.
posted by ODiV at 10:00 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner, honestly, with all the shit he heaped on Job.
posted by ODiV at 10:00 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
Are we done wanking each other yet? Huh? How 'bout now?
... 'cause I haven't had my turn yet.
posted by jabberjaw at 10:05 AM on July 14, 2009
... 'cause I haven't had my turn yet.
posted by jabberjaw at 10:05 AM on July 14, 2009
I hit my three-year anniversary as a member yesterday, which sorta makes me a kid with a Christmas birthday. Still the best fiver I ever spent.
posted by Bookhouse at 10:08 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by Bookhouse at 10:08 AM on July 14, 2009
By Gary Marshall
Awwww, now I'm just disappointed that it wasn't this Garry Marshall.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:16 AM on July 14, 2009
Awwww, now I'm just disappointed that it wasn't this Garry Marshall.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:16 AM on July 14, 2009
10 years and I STILL FUCKING HATE EVERY FUCKING ONE OF YOU.
posted by eyeballkid at 10:24 AM on July 14, 2009 [7 favorites]
posted by eyeballkid at 10:24 AM on July 14, 2009 [7 favorites]
*sheds a little tear*
posted by eyeballkid at 10:25 AM on July 14, 2009
posted by eyeballkid at 10:25 AM on July 14, 2009
Religion? We're pretty sure that God's been a member for years.
Yes. He has been.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:45 AM on July 14, 2009
Yes. He has been.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:45 AM on July 14, 2009
I'm pretty sure they're giving us mefites too much credit... No mention of snark, and outright denial that there are people who post first, think later.
I'd say there's still a well balanced ratio of snark to valuable comments, mind you. Everyone needs a little smart-assery in their day.
posted by sunshinesky at 11:16 AM on July 14, 2009
I'd say there's still a well balanced ratio of snark to valuable comments, mind you. Everyone needs a little smart-assery in their day.
posted by sunshinesky at 11:16 AM on July 14, 2009
MetaFilter members - MeFites - consistently rise to the challenge of posting things that are "interesting or enlightening", and peer pressure of the best kind - that is, pressure to make posts as interesting as possible - means that every day, it's a banquet for the brain.
Stuff like this almost makes me sorry for mostly posting videos of British people swearing.
posted by slimepuppy at 11:27 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
Stuff like this almost makes me sorry for mostly posting videos of British people swearing.
posted by slimepuppy at 11:27 AM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
Yes. He has been.
Yeah, but apparently, we banned him.
posted by TwelveTwo at 12:00 PM on July 14, 2009
Yeah, but apparently, we banned him.
posted by TwelveTwo at 12:00 PM on July 14, 2009
Wow, that must be one serious banhammer.
posted by octothorpe at 12:27 PM on July 14, 2009
posted by octothorpe at 12:27 PM on July 14, 2009
Could God make a banhammer so big that he could ban himself?
posted by Asparagirl at 12:38 PM on July 14, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by Asparagirl at 12:38 PM on July 14, 2009 [6 favorites]
It has now been July14th on the East Coast (of the United States) for over nine hours. I still do not see any cats jammed into their scanners.
Hey, we're six hours into the 15th over this way...
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:58 PM on July 14, 2009
Hey, we're six hours into the 15th over this way...
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:58 PM on July 14, 2009
"They'll be celebrating the tenth birthday of MetaFilter, a 'community weblog' - a site which allows any of its registered users to write posts and share links. Links that we then steal for this blog".
You and a few other folks. :)
posted by zarq at 2:49 PM on July 14, 2009
You and a few other folks. :)
posted by zarq at 2:49 PM on July 14, 2009
the kind of people who hang around MeFi aren't post-first think-later blowhards [citation needed]
posted by idiopath at 4:19 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by idiopath at 4:19 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
It's amusing that they attribute MetaF's higher level of discussion to some vague community spirit rather than 10 years of consistent, thoughtful and stringent moderating.
My two bits: it's not amusing, it is quite accurate. Not in any way to downplay the hard and good work that cortex and jessamyn and mathowie (though less hands-on involvement from him, these days, I think) do to keep things on an even keel, but I do think that it has only been in the last few years -- post Ask, basically -- as the membership count really began to swell, that moderation has played a larger part than community self-regulation. Over the same time, of course, the role of Metatalk as a tool for establishing community norms has declined.
Not to lament, because in many ways, even with a userbase that is probably top-heavy in the direction of much newer members (no stats to back that up), the site is as good or better than it ever has been.
But I reckon that although moderation has always been consistent, thoughtful and stringent, moderation has been of greater proportional importance in keeping things running smoothly mostly over the past few years as opposed to the first several. And rightly so. Issues that come from scaling have been less troublesome thanks to our moderators' hard work than I ever thought they might have been.
Good on ya, mods. Your cool heads and good judgment are indeed a big reason the community has scaled up as well as it has, and the site is still such a great place to hang out.
It's hard for me to imagine being here in another 10 years, but I reckon if I'm still alive, I probably will be. And maybe even somewhere where I can get to a meetup!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:28 PM on July 14, 2009 [4 favorites]
My two bits: it's not amusing, it is quite accurate. Not in any way to downplay the hard and good work that cortex and jessamyn and mathowie (though less hands-on involvement from him, these days, I think) do to keep things on an even keel, but I do think that it has only been in the last few years -- post Ask, basically -- as the membership count really began to swell, that moderation has played a larger part than community self-regulation. Over the same time, of course, the role of Metatalk as a tool for establishing community norms has declined.
Not to lament, because in many ways, even with a userbase that is probably top-heavy in the direction of much newer members (no stats to back that up), the site is as good or better than it ever has been.
But I reckon that although moderation has always been consistent, thoughtful and stringent, moderation has been of greater proportional importance in keeping things running smoothly mostly over the past few years as opposed to the first several. And rightly so. Issues that come from scaling have been less troublesome thanks to our moderators' hard work than I ever thought they might have been.
Good on ya, mods. Your cool heads and good judgment are indeed a big reason the community has scaled up as well as it has, and the site is still such a great place to hang out.
It's hard for me to imagine being here in another 10 years, but I reckon if I'm still alive, I probably will be. And maybe even somewhere where I can get to a meetup!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:28 PM on July 14, 2009 [4 favorites]
"We're pretty sure that God's been a member for years."
Hey, I got a mention on TechRadar! Rad!
posted by Effigy2000 at 7:02 PM on July 14, 2009
Hey, I got a mention on TechRadar! Rad!
posted by Effigy2000 at 7:02 PM on July 14, 2009
NON BELIEVER! I SMITE THEE!
posted by Effigy2000 at 7:55 PM on July 14, 2009
posted by Effigy2000 at 7:55 PM on July 14, 2009
Oh, the God of Totally Ineffectual Smitings. Hail, O Impotent One!
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:06 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:06 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]
some vague community spirit
It wasn't "vague" at all. I registered post-9/11, which makes me a latecomer, but for years the moderation was very very light and that "vague community spirit" the main thing that kept the site as wonderful as it was. Stavros gets it right, I think: the mods have stepped up to keep scaling issues under control and are the key piece of the puzzle now, but the spirit of deep caring about the site by many if not most of its members is still essential to MeFi's relatively high quality of discussion.
[insert elephant pissing here]
posted by mediareport at 8:39 PM on July 14, 2009
It wasn't "vague" at all. I registered post-9/11, which makes me a latecomer, but for years the moderation was very very light and that "vague community spirit" the main thing that kept the site as wonderful as it was. Stavros gets it right, I think: the mods have stepped up to keep scaling issues under control and are the key piece of the puzzle now, but the spirit of deep caring about the site by many if not most of its members is still essential to MeFi's relatively high quality of discussion.
[insert elephant pissing here]
posted by mediareport at 8:39 PM on July 14, 2009
The moderation here is still pretty light. I mean we have what, 90,000 some members and four moderators? Obviously they have a lot to do, and people who cause a lot of trouble get banned. There's a big "broken windows" issue going on too. By keeping the site clear of nonsense, I think the people who would cause the most trouble are bored away.
Or maybe they're deleting comments left and right and I just haven't noticed. I kind of doubt that, though.
posted by delmoi at 11:13 PM on July 14, 2009
Or maybe they're deleting comments left and right and I just haven't noticed. I kind of doubt that, though.
posted by delmoi at 11:13 PM on July 14, 2009
Someone just set off a bunch of fireworks here in south Berkeley. I assume this was in celebration of MeFi's birthday. I don't think the dog likes Metafilter.
posted by team lowkey at 12:05 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by team lowkey at 12:05 AM on July 15, 2009
No, I'm pretty sure He was banned for those flamewars He had with P_PiLaTe.
You appear to have mispelt "P_Paramus"... HTH.
posted by benzo8 at 1:51 AM on July 15, 2009
You appear to have mispelt "P_Paramus"... HTH.
posted by benzo8 at 1:51 AM on July 15, 2009
Civil like a civil war.
posted by Free word order! at 8:31 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by Free word order! at 8:31 AM on July 15, 2009
Yes. He has been.His voice is still here, though it's mostly silent.
Yeah, but apparently, we banned him.
posted by me3dia at 10:44 AM on July 15, 2009
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posted by ColdChef at 5:47 AM on July 14, 2009 [11 favorites]