Happy $5 noob day November 18, 2015 4:29 AM Subscribe
Because I live in the future, I might as well kick off the annual $5 noob anniversary thread.
so, what's up with everybody else? me, i'm mostly all about lil ubu. *
* (verified as "cutest kid ever" by #1)
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:42 AM on November 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
* (verified as "cutest kid ever" by #1)
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:42 AM on November 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
Been a funny week. Paris attacks followed by a cancer diagnosis.
Er, awesome.
posted by Wolof at 4:57 AM on November 18, 2015 [6 favorites]
Er, awesome.
posted by Wolof at 4:57 AM on November 18, 2015 [6 favorites]
Happy anniversary to my fellow n00bs! You make my life better.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:01 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:01 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Jebus, sorry to hear that, Wolof
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:32 AM on November 18, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:32 AM on November 18, 2015 [11 favorites]
I mean: NOOBZ!
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:32 AM on November 18, 2015
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:32 AM on November 18, 2015
Jesus, Wolof. So sorry.
posted by middleclasstool at 6:00 AM on November 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by middleclasstool at 6:00 AM on November 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
What is this thread about? (Serious question.)
posted by headnsouth at 6:04 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by headnsouth at 6:04 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Wow, Wolof. Same here except the cancer diagnosis is for my father. Best wishes to you!
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:13 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:13 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yay here I am. Noobvember.
posted by marxchivist at 6:14 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by marxchivist at 6:14 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Aw hell.So sorry, Wolof and Too-Ticky.
posted by zarq at 6:15 AM on November 18, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by zarq at 6:15 AM on November 18, 2015 [5 favorites]
What is this thread about? (Serious question.)
On November 18th, 2004, Metafilter signups opened after being turned off for a while. Naturally there was rush of being signing up, so every November 18th there's a reminder/celebration of the awesome people thatoverthrew the stuffy old guard signed up, bringing an unparalleled age of enlightenment to a weary web.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:16 AM on November 18, 2015 [5 favorites]
On November 18th, 2004, Metafilter signups opened after being turned off for a while. Naturally there was rush of being signing up, so every November 18th there's a reminder/celebration of the awesome people that
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:16 AM on November 18, 2015 [5 favorites]
It's been 11 years! Now we ARE the stuffy old guard! Cheers! And hugs for everyone dealing with cancer, boooo.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:17 AM on November 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:17 AM on November 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
Get off my lawn!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:18 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:18 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Because I live in the future
Great - you can help me with my time travel nanowrimo story, which starts in 2025. TIA.
posted by marienbad at 6:21 AM on November 18, 2015
Great - you can help me with my time travel nanowrimo story, which starts in 2025. TIA.
posted by marienbad at 6:21 AM on November 18, 2015
What is this thread about? (Serious question.)
Back in olden times when people carved Metafilter posts on rocks and submitted them to Mathowie with a bull sacrifice, signups for the site were closed to the public. Concerned that a massive flood of new members would overwhelm the site, Matt would only open signups to people other than his friends and colleagues every once in a great while.
Those of us who wanted to storm the Metafilter castle therefore had to bide our time, sitting outside the ring of fire, gator-filled moat and out of range of the large, fire-breathing dragon, and wait for the drawbridge to be lowered.
Then, on one fateful November 18th, old Matt fell asleep at the lever and opened the floodgates. We noobs paid our five bucks and took over the place, exactly as both Matt and the old guard had feared.
We changed the wallpaper, aired out the rugs and made everything spiffy, too.
Those of us who joined in November and December 2004 have been here 11 years. Ye gods, what have I done with my life and we're collectively, good-naturedly referred to as the $5 n00bs.
posted by zarq at 6:22 AM on November 18, 2015 [25 favorites]
Back in olden times when people carved Metafilter posts on rocks and submitted them to Mathowie with a bull sacrifice, signups for the site were closed to the public. Concerned that a massive flood of new members would overwhelm the site, Matt would only open signups to people other than his friends and colleagues every once in a great while.
Those of us who wanted to storm the Metafilter castle therefore had to bide our time, sitting outside the ring of fire, gator-filled moat and out of range of the large, fire-breathing dragon, and wait for the drawbridge to be lowered.
Then, on one fateful November 18th, old Matt fell asleep at the lever and opened the floodgates. We noobs paid our five bucks and took over the place, exactly as both Matt and the old guard had feared.
We changed the wallpaper, aired out the rugs and made everything spiffy, too.
Those of us who joined in November and December 2004 have been here 11 years. Ye gods, what have I done with my life and we're collectively, good-naturedly referred to as the $5 n00bs.
posted by zarq at 6:22 AM on November 18, 2015 [25 favorites]
It was the dawning of Age of Noobquarius.
posted by XMLicious at 6:23 AM on November 18, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 6:23 AM on November 18, 2015 [11 favorites]
Those of us who joined in November and December 2004 have been here 11 years.
Eleven years. One louder than ten.
posted by three blind mice at 6:50 AM on November 18, 2015 [5 favorites]
Eleven years. One louder than ten.
posted by three blind mice at 6:50 AM on November 18, 2015 [5 favorites]
Wow, I feel like it was just a few weeks ago that we celebrated the 10th anniversary of this. Sometimes it makes me feel silly how attached I am to this website, but then I remember that I started reading MetaFilter when I was merely 18 years old (I was here for a few years before memberships opened). It's hard to believe that nearly everything else about me and my life has changed, but MetaFilter is still a part of it. I LOVE YOU GUYS
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 6:51 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 6:51 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
(Special shout-out to the mods: y'all are incredible!)
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 6:54 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 6:54 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
so every November 18th there's a reminder/celebration
Remember remember the 18th of Noobvember ...
Back in olden times when people carved Metafilter posts on rocks ...
No, we spoke Rock. The Rock language. Basic Rock. We were, like, "Hey, look at this rock!" and "Let's talk about rocks," and "How this rock got wedged into a scanner, I don't know."
posted by octobersurprise at 7:09 AM on November 18, 2015 [5 favorites]
Remember remember the 18th of Noobvember ...
Back in olden times when people carved Metafilter posts on rocks ...
No, we spoke Rock. The Rock language. Basic Rock. We were, like, "Hey, look at this rock!" and "Let's talk about rocks," and "How this rock got wedged into a scanner, I don't know."
posted by octobersurprise at 7:09 AM on November 18, 2015 [5 favorites]
*straggler from March 2005*
Just came in to say I'm sorry Wolof for your news and to Too Ticky too
Yes I know, i did
posted by infini at 7:11 AM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
Just came in to say I'm sorry Wolof for your news and to Too Ticky too
Yes I know, i did
posted by infini at 7:11 AM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
My people, my loyal subjects! Blessings upon you all on this glorious day, it is with great honour and infinite humility that I bear your standard as primus inter pares.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:23 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 7:23 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Eleven years in, and I am still learning. Thank you, MeFi.
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:34 AM on November 18, 2015
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:34 AM on November 18, 2015
Oh, geez, Wolof, I'm sorry to hear that.
Wow, I feel like it was just a few weeks ago that we celebrated the 10th anniversary of this.
More and more, everything that I think of as having happened a while ago on the site turns out to have happened a significantly longer while ago. Time is a strange and telescoping thing.
Dang whippersnappers.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:42 AM on November 18, 2015 [9 favorites]
Wow, I feel like it was just a few weeks ago that we celebrated the 10th anniversary of this.
More and more, everything that I think of as having happened a while ago on the site turns out to have happened a significantly longer while ago. Time is a strange and telescoping thing.
Dang whippersnappers.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:42 AM on November 18, 2015 [9 favorites]
I just missed my fifteenth anniversary in May. It's weird now that the internet is old enough for celebrations like this.
posted by mecran01 at 7:44 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by mecran01 at 7:44 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
My 15th Anniversary is next August. Guess I should throw a party. Like MoMU15
posted by crush-onastick at 8:26 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by crush-onastick at 8:26 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
It took me an additional 13 months to decide I had anything worthwhile-enough to say that it warranted $5. And I had already been lurking for a while.
What was worth $5?
I posted Austin restaurant recommendations.
*sigh* So much more value here than that.
posted by Seamus at 8:33 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
What was worth $5?
I posted Austin restaurant recommendations.
*sigh* So much more value here than that.
posted by Seamus at 8:33 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Cortex: More and more, everything that I think of as having happened a while ago on the site turns out to have happened a significantly longer while ago
Surely this is what you meant.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 8:55 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Surely this is what you meant.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 8:55 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
next year the day before tax day in the USA will be my 10th anniversary. Wow quite a while.
posted by koolkat at 9:03 AM on November 18, 2015
posted by koolkat at 9:03 AM on November 18, 2015
The eternal november, as it came to be known.
posted by Annika Cicada at 9:30 AM on November 18, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by Annika Cicada at 9:30 AM on November 18, 2015 [6 favorites]
I also want to shout out our persistent lurkers, because I lurked for long, long time before I tried to sign up (and found out I couldn't!)... I don't know how long, but it was before the 9/11 thread. I did manage to sign up a couple of years before the wall fell, during one of the limited sign up intervals (usually a few hours in duration).
So once I was an actual member it was weird, because I was already really familiar with all the frequent commenters, but I was a cypher to them. It's like hiding in the rafters and seeing this family all sitting down to breakfast, lunch, and supper every day for a couple of years, hearing them discuss their day with each other, talk about what's going on in the world, etc., and then suddenly dropping down to join them, SURPRISE O hai! and they are like omg, wut?
So, sending a big collective hug to our loyal lurkers. Join if you feel like it! I won't say we won't be awful, just that we mostly won't be much more awful than usual! <3
posted by taz (staff) at 9:51 AM on November 18, 2015 [43 favorites]
So once I was an actual member it was weird, because I was already really familiar with all the frequent commenters, but I was a cypher to them. It's like hiding in the rafters and seeing this family all sitting down to breakfast, lunch, and supper every day for a couple of years, hearing them discuss their day with each other, talk about what's going on in the world, etc., and then suddenly dropping down to join them, SURPRISE O hai! and they are like omg, wut?
So, sending a big collective hug to our loyal lurkers. Join if you feel like it! I won't say we won't be awful, just that we mostly won't be much more awful than usual! <3
posted by taz (staff) at 9:51 AM on November 18, 2015 [43 favorites]
Woah, happy Mefiversary fellow noobs! I remember signup day very well, better than I remember the rest of my junior year of college. I used to feel like such a youngster here at the age of 20.
My 10 year college reunion is in the spring.
I'm glad, of all the sites I frequented in 2004, Mefi survived and I'm still here.
posted by muddgirl at 10:38 AM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
My 10 year college reunion is in the spring.
I'm glad, of all the sites I frequented in 2004, Mefi survived and I'm still here.
posted by muddgirl at 10:38 AM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm glad it wasn't bought by Russians.
posted by maryr at 10:50 AM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by maryr at 10:50 AM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
Wow. I have been a member for more than a third of my life.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 11:25 AM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by [expletive deleted] at 11:25 AM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
I was a teenager when I joined. Last week I spent ~$90 on age defying creams (recommended by AskMe, of course).
posted by stray at 11:27 AM on November 18, 2015 [10 favorites]
posted by stray at 11:27 AM on November 18, 2015 [10 favorites]
Today LiveJournal sent me an email about purging my account. We noticed that your account cgc373 has less than three entries and hasn't been logged into in over two years. I've had that account a little longer than I've had this one, but sheesh. There's few enough two-day gaps in my MetaFilter activity.
posted by cgc373 at 11:28 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by cgc373 at 11:28 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Still squishing ink through screens onto t-shirts. 11 intar trips around the sun, and I still am down here in my deep rut. Print shirts/stare at blue screen/add snarky comment/sleep. Lather, rinse repeat. But it's good, you know. It's all good, somehow. Thanks Matt, wherever you are!
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:36 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:36 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Your comment just makes me think of that one bit in Frankenstein, taz.
posted by comealongpole at 11:41 AM on November 18, 2015
posted by comealongpole at 11:41 AM on November 18, 2015
Thank you, and happy $5 noob day to all mefites of good will.
posted by Cranberry at 11:44 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 11:44 AM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I lurked for several additional months after the floodgates were opened. Judging by some of the dumb shit I contribute around here, I probably should've held off for many months more.
posted by slogger at 11:45 AM on November 18, 2015
posted by slogger at 11:45 AM on November 18, 2015
Wow. I have been a member for more than a third of my life.
Oh, huh. Me too. Be a while yet before I get to half.
Weirder yet when I think about it is that I've worked here longer than everywhere else I've worked totaled up.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:01 PM on November 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
Oh, huh. Me too. Be a while yet before I get to half.
Weirder yet when I think about it is that I've worked here longer than everywhere else I've worked totaled up.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:01 PM on November 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
I still feel like a noob who was late to the 5buck party, and that was 9 years ago.
posted by French Fry at 12:44 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by French Fry at 12:44 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
$5 n00bs are the cancer that is killing 4ch...uhh...MetaFilter.
posted by MikeMc at 12:48 PM on November 18, 2015
posted by MikeMc at 12:48 PM on November 18, 2015
In 2004 I had a full head of hair and no gray in my beard, now I haven't needed a comb in years and my beard is almost all gray. I blame Metafilter.
posted by octothorpe at 1:05 PM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 1:05 PM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
*Looks around* I see a lot of good people gone as well. Maybe some came back as brand new days over the years.
posted by adamvasco at 2:26 PM on November 18, 2015
posted by adamvasco at 2:26 PM on November 18, 2015
I was lurking around in 2004 and earlier but never hit the open signup periods when I had something I wanted to say. I lurked for 6 more years until I had a remark that I MUST SAY and finally plonked down the 5.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 2:31 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 2:31 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
omg next year it'll be ten years and I'm still a n00b wtf
posted by infinitewindow at 2:34 PM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by infinitewindow at 2:34 PM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
this window stole my line and the rest of my username
posted by infini at 2:38 PM on November 18, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by infini at 2:38 PM on November 18, 2015 [8 favorites]
I also want to shout out our persistent lurkers
Yay for persistent lurkers! I feel like I am probably on the pretty extreme end of that spectrum. I spent about five years lurking before I finally ponied up my $5 close to 2 years ago. Anyone else who was a longtime lurker care to share how long they waited before joining?
So once I was an actual member it was weird, because I was already really familiar with all the frequent commenters, but I was a cypher to them.
I definitely felt this way. I was a daily lurker on askmefi for years, and I also wandered over to the main page and MeTa pretty regularly, so I feel like I've been a mefite a lot longer than I actually have been. And yeah, it is kind of weird to be familiar with so many mefites posting history, but knowing that when I finally did join, I was this completely unknown entity. I mean, I'm still pretty new in the scheme of things, so I imagine no one would really recognize my username even now.
But better late than never! And if anyone is lurking because they can't decide on a username (which was honestly a pretty big factor for me because I am indecisive and an overthinker), just pick something! You may end up regretting choosing a latin phrase as your username, but it's still totally worth it.
On preview: I see I'm not alone in my multi-year lurking.
posted by litera scripta manet at 2:42 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yay for persistent lurkers! I feel like I am probably on the pretty extreme end of that spectrum. I spent about five years lurking before I finally ponied up my $5 close to 2 years ago. Anyone else who was a longtime lurker care to share how long they waited before joining?
So once I was an actual member it was weird, because I was already really familiar with all the frequent commenters, but I was a cypher to them.
I definitely felt this way. I was a daily lurker on askmefi for years, and I also wandered over to the main page and MeTa pretty regularly, so I feel like I've been a mefite a lot longer than I actually have been. And yeah, it is kind of weird to be familiar with so many mefites posting history, but knowing that when I finally did join, I was this completely unknown entity. I mean, I'm still pretty new in the scheme of things, so I imagine no one would really recognize my username even now.
But better late than never! And if anyone is lurking because they can't decide on a username (which was honestly a pretty big factor for me because I am indecisive and an overthinker), just pick something! You may end up regretting choosing a latin phrase as your username, but it's still totally worth it.
On preview: I see I'm not alone in my multi-year lurking.
posted by litera scripta manet at 2:42 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I did it backwards. I paid $5 to lurk.
posted by forforf at 2:58 PM on November 18, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by forforf at 2:58 PM on November 18, 2015 [6 favorites]
I still feel like a noob who was late to the 5buck party, and that was 9 years ago.
I still feel like a noob who was late to the 5buck party, because I didn't join until nearly a week after it opened up.
posted by aubilenon at 3:32 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I still feel like a noob who was late to the 5buck party, because I didn't join until nearly a week after it opened up.
posted by aubilenon at 3:32 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance.
posted by juv3nal at 3:55 PM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by juv3nal at 3:55 PM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's been 11 years! Now we ARE the stuffy old guard! Cheers!
Seriously! Way to make a noob feel like an old!
Hugs and good thoughts to you, Wolof and Too-Ticky.
posted by mudpuppie at 3:58 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Seriously! Way to make a noob feel like an old!
Hugs and good thoughts to you, Wolof and Too-Ticky.
posted by mudpuppie at 3:58 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've been reading the site since 2001. I've been a member under two different usernames since 2004, one quarter of my life.
I really don't feel like a noob anymore.
posted by double block and bleed at 5:24 PM on November 18, 2015
I really don't feel like a noob anymore.
posted by double block and bleed at 5:24 PM on November 18, 2015
Sheesh, I joined two years before the $5 newbs? I was one of the five-newbs-each-noon crowd, but there were $5 accounts in my era too, I'd swear it!
Also apparently I am older than many of you because I've been here nearly a third of my life.
So, I guess, Brandon Blatcher, get off my lawn?
...there are a lot of leaves right now and we have a dog...
posted by Songdog at 6:21 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also apparently I am older than many of you because I've been here nearly a third of my life.
So, I guess, Brandon Blatcher, get off my lawn?
...there are a lot of leaves right now and we have a dog...
posted by Songdog at 6:21 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wolof and Too-Ticky, I hope things improve rapidly for you and yours.
posted by Songdog at 6:32 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Songdog at 6:32 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Thanks to well wishers! I don't expect to die this time around, but I don't anticipate much fun just ahead.
posted by Wolof at 6:36 PM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Wolof at 6:36 PM on November 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
I lurked for like... seven years? Eight?
There was a big gap, where I hadn't realized that it had changed from the random windows to a membership fee, and then quite a while later I finally had something to say which was worth $5 to me. Been here five and a half years since then.
posted by SMPA at 7:26 PM on November 18, 2015
There was a big gap, where I hadn't realized that it had changed from the random windows to a membership fee, and then quite a while later I finally had something to say which was worth $5 to me. Been here five and a half years since then.
posted by SMPA at 7:26 PM on November 18, 2015
lol, I got in before that! There was a one time event like a year before where the window was open. I was in a different country and had no internet at home and a kind mefite from a different site actually helped a few people get accounts. I think I might have gotten my gmail account the same way.
posted by lkc at 8:08 PM on November 18, 2015
posted by lkc at 8:08 PM on November 18, 2015
True story, Mefi was one of the first online purchases I ever made. Had been lurking since 2003-ish, I think. And gosh, I've been here for a third of my life too!
2015 had been the most eventful year I've ever had. And there's still a month and two weeks left, so some more space for a few more adventures and/ or mishaps. Sigh.
posted by the cydonian at 8:20 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
2015 had been the most eventful year I've ever had. And there's still a month and two weeks left, so some more space for a few more adventures and/ or mishaps. Sigh.
posted by the cydonian at 8:20 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wow. I have been a member for more than a third of my life.
Slightly less for me, but close enough for Wow.
posted by homunculus at 8:20 PM on November 18, 2015
Slightly less for me, but close enough for Wow.
posted by homunculus at 8:20 PM on November 18, 2015
So many people report to having become better people because of this place. Man, we must all have been such a bunch of shits before.
I keed, I keed.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 9:08 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I keed, I keed.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 9:08 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Thanks to well wishers! I don't expect to die this time around....Right on!
....but I don't anticipate much fun just ahead. I've been where you are. Trust me, the chemo and radiation, if that's what you have to go through, are only half the battle. Believing that there's going to be a positive outcome and being supported by like-minded people around is the other half of the battle. Maybe the more important half.
Happy birthday, noobs! You're tweens!
I've been here since just before 9/11. That's 14 years of solid dedication to being a wannabe lurker. 14 years! I've learned so much from the site - from the mods, Matt, Cortex and too many members to name. I've changed long-held opinions based on some amazing explanations and points of view that had never occurred to me. I've been put in awe by the incredible wisdom and patience displayed when things fall apart. I've had crushes on people I've never met, sight unseen. That's maybe a little creepy but I'm betting I'm not the only one who's felt the same way. I've read some remarkably well-written posts/comments and been overcome with jealousy at how easy it seems for some people to make their words shine like living things, but I'd still buy them a beer at the drop of a hat given the chance.
In short, this place is a part of my life and I'm a better person for it.
Even if the place is over-run with fuckin' noobs, the fucking fuckers.
posted by ashbury at 9:25 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
....but I don't anticipate much fun just ahead. I've been where you are. Trust me, the chemo and radiation, if that's what you have to go through, are only half the battle. Believing that there's going to be a positive outcome and being supported by like-minded people around is the other half of the battle. Maybe the more important half.
Happy birthday, noobs! You're tweens!
I've been here since just before 9/11. That's 14 years of solid dedication to being a wannabe lurker. 14 years! I've learned so much from the site - from the mods, Matt, Cortex and too many members to name. I've changed long-held opinions based on some amazing explanations and points of view that had never occurred to me. I've been put in awe by the incredible wisdom and patience displayed when things fall apart. I've had crushes on people I've never met, sight unseen. That's maybe a little creepy but I'm betting I'm not the only one who's felt the same way. I've read some remarkably well-written posts/comments and been overcome with jealousy at how easy it seems for some people to make their words shine like living things, but I'd still buy them a beer at the drop of a hat given the chance.
In short, this place is a part of my life and I'm a better person for it.
Even if the place is over-run with fuckin' noobs, the fucking fuckers.
posted by ashbury at 9:25 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've only here for about two and a half years, but I gotta say I completely and totally adore the fact that on the Internet in this day and age there's still a place where only having been around for eleven years makes you a n00b.
posted by Itaxpica at 9:28 PM on November 18, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by Itaxpica at 9:28 PM on November 18, 2015 [6 favorites]
I don't think I even knew about MetaFilter in 2004.
I've got seven years as of about a month ago.
Time sure flies; most days I feel like it's still the '90s. (It's still the '90s, right?)
Happy Noobiversary!
posted by Mister Moofoo at 9:33 PM on November 18, 2015
I've got seven years as of about a month ago.
Time sure flies; most days I feel like it's still the '90s. (It's still the '90s, right?)
Happy Noobiversary!
posted by Mister Moofoo at 9:33 PM on November 18, 2015
.
posted by madajb at 12:21 AM on November 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by madajb at 12:21 AM on November 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Is this where I drag my sorry ass in and meep piteously that I miss amberglow?
posted by infini at 1:28 AM on November 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by infini at 1:28 AM on November 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
We all do :(
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:22 AM on November 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:22 AM on November 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Huh. I do not feel like Old Guard and did not think this thread applied to me, but I just looked at my profile and apparently I'm from the December 2004 brigade? Didn't post much the first few years after that but I was here lurking. And now I never shut up.
Happy anniversary, yinz.
posted by Stacey at 5:32 AM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
Happy anniversary, yinz.
posted by Stacey at 5:32 AM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have visited metafilter multiple times on almost every day since discovering it (and dangerousmeta.com, I guess I liked meta-things back then) in 1999, finally had a credit card and $5 in 2012 and joined then.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 6:48 AM on November 19, 2015
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 6:48 AM on November 19, 2015
You're all adorable.
posted by the webmistress at 7:03 AM on November 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by the webmistress at 7:03 AM on November 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
What is this thread about?
It's the annual reminder that 14K really was MetaFilter's Greatest Generation.
posted by yhbc at 8:25 AM on November 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
It's the annual reminder that 14K really was MetaFilter's Greatest Generation.
posted by yhbc at 8:25 AM on November 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
Cripes. I still think of myself as a bit of a noob because I missed the chance to get in with the 14kers.
posted by jack_mo at 8:25 AM on November 19, 2015
posted by jack_mo at 8:25 AM on November 19, 2015
Back in olden times when people carved Metafilter posts on rocks and submitted them to Mathowie with a bull sacrifice, signups for the site were closed to the public.
Those were the days. Back when gifs and blink tags and hot pink user pages roamed free. Back when we fought off the JRun errors with rocks and pointy sticks. Back before Fanfare, or Projects, or Jobs, or Music, or even Ask.
There was the Blue, there was the Gray, and it was a hard simple life, but it was good enough for us.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:33 AM on November 19, 2015 [12 favorites]
Those were the days. Back when gifs and blink tags and hot pink user pages roamed free. Back when we fought off the JRun errors with rocks and pointy sticks. Back before Fanfare, or Projects, or Jobs, or Music, or even Ask.
There was the Blue, there was the Gray, and it was a hard simple life, but it was good enough for us.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:33 AM on November 19, 2015 [12 favorites]
And would you look at that, a 14ker snuck in before me with a 14k joke. Fucking typical.
posted by jack_mo at 8:35 AM on November 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by jack_mo at 8:35 AM on November 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
Yay for persistent lurkers! I feel like I am probably on the pretty extreme end of that spectrum. I spent about five years lurking before I finally ponied up my $5 close to 2 years ago. Anyone else who was a longtime lurker care to share how long they waited before joining?
I was embarrassed to have been lurking since around 2003, only having joined in 2011...until I read some of the hardcore lurkers' stories.
I still feel like a noob.
posted by blurker at 8:38 AM on November 19, 2015
I was embarrassed to have been lurking since around 2003, only having joined in 2011...until I read some of the hardcore lurkers' stories.
I still feel like a noob.
posted by blurker at 8:38 AM on November 19, 2015
Timing.
posted by yhbc at 8:44 AM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by yhbc at 8:44 AM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
The $5 noobs solved a conflict in my brand-new relationship with my now wife, which is that I had a metafilter account and she didn't. Also, I had gmail (because of metafilter). She got my first invite.
So I guess that means we've been together for at least ten years? And married for 9? That doesn't sound right.
Oh well. Thanks metafilter! For my marriage.
posted by stet at 11:43 AM on November 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
So I guess that means we've been together for at least ten years? And married for 9? That doesn't sound right.
Oh well. Thanks metafilter! For my marriage.
posted by stet at 11:43 AM on November 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
I am pretty fucking pissed off about the news concerning a top, top man - who I think is a very subtle, funny and wise internet friend both here and in the other place. But that anger produces nothing to him of use or value.
W: Noah, Jen and I are sending you and yours our love. Also useless, but also true. But you are greater than the news, and far better than these words. Top man: and long live him.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 12:09 PM on November 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
W: Noah, Jen and I are sending you and yours our love. Also useless, but also true. But you are greater than the news, and far better than these words. Top man: and long live him.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 12:09 PM on November 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
It's been 11 years!?
And would you look at that, a 14ker snuck in before me with a 14k joke. Fucking typical.
I spent too much time wishing I could comment on this or that post, but couldn't. When I finally could, someone beat me to the punch, and said it more concisely that I ever could. Fucking typical.
posted by squeak at 2:28 PM on November 19, 2015
And would you look at that, a 14ker snuck in before me with a 14k joke. Fucking typical.
I spent too much time wishing I could comment on this or that post, but couldn't. When I finally could, someone beat me to the punch, and said it more concisely that I ever could. Fucking typical.
posted by squeak at 2:28 PM on November 19, 2015
I was a day late (but not $5 short). Joined as a lark and now I can't imagine not have you guys in my life. I don't participate much but I really value all the varied, thoughtful comments here. I hope when I've commented or posted I've added a little value as well. I really do feel part of this community. I've even written instructions in my will to have my family drop a line here if/when I kick it. (No intention of doing so anytime soon, but the idea of just disappearing really bugged me...).
posted by agatha_magatha at 3:37 PM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by agatha_magatha at 3:37 PM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sticking in my 'how i got here' tale tho it is later (2006)
I have had a website since 1997 where i sometimes stick stuff i write. So i noticed one day that a game has gotton +1000 hits over a two day period, far more than it's normal share. Googling revealed it had been the subject of a friday game notice (do these still happen?) So I looked at MF, and, after a few weeks, joined at $5, because, as we all know: "Something was wrong on the internet!"
After my first post, there was a response that showed my anonymity was totally blown--someone on MF knew ALL about me. But it turned out to be not too terrifying--i have known sticky carpet for (yow) 35 years, more than half his life and a little less than half my own. Well, that is what happens to us non-motorcycle-riders.
So I have drifted along here for a decade, secure in the knowledge that all my stupid off-topic posts will be moderated out of existance tout-suite. In my dotage, it seems most of my asks are "what is this plant in my yard."
Looking at my user page, I should change the little picture--last year, I dropped 100 lbs (see http://www.hexatron.com/diet.html) and am now SKINNY decrepit old man.
There is a Mrs Hexatron, and a few years ago we spent the $5 for her own account. She is a better writer than I am, with very different interests, and it got wierd having her stuff under the technerd hexatron account.
posted by hexatron at 4:29 PM on November 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
I have had a website since 1997 where i sometimes stick stuff i write. So i noticed one day that a game has gotton +1000 hits over a two day period, far more than it's normal share. Googling revealed it had been the subject of a friday game notice (do these still happen?) So I looked at MF, and, after a few weeks, joined at $5, because, as we all know: "Something was wrong on the internet!"
After my first post, there was a response that showed my anonymity was totally blown--someone on MF knew ALL about me. But it turned out to be not too terrifying--i have known sticky carpet for (yow) 35 years, more than half his life and a little less than half my own. Well, that is what happens to us non-motorcycle-riders.
So I have drifted along here for a decade, secure in the knowledge that all my stupid off-topic posts will be moderated out of existance tout-suite. In my dotage, it seems most of my asks are "what is this plant in my yard."
Looking at my user page, I should change the little picture--last year, I dropped 100 lbs (see http://www.hexatron.com/diet.html) and am now SKINNY decrepit old man.
There is a Mrs Hexatron, and a few years ago we spent the $5 for her own account. She is a better writer than I am, with very different interests, and it got wierd having her stuff under the technerd hexatron account.
posted by hexatron at 4:29 PM on November 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
By my calculations there's 787 mefites who were quicker/noober than me. Oh - those 14k's think they've got a hot number but we all know the cutoff is 17578.... >insert jeering and tongue-out-of-mouth noises here<....
posted by zenon at 8:09 PM on November 19, 2015
posted by zenon at 8:09 PM on November 19, 2015
I remember sending Matt an e/mail, asking what I had to do to get an account... and, ethical guy that he was, there was no way I could pay him off to get into the site...
But...eventually, the door opened, and, for the meager sum of $5, I've been a pain in the ass since then....
posted by HuronBob at 8:28 PM on November 19, 2015
But...eventually, the door opened, and, for the meager sum of $5, I've been a pain in the ass since then....
posted by HuronBob at 8:28 PM on November 19, 2015
Best $5 I've ever spent. Thanks for this thread. Reminded me donate some more bucks to keep the best of the web going.
posted by hampanda at 10:03 PM on November 19, 2015
posted by hampanda at 10:03 PM on November 19, 2015
Does anyone read the posts down here?
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:39 AM on November 20, 2015
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:39 AM on November 20, 2015
Zippity BOP!
posted by languagehat at 7:55 AM on November 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by languagehat at 7:55 AM on November 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm just trying to buy a used car.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:37 AM on November 20, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:37 AM on November 20, 2015 [5 favorites]
I didn't join until December 9, 2004. Do I still count as a filthy 5-dollar noob if I was a few weeks late?
posted by matildaben at 10:49 AM on November 20, 2015
posted by matildaben at 10:49 AM on November 20, 2015
Wow...I didn't even realize that I was a $5 noob! Cool.
posted by JennyJupiter at 12:42 PM on November 20, 2015
posted by JennyJupiter at 12:42 PM on November 20, 2015
I'm rapidly approaching half of my life having been spent as a member here. That is freaky.
posted by lazaruslong at 1:16 PM on November 20, 2015
posted by lazaruslong at 1:16 PM on November 20, 2015
There must be parents who got their newborns memberships right away; one day those kids will grow up and start commenting, and they will have been members all their lives.
posted by languagehat at 2:29 PM on November 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by languagehat at 2:29 PM on November 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
Close, but it was gman who shouted me the membership.
posted by lil ubu at 2:42 PM on November 20, 2015
posted by lil ubu at 2:42 PM on November 20, 2015
Damn. When did we become olds?
posted by Dr. Zira at 5:48 PM on November 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr. Zira at 5:48 PM on November 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Goddamn noobs GET OFF MY LAWN!
maaatlooock!
posted by eriko at 6:09 PM on November 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
maaatlooock!
posted by eriko at 6:09 PM on November 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I thought I was one of you for years, but I had it pointed out to me recently that I must have snuck in during one of the open periods. I miss the img tags, but I did feel sorry for the bulls.
I try to restrain my contributions to subjects where I've got some experience or expertise (or to pointless drive-by lulz), but I lurked for years, so I have an odd relationship to the site that feels a bit like I imagine a regular soap viewer has with their stories after watching them their whole life.
Languagehat favourited one of my pointless drive-by comments a little while ago. Languagehat! Made my fucking day.
I've never mentioned this on the site, but the Loquacious Crisis happened when I was making far more money than I needed, and half-way through reading the thread, my brother (also an inveterate lurker here) and I were texting each other about the logistics of getting on a plane with a shitload of money. In my head I was basically going to say I was from Metafilter, and drop off whatever he needed. As it turned out, you'd all sorted it out before I even found the thread, but that was the first time that I realised how far this place had wormed itself into my life.
Metafilter is to me as Bolivia is to Pusha T, basically. A favourite from the Asker, or a best answer is gratifying beyond the sweet, sweet thrill of being right on the internet. Regardless of whether I know the poster, I feel a sense of being a useful cog in a machine that I respect, which is a pretty rare privilege.
posted by Kreiger at 7:46 PM on November 20, 2015 [7 favorites]
I try to restrain my contributions to subjects where I've got some experience or expertise (or to pointless drive-by lulz), but I lurked for years, so I have an odd relationship to the site that feels a bit like I imagine a regular soap viewer has with their stories after watching them their whole life.
Languagehat favourited one of my pointless drive-by comments a little while ago. Languagehat! Made my fucking day.
I've never mentioned this on the site, but the Loquacious Crisis happened when I was making far more money than I needed, and half-way through reading the thread, my brother (also an inveterate lurker here) and I were texting each other about the logistics of getting on a plane with a shitload of money. In my head I was basically going to say I was from Metafilter, and drop off whatever he needed. As it turned out, you'd all sorted it out before I even found the thread, but that was the first time that I realised how far this place had wormed itself into my life.
Metafilter is to me as Bolivia is to Pusha T, basically. A favourite from the Asker, or a best answer is gratifying beyond the sweet, sweet thrill of being right on the internet. Regardless of whether I know the poster, I feel a sense of being a useful cog in a machine that I respect, which is a pretty rare privilege.
posted by Kreiger at 7:46 PM on November 20, 2015 [7 favorites]
I had started lurking sometime in 2000. I wasn't generally interested in participating, just following the links and discussions. By the time I had decided I wanted to participate, signing up was impossible. So I waited. And as of today I've been here for 11 years! Yay!
Though I still don't participate all that much.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:00 PM on November 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Though I still don't participate all that much.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:00 PM on November 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yup.
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:04 PM on November 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:04 PM on November 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Does our existence contradict conventional wisdom about the ephemeral fleeting virtual world?
posted by infini at 2:49 AM on November 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by infini at 2:49 AM on November 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Eleven years. Well, here's to us, fellow old Noobs.
posted by thivaia at 6:02 AM on November 21, 2015
posted by thivaia at 6:02 AM on November 21, 2015
Tomorrow is my 11 year noobiversary. If someone wants to memail me a cake, that would be ok.
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:36 PM on November 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:36 PM on November 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I know that i probably dont post enough in general to be considered a 'metafilter personality', but I have always considered myself a MeFite when asked about my 'home' internet community. Totally worth the $5 I dropped on 11/29/04.
Thanks everyone!
-user20002
posted by softlord at 6:16 PM on November 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
Thanks everyone!
-user20002
posted by softlord at 6:16 PM on November 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
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posted by taz (staff) at 4:40 AM on November 18, 2015 [11 favorites]