Two new mods: welcome to travelingthyme and loup! June 1, 2020 10:54 AM Subscribe
Please give a hearty hello to our newly-hired members of the MetaFilter moderation team: travelingthyme and loup! I'll let them introduce themselves a bit below, but I wanted to let folks know that they'll both be working part-time as of now so you can expect to see their names around the site.
The hiring process we started in January took longer than expected but fortunately not for a lack of good candidates; we had a lot of good potential moderators express interest, and several very strong applicants from both within and outside the MetaFilter community. It wasn't easy to make final choices from our shortlist. I'd like to thank everyone who applied, and who helped get the word out, and especially those folks within the community who took the time to talk with me in detail about the position and the site as we moved through the later stages of the process.
In the end, travelingthyme and loup both stood out for us as especially good fits. Both are passionately aligned with the goals and priorities in our guidelines documentation, and both bring a genuine enthusiasm to making the MetaFilter community a more deliberately, thoughtfully inclusive and anti-oppressive space on the internet.
travelingthyme brings a skillset from in-person facilitation and a collection of personal and professional experiences that will be huge assets to their work here.
loup has a background in moderation as well as guidelines and safety work for online organizations, along with product/community development experience, and they've already thrown some good ideas at me for future MeFi work.
Both are also new to the MeFi community, which is new for us when hiring moderators! Much of what we'll be covering with them as orientation and training continues is the many idiosyncratic details of this community and its long history, so as you see them working please do your best to recognize all the odd unspoken bits of MeFi practice that may come into your expectations of moderation practice, and to be supportive and helpful as they acclimate. On the converse, I'm thrilled to have a couple of folks coming to the site and the team with fresh eyes so they can help us better recognize some of the things that we haven't been in the habit of articulating explicitly or that we can think through again from a new perspective.
I also want to make a note about the fact that we're able to hire two people right now: that wasn't expected! MeFi's finances remain more or less where they were in January (I'll provide a proper update soon), and we interviewed planning to hire one part-time moderator, not two; in fact, up to about a week ago that's still where we were at.
But an incredibly generous member of the MetaFilter community was able to provide funding for a second position, specifically with the goal of helping us better meet the goal of diversifying the moderation team. This funding will be used only for this new position, not as general funds. The MeFite providing the funding prefers not to be identified publicly, so I'll simply say thank you for the dozenth time for making this possible and for your commitment to helping MeFi grow for the better.
That's enough from me for now. I'll let the new folks introduce themselves below. I'm incredibly excited to have you on the team, travelingthyme and loup, and excited for folks on the site to get to know you. Welcome to the team, and welcome to the MetaFilter community.
The hiring process we started in January took longer than expected but fortunately not for a lack of good candidates; we had a lot of good potential moderators express interest, and several very strong applicants from both within and outside the MetaFilter community. It wasn't easy to make final choices from our shortlist. I'd like to thank everyone who applied, and who helped get the word out, and especially those folks within the community who took the time to talk with me in detail about the position and the site as we moved through the later stages of the process.
In the end, travelingthyme and loup both stood out for us as especially good fits. Both are passionately aligned with the goals and priorities in our guidelines documentation, and both bring a genuine enthusiasm to making the MetaFilter community a more deliberately, thoughtfully inclusive and anti-oppressive space on the internet.
travelingthyme brings a skillset from in-person facilitation and a collection of personal and professional experiences that will be huge assets to their work here.
loup has a background in moderation as well as guidelines and safety work for online organizations, along with product/community development experience, and they've already thrown some good ideas at me for future MeFi work.
Both are also new to the MeFi community, which is new for us when hiring moderators! Much of what we'll be covering with them as orientation and training continues is the many idiosyncratic details of this community and its long history, so as you see them working please do your best to recognize all the odd unspoken bits of MeFi practice that may come into your expectations of moderation practice, and to be supportive and helpful as they acclimate. On the converse, I'm thrilled to have a couple of folks coming to the site and the team with fresh eyes so they can help us better recognize some of the things that we haven't been in the habit of articulating explicitly or that we can think through again from a new perspective.
I also want to make a note about the fact that we're able to hire two people right now: that wasn't expected! MeFi's finances remain more or less where they were in January (I'll provide a proper update soon), and we interviewed planning to hire one part-time moderator, not two; in fact, up to about a week ago that's still where we were at.
But an incredibly generous member of the MetaFilter community was able to provide funding for a second position, specifically with the goal of helping us better meet the goal of diversifying the moderation team. This funding will be used only for this new position, not as general funds. The MeFite providing the funding prefers not to be identified publicly, so I'll simply say thank you for the dozenth time for making this possible and for your commitment to helping MeFi grow for the better.
That's enough from me for now. I'll let the new folks introduce themselves below. I'm incredibly excited to have you on the team, travelingthyme and loup, and excited for folks on the site to get to know you. Welcome to the team, and welcome to the MetaFilter community.
Hi everyone!
I’m loup and I’m one of the new mods! My pronouns are They/Them/Theirs. I’m originally from Costa Rica, so Spanish is my native language, but lived in Germany, Czech Republic, Vietnam, San Francisco and as a nomad while working as a freelancer. I also speak French, Portuguese, and Italian fluently and During my time traveling I learned some basic Mandarin, Polish, Czech, and German (enough to communicate and understand some of the nuances of the language).
You will generally see me online during US daytime hours. I have a degree in Performing Arts and recently finished Culinary School but have been working in the Tech industry for over a decade, mostly in Trust and Safety and Project/Product Management.
3 Fun Facts about Me
1. Writing, cooking, and travelling are my passions, they all let me connect with people in a positive and meaningful way.
2. I currently have 4 pets, two dogs and two cats.
3. Reading and learning new languages are my two favorite past times.
posted by loup (staff) at 11:07 AM on June 1, 2020 [307 favorites]
I’m loup and I’m one of the new mods! My pronouns are They/Them/Theirs. I’m originally from Costa Rica, so Spanish is my native language, but lived in Germany, Czech Republic, Vietnam, San Francisco and as a nomad while working as a freelancer. I also speak French, Portuguese, and Italian fluently and During my time traveling I learned some basic Mandarin, Polish, Czech, and German (enough to communicate and understand some of the nuances of the language).
You will generally see me online during US daytime hours. I have a degree in Performing Arts and recently finished Culinary School but have been working in the Tech industry for over a decade, mostly in Trust and Safety and Project/Product Management.
3 Fun Facts about Me
1. Writing, cooking, and travelling are my passions, they all let me connect with people in a positive and meaningful way.
2. I currently have 4 pets, two dogs and two cats.
3. Reading and learning new languages are my two favorite past times.
posted by loup (staff) at 11:07 AM on June 1, 2020 [307 favorites]
It's been delightful getting to know travelingthyme and loup over the last couple weeks, and I'm super-excited to have them on board! Wooooooooot!
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 11:07 AM on June 1, 2020 [23 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 11:07 AM on June 1, 2020 [23 favorites]
Mod note: Also, apologies for the thread throwing server errors for a few minutes there. We discovered a new bug by hiring new moderators! Every day is a journey.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:08 AM on June 1, 2020 [35 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:08 AM on June 1, 2020 [35 favorites]
Welcome! You both sound like fascinating individuals.
Also thanks to the anonymous MeFi for their donation.
posted by kathrynm at 11:17 AM on June 1, 2020 [14 favorites]
Also thanks to the anonymous MeFi for their donation.
posted by kathrynm at 11:17 AM on June 1, 2020 [14 favorites]
Hooray! Welcome and the very best of luck. This is a great place to work - often intense and demanding, always rewarding. I hope it suits you and you find that you suit it.
(Maybe I can get my retired tag now!)
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 11:17 AM on June 1, 2020 [44 favorites]
(Maybe I can get my retired tag now!)
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 11:17 AM on June 1, 2020 [44 favorites]
Welcome to both of you!
And thank you to Cortex and the other mods with what I'm sure was a long and difficult hiring process.
posted by bondcliff at 11:18 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
And thank you to Cortex and the other mods with what I'm sure was a long and difficult hiring process.
posted by bondcliff at 11:18 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome!
posted by not_the_water at 11:20 AM on June 1, 2020
posted by not_the_water at 11:20 AM on June 1, 2020
This is exciting news! Welcome!
Also, thank you, mysterious benefactor!
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:24 AM on June 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
Also, thank you, mysterious benefactor!
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:24 AM on June 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
Yaaay! Thank you to the mod team and the generous benefactor, and welcome, new mods!
posted by gingerbeer at 11:32 AM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by gingerbeer at 11:32 AM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Happy news indeed! Welcome, travelingthyme and loup! And thank you, anonymous MeFite!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 11:33 AM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 11:33 AM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
So great.
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 11:33 AM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 11:33 AM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
Welcome! And thank you to the anonymous benefactor.
posted by praemunire at 11:36 AM on June 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 11:36 AM on June 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
Welcome to the community!! And thank you so much, generous anonymous mefite!
posted by Sparky Buttons at 11:38 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 11:38 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Wow, it feels good to check in and get good news! Welcome aboard, travelingthyme and loup--I look forward to getting to know you both. You sound like amazing people, and great additions to the mod team and community!
posted by Kat Allison at 11:39 AM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Kat Allison at 11:39 AM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Welcome new mods!
posted by EndsOfInvention at 11:48 AM on June 1, 2020
posted by EndsOfInvention at 11:48 AM on June 1, 2020
Welcome!
posted by audi alteram partem at 11:51 AM on June 1, 2020
posted by audi alteram partem at 11:51 AM on June 1, 2020
Welcome, Thyme and Loup. As of the last comment, you should now have your "retired" tag, restless_nomad.
posted by frimble (staff) at 11:51 AM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by frimble (staff) at 11:51 AM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
This is great news. Welcome!
posted by warriorqueen at 11:54 AM on June 1, 2020
posted by warriorqueen at 11:54 AM on June 1, 2020
Welcome! Can we refer to one of both as holding an endowed chair?
posted by kevinbelt at 11:57 AM on June 1, 2020
posted by kevinbelt at 11:57 AM on June 1, 2020
Welcome to new mods! Congrats.
Also thanks many times over to the donor in question. That's amazing.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:58 AM on June 1, 2020
Also thanks many times over to the donor in question. That's amazing.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:58 AM on June 1, 2020
Greetings! Nice to meet you.
And thanks to the anonymous donor.
posted by Lexica at 12:00 PM on June 1, 2020
And thanks to the anonymous donor.
posted by Lexica at 12:00 PM on June 1, 2020
I just want to say that we are beyond thrilled and so deeply grateful to have travelingthyme and loup with us. It is by moments hilarious, challenging, sobering, sentimental and a little mindbending to go through bits and bobs of Mefi history as we fill them in on site stuff, and of course, the unanticipated bug that initially gave us a page error for this post as we were all gathered around on pins and needles waiting for it to go live now goes down in that lore! But more than anything, we are just so excited to have the benefit of their thoughts, ideas and fresh perspective. Happy dancing over here.
posted by taz (staff) at 12:03 PM on June 1, 2020 [16 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 12:03 PM on June 1, 2020 [16 favorites]
Welcome! That all sounds so great!
(also, got any pet pics?)
posted by Glinn at 12:11 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
(also, got any pet pics?)
posted by Glinn at 12:11 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
Welcome! Happy to have you both here.
posted by sunset in snow country at 12:19 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by sunset in snow country at 12:19 PM on June 1, 2020
👋🥳
posted by Foci for Analysis at 12:22 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Foci for Analysis at 12:22 PM on June 1, 2020
Did anyone say pet pics? 🐶🐶😸😸
Here :)
posted by loup (staff) at 12:22 PM on June 1, 2020 [77 favorites]
Here :)
posted by loup (staff) at 12:22 PM on June 1, 2020 [77 favorites]
Logged in for the first time in a long while to say: Welcome, new mods, and good luck! We're all counting on you.
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:23 PM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:23 PM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
Good to have you both here!
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:32 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:32 PM on June 1, 2020
Look at those adorable pets!
posted by ellieBOA at 12:36 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ellieBOA at 12:36 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Huzzah and welcome, we’re so glad to have you!
posted by skycrashesdown at 12:39 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by skycrashesdown at 12:39 PM on June 1, 2020
What taz said. Welcome, welcome! Beyond excited to have you both on the team. And very grateful to anonymous benefactor for giving us the chance to bring in both of you.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:44 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:44 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
loup: Did anyone say pet pics? 🐶🐶😸😸
Welcome! We generally refer to this as the Cat Tax (or Dog Tax). So long as you keep MeFites paying that tax, you'll do fine. 👍🏻
(Those dog and cat emojis are italicized. What a world.)
posted by tzikeh at 1:04 PM on June 1, 2020 [11 favorites]
Welcome! We generally refer to this as the Cat Tax (or Dog Tax). So long as you keep MeFites paying that tax, you'll do fine. 👍🏻
(Those dog and cat emojis are italicized. What a world.)
posted by tzikeh at 1:04 PM on June 1, 2020 [11 favorites]
Heh, we had a whole behind-the-scenes discussion on team slack this morning about the concept of Pet Tax.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:05 PM on June 1, 2020 [15 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:05 PM on June 1, 2020 [15 favorites]
What wonderful news- I hope you both enjoy this wacky place!
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 1:08 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 1:08 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome, new mods! I hope you find your work here rewarding.
And thank you, anonymous MeFi benefactor!
posted by droplet at 1:14 PM on June 1, 2020
And thank you, anonymous MeFi benefactor!
posted by droplet at 1:14 PM on June 1, 2020
This is the best news I've heard in a while.
A hearty and warm "welcome" to travelingthyme and loup!
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 1:21 PM on June 1, 2020
A hearty and warm "welcome" to travelingthyme and loup!
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 1:21 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome! And a big THANKS to our anonymous benefactor for funding one of these positions.
posted by Frayed Knot at 1:28 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Frayed Knot at 1:28 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
got tears reading your bio posts, new mods. welcome welcome welcome welcome.
posted by lazaruslong at 1:38 PM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 1:38 PM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
Hi, I'm weird.
posted by zengargoyle at 1:39 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by zengargoyle at 1:39 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome! I'm glad you're both here, as I'm sure are all mefites.
posted by ferret branca at 1:42 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ferret branca at 1:42 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Welcome, both of you!
loup: Did anyone say pet pics? 🐶🐶😸😸
Equal representation for dogs and cats is a good sign, even though everybody knows which are superior.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 1:44 PM on June 1, 2020 [14 favorites]
loup: Did anyone say pet pics? 🐶🐶😸😸
Equal representation for dogs and cats is a good sign, even though everybody knows which are superior.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 1:44 PM on June 1, 2020 [14 favorites]
Welcome to you both. I wish you both well on this new adventure. You'll see me posting about video games 🎮 and often. 😁 Cheers. 🥂
posted by Fizz at 1:49 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Fizz at 1:49 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
🎼🎶 We're sure you're jolly good people
we're sure you're jolly good people
we're sure you're jolly good peeeeeooopleeee...
And so say all of us. 🎵 🎶
Welcome, new mods!
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:50 PM on June 1, 2020 [9 favorites]
we're sure you're jolly good people
we're sure you're jolly good peeeeeooopleeee...
And so say all of us. 🎵 🎶
Welcome, new mods!
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:50 PM on June 1, 2020 [9 favorites]
And Thank You to the generous anonymous individual who donated so that we could have not just one but TWO mods. You rock, whomever you are. 🧡
posted by Fizz at 1:51 PM on June 1, 2020 [11 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 1:51 PM on June 1, 2020 [11 favorites]
Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here! And thanks, anonymous benefactor! <3
posted by Secretariat at 2:01 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Secretariat at 2:01 PM on June 1, 2020
Well, this is great, welcome! I look forward to having my comments deleted by you. Don't take any shit from me.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 2:01 PM on June 1, 2020 [21 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 2:01 PM on June 1, 2020 [21 favorites]
Hell of a time to be stepping into the fray but we're happy to have you!
And I had no idea you could italicize emoji. This feels like it has a lot of potential.
posted by HotToddy at 2:10 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
And I had no idea you could italicize emoji. This feels like it has a lot of potential.
posted by HotToddy at 2:10 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Welcome, new mods, I wish you every success.
There's a long and inglorious history of Mefites not treating new mods very well; I hope that people will err on the side of kindness if they are frustrated about something.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:10 PM on June 1, 2020 [7 favorites]
There's a long and inglorious history of Mefites not treating new mods very well; I hope that people will err on the side of kindness if they are frustrated about something.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:10 PM on June 1, 2020 [7 favorites]
Ah we all need some happy news nowadays. This works!
posted by biggreenplant at 2:12 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by biggreenplant at 2:12 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome! I’m super excited about you being here. And obviously I’m not the only one.
Thanks, oh fabulous and anonymous benefactor!
Welcome back, RedOrGreen. Feel free to drop by and comment more often!
posted by Bella Donna at 2:16 PM on June 1, 2020
Thanks, oh fabulous and anonymous benefactor!
Welcome back, RedOrGreen. Feel free to drop by and comment more often!
posted by Bella Donna at 2:16 PM on June 1, 2020
I, for one, welcome our new moderator overlords!
The decision to have both selections be users completely new to the community strikes me as a sound one. Community norms and traditions are important, as is knowing the user base, but those things can be learned. Meanwhile, many of the problems that necessitated hires seemed to be a result of erring too far on the side of protecting existing ways of doing things at the expense of voices for whom those existing ways weren't working. I love MeFi precisely because it's quirky and dated, but an outside perspective is definitely need here, and I'm very happy that we're getting not one, but two!
Thank you, travelingthyme and loup, for taking on this challenge!
posted by tonycpsu at 2:25 PM on June 1, 2020 [49 favorites]
The decision to have both selections be users completely new to the community strikes me as a sound one. Community norms and traditions are important, as is knowing the user base, but those things can be learned. Meanwhile, many of the problems that necessitated hires seemed to be a result of erring too far on the side of protecting existing ways of doing things at the expense of voices for whom those existing ways weren't working. I love MeFi precisely because it's quirky and dated, but an outside perspective is definitely need here, and I'm very happy that we're getting not one, but two!
Thank you, travelingthyme and loup, for taking on this challenge!
posted by tonycpsu at 2:25 PM on June 1, 2020 [49 favorites]
Welcome! I hope ths turns out to be a long and happy relationship for all of us!
posted by briank at 2:25 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by briank at 2:25 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome! Fabulous news!
posted by blacktshirtandjeans at 2:52 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by blacktshirtandjeans at 2:52 PM on June 1, 2020
Fantastic news and a hearty welcome to you both. Our Venn diagrams of interests heavily overlap, so I am thrilled to bits!
posted by ikahime at 2:56 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by ikahime at 2:56 PM on June 1, 2020
Whoohoo! Welcome!
posted by Navelgazer at 3:24 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Navelgazer at 3:24 PM on June 1, 2020
Congratulations and welcome, this is great news to read.
posted by Dip Flash at 3:42 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Dip Flash at 3:42 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome! Great news for the site
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 3:44 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 3:44 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome, welcome!
posted by kimberussell at 3:51 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by kimberussell at 3:51 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome. You both sound like delightful people and I'm so happy to see a positive outcome to this process.
posted by Alensin at 3:58 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Alensin at 3:58 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome!
posted by RearWindow at 4:06 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by RearWindow at 4:06 PM on June 1, 2020
Oh very cool!
(I think the FAQ needs updating — I went to see who else was working now and it seems to be out of date.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:07 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
(I think the FAQ needs updating — I went to see who else was working now and it seems to be out of date.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:07 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Good call, I've updated that with a link to this thread.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 4:13 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 4:13 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome!
posted by pemberkins at 4:13 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by pemberkins at 4:13 PM on June 1, 2020
Immediate reaction: Oh my god, moderators of color. Queer, too? Thank god.
Second reaction: What intriguing, thoughtful people. Thank god.
I've been inactive for a while now, but I will now make it a point to check back in. Thank you for adding more diverse voices to the choir.
posted by houseofdanie at 4:21 PM on June 1, 2020 [12 favorites]
Second reaction: What intriguing, thoughtful people. Thank god.
I've been inactive for a while now, but I will now make it a point to check back in. Thank you for adding more diverse voices to the choir.
posted by houseofdanie at 4:21 PM on June 1, 2020 [12 favorites]
Welcome.
Diversity! Well done Cortex. Thank you for listening.
And immense thanks to whoever you are for making part of this possible.
posted by adamvasco at 4:28 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Diversity! Well done Cortex. Thank you for listening.
And immense thanks to whoever you are for making part of this possible.
posted by adamvasco at 4:28 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome and virtual hugs to travelingthyme and loup. You've joined a rare and special place in the Interwebz and I'm really glad that you're going to be supporting and growing it.
Good job, Cortex and my heartfelt gratitude to your mystery benefactor, too.
Lastly, if y'all need a proper dose of cute while the world rages around us, loup's pet pic collage (linked near the top) is just what the doctor ordered.
posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 4:43 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Good job, Cortex and my heartfelt gratitude to your mystery benefactor, too.
Lastly, if y'all need a proper dose of cute while the world rages around us, loup's pet pic collage (linked near the top) is just what the doctor ordered.
posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 4:43 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yay! Welcome to you both!!!
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 4:44 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 4:44 PM on June 1, 2020
How fantastic, I'm so happy to welcome you both to this community - I'm sure you have so much off er us. And a HUGE thank you to that anonymous mefite.
posted by smoke at 4:54 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by smoke at 4:54 PM on June 1, 2020
Y’all seem really cool - welcome!
posted by oceanjesse at 5:10 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by oceanjesse at 5:10 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome, both of you! This is really fabulous news - so thanks to the other mods for hiring smart, and thanks (again) to the Generous Donor for their part in this.
Also, Generous Donor would be a great sock-puppet name.
posted by dbmcd at 5:27 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Also, Generous Donor would be a great sock-puppet name.
posted by dbmcd at 5:27 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
My gratitude to our whole mod team, old and new, to the people who ran MetaFilter's hiring process and advised it, to all the applicants for ensuring that MetaFilter had several good candidates to choose from, and to the anonymous funder.
Welcome, travelingthyme and loup! I hope you both find this to be a congenial environment, a good workplace, and a source of new insights and laughs.
Nick Bergson-Shilcock articulated a definition of community last year that I refer back to frequently:
posted by brainwane at 5:33 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome, travelingthyme and loup! I hope you both find this to be a congenial environment, a good workplace, and a source of new insights and laughs.
Nick Bergson-Shilcock articulated a definition of community last year that I refer back to frequently:
Having a genuine community requires that people know the other people around them, and that everyone shares some fundamental values and purpose.I look forward to getting to know you both, and to you getting to know everyone else here. And I look forward to you both articulating your perspectives on our shared values and purpose, and to the help you'll provide in helping all of MetaFilter get even better at living up to those shared values and purpose.
posted by brainwane at 5:33 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome welcome welcome, Thyme and loup!
Thyme, I really like your TEA acronym.
loup, as a language enthusiast, I am impressed by your language skills.
So happy to have both of you here among us!
posted by kristi at 5:39 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
Thyme, I really like your TEA acronym.
loup, as a language enthusiast, I am impressed by your language skills.
So happy to have both of you here among us!
posted by kristi at 5:39 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
Welcome, loup and Thyme!
And thanks to the anonymous benefactor... this is so wonderful.
posted by theatro at 5:52 PM on June 1, 2020
And thanks to the anonymous benefactor... this is so wonderful.
posted by theatro at 5:52 PM on June 1, 2020
Wonderful news--probably the best in weeks--and let me join everyone in welcoming loup and Thyme... and huzzah to the mystery philanthropist!
posted by carmicha at 6:03 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by carmicha at 6:03 PM on June 1, 2020
Hi, I’m one of the crusty oldies who is just dropping in from my redoubt in The People’s Republic of Austin to welcome this wonderfully positive change. Glad y’all are here!
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:13 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:13 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
Welcome!
posted by SillyShepherd at 6:28 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by SillyShepherd at 6:28 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome! Watch out for the user loquacious. They're all kinds of trouble!
posted by loquacious at 6:29 PM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by loquacious at 6:29 PM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
Yay! Welcome travelingthyme and loup! Thank you, Anonymous Benefactor!
posted by fedward at 6:31 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by fedward at 6:31 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome home loup and travelingthyme!
posted by a humble nudibranch at 6:42 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 6:42 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome aboard!
posted by aspersioncast at 6:46 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by aspersioncast at 6:46 PM on June 1, 2020
Good luck, we're in the crazy season so you're probably gonna need it!
posted by Justinian at 7:04 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Justinian at 7:04 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome!
posted by (Over) Thinking at 7:04 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by (Over) Thinking at 7:04 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome to the team, y'all.
posted by soundguy99 at 7:32 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by soundguy99 at 7:32 PM on June 1, 2020
In case travelingthyme's name is more than a pun, and they like me are a lover of that most wonderful of herbs- my potted french thyme is flowering clearly a good omen.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 7:52 PM on June 1, 2020 [13 favorites]
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 7:52 PM on June 1, 2020 [13 favorites]
Thank you cortex and all the mods for all your work always, and in particular for successfully completing a hiring process at this time. And welcome, new mods travelingthyme and loup! I am glad you are here.
posted by Songdog at 8:22 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Songdog at 8:22 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome, travelingthyme and loup; you've arrived just in time.
posted by some loser at 8:33 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by some loser at 8:33 PM on June 1, 2020
I hope that these two people help to bring site culture more in line with our aspirations and ideals. Good luck to both of you, it is excellent news. Welcome travellingthyme and loup!
posted by Meatbomb at 9:22 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 9:22 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
Did anyone say pet pics? 🐶🐶😸😸
Here :)
These are unlawfully adorable.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 9:25 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Here :)
These are unlawfully adorable.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 9:25 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Also yes welcome new mods or whatever, post more doggo and kitteh pics pls
posted by Pyrogenesis at 9:27 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Pyrogenesis at 9:27 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Welcome! Do you need a hug?
posted by notquitemaryann at 9:55 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by notquitemaryann at 9:55 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome loup and travellingthyme! This is wonderful news. (We were all once people who knew nothing of this place and had to learn the wayzzzz. I'm still learning and erring.) Looking forward to your insights, energies and pet taxes in to the future. You're going to rock us and rock this gig. Yay!!!!
posted by taff at 9:56 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by taff at 9:56 PM on June 1, 2020
Welcome. Just in time. I'd love to say things will get better, but, hey, it's 2020.
posted by OHenryPacey at 10:01 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by OHenryPacey at 10:01 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome to both of you - looking forward to seeing you around!
posted by nubs at 11:02 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by nubs at 11:02 PM on June 1, 2020
So happy you are here!! You both sound so enlightened, thoughtful and interesting. But as I am a frivolous soul am particularly thrilled by your affinities for food and pets. Welcome, welcome!
posted by bearwife at 11:41 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 11:41 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
Hello!
posted by vegartanipla at 12:46 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by vegartanipla at 12:46 AM on June 2, 2020
You both sound like amazing human beings and we are lucky to have you join the community!
posted by erratic meatsack at 1:14 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by erratic meatsack at 1:14 AM on June 2, 2020
Wow, welcome!!!
Coincidentally I was reading some of my old comments today, and realized that nearly a year ago I wrote:
Here's a bet. We will be at this exact place in a year, on June 22nd, 2020, emptily talking about "how we need to talk about race" and "let's listen to our POC mefites" and "maybe we should have a non-white mod??" without any real change happening from white mods or white members. I dearly hope I am wrong. Let this comment stand in time to prove me wrong in the future.
posted by suedehead at 5:18 PM on June 22, 2019
And then I come to MeTa and THEN realized such nice news! I am so happy to have been wrong.
Welcome, travelingthyme and loup!!! I’m so looking forward to your wisdom and presence here. And thank you to everyone else on the mod team, especially Cortex, for taking everyone’s concerns about race seriously and making active changes in this regard.
posted by suedehead at 1:16 AM on June 2, 2020 [37 favorites]
Coincidentally I was reading some of my old comments today, and realized that nearly a year ago I wrote:
Here's a bet. We will be at this exact place in a year, on June 22nd, 2020, emptily talking about "how we need to talk about race" and "let's listen to our POC mefites" and "maybe we should have a non-white mod??" without any real change happening from white mods or white members. I dearly hope I am wrong. Let this comment stand in time to prove me wrong in the future.
posted by suedehead at 5:18 PM on June 22, 2019
And then I come to MeTa and THEN realized such nice news! I am so happy to have been wrong.
Welcome, travelingthyme and loup!!! I’m so looking forward to your wisdom and presence here. And thank you to everyone else on the mod team, especially Cortex, for taking everyone’s concerns about race seriously and making active changes in this regard.
posted by suedehead at 1:16 AM on June 2, 2020 [37 favorites]
Welcome, travelingthyme and loup. I'm grateful to you, and all the other mods, for keeping Metafilter a safe and interesting place for me these past 19 years.
posted by essexjan at 3:27 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by essexjan at 3:27 AM on June 2, 2020
Wow, this is awesome! So glad you're both here! Welcome!
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:44 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:44 AM on June 2, 2020
Welcome to both of you! Taking a crash course on the "odd unspoken bits of MeFi" practice is something I would pay to see.;)
(Cortex flips open an ancient tome. Sighs, and then: "Pancakes. In the early days, pancakes were a problem".)
posted by jeremias at 3:48 AM on June 2, 2020 [6 favorites]
(Cortex flips open an ancient tome. Sighs, and then: "Pancakes. In the early days, pancakes were a problem".)
posted by jeremias at 3:48 AM on June 2, 2020 [6 favorites]
I felt like this was a significant enough change that I reactivated my account and restarted my funding support because of it.
Thank you for listening to the community and taking concrete action. It matters.
Welcome to loup and travelingthyme!
posted by scrump at 4:43 AM on June 2, 2020 [13 favorites]
Thank you for listening to the community and taking concrete action. It matters.
Welcome to loup and travelingthyme!
posted by scrump at 4:43 AM on June 2, 2020 [13 favorites]
Welcome travelingthyme and loup! So excited to have you join us.
posted by bettafish at 4:53 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by bettafish at 4:53 AM on June 2, 2020
Thanks AnonyMeFite! Welcome new mods. I hope this helps change the tone and character of the site.
posted by bluefly at 4:56 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by bluefly at 4:56 AM on June 2, 2020
Welcome new mods! I especially liked the bit about taking off your shoes inside the house.
Now, where do you stand on the Great Toilet Paper Debate? Over or under?
posted by Omnomnom at 5:02 AM on June 2, 2020
Now, where do you stand on the Great Toilet Paper Debate? Over or under?
posted by Omnomnom at 5:02 AM on June 2, 2020
Welcome, new moderators!
(And I think that having an anonymous benefactor lends an a certain mysterious atmosphere to the place!)
posted by Harald74 at 5:14 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
(And I think that having an anonymous benefactor lends an a certain mysterious atmosphere to the place!)
posted by Harald74 at 5:14 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'm so glad that you both are here that I am going to use emojis! 🎉🎈 💓🤸🍾👏👏👏
posted by virago at 5:15 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by virago at 5:15 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Wow! Welcome to you both!
posted by vacapinta at 5:38 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by vacapinta at 5:38 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome! I'm super excited to hear this news, and I'm super excited to get to know both of you!
Thank you to the anonymous benefactor for making the second mod possible!
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:52 AM on June 2, 2020
Thank you to the anonymous benefactor for making the second mod possible!
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:52 AM on June 2, 2020
Welcome to the both of you, and thank you to the benefactor. Thank you to staff for hearing the desires of the community for more diversity.
posted by Karaage at 7:24 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Karaage at 7:24 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Welcome aboard! Hope you love it here.
posted by widdershins at 8:12 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by widdershins at 8:12 AM on June 2, 2020
Yay, welcome travelingthyme and loup! And thanks to generous anonymous person for making two new mods possible. It's good news today to see that a community can recognize its problems and take steps to change, and then actually enact that change, and embrace new outlooks.
posted by winesong at 8:12 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by winesong at 8:12 AM on June 2, 2020
Great news! You both feel like the perfect fit for Metafilter.
posted by missmobtown at 8:33 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by missmobtown at 8:33 AM on June 2, 2020
It is so wonderful, and necessary, to have new, diverse voices on the mod team! Welcome! And thank you to the anonymous benefactor.
posted by cooker girl at 8:36 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by cooker girl at 8:36 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Welcome travelingthyme and loup! Thank you anonymous benefactor!
posted by filthy light thief at 8:44 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by filthy light thief at 8:44 AM on June 2, 2020
Welcome, loup and travelingthyme! Thank you Cortex and our generous Anonyfactor for making this happen. (Anonyfactor? Benenon? Anonyben?)
posted by penguin pie at 8:48 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by penguin pie at 8:48 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Welcome travelingthyme and loup. Thank you cortex, for finally making good on those longstanding promises to diversify hiring. And thank you so much to the anonymous MeFi donor as well.
This stuff (hiring more than one BIPOC mod, asking for donations to go specifically towards hiring a BIPOC mod) has been suggested and requested many times over the years, and I'm glad that the admin has listened, reconsidered, and become more open to these ideas in the process.
In this sense, thank you so much too, to all those members of the Metafilter community that spoke up, educated, allied, supported, lent their voices, time and energy to collectively get us to this place. All those Metatalk threads. The collective, organized posting on the main Metafilter page. The flagging (and subsequent explanations/dialogues), the private appeals, the organizing, the long discussions here and elsewhere, the MeMails, the boycotts (withdrawal of donations, protest-buttoning), the generous sharing of resources, experience and expertise. The emotional labor, in all of this. And when the job posting went up - the sharing and publicizing of the job posting to wider networks and social circles.
Thank you to MeFites (past and present) who helped our community get to this point.
It's been many years, and I am grateful something has been done, finally.
This shouldn't be seen as a resolution to the longstanding diversity-related issues within our community, but more of a beginning. A better starting point.
Metafilter continues to have many issues (one of the reasons why I've avoided and minimized my participation at this place for months - especially since January when the pandemic hit, and discourse on the pandemic felt extremely skewed and othering). But this announcement and this hiring gives me hope.
travelingthyme and loup, I'm so glad you've joined us. cortex, thank you for listening and acting on that listening, even when it was tough for you. Thank you, anonymous benefactor for helping to make possible what we could scarcely hope for a year ago.
Thank you, all MeFites who in one way or another helped make this happen.
posted by aielen at 9:28 AM on June 2, 2020 [30 favorites]
This stuff (hiring more than one BIPOC mod, asking for donations to go specifically towards hiring a BIPOC mod) has been suggested and requested many times over the years, and I'm glad that the admin has listened, reconsidered, and become more open to these ideas in the process.
In this sense, thank you so much too, to all those members of the Metafilter community that spoke up, educated, allied, supported, lent their voices, time and energy to collectively get us to this place. All those Metatalk threads. The collective, organized posting on the main Metafilter page. The flagging (and subsequent explanations/dialogues), the private appeals, the organizing, the long discussions here and elsewhere, the MeMails, the boycotts (withdrawal of donations, protest-buttoning), the generous sharing of resources, experience and expertise. The emotional labor, in all of this. And when the job posting went up - the sharing and publicizing of the job posting to wider networks and social circles.
Thank you to MeFites (past and present) who helped our community get to this point.
It's been many years, and I am grateful something has been done, finally.
This shouldn't be seen as a resolution to the longstanding diversity-related issues within our community, but more of a beginning. A better starting point.
Metafilter continues to have many issues (one of the reasons why I've avoided and minimized my participation at this place for months - especially since January when the pandemic hit, and discourse on the pandemic felt extremely skewed and othering). But this announcement and this hiring gives me hope.
travelingthyme and loup, I'm so glad you've joined us. cortex, thank you for listening and acting on that listening, even when it was tough for you. Thank you, anonymous benefactor for helping to make possible what we could scarcely hope for a year ago.
Thank you, all MeFites who in one way or another helped make this happen.
posted by aielen at 9:28 AM on June 2, 2020 [30 favorites]
Yes, everything aielen said as well.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:31 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by Bella Donna at 9:31 AM on June 2, 2020
This sounds very awesome in many ways. Thank you to the new mods, the anonymous donator, and the existing mods.
posted by lucidium at 9:45 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by lucidium at 9:45 AM on June 2, 2020
Oh and watch out for loquacious, he's a wrong'un.
posted by lucidium at 9:53 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by lucidium at 9:53 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
Echoing everything aielen said, too. I am grateful to finally see BIPOC among the mods, and I hope this is the start of a cultural shift of mefi towards becoming a more thoughtfully inclusive and safe place. I can say that this hiring decision helps me feel more motivated to participate on the site.
posted by mayurasana at 10:00 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by mayurasana at 10:00 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome to the both of you! travelingthyme, those neighborhood cats don't deserve you anyways.
posted by whir at 10:16 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by whir at 10:16 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Delighted with the hires! The community will benefit from outsider perspective, and I'm glad that the outsider perspective being added is so globally diverse! (So many languages and non-USA-centric lived cultural experiences!).
I am particularly tickled that other members, members who had expressed that they had lost faith in the site, are feeling so affirmed by these hires.
I can't imagine better additions to the team. Welcome!
posted by wires at 11:28 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
I am particularly tickled that other members, members who had expressed that they had lost faith in the site, are feeling so affirmed by these hires.
I can't imagine better additions to the team. Welcome!
posted by wires at 11:28 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
I’m so excited to say welcome to you both, travelingthyme and loup! I hope this moderating job gives you two more than it takes. You both sound wonderful and we’re lucky to have your experience and voices here!
And for the other mods, especially cortex, I hope having two more folks helps relieve what I know has been increasing stress and pressure. It’s long overdue and I’m very grateful to see progress being made in diversifying the moderator team.
It’s so nice to see good news!
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 11:44 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
And for the other mods, especially cortex, I hope having two more folks helps relieve what I know has been increasing stress and pressure. It’s long overdue and I’m very grateful to see progress being made in diversifying the moderator team.
It’s so nice to see good news!
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 11:44 AM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
The thyme has come to drop a rime
To welcome loup and travelingthyme
And thank anonymøøse benefactors.
Beware of cabals
(That exist not at all)
Of pancakes and mushrooms
Of habits in washrooms
Of trollers and spammers
Of rusty banhammers
And especially of bredly
And plumly malefactors.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:57 AM on June 2, 2020 [15 favorites]
To welcome loup and travelingthyme
And thank anonymøøse benefactors.
Beware of cabals
(That exist not at all)
Of pancakes and mushrooms
Of habits in washrooms
Of trollers and spammers
Of rusty banhammers
And especially of bredly
And plumly malefactors.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:57 AM on June 2, 2020 [15 favorites]
In this sense, thank you so much too, to all those members of the Metafilter community that spoke up, educated, allied, supported, lent their voices, time and energy to collectively get us to this place. All those Metatalk threads. The collective, organized posting on the main Metafilter page. The flagging (and subsequent explanations/dialogues), the private appeals, the organizing, the long discussions here and elsewhere, the MeMails, the boycotts (withdrawal of donations, protest-buttoning), the generous sharing of resources, experience and expertise. The emotional labor, in all of this. And when the job posting went up - the sharing and publicizing of the job posting to wider networks and social circles.
Thank you to MeFites (past and present) who helped our community get to this point.
Yes, I want to quote this because it's worthwhile reading again and again. Thanks aielen. There were so many efforts from the community that were really crucial and I am so grateful to everyone for this.
posted by suedehead at 12:34 PM on June 2, 2020 [7 favorites]
Thank you to MeFites (past and present) who helped our community get to this point.
Yes, I want to quote this because it's worthwhile reading again and again. Thanks aielen. There were so many efforts from the community that were really crucial and I am so grateful to everyone for this.
posted by suedehead at 12:34 PM on June 2, 2020 [7 favorites]
Yay, new mods! Welcome.
posted by octothorpe at 12:36 PM on June 2, 2020
posted by octothorpe at 12:36 PM on June 2, 2020
A spot of good news in the middle of all of the other things happening.
Welcome!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:38 PM on June 2, 2020
Welcome!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:38 PM on June 2, 2020
Welcome!
posted by dinty_moore at 1:38 PM on June 2, 2020
posted by dinty_moore at 1:38 PM on June 2, 2020
Welcome, travelingthyme and loup!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:46 PM on June 2, 2020
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:46 PM on June 2, 2020
And especially of bredly
And plumly malefactors.
had to look up bredly, flo.
welcome members, welcome mods.
posted by clavdivs at 1:56 PM on June 2, 2020
Welcome! I am really looking forward to having virtual tea with you both!
posted by Mouse Army at 2:47 PM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Mouse Army at 2:47 PM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Welcome and good wishes to the new mods!
posted by CarrotAdventure at 3:14 PM on June 2, 2020
posted by CarrotAdventure at 3:14 PM on June 2, 2020
Welcome!
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:37 PM on June 2, 2020
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:37 PM on June 2, 2020
Welcome travelingthyme! :) Pura Vida loup, a lo menos ya dos ticos en MF! :)
posted by riverlife at 7:04 PM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by riverlife at 7:04 PM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
Late to the party, as usual, but welcome to our new mod overlords!
posted by Alterscape at 7:26 PM on June 2, 2020
posted by Alterscape at 7:26 PM on June 2, 2020
Welcome and good luck!
posted by Recliner of Rage at 7:39 PM on June 2, 2020
posted by Recliner of Rage at 7:39 PM on June 2, 2020
Queer food and language people! My people!
(what modifies what was left intentionally vague)
posted by desuetude at 7:58 PM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
(what modifies what was left intentionally vague)
posted by desuetude at 7:58 PM on June 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
Welcome! I am thrilled with your appointments.
posted by daybeforetheday at 11:46 PM on June 2, 2020
posted by daybeforetheday at 11:46 PM on June 2, 2020
Bring it!!!!
(I think I have that right...)
Welcome!
(That feels a touch odd as well)
Thanks in advance for all your hard work.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:36 AM on June 3, 2020
(I think I have that right...)
Welcome!
(That feels a touch odd as well)
Thanks in advance for all your hard work.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:36 AM on June 3, 2020
Hello and welcome, travelingthyme and loup, and thank you, anon benefactor mefite!
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 12:57 AM on June 3, 2020
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 12:57 AM on June 3, 2020
Lovely to meet you, travelingthyme and loup.
I'm really looking forward to meeting you, and it seems like a lot of the changes you'll bring are ones I've been waiting for.
posted by ambrosen at 5:58 AM on June 3, 2020
I'm really looking forward to meeting you, and it seems like a lot of the changes you'll bring are ones I've been waiting for.
posted by ambrosen at 5:58 AM on June 3, 2020
allo allo!
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:35 AM on June 3, 2020
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:35 AM on June 3, 2020
Hello and all best wishes to you -- I can't imagine a finer more fabulous place to moderate and spread the vibes than Metafilter and AMF. Good luck!
posted by zenpop at 3:28 PM on June 3, 2020
posted by zenpop at 3:28 PM on June 3, 2020
What wonderful news. A big hello and welcome to the new mods and great work everybody on Team Metafilter (both professional and the commentariat) who made it all happen!
posted by Sparx at 4:39 PM on June 3, 2020
posted by Sparx at 4:39 PM on June 3, 2020
Welcome!
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 9:25 AM on June 4, 2020
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 9:25 AM on June 4, 2020
Welcome to both of you, I am so glad you two folx have joined the community!
During my time traveling
This is the first time to my knowledge that we have had a mod able to time travel, but I'm really excited to see what this brings to the community. loup, if you ever come into a thread and tell me I am wrong about something, I will assume that this has been proved definitively so at some point in the future and therefore defer entirely.
posted by greenish at 9:30 AM on June 4, 2020 [19 favorites]
During my time traveling
This is the first time to my knowledge that we have had a mod able to time travel, but I'm really excited to see what this brings to the community. loup, if you ever come into a thread and tell me I am wrong about something, I will assume that this has been proved definitively so at some point in the future and therefore defer entirely.
posted by greenish at 9:30 AM on June 4, 2020 [19 favorites]
Hi again! I've been silently reading every single comment over the past days while learning (and time traveling) and I couldn't be more inspired by all the positive thoughts.
Thank you all for the warm welcome. 💖 You may expect more pets/food pics from me in the future...
posted by loup (staff) at 11:18 AM on June 4, 2020 [13 favorites]
Thank you all for the warm welcome. 💖 You may expect more pets/food pics from me in the future...
posted by loup (staff) at 11:18 AM on June 4, 2020 [13 favorites]
Welcome! It's really, really nice to have such good news right now.
And thank you to the anonymous benefactor!
posted by mixedmetaphors at 3:36 PM on June 4, 2020
And thank you to the anonymous benefactor!
posted by mixedmetaphors at 3:36 PM on June 4, 2020
Whoops! Late to the party! (Actually pretty on brand for me.) Welcome new mods! I’m pretty quiet, and lurked for years before joining. But I’m very clear on one thing: listening here has helped make me a better human. Thank you for taking on the roles that you have. I’ve got a lot of growing left to do. I’m glad to hear you. (Also, the Mail marmosets are wondering if you’ll be participating in a particular holiday.)
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 4:42 PM on June 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 4:42 PM on June 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'm grateful to the anonymous donor who funded a PoC mod (two PoC mods?) and glad that the MeFi leadership reconsidered their long-standing hesitation to accept such funding.
I'm also eager to know what steps the mods have taken to avoid tokenisation.
I didn't get a great response last time I asked about the mods' anti-racism training, but this announcement gives me hope that there will be a more substantive update this time.
So I'll repeat the MeTa the mods declined to post last time:
The mods have promised to receive anti-racism training. I am curious to know if anything has come of this promise. I would ideally like to hear a status report and a commitment to public status reports at fixed intervals.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 5:28 AM on June 5, 2020 [29 favorites]
I'm also eager to know what steps the mods have taken to avoid tokenisation.
I didn't get a great response last time I asked about the mods' anti-racism training, but this announcement gives me hope that there will be a more substantive update this time.
So I'll repeat the MeTa the mods declined to post last time:
The mods have promised to receive anti-racism training. I am curious to know if anything has come of this promise. I would ideally like to hear a status report and a commitment to public status reports at fixed intervals.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 5:28 AM on June 5, 2020 [29 favorites]
I just want to wish you both good luck. We're all counting on you.
I can't believe I'm the first. It's like I don't even recognize this place anymore.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:43 PM on June 5, 2020 [8 favorites]
I can't believe I'm the first. It's like I don't even recognize this place anymore.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:43 PM on June 5, 2020 [8 favorites]
Search, my dude. It’s the first thing I did when I saw the thread.
You may expect more pets/food pics from me in the future...
Please observe site culture & learn that in these particular issues, there is an utterly invisible line between “expect” and “demand.” :-)
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:24 AM on June 6, 2020
You may expect more pets/food pics from me in the future...
Please observe site culture & learn that in these particular issues, there is an utterly invisible line between “expect” and “demand.” :-)
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:24 AM on June 6, 2020
Great. Now I have the Rocky Horror "Time Warp" song stuck in my head—only now I'm substituting all the mods' names into the lyrics. Thanks as usual, MetaFilter.
[And welcome aboard, Thyme & Loup. I'm an old-timer who's quieted down significantly. [I was a wordy jokey-jokester; MeFi has taught me over time to hone my material and read the room. Still not funny, but, TIMING!.]
posted by not_on_display at 2:27 PM on June 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
[And welcome aboard, Thyme & Loup. I'm an old-timer who's quieted down significantly. [I was a wordy jokey-jokester; MeFi has taught me over time to hone my material and read the room. Still not funny, but, TIMING!.]
posted by not_on_display at 2:27 PM on June 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
Welcome, travelingthyme and loup. You sound like amazing people.
Thanks to the anon donor, too.
posted by Miko at 12:25 PM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
Thanks to the anon donor, too.
posted by Miko at 12:25 PM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
Welcome to you both. I'm sure we'll all be on our best behavior for about 10 seconds while you get your bearings.
posted by axiom at 5:57 PM on June 8, 2020
posted by axiom at 5:57 PM on June 8, 2020
So I'll repeat the MeTa the mods declined to post last time:
The mods have promised to receive anti-racism training. I am curious to know if anything has come of this promise. I would ideally like to hear a status report and a commitment to public status reports at fixed intervals.
I second this.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:31 PM on June 8, 2020 [6 favorites]
The mods have promised to receive anti-racism training. I am curious to know if anything has come of this promise. I would ideally like to hear a status report and a commitment to public status reports at fixed intervals.
I second this.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:31 PM on June 8, 2020 [6 favorites]
Welcome!
posted by subwaytiles at 5:25 AM on June 9, 2020
posted by subwaytiles at 5:25 AM on June 9, 2020
Man, this thread is so meta it's like some online sociocultural fractal uncurling like frost on chrome on into history if not infinity.
Also, upon collecting a flock of thoughts... oh yes, welcome. By all means.
posted by y2karl at 3:58 PM on June 9, 2020
Also, upon collecting a flock of thoughts... oh yes, welcome. By all means.
posted by y2karl at 3:58 PM on June 9, 2020
Congratulations! And welcome to one of the best places on the internet. Cheers!
posted by VyanSelei at 12:09 PM on June 10, 2020
posted by VyanSelei at 12:09 PM on June 10, 2020
The mods have promised to receive anti-racism training. I am curious to know if anything has come of this promise. I would ideally like to hear a status report and a commitment to public status reports at fixed intervals.
Seconded. Members have repeatedly expressed how important anti-racism and cultural awareness training for site moderators is to ensuring the safety and vitality of the community here. I see that meatyshoepuppet asked for a public status update on this back in February—it is now mid-June and we have not seen meaningful progress.
cortex: What specific, measurable, and time-based milestones will Metafilter site leadership commit to for providing this training? Given the wealth of support resources available, as a paying member I doubt I am alone in my reluctance to continue funding a site that will not honor its promises.
posted by 4rtemis at 9:35 AM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
Seconded. Members have repeatedly expressed how important anti-racism and cultural awareness training for site moderators is to ensuring the safety and vitality of the community here. I see that meatyshoepuppet asked for a public status update on this back in February—it is now mid-June and we have not seen meaningful progress.
cortex: What specific, measurable, and time-based milestones will Metafilter site leadership commit to for providing this training? Given the wealth of support resources available, as a paying member I doubt I am alone in my reluctance to continue funding a site that will not honor its promises.
posted by 4rtemis at 9:35 AM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
Heya, I'm sorry for the lack of updates; it's been a hell of a year so far and communication stuff has suffered a lot as a result. I'm hoping to get a proper update up in MetaTalk soon about where we're at, what we've done, what we're still working on, etc, based on the conversations we were having last summer. Briefly and specifically on the anti-racism and anti-oppression training: we've done a couple sessions already with a consultant, who has been great, and are lining up additional sessions for later this year. Ideally one later this month and then a couple months down the line.
Again, I apologize for not communicating about stuff in more frequent updates. That's been a significant challenge for me and something I'm kind of struggling with for a variety of reasons and that's not anybody else's fault or something that would be particularly visible.
I get that the pressure from a lack of a dedicated update thread is part of why that is happening but I'd like to allow this thread to remain largely a space for folks to welcome the new mods rather than have it make a late swerve into other stuff.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:57 AM on June 11, 2020
Again, I apologize for not communicating about stuff in more frequent updates. That's been a significant challenge for me and something I'm kind of struggling with for a variety of reasons and that's not anybody else's fault or something that would be particularly visible.
I get that the pressure from a lack of a dedicated update thread is part of why that is happening but I'd like to allow this thread to remain largely a space for folks to welcome the new mods rather than have it make a late swerve into other stuff.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:57 AM on June 11, 2020
Metafilter: so meta it's like some online sociocultural fractal uncurling like frost on chrome on into history if not infinity.
posted by otherchaz at 8:10 AM on June 13, 2020
posted by otherchaz at 8:10 AM on June 13, 2020
Did anyone say pet pics? 🐶🐶😸😸
Here :)
This was going to be a dealbreaker for me and I am glad you fixed it.
posted by Evilspork at 1:31 PM on June 14, 2020
Here :)
This was going to be a dealbreaker for me and I am glad you fixed it.
posted by Evilspork at 1:31 PM on June 14, 2020
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I’m travelingthyme, the new Mod! My pronouns are They/Them/Theirs. I am a Queer Womxn of Color in their mid-twenties.
I hail from…well, quite a few places. I arrived in the US as a child refugee and have since spent my adulthood relocating between 3-ish countries.
At the moment, I’m living somewhere around the Mediterranean sea. When I’m not thinking/writing about politics and world events, I’m daydreaming about my ideal historical fiction novel. I’ll eventually get to writing it…
A few running topics/questions that currently occupy my mind: food as culture, the history of colonialism and capitalism, gender and sexuality, social justice, art as a means for social change and mental wellness, how can I be a better human and help others do the same, whether I should pursue a law degree, why the neighborhood cats won’t hang out with me, and lastly, what should I eat for lunch? The last two questions are truly riveting.
I grew up in a culturally Muslim family where prayer was optional, alcohol abundant, but taking your shoes off before entering our apartment, being present for tea time, eating halal, and "no-dating-ever" were the guiding pillars of our household. I’ve grown to honor my upbringing despite the conflicting experiences that arose with navigating American society as a Muslim immigrant who also happened to be a closeted Queer.
The culture I’m from values tea time as an opportunity for holding space, community-building and sharing knowledge as wealth. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you all as a community member and moderator, and being able to enjoy a nice cup of virtual tea together.
Here’s a cheesy acronym I made up for TEA that speaks to who I am as an individual and what I hope we can foster.
Transparency
Empathy
Accountability
My professional background is in grassroots organizing on the local, state and national level. I come to MeFi with a facilitating toolkit that I am ecstatic to share and hope will be very useful to this space. I have facilitated workshops on anti-racism (in the context of how white and non-black POC can be better allies), I’ve hosted LGBTQIA+ competency trainings, organized educational teach-ins and coordinated a community library that doubled as a hub for the nerds (like myself) and badass people working with and for their community. It is my responsibility and purpose to support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) to the best of my capacity.
I live and breath knowledge-sharing and I'm confident that we can do that here together.
It is my hope that we will hold space for each other and foster an environment that is inclusive, equitable and accountable - and one day enjoy some tea (or coffee). What an honor to be joining the MetaFilter community, a place with so much history and such an exciting future.
Feel free to send me a message anythyme!
Talk to you all soon.
-Thyme
posted by travelingthyme (staff) at 10:56 AM on June 1, 2020 [345 favorites]