“I mean, old school web people definitely have opinions...”

July 12, 2024 9:57 AM

From the Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst: “MetaFilter turns 25 this month, a shining beacon of the Good Web. Reluctant owner Jessamyn West tells us how rusty tech and vibrant community keeps it vital.” [Elsewhere: MetaFilter: a time capsule from another internet]
posted by Wordshore to MetaFilter-Related at 9:57 AM (18 comments total)

MIKE SUGARMAN:
It’s primordial right? And it’s like, how has it lasted this long? Is it just some people never figured out how to use the internet outside of MetaFilter? I assume it’s not that.

JESSAMYN WEST:
I beg your pardon. No, I mean, I think the thing is it’s like more people would still be active on Usenet if Usenet didn’t get so difficult to use, right?

Rude! (To be honest, I am not great at using the rest of the internet.)
posted by Glinn at 10:19 AM on July 12 [4 favorites]

That is a delightful interview to read :)
posted by Vatnesine at 1:33 PM on July 12 [1 favorite]

What an odd pull quote! That feels like assuming that people who drive stick shift are too dumb to use an automatic. Which is a weird metaphor for a non-driver to reach for, since I wasn’t able to learn either one, but really. What is technically difficult about other social media sites?
posted by eirias at 2:27 PM on July 12

so, Usenet is the stick shift?

runs
posted by clavdivs at 4:11 PM on July 12

alt.clutch.grind.grind.grind
posted by cortex (retired) at 4:14 PM on July 12 [27 favorites]

so......do we take mefi out for drinks?

where? how much should we spend on those drinks?

二十塊錢，在城裡
posted by lalochezia at 4:17 PM on July 12 [3 favorites]

二十五
posted by clavdivs at 6:41 PM on July 12

Oh, I meant Sugarman’s insinuation. I was grouping us in with the stick shift generation.
posted by eirias at 9:18 PM on July 12

Mod note: [Hello, fellow kids primordial pals! I just wanted to let you know that this post has been added to the sidebar and Best Of blog, creaky knees and all!]
posted by taz (staff) at 2:41 AM on July 13 [1 favorite]

so......do we take mefi out for drinks?

Pancakes!
posted by JanetLand at 5:43 AM on July 13 [1 favorite]

so......do we take mefi out for drinks?

Pancakes!

BEANS on plate.
posted by Fizz at 6:20 AM on July 13 [2 favorites]

so......do we take mefi out for drinks?

Pancakes!

BEANS on plate.

With croutons.
posted by briank at 6:53 AM on July 13 [1 favorite]

Does this mean that our prefrontal cortex is finally fully formed?
(With apologies to cortex)
posted by Fenriss at 7:12 AM on July 13 [1 favorite]

so......do we take mefi out for drinks?

Pancakes!

BEANS on plate.

With croutons.

With tat ... eh, nevermind.
posted by jgirl at 11:35 AM on July 13 [3 favorites]

I actually never knew that story about how metafilter started out as being a thing for Matt and Matt's friends and then expanded. That's a neat little bit of mefi history.
posted by litera scripta manet at 11:59 AM on July 13

Some (most?) people seem to have a problem with the idea that a thing can be feature complete. The constant pursuit of the new hotness because it is nominally better rather than just new and or fashionable. It leads to bullshit like touch pad wiper controls and is a serious failing of capitalism. See for example asavage's recent lamenting about the changes to his pencil.
posted by Mitheral at 5:45 AM on July 14 [7 favorites]

The Problem with Adam Savage's Favorite Pencil (SLYT)
posted by box at 11:55 AM on July 14

I enjoyed listening to this. I guess it kinda brought me back to the site after... well, some time. Damn. 25th anniversary. And here I am, just looking to buy a used car. This site has shaped my life so profoundly. I did, after all, marry a fellow MeFite. Fifteen years ago. And you know what? Still working out pretty great.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:45 PM on July 18 [7 favorites]