Gosh, it's been 20 years November 18, 2024 1:05 AM Subscribe
Two decades ago, a fine young web developer flipped a switch on a certain website and suddenly anyone in the world could sign up to be a MeFite!
Metafilter was launched back in the late 1900s, but signups were an on again, off again thing. That is until November 18, 2004, when they were switched on permanently and have stayed on ever since.
Metafilter was launched back in the late 1900s, but signups were an on again, off again thing. That is until November 18, 2004, when they were switched on permanently and have stayed on ever since.
I remember being really excited about being able to spend that $5 and join! Tried to explain to the wife and she was like "That's nice dear, but you have to take me to work, so can we go?"
Having the ability to share stuff with like minded people and then talk with them about stuff was priceless. It still is and it's great to get that feeling again of being excited to share or see what others are sharing.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 3:08 AM on November 18 [14 favorites]
Having the ability to share stuff with like minded people and then talk with them about stuff was priceless. It still is and it's great to get that feeling again of being excited to share or see what others are sharing.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 3:08 AM on November 18 [14 favorites]
Oh hai.
posted by Captaintripps at 4:44 AM on November 18 [5 favorites]
posted by Captaintripps at 4:44 AM on November 18 [5 favorites]
I guess since you got the 18th and the 20th, you may as well have the 19th.
posted by The Bellman at 9:10 AM on November 18 [2 favorites]
posted by The Bellman at 9:10 AM on November 18 [2 favorites]
lol, the name mathovvie from that thread
posted by Glinn at 9:27 AM on November 18 [1 favorite]
posted by Glinn at 9:27 AM on November 18 [1 favorite]
Five dollar n0obs represent! 20 years.
*cackles, waves cane in air, disappears in cloud of ancient dust*
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:59 AM on November 18 [11 favorites]
*cackles, waves cane in air, disappears in cloud of ancient dust*
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:59 AM on November 18 [11 favorites]
I had an account somehow back in the pre $5 signup days, promptly lost both my password and access to the email I set it up under, and then went on to simply lurk for a half dozen years before eventually making this account in 2010.
So even if you are lurking today, you may yet one day start commenting/posting and then find that many years later, you still cannot manage to stop.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:40 AM on November 18 [5 favorites]
So even if you are lurking today, you may yet one day start commenting/posting and then find that many years later, you still cannot manage to stop.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:40 AM on November 18 [5 favorites]
Hi, I'm RichardP and I'm a $5 noob. My first exposure to MetaFilter was the 9/11 thread in 2001. I lurked for years, somehow always missing the infrequent periods when signups were open. Occasionally I would e-mail a thread participant and ask them to post a comment for me (here is jessamyn posting a comment for me in 2003). I signed up the same day mathowie made that announcement.
posted by RichardP at 11:43 AM on November 18 [2 favorites]
posted by RichardP at 11:43 AM on November 18 [2 favorites]
This is my anniversary too. My longtime friend lelilo,Richard, alerted me to the opportunity to join the site I'd been lurking on for a while. Richard's gone, but I'm still here, sometimes. Thanks Mathowie, Jessamyn, Cortex, for all the good, hard work. Thanks Quonsar, for being you. Over.
posted by Hobgoblin at 11:52 AM on November 18 [5 favorites]
posted by Hobgoblin at 11:52 AM on November 18 [5 favorites]
I stumbled into MetaFilter (from MemePool) and started lurking sometime in 2000, missed the account creation backdoor, and got in as soon as I could after $5 sign-ups were opened. So I guess I've been here for 20 years. MetaFilter has been a welcome stable element in a chaotic existence! Thank you, everyone, for being here!
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 12:45 PM on November 18 [2 favorites]
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 12:45 PM on November 18 [2 favorites]
I don't remember how I found this place, but nearly 20 years on, I remain, every single day, glad I did.
posted by pdb at 1:52 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
posted by pdb at 1:52 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
7k on the way
turn off the tap
close the gap
"let the people in" I said.
ok, this shan't be a sea Shanty.
I do believe that whether you're here for 20 plus years or two days, all can have the equal opportunity to just knock that ball right out of the park even from day one.
I've seen it, it's divine.
does anybody remember when a few people put their accounts on eBay for sale during the closed period.
posted by clavdivs at 2:07 PM on November 18 [7 favorites]
turn off the tap
close the gap
"let the people in" I said.
ok, this shan't be a sea Shanty.
I do believe that whether you're here for 20 plus years or two days, all can have the equal opportunity to just knock that ball right out of the park even from day one.
I've seen it, it's divine.
does anybody remember when a few people put their accounts on eBay for sale during the closed period.
posted by clavdivs at 2:07 PM on November 18 [7 favorites]
speaking of time, I can't find the link right now but Brandon Blatcher and a few other brilliant mefis put together a few issues of a magazine, it was quite good, good as it could get better over time like distribution good.
I'll assume this is a free spot to voice an observation or what I'd like to see.
I'd really like a sort of call to letters of members of metafilter or beyond and have them contribute an article perhaps art or fiction/ poetry...
but mainly an article or an opinion/ observation or what not. Also in the future, I would like to see metafilter have a poet Laureate/ house writer which would be a paid position and could help facilitate this Journal. I have 4 suggestion for a postion of Laureate, as too the journal, I can think of about six or 8 people, most of them at one time were a member of metafilter but it's just a matter of who's going to ask them.
ideally, issue 1# whould have contributions from Matt (howey), Cortex and Jessamyn to start.
anywho.
posted by clavdivs at 2:22 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
I'll assume this is a free spot to voice an observation or what I'd like to see.
I'd really like a sort of call to letters of members of metafilter or beyond and have them contribute an article perhaps art or fiction/ poetry...
but mainly an article or an opinion/ observation or what not. Also in the future, I would like to see metafilter have a poet Laureate/ house writer which would be a paid position and could help facilitate this Journal. I have 4 suggestion for a postion of Laureate, as too the journal, I can think of about six or 8 people, most of them at one time were a member of metafilter but it's just a matter of who's going to ask them.
ideally, issue 1# whould have contributions from Matt (howey), Cortex and Jessamyn to start.
anywho.
posted by clavdivs at 2:22 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
*rubs eyes* I've been here 19 years? How the hell did that happen?
posted by ninazer0 at 3:18 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
posted by ninazer0 at 3:18 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
I joined that day. I’m still here for a thousand reasons. Thanks everyone for making this place what it is.
posted by mai at 3:59 PM on November 18 [2 favorites]
posted by mai at 3:59 PM on November 18 [2 favorites]
I was a few days late because I didnt have a credit card! I hung out at Monkeyfilter till the gates opened.
posted by dhruva at 4:10 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
posted by dhruva at 4:10 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
I was one of the 20-a-day-ers, before all you newbies came along and ruined everything.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:14 PM on November 18 [7 favorites]
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:14 PM on November 18 [7 favorites]
*Obligatory comment about all the names of members on those threads that are sorely missed*
posted by dg at 6:42 PM on November 18 [12 favorites]
posted by dg at 6:42 PM on November 18 [12 favorites]
newbs
posted by cortex (retired) at 7:36 PM on November 18 [19 favorites]
posted by cortex (retired) at 7:36 PM on November 18 [19 favorites]
Twenty years! It’s my $5-noob-a-versary.
posted by expialidocious at 7:50 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]
posted by expialidocious at 7:50 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]
Just checked--my official 20-year anniversary is today (Nov. 19), although I'd lurked for about a year beforehand. I first said something on Nov. 22.
posted by dlugoczaj at 9:04 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]
posted by dlugoczaj at 9:04 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]
I've been here since 2005, so not quite 20 years. I'm mostly a lurker and prolific favouriter of posts and comments. Funny to think that MeFi has been a constant in my life for such a long time. Thanks to everyone who makes this a place I visit almost every day.
posted by alfhild at 9:29 PM on November 18 [3 favorites]
posted by alfhild at 9:29 PM on November 18 [3 favorites]
Two decades ago, a fine young web developer flipped a switch on a certain website and suddenly anyone in the world could sign up to be a MeFite!
What a remarkable coincidence!
As it happens, November 18th is also MY 20th anniversary on MetaFilter.
Thanks to the Founder, to the Elders and the Staff, to everybody who keeps the place running, and to those who help keep the lights on.
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 9:32 PM on November 18 [2 favorites]
What a remarkable coincidence!
As it happens, November 18th is also MY 20th anniversary on MetaFilter.
Thanks to the Founder, to the Elders and the Staff, to everybody who keeps the place running, and to those who help keep the lights on.
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 9:32 PM on November 18 [2 favorites]
I maintain that I lucked into the niftiest user number of all the five-dollar n00bs.
posted by Dr. Wu at 10:11 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
posted by Dr. Wu at 10:11 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]
Nah, everyone knows the niftiest numbers are all in the 14k bracket.
posted by dg at 10:43 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]
posted by dg at 10:43 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]
the truly cool kids don't even know their numbers
posted by philip-random at 10:55 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]
posted by philip-random at 10:55 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]
(quickly checks to see what his number is)
posted by philip-random at 10:56 PM on November 18 [4 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 10:56 PM on November 18 [4 favorites]
Big thanks and kudos to Matthowie!!!
Been on here since August 19, 2002; there's nothing like it.
posted by lometogo at 5:00 AM on November 19 [1 favorite]
Been on here since August 19, 2002; there's nothing like it.
posted by lometogo at 5:00 AM on November 19 [1 favorite]
speaking of time, I can't find the link right now but Brandon Blatcher and a few other brilliant mefis put together a few issues of a magazine, it was quite good, good as it could get better over time like distribution good.
The magazine was great! I thought I'd saved issues but apparently not. Hopefully someone can upload.
posted by michaelh at 8:27 AM on November 19 [1 favorite]
The magazine was great! I thought I'd saved issues but apparently not. Hopefully someone can upload.
posted by michaelh at 8:27 AM on November 19 [1 favorite]
I was one of the 20-a-day-ers...
Me, too! I remember trying several times to be one of the lucky 20!
posted by Karmakaze at 9:52 AM on November 19 [1 favorite]
Me, too! I remember trying several times to be one of the lucky 20!
posted by Karmakaze at 9:52 AM on November 19 [1 favorite]
Aw, look at all the $5 noobs, all grown up now and out in the world! 20 years ago, who'd have thought we'd have user numbers in the 300,000's and that we'd still be growing and changing and chugging along as best as possible?! It's awesome, is what it is. ♥
posted by Lynsey at 10:26 AM on November 19 [2 favorites]
posted by Lynsey at 10:26 AM on November 19 [2 favorites]
$5 Noob here too - in fact today is officially my Metafilter birthday!
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:16 AM on November 19 [3 favorites]
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:16 AM on November 19 [3 favorites]
I (another 5$ n00b) have the first two PDF issues of MeFi Magazine from 2011. Not sure if it would be cool to upload them or not?
posted by Rumple at 12:36 PM on November 19 [2 favorites]
posted by Rumple at 12:36 PM on November 19 [2 favorites]
Happy MeFi 20th Anniversary to all my fellow weirdos!
posted by hydropsyche at 2:38 PM on November 19 [2 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 2:38 PM on November 19 [2 favorites]
It's been almost 5 years since mathowie last posted to the site. Everyone moves on eventually, it makes sense. But it definitely serves as a reminder that these are very different times than those fish-in-the-pants days.
posted by rikschell at 4:13 PM on November 19 [8 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 4:13 PM on November 19 [8 favorites]
20 YEARS since my life changed for the better! Thank you Matt and thank you Metafilter!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:40 AM on November 20 [7 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:40 AM on November 20 [7 favorites]
Oh hey, I'm also a $5 newbie. It was a good move.
posted by Plutor at 9:19 AM on November 20 [2 favorites]
posted by Plutor at 9:19 AM on November 20 [2 favorites]
20 years, same as in town
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 9:19 AM on November 20 [8 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 9:19 AM on November 20 [8 favorites]
I’m two days late to this thread, just like I was a day late, ponying up my $5, on the 19th. I had been checking every few days for a while, but I missed the exact day.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:22 PM on November 20 [4 favorites]
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:22 PM on November 20 [4 favorites]
For a couple of years now I’ve had a reminder on my phone to tell me when it’s been twenty years since my first comment. I think it’s next Wednesday, but I’m not 100% sure. Either way, the day is approaching that I’ll have been an active member of this community for half my life.
I know the exact day I first stumbled onto MetaFilter, February 23rd, 2001. I was still a teen, by about three days. I started reading it sporadically, mostly for the links to be honest, and it never occurred to me to join until the after the signups had become closed, by which point I read it every day.
By that measure, I’ve been a member of this community for well more than half my life. During this time I’ve lived in many places in three different countries, and having something as stable as MetaFilter has been a real grounding force in my life.
So thank you all, owners, staff, users, MeFites one and all, for joining and being a part of this island village in the big ocean of the Internet. You’ve all immeasurably enriched my existence on this Earth.
posted by Kattullus at 3:06 PM on November 21 [9 favorites]
I know the exact day I first stumbled onto MetaFilter, February 23rd, 2001. I was still a teen, by about three days. I started reading it sporadically, mostly for the links to be honest, and it never occurred to me to join until the after the signups had become closed, by which point I read it every day.
By that measure, I’ve been a member of this community for well more than half my life. During this time I’ve lived in many places in three different countries, and having something as stable as MetaFilter has been a real grounding force in my life.
So thank you all, owners, staff, users, MeFites one and all, for joining and being a part of this island village in the big ocean of the Internet. You’ve all immeasurably enriched my existence on this Earth.
posted by Kattullus at 3:06 PM on November 21 [9 favorites]
Wow. Can't even grasp how much this place has curated my thinking over the years decades, started lurking somewhere before Iraq War II.
As we all get older and less cool, I remember being an internet jedi that was ahead of all the internet trends, popculture, etc because of content found here. Many of the content posts still feel that way as we've matured, though my S.O. has to keep me up-to-date on the tiktoks.
Thanks all!
posted by rubatan at 4:56 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]
As we all get older and less cool, I remember being an internet jedi that was ahead of all the internet trends, popculture, etc because of content found here. Many of the content posts still feel that way as we've matured, though my S.O. has to keep me up-to-date on the tiktoks.
Thanks all!
posted by rubatan at 4:56 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]
$5 noob and happy to be so. More a lurker than a poster these days
posted by adamvasco at 5:11 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]
posted by adamvasco at 5:11 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]
For a couple of years now I’ve had a reminder on my phone to tell me when it’s been twenty years since my first comment. I think it’s next Wednesday, but I’m not 100% sure
It was this Wednesday. I've been commenting on this site for twenty years now. Huh, that feels odd. Not much else about my life is the same as it was twenty years ago. Like most lives, it's been a weird journey, and I'm glad I've had MetaFilter here with me all this time.
posted by Kattullus at 12:55 AM on November 27 [4 favorites]
It was this Wednesday. I've been commenting on this site for twenty years now. Huh, that feels odd. Not much else about my life is the same as it was twenty years ago. Like most lives, it's been a weird journey, and I'm glad I've had MetaFilter here with me all this time.
posted by Kattullus at 12:55 AM on November 27 [4 favorites]
I joined two weeks later!
For many years, Metafilter was the only internet content I had ever paid for, and it was just that initial $5. Glad to contribute monthly now! Although(1) I wish I could do so via Patreon, since I now support a number of Youtubers that way. Although(2), with official non-profit status apparently imminent, I can just donate that way, putting Mefi in the pile of 501c3 non-profits ...
posted by intermod at 1:59 PM on November 28 [2 favorites]
For many years, Metafilter was the only internet content I had ever paid for, and it was just that initial $5. Glad to contribute monthly now! Although(1) I wish I could do so via Patreon, since I now support a number of Youtubers that way. Although(2), with official non-profit status apparently imminent, I can just donate that way, putting Mefi in the pile of 501c3 non-profits ...
posted by intermod at 1:59 PM on November 28 [2 favorites]
My profile says May 2001. I have no idea how I got in before the $5. Long time ago. K5 and memepool are gone. Slash and Fark aren't what they were. Mefi is still my daily headline-check and best of.
posted by tayknight at 8:55 AM on December 2 [3 favorites]
posted by tayknight at 8:55 AM on December 2 [3 favorites]
20 years on March 23 2005 for me... I dithered
posted by infini at 8:31 AM on December 7 [1 favorite]
posted by infini at 8:31 AM on December 7 [1 favorite]
*Obligatory comment about all the names of members on those threads that are sorely missed*
I still miss amberglow
but I get to lunch with Kattullus every so often ;p like next week
posted by infini at 8:33 AM on December 7 [3 favorites]
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posted by infini at 2:52 AM on November 18 [10 favorites]