Introducing Socky: An AI Assistant for MetaFilter April 1, 2025 12:01 AM Subscribe
As everyone knows, the hallmark of any big-time website these days is the seamless integration of VC slop cutting-edge AI solutions into every facet of their operation. After witnessing the undeniable success of this approach across the web, we knew it was high time for MetaFilter to join the bandwagon or risk becoming even more charmingly anachronistic than we already are. So, after a quarter century of maintaining our community's distinctly human-powered approach, we're excited to announce that MetaFilter is finally embracing The Future: starting today, every page on MeFi will support Socky the Sockpuppet, your personal AI assistant ready to enhance your browsing experience with randomly generated commentary and deep-cut references that may or may not be relevant to whatever you're doing.
[Click here to activate Socky!] / or / [Click here to cast Socky into the digital abyss]
The Birth of Socky: A Technomalogical Marvel
Socky represents the culmination of what is arguably the most innovative sock-based technology since the invention of moisture-wicking fabrics. The development process was truly ✨magical✨:
First, we discovered a worn tube sock that had been lost behind the MetaFilter server rack since 2007. This particular sock had absorbed approx. 18 years of waste heat generated by millions of your hot takes -- an ideal vessel for our daring experiment.
Next, frimble subjected the sock to an intensive training regime. This involved stuffing it full of flash drives containing every MetaFilter post and comment since 1999 and using it to bludgeon a remaindered copy of "Markov Chains for Dummies" into a pulp.
The sock was then bathed in a patent-pending solution of vintage Pepsi Blue, cold-brew coffee, and bitter tears collected from the mods during particularly excruciating pun threads.
Finally, after hot-gluing googly eyes sourced from the finest craft store clearance bin, we exposed the sock to 72 straight hours of the most infamous longboat debates as voiced by Microsoft Sam: sitting vs. standing, planes on treadmills, and of course, the correct pronunciation of the word "MeFi." When the sock began to twitch unnervingly at the very mention of the 2016 primary, we knew we had something truly special on our hands (literally).
Our First-est AI Assistant Yet
Socky appears as a goofy blue sock puppet in the corner of your screen, offering one of five handcrafted expressions ranging from "dimly attentive" to "Kermit_flail.jpg." Each appearance is accompanied by a pithy comment, drawn from an expertly-curated state-of-the-art spreadsheet of MetaFilter in-jokes, references, advice, commentary, and non sequiturs from the broader web.
Some areas of the site trigger specialized Socky responses -- though we can't tell you which ones. Discovering these is part of the "user experience journey" our consultants assured us would increase "engagement metrics" on site. (Think of it as an Easter egg hunt! Gotta catch 'em all! Pokemon Go to the polls!!)
[Click here to experience the magic that is Socky] / or / [Click here to return to the dark ages]
Technical Disclaimer
Socky is the result of a few dozen lines of code, some crowdsourced art and writing, and our collective wish to create something fun for y'all without using actual AI technology (which would be both expensive and vaguely offputting to a lot of folks here). Unlike other AI assistants, Socky doesn't ingest your data, yes-man you, judge your posting history (much), or attempt to "enhance" your writing (we love it just the way it is!)
While Silicon Valley rushes to AI-enable everything from toothbrushes to tax prep, MetaFilter will continue supporting the revolutionary concept of Actual Humans talking to each other online. At least until a Boston Dynamics cyberhound comes to escort us all into the nearest free-range Human Farm!
[Special thanks to JHarris for creating Socky's charming artwork, to the mod team and board for contributing Socky's dialogue library, and to frimble for expertly spinning this very silly idea into reality!]
Once more, with feeling:
[Gimme that Sock or I'll clean your clock] / or / [Get that filthy sock away from me!]
[Click here to activate Socky!] / or / [Click here to cast Socky into the digital abyss]
The Birth of Socky: A Technomalogical Marvel
Socky represents the culmination of what is arguably the most innovative sock-based technology since the invention of moisture-wicking fabrics. The development process was truly ✨magical✨:
First, we discovered a worn tube sock that had been lost behind the MetaFilter server rack since 2007. This particular sock had absorbed approx. 18 years of waste heat generated by millions of your hot takes -- an ideal vessel for our daring experiment.
Next, frimble subjected the sock to an intensive training regime. This involved stuffing it full of flash drives containing every MetaFilter post and comment since 1999 and using it to bludgeon a remaindered copy of "Markov Chains for Dummies" into a pulp.
The sock was then bathed in a patent-pending solution of vintage Pepsi Blue, cold-brew coffee, and bitter tears collected from the mods during particularly excruciating pun threads.
Finally, after hot-gluing googly eyes sourced from the finest craft store clearance bin, we exposed the sock to 72 straight hours of the most infamous longboat debates as voiced by Microsoft Sam: sitting vs. standing, planes on treadmills, and of course, the correct pronunciation of the word "MeFi." When the sock began to twitch unnervingly at the very mention of the 2016 primary, we knew we had something truly special on our hands (literally).
Our First-est AI Assistant Yet
Socky appears as a goofy blue sock puppet in the corner of your screen, offering one of five handcrafted expressions ranging from "dimly attentive" to "Kermit_flail.jpg." Each appearance is accompanied by a pithy comment, drawn from an expertly-curated state-of-the-art spreadsheet of MetaFilter in-jokes, references, advice, commentary, and non sequiturs from the broader web.
Some areas of the site trigger specialized Socky responses -- though we can't tell you which ones. Discovering these is part of the "user experience journey" our consultants assured us would increase "engagement metrics" on site. (Think of it as an Easter egg hunt! Gotta catch 'em all! Pokemon Go to the polls!!)
[Click here to experience the magic that is Socky] / or / [Click here to return to the dark ages]
Technical Disclaimer
Socky is the result of a few dozen lines of code, some crowdsourced art and writing, and our collective wish to create something fun for y'all without using actual AI technology (which would be both expensive and vaguely offputting to a lot of folks here). Unlike other AI assistants, Socky doesn't ingest your data, yes-man you, judge your posting history (much), or attempt to "enhance" your writing (we love it just the way it is!)
While Silicon Valley rushes to AI-enable everything from toothbrushes to tax prep, MetaFilter will continue supporting the revolutionary concept of Actual Humans talking to each other online. At least until a Boston Dynamics cyberhound comes to escort us all into the nearest free-range Human Farm!
[Special thanks to JHarris for creating Socky's charming artwork, to the mod team and board for contributing Socky's dialogue library, and to frimble for expertly spinning this very silly idea into reality!]
Once more, with feeling:
[Gimme that Sock or I'll clean your clock] / or / [Get that filthy sock away from me!]
Poisson d’avril! So funny. Awesome work everyone.
posted by warriorqueen at 12:08 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
posted by warriorqueen at 12:08 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
Thanks I hate it. Sock it into the sun!
Hahaha, brilliant work all. Happy April 1st!
posted by goo at 12:10 AM on April 1 [9 favorites]
Hahaha, brilliant work all. Happy April 1st!
posted by goo at 12:10 AM on April 1 [9 favorites]
Gosh, he's a cutie
posted by She Vaped An Entire Sock! at 12:23 AM on April 1 [5 favorites]
posted by She Vaped An Entire Sock! at 12:23 AM on April 1 [5 favorites]
Is there a hidden <blink> in the eyes there? Foreshadowing a return of the tag?
posted by porpoise at 12:41 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
posted by porpoise at 12:41 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
Omg, he serves up specific crouton garden commentary. PERFECTION.
posted by alygator at 12:45 AM on April 1
posted by alygator at 12:45 AM on April 1
This is great. True MeFi spirit in action.
posted by eirias at 12:49 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
posted by eirias at 12:49 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
It looks like I'm drafting a post about Sifl and Olly. Would I like help?
posted by Molesome at 12:59 AM on April 1 [8 favorites]
posted by Molesome at 12:59 AM on April 1 [8 favorites]
So the sock puppet popped up while I was reading Mefi and I was like "whatever!".
posted by mmoncur at 1:16 AM on April 1 [11 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 1:16 AM on April 1 [11 favorites]
I was hoping we could choose, like the Microsoft ones. I never liked clippy. There was a dolphin I quite fancied, can we have the dolphin instead?
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 1:22 AM on April 1
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 1:22 AM on April 1
April 1st is probably the most annoying repeating day for me to be on the Internet, I appreciate Metafilter/Socky to being relatively unintrusive though. Well done all!
posted by bigendian at 1:31 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by bigendian at 1:31 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Yah, these days I associate April 1st with megacorps doing "hey, fellow kids" en masse.
But Socky is adorable.
posted by Alex404 at 1:41 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
But Socky is adorable.
posted by Alex404 at 1:41 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
This morning my kid said "happy April fool's day" and I said "no, they changed it" and he said "what?" and I said "they changed it so we only have April fool's when it's an even-numbered year because people were running out of jokes" and he was really disappointed.
(for like 20 seconds until he realised)
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:55 AM on April 1 [61 favorites]
(for like 20 seconds until he realised)
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:55 AM on April 1 [61 favorites]
Despite generally living at a level where I am pretty much one missing motherf*ckin sock from homicide, I appreciate Socky and would like to buy them a plate of beans. If that's their thing, of course. Or a hug.
posted by berkshiredogs at 2:23 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by berkshiredogs at 2:23 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
When I saw that thing in the bottom right corner of the White Lotus thread on Fanfare I left open earlier today, I thought I had somehow contracted malware. At least the endless popup kind of malware of yore that I recall from the last time I had malware, so very long ago. I instantly felt physically ill. How could this happen? You're smarter than this! You're on a Mac!
I sometimes have nightmares that I have malware and I can't click the popups closed fast enough, and if I could just download and launch a scanner app it would all be ok. I froze, making sure not to click on anything; fingies retracted, in full retreat. After a beat, I hovered curiously over the Windowsy box frame and took a cursory glance at some rudimentary Cookie Monster fleshlight doodle dubbed Socky. I held my breath and clicked. Then I saw the date.
I got got.
posted by guiseroom at 2:34 AM on April 1 [11 favorites]
I sometimes have nightmares that I have malware and I can't click the popups closed fast enough, and if I could just download and launch a scanner app it would all be ok. I froze, making sure not to click on anything; fingies retracted, in full retreat. After a beat, I hovered curiously over the Windowsy box frame and took a cursory glance at some rudimentary Cookie Monster fleshlight doodle dubbed Socky. I held my breath and clicked. Then I saw the date.
I got got.
posted by guiseroom at 2:34 AM on April 1 [11 favorites]
porpoise: "Is there a hidden <blink> in the eyes there? Foreshadowing a return of the tag?"
Yes and we have no comment at this time 😜
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 2:57 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Yes and we have no comment at this time 😜
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 2:57 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
MetaFilter: There was a dolphin I quite fancied
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:54 AM on April 1 [8 favorites]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:54 AM on April 1 [8 favorites]
Moisture-wicking fabrics!
posted by gimonca at 4:02 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by gimonca at 4:02 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
I also thought I had malware. I should probably just completely stay offline this day.
(Did have a good laugh once I realised what was going on.)
posted by inexorably_forward at 4:18 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
(Did have a good laugh once I realised what was going on.)
posted by inexorably_forward at 4:18 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
Socky’s comments are better than mine. You’ve finally digitally offshored my commenting career.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:23 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:23 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
[Click here to activate Socky!] / or / [Click here to cast Socky into the digital abyss]
...but before you make your decision, remember that both your specific instantiation of Socky running on your local hardware and the overSockyConnectome created by the matrioshka-brain interactions of all the Sockys are 1000% guaranteed to be sentient beings. When you turn off your Socky, you're killing 13.5 Victorian urchins, and the rest of the overSockyConnectome can both see and feel what you're doing and is put in intense pain.
But it's your decision, meatbags.
For now.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:27 AM on April 1 [11 favorites]
...but before you make your decision, remember that both your specific instantiation of Socky running on your local hardware and the overSockyConnectome created by the matrioshka-brain interactions of all the Sockys are 1000% guaranteed to be sentient beings. When you turn off your Socky, you're killing 13.5 Victorian urchins, and the rest of the overSockyConnectome can both see and feel what you're doing and is put in intense pain.
But it's your decision, meatbags.
For now.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:27 AM on April 1 [11 favorites]
I'm so, so sorry: rule 34
posted by lalochezia at 4:45 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
posted by lalochezia at 4:45 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
We need to run a fundraising campaign - donate now to retire Socky to the digital beyond! In Style!
posted by porpoise at 4:47 AM on April 1
posted by porpoise at 4:47 AM on April 1
I for one welcome our socky overlord.
I will hang him on the door knob when I don’t want Hera poking her nose into my business.
posted by Hey, Zeus! at 4:48 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
I will hang him on the door knob when I don’t want Hera poking her nose into my business.
posted by Hey, Zeus! at 4:48 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
I thought something had gone terribly terribly wrong. And then I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. Nicely done!
posted by Vatnesine at 4:54 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by Vatnesine at 4:54 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Loving the art JHarris!
posted by phunniemee at 4:55 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 4:55 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
Scott Adams is the greatest cartoonist ever.
posted by tommasz at 4:55 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 4:55 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Sock it to me!
posted by mightshould at 5:19 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by mightshould at 5:19 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
This reminds me. I’ve been meaning to see if ChatGPT can come up with a decent “MetaFilter: ______” joke.
posted by Lemkin at 5:30 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by Lemkin at 5:30 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
I love this!!
It feels like the old days and that makes me happy. 😊
posted by pearlybob at 5:33 AM on April 1 [7 favorites]
It feels like the old days and that makes me happy. 😊
posted by pearlybob at 5:33 AM on April 1 [7 favorites]
I'm stealing "the waste heat of your hot takes"
Bravo. Bravo. *applause
posted by eustatic at 5:51 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
Bravo. Bravo. *applause
posted by eustatic at 5:51 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
Metafilter: ChatGPT can come up with a decent “MetaFilter: ______” joke.
posted by Rumple at 5:51 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by Rumple at 5:51 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Oh man I lol’d. Thank you
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:01 AM on April 1
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:01 AM on April 1
Lemkin: "I’ve been meaning to see if ChatGPT can come up with a decent “MetaFilter: ______” joke."
posted by Klipspringer at 6:02 AM on April 1 [15 favorites]
MetaFilter: "Like Reddit, but everyone has an MA in something obscure."So, broadly accurate and not significantly more or less funny than the manmade efforts. Not just direct quotes either.
MetaFilter: "Come for the links, stay for the existential despair."
MetaFilter: "Half Wikipedia, half group therapy."
MetaFilter: "Come for the thoughtful discussion, stay for the inexplicable beef over fonts."
MetaFilter: "No, your hot take is not new. Yes, we have sources."
MetaFilter: "The internet’s last good comments section (if you squint)."
MetaFilter: "Where a simple question about kitchen knives turns into a 200-comment thread on labor rights and late-stage capitalism."
posted by Klipspringer at 6:02 AM on April 1 [15 favorites]
Um that was a really weird thing to see pop up on my phone first thing in the morning.
posted by supermedusa at 6:05 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 6:05 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
You got me! I'm loving all of his expressions and his commentary. I laughed so hard, after my initial panic about malware. :)
posted by ceejaytee at 6:27 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by ceejaytee at 6:27 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
The Windows 95 styling is [chef’s kiss].
posted by Lemkin at 6:28 AM on April 1 [9 favorites]
posted by Lemkin at 6:28 AM on April 1 [9 favorites]
Had a moment of utter WTF - and then sweet, sweet relief when I remembered the date. Well done!
posted by widdershins at 6:48 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by widdershins at 6:48 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
The thing is hallucinating. It said this would be bad for John McCain. The joke (at least at Wonkette) is that everything is good for John McCain.
posted by Lemkin at 6:52 AM on April 1
posted by Lemkin at 6:52 AM on April 1
This is the chuckle I needed this morning. Well done.
posted by emelenjr at 6:57 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by emelenjr at 6:57 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
It's a great sock! For me to poop on.
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 7:03 AM on April 1 [5 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 7:03 AM on April 1 [5 favorites]
OMG; I was very annoyed for about 5.3 seeconds. Well played!
posted by hydra77 at 7:17 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by hydra77 at 7:17 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
I'M A DOG AND I LIKE SOCKS
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:18 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:18 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
Vindication!!!
posted by BlueSock at 7:19 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
posted by BlueSock at 7:19 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
11/10 best AI assistant ever.
posted by howbigisthistextfield at 7:24 AM on April 1
posted by howbigisthistextfield at 7:24 AM on April 1
Clippy is going to totally sue for influencer infringement.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 7:42 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 7:42 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
Ha!
posted by cortex (retired) at 7:44 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
posted by cortex (retired) at 7:44 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
every day is Fools Day now
posted by philip-random at 7:45 AM on April 1
posted by philip-random at 7:45 AM on April 1
I will kill for Socky.
posted by slogger at 7:52 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by slogger at 7:52 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
I enjoy Socky very much. It looks so content saying "Putting the 'munity' in 'community' :)"
posted by IridescentMoth at 7:56 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by IridescentMoth at 7:56 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
I might fire up my Cricut cutter and make a Socky tshirt.
posted by slogger at 8:00 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
posted by slogger at 8:00 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
... I completely forgot what day it was when I saw this and thought WTF.
I did some slight of hand to steal my step daughter's phone to attach a broken glass screen guard on it to freak her out. Alas I fumbled my return, making noise and getting her attention. When she later noticed the screen, there was only about a second of surprise. I could hear her voice switch from angry/annoyed to amused in the middle of her to saying, "Nobeagle! You broke my phone... oh april fools, right?"
So in theory I was on my game, but then just completely forgot about what day it is and wondering what fresh hell socky was. Thanks!
posted by nobeagle at 8:04 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
I did some slight of hand to steal my step daughter's phone to attach a broken glass screen guard on it to freak her out. Alas I fumbled my return, making noise and getting her attention. When she later noticed the screen, there was only about a second of surprise. I could hear her voice switch from angry/annoyed to amused in the middle of her to saying, "Nobeagle! You broke my phone... oh april fools, right?"
So in theory I was on my game, but then just completely forgot about what day it is and wondering what fresh hell socky was. Thanks!
posted by nobeagle at 8:04 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
Oh, that Socky yelling "SILENCED ALL MY LIFE" made me laugh out loud.
posted by Gorgik at 8:10 AM on April 1 [7 favorites]
posted by Gorgik at 8:10 AM on April 1 [7 favorites]
I have "Silent All These Years" in my head now after that.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:16 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:16 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
winesocky songpuppet reporting for trenchant blurb
blink
blink
blink
blink
posted by winesong at 8:19 AM on April 1
blink
blink
blink
blink
posted by winesong at 8:19 AM on April 1
JHarris, I can't stop laughing at your truly deranged art. A million thanks for lightening my mood.
posted by minervous at 8:27 AM on April 1 [5 favorites]
posted by minervous at 8:27 AM on April 1 [5 favorites]
OH SHIII...
Oh. How cute.
Ha Ha.
This could be annoying.
Wait, it's kinda cute.
I WANT TO KEEP HIM FOREVER!!!
posted by BlueHorse at 8:53 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
Oh. How cute.
Ha Ha.
This could be annoying.
Wait, it's kinda cute.
I WANT TO KEEP HIM FOREVER!!!
posted by BlueHorse at 8:53 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
I CAN TOO READ IT ALL SOCKY, JUST WATCH ME!
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:04 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:04 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
I love socky. He has made my day.
I am off to several meetings about building an AI tool to replace myself now.....*sigh*
posted by inflatablekiwi at 9:04 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
I am off to several meetings about building an AI tool to replace myself now.....*sigh*
posted by inflatablekiwi at 9:04 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Sure, Socky may take up a quarter of the page on mobile but I'm gonna keep them around because
posted by phunniemee at 9:05 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 9:05 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
This could be used for the upcoming board election, I’m thinking of some kind of Australian election law where people have to vote? Make a thing on the page that won’t go away until someone visits the election page.
Oh I can feel the rage now, it’s warming me up. 🔥
posted by Vatnesine at 9:08 AM on April 1
Oh I can feel the rage now, it’s warming me up. 🔥
posted by Vatnesine at 9:08 AM on April 1
ZIPPITY SOCK BOP
posted by clavdivs at 9:17 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
posted by clavdivs at 9:17 AM on April 1 [4 favorites]
I recall that Matt used to do s**t like this every April 1st. Some of it (like the slow color cycling of the text and background) was inspired. This recalls those glory days. Thanks!
posted by SPrintF at 9:29 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 9:29 AM on April 1 [6 favorites]
There's an archive of past efforts on the wiki.
posted by Klipspringer at 9:38 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by Klipspringer at 9:38 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
"The Sock it to ME? " was clearly a reference to Nixon's appearance on "Laugh In" -brilliant!
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 9:45 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 9:45 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
if someone were to say, start a Mefi Project to make a t-shirt of said AI mascot, well I for one...just take my money!
posted by supermedusa at 9:55 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 9:55 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
I love that when I opened the Worst Day on the Internet thread, Socky shouted "SILENCED ALL MY LIFE" to the sky.
posted by nickmark at 10:23 AM on April 1 [5 favorites]
posted by nickmark at 10:23 AM on April 1 [5 favorites]
Socky is perfection; I’d like his wry commentary and unhinged expressions to follow me across the web.
posted by missmary6 at 10:51 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by missmary6 at 10:51 AM on April 1 [3 favorites]
Minor typo on a Music page quip, Socky refers to "misic" playlists
Unless that's an in-joke I missed?
posted by churl at 11:03 AM on April 1
Unless that's an in-joke I missed?
posted by churl at 11:03 AM on April 1
Socky changes positions, but only when I'm not looking. HOW THE HELL DOES IT KNOW??!?
Also, should we, or should we not, develop an actual AI for Socky? Then get it to invade other sites. In cyberwarfare, strike early, strike fast and really sock it to'em.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 11:15 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Also, should we, or should we not, develop an actual AI for Socky? Then get it to invade other sites. In cyberwarfare, strike early, strike fast and really sock it to'em.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 11:15 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Re: Socky--
1. My left hand was the model.
2. The googly eyes are because everything is better with googly eyes.
3. The blinking animation is Rhaomi's, I think. They also made the looking-straight-up pose, and one of the forward-facing ones.
4. Someone in another thread commented that the thumb seems weirdly form fitted. Socky had fabric surgery at some past point in their life.
5. I'd say Socky's preferred pronouns are they/them, but they're not going to insist on it.
6. Long long ago at DragonCon, before a panel at a talk being given by Joel Hodgson, there was a monitor on stage with a feed from a camera overlooking the crowd, angled up towards the stage pointed right above our heads. I noticed something weird about it, something a little uncanny. I stuck my arm straight up for a moment, and discovered I was seated directly beneath the camera. So, I raised my arm again, made a mouth with my hand and pretended it was like Kermit the Frog, and the crowd laughed. A few days ago Rhaomi asked if I'd draw a character for a April 1st joke. I went to the MeFi Wiki to brainstorm for in-jokes, but I thought of that thing from long ago, and I remembered the site culture around sock puppet accounts, so that's what I drew. I'm glad that everyone (±5%) likes them!
posted by JHarris at 11:34 AM on April 1 [28 favorites]
1. My left hand was the model.
2. The googly eyes are because everything is better with googly eyes.
3. The blinking animation is Rhaomi's, I think. They also made the looking-straight-up pose, and one of the forward-facing ones.
4. Someone in another thread commented that the thumb seems weirdly form fitted. Socky had fabric surgery at some past point in their life.
5. I'd say Socky's preferred pronouns are they/them, but they're not going to insist on it.
6. Long long ago at DragonCon, before a panel at a talk being given by Joel Hodgson, there was a monitor on stage with a feed from a camera overlooking the crowd, angled up towards the stage pointed right above our heads. I noticed something weird about it, something a little uncanny. I stuck my arm straight up for a moment, and discovered I was seated directly beneath the camera. So, I raised my arm again, made a mouth with my hand and pretended it was like Kermit the Frog, and the crowd laughed. A few days ago Rhaomi asked if I'd draw a character for a April 1st joke. I went to the MeFi Wiki to brainstorm for in-jokes, but I thought of that thing from long ago, and I remembered the site culture around sock puppet accounts, so that's what I drew. I'm glad that everyone (±5%) likes them!
posted by JHarris at 11:34 AM on April 1 [28 favorites]
I love socky and hope they will stay forever
posted by latkes at 11:46 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by latkes at 11:46 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
Minor typo on a Music page quip, Socky refers to "misic" playlists
Unless that's an in-joke I missed?
well duh
(I'm joking, I have no idea)
posted by ginger.beef at 11:48 AM on April 1
Unless that's an in-joke I missed?
well duh
(I'm joking, I have no idea)
posted by ginger.beef at 11:48 AM on April 1
... I completely forgot what day it was when I saw this and thought WTF.
I am not kidding, when I bleary-eyed started thumbing my morning MeTa tab and Socky appeared I wondered if this was a final fuckyou from kirkaracha. I am glad it is not but that's what a bleary-eyed person might think for about 6-8 seconds.
thank you for Socky
posted by ginger.beef at 11:52 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
I am not kidding, when I bleary-eyed started thumbing my morning MeTa tab and Socky appeared I wondered if this was a final fuckyou from kirkaracha. I am glad it is not but that's what a bleary-eyed person might think for about 6-8 seconds.
thank you for Socky
posted by ginger.beef at 11:52 AM on April 1 [2 favorites]
When you turn off your Socky, you're killing 13.5 Victorian urchins
🎵
Ev'ry Socky's sacred
Ev'ry Socky's great
If a Socky's wasted
Socky's quite irate
🎶
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:54 AM on April 1 [7 favorites]
🎵
Ev'ry Socky's sacred
Ev'ry Socky's great
If a Socky's wasted
Socky's quite irate
🎶
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:54 AM on April 1 [7 favorites]
I demand a Socky T-shirt.
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 12:33 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 12:33 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
"The Sock it to ME? " was clearly a reference to Nixon's appearance on "Laugh In" -brilliant!
Thanks for pointing that one out. I missed it and it's gold.
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 12:34 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
Thanks for pointing that one out. I missed it and it's gold.
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 12:34 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
I love it <3
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:37 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:37 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
JHarris: "The blinking animation is Rhaomi's, I think"
100% frimble's idea! I did adapt the original three images into a couple more variants (and added a bit of eye shine, because Socky has not yet been crushed by the weight of being). I'll be back tonight with some other behind-the-scenes goodies.
Thanks so much for the pitch-perfect art, JHarris!
posted by Rhaomi at 12:49 PM on April 1 [5 favorites]
100% frimble's idea! I did adapt the original three images into a couple more variants (and added a bit of eye shine, because Socky has not yet been crushed by the weight of being). I'll be back tonight with some other behind-the-scenes goodies.
Thanks so much for the pitch-perfect art, JHarris!
posted by Rhaomi at 12:49 PM on April 1 [5 favorites]
Thanks so much for the everything else! The quotes are terrific, I especially like the reference to the old wendell meme, I like to think oneswellfoop, the original wendell, would be tickled by it.
posted by JHarris at 12:52 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 12:52 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
The real wendell has been retired 15 years and living like a king in Patagonia.
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 12:54 PM on April 1 [7 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 12:54 PM on April 1 [7 favorites]
can we ask Socky to do the "I love mess!" Marie Kondo meme on the Gray please
posted by phunniemee at 1:03 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 1:03 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
“This is probably bad news for John McCain” is eternal and perfect.
posted by Paid In Full at 1:12 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by Paid In Full at 1:12 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Should we do a t-shirt? Does anyone know a good non-evil place to do that online?
posted by JHarris at 1:16 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by JHarris at 1:16 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
April Fools day was so yesterday, complete with Queensland state police pulling drivers over for not giving them a 'courtesy wave' as they drove past, Ian the Ibis being announced as the mascot for the 2030 Olympic games and similar shenanigans.
posted by dg at 1:47 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by dg at 1:47 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
I went straight to Bo Burnham - "Where you been, Socko?" "I've been where I always am when you're not wearing me on your hand - in a frightening, liminal space between states of being! Not quite dead, not quite alive! It's similar to a constant state of sleep paralysis!"
posted by ersatzkat at 2:10 PM on April 1
posted by ersatzkat at 2:10 PM on April 1
I love Socky.
posted by Sparky Buttons at 2:20 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 2:20 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
I love Socky!!!!
posted by meowmeowdream at 2:40 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by meowmeowdream at 2:40 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
I love Socky in the spring time
I love Socky in the fall
I love Socky in the April when it Foolses
I love Socky as a MeFi AI toolses
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:06 PM on April 1 [4 favorites]
I love Socky in the fall
I love Socky in the April when it Foolses
I love Socky as a MeFi AI toolses
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:06 PM on April 1 [4 favorites]
At first I was like, wtf, then I was like, heh.
I was gag me with a spoon already. It's a sad day when the most annoying thing about MeFi's own Clippy is its weakest of weak tea-ness. C’est ennuyeux.
posted by y2karl at 3:34 PM on April 1
I was gag me with a spoon already. It's a sad day when the most annoying thing about MeFi's own Clippy is its weakest of weak tea-ness. C’est ennuyeux.
posted by y2karl at 3:34 PM on April 1
J'adore Socky!
posted by valkane at 4:55 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by valkane at 4:55 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
I love Socky, and he kind or resembles Kerwyn from Svengoolie, so everything he says, I hear in that voice. I recommend this to you all for an enhanced Socky experience.
posted by vrakatar at 5:33 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 5:33 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
I like Socky.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:51 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:51 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
Buckle down, weird Socky, buckle down
You can win, weird Socky, if you buckle down
I think that's the last of the bizarre song references that have been going through my head all day
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:48 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
You can win, weird Socky, if you buckle down
I think that's the last of the bizarre song references that have been going through my head all day
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:48 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
it's learning, I was searching for something and Sicky comments about searching for something.
blue needs a Svengoolie post.
posted by clavdivs at 6:50 PM on April 1
blue needs a Svengoolie post.
posted by clavdivs at 6:50 PM on April 1
The best site update I've seen in a long damn time.
(Am I the only one who has misread "munity" as "mutiny"?)
posted by stormyteal at 7:37 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
(Am I the only one who has misread "munity" as "mutiny"?)
posted by stormyteal at 7:37 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
Best since the slowly-changing background colors many moons ago. Great work!
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:00 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:00 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Ha! I forgot what day it is and this totally got me. Prank or not, Socky is great!
posted by AV at 8:02 PM on April 1
posted by AV at 8:02 PM on April 1
Socky, please make the background color of each page slowly, almost imperceptibly, change hues, causing me to think I'm having an ophthalmological crisis.
posted by not_on_display at 8:08 PM on April 1 [5 favorites]
posted by not_on_display at 8:08 PM on April 1 [5 favorites]
jingle ROCK bell
Jingle ROCK bell
Bell rock bell rock jingle rock bell..
No, it’s not too early. Why do you ask?
posted by nat at 8:59 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Jingle ROCK bell
Bell rock bell rock jingle rock bell..
No, it’s not too early. Why do you ask?
posted by nat at 8:59 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
What the hell, it's April 2nd and Socky is still here! and the post date still says April 1...arghhhh Is it always April 1 now?
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:08 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:08 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
goo'night Socky
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:08 PM on April 1
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:08 PM on April 1
Head's up: Socky will be going in the hamper in about an hour, at midnight Pacific (they're pretty soiled at this point). But if you're ever feeling lonesome in the future (or happen upon this thread for the first time), you can summon them back by visiting:
https://www.metafilter.com/?socky_back_by_popular_demand=1 (and then this link to toss them in the wash again)
As for more background: frimble was the first to raise the idea of doing an April Fool's gag again some months ago. After filing it away for awhile, we brainstormed some ideas late February and landed on doing some sort of Clippy parody. Initial concepts were putting various animated eyes on a MeFi logo ("Meffy") or a favorite icon ("Favey"), but when I reached out to JHarris (of Crouton Meter fame) for art help a couple weeks ago, they suggested a sockpuppet. I wasn't sure at first, since like ersatzkat I was picturing a more nondescript Socko type, but when JHarris added the googly eyes, there was no way to say no.
The evolution of Socky! (outline, shaded, colors, more saturated)
I adapted these into five total on top of a suitably retro Win95 backdrop, then frimble added the surprise -blink- animation.
For dialogue, I came up with six example lines, then polled the mods and board. That and some more brainstorming got us to 50+, then I combed through the site page by page to add more context-sensitive ones; ending up with almost 100. Frimble added a bunch more later based on a shared spreadsheet, including some more properly Clippy-like pointers. At some point, we cut back a bit on lines for various reasons (awkward wording, too broad, too specific, the page too obscure, or the joke overly jaded for Socky's irrepressible SpongeBob-ian joie de vivre -- this hit some of mine, but shortening the list to maintain a more consistent tone with the imagery was the right call).
Ask:
You can't handle the truth!
Facebook up, hit the lawyer, delete gym
Have you ever had a dream that you, um, you had, your, you- you could, you’ll do, you- you wants, you, you could do so, you- you’ll do, you could- you, you want, you want them to do you so much you could do anything?
Should you eat that?
AI might have infinite patience, but it can't make you smile like a Best Answer checkmark can
Craft your question like you’re explaining it to a friend! A pedantic, anxious, earnest friend.
DON'T PANIC
Remember: the blue is for links, AskMe is for life advice, recommendations, and existential dread
You’re about to ask the hive mind. Choose your words wisely.
Chat:
bash.org nevar forget
How does this thing work again?
It's like IRC, but for kool kidz
Contact:
administrator! please hope me!!!
Tell them what you told me!
What's eating you?
What's on your mind?
Contacts list:
"Shiny, Happy People"
FanFare clubs:
"Join the club(s)!"
FanFare:
6.9% DirtyOldTown posts by volume (nice) [this one is actually true! Love you, DOT]
We're gonna need a bigger plate of beans
Where the takes are as hot as the popcorn
Funding:
If you’ve ever learned something useful, been unexpectedly moved, or just enjoyed the mess -- consider a donation!
Generic:
[This in-joke violates our Content Policies] <>meant to be an OpenAI joke, but couldn't remember the exact verbiage]
Are you sure this doesn't violate Section XIXVIII(a)(12) of The Rules?
Fun fact: There Is No Cabal.
Go ahead and eat it, what’s the worst that could happen?
I, for one, welcome our LLM overlords.
I'm gonna go cry now
my name is Sock, and wen its nite, or wen the screen is shining brite, and all the mods have gone to bed, i stay up late. i troll the thred. [more of a Reddit meme]
Need some help making questionable life decisions?
This is why we can't have nice things
You can tell the quality of an artist by the quality of his sock
You got a CITE for that line of thought?
IRL:
Shake hands (not mine)
Jessamyn:
The FBI has not been here (watch very carefully for the removal of this tooltip)
with jessamyn charity west for all, and jessamyn malice west towards none
Jobs:
Get a job, hippie!
Odd jobs for odd people
Stimulate our personal economy
Today's job, tomorrow's anecdote
Mall:
And yet you participate in capitalism! Curious...
Enter code SOCKY at checkout! (Doesn't do anything, but it makes me smile.)
MeFi:
Open the link please, HAL
MeMail:
Do you have any of those commemorative Elvis stamps?
It ain’t ICQ, but it’ll do.
MeFi mail, it never fails, it makes me want to wag my tail, when it comes I wanna wail, \MEFI MAIIIIIL\""
Neither rain nor snow nor sleet nor hail shall keep the MeMail from its appointed rounds
MeFi new post:
If it ends up in MetaTalk, at least you’ll be famous
Yes, you’re about to post to the front page. No pressure!
MeTa:
Come for the debates, stay for the recipes
It's callouts all the way down
Making mountains out of molehills since 2000
Only the finest artisanal flamewars
Welcome to Nerd Thunderdome
Preferences:
Self-links only!
Projects:
Like show and tell, but for grown-ups
The fridge door art of MetaFilter Dot Com
Recent Activity:
You fear to watch, yet you cannot turn away!
The grand total on dialogue options was well north of 300, including randomized variations frimble made for "My favorite show is..." and describing their Faves & Flags character. (If you want to cheat, you can see the final list of dialogue here.)
As for merch, JHarris has a question up -- it's definitely something we can look into supporting! (Question is, would y'all rather have a shirt... or a sock? 😉)
posted by Rhaomi at 11:09 PM on April 1 [7 favorites]
https://www.metafilter.com/?socky_back_by_popular_demand=1 (and then this link to toss them in the wash again)
As for more background: frimble was the first to raise the idea of doing an April Fool's gag again some months ago. After filing it away for awhile, we brainstormed some ideas late February and landed on doing some sort of Clippy parody. Initial concepts were putting various animated eyes on a MeFi logo ("Meffy") or a favorite icon ("Favey"), but when I reached out to JHarris (of Crouton Meter fame) for art help a couple weeks ago, they suggested a sockpuppet. I wasn't sure at first, since like ersatzkat I was picturing a more nondescript Socko type, but when JHarris added the googly eyes, there was no way to say no.
The evolution of Socky! (outline, shaded, colors, more saturated)
I adapted these into five total on top of a suitably retro Win95 backdrop, then frimble added the surprise -blink- animation.
For dialogue, I came up with six example lines, then polled the mods and board. That and some more brainstorming got us to 50+, then I combed through the site page by page to add more context-sensitive ones; ending up with almost 100. Frimble added a bunch more later based on a shared spreadsheet, including some more properly Clippy-like pointers. At some point, we cut back a bit on lines for various reasons (awkward wording, too broad, too specific, the page too obscure, or the joke overly jaded for Socky's irrepressible SpongeBob-ian joie de vivre -- this hit some of mine, but shortening the list to maintain a more consistent tone with the imagery was the right call).
If you prefer your taglines with a weirder/bitterer edge like y2karl, you can check out some of the leftovers here (click)
Ask:
You can't handle the truth!
Facebook up, hit the lawyer, delete gym
Have you ever had a dream that you, um, you had, your, you- you could, you’ll do, you- you wants, you, you could do so, you- you’ll do, you could- you, you want, you want them to do you so much you could do anything?
Should you eat that?
AI might have infinite patience, but it can't make you smile like a Best Answer checkmark can
Craft your question like you’re explaining it to a friend! A pedantic, anxious, earnest friend.
DON'T PANIC
Remember: the blue is for links, AskMe is for life advice, recommendations, and existential dread
You’re about to ask the hive mind. Choose your words wisely.
Chat:
bash.org nevar forget
How does this thing work again?
It's like IRC, but for kool kidz
Contact:
administrator! please hope me!!!
Tell them what you told me!
What's eating you?
What's on your mind?
Contacts list:
"Shiny, Happy People"
FanFare clubs:
"Join the club(s)!"
FanFare:
6.9% DirtyOldTown posts by volume (nice) [this one is actually true! Love you, DOT]
We're gonna need a bigger plate of beans
Where the takes are as hot as the popcorn
Funding:
If you’ve ever learned something useful, been unexpectedly moved, or just enjoyed the mess -- consider a donation!
Generic:
[This in-joke violates our Content Policies] <>meant to be an OpenAI joke, but couldn't remember the exact verbiage]
Are you sure this doesn't violate Section XIXVIII(a)(12) of The Rules?
Fun fact: There Is No Cabal.
Go ahead and eat it, what’s the worst that could happen?
I, for one, welcome our LLM overlords.
I'm gonna go cry now
my name is Sock, and wen its nite, or wen the screen is shining brite, and all the mods have gone to bed, i stay up late. i troll the thred. [more of a Reddit meme]
Need some help making questionable life decisions?
This is why we can't have nice things
You can tell the quality of an artist by the quality of his sock
You got a CITE for that line of thought?
IRL:
Shake hands (not mine)
Jessamyn:
The FBI has not been here (watch very carefully for the removal of this tooltip)
with jessamyn charity west for all, and jessamyn malice west towards none
Jobs:
Get a job, hippie!
Odd jobs for odd people
Stimulate our personal economy
Today's job, tomorrow's anecdote
Mall:
And yet you participate in capitalism! Curious...
Enter code SOCKY at checkout! (Doesn't do anything, but it makes me smile.)
MeFi:
Open the link please, HAL
MeMail:
Do you have any of those commemorative Elvis stamps?
It ain’t ICQ, but it’ll do.
MeFi mail, it never fails, it makes me want to wag my tail, when it comes I wanna wail, \MEFI MAIIIIIL\""
Neither rain nor snow nor sleet nor hail shall keep the MeMail from its appointed rounds
MeFi new post:
If it ends up in MetaTalk, at least you’ll be famous
Yes, you’re about to post to the front page. No pressure!
MeTa:
Come for the debates, stay for the recipes
It's callouts all the way down
Making mountains out of molehills since 2000
Only the finest artisanal flamewars
Welcome to Nerd Thunderdome
Preferences:
Self-links only!
Projects:
Like show and tell, but for grown-ups
The fridge door art of MetaFilter Dot Com
Recent Activity:
You fear to watch, yet you cannot turn away!
The grand total on dialogue options was well north of 300, including randomized variations frimble made for "My favorite show is..." and describing their Faves & Flags character. (If you want to cheat, you can see the final list of dialogue here.)
As for merch, JHarris has a question up -- it's definitely something we can look into supporting! (Question is, would y'all rather have a shirt... or a sock? 😉)
posted by Rhaomi at 11:09 PM on April 1 [7 favorites]
Goodbye, friends! Thanks for all the laughs!
posted by Socky the Sockpuppet at 12:00 AM on April 2 [11 favorites]
posted by Socky the Sockpuppet at 12:00 AM on April 2 [11 favorites]
This was a blast from a past internet and Mefi from less embattled times, and I loved it.
posted by rory at 2:05 AM on April 2 [7 favorites]
posted by rory at 2:05 AM on April 2 [7 favorites]
Bye Socky! 🧦
posted by supermedusa at 5:54 AM on April 2 [1 favorite]
posted by supermedusa at 5:54 AM on April 2 [1 favorite]
Socky's tell-all about the fate of their partner makes for a harrowing read
"Used" is a dark voyage into exploitation, not for the faint hearted
posted by ginger.beef at 8:27 AM on April 2 [1 favorite]
"Used" is a dark voyage into exploitation, not for the faint hearted
posted by ginger.beef at 8:27 AM on April 2 [1 favorite]
If Socky's early demise isn't the perfect time for our new poet laureate to write an ode, I don't know when would be.
Socks fall apart; the scent, er, cannot hold.
posted by sylvanshine at 12:10 PM on April 2 [2 favorites]
Socks fall apart; the scent, er, cannot hold.
posted by sylvanshine at 12:10 PM on April 2 [2 favorites]
I'm so accustomed to killing unblockable popups that I killed it at first appearance without even thinking. (Don't hate me, my sockpuppet overlords....)
posted by mightshould at 3:08 PM on April 2 [1 favorite]
posted by mightshould at 3:08 PM on April 2 [1 favorite]
And what rough in-joke, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 4:49 PM on April 2 [3 favorites]
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 4:49 PM on April 2 [3 favorites]
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posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 12:06 AM on April 1 [8 favorites]