November 18
Gosh, it's been 20 years
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! [more inside]
November 16
2024 MetaFilter Gift Swap - Arrival - thank you!
A place to share that your gift from the swap arrived.
MeFites for the Holidays
During the first Trump administration, we had MetaTalk threads to connect MeFites who had space at their holiday table with other MeFites who may not feel welcome at their family table or who had nowhere special to go. Given the recent election results, we should revive that tradition. [more inside]
November 15
“I have no idea how all these MeFites got wedged into Bluesky, or why"
Guardian: 'Bluesky adds 700,000 new members as users flee X after the US election.' Bluesky no longer needs an invite code to join. A directory of starter packs (of users), a directory of feeds, and some other tools and clients. Also, @madamjujujive.bsky.social maintains a list of some MeFites, including a librarian in Vermont. Post title by @jeffleyser.com.
A (Temporarily) Better MetaTalk
What would make MetaTalk more useful and effective, in your opinion, in the short term—the next X months until MetaFilter crosses the line into community-run status? Are there specific issues that you have noticed in recent weeks or months that you feel could reasonably be remedied and improve your experience here? [more inside]
November 13
Seeking global perspectives from the community
Hi all, this is a message from MetaFilter’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) board.
In the interest of highlighting and growing the global perspective here on our little corner of the web, we want to encourage BIPOC members to post a bit more to the site.
So we’re going to use this second week of November to encourage members who don’t consider themselves Western world natives (Diasporic BIPOC welcome here) to make a post or two about their culture. [more inside]
194: Wait, are we going to be on camera?
Hey hey it's the podcast again. Loup and I talk about the Ask the Mods Anything questions and reveal the winners of the Halloween Costume Contest. Thank you not_on_display for the mixing. [more inside]
November 12
About Unconscious Ableism Around Mental Health
We have had previous Metas around ableism and conflicting needs here on the grey. And we've gotten better on how we discuss mental health. But as someone living with a mental health condition, it appears that many discussions that implicate mental health on Metafilter are still touched with a lot of stigma: I would like us to do better still. [more inside]
November 8
Charities to help the people Trump will hurt
For those able to do so, donating or fundraising for charities seems like a good idea, especially with the holidays coming up. For USAmericans, this has the dual function of denying your tax $$ to the incoming government and helping the people that government wishes to harm.
I thought it might be nice to crowdsource a thread of charities which do useful work for the communities under threat. Below are a few to start us off: [more inside]
Quick Nonprofit Update
As of November 1, 2024 (it took some time for the notice to arrive), the Metafilter Community Foundation exists as an officially registered Delaware nonprofit non-stock corporation.
What this means:
1. We can now get an EIN, apply for a bank account, and apply to the IRS for not-for-profit designation.
2. The interim board of directors can get to work. We will have to adopt bylaws, approve (with community input) a policy and procedures manual, obtain insurance, and transfer the existing LLC and its assets into the new entity, among many other tasks.
We have a lot of work ahead. [more inside]
What this means:
1. We can now get an EIN, apply for a bank account, and apply to the IRS for not-for-profit designation.
2. The interim board of directors can get to work. We will have to adopt bylaws, approve (with community input) a policy and procedures manual, obtain insurance, and transfer the existing LLC and its assets into the new entity, among many other tasks.
We have a lot of work ahead. [more inside]
November 6
Calmer Vibes Chill Thread.
Share something good or nice in here. Someone excellent win in your district? Kid or grandkid get a good job, or accomplish something hard? Maybe you found a welcoming, progressive group in your community? Maybe you'll enjoy A Post-Election Day Poem by Rebecca Faulkner, assembled from words sent in by the Reasons to be Cheerful community. [more inside]
November 2
2024 MeFi Holiday Card Exchange!
October 31
👻🎃 Halloween Gala Thread 🎃👻
I know some of you already dressed up and went to your parties last weekend. And some of you have parties this weekend. And tonight (in the US) it trick-or-treat free-for-all. How have you decorated? What are you wearing? [more inside]
October 24
Content Warning: This Comment May Have Been Secretly Edited
Hello, folks. I would like to know 1) if it's common practice for mods to edit users' comments without any indication of a mod note, 2) when this practice began, and 3) if it's been disclosed as a community practice here. As a member of the mefi community it's certainly something I would like to provide feedback on! [more inside]
October 22
2024 MetaFilter Gift Swap Sign-Ups are Open!!
Signups for the 2024 MetaFilter Gift Swap are now open! The Metafilter Gift Swap takes place annually from roughly November - December. Each participant sends a gift to an awesome Mefite; each participant receives a gift from an awesome Mefite. Awesomeness and gifts abound. [more inside]
October 16
[MeFi Site Update] October 16th
October 15
MeFiCoFo update
A few updates about the MetaFilter Community Foundation [more inside]
October 9
Hurricane Milton check-in thread
Many MeFites are in the track of this beast, and there's a post on the Blue to share info. I thought we could use a space to check-in and keep each other company, share best wishes, worries, hopes and suggestions for staying safe.
October 2
Zine based on a AskMe that I made
Both an idea (for outreach/promotion) and a confession. The day before I was set to table at the local zine symposium, I was scrambling for another mini-zine idea, and ended up excerpting some of the answers to an Ask Me I made earlier this year"What's your random (but regular) act of public service?" Here's a link to the one-page mini zine (mod note: link removed, see this note). [more inside]
September 26
Hurricane Helene Check-in Thread
I know a lot of us are in the path of Helene in Florida and Georgia (Alabama, Tennessee, SC, NC, too! It's a big storm!). I thought it might be nice to have a (text-based, low bandwidth) place to check in and provide information updates as it moves ashore this afternoon and across the Southeast overnight and through tomorrow.