Shoutouts to FuzzyVerde

July 10, 2006 4:34 PM

I just wanted to publicly thank FuzzyVerde, who actually delivered three tubs of ice cream to my pregnant sister today for her birthday (complete with festive cooler). The idea that a complete stranger halfway around the world would offer to help me out is just amazing. I love MeFites!
posted by web-goddess to MetaFilter-related at 4:34 PM (158 comments total)

Wow, truly impressive. FuzzyVerde, thank you for helping keep my faith in humanity.
posted by galimatias at 4:37 PM on July 10, 2006

Awesome.

In a similar vein, Iconomy came thru for me... books arrived today.
posted by dobbs at 4:43 PM on July 10, 2006

Good job! Huzzah!

now if only I could get one of you to deliver me from evil
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:44 PM on July 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

(And of course I thanked Iconomy profusely in multiple emails even though I'm a dolt and forgot to do it above. Thanks, Ico!)
posted by dobbs at 4:47 PM on July 10, 2006

Seems like this would be a good idea for a new subsite. Not quite ebay, not quite craiglist, but some way to do favors for one another in the real world.
posted by mathowie at 4:49 PM on July 10, 2006

KarmaFilter
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:50 PM on July 10, 2006

mathowie - i absolutely adore that idea!!
posted by tristeza at 4:54 PM on July 10, 2006

IRFH, the best I can do is forgiveness for trespasses. But you'll have to get off my goddam lawn first.
posted by cortex at 4:56 PM on July 10, 2006

Great idea, Matt. I feel like I have a little karmic debt to pay off now, and I love the idea of being able to "pay it forward" to a fellow MeFite. (In addition to thanking FuzzyVerde, who will be getting a care package of Tim Tams and kangaroo scrotum coin purses and whatever other Aussie icons I can cram in a box.)
posted by web-goddess at 4:58 PM on July 10, 2006

I too have been blessed by ask.mefi KarmaFilter in the past.
posted by shoepal at 5:00 PM on July 10, 2006

digaman sent me a copy of his book Skeleton Key - A Dictionary for Deadheads recently, as per this comment/thread. It's pretty awesome. Thanks Steve!
posted by loquacious at 5:03 PM on July 10, 2006

Bravo!
posted by mzurer at 5:10 PM on July 10, 2006

Matt, what a great idea! MetaKarma?

And kudos to FuzzyVerde. What an awesomely nice thing to do.
posted by scody at 5:11 PM on July 10, 2006

Totally awesome. And this:

Seems like this would be a good idea for a new subsite. Not quite ebay, not quite craiglist, but some way to do favors for one another in the real world.

Completely fucking super awesome. MetaFavor!

Seriously, let's talk (as in, implementation, preventing abuse, yadda, not just "Hey, great idea!") about this.
posted by Gator at 5:17 PM on July 10, 2006

FuzzyVerde - props to you!

I wonder what's going to be in the care package from Down Under? Vegemite, Macadamia nuts, Anzac Biscuits, and some fine Australian wine per chance ?

I second/third, etc. IRFH's KarmaFilter name/idea.
posted by ericb at 5:24 PM on July 10, 2006

Seriously, let's talk (as in, implementation, preventing abuse, yadda, not just "Hey, great idea!") about this.

Make it like Projects. Make it offer-based rather than asker-based. People can post things, goods, or services they're willing to offer, someone accepts offer. Include a comments thread for follow ups.

The realistic sadist in me wants the ability to say things like "best story gets this" or "first 3 responses only!", because many physical items or services will possibly be in short supply, of course.
posted by loquacious at 5:25 PM on July 10, 2006

But perhaps there needs to be a way for people to ask for favors as well, somehow, without it degrading into OMG MY CRACKBABY NEEDS SHOES CRACK.
posted by loquacious at 5:26 PM on July 10, 2006

Yay for everyone! This is so nice!
posted by dog food sugar at 5:26 PM on July 10, 2006

Amazon wish list?
posted by Mr. Six at 5:29 PM on July 10, 2006

I can see it now, "Take it to MetaKarma, hippies...." Seriously, that is a lovely story, good on you FuzzyVerde.
posted by jessamyn at 5:31 PM on July 10, 2006

matt, I will trade you three tubs of ice cream for a metakarma subsite.
posted by scarylarry at 5:42 PM on July 10, 2006

... and now you know how to have them delivered.
posted by Tuwa at 5:46 PM on July 10, 2006

Dear KarFi: Is it possible to get a gallon keg or two of ice cream Guinness delivered on a specific day tonight to an address in Los Angeles Edmonton? Who should I contact?

And I propose that "FuzzyVerding" be adopted as the official term describing such a random act of cool delicious kindness.
posted by hangashore at 5:47 PM on July 10, 2006

Bravo!
posted by pompomtom at 5:48 PM on July 10, 2006

I declare this post to be delicious!

Pie&IceCreamFilter: mmmmmmmm!
posted by blue_beetle at 5:48 PM on July 10, 2006

That's awesome. Fuzzy should get some Tim Tams for that!
posted by schnee at 5:53 PM on July 10, 2006

OMFG Tim Tams! Some guy taught me how to drink milk through them when I was in Sydney, I have rarely had such a sublime snack food experience.
posted by jessamyn at 5:58 PM on July 10, 2006

Well, obviously my first offer for KarFi will have to be to send Tim Tams to all of the obsessed Americans... :)
posted by web-goddess at 5:59 PM on July 10, 2006

Well, if we're worried about the quality of posts asking for something, perhaps a mod of Projects so things can be voted down too? Or is that harder than it sounds?

The *other* pony (besides the whole KarmaFilter pony) would be putting a 'threshold' view in. But, you know, we're all smart and could just read the votes, too.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 6:11 PM on July 10, 2006

I'm torn. MetaKarma sounds better, but MeFavor sounds better shorthand-style.

I guess MetaKarma, just because I've now got MetaKarma's gonna get you... And we all shine on! in my head.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:40 PM on July 10, 2006

The proper name for this section of the site is: HelpMe.

That is all.
posted by MrZero at 6:42 PM on July 10, 2006

Who couldn't use some MetaKarma, I ask you?
posted by killdevil at 6:47 PM on July 10, 2006

MetaFavor
posted by pjern at 6:52 PM on July 10, 2006

drat!

MetaFavor )or MetaFavors) sounds cool, but I really have to go with MetaKarma, because it's closer to the spirit of the idea, which I quite fancy, BTW.

Sorry about the aborted post above, I can't stand laptops with integrated touchpads. Grrrr.
posted by pjern at 6:56 PM on July 10, 2006

OMFG Tim Tams! Some guy taught me how to drink milk through them when I was in Sydney, I have rarely had such a sublime snack food experience.

Ah Tim Tam slammers. Coffee is also good but you have to be quick before you get Tim Tam meltdown!

Oh and people helping people is very cool indeed.
posted by gomichild at 7:19 PM on July 10, 2006

I like HelpMe (Help MetaFilter), as a subsite for posting offers of help. AskMe is already a suitable place for asking for help, and projects is a suitable place for posting about help already completed, but it would be nice to have a place to post offers of help one would only bother completing if someone actually wanted it. It could be sort of like freecycle, only with a broader scope than just giving away used stuff.
posted by scottreynen at 7:29 PM on July 10, 2006

Nice job, Fuzzy...and excellent idea/plan, mathowie.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 7:30 PM on July 10, 2006

My Name Is URL
posted by Arch_Stanton at 7:36 PM on July 10, 2006

So we'd do the idea where we have something to offer only? It seems like it would have to allow for both requests and offers. Something like this on the front page:

request: I just landed in NYC and I know not a soul. I'd like to get some pizza, anyone up for showing me around?

offer: I have tons of oink/vox/gmail invites, anyone need one?

offer: I'm in Salt Lake City and I love to work on cars. I'm offering 10 oil changes if you'll help build me a website for my auto tuneup business

request: if anyone has an old 2600 rotting away in a basement, I'd love to buy it off you for $40.

Then there could be a "fulfilled" flag for stuff that was done (which could disappear from the front page, if it's still up there) and we could have lists of unfulfilled and fulfilled requests and offers.

I have no idea what guidelines to lay down, if software should be off-limits, if anything remotely racy like alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs be off the table for offers/requests, or how to keep people from trying to trade work for massages, etc. I also don't know if we need a feedback system like ebay to let people notify others if someone is a deadbeat.
posted by mathowie at 7:41 PM on July 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

Please let's do it, I've got lots of shit I am dying to give away.

And I also vote for MetaKarma.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:50 PM on July 10, 2006

If it's MetaKarma, we'll have to give people a number, like +1 for every offer you posted and another +1 for every offer that someone took up, and then -1 for requests and -1 when you get the thing you requested.

The number wouldn't mean much but I guess if a +15 asks for a favor, maybe more people would be willing to help the person out.
posted by mathowie at 7:56 PM on July 10, 2006

I think that drug offers/requests should be allowed, Matt, as long as they are non-commercial and discreet.

offer: I love hanging around doing drug X, if anyone wants to be my activity partner...

request: I'm having trouble meeting people to do drug X with as I'm new to town Y...
posted by Meatbomb at 7:58 PM on July 10, 2006

Karma is so hippie/lame. MetaFavor has a nice ring to it. But karma makes me think of a 36 year old white guy who still lives with his parents, reeks of patchouli, and works three days a week at the local coffee shop. He point to the "TIPS" cup on the counter, and goes "Dude, Karma?" like I'm supposed to acquiesce to the way he has condescendingly co-opted Hindu culture to get his lazy, arrogant, and standoffish ass a little extra money just for having a more-enlightened-than-thou attitude.

Whoa, where did I just go? RogueVendettaFilter, or perhaps FugueStateFilter.

No, seriously, MetaFavor. Those of us not living in Portland or San Francisco want to be able to use the site without rolling our eyes. Karma = lame unless you are actually Hindu (or Sikh/Buddhist/Jain) and practicing. If it was an anonymous confession site, you wouldn't call it MetaSins because all the non-Christians and anti-Religious Right people would be up in arms. Please keep MetaFilter religion-free.
posted by Eideteker at 8:01 PM on July 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

I think that drug offers/requests should be allowed, Matt, as long as they are non-commercial and discreet.

On a public site? Ha! Real discreet. I'm sure the local PD could just post a "hey go get high with me" and arrest you when you show up.
posted by mathowie at 8:02 PM on July 10, 2006

I like that idea. A few thoughts

- serious character limit on posts or be aggressive on the More Inside apsect. I'd suggest just making it like 100 words or something.
- limit of one per month or something? have to be a member for two weeks before you post perhaps?
- make sure the feedback system is pretty strong, so it's like two strikes you're out or something
- sort by offer/request and unfulfilled/fulfilled [this would be hot with some AJAX-y thing]
- I'd keep cash out of it, find some way to describe it that makes it not like MetaClassified, unless that's what you want.

I'm not sure, what else?
posted by jessamyn at 8:04 PM on July 10, 2006

Also, Karma = Slashdot = Extra lame. But seriously, I think using "karma" at all is trivializing and disrespectful. If individual users want to use "karma" in their everyday discourse, that's fine, but I don't think it should be adopted on a site-wide level.
posted by Eideteker at 8:06 PM on July 10, 2006

I vote for HelpMe. And ImpregnateMe for the inevitable in-vitro fertilization clinic.

I've said too much.
posted by emelenjr at 8:09 PM on July 10, 2006

i vote against an entire site of begging and creating rules around it. the beauty of the occasional favor is the serendipity and unexpectedness of it all and the spontaneous desire of a community pitching in to help each other on utterly whimsical and wholly important things alike.
posted by judith at 8:16 PM on July 10, 2006

The power of community - very cool.
posted by caddis at 8:25 PM on July 10, 2006

I don't like the whole MetaBarter thing. If you want something in exchange for you favor, it's not so much a favor as a classifieds ad. It would be a lot simpler and, I think, better if you could only offer favors without asking for something in return.
posted by scottreynen at 8:31 PM on July 10, 2006

Kudos to FuzzyVerde!
I agree with judith.
posted by peacay at 8:32 PM on July 10, 2006

I didn't want to ruin a good comment by agreeing with it, but since peacay has already chimed in here, I also agree with judith. Formalizing unselfish deeds into an entire web site seems a bit counterintuitive to spontaneous acts of kindness.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 8:35 PM on July 10, 2006

Judith does have a point. Some of the examples linked up above aren't necessarily things that you'd think of to offer: "I'm in L.A. if anybody needs some ice cream delivered." "I'm in Bangkok if anybody needs a bank calendar picked up." There's something fun in seeing the random requests filled that might be lost if it were just a classifieds site.

There's also a side of me that's a little squeamish about directly asking for stuff. I mean, when I posted my AskMe I'd be lying if I said I didn't nurse a secret hope that maybe somebody local would help me out, but I certainly didn't expect it. And I would've felt rude just asking for the favor without, you know, proving that I was willing to do the work to try to accomplish it myself. Maybe people are more willing to do nice, random things for people when they aren't being directly requested? (I work in a knitting shop, and I know I'm much more inclined to go the extra mile for people - write out a pattern, demonstrate a stitch, give a discount - for someone who doesn't ask than for someone who demands those things.) Just musing here...
posted by web-goddess at 8:35 PM on July 10, 2006

It would be a lot simpler and, I think, better if you could only offer favors without asking for something in return.

I get the part where it's easier to do that, but how on earth would you ever find someone to buy ice cream for you as a favor on another continent like happened in ask mefi.
posted by mathowie at 8:37 PM on July 10, 2006

Oh, I think it has to be MetaKarma, aka MeKa. It's not a charity clearinghouse or a do-gooder project -- it's people doing favors for other people because... well, why not?

As for the number/points -- are you talking about listing this along with the request? Or on the profile page, along with all the other tallies? I seem to remember you've objected to AskMe points, since it would lead to people getting all weird and competitive and haxx0rish about the numbers, and I think you're right. Or maybe I just made up that whole thing. Anyway, I vote for another line on the profile page, nothing on MeKa itself.

Yes to the fulfilled flag, plus an expiration date for time-sensitive requests such as web_goddess's. And of course a posting limit -- two a month, max. Hell, one a month. Whaddaya want, somebody to come and wipe your bottom, too?

Ultra-yes to a feedback system. The informal self-policing works pretty well elsewhere but something like this needs more explicit monitoring.

No idea what to suggest as far as avoiding the software-for-hummers issue. Something like the Craigslist hands-off caveat emptor disclaimer? Or what if you tried out a beta version with no offers, just requests? That way, responders really wouldn't have anything to gain except for karma points. That doesn't eliminate the barter possibilities; a responder could say, "Sure, I got your quid if you'll take care of my quo" and it's up to the poster to take the offer or leave it, report the offer as offensive no-guidelines noise, or whatever.

IANAL but it seems like limiting posts to requests only would simply your life (and legal fees) immensely.

Fantabulous idea, mathowie, and karmic rosaries to FuzzyVerde, the patron saint.
posted by vetiver at 8:38 PM on July 10, 2006

Even tho the idea has some appeal, I rather agree with judith and those who have commented along the same lines. I don't know if you can package up these things - they seem to require some level of unexpectednesses and surprise.

As scottreynen said, a variation on classifieds might be cleaner. I have occasionally wished there was a way to tap into the talent of site members to hire freelancers for projects, for example - I wish there were a way to facilitate that.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:51 PM on July 10, 2006

Favours get done every day in AskMefi. Highlighting the serendipititious positives here and in the sidebar on MeFi promotes something of a generous ethos underpinning the site. I kind of think it's cooler that way.
posted by peacay at 8:52 PM on July 10, 2006

I think this would work better with requests as the focus, not offers. That's how the favors started on AskMe, it seems, and maybe that's how it should continue. Person A asks for help and Person B comes to the rescue, therefore earning the admiration of the entire community (not points). I also like HelpMe better then MetaKarma, for the reasons stated above by Eideteker.
posted by MadamM at 8:55 PM on July 10, 2006

I, too, agree with judith.
posted by cribcage at 8:58 PM on July 10, 2006

I'm liking MetaFavor, shorthand MeFav. Some of us like to call it karma; all of us know that you get as good as you give. I have been reading Meta for a long time and joined in only very recently. I have even managed one totally wrong answer already!

The existence of Meta is a huge favor to me and I really appreciate it. I love that there are so many diverse, knowledgeable, helpful people posting and discussing every imaginable topic. I have learned about tons of things that it would have taken years for me to encounter on my own (if at all, in some cases!). I search the archives here before I go ANYWHERE else for information.

I do wonder if I would have been as quick to jump in if my help had been directly solicited. There's something in the spontaneity of it maybe? I just saw the post and immediately thought, "Hey, I can do that!" I'm really glad it all turned out so well. If only I could have managed the singing or dancing... the co-workers were curious if a performance of some sort was included in the delivery.

And as a bonus, apparently I will be rewarded (perhaps cursed?) with the discovery of these treats you call Tim Tams. I can hardly wait!
posted by FuzzyVerde at 8:59 PM on July 10, 2006

It should be open to offers and requests.

Imagine the usefullness for giving away books or CDs. "Wow, hey, I totally wanted to read that book, but I can't afford to buy it this month!
posted by loquacious at 9:00 PM on July 10, 2006

I get the part where it's easier to do that, but how on earth would you ever find someone to buy ice cream for you as a favor on another continent like happened in ask mefi.

I was thinking this thread was a pretty good indication that you would find someone to buy ice cream for you by asking in Ask how to buy ice cream, and all that's missing is a forum in which to offer to buy ice cream before someone asks. But as others have pointed out, no one is likely to offer to buy ice cream in LA without first seeing the request, and possibly not even after (seems generosity is more likely when not requested).

If it's just classifieds without money, something like swaptree or SwitchDiscs might be good models to look at.
posted by scottreynen at 9:06 PM on July 10, 2006

i vote against an entire site of begging and creating rules around it.

Absolutely agreeing with judith and others here. Really nice idea, if left as an idea. Random acts of kindness should not be stored in an SQL database.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:29 PM on July 10, 2006

(I'd be happy to be proved wrong, of course. But I don't think this tastes like a wise idea, as a subsite.)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:31 PM on July 10, 2006

Over on MeCha someone brought up a valid point which can easily be boiled down thus:

Cash money is forbidden. As in requests for or offers of.

Perhaps there should be a ceiling on participation to limit abuse as well, say 1 months of membership in good standing for offers, 3 months for requests?
posted by loquacious at 9:39 PM on July 10, 2006

Yeah, I too see a lot judith is saying to agree.

I have occasionally wished there was a way to tap into the talent of site members to hire freelancers for projects, for example - I wish there were a way to facilitate that.

I am shooting for having a jobs site up by Friday (no lie, same code crunch with pb planned this week as the one two weeks ago when we launched music in a day).
posted by mathowie at 9:39 PM on July 10, 2006

On non-preview: eidetiker, you seem to have many personal and peculiar prejudices against the word "karma." Most people use it as shorthand for a complicated but intuitively familiar idea -- much like "Schadenfreude." Sure, it's borrowed from another culture and belief system -- but how is the borrowing disrespectful? I'm assuming you've never used the word "martyr" to describe anyone other than a person who chooses to suffer death rather than relinquish religious principles. I'm not saying that MetaKarma IS AND MUST BE the name for whatever does or doesn't result -- but your anti-argument is... unconvincing.

I understand the squeamishness about institutionalizing generosity on the internets. It sounds uncomfortably close to asking for help paying for idiot shoes or inflated tits. But here, there'd be no money involved, ever, and there's a track record of alert, not to say zealous, self-monitoring. And it wouldn't limit or devalue the idea of random serendipitous generosity -- just extend the range of possibilities.

web-goddess, it's interesting that you were hoping for the help you got but reluctant to ask for it. Most people I know (I'm included) hate asking for things -- I think mainly because of the fear of imposing, or of seeming greedy or grasping. In this forum, there'd be no imposition. Asking is the point, and whether or not you get what you asked for, no one is put on the spot or inconvenienced. As far as the greedy/grasping thing -- I refer you again to the Argos-eyed, self-policing membership.

On preview:

Favours get done every day in AskMefi. Highlighting the serendipititious positives here and in the sidebar on MeFi promotes something of a generous ethos underpinning the site. I kind of think it's cooler that way.

As I said, I can understand your qualms, peacay. But I can't see how setting up a place to ask for help somehow devalues "a generous ethos." Seems like that would extend and support the generosity. And the "cooler" remark sounds like what people say when their favorite obscure indie band is no longer obscure.

FuzzyVerde: Of course you would've been put off by an overt request in AskMe. That's not what AskMe is about, and there's a history of people trying to scam AskMe in various ways. And maybe you (understandably) weren't interested in offering help until you'd seen a few posts that really weren't getting that ice cream where it needed to go. But would you have responded differently if w-g had made her request explicit and gotten the same responses, or none at all?
posted by vetiver at 9:45 PM on July 10, 2006

Seems like this would be a good idea for a new subsite. Not quite ebay, not quite craiglist, but some way to do favors for one another in the real world.

I don't believe in karma. Good people don't automatically get good things. That would indicate the bad shit that's happened in my life is my fault somehow. The only point of doing good things is the joy of doing them, there's no payback or points system in the universe.

I hate begging. The sense of entitlement I see on the internet (and in the world) every day needs no inflation.

I see nothing good about this idea at all.

But then I don't like Tim Tams either.
posted by shelleycat at 9:49 PM on July 10, 2006

But then I don't like Tim Tams either.

Heretic! Burn the unbeliever!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:51 PM on July 10, 2006

Let me join the "Judith makes a good point" crew.
posted by ericb at 9:52 PM on July 10, 2006

>>(I work in a knitting shop, and I know I'm much more inclined to go the extra mile for people - write out a pattern, demonstrate a stitch, give a discount - for someone who doesn't ask than for someone who demands those things.) Just musing here...

well, that's just really weird.

Another vote for not allowing this whole shilling/begging/reward thing. I'm with 'thewonderchicken.

btw, if this idea does go through, please PLEASE don't use anything remotely worded like "KARMA". For many, it's a lame (and can be offensive) concept, exclusive and alienating. It's an abstract notion akin to reincarnation and heaven & hell, and many of us just don't give it relevance.

(on preview, exactly what 'shelleycat' said about karma.)
posted by naxosaxur at 9:58 PM on July 10, 2006

I don't go to Ask as often as I'd like because there are so many questions that I don't have time for. I honestly can't help anyone plan for their vacation in another state, answer any computer questions or figure out who in the world sang "Everyone's Gone to the Moon", but I would definately visit a site quite often where I know I have a better chance of helping somebody out. I love feeling useful and helping people smile in any little way I can, cheesy though it may sound to phrase like that. I'm thinking that along with tangible requests, people could also post requests like "I"m learning to knit - anyone want to answer any stupid questions that might come up?" I could definately help with that, and would've loved for somebody to be there for my stupid questions.
So while I agree with judith, I think it's really just raising the odds that something nice might happen. There's no expectation that requests will be fulfilled - you're just putting it out there.
posted by Iamtherealme at 9:59 PM on July 10, 2006

The sense of entitlement I see on the internet (and in the world) every day needs no inflation.

As voluntarily offering to deliver ice cream to someone's pregnant sister halfway around the world shamefully shows!
posted by scody at 10:01 PM on July 10, 2006

I guess I didn't address the original post. I think it was a wonderful thing to do and it made me happy to read about it. But it's the spontaneous offer that made it so, someone posting asking for ice cream to be delivered doesn't have the same ring.

And I really don't belive that FuzzyVerde is going to have "good things" happen to them because of it. Having done something so nice, that's a good thing in itself. The only good thing.

Begging is never a good thing. It demeans the asker and the giver. Posting for favours on the internet is begging, no matter how nicely it's done.

(and I prefer Arnotts Mint Slice)
posted by shelleycat at 10:08 PM on July 10, 2006

I have no real opinion either way on the MetaKarma/Favor idea but I did want to add in my kudos to FuzzyVerde, who did a splendid thing there with the ice cream delivery.
posted by LeeJay at 10:12 PM on July 10, 2006

request: OMG MY CRACKBABY NEEDS CRACK, PLEASE SEND ME SOME CRACK. Thanks.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 10:15 PM on July 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

I agree with stavros and judith.
posted by puke & cry at 10:23 PM on July 10, 2006

Schadenfreude is not a religious concept, so I have no problem with it. The idea of a MetaSchadenfreude interests me, in fact.

Looking at my comment on MetaChat (which is even more of a rant, which is why I wanted to keep it off the grey), I think I actually agree with the "this is an unsavory idea" camp.
posted by Eideteker at 10:26 PM on July 10, 2006

I am shooting for having a jobs site up by Friday (no lie, same code crunch with pb planned this week as the one two weeks ago when we launched music in a day).

Awesome, mathowie. Your music pony is a thing of joy already. Thanks for all the innovations of late. My only problem now is that I can't keep up with everything. Well, unless I meet a sugar daddy who will support me so I can devote my days to reading mefi's growing family of sites. (Hmmmm - on second thought, maybe this request idea isn't so bad...)
posted by madamjujujive at 10:29 PM on July 10, 2006

Not so weird, naxosaxur, if you've ever worked in retail. I'm not talking about the stuff that's in my job description; I'm talking about going above and beyond for somebody. Somehow it's a lot easier to do someone a favour when they don't come in with a sense of entitlement. Which goes back to why many people (myself included) feel embarrassed asking for favours. As vetiver put it, it seems sort of greedy and grasping. I've always read that even if you're angling for something (an upgrade on a flight, free dinner at a casino), you have a much better chance of getting it if you don't start off by demanding it.
posted by web-goddess at 10:32 PM on July 10, 2006

Posting for favours on the internet is begging, no matter how nicely it's done.

Does that hold true for AskMe? After all, every question in the green carries the implicit request of the favor of responses -- responses based on other members' knowledge, experience, research, and/or skills. So is each questioner similarly "begging"?
posted by scody at 10:33 PM on July 10, 2006

One thing I have learned in life is that the defining parameters and the emotional baggage conflated with the concept of "begging" is highly personal and powerfully divisive.
posted by cortex at 10:38 PM on July 10, 2006

Well, web-goddess was looking for suggestions, and she got some pretty good ones. It also happens that someone volunteered their services. So no, no begging there. This thing we're talking about now, yeah that's begging.
posted by puke & cry at 10:44 PM on July 10, 2006

MetaHobo
posted by mullacc at 10:57 PM on July 10, 2006

I'm for it, mainly because it brings the idea of "community" back to a place that often gets knocked for being simply the "hive mind."

I stick around MetaLand for the awesome people (not to be confused with teh Cult of Personality), not because it's where flamewars and trolls and "not FPP material" conversations tend to take center stage. The balance between the two polar opposite qualities seems to be what keeps things from veering too far into "train wreck" territory.

If I saw a post, for example, of someone in Toronto needing help with one of their volunteer projects, or some other assistance I could provide, I would try to help however I could. I would hope that Mefites wouldn't piss in the well and turn it into a "blowjobz 4 weed" craigslist hell.
posted by SassHat at 10:57 PM on July 10, 2006

Wow, reading this made my day! Very cool, fuzzy, and very cool metafilter for facilitating the conversation.
posted by jonson at 11:02 PM on July 10, 2006

Tim Tam Slam, for anyone wondering.

A chocolate biscuit (cookie?) which is made of two smaller biscuits with, sweet goo in between and covered in chocolate. Biting off two opposing corners allows it to be used like a straw. The hot drink melts the innards, and the trick is to pop it into your mouth before the outer chocolate melts and have the whole thing dissolve in a warm chocolate / coffee rush. Heaven.

Also, it's surprisingly tasty with a good dark stout.
posted by tomble at 11:05 PM on July 10, 2006

People offer blowjobs for weed on the Toronto CL? That's fucked up.

You're supposed to save that kind of despondancy for coke, crack, smack or crystal. Fucking amatuers.

Despite the Negative Nancies in this thread, I'm all for the idea still. Remember, people are also looking to volunteer stuff, not just ask for stuff.

If anything, at the absolute worst, it could be an interesting experiment in social Darwinism. We'd know real quick who the whack ass MCs are. This place isn't craigslist. It isn't anywhere near as anonymous, and it costs money to get in in the first place.

And God help you if you pull a U.N. Owen. It'd be all jumping shark attack this and pack rape haiku that all over your ass like a bunch of swarming, shark-rape jumping-haiku ninjas and shit.
posted by loquacious at 11:09 PM on July 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

HOLD UP! Wait just one second: Let's forget (for a minute) the argument over 'cyber-begging' and karma:

Am i the only person who is put-off by the fact that web-goddess allowed a 'stranger-from-the-internets' instant access to her preganant sister's work address (and identity) just so that she could deliver ice cream as a surprise for her birthday?

i mean, isn't this the very reason why we hire delivery companies to do this sort of thing...for the sake of accreditation and accountability?

:::*Phone rings*:::"Hey Mom, it's me! Happy Birthday!! What's that? Oh, that random guy knocking at your door right now??? Let him in!!!!!!! He has a present for you!!! I asked some stranger-from-the-internets if he would deliver flowers to the house. I've known him for like 20 hours now, so don't worry, it's totally cool! We exchanged a few emails, so, i mean, i could tell he's totally normal. No, i didn't bother calling the local florist, because this guy said he'd do it FOR FREE! It's like this whole karma-points thing! Now...am i the best daughter OR WHUT?"
posted by naxosaxur at 11:10 PM on July 10, 2006

Maybe its just me, naxosaxur, but my mom would have been delighted by such a thing.

She would have insisted FuzzyVerde stay over for dinner and gotten her life story out of her...call it "faith in humanity" People obviously have it to varying degrees.
posted by vacapinta at 11:18 PM on July 10, 2006

Hell, maybe we can get some Armin Meiwes action going on. Extra karma points for voluntary castration!
posted by puke & cry at 11:19 PM on July 10, 2006

Yeah, y'know, the only time I've actually had problems with giving someone my address on the internet is when I've tried to do legitimate business with a legitimate company. Fucking capitalism, I tell you. Nothing but trouble.

Sure, one set of data points isn't all that useful.

Sure, I've met some random nutters via craigslist, but they're weeded out pretty quickly with a phone call or two when they start rambling on with questions about whether I think that the washing machine being offered for sale would make a decent Faraday cage for their head, or if it's been in orbit or not.

There's this thing called genuineism that MeFi is dripping with compared to most sites or groups. It's pretty close knit, and intolerant of harmful assgrabbery. See again: U.N. Owen, and that Airnxtz eBay scammer thread.

There *should* be a disclaimer on the MetaKarma/Favor site, and a set of guidelines on how to stay safe, but other than that you worry too much.

And if you worry that much? Don't fucking participate. You'll never even know the site was there. While I'm a huge advocate of playing Devil's advocate - pro or con - in all scenarios, those that are exploring the negative side in this thread are walking dangerously close to spoiling the harmless fun and generosity of others.

On preview: What vacapinta said.

To further summerize the finer point in Californian surfer lingo - Go for it, man. Your body floats. It'll be ok.
posted by loquacious at 11:22 PM on July 10, 2006

my family would call the internet police just in case.
posted by naxosaxur at 11:24 PM on July 10, 2006

I wonder how long it will be before the first post asking for Tina's phone number.
posted by painquale at 11:47 PM on July 10, 2006

Please call it MetaFavour.
All other spellings are incorrect.
posted by seanyboy at 12:20 AM on July 11, 2006

I'm just posting to publicly thank Cillit Bang for sending me some old Minidiscs over a year ago; he was going to throw them away but instead sent them overseas to the US.

I'm recording sounds in Russia right now with the very same discs.
posted by fake at 12:23 AM on July 11, 2006

Dude, I didn't mention her name or her office in the thread anywhere. (Hint: There's more than one company at the street address.) I deliberately sent the person to her work address during normal business hours instead of her house. I also exchanged several e-mails with FuzzyVerde (whose name I know but haven't used in this thread to respect her privacy), and every single message confirmed she was on the up-and-up. I also told my sister's husband that I was doing this. Granted, FuzzyVerde could've put arsenic in the ice cream or something, but if she was that much of a sociopath there are a lot of easier ways to kill people than outlaying $50 on supplies. (Yep, she hasn't even sent me the PayPal invoice yet.)

Man, I hate Internet paranoia. How many people are actually stalked due to information solely available about the Internet? Not bloody many, I imagine.
posted by web-goddess at 12:36 AM on July 11, 2006

What do we do if it devolves into sob stories? Books and ice-cream are fun and everything, but what if it becomes INeedAKidneyFilter?
posted by team lowkey at 12:43 AM on July 11, 2006

LetMe
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:43 AM on July 11, 2006

but what if it becomes INeedAKidneyFilter?

Obviously, eideteker and naxosaxur will be forced to submit their bloodtypes first, of course.
posted by scody at 12:54 AM on July 11, 2006

When my great friend Rick was in the hospital in Melbourne for the 10 days it took him to die after the Bali bombing in 2002, I had a welter of offers via email and inthread from MeFites in Australia and elsewhere, open-ended and more specific, to help if they could, to try and visit him if they were there, or assist the family members that were able to get to Australia, and so on. It truly warmed my heart.

But I'm still not sure this would be a good idea, touched as I was by that experience.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:08 AM on July 11, 2006

Hmm.

Now that I think about it more, judith is right. What I'd like to see is more acts of spontaneous generosity like those already linked to. But putting up a separate section for random acts of kindness is a bit... contrived. Like "funny hat" day.

The beauty of the gift will tarnish rapidly under the load of it's own "section" with its own rules and requirements. And I wouldn't sacrifice that for a new pony, ever.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 1:09 AM on July 11, 2006

scody, don't be daft. this isn't about being callous or unwilling to help people in need. also you'd look less foolish if you kept your assumptions to yourself. also i was born with one kidney.
posted by naxosaxur at 1:23 AM on July 11, 2006

How about requiring a real name in profile if you want to make a request.. Confirmed by long standing members (over a year, lots of comments/posts) looking up names on phone directories and making a call "are you really user blah blah". Okay, that might not be very practical..

I duno, it is going to be hard work. Of course the best way to see what guidelines and features are needed is to get started and see what happens!
posted by Chuckles at 1:37 AM on July 11, 2006

Or, if naxosaxur's concerns are deemed important enough, real name in profile to use the sub-site..
posted by Chuckles at 1:40 AM on July 11, 2006

Kindly help is a fine thing; spontaneity even adds sweetness. I'll add my kudos and respect for those who help another like FuzzyVerde and the others mentioned (and those not mentioned have done.

"How many people are actually stalked due to information solely available about the Internet? Not bloody many, I imagine."

It happened to me: statistically insignificant me.

Be careful, ok? Not paranoid, just careful.
posted by reflecked at 1:46 AM on July 11, 2006

Is this something I'd have to have a soul to understand?

No really, props to Fuzzy, hope you enjoy your Tim Tams. I know I do, and I'm surrounded by the bloody things.

MetaKarma sounds all right, but I understand the apprehension. If people are worried about it cheapening the kindness then I don't think that a point system would do it any favours (no pun intended, I swear).

Just my thoughts.
posted by Serial Killer Slumber Party at 2:06 AM on July 11, 2006

Nice one FuzzyVerde!

As for formalising the favours/karma/begging site - I can understand the worries that it would get messy and terrible, but it's probably worth trying. (Anything but MetaFavor for the name, though.)
posted by jack_mo at 4:36 AM on July 11, 2006

Music, Jobs, and now potentially some sort of Looking-to-do-a-good-deed-or-help-someone-out-filter.

I love this place. srsly.
posted by exlotuseater at 5:06 AM on July 11, 2006

My first reaction was, "hey, neat idea!"

But after thinking about it a few minutes, I've changed my mind. It reminds me of the difference between doing something as a hobby and doing it as a job. If it's all formal, there's a certain joy that goes away. If someone posts that they need someone to do X in my area, and I don't have time or don't feel like it or don't care for how they asked, I'm going to feel vaguely guilty. It becomes an obligation I need to fulfill rather than an act of real generosity. And I think it would really lose something.

I also don't like MetaKarma... it's a little pretentious, and people doing things for karma points aren't REALLY being generous anyway.

Stealing a common AskMe word... if you decide to go through with this... maybe MetaHope?
posted by Malor at 6:09 AM on July 11, 2006

and people doing things for karma points aren't REALLY being generous anyway.

Absolutely. I knew there was something bothering me about the use of the word, but I couldn't put my finger on it. It's an insult to the word and to those who believe in it to cheapen its meaning like this. Karma is based on self-less or selfish acts. Seeking public acknowledgment of your "good deeds" and attributing points is a terrible way to view karma.

If you want to have a points system, call it "favors done" or something of that nature. Karma has too deep and valuable a spiritual meaning, and quite frankly, I'm sick to death of little blogger kids (and adults now, apparently) trying to appear all hip and trendy for using a word that has existed in India for thousands of years. Kinda like using the word "zen" all the time.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 6:14 AM on July 11, 2006

Nice job FuzzyVerde! My faith in humanity is boosted, and I am torn about codifying this sort of thing.
posted by OmieWise at 6:17 AM on July 11, 2006

I can see the headlines:

Metafilter Killer Strikes Again - PORTLAND, OR - Anotherinnocent victim was found slashed to pieces by an unknown assailant. The only connection between the victim and the 500 other victims was a loved one asking for a favor on the popular website "InviteAstrangerToDoAFavor.Metafilter.com" Apparently someone has been volunteering to do random favors for people, then killing, raping, and eating the intended recipients of the favors. Police have issued a statement requesting people not to invite complete strangers to visit their loved ones. When will people learn?

posted by blue_beetle at 6:39 AM on July 11, 2006

After sleeping on it, I have more mixed feelings about codifying this swell idea. If there is a jobs site in the works, perhaps there could be a way to on-off tuck in other requests for assistance that weren't necessarily for-money freelance or permanent gigs. I don't know much about how that site would work, but if there was a small fee to post job ads, possibly adding a way to have a freebie mini "opportunities to help" sidebar on that part of the site might be a compromise.

I really don't see this sort of thing as begging, but it's clear that's an ideological difference people have here and it's also clear that the karmic idea is heavy with meaning for many. I've benefitted from MetaFilter socially as well as "materially" from time to time as I'm sure many of us have. It's such a good feeling that it's hard to not want to holler 1) how great the people are who freely give of their time and efforts for relative strangers, how much you think that sort of thing helps to fix the world, and 2) how much you'd like to share that feeling with everyone. But, I'm not sure you can, because it's the quirky happenstance of it that makes small events contain so much magic.
posted by jessamyn at 6:44 AM on July 11, 2006

And if you worry that much? Don't fucking participate. You'll never even know the site was there.

Exactly. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I know damn well that its existence will not impact my life in any way if I decide I don't want to participate. I'll ignore it the way I ignore the Music site now (no, I don't hate it, I listened to a few cuts, got a smile or two, and went on my way). Listening to some of you is like listening to Christian loonies claiming that gay weddings will somehow destroy marriage. Don't like it? Don't go there!
posted by languagehat at 6:51 AM on July 11, 2006

Goddammit lh, it's that kind of relativist attitude that's weaving the handbasket that we're all going to ride into...oh, wait, I agree with you (again).
posted by OmieWise at 7:13 AM on July 11, 2006

Here's a suggestion to sort of combine ideas of MetaFavour with that new job sub-section: have things other than money available for payment of jobs.

Example: I need 3 or 4 strangers to help out with my crazy plan to propose to my wife. Payment will be in the form of (insert suitable amount here) beers.

This probably has some legal problem or another, but I'm young and naive, so such things don't bother me or deter my suggestions.

Far too young and naive to be proposing, if anyone thought this is just a part of my plan to hire proposal goons with beer.
posted by Serial Killer Slumber Party at 7:14 AM on July 11, 2006

Wow. And I wondered why on earth this thread had so many comments.

Of course the best way to see what guidelines and features are needed is to get started and see what happens!

I think this is the way to go about it. We can't quite get our heads around how this will work, but it seems to be such a great idea that maybe the best thing is to just set it up and let it evolve. The way the rest of the site has.

The only guideline I'd suggest is that we strongly discourage illegal stuff.

You're going to wind up with quite the empire here, Matt. A job site (HireMe), a dating site (DateMe), a cooking site (EatMe).... and who knows what else.
posted by orange swan at 7:18 AM on July 11, 2006

Although I prefer the idea of having favours as a side-effect of the jobs site, if there is a site devoted solely to doing favours for people I think it should be called HopeMe*.

*inspired by Malor.
posted by jacalata at 7:28 AM on July 11, 2006

So if I post a request that my pregnant sister be delivered three gallons of ice cream, and the FuzzyKiller volunteers to do the job and then goes and axe-murders her, do I get to sue the everlovin' ass off the site owner?

Honestly, the favours idea is a terrific one if you limit it to the couple hundred folk who are obviously not dangerous lunatics. The other 29 800 folk who inhabit these messaging boards? Odds are at least one of them is more than a little sick in the head.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:37 AM on July 11, 2006

I got sick of reading through all seven thousand comments to see if anyone has said this already, so apologies if I'm stepping on anyone's toes. I think that making FavorFilter would be a mistake. When web-goddess was posting her question, it wouldn't have belonged there. "Can someone out there deliver ice cream somewhere for me?" wasn't her question. She would have to make two posts to two different sections to cover all of her bases: "Can someone do this for me, and if not, how can I do it?"

I need my bathroom remodeled, and I've considered posting AskMes for advice on finding a small-job contractor. Should I post to FavFi at the same time, in case there's a Mefite who can help? Or just the latter? There's too much overlap between asking-for-favors and asking-how-to-get-something-done for this to be worthwhile.
posted by Plutor at 7:46 AM on July 11, 2006

Maybe Matt should call it Don'tKillMe, just to be on the safe side.
posted by gigawhat? at 7:47 AM on July 11, 2006

Favorville is a site that does pretty much exactly what we're talking about doing here. (I could've sworn I saw it on the Blue at some point, but apparently not.) It might be a good thing to look at for implementation ideas.

Granted, there is nothing stopping anyone from signing up there for multiple (free) accounts and begging repeatedly, but at the same time they do have a "ratings" system for people who provide help (which, thankfully, they don't call "karma"), and note is taken of when you signed up, how many favors you've given, and how many you have requested -- leaving people to determine for themselves whether you're worthy of helping or not (in the same way that some people here look at a person's AskMe contributions and signup date before deciding whether to answer their questions). Feedback is kept private, just like Projects, which I think is a good thing because it discourages unpleasantness.

Plutor raises an interesting point about the cross-sitedness (?) of the whole thing. Maybe there could be a mechanism to "Post this to AskMe" if no help from actual MeFites is forthcoming after a period of time, a la the "Post this Project to MetaFilter" mechanism? Dunno, just thinking out loud.

I still think "Favor" is a better word for what we're talking about than "Karma," not for religious-related reasons but for the connotation it has acquired. "Karma points" is something that a lot of crummy message boards have, and it's invariably used as an "I'm a better member than you" weapon. I actually think that instead of points or even "ratings," favors should somehow be quietly counted in a person's history with a little checkmark, just like "Best Answers." Something to be moderately proud of, and that other people can see, but not catalogued in such a way that you can easily beat someone over the head with it.
posted by Gator at 8:11 AM on July 11, 2006

If you do this subsite, please don't do a 'karma points' thing. One of the great features about MeFi is that there is no stratification of members by popularity rating or priviledges or whatever. Any kind of rating system would take us off of equal footing somewhat, and reduce the feeling of "we're all in this together".
posted by raedyn at 8:46 AM on July 11, 2006

Not everyone would have an equal shot at participating. It's a lot harder for a lone MeFite in Asia somewhere to exchange favours with other MeFites than it is for New Yorkers, for example. yes there would be some favours that are doable over that distance, but it's much more limited.

Also, everything Gator just said about why a points system is a bad idea.
posted by raedyn at 8:49 AM on July 11, 2006

I dunno, I trust random MeFite #XXXXX more than I trust the people who live two doors down from me.

I think having MetaFavor as a Volunteer subsection of JobMe would work well, with real names mandatory but visible only to other JobMe registrants, user limits, and a deletion policy that would make AskMe's look like small beer.

And kudos to FuzzyVerde!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:39 AM on July 11, 2006

Alright, after reading through this thread for the first time in 12+ hours, I'm convinced it has a few too many problems and it seems to really strike a bad chord with quite a few people. I think everything that needed to be said about it was said by judith early on.

I do wish there was a way to let others volunteer for each other and make connections in the real world that weren't just awkward bar meetups over beer or a cheesy dating service, but this doesn't quite seem to be the form of the idea that will make that happen. So I guess it's take it to favorville instead.
posted by mathowie at 10:04 AM on July 11, 2006

I'm disappointed.
posted by Gator at 10:05 AM on July 11, 2006

The other 29 800 folk who inhabit these messaging boards? Odds are at least one of them is more than a little sick in the head.

[raises hand] I'm sick in the head. Oh, do head colds count?
posted by Tuwa at 10:20 AM on July 11, 2006

I think AskMe already creates opportunities for people to perform favors when possible, and clearly, people have done so already.

(yay, fuzzyverde!)

I can imagine HopeMe, in spite of all intentions to the contrary, inspiring a sense of expectation among people, e.g.

"I'm having a wedding in my backyard, and it's a total mess! Can someone in the BayArea help me clean it out tomorrow? oneirodyinia, I know you live around here and know something about plants."

Later:

"Well, oneirodynia showed up to help me, but she was like an hour late and obviously stoned or something and totally refused to cut down the palm tree or pick up dog crap or drain and clean the pool... I should have gone to AskMe and just asked about reliable contractors! LAME!!1!"
posted by oneirodynia at 10:32 AM on July 11, 2006

Meatbomb writes "drug offers/requests should be allowed, Matt, as long as they are non-commercial and discreet"

Sure, allow them. How is actually going to be dumb enough to answer them?

orange swan writes "I wondered why on earth this thread had so many comments"

Me too, I would have skipped it because I already knew the results from the askMe.

five fresh fish writes "The other 29 800 folk who inhabit these messaging boards? Odds are at least one of them is more than a little sick in the head"

Like that fish guy, one weird dude there. :)

raedyn writes "Not everyone would have an equal shot at participating. It's a lot harder for a lone MeFite in Asia somewhere to exchange favours with other MeFites than it is for New Yorkers, for example. yes there would be some favours that are doable over that distance, but it's much more limited."

I agree that the opportunities are less but those opportunities are probably the best ones. For example I'm trying to source a pair of trailer tail-lights that only seem to be available in Finland. If I could get someone local to pick up and ship me a pair that would be awesome.
posted by Mitheral at 10:40 AM on July 11, 2006

NoHopeMe
posted by exlotuseater at 10:43 AM on July 11, 2006

Abandon all HopeMe, ye who enter here.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:52 AM on July 11, 2006

[Sniffle]

But there's still hope that we'll get the recipe site EatMe, right? EatMe! EatMe! EatMe!
posted by orange swan at 10:59 AM on July 11, 2006

Mmmm! Citrus and poultry go so well together!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:01 AM on July 11, 2006

KarmaFilter would be sort of like the gift economy described in Bruce Sterling's Maneki Neko.

And while we're throwing around thank you, I'd like to publicly thank dobbs for sending me a recording I couldn't find anywhere else.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 11:27 AM on July 11, 2006

FlavorFilter.
posted by Chuckles at 11:54 AM on July 11, 2006

You mean FlavaFilter.
posted by exlotuseater at 11:57 AM on July 11, 2006

ok, well maybe not. But it's got more FLAVA.
posted by exlotuseater at 11:58 AM on July 11, 2006

now if only I could get one of you to deliver me from some evil

Fixed your comment, IRFH.
posted by scrump at 1:27 PM on July 11, 2006

I am shooting for having a jobs site up by Friday (no lie, same code crunch with pb planned this week as the one two weeks ago when we launched music in a day).

A few years from now, MeFi's gonna look like Yahoo!
posted by reklaw at 3:27 PM on July 11, 2006

Goddammit, reklaw, you take that back. You take that back right now.
posted by cortex at 3:36 PM on July 11, 2006

Does that hold true for AskMe? After all, every question in the green carries the implicit request of the favor of responses -- responses based on other members' knowledge, experience, research, and/or skills. So is each questioner similarly "begging"?

I've thought about this and decided the answer is no. On ask.me we share information and ideas, and it's done in such a way that everyone can benefit. I read ask because I learn new things, not because I get free stuff or something done for me or whatever. And if I ask a good question and it gets good answers then lots of people can benefit from that, not just me. It's more of a sharing thing.

Having a section coded into the jobs site for volunteer type work actually makes sense and could work. Things are set up in a professional, more formalised way to start with, hopefully averting the train-wreck action a 'favour' site is asking for. Between that and the potential in ask.me (e.g. the original posting) you'd pretty much cover the genre anyway.
posted by shelleycat at 5:06 PM on July 11, 2006

We can solve this paranoia issue very easily.

If you're a serial killer, put your hand up.
posted by Lotto at 5:39 PM on July 11, 2006

I cut mine off.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:48 PM on July 11, 2006

While I agree that a begging site is not needed a site to log favors done might be interesting and of value. Reading through this indicates that there is certainly more of that that goes on than I realized and it could lead to a safer and more informal ask/offer give/receive clearinghouse.
posted by mss at 5:58 PM on July 11, 2006

If you're a serial killer, put your hand up.

Damn, no one is going to help me with anything. Even if they get an invite to my slumber party.
posted by Serial Killer Slumber Party at 5:58 PM on July 11, 2006

Pay pal charity of choice? Ten charities? Can that work??
posted by beccaj at 6:43 PM on July 11, 2006

"A few years from now, MeFi's gonna look like Yahoo!"

It's funny; this morning I almost posted a joke about mathowie being in talks to acquire Flickr.
posted by Eideteker at 7:54 PM on July 11, 2006

WTF is with you people and your spelling? It's favour, not favor. Sheesh. Learn the King's English already, wontcha?
posted by five fresh fish at 8:06 PM on July 11, 2006

What are you, French? It's not pronounced favoooore. It's a long o sound. There's no need for a u to be anywhere near it, except as fancy-pants decoration. Down with extraneous letters!
posted by Eideteker at 8:32 PM on July 11, 2006

What are you, French? It's not pronounced favoooore. It's a long o sound. There's no need for a u to be anywhere near it, except as fancy-pants decoration. Down with extraneous letters!

By which you mean:

Wat ar yu, French? It's not pronounced favoor. It's a long o sound. Ther's no need for a u to be anywer near it, exept as fancy-pants decoration. Down with extraneus leters!
posted by Tuwa at 8:50 PM on July 11, 2006

A Plan for the Improvement of English Spelling

For example, in Year 1 that useless letter c would be dropped to be replased either by k or s, and likewise x would no longer be part of the alphabet. The only kase in which c would be retained would be the ch formation, which will be dealt with later.

Year 2 might reform w spelling, so that which and one would take the same konsonant, wile Year 3 might well abolish y replasing it with i and Iear 4 might fiks the g/j anomali wonse and for all.

Jenerally, then, the improvement would kontinue iear bai iear with Iear 5 doing awai with useless double konsonants, and Iears 6-12 or so modifaiing vowlz and the rimeining voist and unvoist konsonants.

Bai Iear 15 or sou, it wud fainali bi posibl tu meik ius ov thi ridandant letez c, y and x -- bai now jast a memori in the maindz ov ould doderez -- tu riplais ch, sh, and th rispektivli.

Fainali, xen, aafte sam 20 iers ov orxogrefkl riform, wi wud hev a lojikl, kohirnt speling in ius xrewawt xe Ingliy-spiking werld.

posted by Eideteker at 9:38 PM on July 11, 2006 [2 favorites]

Awesome.
posted by Tuwa at 9:57 PM on July 11, 2006

I favor having it be a pleasant side effect of the Jobs site. There should be categories there to accommodate this and other not-hiring-for-a-position uses.
posted by blasdelf at 12:17 AM on July 12, 2006

HelpMe is obviously the best name proposed.

Just felt the need to point that out.

Kudos to FuzzyVerde! This ice cream delivery made my day too. :)
posted by waxbanks at 8:02 AM on July 12, 2006

request: Somebody please bring me some ice cream, too. I like chocolate.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 8:57 PM on July 12, 2006

Maybe we need a compromise? Any AskMe that lends itself to this kind of this could be tagged with HelpMe. That way some of us who have offered help to fellow mefites in the past could look in and see if there was something we can do?
I've offered such help before which wasn't needed and I so admire and understand FuzzyVerde, well done!
I honestly think the security issue is a little paranoid although I do understand it. I too would trust Mefites more than I would my neighbours down the street. And a person's posting history can give you a lot of info.
Just saying...
posted by Wilder at 5:03 AM on July 13, 2006