MeFi Swap

September 15, 2006 8:19 AM

Mefi Swap 2006 : Come on. You need to send out your CDs already. I participated in two groups this time around, and sent out 10 cds. I've received only 4. This isn't an election where that sort of return rate is acceptable. Get off your lazy ass and fulfill your commitment.
posted by crunchland to MetaFilter-related at 8:19 AM (70 comments total)

Where do people go to find out about this shit?
I really wanted to participate, but it seemed as though everyone else was already in the know by the time I found out about it.

I'll never get to sit at the cool kids table.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 8:29 AM on September 15, 2006

PATIENCE CRUNCHLAND - IT'S TAKING A WHILE TO WRITE ALL THOSE ONES AND ZEROS ON THOSE CD'S WITH OUR QUILL PENS.
posted by quonsar at 8:33 AM on September 15, 2006 [1 favorite]

We're still waiting on yours from 2004, quonsar.
posted by crunchland at 8:36 AM on September 15, 2006

DEFEAT BUSH
posted by cortex at 8:37 AM on September 15, 2006

Wow. Pettiness abounds!

Also, yes, I would participate in the next one if it were a group of ten people or so. I love sending out music.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 8:37 AM on September 15, 2006

On time?
posted by dame at 8:59 AM on September 15, 2006

Under budget?
posted by rocketman at 9:07 AM on September 15, 2006

I participated in two groups this time around, and sent out 10 cds. I've received only 4.

Some people say you're not getting any CDs because the ones you sent out suck.

Maybe it's you who needs to fulfill a commitment. A commitment to quality.
posted by rocketman at 9:09 AM on September 15, 2006 [2 favorites]

Well, this took a turn from the gauche into the distinctly uncomfortable.

*Finds a comfy spot to sit*
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:15 AM on September 15, 2006

We're still waiting on yours from 2004, quonsar.

and when it ultimately arrives, it will be a masterpiece of such magnificent proportion that hearts will beat double time and listeners swoon. and, it will change color with the seasons.
posted by quonsar at 9:19 AM on September 15, 2006

I would take that more to heart, rocketman, if you had been one of the ten I sent to.
posted by crunchland at 9:20 AM on September 15, 2006

So far I've only gotten one, from methylviolet. I can't bitch about this enough. WHERE'S ALL MY FREE STUFF??

Your cd rocks, mv.
posted by hermitosis at 9:28 AM on September 15, 2006

I am a bad, bad person (although not one of crunchland's bad people.) I have created the playlist and written the liner notes, but have yet to burn or print anything.

Because I am a BAD PERSON, you see.

But it will happen. It will. I swear. Although not for a little while, as my life is a bit hectic at the moment. My apologies to all in swapset elastica, and my thanks to those who have sent me the two excellent CDs I have received...
posted by dersins at 9:34 AM on September 15, 2006

Well I sent mine out and have received one in the mail yesterday (Thank You Don Pedro - I love your mix)

I am patiently awaiting the arrival of the rest.
posted by Julnyes at 9:41 AM on September 15, 2006

It's been my experience that swaps with groups of more than about five are doomed to failure. I have never been able to understand how participants can sign up for a swap and accept free mixes without sending back one of their own. The contract here is not complex, after all.

It's this sort of naive disillusionment that has led me to many a dark moment, and an eventual total loss of faith in humanity, I can tell you that much.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:48 AM on September 15, 2006

Mine will go out on Monday, I *swear* it.
posted by interrobang at 9:52 AM on September 15, 2006

Mine are going out late and members of my Swapset have been informed. However, there will be a second disc of goodness to compensate for lack of punctuality.
posted by mds35 at 9:52 AM on September 15, 2006

Julnyes: Yours is awesome too ... sorry I haven't emailed the liner notes yet -- am hoping to get that taken care of soonest!
posted by donpedro at 10:00 AM on September 15, 2006

I really should have emailed my notes - I hit about 14 pages right? That was a lot of extra postage.
posted by Julnyes at 10:12 AM on September 15, 2006

Swerving this from bitching into raving: hermitosis and methylviolet have sent me really excellent CDs, and I am picking my nose writing a letter with the quill hermitosis provided right now.

(I sent mine out late, but everyone knew they were coming late, and in fact they should have arrived by now)

(I hope they don't suck)
posted by scrump at 10:20 AM on September 15, 2006

Crunchland: If I'm not mistaken you are the same person who didn't even come up with a new mix for this swap--you are simply recycling an old one. And, now you are bitching?
posted by fieldtrip at 10:27 AM on September 15, 2006

and when it ultimately arrives, it will be a masterpiece of such magnificent proportion that hearts will beat double time and listeners swoon. and, it will change color with the seasons.

Oh, for Christ's sake, leave your pants out of this already.
posted by scrump at 10:31 AM on September 15, 2006

you are simply recycling an old one

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
posted by quonsar at 10:35 AM on September 15, 2006

You see? This is why I don't participate in things.
posted by MrZero at 10:37 AM on September 15, 2006

heh. just got back from the post office, to find this. have received 4 already and notification that the 5th is on the way. thanks to all in swapset Hurricane #1, and I'm sorry I was so late sending out. hope you dig it.
posted by carsonb at 10:41 AM on September 15, 2006

By the way, I'd like to announce the MeFi SpouseSwap.

Although I am not married now, the agency assures me that Svetlaniska is in the mail. So, you know, your SOs can come by any time, and we'll even up in 6 to 8 weeks.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:44 AM on September 15, 2006

Oh, and mad propellers to swapset Charlatans UK, most of whom were from...Brooklyn.

Actually, maddest props of all to dreama for enduring the no doubt massive bullshit that attends something like this. Well done!

I'd like to suggest that standing policy be that everyone who does one of these sends out six CDs: five to their swap group, and one to the swap organizer. God knows the organizers don't get enough credit, so they might as well get deluged with new music.

I'm making up a mix for dreama tonight, dammit.
posted by scrump at 10:46 AM on September 15, 2006

I've been completely, totally vindicated.
posted by rocketman at 10:47 AM on September 15, 2006

Get off your lazy ass and fulfill your commitment.

Open hostility -- check.

We're still waiting on yours from 2004, quonsar.

Revivals of old grudges -- check.

Some people say you're not getting any CDs because the ones you sent out suck.

Vicious counterattacks -- check.

If I'm not mistaken you are the same person who didn't even come up with a new mix for this swap--you are simply recycling an old one.

Accusations of double posts -- check.

Your cd rocks, mv.
hermitosis and methylviolet have sent me really excellent CDs

Occasional oases of niceness in a sea of snark -- check.

Yep, this sure is the MeFi swap.
posted by brain_drain at 10:49 AM on September 15, 2006 [1 favorite]

Baby_Balrog: Dreama has presided over a majority of the swaps I've particiapted in. she's the bestest mefiswapamatrix one could ask for. keeping an eye on her mefiswap page would be a good idea if you're interested in the next go-round. swaps usually happen about once a quarter, and they're announced/discussed on MetaTalk (duh).

you can sit next to me if you want.
posted by carsonb at 10:50 AM on September 15, 2006

MeFi SpouseSwap.

Will there be rule changes?
posted by dersins at 10:56 AM on September 15, 2006

I gave up on cd swaps years ago. Crunchland, here's a mix (58megs) you can download. Enjoy.
posted by shoepal at 11:00 AM on September 15, 2006

(oh, and here's a track listing with links to the individual mp3 if you'd like to cherry pick certain songs. Also, here's a list of free mp3 from around the web. Download 12 or so and you've got yourself a new mix sans post office hassles.) [contains self linkage]
posted by shoepal at 11:10 AM on September 15, 2006

you are simply recycling an old one

Oh, so what? If you hadn't heard it before, what did it matter if it was 2 days old or 12 years old? I haven't heard any complaints about it.

Rocketman, quonsar, or fieldtrip : are you even participating in the mefiswap this time around?
posted by crunchland at 11:27 AM on September 15, 2006

I dunno if mine is one of the four you've received crunchland, but I did send it and only 2 days late. I've got yours and the very cool one from absalom.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:34 AM on September 15, 2006

are you even participating in the mefiswap this time around?

yep. look for my cd in 2011.
posted by quonsar at 11:34 AM on September 15, 2006

Fractionfilter: I've sent out 5 CDs, and only recieved 2. I am exactly 1/2 times as sad as crunchland.
posted by Drunken_munky at 11:39 AM on September 15, 2006

everyones to send crunch death metal comps , ok ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 11:43 AM on September 15, 2006

Well I sent out five, received one, have been informed about two more and have no clue about the other two.


what fraction of sadness does that entitle me to?
posted by Julnyes at 11:44 AM on September 15, 2006

Organized copyright violation. That's all this is. Go ahead, load your trucks with digital blasphemy. Clog the tubes. Do it, why should I care? Why, oh why should I care?

and yet, alas... I wish were one of you...
posted by blue_beetle at 11:47 AM on September 15, 2006

I'm confused. Don't participants have the contact information for the people with whom they are swapping? If so, why not email them to find out why they have't sent theirs?

I was delayed in 2004 because my father passed away right when CDs were due. I emailed people, told them what was up, and eventually (4 months late) sent my CDs. Everyone was really nice.
posted by terrapin at 11:54 AM on September 15, 2006

It's an ugly truth that is forever butting its head into what should be a happy utopian activity: you will not get your CDs, and you might not even send your CDs.

The axioms of good citizenship:

1. Be absolutely certain that you will, will, will send out your CDs.
2. Expect no more than 0 CDs to arrive in your mailbox.

If you can't make peace within yourself regarding the above two principles, you should consider refraining from the swap. Everybody swears by (1), but a lot of people lose that resolve in the following weeks; and it's natural to be disappointed/pissed/baffled by (2), but it can and will happen. Assume the worst, and be pleased when (and if) your experience exceeds that.

The only way around it is bureaucracy, and nobody like bureaucracy. Mefiswap is a gamble. Mefiswap is a zen koan.
posted by cortex at 11:55 AM on September 15, 2006 [2 favorites]

The solution is clear: escrowed digital swaps.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 11:56 AM on September 15, 2006

ShawnString and pocams, you guys fucking rock. That's all I have to say about this.

Except that I understand crunchland's concern, what with all the time, effort and meticulous perfectionism he put into making a fresh new mix cd for his fellow Mefites. I get it now: the title is a pun, right? Oh, and not to mention he sent it out to ten people! Ten! And now he's going to tell you all about that. Come to the front of the class, crunch.

</swapcasm>
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 12:01 PM on September 15, 2006

*swapgasms*
posted by cortex at 12:24 PM on September 15, 2006

MeCha had a digital swap. That went well, I think. Why you folks all still dealing with hard copies and snail mail?
posted by dobbs at 12:52 PM on September 15, 2006

Mail is fun! So are CDs and art.

Downloading, not so much.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:15 PM on September 15, 2006

All of my discs went out way before the deadline. So far I received only 1 disc from scodger, but the fact that's it's full of New Zealand stuff I have never heard of makes up for the fact that no more music has arrived yet. Good on you scodger.
posted by Captaintripps at 1:27 PM on September 15, 2006

Cortex is right.
posted by crunchland at 1:44 PM on September 15, 2006

crunchland writes "Cortex is right."

Tell me something I don't know. That guy's getting boring.
posted by OmieWise at 1:47 PM on September 15, 2006 [1 favorite]

Well for what it's worth, i mailed all of mine AND received all five back, so thanks dodgy-swappers!!
posted by yodelingisfun at 2:06 PM on September 15, 2006

Dobbs is also right.

(Every now and then, I think of "organizing" an informal swap with the 10-15 of you I think have really good and distinct tastes... But I think I always just end up getting high instead).
posted by klangklangston at 2:14 PM on September 15, 2006

Following shoepal's good example, here's a (sadly passing) summer mix from me.

Lossless Sounds Summer 2006 (ZIP, 77MB)

Tracklisting and covers

Enjoy.
posted by shortfuse at 2:36 PM on September 15, 2006

MeCha switched to a physical CD swap a while back for various reasons. It generally has a higher return rate because it's a smaller group of people and people "know" each other better in general.
posted by matildaben at 4:11 PM on September 15, 2006

Just as a quick fractionfilter, I've sent out five CD's and gotten four back so far, which I'm enjoying quite a bit. (Shout out to swapset cast!) I like the physical swap of actual CD's, it's so old-school. As far as swapping digital copies of music goes, I have, uh, heard that other venues exist.
posted by whir at 6:14 PM on September 15, 2006

Oh, and if anyone wants to do a side swap, I'd be interested. My email is in my profile.
posted by whir at 6:15 PM on September 15, 2006

whir writes "As far as swapping digital copies of music goes, I have, uh, heard that other venues exist."

Well, to be pedantic, we *are* swapping digital copies of music. Just not through digital means of transport.

By which I mean to say: who's up for Mefi Cassette Tape Swap?

For real.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:35 PM on September 15, 2006 [1 favorite]

Group size: The groups are 6 (so you mail out 5); some people, like, apparently, crunchland, participated in 2 sets so sent out 10 CDs.
posted by whatzit at 6:43 PM on September 15, 2006

Thanks for sharing, shortfuse.
posted by shoepal at 7:57 PM on September 15, 2006

By which I mean to say: who's up for Mefi Cassette Tape Swap?

Count me in. That'd be awesome.

Even better if the tapes are recorded off vinyl.
posted by scrump at 8:43 PM on September 15, 2006

Or wire!
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:57 PM on September 15, 2006

You may have only got four, but I guarantee mine was at least six mix CDs worth of amazing. Besides, someone who sends a (very cool) "reissue" can't complain too much, can he?

I have recieved two, and I was only in one group.

Also: You can get in 10 groups? Why the hell wasn't I told to cheat like that?
posted by absalom at 9:52 PM on September 15, 2006

You are welcome, Captaintripps, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Your cd was cool too.
From our swapset I have got 2 cds (one from rpn arrived the day before your one captain, maybe your one got lost?). It is kind of suprising what a low repsonse rate there seems to be from everyone posting here.
posted by scodger at 10:33 PM on September 15, 2006

I know I sent mine out, and got either two or three back, (hard to remember when you are doing two different swaps), just send them out and hope you get things back.
posted by edgeways at 11:43 PM on September 15, 2006

Well, the CDs I sent out are probably still languishing in the post office. The record for the quickest delivery of an item posted by us from Kenya is 3 weeks. That was a postcard. The record for the longest delivery is... still outstanding after 6 months.

Mine only went to the post office on Wednesday this week. I have no printer and I couldn't find an internet cafe that had any sort of software that recognised my liner notes...

As a result, the discs have been sent in blank cases with a post-it note with a link to a .ncd (for those with nero) and a .msi (for windows users) file on my website, so that people can experience the true glory that is "mixOsix". If anyone in my swapset cannot read these files (damn mac users) I will contemplate writing them out as a text file.

I will be very happy if I receive even one CD. Its quite likely that I won't get any, even if they are sent out. So far we have only received about 70% of items sent to us.

I don't mind, after all, the joy is in the giving not the receiving... or something.

BTW, if anyone who delivers stuff to APO addresses reads this; well done to the asshole who nicked the kids books we had sent to our friends. Thanks anyway, amberglow.
posted by davehat at 11:44 PM on September 15, 2006

addendium, in a way I like sending them out about as much as getting them, I like the concept that I may be introducing new music to people, guess I'm silly that way.
posted by edgeways at 11:45 PM on September 15, 2006

davehat, if you want I'd be willing to send a copy of my mix to you, the idea being if you get a flood of stuff, perhaps something will make it through... anyhow, if interested my emails in profile
posted by edgeways at 11:48 PM on September 15, 2006

I sent out my cd's a couple days early and have so far received two mixes. I got more last time around (four I think) but it's all good.
posted by sveskemus at 1:32 PM on September 16, 2006

crunchland is complaining about me, amongst others. I think spending the extra two weeks to come up with something I'm happy with is better than doing a half-assed job and getting it out on time, which is where it was at the time it was due. Sending a repeat did not occur to me, though I could certainly have done that in plenty of time.

It'll go out when it's finished, which is looking like Monday. I really appreciate those of you who have sent yours already (including crunchland), and I hope you think mine was worth the wait.
posted by cali at 4:19 PM on September 16, 2006

I have to thank mdn for introducing me to the sublime insanity that is PinkStainlessTail's "bell rock jingle".
posted by scrump at 3:48 PM on September 18, 2006