MeFi's 2d wave turns three. November 18, 2007 6:02 AM   Subscribe

Happy birthday Generation Y MeFites!

You're three now (11/18/2004). What do you have to say for yourselves?
posted by Tommy Gnosis to MetaFilter-Related at 6:02 AM (114 comments total)

Aw, I was gonna do this, but forgot; here's the appropriate link. It is amazing how many still-familiar names are in that one-day group. Happy MeFi Birthday, you all!
posted by yhbc at 6:14 AM on November 18, 2007


Happy Birthday.

Now get offa my damned lawn!
posted by jonmc at 6:32 AM on November 18, 2007


Happy Birthday, n00bs.
posted by psmealey at 6:36 AM on November 18, 2007


Third Birthday !
* eats lots of cake - cries when clown appears - throws up*
posted by adamvasco at 6:42 AM on November 18, 2007


Don't trust anyone under 16k!
posted by Plutor at 6:43 AM on November 18, 2007 [3 favorites]


Man, I lurked for so long, waiting for the day, and then missed it by, like, a month. The shame.
posted by Sk4n at 6:51 AM on November 18, 2007


The one thing I've learned in the past three years is that in retrospect it was the best major site decision I've made. I was really conflicted at the time and thought the five bucks was such a large hurdle that few would use it. I had no idea there was such a backlog of demand from the previous two years or so of signups being closed.

I see more interesting people than I can count that signed up in that wave (like mothershock in the last podcast) that would have otherwise never participated. I'm glad I did it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:56 AM on November 18, 2007


So, who was the first user to sign up after the gate had been opened, and did she or he amount to anything?
posted by psmealey at 7:05 AM on November 18, 2007


I had seen the sign up notice early in the morning, before work and remember thinking "Holy shit, today is gonna be a great day!"

Thanks Matt!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:07 AM on November 18, 2007


I lurked forever, and signed up 11-19-2004.

So, firmly ensconced in middle age, I'm gonna say something I never thought I would: I'm Gen Y. Fuck your lawn.

Thanks, Matt. It's always interesting.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 7:13 AM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


To answer my own question, it looks like the first person to complete the registration process was user 17578, who has not contributed any comments or links since joining. But, in looking at this, it seems that there were some users added on November 11th, and the 17th. I was not aware of this at the time. Was this a test, mathowie?
posted by psmealey at 7:19 AM on November 18, 2007


I actually remember that I had a nasty nasty flu that week. So I didn't sign up for another month.
posted by miss lynnster at 7:42 AM on November 18, 2007


The REAL celebration starts January 13, 2005.
posted by The Deej at 7:46 AM on November 18, 2007


April 2004, the Forgotten Generation.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:49 AM on November 18, 2007


Happy birthday Generation Y MeFites!
You're three now (11/18/2004). What do you have to say for yourselves?


Shut up mom, I'm playing my video game! Where's my trust fund, you old witch?!
(is that how real "Generation Y" kids act?)
posted by NoMich at 7:56 AM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


See, I would have thought we'd be the baby boomers.
posted by emmastory at 8:00 AM on November 18, 2007


I'm usually happy to be around, and today is no exception.
posted by cgc373 at 8:09 AM on November 18, 2007


That thread really brought back memories. Funny to see who stuck around and contributed and who vanished back into the mists. Glad all of you joined us!

(This gave me a rueful chuckle.)
posted by languagehat at 8:26 AM on November 18, 2007


So, who was the first user to sign up after the gate had been opened, and did she or he amount to anything?

Meatbomb, at 17588, once claimed to be the first Five Dollar Newb, but it looks like that's not true; there's about a dozen accounts before that, a mix of test accounts and genuine signups, on the 18th.

Meatbomb: first loudest $5 newb.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:41 AM on November 18, 2007


*goes to thread, searches for "ColdChef"*

Oh god. OH God! OHGODOHGODOHGOD! Was I ever that young?
posted by ColdChef at 8:45 AM on November 18, 2007


And, heh:

Created an account a few days ago, just noticed this thread. I'm glad to finally have an account, someday I might even be able to post to the front page...

If you look at dirvish's user page, you might think, o, shame, never did that possibility manifest.

But, no, he did finally make a post. Which got deleted.
And another one. Which also got deleted.
And, hey, another one. Which got him banned.

So, in summary, eff you kids: off the lawn, pronto.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:46 AM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


I signed up a couple weeks later (08-Dec-2007) after having lurked since 2002. I thought at the time that I would become a prolific contributor but I still lurked after I ponied up my $5.

I wish I would have contributed more so that everyone here would know me the way that I feel like I've gotten to know all of you.

At least I didn't send everyone a mass email, promote my own band (if I had one), ask how to detox someone off of heroin on a 600 mile car ride, or post a raving screed about the Russian webdev mob to the front page :)
posted by SteveTheRed at 8:50 AM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


I lurked forever, and signed up 11-19-2004.

Ditto.
posted by ericb at 8:54 AM on November 18, 2007


Slack slackty slack!
posted by munchingzombie at 9:09 AM on November 18, 2007


I also signed up 18/11/04, but didn't post in that thread. So I'm posting to this one instead. Merry WishBang to my brethen $5 newbs! I dunno about the generation Y brand though - isn't that the one that considers things with the word Stussy printed on them cool? I hate that generation! Worst. Generation. Ever. Worse than Star Trek: the Next Generation and that was an awful one. Man! Haven't those people ever heard of the bountiful joys of sarcasm and snark. Fracking Pollyannas, I mean WTF gen-y?!?
posted by Sparx at 9:28 AM on November 18, 2007


Oh, is this where we link our youthful transgressions?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:29 AM on November 18, 2007


The effort you put into this post is the only thing saving you from certain death. Welcome.

Heh.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:36 AM on November 18, 2007


So ... is there a site history or site historian? An article? Timeline? As a 1996er, I only know this version of MetaFilter.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:38 AM on November 18, 2007


Lurked since the 90's, accidentally stumbled upon the pay-for-play link in 11/04.

BTW: My user number contains part of my birth date.
posted by sourwookie at 9:46 AM on November 18, 2007


So ... is there a site history or site historian? An article? Timeline?

The wiki has a good Timeline page that covers a lot of the epochal events in the site's history. It's slowly growing; folks should definitely add anything that they notice is missing (and don't forget to cite appropriate comment/thread).
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:48 AM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


Yeah . . .I'm on the tail end of Gen X, thanks. :)
posted by Medieval Maven at 9:49 AM on November 18, 2007


Did someone say youthful transgressions?
posted by breezeway at 9:59 AM on November 18, 2007


Holy cow, I can't believe it's been 3 years- I remember the day like it was yesterday. I had been checking every day for weeks, hoping, praying, and on the morning of November 18, 2004, I was finally let in the doors! (I think I was one of the first $5 n00bs, as I registered in the early morning, but I was probably not the very first). It's been good times, y'all, and the madness of this weekend has been the PERFECT CELEBRATION. Metafilter has brought more good things to my life than I have time to list in this thread (for starters, a large number of close friends whom I greatly admire). I love you all.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:12 AM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


I started commenting the day I joined. And never, ever stopped.

But at least I've only shat up the front page with eleven front-page posts! Eleven horrible, horrible front-page posts.
posted by Anonymous at 10:15 AM on November 18, 2007




I am the oldest nOOb who has actually stuck around, cortex, and I am not all that loud anymore.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:21 AM on November 18, 2007


This thread is really making me question my logic in having read the site for three years but never bothering to sign up.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:24 AM on November 18, 2007


In all fairness, it seems that Opposite George is also still active, 2 slots ahead of me. So all I have to do is kill him to make my dream come true.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:25 AM on November 18, 2007


But it's probably good that I didn't, considering I was 16 at the time.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:27 AM on November 18, 2007


Happy birthday, y'all!

When do us 2005ers get a cake?

I deserve cake because my user number is a palindrome. But I'll share my cake with prime numbers and powers of 2 because I'm nice that way.
posted by Quietgal at 10:42 AM on November 18, 2007


3 years and I've only made 12 posts? I need to get to work.
posted by baphomet at 10:42 AM on November 18, 2007


When do us 2005ers get a cake?

I hear that we all get a free package of Jimmy Dean® 12-oz. Roll Sausage!
posted by ericb at 11:00 AM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


Cake? The cake is a lie.

Happy birthday to me, though I guess I was 1000 sign ups too late.
posted by absalom at 11:02 AM on November 18, 2007


You call this a lawn? It's looking kind of ratty. And did anyone ever tell you how much water you're wasting watering this thing? You should really put in some xeriscaping instead. That's way cooler. That's what all the really hip kids are doing now. Old people, man....
posted by gingerbeer at 11:05 AM on November 18, 2007


I was there. It was a glorious day.
posted by ludwig_van at 11:10 AM on November 18, 2007


In all fairness, it seems that Opposite George is also still active, 2 slots ahead of me. So all I have to do is kill him to make my dream come true.
posted by Meatbomb


Yeah, not long ago he helped me with a bike-related issue through AskMe and emails. Great guy! We also exchanged some things via snail mail. So, I do have his home address. He's a great guy and all, but for a price I can tell you where to find him.
posted by The Deej at 11:12 AM on November 18, 2007


I hear that we all get a free package of Jimmy Dean® 12-oz. Roll Sausage!

...wrapped in a campaign contribution form and the lyrics to "Virginia."
posted by breezeway at 11:17 AM on November 18, 2007


Three years? Jesus, just... oh, Jesus fuck. What a life I could have had in those three years. Things I could have done, places I could have gone. I... I dunno. Ah, shit.

/puts solitary candle in a stale cupcake, sings happy birthday, blows it out, weeps
posted by flashboy at 11:17 AM on November 18, 2007


Like others I had been lurking for a couple of years before I managed to sign up on November 18, 2004. Prior to signups being opened I participated in a few threads by e-mailing other thread participants — sometimes they'd even post my e-mail's messages in the relevant thread. I don't remember most of these, but I do recall that in 2003 jessamyn asked a question about the Clear Channel Relief Fund and was kind enough to post a portion of the answer I sent to her via e-mail.
posted by RichardP at 11:18 AM on November 18, 2007


This is making me curiously teary-eyed.
posted by Stewriffic at 11:24 AM on November 18, 2007


Plutor: Don't trust anyone under 16k!

Yet again I find myself the measure of all men.
posted by Kattullus at 11:29 AM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


18k is the new 14k.
And that's not just US dollars.

Also: those Meatbomb to Dr. Wu 17k types, like the friends who come 10 minutes early to the party, aways welcome but maybe a little pathetically eager.
posted by Rumple at 11:35 AM on November 18, 2007


I signed up a year later, but today is my actual birthday-birthday, and I'll take it!
posted by SassHat at 11:35 AM on November 18, 2007


You're making the rest of us feel very old now...
posted by Derek at 11:36 AM on November 18, 2007


Thanks Matt.
posted by exlotuseater at 11:37 AM on November 18, 2007


But, no, he did finally make a post. Which got deleted.
And another one. Which also got deleted.
And, hey, another one. Which got him banned.


Oh oh! I did the leg work to get that fucker banned! Are you proud of me, mods?
posted by puke & cry at 12:03 PM on November 18, 2007


item: hurfday

This inspired me to look up the ol' u. n. owen hurf durf thread, which lead me to find out that u. n. owen hadn't been banned, that her account was still active. She hasn't made a single comment since her MeTa callout, however. See! Sometime public shaming does work!

Speaking of, though... this comment from seanyboy had me howling with laughter:
Let's not forget that Metafilter has responded supremely in the past to non-solicited charitable causes. (Well, I can think of one). I see no reason to start setting things in stone. Truth is, that every now and again somebody will ask for some help. They'll get a bit of help from the nicer / more gullible members (delete as applicable) and dependent on the perceived trustworthiness of the poster, there will be either anger or charity. flamingbores request resulted in anger. If Madam Jujujive had asked us to help out a struggling pretty_generic, the response would have been completely different.
Oh sweet irony, she cuts like ice!
posted by Kattullus at 12:24 PM on November 18, 2007


The very first user who joined the site on November 18th, 2004

That's actually my friend Michael Sippey helping me test out the new user signup system, right before I went to bed. So whoever is after the katesippey account is likely a real actual paid account and the first user.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 12:39 PM on November 18, 2007


That's this guy i guess.
posted by puke & cry at 12:45 PM on November 18, 2007


The first account after katesippey is matt123test, which I presume is mathowie, same goes for the next profile matttest2. Which makes one-comment wonder thelastminute the very oldest of the five-dollar newbs.

I should mention that despite my lower usernumber, I'm in fact a $5 n00b.
posted by Kattullus at 12:45 PM on November 18, 2007


Based on the Wiki timeline, I am confused as to how someone could sign up between the closing and the re-opening?
posted by pineapple at 12:52 PM on November 18, 2007


The first still active $5 MeFite is rjt, the first to have made an FPP was JtJ and the first to become a very active member (having made hundreds of comments) is Opposite George.
posted by Kattullus at 12:57 PM on November 18, 2007


April 2004, the Forgotten Generation

**waves at robocop is bleeding**

we're like the unplanned middle child or something, and now a new baby has come along and gets all the attention. hrmph.
posted by ambrosia at 12:59 PM on November 18, 2007


Holy crap. Three years?! Amazing. Thanks, Matt. Best use of $5 ever.
posted by Space Kitty at 1:03 PM on November 18, 2007




November 18, 2004-2007

We bought our tickets when the box office opened

Happy Anniversary to us,

We warmed our hands at the frequent flames

Happy Anniversary to us,

We gasped at the knowledge and the geekery

Happy Anniversary all $5 noobs,

We have laughed and cried, and mostly enjoyed our years

Happy Anniversary to us.

Thanks ♥ ♥ ♥ Matt.
posted by Cranberry at 1:31 PM on November 18, 2007


ClaudiaCenter: "So ... is there a site history or site historian? An article? Timeline? As a 1996er, I only know this version of MetaFilter."

There's the metafilterhistory tag, but without tags in the grey or cross-subsite tag history, it's only 40% useful.
posted by Plutor at 1:33 PM on November 18, 2007


Well I'm 6 in MeFi years. So there. And I'm quite certain you've all gotten my money's worth.
posted by jewishbuddha at 1:59 PM on November 18, 2007


I was a daily reader back then. It took me 3 years to earn those 5$, until 10 days ago I finally got in. I know you all already.
posted by Free word order! at 2:32 PM on November 18, 2007


Happy birthday, meatbags! Now let's all have some delicious, moist cake.
posted by GLaDOS at 2:33 PM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


I'm so old, Matt doesn't even remember my birthday. And, as I've noted before, I don't have a lawn, just a shrub on one side and landscaping decoration on the other I call "Blog the Log" before it all turns to paved driveway. A couple times, I have supported Matt by buying a 'sock puppet' account and not using it in order to keep a cool nick out of the hands of an uncool noob. In one case, it didn't work, thanks to an ingenious character using the "_" character.

I'm just surprised the "early adopters" of paid MeFi accounts didn't get charged $10, then the price dropped to $5. Matt, have you learned NOTHING from Steve Jobs???

And you want cake? What do you think this is, Portal?
posted by wendell at 2:36 PM on November 18, 2007


I snuck in here when Matt was doing the 5 (or whatever number) a day free new accounts. I guess working graveyard shift was worth at least 5 bucks then...
posted by Eekacat at 2:38 PM on November 18, 2007


pineapple, some of us snuck in. There were a couple of back doors back then; and as Eekacat mentioned, there was a period of limited access where just a few new accounts were allowed each day.
posted by yhbc at 2:40 PM on November 18, 2007


I think that I got in that way too.

I was a n00b for two years before the doors opened again.
My high user number 17290, was like an emblem of shame. No one, not even Paris Paramus, not Midas Mulligan, not Quonsar, not MiguelCardoso would take me seriously, girls wouldn't talk to me, dogs barked at me for no reason. For two years.

The scars. They're deep. Eventually... they'll heal.
posted by psmealey at 2:49 PM on November 18, 2007


posted by Free word order!

I support your cause! I pay way too much for my word order.

Don't worry, psmealey, I take you ser... seri... I... no, I can't do it!
*laughs cruelly*
posted by languagehat at 2:55 PM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


The people between Nov 2002 and Nov 2004 that got in were either my botched "5 per day" experiments (that featured a bad bit of math in the programming and allowed about 75 people per day for a week until I closed it), or they just emailed me a sob story and I sent them a login.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:00 PM on November 18, 2007


How about when mefi got taken over in the Logingate scandal? That was before signups were opened. I posted on that thread.
posted by ludwig_van at 3:00 PM on November 18, 2007


Three years and I've made exactly one post to the front page. It was newsfilter and I didn't get flamed for it so I figured that I'd quit while I was ahead. Maybe I'll work up the energy to post again one of these days.
posted by octothorpe at 3:01 PM on November 18, 2007


I'm quite sure I once sent Matt a sob story trying to get an account. Guess it wasn't sobby enough. :)
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:14 PM on November 18, 2007


awwwwwwww shucks.

Thanks Matt...it's been a great 3 years. plus lurk time.
posted by mayfly wake at 4:40 PM on November 18, 2007


I can't believe it's been three years since then... but what a wonderful day! I loved lurking before... but getting to participate beats all.
I didn't post in that original thread... so here's one for then!
posted by Meagan at 4:42 PM on November 18, 2007


Who wants cake?
posted by kuujjuarapik at 4:48 PM on November 18, 2007


pineapple, some of us snuck in. There were a couple of back doors back then; and as Eekacat mentioned, there was a period of limited access where just a few new accounts were allowed each day.

The people between Nov 2002 and Nov 2004 that got in were either my botched "5 per day" experiments (that featured a bad bit of math in the programming and allowed about 75 people per day for a week until I closed it), or they just emailed me a sob story and I sent them a login.


Oh my God.... I'm having a flashback -- I think I was a sob story email. I'm having a vague recollection -- I might have emailed Astruc and asked her how to get in?

We're like some lost gang then. Generation "Y Not, the Worst Matt Can Do is Say No."
posted by pineapple at 4:48 PM on November 18, 2007


Cake cake cake cake!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:11 PM on November 18, 2007 [1 favorite]


Haha! I just popped over to post a "Happy Mefday to Me!" thread & found I had been beaten to it.

I think we should start a tradition of getting a pony for our Mefday. By that, I mean all of us, not just the children of the 18th of November.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:50 PM on November 18, 2007


(that was my pony, by the way. ponies for all on their mefdays)
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:55 PM on November 18, 2007


I see more interesting people than I can count that signed up in that wave (like mothershock in the last podcast) that would have otherwise never participated. I'm glad I did it.

Matt's clearly doing his best to cast his eyes all round the audience & make that sound equally applicable to all, but in my heart of hearts I know that he's singing just for me...
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:58 PM on November 18, 2007


Three is a wonderful age.
posted by Miko at 6:12 PM on November 18, 2007


Happy Anniversary all $5 noobs

Jeez, when you put it like that, it makes us sound all tawdry and cheap.
posted by Dr. Zira at 6:33 PM on November 18, 2007


Jeez, when you put it like that, it makes us sound all tawdry and cheap.

Hey there Dr. Zira. [wink, wink. coy smile].

What be your poison tonight?

It's all on me tonight -- in more ways than one! [wink, wink. coy smile -- with wet lips].
posted by ericb at 7:13 PM on November 18, 2007



Jeez, when you put it like that, it makes us sound all tawdry and cheap.

What's a noob?

$5, same as in town..?
posted by juv3nal at 7:46 PM on November 18, 2007


11/18/04 Nevar Forget!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:17 PM on November 18, 2007


Finally, we're out of the terrible twos...
posted by achmorrison at 9:23 PM on November 18, 2007


The king is dead, long live the cake!
posted by fnord at 9:57 PM on November 18, 2007


♥</font
posted by Cranberry at 10:44 PM on November 18, 2007


well, we didn't get the ability to use color for our birthday.
posted by Cranberry at 10:44 PM on November 18, 2007


I lurked forever, and signed up 11-19-2004.

Ditto.


Ditto. (Happy birthday to me, etc etc)
posted by roofus at 2:17 AM on November 19, 2007


mathowie: "... emailed me a sob story and I sent them a login."
Or $20. I wish I knew that a sob story would have done. man, you were cheap back then.
posted by dg at 2:48 AM on November 19, 2007


Guilty as charged. 18th November, 2004.
posted by Wolof at 3:09 AM on November 19, 2007


I lurked forever, and signed up 11-19-2004.

Ditto.

Ditto. (Happy birthday to me, etc etc)


And... ditto. I sent my sob-story in 2002, but it evidently wasn't sad enough...
posted by sagwalla at 3:32 AM on November 19, 2007


Yo.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:34 AM on November 19, 2007


Was still digging on this, and remembered my sob story -- I'd been a lurker when this thread came up, and was working at the Capitol at the time and wanted to weigh in. So, I didn't ask Astruc the favor after all, just did a bleeding-heart dance for Matt.

Or $20. I wish I knew that a sob story would have done. man, you were cheap back then.

But, I know I didn't pay anything either (lowly legislative aide wouldn't have had the money). So: hahahaha suckazzzzzz!

Happy anniversary, class of '04. The montage of photos and video clips of your early years (first favorites, first flame-outs, first AskMes, first "."), set to "Time of Your Life" by Green Day, is playing on the wall in the gym.
posted by pineapple at 6:36 AM on November 19, 2007


As one of the 14Kers who hammered on the site until he found a backdoor through which to sign up, I dreaded the legitimate sign-ups. Unwashed masses? On *MY* favorite web community?

Forbid it, almighty God!

I will admit that, in retrospect, it . . . didn't suck as much as I thought it would.

THERE I SAID SOMETHING NICE. NOW FUCK OFF, ALL OF YOU.
posted by Ryvar at 7:33 AM on November 19, 2007


Don't trust anyone under 16k!

Damn. I'm always left out.
posted by Big_B at 8:49 AM on November 19, 2007


I felt like I should have to pay just to read the good stuff on here, much less join.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 10:34 AM on November 19, 2007


The one thing I've learned in the past three years is that in retrospect it was the best major site decision I've made.
posted by mathowie at 8:56 AM on November 18


Well, it was the day I joined, so there's that.
posted by dios at 11:06 AM on November 19, 2007


I sent my sob-story in 2002, but it evidently wasn't sad enough...

Yeah, you really had to be an exceptional SOB, basically.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:37 AM on November 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


No, it didn't suck as much as I thought would, either.

On the other hand, I thought it would really, really, really suck.
posted by timeistight at 11:54 AM on November 19, 2007


When were signups closed for the first time? They were reopened at a trickle in July 2002 but I can't find the MetaTalk post announcing the closure prior to that.
posted by zsazsa at 1:05 PM on November 19, 2007


Are you all finally done now?
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:58 PM on November 19, 2007 [1 favorite]


18970, hell no, I'm not done! Happy birthday, to each and every nublet.
posted by anthill at 6:02 PM on November 19, 2007


Will you feel stalked if I make a small Kafkaesque! here? I mean, you're Kafkaesque, for K's sake.
posted by cgc373 at 2:20 AM on November 20, 2007



The people between Nov 2002 and Nov 2004 that got in were either my botched "5 per day" experiments

Those poor wretches. Letting them in the back door was the least you could do.
posted by oneirodynia at 10:53 AM on November 21, 2007


The Island of Doctor Mathowie.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:55 AM on November 21, 2007


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