Design Brief: "We aren’t partial to any color..." (but we fear the Blue) October 3, 2009 5:08 PM Subscribe
Found through this question: Metafilter's own GiveWell wants to change their look. Wonder if any of you talented MeFi web designers want to make them a nice *blue* homepage.
It's good to see most of the proposals using a professional white background.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 5:17 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 5:17 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Isn't it time to drop this subject and let people move on with their lives?
posted by 517 at 5:52 PM on October 3, 2009 [9 favorites]
posted by 517 at 5:52 PM on October 3, 2009 [9 favorites]
Oh for fuck's sakes.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:52 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:52 PM on October 3, 2009
Isn't it time to drop this subject and let people move on with their lives?
Why yes it is. Time and gone time by my count.
posted by nola at 5:56 PM on October 3, 2009
Why yes it is. Time and gone time by my count.
posted by nola at 5:56 PM on October 3, 2009
Astroturf green.
posted by availablelight at 6:08 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by availablelight at 6:08 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Good for them. Their old design needs a rest before it goes and does something stupid.
posted by CKmtl at 6:25 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by CKmtl at 6:25 PM on October 3, 2009
This feels a little like excessive following these folks around.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:35 PM on October 3, 2009 [9 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:35 PM on October 3, 2009 [9 favorites]
I heard some GiveWell dude on NPR once. He said some reasonable things. So I banned NPR.
posted by mullacc at 6:39 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by mullacc at 6:39 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Isn't it time to ... let people move on with their lives?
GiveWell, maybe. But not Rusty Bottoms from Pretty Flowers.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:40 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
GiveWell, maybe. But not Rusty Bottoms from Pretty Flowers.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:40 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
i think they should use something like this
posted by pyramid termite at 7:06 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by pyramid termite at 7:06 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Well yes, why not close it up then.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:08 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:08 PM on October 3, 2009
Burhanistan: "I just ate about 4 kilograms of sushi."
What kind?
posted by boo_radley at 7:32 PM on October 3, 2009
What kind?
posted by boo_radley at 7:32 PM on October 3, 2009
I've been thinking of nothing but amaebi for days.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:45 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:45 PM on October 3, 2009
Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd scene.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 7:58 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 7:58 PM on October 3, 2009
This feels a little like excessive following these folks around.
Sure, and maybe this has come off as even more mean-spirited than I intended. If anyone ever deserved the MetaFilter's Own tag, they do, and web-designers are almost as thick on the ground here as librarians... so I thought some might enjoy the same nostalgic schadenfreude.
When I saw them on that 99Designs site linked in AskMe, it gave me a chortle. Crowd-sourcing your corporate branding seems to be on the same spectrum of flailing cluelessness as the astroturfing they did here. But I'm not a designer -- maybe that's just me.
posted by Methylviolet at 7:58 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Sure, and maybe this has come off as even more mean-spirited than I intended. If anyone ever deserved the MetaFilter's Own tag, they do, and web-designers are almost as thick on the ground here as librarians... so I thought some might enjoy the same nostalgic schadenfreude.
When I saw them on that 99Designs site linked in AskMe, it gave me a chortle. Crowd-sourcing your corporate branding seems to be on the same spectrum of flailing cluelessness as the astroturfing they did here. But I'm not a designer -- maybe that's just me.
posted by Methylviolet at 7:58 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
I've been thinking of nothing but amaebi for days.
I always thought the plural was amoebas or amoebae, but I just wanted to say that I hope that your microbial thoughts weren't from any health concerns.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:08 PM on October 3, 2009
I always thought the plural was amoebas or amoebae, but I just wanted to say that I hope that your microbial thoughts weren't from any health concerns.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:08 PM on October 3, 2009
Am I allowed to hate that 99 designs site? People really work for free in the hope someone will choose them? Yeah, I know, I'm certainly free to not participate, and I won't. But I wish I could eat half a dozen cookies and only pay for the one I like best.
posted by maxwelton at 8:40 PM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by maxwelton at 8:40 PM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
No, she hasn't been thinking about more than one amoeba, she's been thinking about more than one amaebus. Whatever that is.
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:48 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:48 PM on October 3, 2009
more than one amaebus. Whatever that is.
A male amoeba?
A protean public transportation vehicle?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:47 PM on October 3, 2009
A male amoeba?
A protean public transportation vehicle?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:47 PM on October 3, 2009
This callout (or whatever it is) sucks and is gross.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:09 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by KokuRyu at 10:09 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
I had something like $60 worth of omakase tonight and I'm still hungry and now I have to go to the store to buy food. But I had sea urchin for the first time. It tastes like the ocean in the best sense of the phrase.
posted by Bookhouse at 10:19 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by Bookhouse at 10:19 PM on October 3, 2009
Just hijacking this thread for an alphabet game. Look at me, look at me! Alphabet game!
posted by not_on_display at 10:27 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by not_on_display at 10:27 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Kid, chill out
posted by wheelieman at 10:42 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by wheelieman at 10:42 PM on October 3, 2009
LOLDEN KARNOFSKY
posted by scody at 10:51 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by scody at 10:51 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Must we?
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:58 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:58 PM on October 3, 2009
Not again!
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:07 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:07 PM on October 3, 2009
Quit fucking around.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:50 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:50 PM on October 3, 2009
This is delightful. Eating sushi for charity? Sign me up for sainthood!
posted by Saydur at 12:29 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by Saydur at 12:29 AM on October 4, 2009
I hope that your microbial thoughts weren't from any health concerns.
In case you're not joking, amaebi is shrimp.
posted by ryanrs at 1:17 AM on October 4, 2009
In case you're not joking, amaebi is shrimp.
posted by ryanrs at 1:17 AM on October 4, 2009
You broke it, dude, and I don't know the rules. Does the next comment revert to "V", or does that mean it's "P" now?
posted by little e at 1:19 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by little e at 1:19 AM on October 4, 2009
or did I just make it Z and am I now making it P again I'm so confused
posted by little e at 1:21 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by little e at 1:21 AM on October 4, 2009
Plough on from whichever ridiculous letter we've been catapaulted to, I think.
posted by the latin mouse at 1:26 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by the latin mouse at 1:26 AM on October 4, 2009
Right enough, I suppose.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:42 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:42 AM on October 4, 2009
Voraciously apprehended deep-fried tempura-battered whole shrimp. AND sticky-sweet nigiri. Dualistic ambrosia from the sea.Urrglegurg.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:55 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:55 AM on October 4, 2009
This feels a little like excessive following these folks around.
Why? They scammed people and lied about other charities, which were doing legitimate non-profit work. Givewell's board was almost entirely unapologetic about doing this. There was no indication this policy had changed when the board put the individuals who did this back in charge.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:32 AM on October 4, 2009 [7 favorites]
Why? They scammed people and lied about other charities, which were doing legitimate non-profit work. Givewell's board was almost entirely unapologetic about doing this. There was no indication this policy had changed when the board put the individuals who did this back in charge.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:32 AM on October 4, 2009 [7 favorites]
Peter Singer (famous and controversial ethicist) came to Australia some time ago, and was sort of accidentally promoting Givewell and I said "wait, what?" and sent him the link to the original metafilter thread and gushed something like, "hey, those Givewell people upset those Metafilter people by being unethical, you probably don't know about this," and he replied (!) and said something like, yeah, I knew, storm in a teacup, far as I'm concerned or something like that. Not exactly but close enough.
I love that I can email famous people and have them reply. Thanks Metafilter, for indulging a psychosis I didn't know I had.
posted by b33j at 3:44 AM on October 4, 2009
I love that I can email famous people and have them reply. Thanks Metafilter, for indulging a psychosis I didn't know I had.
posted by b33j at 3:44 AM on October 4, 2009
Xylophone is a word used almost exclusively to get to the next letter in MeFi alphabet threads. This is a little-known fact.
posted by dg at 4:03 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by dg at 4:03 AM on October 4, 2009
Zeus! This was an alphabet thread and I spent my time rabbiting on. oops.
posted by b33j at 4:32 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by b33j at 4:32 AM on October 4, 2009
No, wait, I got it:
\x61\x6c\x70\x68\x61\x62\x65\x74\x20\x74\x68\x72\x65\x61\x64\x20\x67\x6f
posted by cj_ at 5:10 AM on October 4, 2009
\x61\x6c\x70\x68\x61\x62\x65\x74\x20\x74\x68\x72\x65\x61\x64\x20\x67\x6f
posted by cj_ at 5:10 AM on October 4, 2009
#####
## #### #### # # ###### # # # #
# # # # # # # # # # #
# # #### # # # ##### ###### ###
###### # # # # ### # # # #
# # # # # # # # ### # # #
# # #### #### # # # ###### # # #
#
posted by the latin mouse at 5:30 AM on October 4, 2009 [2 favorites]
## #### #### # # ###### # # # #
# # # # # # # # # # #
# # #### # # # ##### ###### ###
###### # # # # ### # # # #
# # # # # # # # ### # # #
# # #### #### # # # ###### # # #
#
posted by the latin mouse at 5:30 AM on October 4, 2009 [2 favorites]
42/69/74/20/6f/66/20/61/20/63/6f/63/6b/20/75/70/20/74/68/65/72/65/2c/20/6f/62/76/69/6f/75/73/6c/79/20/49/20/6d/65/61/6e/74/20/74/6f/20/70/6f/73/74/20/69/6e/20/68/65/78/2e/20/53/6f/72/72/79/2c/20/63/6a/5f
posted by the latin mouse at 5:35 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by the latin mouse at 5:35 AM on October 4, 2009
Listen, you bozos. (and, do you mind if I call you bozos?)
You are doing everything here completely wrong.
1) You are not supposed to talk about GiveWell anymore.
2) Alphabet threads are illegal.
It's like the perfect storm of wrongness in here, so I think I will just close this up now.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:50 AM on October 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
You are doing everything here completely wrong.
1) You are not supposed to talk about GiveWell anymore.
2) Alphabet threads are illegal.
It's like the perfect storm of wrongness in here, so I think I will just close this up now.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:50 AM on October 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
Peter Singer (famous and controversial ethicist) came to Australia some time ago, and was sort of accidentally promoting Givewell
That's sort of funny, since there was an Australian "Givewell" before MeFi's own was even a glimmer in young Holden's eye.
Peter Singer is also a wack job.
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:56 AM on October 4, 2009
That's sort of funny, since there was an Australian "Givewell" before MeFi's own was even a glimmer in young Holden's eye.
Peter Singer is also a wack job.
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:56 AM on October 4, 2009
0110000101100010001000000110001101100101011000100110111101111001011100100111101000101100001000000111101001100010011010000110011001110010001011100010000
001111000011010000111000101100010011001100010000001100111011000100010000001101010011101010110001001110010011010010111001001100101001000000110111101100
101011100100110111001111000011001100010000001100111011101010111011001100110
posted by cj_ at 6:13 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by cj_ at 6:13 AM on October 4, 2009
wack or whack?
posted by b33j at 6:15 AM on October 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by b33j at 6:15 AM on October 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
cj_:
ab ceboyrz, zbhfr. xhqbf gb jubrire oernxf guvf
Say what?
Via.
posted by b33j at 6:17 AM on October 4, 2009
ab ceboyrz, zbhfr. xhqbf gb jubrire oernxf guvf
Say what?
Via.
posted by b33j at 6:17 AM on October 4, 2009
Blazecock Pileon: Why?
Because GiveWell didn't exactly bring out the best in the community.
posted by Kattullus at 6:40 AM on October 4, 2009 [3 favorites]
Because GiveWell didn't exactly bring out the best in the community.
posted by Kattullus at 6:40 AM on October 4, 2009 [3 favorites]
Yeah, as charitable organizations go, Givewell isn't very good at bringing out the best in people.
Holy shit, is this Big Daddy Kane's 'Lean on Me' video? I'm housesitting for some pals with expensive cable tv, and this vh1 Soul is awesome! They just went from Cameo to Klymaxx to Kane.
posted by box at 8:13 AM on October 4, 2009
Holy shit, is this Big Daddy Kane's 'Lean on Me' video? I'm housesitting for some pals with expensive cable tv, and this vh1 Soul is awesome! They just went from Cameo to Klymaxx to Kane.
posted by box at 8:13 AM on October 4, 2009
Wait a minute, Club Nouveau? What type of crap is that? I guess I'll go take the dogs for a walk.
posted by box at 8:17 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by box at 8:17 AM on October 4, 2009
Because GiveWell didn't exactly bring out the best in the community.
posted by Kattullus at 6:40 AM on October 4
Are you kidding? An unethical, concentrated campaign of astroturfring and misinformation was brought down by some of MeFi's finest. Who knows how long Karnofsky and Givewell would have done it if he hadn't been caught here? As it stands, Givewell is basically just a scam for Karnofsky and friends to earn an easy paycheck while doing no work. Fuck him, and fuck Givewell. The fact that they're now requesting unpaid spec work is pretty much to be expected from them.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 9:38 AM on October 4, 2009 [13 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 6:40 AM on October 4
Are you kidding? An unethical, concentrated campaign of astroturfring and misinformation was brought down by some of MeFi's finest. Who knows how long Karnofsky and Givewell would have done it if he hadn't been caught here? As it stands, Givewell is basically just a scam for Karnofsky and friends to earn an easy paycheck while doing no work. Fuck him, and fuck Givewell. The fact that they're now requesting unpaid spec work is pretty much to be expected from them.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 9:38 AM on October 4, 2009 [13 favorites]
There are always meetups, but has there been a mob-up yet? Matt can sell us some Metafilter torches and we can mob-up all over the world...
posted by anniecat at 10:31 AM on October 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by anniecat at 10:31 AM on October 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
Why are we--self included--wasting our time on this?
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:30 PM on October 4, 2009
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:30 PM on October 4, 2009
Rats! I missed the alphabet thread. . . *sigh
posted by garnetgirl at 1:41 PM on October 4, 2009
posted by garnetgirl at 1:41 PM on October 4, 2009
MSAyIDMsIHRoZSBraWRzIGxvdmUgdGhlIG1vbmtleSE=
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:12 PM on October 4, 2009
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:12 PM on October 4, 2009
NCA1IDYsIEkgbG92ZSBDaGV4IE1peCE=
posted by not_on_display at 4:17 PM on October 4, 2009
posted by not_on_display at 4:17 PM on October 4, 2009
NyA4IDkgaGF2aW5nIGEgZ29vZCB0aW1lLCB5ZWFoIQ==
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:02 PM on October 4, 2009
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:02 PM on October 4, 2009
OK OK, here is the video so everyone can enjoy it. the song, not us getting a room....
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:25 PM on October 4, 2009
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:25 PM on October 4, 2009
Posting a Metatalk that GiveWell is trying too get its web pages done on spec is entirely appropriate given that GiveWell's entire premise and operation is "on spec":
* they sprung into existence asking established charities to spend time and effort filling out forms and providing GiveWell information in order to rate those charities, on the hope that GiveWell would, at some unspecified future time, pick a few of those charities to direct funds to, while at the same time,
* asking givers to give to GiveWell on the promise that, at some unspecified future time, GiveWell would in fact rate charities and redirect their donors' contributions, and that
* given enough contributions, GiveWell would, at some unspecified future time, be able to provide that rating and redirection service, beyond just providing paid sinecures for its founders, who
* while currently lacking any experience or expertise in rating charities, might, at some unspecified future time, acquire it.
Indeed, how did Holden decide to get publicity for GiveWell -- by coming on this site and getting it for free by his clever Astroturfing.
So it's no surprise at all that GiveWell is now extending that philosophy to its operations. Once again, GiveWell has said that it can't provide anything -- not even a web presence -- without asking that lots of people and organizations give it something, on faith and in hope that maybe they'll get something of value for their work and contributions.
And indeed, I guess that if everyone had just trusted Holden Karnofsky -- after all, he went to a good school, and knows all the right people in finance and in media, and he worked for a hedge fund when the cash was flowing -- if everyone just trusted Golden Boy Holden and gave him their money, or filled out Holden's forms, and gave Holden a free web-site do-over, maybe after some years, Holden, recipient of all that free or on spec work, eventually might produce some value-added. Maybe.
So once again, Holden's asking that we trust him, and work for him for free, in the hopes that, surely this last bit of effort will free him up to make his contributions.
Entirely appropriate Metatalk, because it shows that once again, GiveWell's trying to make it a charity contribution gatekeeper -- but only if everyone else will chip in to build the gate.
posted by orthogonality at 6:54 PM on October 4, 2009 [9 favorites]
* they sprung into existence asking established charities to spend time and effort filling out forms and providing GiveWell information in order to rate those charities, on the hope that GiveWell would, at some unspecified future time, pick a few of those charities to direct funds to, while at the same time,
* asking givers to give to GiveWell on the promise that, at some unspecified future time, GiveWell would in fact rate charities and redirect their donors' contributions, and that
* given enough contributions, GiveWell would, at some unspecified future time, be able to provide that rating and redirection service, beyond just providing paid sinecures for its founders, who
* while currently lacking any experience or expertise in rating charities, might, at some unspecified future time, acquire it.
Indeed, how did Holden decide to get publicity for GiveWell -- by coming on this site and getting it for free by his clever Astroturfing.
So it's no surprise at all that GiveWell is now extending that philosophy to its operations. Once again, GiveWell has said that it can't provide anything -- not even a web presence -- without asking that lots of people and organizations give it something, on faith and in hope that maybe they'll get something of value for their work and contributions.
And indeed, I guess that if everyone had just trusted Holden Karnofsky -- after all, he went to a good school, and knows all the right people in finance and in media, and he worked for a hedge fund when the cash was flowing -- if everyone just trusted Golden Boy Holden and gave him their money, or filled out Holden's forms, and gave Holden a free web-site do-over, maybe after some years, Holden, recipient of all that free or on spec work, eventually might produce some value-added. Maybe.
So once again, Holden's asking that we trust him, and work for him for free, in the hopes that, surely this last bit of effort will free him up to make his contributions.
Entirely appropriate Metatalk, because it shows that once again, GiveWell's trying to make it a charity contribution gatekeeper -- but only if everyone else will chip in to build the gate.
posted by orthogonality at 6:54 PM on October 4, 2009 [9 favorites]
Optimus Chyme: Are you kidding? An unethical, concentrated campaign of astroturfring and misinformation was brought down by some of MeFi's finest. Who knows how long Karnofsky and Givewell would have done it if he hadn't been caught here? As it stands, Givewell is basically just a scam for Karnofsky and friends to earn an easy paycheck while doing no work. Fuck him, and fuck Givewell. The fact that they're now requesting unpaid spec work is pretty much to be expected from them.
Just because I support the ends doesn't mean I have to endorse the means. In fact, that's the same logical flaw that allows GiveWell to exist. Charities are good, better charities are better and therefore any way of making charities better is good. But that doesn't mean that an organization like GiveWell is a good idea. Similarly, criticizing GiveWell and publicizing their unethical behavior is a good thing but that doesn't mean that all ways of going about that are good.
posted by Kattullus at 7:22 PM on October 4, 2009
Just because I support the ends doesn't mean I have to endorse the means. In fact, that's the same logical flaw that allows GiveWell to exist. Charities are good, better charities are better and therefore any way of making charities better is good. But that doesn't mean that an organization like GiveWell is a good idea. Similarly, criticizing GiveWell and publicizing their unethical behavior is a good thing but that doesn't mean that all ways of going about that are good.
posted by Kattullus at 7:22 PM on October 4, 2009
Similarly, criticizing GiveWell and publicizing their unethical behavior is a good thing but that doesn't mean that all ways of going about that are good.
oh my god a thread on the internet discussing givewell's latest shady practices....it is truly we who are the monsters......
we have stared into the abyss and it has stared back into us.....
posted by Optimus Chyme at 9:51 PM on October 4, 2009
oh my god a thread on the internet discussing givewell's latest shady practices....it is truly we who are the monsters......
we have stared into the abyss and it has stared back into us.....
posted by Optimus Chyme at 9:51 PM on October 4, 2009
Optimus Chyme: oh my god a thread on the internet discussing givewell's latest shady practices....it is truly we who are the monsters......
we have stared into the abyss and it has stared back into us.....
Hah! I know, right… talking about the latest annoying thing GiveWell does, have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?
I suppose I should've been more specific. I wasn't talking about this thread in isolation but what took place in the original GiveWell thread and when mobs form in MetaTalk in general. I don't think that anybody came out of the GiveWell affair with their dignity intact. Not that I'm equating MetaFilter with GiveWell morally (GiveWell is a moral black hole, MetaFilter is my home in cyberspace).
posted by Kattullus at 6:27 AM on October 5, 2009
we have stared into the abyss and it has stared back into us.....
Hah! I know, right… talking about the latest annoying thing GiveWell does, have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?
I suppose I should've been more specific. I wasn't talking about this thread in isolation but what took place in the original GiveWell thread and when mobs form in MetaTalk in general. I don't think that anybody came out of the GiveWell affair with their dignity intact. Not that I'm equating MetaFilter with GiveWell morally (GiveWell is a moral black hole, MetaFilter is my home in cyberspace).
posted by Kattullus at 6:27 AM on October 5, 2009
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Eww.
posted by cashman at 5:16 PM on October 3, 2009