Everybody's workin on the weekend

April 10, 2011 3:24 PM

Quick announcement to let you know we've brought on a new part-timer to help us out on the weekends, restless_nomad. She's sane, sensible and actually has mod experience from before MeFi. She'll be helping out Friday nights through Sunday nights and you might see her name on contact form replies or weekend spammer banninations.

As the site's gotten bigger, having three full-time mods with partial attention who travel a fair amount hasn't been cutting it on the weekends. We wanted to make sure there's someone around to put out fires and respond to questions in the same timely manner as during the week. She'll also be helping with housekeeping stuff like keeping the FAQ up to date and chitchatting in MetaTalk.

We'll all still be around and working with restless_nomad of course, but wanted to give folks a heads up that there will be a new face in Mod Town on the weekends. pb and mathowie worked to make the Midnight Mod toolset a bit fuller featured so we'd have more options for people pitching in when we were all away (this always comes up around SXSW time) and now vacapinta has a Midnight Mod associate with, um, different hours.

Questions or comments, please feel free to bring them here. Welcome and thanks, restless_nomad.

posted by jessamyn to MetaFilter-Related at 3:24 PM (165 comments total)

Sane? Sensible? Burn the witch!

Actually, welcome to the fold. I'm never moderated. Just everyone else. FYI.
posted by Splunge at 3:27 PM on April 10, 2011

My question for all the mods is: if you were pokémon trainers, which pokémon would you capture with your pokéballs and why?
posted by elizardbits at 3:29 PM on April 10, 2011 [12 favorites]

It's like watching the Justice League form.
posted by FunkyHelix at 3:30 PM on April 10, 2011 [19 favorites]

Nice going. You gave her all the drunks.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 3:35 PM on April 10, 2011 [23 favorites]

WELCOME TO THE NIGHTM hey welcome aboard!!!
posted by cavalier at 3:36 PM on April 10, 2011

Welcome restless_nomad.
posted by pjern at 3:41 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Hey guys! Usually when being introduced to a new community I have a whole little "Who I am" speech ready, but y'all have access to my profile and therefore can easily find things out about me that my mother never knew. Short version: I'm Jeremy, yes I'm a girl, yes it's a long story, and I've been reading Metafilter since it was possible to idly page back to the first post. I'm a community manager by trade and have been working in online video games (mostly doomed ones) for several years.

I'm totally thrilled to help out and, with a little luck, I'll be pretty unobtrusive.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 3:42 PM on April 10, 2011 [36 favorites]

*Tips hat*
posted by -t at 3:44 PM on April 10, 2011

Speech! Speech! ::claps::
posted by Splunge at 3:47 PM on April 10, 2011

Hooray for the mods' alertness.
posted by Wolfdog at 3:48 PM on April 10, 2011

HOORAY!!!
♬♪☃☂☏♬♮LALALA this is good.
posted by not_on_display at 3:49 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

a new face in Mod Town

This is just one more example of MeFi's discriminatory and anti-rockerist community sentiment.

[skulks off, combs greasy hair, kickstarts a Triumph twin cylinder motorbike in the kitchen]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 3:49 PM on April 10, 2011 [15 favorites]

I've brought torches, tables, and a tarp; anyone know where they've pitched the fork tent?

restless nomad: I'm totally thrilled to help out and, with a little luck, I'll be pretty unobtrusive.

Thrilled to have you, and good luck with that. We're all counting on you!
posted by carsonb at 3:53 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Just about half an hour ago my mefite boyfriend and I were talking about how awful some online communities have become over time, and why mefi generally hasn't succumbed to that entropy. We eventually agreed that aggressive moderation is largely to thank for that. So thanks for giving up your weekends to corral the unruly horde, restless_nomad. It's much appreciated.
posted by lilac girl at 3:56 PM on April 10, 2011 [4 favorites]

Hey welcome, hope you have fun with it!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:00 PM on April 10, 2011

Oh great, another admin to forget and get corrected on in MeTa.
posted by Netzapper at 4:02 PM on April 10, 2011

It's always a good sign when the goal is to be unobtrusive. I recognize your name from around and have always found you to be a sensible and nice sort. In short - I think we couldn't be luckier!
posted by stoneweaver at 4:08 PM on April 10, 2011

Hi Jeremy.
Welcome to this dream job.
Our friends' daughter is called Jérémie so there are at least two of you.
posted by bru at 4:17 PM on April 10, 2011

Austin? What is Mefi now, hipster-mod central?

*looks to Vermont*

Oh, right.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:19 PM on April 10, 2011

WHY DID YOU CENSOR MY POST RESTLESS_NOMAD WHY DO YOU HATE FREEDOM???

Um... I mean, welcome!

(watch our for that not_on_display guy, he's a mod groupie.)
posted by bondcliff at 4:24 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

I wanted to echo carsonb.

We're all counting on you.
posted by zizzle at 4:26 PM on April 10, 2011

Welcome! And good luck - you're going to need it!

My pitchfork and I are at your service, as always.
posted by rtha at 4:26 PM on April 10, 2011

Hi, restless nomad.

You seem like a decent human being.
posted by jabberjaw at 4:26 PM on April 10, 2011

Welcome, restless_nomad. :)
posted by zarq at 4:28 PM on April 10, 2011

Woo! Mod +1!

Is it just me, or is restless_nomad the first mod whose username just begs for a theme song?

No? All right then.
posted by ooga_booga at 4:29 PM on April 10, 2011

Yay! Welcome restless_nomad!

working in online video games (mostly doomed ones)

Now about my Duke Nukem ASCII furry porn fan art that suddenly disappeared on that other board I frequent....
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:29 PM on April 10, 2011 [4 favorites]

I don't know what's cooler, the username "restless_nomad" or a girl named Jeremy. Fortunately I don't have to choose.
posted by desjardins at 4:30 PM on April 10, 2011 [7 favorites]

Right on!
posted by Neofelis at 4:30 PM on April 10, 2011

Welcome!
posted by flex at 4:35 PM on April 10, 2011

jessamyn: "three full-time mods with partial attention who travel a fair amount hasn't been cutting it…" so you get help from a restless nomad?

Welcome!
posted by yaymukund at 4:35 PM on April 10, 2011 [7 favorites]

nomiss restlad
posted by Eideteker at 4:39 PM on April 10, 2011

I prefer my mods surly and sarcastic. I will reserve judgment until your first deletion reason is posted.
posted by found missing at 4:40 PM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

I approve of this post.
posted by shelleycat at 4:40 PM on April 10, 2011

As you can see, Eideteker is the prince of evil and should be banned, RIGHT NOW.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:40 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

It is an exciting thing!
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:40 PM on April 10, 2011

Two weeks, tops. *resumes scrimshawin'*
posted by fleacircus at 4:41 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

I don't know if we should be concerned that the flickr pictures she has in her profile basically tell us that she has an army of karate warriors at her beck and call.
posted by spec80 at 4:51 PM on April 10, 2011 [12 favorites]

Forget it, restless_nomad, it's Mod Town.
posted by OmieWise at 4:55 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Good luck.
posted by zennie at 4:56 PM on April 10, 2011

Also, this: HOORAY!!!
♬♪☃☂☏♬♮LALALA this is good.

has the ring of self-interest.
posted by OmieWise at 4:57 PM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

Oh, be pretty unobtrusive...

See, I put 'be the Mod everyone hates, to take some of the heat off of cortex.' down on the application. No wonder I didn't get a call back.

Welcome!
posted by Mick at 5:00 PM on April 10, 2011

a rentless mod
notes lard mess
measled snorts
posted by jabberjaw at 5:00 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Jeremy mods in...MeFiii-ii todaaayyyyyyyyyy
posted by cashman at 5:01 PM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

Waaaait a second. Jessamyn, Josh and Jeremy. Awful lot of J's in there.

Matt, pb, check your six.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:07 PM on April 10, 2011 [7 favorites]

Jatt and Jaul are in no danger.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:08 PM on April 10, 2011 [10 favorites]

Aww, man, I could deal with it when all the mods had lower user IDs than I did.

I assume my application got lost in the mail. Which means that the pudding I wrote it in is probably bad.

DON'T EAT THE APPLICATION PUDDING!
posted by klangklangston at 5:10 PM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

No one asked me, but I am cool with this. Welcome aboard.
posted by cjorgensen at 5:12 PM on April 10, 2011

She's sane, sensible...

We felt at this point we should bring some balance and diversity to the team.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:16 PM on April 10, 2011 [20 favorites]

She's sane, sensible...


Yeah, should be a nice change of pace.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 5:16 PM on April 10, 2011 [3 favorites]

I'm very shallow, I like your photo, I'm a big fan of "bemused".
posted by thinkpiece at 5:20 PM on April 10, 2011

Also, the Modcar needs to be updated.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:21 PM on April 10, 2011

Great. The new mod is a five dollar noob.
posted by item at 5:22 PM on April 10, 2011 [3 favorites]

It's 1:32 in Southampton. I'm opening a bottle of red now. One glass on you. Skål! (and don't let anyone turn your name around).
posted by Namlit at 5:33 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

I feel weird that there is a mod with a higher user number than me now.
posted by grouse at 5:38 PM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

(slight bow)

Seidō!

sonkei-ai- jujun

Tsuki-no!

(slight bow)
posted by clavdivs at 5:40 PM on April 10, 2011

cool
posted by Sailormom at 5:48 PM on April 10, 2011

Welcome aboard restless_nomad! Already being part of the community, I'll take it you know what you're getting yourself into. :-) Best of luck with the overnight/weekend rowdies!
posted by garnetgirl at 5:49 PM on April 10, 2011

I was hoping there would be cake.
posted by Hey, Zeus! at 5:58 PM on April 10, 2011

New mods always bring pie. Where is the pie? On point five pie exactly. I see no pie!
posted by Splunge at 6:04 PM on April 10, 2011

restless_nomad and vacapinta should have custom shirts made, something like "We Own the Night" or "Take No Shit After 23:59".
posted by mlis at 6:07 PM on April 10, 2011 [4 favorites]

I agree that moderation has been one key to keeping Metafilter a thoughtful, intelligent community in a Wild West internet world. Thanks for offering your time and attention to make this community even stronger, restless_nomad!

I'm opening a bottle of red now. One glass on you. Skål!

Mine is white wine, and I'm two glasses in. As a very special first-day gift to restless_nomad, I will have one more glass and then NOT POST ANYMORE TONIGHT. You're welcome!
posted by Elsa at 6:15 PM on April 10, 2011

Yay & Congratulations!

(On the pie front: I've just decided to make a red velvet pie for Easter, hopefully bringing together the pro-pie and pro-cake factions in edible bliss.)
posted by julen at 6:16 PM on April 10, 2011

I now suspect I may have to become more interesting on Twitter. (Hi everyone!)
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 6:18 PM on April 10, 2011

julen: "Yay & Congratulations!

(On the pie front: I've just decided to make a red velvet pie for Easter, hopefully bringing together the pro-pie and pro-cake factions in edible bliss.)"

Red velvet pie? Must have recipe, please!
posted by Splunge at 6:22 PM on April 10, 2011

Yay! Welcome!
posted by Blasdelb at 6:24 PM on April 10, 2011

Welcome. Ignore these palookas. Well, until you ban 'em.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:45 PM on April 10, 2011

Hey, who you calling a palooka?! No personal attacks allowed! Ban him!
posted by deborah at 6:48 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Splunge: Red velvet pie? Must have recipe, please!

I'm basing it on this, but with a graham crust and extra cocoa.
posted by julen at 6:51 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Welcome!
If they try to tell you about the cake, it's a lie.
posted by Drasher at 6:55 PM on April 10, 2011

I added restless_nomad to the moderators page of the wiki, and noticed:
* jessamyn, mod since January 2005.
* cortex, since February 2007.
* vacapinta, since May 2008.
* restless_nomad, since April 2011.
According to the pattern that I just made up - every 25 months - it looks like vacapinta really should have become a mod in March 2009, & the next mod will be added in May 2013.


Brandon Blatcher: Waaaait a second. Jessamyn, Josh and Jeremy. Awful lot of J's in there.

*preens*
posted by Pronoiac at 6:57 PM on April 10, 2011

70 comments in and nobody has suggested she change her nick from nomad to namod?

Well, that's what I'm here for.
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:59 PM on April 10, 2011

Hi restless_nomad -- a hearty handshake to you!

We wanted to make sure there's someone around to put out fires and respond to questions in the same timely manner as during the week.

As someone who often catches up with the MeFiverse on weekends and off-peak hours, I agree that that this news is very cool and just remarkably representative of how important mathowie, pb, jessamyn and cortex consider the community here. It's great having vacapinta as the midnight mod and it's great knowing that there's now a weekend mod. Thank you, as always.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 7:02 PM on April 10, 2011

Maybe every new mod should summarily destroy a login. As a show of power, to quell dissent.

^{Why's everyone looking at me? Why has the light implanted under the skin of my hand started blinking? Why is there a robot with the voice of Peter Ustinov?}
posted by running order squabble fest at 7:03 PM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

Welcome restless_nomad! Don't fuck up.

I meant to say: I have complete confidence you will maintain the high standards the other moderators have established.

Just kinda came out wrong there.
posted by marxchivist at 7:04 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

One of the advantages of coming into this with some experience is knowing for certain that a) I will fuck up, b) 80% of the community won't notice, c) 18% of the community will forgive and forget within six weeks, and d) 2% of the community will seethe over it until I die. (The trick is making sure my coworkers aren't in that 2%)
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 7:07 PM on April 10, 2011 [16 favorites]

First I was a one-percenter, then I was a five-percenter, and now I'm a two-percenter.

Not really.
posted by box at 7:09 PM on April 10, 2011

I'd like to present this Laurel, and hearty handshake to our new.... Moderator.
posted by pjern at 7:13 PM on April 10, 2011

...and I think it's an excellent idea to let the senior mods get some rest in their old age.....

(ducks)
posted by pjern at 7:15 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Welcome, noob mod! Obviously, you have a grasp on the level of acceptance you are in for, so you're off to a great start!
posted by dg at 7:16 PM on April 10, 2011

Uh and Cortex said that the new mod brought gum for everyone and uh also has to correct our typos and write a colum (sic) for the magazine.

And that we can charge beers to your userid.

Woo! New mod!
posted by klangklangston at 7:19 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

*spit*

Shoot, I 'member when matt-howie had to SHUT THE PLACE DOWN so's he could go on vacation. We didn't need no MOD-rators.

Oh, I mean ...

Welcome, restless_nomad!
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:23 PM on April 10, 2011

Just wait until the initiation ceremony so she can become a full-fledged NORMARATOR.
posted by Burhanistan at 7:26 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

let the senior mods get some rest in their old age

FTFYGRAMPS.

I could really use a nap
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:42 PM on April 10, 2011 [3 favorites]

I just want to tell you, good luck. We're all counting on you.
posted by Errant at 7:43 PM on April 10, 2011 [4 favorites]

Restless? Not sure this'll help her settle.
posted by doublehappy at 7:55 PM on April 10, 2011

Hi & welcome. I'd make a snide comment here, but avoiding the ban hammer and all that. Also kinda n00bish myself.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:15 PM on April 10, 2011

I, for one, welcome, etc.

Congratulations, restless_nomad!
posted by maqsarian at 8:30 PM on April 10, 2011

with a little luck, I'll be pretty unobtrusive


No name in 6 ft high letters then ?

Sounds good to me.
posted by sgt.serenity at 8:43 PM on April 10, 2011

A MeTa post is nice and all, but wouldn't presenting the new mod with a pony be extra special? Can't you hear the cry that strikes fear into the hearts of trolls and spammers: "Heigh-ho, Favorites Tagging, away!"

Glad to have you on Team Mod, restless_nomad.
posted by EvaDestruction at 8:44 PM on April 10, 2011

hullo!
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:54 PM on April 10, 2011

HOORAY!!!
♬♪☃☂☏♬♮LALALA this is good.

I will totally second this!!!

Except for "☃". What is that, a snowman?
posted by Secretariat at 9:19 PM on April 10, 2011

restless_nomad, belated greetings, congratulations, and our many thanks. We know that if Matt, John, Jess, PB and that Afroblanco dude had reason to select you, than you are one to appreciate. Your job may not be easy (weekend drunk posts are a bitch sometimes), we (I speak on behalf of me and my spouse, unintelligently designed, do appreciate your hard work. All the best.
posted by msali at 9:20 PM on April 10, 2011

Welcome from a night reader....
posted by bjgeiger at 9:21 PM on April 10, 2011

If Meatbomb is the "astral mod", that means Afroblanco is the ______________ mod. (?)
posted by Secretariat at 9:32 PM on April 10, 2011

No name in 6 ft high letters then ?

Actually, this time, Matt went all out.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 9:33 PM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

How wonderful! This is an awesome choice; well done, all. Welcome to the Metafilter Mod Squad!
Oh hey, did you veterans give the new guy the manual?

(Reprise of this on 5/18/08)
posted by Lynsey at 9:44 PM on April 10, 2011

So you're saying we have to rewrite all our satirical Mefi-related songs.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:02 PM on April 10, 2011

I wanna hear the long story of the name Jeremy, which I just have to say, is beautiful-sounding. I'll always hear that name as spoken by Mrs. Brisby.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:54 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

*golf clap*
posted by XhaustedProphet at 10:59 PM on April 10, 2011

Hi. You don't know me, but I'm kinda known as the mediator here on metafilter. I make sure people stay civil. I am very friendly and not rude at all.

People here love me.

Also, you will notice that things you say will get favorited like crazy. That would be a great experiment. How many things got favorited before being a mod, and after becoming a mod? Start posting things like:

"I agree"
"Hmm."
"Interesting post"
"."
"That's funny"
"I don't like this"
"I don't like you"
"I'm hungry"

Then after you realize how much hegemony you wield, start doing wierd shit:
"Well, Sarah Palin gets a bad rap, and because of that, she is one of the strongest womyn I know".
"Well they should've thought about that BEFORE they had sex"
"I mean President Bush was Ivy League...do you really think the media hasn't made this intelligent guy look like a bufoon?"
"Why don't people just move out of bad neighborhoods?"

Welcome, and I hope this is an enjoyable experience for you...or one of those "smash and grab" jobs. Whatever you want.
posted by hal_c_on at 11:59 PM on April 10, 2011

No name in 6 ft high letters then ?

Actually, this time, Matt went all out.

Ok, thats pretty badass. Did you do that PareidoliaticBoy, or matt, or who?

Whoever did it...pretty damn cool.
posted by hal_c_on at 12:04 AM on April 11, 2011

I feel old.
posted by eyeballkid at 12:24 AM on April 11, 2011

you should.
posted by hal_c_on at 12:55 AM on April 11, 2011

That's great. It feels funny to say "welcome," so maybe-- congrats! Glad to hear about your new role.
posted by salvia at 1:12 AM on April 11, 2011

Yay! Finally, the after-hours downunder mod! Wait...
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:20 AM on April 11, 2011

Austin - the other, other Portland.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:53 AM on April 11, 2011

The real question is if restless_nomad will be indicated as an admin in the MeFi Navigator script, or if she disqualifies herself, as vacapinta did.
posted by Chrysostom at 5:15 AM on April 11, 2011

Welcome! So does the new sheriff mod get a star snowman after her name?
posted by arcticseal at 6:06 AM on April 11, 2011

Why wasn't I consulted?

I mean, welcome and good luck!
posted by Mngo at 6:39 AM on April 11, 2011

This is great news! I've been thinking that the mods must be really under siege lately. Everyone worries about a government shutdown, but what if Metafilter went black? Where would we all be then?

Productive members of society, probably.

Anyway, welcome, restless_nomad!

*As opposed to blue, green, grey and whatever colors music and projects are. I'm too lazy to go check right now.
posted by misha at 6:47 AM on April 11, 2011

Hi. You don't know me, but I'm kinda known as the mediator here

I have this on a teeshirt.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:23 AM on April 11, 2011

Welcome!
posted by odinsdream at 7:30 AM on April 11, 2011

Hey congratulations on the new role! May the mantle rest lightly on your shoulders. :)
posted by bardophile at 7:55 AM on April 11, 2011

No, no, no. You're supposed to bring on the fifth and sixth mods at the same time. You're ruining my theory that the mods are actually Neil Gaiman's Endless:

mathowie = Destiny
jessamyn = Death
cortex = Dream
vacapinta = Destruction
restless_nomad = ?

But Despair and Desire are twins, so two new mods should have been brought in together!

(Um, seriously, welcome and good luck!)
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 7:56 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]

chitchatting in MetaTalk

Thank God the important things will be taken care of!
posted by owtytrof at 8:07 AM on April 11, 2011

restless_nomad: Please note that I am not as bad as they think I am
posted by rtimmel at 8:08 AM on April 11, 2011

Except for "☃". What is that, a snowman?

Yep.

Yay! Finally, the after-hours downunder mod! Wait...

You know, we thought about this a lot. When it looked like we might be able to bring someone on we thought about when the site could use a little extra attention and the answers were much more "on the weekends" than "in the antipodal daytime." I don't know if it's because you all down under are so well-behaved or really light flaggers/contact formers/metatalkers, but cortex is usually the first-awake mod and he's rarely coming in to any big problems as opposed to what we'd see if we were all out and about for a few hours on a Sunday or something.

Thank God the important things will be taken care of!

You'd be surprised just how much typing and reading time is involved in staying on top of all the discussions in MetaTalk. Not in a bad way, but we sort of feel that the site works better when people feel that they can come here to get a public mod opinion on something [in addition to all the other reasons people come to MeTa] and with more and longer MeTa threads, just keeping up with all the discussions is a chunk of work. I was looking for an old thread yesterday and found a totally reasonable pony request that none of us had commented in [for whatever reason] and was something we'd likely implement. So I think we'd all like to make sure things in MeTa are attended to, even if sometimes that just means sitting around and listening.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:26 AM on April 11, 2011

I was more poking fun of the use of the word "chitchat" for what y'all do in here, the attention and responsiveness devoted to MeTa is no small feat. I'm always more surprised at a thread without any mod response than one with extensive mod response. MetaTalk is serious business! Seriously.
posted by owtytrof at 11:35 AM on April 11, 2011

Welcome restless_nomad! I'm curious, mods...what was the hiring process like? Did you guys have a shortlist? Secret ads? How'd it work?
posted by StrikeTheViol at 2:01 PM on April 11, 2011

The criteria are: if you have ever posted a tagline joke, you are disqualified.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:03 PM on April 11, 2011

I think it's great that you've added a new moderator. And I wish her all success and urge everyone to be reasonable while she's learning.

That said, I think it's further evidence that the $5 cover charge is no longer sufficient to stave off eternal September. I'm not sure that increasing the charge would help; I really doubt it, actually. I think the underlying problem is one of scale. This may be a good stopgap measure, though.
posted by Crabby Appleton at 2:04 PM on April 11, 2011

The weekend crowd are so easy to deal with. Everybody's just gotta get down on Friday.
posted by Decani at 2:06 PM on April 11, 2011

I'm curious, mods...what was the hiring process like? Did you guys have a shortlist? Secret ads? How'd it work?

Foot massage contest.

No, it's more of a thing where, given that we'd pretty much need to hire from within the community and given that this job really needs someone we can trust to be pretty stable and cool-headed, we're naturally sort of mindful of who is around, is thoughtful, is interested in community stuff, is not prone to flipping out, doesn't disappear for months at a time, deals well with conflict, etc.

When "what if we needed another mod" comes up, it's largely an issue of taking the people who come out looking pretty good on that aggregate front and reconciling that with real life availability. There aren't a ton of people on the site who leap to my mind as likely mod material just because it's a fairly niche definition in a lot of ways, but one of the difficulties is that of the people who do come to mind a lot of them are just damned busy with their existing career situations or lifestyles or whatever, or who don't think they'd want to be a mod even if we think they'd make a good one.

So between the odd hours of the weekend mod thing and Jeremy's availability, we had good fortune that someone who was already a known quantity as a levelheaded long-timer with a facility for and experience in the field was also willing and able to take the gig at a time that we were more seriously thinking about trying to fill that gap rather than just idling thinking What If.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:12 PM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

Everybody's just gotta get down on Friday.

Anyone who causes an earworm should be banned.
posted by desjardins at 2:14 PM on April 11, 2011

this job really needs someone we can trust to be pretty stable and cool-headed, we're naturally sort of mindful of who is around, is thoughtful, is interested in community stuff, is not prone to flipping out, doesn't disappear for months at a time, deals well with conflict, etc.


Sweet, looks like I'm next.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 2:20 PM on April 11, 2011

The Loverboy reference in the title was out. of. line.
posted by Devils Rancher at 2:30 PM on April 11, 2011

It was definitely the most nonstandard hiring process ever, from my perspective. I guess a formal interview is kinda pointless when they have six years of data on my opinions, behavior, diet, grooming habits, etc.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 2:46 PM on April 11, 2011 [8 favorites]

... we thought about when the site could use a little extra attention and the answers were much more "on the weekends" than "in the antipodal daytime." I don't know if it's because you all down under are so well-behaved or really light flaggers/contact formers/metatalkers, ...
It's because we're all so well-behaved, obviously ;-)
posted by dg at 3:42 PM on April 11, 2011

Congradulations on the new position. Can't wait for your first image post via mod posting powers.

lilac girl writes "Just about half an hour ago my mefite boyfriend and I were talking about how awful some online communities have become over time, and why mefi generally hasn't succumbed to that entropy. We eventually agreed that aggressive moderation is largely to thank for that. So thanks for giving up your weekends to corral the unruly horde, restless_nomad. It's much appreciated."

IMO moderation around here, relatively speaking, isn't aggressive. Really it's amazing how wonderful things are here considering the soft touch moderation.
posted by Mitheral at 4:12 PM on April 11, 2011

Dear Mr. Mathowie,
I graduated cum laude from moderator college of Topeka, KS. I got an A in Banhammering 101 and witty deletion reasons 205. Although I struggled in denying pony requests 203, I can assure you that I can send most ponies to the glue factory before you can say hopita mopita. Hire me?

My banjo and I eagerly await your reply.

love,
special-k
posted by special-k at 4:34 PM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

diet, grooming habits

I wondered why my webcam was always on.
*puts down hamburger and brushes hair*
posted by arcticseal at 5:56 PM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

mattexpbamynapintanomad? This is getting ridiculous. :D
posted by IndigoRain at 9:53 PM on April 11, 2011

*puts down hamburger and brushes hair*

Are you going to finish that?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:25 PM on April 11, 2011

You should check with AskMe before you eat it.
posted by dg at 10:26 PM on April 11, 2011

special-k: "hopita mopita"

You have a misspelling in your cover letter. No job for you!
posted by IndigoRain at 10:30 PM on April 11, 2011

Well, you can have it, but it may have a few hairs on it now :)
posted by arcticseal at 5:56 AM on April 12, 2011

I think hopita mopita is maybe when you wish really hard for something but then you don't get it and you are sad.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:47 AM on April 12, 2011 [3 favorites]

I forgot what antipodal meant, so I searched for it and ended up at this sweet site.
posted by desjardins at 6:56 AM on April 12, 2011 [2 favorites]

I guess it's time to abandon my "tunnel through the center of the earth" project. The middle of the Indian ocean is NOT where I want to end up.
posted by owtytrof at 7:44 AM on April 12, 2011

Yeah, I'm not sure why the "digging a hole to China" trope is still pervasive. Unless you live in Argentina, that doesn't make any sense.
posted by desjardins at 9:40 AM on April 12, 2011

No one ever said you had to dig the hole straight down. In fact, working at an angle would mitigate somewhat a number of logistical problems, and necessarily reduce overall tunnel length to boot.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:46 AM on April 12, 2011 [2 favorites]

Apparently residents of the Hawaiian Islands can dig straight down and end up on dry land. It is slightly less than Chinese, though.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:07 AM on April 12, 2011

All of this is presuming that the subterranean giant worms and assorted CHUD-like beings won't rip you to shreds and consume you long before you get very far down, though.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:12 AM on April 12, 2011

That's why my new Molemobile is made out of cast iron.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:14 AM on April 12, 2011

Obviously you want to work out a digging-path contract with the Molemen before you put borer to earth.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:26 AM on April 12, 2011

Whatever happened to Bunt Cake?
posted by shakespeherian at 10:36 AM on April 12, 2011

It was kind of a pain in the ass to make and I didn't keep having ideas for it. It was more or less me proving to myself that I don't feel all that comfortable with a traditional comic strip format. I've been doing a different baseball card thing again as of recently, though.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:41 AM on April 12, 2011 [1 favorite]

Okay that thing is awesomes.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:46 AM on April 12, 2011

assorted CHUD-like beings

Hey, those are my people!
posted by Devils Rancher at 12:17 PM on April 12, 2011

Just let me say that while I'm not a CHUDist, I support eradication of them all the same.
posted by Burhanistan at 12:27 PM on April 12, 2011

shakespeherian: "Whatever happened to Bunt Cake?"

There's a hole in this cake!
posted by zarq at 12:29 PM on April 12, 2011

Wait, of all the stalled projects that have flowed freely and fast from this cortex you're wound up about Bunt Cake? BCHoF? Laundry Room Swap? c'mon. The project that needs finishing most is Meeting MetaFilter.
posted by carsonb at 12:39 PM on April 12, 2011

The project that needs finishing most is Meeting MetaFilter.

I can see MeFites any time. What I really need is a place on the internet I can go if I want to look at a fucking cat.
posted by bondcliff at 12:40 PM on April 12, 2011

Jeremy, I am sorry your welcome thread has turned into a Projects I Have Neglected thread.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:51 PM on April 12, 2011 [1 favorite]

I forgot what antipodal meant, so I searched for it and ended up at this sweet site.
Now, that is cool! Small things etc ...
posted by dg at 2:23 PM on April 12, 2011

Hey, man, as long as it's not projects I have neglected...
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 4:33 PM on April 12, 2011 [2 favorites]

Hey, man, as long as it's not projects I have neglected...

Wait, you never said anything about neglected projects in the interview!!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:59 PM on April 12, 2011 [3 favorites]

Will we get to hear our new mod on the next podcast?
posted by Karmakaze at 5:55 PM on April 12, 2011

I think we need to hear about cortex's neglected projects on the next podcast. Distract the masses while Jeremy settles in.
posted by arcticseal at 10:39 PM on April 12, 2011

A discussion with Jeremy would be a great podcast idea. It's been a while since we've had an interview with anyone.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:31 AM on April 13, 2011

Sounds fun! As long as you don't make me listen to myself afterwards...
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 9:25 AM on April 13, 2011

d) 2% of the community will seethe over it until I die.

jessamyn (star) and her heavy-handed approach to the monkeys vs. bears apocalypse scenario hypothetical-filter AskMe. You can learn from her mistakes. ;)

Welcome!
posted by allkindsoftime at 3:31 AM on April 14, 2011

Greetings Restless_nomad! I look forward to sheepishly contacting you about the gross spelling and syntax errors on a late night submission soon!
posted by The Whelk at 9:24 PM on April 15, 2011

jessamyn: "Wait, you never said anything about neglected projects in the interview!!"

=========================================
TOP SECRET METAFILTER INTERVIEW MATERIALS
=========================================

- Behavioral questions: 

     During a heated discussion about web fonts, an argument
     breaks out about the benefits of Tahoma versus Verdana.
     You decide to:

  a) change the page's font to Tahoma
  b) change the page's font to Verdana
  c) change the page's font to Papyrus
  d) none of the above

     It's 1:30 am and a question was posted to the Ask MeFi
     front page. It says: ``100% Pure Mod DOUGHNUT HOUR Tool
     Download today! Click here to surrender.'' You quickly:

  a) ban the account and delete the post
  b) click there
  c) wake up cortex for doughnut hour

- Quick fire round:

    Correctly identify the sock puppets:

  _ Leonard Nimoy
  _ magistar2012
  _ Hand Sanitizer
  _ apologies to your significant other(s)
  _ Doorknob Mafia
  _ Avam Sadage
  _ Blimpbusters

- Short answer:

  It's 9:45 pm and you are in charge of this week's podcast
  theme! You need to come up with seven topics in the next
  fifteen minutes. Show your work.










  Two MetaFilter Network Inc. members have been in a
  relationship for a little over two years. One of them,
  let's call them Sam, asks you if you would be their new
  baby's godparent. The other member, Alex, is also extreme-
  ly happy and wants you to be a part of their life. Their
  kink-friendly robot, MAGNETO, is uncertain and asks you
  how you feel. Write a response to MAGNETO.










  One week after writing your response, you realize that it
  is against MetaFilter Network Inc.'s guidelines to engage
  in godparenthood with a robot. Write a followup to MAGNETO
  explaining your change of heart.










Signature:  ____________________ x
Date:       ____________________

_ I am a member of the cabal.

posted by yaymukund at 1:18 PM on April 18, 2011 [6 favorites]

Clearly you've worked in the industry before, too.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:19 PM on April 18, 2011 [1 favorite]