MeFi's own? Really?

July 8, 2012 9:52 PM

Who are "MeFi's own"?

I'm not sure if this is better for Ask or here, but jessamyn's recent comment made me wonder - which famous people really qualify as MeFi's own and which are just "Oh yeah, they posted here once"? I have John Scalzi, Charlie Stross, and Adam Savage as MeFites4Life. Anyone else?

posted by It's Never Lurgi to MetaFilter-Related at 9:52 PM (118 comments total)

John Hodgman was once a MeFite. I keep wanting to go to his book signings so I can ask him how he figured out a way to quit.
posted by Rory Marinich at 9:55 PM on July 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

Hit him up at MaxFunCon East in the Poconos...tickets are still available, after all.
posted by inturnaround at 9:57 PM on July 8, 2012

Sadly, Jenny Diski disabled her account, but first she wrote an interesting piece about Metafilter for the LRB.
posted by lalex at 10:01 PM on July 8, 2012 [3 favorites]

Who are "MeFi's own"?

I dunno, but I do know -- IT'S NEVER LURGI!!!

[Audience laughs, applauds, theme music begins]
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:08 PM on July 8, 2012 [6 favorites]

We are all beggars.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:21 PM on July 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

Listed in the wiki, but we're all MeFi's Own.
posted by arcticseal at 10:23 PM on July 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

I am not a usernumber, I am a free man.
posted by adamdschneider at 10:59 PM on July 8, 2012 [11 favorites]

Like it or not, I'm all yours.
posted by mazola at 11:07 PM on July 8, 2012

It's a brand of beer, sold only in McMinnville.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:10 PM on July 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

I am famous to about 100 people, so I will gladly take on the "sort of MeFi's own" label.,
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:12 PM on July 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

Listed in the wiki, but we're all MeFi's Own.

Yeah, it's actually worth noting that the sort of proud-but-jocular usage of "Mefi's Own" isn't traditionally restricted to "famous person (who is a mefite!)" situations but extends to (or probably actually historically extends from) cases where the meaning is more like "here's an interesting link (which means the mefite who happens to be responsible is Internet Famous, but we had 'em first!)". Being Mefi's Own has been as much about someone being delighted at a mefi connection in a good post as it has been about someone noting that a famous person who is also a mefite did a thing.

And as just a gut feeling I'd speculate that there's been less use of the "link (from a mefite!)" version of that usage on the front page over the last few years as Projects has become a normal part of the site ecosystem and "via projects" or "via [username]" has taken over for those semantic/idiomatic duties. So "Mefi's Own" has maybe fallen a little more heavily to the "famous person" side of things? I dunno, it'd be interesting to look at.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:18 PM on July 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

anildash counts, right?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 11:21 PM on July 8, 2012 [3 favorites]

Scott Adams.
posted by Artw at 11:23 PM on July 8, 2012 [33 favorites]

anildash is the first name on the list. The doctor is in.
posted by Cranberry at 11:35 PM on July 8, 2012

NPR's/MeFi's own Linda_Holmes
posted by knile at 11:41 PM on July 8, 2012

If you can produce a long-form certificate of live registration, you are eligible. Otherwise people will just say you're from Fark or Plastic or whatever.
posted by Rhomboid at 12:02 AM on July 9, 2012 [7 favorites]

John Hodgman was once a MeFite. I keep wanting to go to his book signings so I can ask him how he figured out a way to quit.

*Dramatic turn to Cortex. Cue music from Brokeback Mountain*

I don't know how to quit you...
posted by Nanukthedog at 12:21 AM on July 9, 2012 [2 favorites]

Linley Henzell.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 3:46 AM on July 9, 2012

Basically, if you post here, then go cure cancer or win an Oscar - or even knit some fetching socks on etsy, that's not enough.

You must also like everything about mefi at all times.

Which is reasonable.
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:52 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

That was a bit sarky actually - I'm taking it back and wish people all the best dealing with whatever.
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:11 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

It's sort of like celebrating when your favorite football team wins a game. You did absolutely nothing to achieve that goal, but you nevertheless take partial credit for it.
posted by crunchland at 4:40 AM on July 9, 2012 [14 favorites]

The host of that super-wholesome public radio show about vocabulary and language, A Way With Words, is a longtime user, but my memory is failing me right now as to his handle here.
posted by item at 4:44 AM on July 9, 2012

Oh yeah - Mo Nickles. Hi, Mo!
posted by item at 4:45 AM on July 9, 2012

How in the heck has Stephen Lea Sheppard not been added to the wiki yet?
posted by allkindsoftime at 4:49 AM on July 9, 2012

Well, y'all have probably never heard of me, but I'm huge in Europe Sweden Kumla.
posted by Grither at 5:00 AM on July 9, 2012

WHOOO, MeFi's Own^© crunchland made a comment!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:08 AM on July 9, 2012

Scott Adams.
posted by Artw at 7:23 AM on July 9

More like Mefi's pwn, amirite? :-)
posted by Decani at 5:15 AM on July 9, 2012 [16 favorites]

Everyone paid $5 to know me. That's not even SAIT. Winning.
posted by arcticseal at 5:23 AM on July 9, 2012

:> WHOOO, MeFi's Own © crunchland made a comment!

Pot, Kettle, if I take your point.
posted by de at 5:24 AM on July 9, 2012

Considering that I was once called "MeFi's own" when one of my projects hit the MSM, I don't think you should read too much into the designation.
posted by mcwetboy at 5:29 AM on July 9, 2012

I didn't pay $5 to do shit. I leeched on for free a decade back and have been sucking this place dry ever since.
posted by item at 5:32 AM on July 9, 2012 [9 favorites]

Pot, Kettle, if I take your point.

Oh, it's just a fun designation, based on a desire for people to be part of a community. Plus it's always neat to be able to say "Hey, I knew that person, way back when".
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:34 AM on July 9, 2012

Prince Harry is a mefite.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 5:37 AM on July 9, 2012

It's sort of like celebrating when your favorite football team wins a game. You did absolutely nothing to achieve that goal, but you nevertheless take partial credit for it.

MeFi's Own ^TM crunchland takes things a bit too seriously.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 5:43 AM on July 9, 2012

allkindsoftime: "How in the heck has Stephen Lea Sheppard not been added to the wiki yet?"

I can add him in, but first you'll have to answer one simple question:

Who is Stephen Lea Sheppard?
posted by zarq at 5:46 AM on July 9, 2012

sgt.serenity: " You must also like everything about mefi at all times."

*snort*
posted by zarq at 5:47 AM on July 9, 2012

technically anyone can add something to the wiki.
posted by terrapin at 5:48 AM on July 9, 2012

It's sort of like celebrating when your favorite football team wins a game. You did absolutely nothing to achieve that goal, but you nevertheless take partial credit for it.

Clearly not a believer of the idea that players on sports fields can hear words of encouragement shouted at the TV. Next you'll be telling me the tooth fairy isn't real.
posted by MuffinMan at 5:48 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

here you go zarq.
posted by terrapin at 5:50 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

I've never thought about this as being about "famous" people. It's much more about "I saw this thing external to Mefi, and it was about this person, who is a Mefite."
posted by odinsdream at 5:54 AM on July 9, 2012 [3 favorites]

*golf clap*

I meant, who is he on Mefi. I can't add him into the wiki unless I know his username.
posted by zarq at 5:54 AM on July 9, 2012 [4 favorites]

FWIW, I haven't heard of 90% of the people on the famous list.
posted by terrapin at 5:56 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Ah. Nevermind. I found him.
posted by zarq at 5:57 AM on July 9, 2012

Was that so hard? ;)
posted by terrapin at 5:58 AM on July 9, 2012

Added to Famous and Hey, That's Me!

Was that so hard? ;)

Nope.

Even though anyone can edit it, there aren't that many of us who work on the wiki. When a request for something to be added comes up, making the process quicker is always appreciated, (at least by me!) but not necessary. :)
posted by zarq at 6:14 AM on July 9, 2012

jscott surely.
posted by ersatz at 6:52 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

I thought it was everyone with an account. All your stuff belongs to us and all that. Shit, now we have to get famous? This is a lot of work.
posted by bquarters at 7:02 AM on July 9, 2012

The "MeFi's Own!" thing has shifted, as cortex noted, from being a "we discovered them first" to a "they once made a comment here" situation. When I think about folks who fit in the latter category it's usually people like asavage, jscott, cstross, jscalzi, mothershock, kokogiak, Mo Nickels and some of the other folks on the published authors list. My favorite bit of this comes from when there's a thread on some complicated topic or "How they do things at XYZ Corporation" and it turns out we have someone who is a noted expert on that topic or works at XYZ and they show up and tell us what's what.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:10 AM on July 9, 2012

Getting a Mefi's Own mention is pretty much the only reason I'm still lining up video work.
posted by The Whelk at 7:21 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Once, at a party, when introduced to someone who looked to me like they were from Brooklyn, I gave my name as, "MeFi's own, JohnnyGunn". It was a short conversation. The person, as it turned out, wasn't really from Brooklyn, they just had the fedora and rims. This person asked me, "What's a 'MeFi'?" "$20, SAIT" was the last thing we said to each other.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:22 AM on July 9, 2012 [2 favorites]

Oh and speaking of video work Mefites with costuming and or performance skills might want to check out Jobs.
posted by The Whelk at 7:54 AM on July 9, 2012

In Soviet Russia, MeFi sock puppets you!
posted by Kitty Stardust at 8:07 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Me!
posted by TwelveTwo at 8:35 AM on July 9, 2012

Maybe it's more like the phenomenon where a roadside diner has faded pictures of famous people who have eaten there up on their wall, and their eating a piece of pie or drinking a cup of coffee is somehow reflective of the restaurant itself.
posted by crunchland at 9:02 AM on July 9, 2012 [4 favorites]

A fragment of their souls somehow trapped in those pictures, like the end of The Shining.
posted by Artw at 9:06 AM on July 9, 2012

Command+f ... sigh.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:38 AM on July 9, 2012

Command+sigh generates deep remorse within your computer, and an unresolvable urge to hug the user. Continued use of the hot key has been known to cause the machine to panic.
posted by TwelveTwo at 9:47 AM on July 9, 2012 [6 favorites]

Which one's the hot key? Mine are all pretty much room temperature.
posted by maryr at 11:06 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Scott Adams is more like "MeFi's owned" in my opinion.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:21 AM on July 9, 2012 [3 favorites]

Oh, wait, now I have some hot tea. Is that what you meant?
posted by maryr at 11:24 AM on July 9, 2012

Hot Key
Hot Tea
Hot "T"
Hottie

Hmmmm.
posted by zarq at 11:27 AM on July 9, 2012

When I press the HOTT key, nothing happens either.
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:45 AM on July 9, 2012

FWIW, I haven't heard of 90% of the people on the famous list.

They've never heard of you either.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:46 AM on July 9, 2012 [4 favorites]

My grandfather had a phase where every single server at a restaurant he went to would be treated to the exact same joke:

You know what my favorite kind of tea is?

No.

H-O Tea!

I loved the guy but I was really glad when he moved on to lecturing one and all about the importance of eating mushrooms.
posted by Copronymus at 11:49 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

> When I press the HOTT key, nothing happens either.

I felt it, though.
posted by Burhanistan at 12:04 PM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Copronymus: "My grandfather had a phase where every single server at a restaurant he went to would be treated to the exact same joke:

You know what my favorite kind of tea is?

No.

H-O Tea!

I loved the guy but I was really glad when he moved on to lecturing one and all about the importance of eating mushrooms."

Woah, grampa, fingers are amazing... they bend!
posted by Splunge at 12:40 PM on July 9, 2012

Pot, Kettle

Another two proud members.
posted by yerfatma at 12:41 PM on July 9, 2012 [2 favorites]

My favorite famous mefi is Maias. Also known as best selling author of "Help at any cost" and well-known addiction specialist who blogs regularly over at The Fix. Maias rocks.
posted by msali at 12:46 PM on July 9, 2012 [7 favorites]

MetaFilter: Fark or Plastic or whatever.
posted by loquacious at 1:27 PM on July 9, 2012

I sort of consider myself mefi's own lactation consultant ever since I offered in a answer to provide free LC services to mefites offline (and it's possible I have offered this before in a different comment because I have been providing help to mefis predating that) and started getting 2-3 mefi online clients a month. It makes me think about mefi volunteer portrait photographers and/or other mefi professionals who may be formally or informally providing courtesy services to other mefis. I know I don't mind at all since every mefi who's taken me up on it has been super respectful of my time and awesome in general. I wonder if this kind of thing has ever been consolidated similar to the portrait photag wiki for other services? I think it's kind of better unconsolidated so it's more of an organic community volunteerism and avoids problems associated with organization, but OTOH I like the photag wiki. I know I have reasons why I would be compelled to use a mefi professional, not the least of which is making my general community experience richer. I've met a lot of really wonderful mefi women by helping them with their babies.

This is all different, I know, than Mefi's Own (proper), which includes an audience beyond the metafilter community, but there is another kind of mefi's own, which is by and for the community, if that makes sense.
posted by rumposinc at 1:41 PM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

When I press the HOTT key, nothing happens either.

If you press the HUTT key, it releases the kraken rancor.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:49 PM on July 9, 2012

I can't find it now, but I recently saw a tumblr-meme "diptych"; the left image was a post-secret-ish card (you know, unrelated-washed-out-landscape image with a hand-lettered note on top):

"When you dream about someone, they are thinking about you."

And the right image was the "cuteness overload" rage face with the caption "So Emma Watson knows I exist!"

That diptych's hinge what being "mefi's own" is.
posted by maxwelton at 2:10 PM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Isn't one of the Mythbusters a MeFi's own? I know he very very rarely comments, but he did relatively recently, if I recall correctly, so he is still here (for a broad definition of "here.")
posted by tzikeh at 2:33 PM on July 9, 2012

Isn't one of the Mythbusters a MeFi's own?

You mean the one mentioned in the original post at the top?
posted by radwolf76 at 2:35 PM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Adam Savage yes, he answered the awesome "I want to grow up to be Adam Savage what do I do?"

There's a lot of downtime on sets, I wouldn't be surprised if trawling discussion sites like Metafilter is popular. There was that rumor that Robert Downey Jr. comments pretty heavily on Crazy Days And Nights.
posted by The Whelk at 2:36 PM on July 9, 2012

Infinitely more significant than a Mythbuster is on Mefi is that Mefi was on Mythbusters.
posted by crunchland at 2:40 PM on July 9, 2012

thank goodness we're not being hunted.
posted by The Whelk at 2:41 PM on July 9, 2012

rumposinc: " I wonder if this kind of thing has ever been consolidated similar to the portrait photag wiki for other services?"

We could easily create a page on the wiki for this, assuming the mods have no objection.

Something like:

MeFi's Professionals

The following users offer their professional services to their fellow mefites Please contact them directly at their profile pages for pricing and more information:

Then a table:
Username // Professional skill // Geographic Region (if applicable.)


Or it could say: The following users offer their professional services gratis to their fellow mefites. Please contact them directly at their profile pages for more information....
posted by zarq at 2:47 PM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Super happy with that sort of thing being on the wiki both because it helps more people be a part of its creation and also because it won't become a feature request. I have, in the past, offered to look things up for people with the staggering array of databases that I have access to and, like rumposinc, have found people exceptionally polite and grateful which is always nice.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:51 PM on July 9, 2012

In Soviet Laptop, MeFi is My Own.
posted by not_on_display at 3:11 PM on July 9, 2012

When will MeFi's Own Lemonade be available for purchase?
posted by davejay at 4:52 PM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

I've created a MeFite Professionals page on the wiki. rumposinc, I left your real name off the table, because it's only visible to members in your profile. If you would like me to add it in, please let me know.

If anyone would like to add themselves (or change the layout) please feel free. I did it quickly and know it's not perfect.

If you would like me to add you, please memail me or comment here. I'm going to be offline for most of the day tomorrow, but will add folks in the evening.

Do y'all think a link to the Volunteer Portrait Photographers page is enough? I didn't think duplicating the content in two places would be efficient.
posted by zarq at 5:17 PM on July 9, 2012 [2 favorites]

Also... do y'all think we need to make a separate Meta post letting people know the new page exists?
posted by zarq at 5:20 PM on July 9, 2012

Maybe give it a bit, have a few people fill in some things, but it would be fine as a MeTa post, sure.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:34 PM on July 9, 2012

Ok! Thank you, Jessamyn.
posted by zarq at 5:39 PM on July 9, 2012

Hey! That's neat! Normally I don't care about the name thing, but since I am offering something for free to a particular population that my practice normally bills for, I'll just leave the chart with the link back to my profile so my free service persona is seen by those who are meant to benefit. Thank you so much zarq.
posted by rumposinc at 5:56 PM on July 9, 2012

Also might be a good idea if there were some instructions somehow for how to add yourself. I don't remember if wiki markup allows commented-out text, but I went to add myself, realized I don't know much about tables in wiki syntax and decided I would try sometime when I was less tired. If there was a "COPY THIS LINE" sort of thing, it might make it easier for non-wiki folks (and I am not even considering myself among them) to put themselves on the list.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:16 PM on July 9, 2012

Wiki markup does support comments. Just enclose the text you want to only appear in the edit window between <!-- and -->

EG: <!-- Hidden text goes here -->

I've added a template to the bottom of the wiki form but I'm not terribly happy with the usage instructions. If anyone can explain it clearer without going into multiple paragraphs please do so.

PS: anyone know how to escape the wiki comment markup? I tried a few things off the wikipedia page but I they didn't work; I suspect the nested comment text may be the problem
posted by Mitheral at 6:42 PM on July 9, 2012

I live every day in hopes of someday achieving recognition as MeFi's Own Litigation Support Software Developer!

Because doesn't that just warm the cockles of everyone's heart and make you tear up and fart rainbows of a better future for everyone? Doesn't it?

*Cue "What a Wonderful World"*
posted by trip and a half at 7:41 PM on July 9, 2012

MeFi's own Tao Lin.
posted by Existential Dread at 8:21 PM on July 9, 2012 [2 favorites]

The weird thing is I'm actually George Clooney but don't know how to make anyone believe me.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 8:25 PM on July 9, 2012 [4 favorites]

rumposinc, no problem... and you're very welcome. :)

I'll give it a couple of days, then make a meta. I'm on vacation, so I want to make sure I'm near a computer and able to respond before making a post to the gray.

Mitheral, I think the instructions are perfect, and believe the nested text will be okay. Thanks very much for adding it in.
posted by zarq at 8:39 PM on July 9, 2012

Existential Dread: "MeFi's own Tao Lin."

He can get his own "MeFi's Pwnd" page next to Scott Adams
posted by zarq at 8:51 PM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'm amazed that no one has mentioned MeFi's Own stevewoz.
posted by killdevil at 9:16 PM on July 9, 2012

I've created a MeFite Professionals page on the wiki.

Why is this not called MeFiZone?
posted by mazola at 11:33 PM on July 9, 2012

Infinitely more significant than a Mythbuster is on Mefi is that Mefi was on Mythbusters.

Mefi was also in this film

(of course, that's because I put it there)
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:54 AM on July 10, 2012 [7 favorites]

I'm amazed that no one has mentioned MeFi's Own stevewoz.

Yeah, well he's exactly the sort of person I don't consider to be MeFi's own. If you take a look at the guys I mentioned, they use MeFi. They post stuff, answer questions, ask questions, sometimes get their noses tweaked by one of the admins, etc. Steve Wozniak may browse MeFi religiously (I wouldn't know), but he's only ever made one comment on the site.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 7:48 AM on July 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

Languagehat, biscotti, MiguelCardoso, stavrosthewonderchicken, madamejujujive, to name but a few: to the extent that I am more well read, a better person and wittier by half, I am deeply indebted and these are Mefi's own to me.
posted by y2karl at 8:01 AM on July 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I, too, am Mefi's Own. Mefi's Own what, I'm still not sure.
posted by jonmc at 8:25 AM on July 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

Deep fried beer brat ?
posted by y2karl at 8:53 AM on July 10, 2012

We are all barnacles.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:03 AM on July 10, 2012

omnomnomnom
posted by arcticseal at 9:31 AM on July 10, 2012

Was that for the brat or the barnacles, dude?
posted by jonmc at 9:52 AM on July 10, 2012

We've got a live one!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:56 AM on July 10, 2012

Yaaaay I was hoping he would show up!!!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:36 AM on July 10, 2012

Reading the famous list makes me miss Migs all over again. I loved that guy.
posted by jmd82 at 1:24 PM on July 10, 2012

Getting a Mefi's Own mention is part of my life's work.

Love that film screenshot with the blue in the corner.



zarq and others : regarding that offer of professional help in the wiki page, can it be something from a previous profession (as I often find myself helping with thoughts on grad school applications and stuff like that rather than anything related to what I'm doing now)

Can we add skills to offer - remember we had that discussion on translating bits and bobs or other such helpful services/talents ?
posted by infini at 1:26 PM on July 10, 2012

I don't think it matters terribly. Just try to sum up what you're offering in a few words and that should be fine.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:54 PM on July 10, 2012

villanelles at dawn writes "The weird thing is I'm actually George Clooney but don't know how to make anyone believe me."

Duh, We all know this is the real george clooney.
posted by Mitheral at 7:52 PM on July 10, 2012

We've got a live one!

Added twice!

Thanks for pointing it out. Wouldn't have noticed otherwise.
posted by zarq at 8:43 PM on July 10, 2012

Duh, We all know this is the real george clooney. --- if it were, wouldn't it have a blue checkmark next to the name?
posted by crunchland at 5:21 AM on July 11, 2012

Only if he provided a best answer.
posted by maryr at 11:02 AM on July 11, 2012

George's face is a best answer.
posted by Burhanistan at 11:06 AM on July 11, 2012

I think being married to Brandon Blatcher is what qualifies you as MeFi's own.
posted by Uncle Ira at 12:30 PM on July 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

So I take it that George Lucas posting in the Star Wars thread is a sock puppet?
posted by infini at 12:38 PM on July 11, 2012

Was it well-written? If yes, then no.
posted by crunchland at 12:45 PM on July 11, 2012 [4 favorites]

Did he come back to try to revise his comment later? If so, yes.
posted by maryr at 12:47 PM on July 11, 2012 [4 favorites]

Were you all in Basic 1 with me back in Fall 82 semester? If then, reunion's coming up next year, else syntax error.
posted by infini at 1:01 PM on July 11, 2012