Proposed IRL Update Alerts February 22, 2013 12:46 PM Subscribe
A few weeks ago we had a discussion about adding MeFi Mail alerts to IRL when an event is updated. We have some proposed changes that we think could help keep everyone informed if an IRL event is updated.
In the past we've seen major details of an IRL event change within the 24 hours of the event taking place. Sometimes the venue or date can change, and if you're not visiting the site you might not be aware of the change. So we're considering allowing the OP to notify attendees that have the IRL alert option enabled that an event has been updated.
Here are some changes we've been testing behind the scenes. When the OP edits an IRL event, there's a new option with a checkbox, "Alert attendees to these changes via MeFi Mail after you Post?". If checked, the system will send a MeFi Mail to anyone who has marked that they're attending or possibly attending. And to handle Proposed Events, we added the ability to say "Yes" or "Maybe" to those events as well. That means when a meetup changes from Proposed to Confirmed, the OP will have the option to alert everyone. The checkbox gives the OP control over the alerts. If they're fixing a typo they won't need to check the box, if they're moving things to a new venue, it'd be good to check that box.
The alert itself is a simple message that includes a link to the IRL thread, and a quick list of the things that have been updated. In case the venue and event date were updated the message would simply say, "This event has an updated venue and date. Click the event link to see the details."
The system we've been testing includes a little lag time. So the site checks for new alerts every 15 minutes or so and only sends one MeFi Mail for changes in that time period. That gives the OP a chance to make a few changes without alerting everyone each time. It's possible that someone could send an alert every 15 minutes by editing an IRL event and checking the box, but we don't expect people to abuse the system. If that happens we can discuss including some type of throttle.
We rarely add features that could mean more email in your inbox, but in the last thread we heard from many people who would find IRL Update Alerts very useful. If you currently use IRL alerts to find out about new events, would you find these updates useful, or would you turn off IRL alerts with this addition?
In the past we've seen major details of an IRL event change within the 24 hours of the event taking place. Sometimes the venue or date can change, and if you're not visiting the site you might not be aware of the change. So we're considering allowing the OP to notify attendees that have the IRL alert option enabled that an event has been updated.
Here are some changes we've been testing behind the scenes. When the OP edits an IRL event, there's a new option with a checkbox, "Alert attendees to these changes via MeFi Mail after you Post?". If checked, the system will send a MeFi Mail to anyone who has marked that they're attending or possibly attending. And to handle Proposed Events, we added the ability to say "Yes" or "Maybe" to those events as well. That means when a meetup changes from Proposed to Confirmed, the OP will have the option to alert everyone. The checkbox gives the OP control over the alerts. If they're fixing a typo they won't need to check the box, if they're moving things to a new venue, it'd be good to check that box.
The alert itself is a simple message that includes a link to the IRL thread, and a quick list of the things that have been updated. In case the venue and event date were updated the message would simply say, "This event has an updated venue and date. Click the event link to see the details."
The system we've been testing includes a little lag time. So the site checks for new alerts every 15 minutes or so and only sends one MeFi Mail for changes in that time period. That gives the OP a chance to make a few changes without alerting everyone each time. It's possible that someone could send an alert every 15 minutes by editing an IRL event and checking the box, but we don't expect people to abuse the system. If that happens we can discuss including some type of throttle.
We rarely add features that could mean more email in your inbox, but in the last thread we heard from many people who would find IRL Update Alerts very useful. If you currently use IRL alerts to find out about new events, would you find these updates useful, or would you turn off IRL alerts with this addition?
Very useful, both as somebody who goes to meetups as somebody who organises them.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:52 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by MartinWisse at 12:52 PM on February 22, 2013
Very useful. Also, I really like getting MeFI Mail but hardly ever get any.
posted by jbickers at 12:57 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by jbickers at 12:57 PM on February 22, 2013
Sounds useful to me.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:04 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by jacquilynne at 1:04 PM on February 22, 2013
Super, super useful. Thanks!
posted by jetlagaddict at 1:10 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by jetlagaddict at 1:10 PM on February 22, 2013
HUZZAH!
posted by ocherdraco at 1:20 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by ocherdraco at 1:20 PM on February 22, 2013
I would not turn off IRL alerts with this addition.
posted by unliteral at 1:23 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by unliteral at 1:23 PM on February 22, 2013
I feel like I have died and am in MetaTalk heaven.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:33 PM on February 22, 2013 [23 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:33 PM on February 22, 2013 [23 favorites]
Oh, crap! You mean we actually get the pony? I mean, yeah, we always ask for them, but it's not like we actually have a place for them. Can I keep it in the living room? Do they like peanut butter? Can they be litter box trained?
Seriously, this is a good feature to have. Thanks for the adjustment.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:37 PM on February 22, 2013
Seriously, this is a good feature to have. Thanks for the adjustment.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:37 PM on February 22, 2013
I feel like I have died and am in MetaTalk heaven.
BLAH, it's wrong, it's useless, we hates it, CHANGE IT BACK! How could you guys pull such a low down and dirty rious act as selling our IRL to the CIA, I thought we were friends, how could to this to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:40 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
BLAH, it's wrong, it's useless, we hates it, CHANGE IT BACK! How could you guys pull such a low down and dirty rious act as selling our IRL to the CIA, I thought we were friends, how could to this to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:40 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
Why not opt-in SMS alerts, in the case of events changing too fast for MeMail? I've had the experience of having to change a venue literally at the last second, after people were enroute.
posted by pjern at 2:01 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by pjern at 2:01 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Why not opt-in SMS alerts, in the case of events changing too fast for MeMail?
It adds a whole new level of complexity to the system (we don't currently have any SMS functionality on the site) for something that's only got fairly minor utility. The last-minute-venue change is unfortunate but this isn't really supposed to solve that problem.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:07 PM on February 22, 2013
It adds a whole new level of complexity to the system (we don't currently have any SMS functionality on the site) for something that's only got fairly minor utility. The last-minute-venue change is unfortunate but this isn't really supposed to solve that problem.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:07 PM on February 22, 2013
Huh, maybe it's time to forward my MefiMail to something that goes to my phone.
Other than that, this sounds perfect!
posted by Lemurrhea at 2:15 PM on February 22, 2013
Other than that, this sounds perfect!
posted by Lemurrhea at 2:15 PM on February 22, 2013
How about a mathowie quote of the day via SMS? I would opt in.
posted by phunniemee at 2:22 PM on February 22, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 2:22 PM on February 22, 2013 [3 favorites]
Yay!
posted by Gordafarin at 2:25 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by Gordafarin at 2:25 PM on February 22, 2013
This seems quite useful. Thank you for checking with us!
posted by zarq at 2:32 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by zarq at 2:32 PM on February 22, 2013
And to handle Proposed Events, we added the ability to say "Yes" or "Maybe" to those events as well. That means when a meetup changes from Proposed to Confirmed, the OP will have the option to alert everyone.
This is awesome.
posted by jacalata at 2:41 PM on February 22, 2013
This is awesome.
posted by jacalata at 2:41 PM on February 22, 2013
How about a mathowie quote of the day via SMS? I would opt in.
Especially if the quote is something made up about how he thinks Reddit is full of creepsters or something.
posted by shakespeherian at 3:17 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Especially if the quote is something made up about how he thinks Reddit is full of creepsters or something.
posted by shakespeherian at 3:17 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
*dons TEAM USEFUL t-shirt*
posted by arcticseal at 3:20 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by arcticseal at 3:20 PM on February 22, 2013
Huh, maybe it's time to forward my MefiMail to something that goes to my phone.
I wonder if ITTT could do that.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 3:31 PM on February 22, 2013
I wonder if ITTT could do that.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 3:31 PM on February 22, 2013
I agree that this sounds excellent. Is there any sort of consensus on sending out a reminder e-mail the day before? I've agonized over when to post stuff because too far out and everyone forgets and too close to the time and people are busy.
I mean also I don't really post things to IRL but now maybe I will! Thanks again for this.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 3:58 PM on February 22, 2013
I mean also I don't really post things to IRL but now maybe I will! Thanks again for this.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 3:58 PM on February 22, 2013
Is there any sort of consensus on sending out a reminder e-mail the day before?
That's something that we're not considering right now. I think it's something we can revisit down the road if this feature is implemented and folks are ok with the extra contact.
posted by pb (staff) at 4:12 PM on February 22, 2013
That's something that we're not considering right now. I think it's something we can revisit down the road if this feature is implemented and folks are ok with the extra contact.
posted by pb (staff) at 4:12 PM on February 22, 2013
Reminders: do not want.
posted by grouse at 4:33 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by grouse at 4:33 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yay! Sounds great. Now if only we had an Asheville meetup more than once every three or four years. .
posted by mygothlaundry at 5:42 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by mygothlaundry at 5:42 PM on February 22, 2013
Very nice! Thank you for this sure-to-be-useful feature.
posted by Lexica at 6:25 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by Lexica at 6:25 PM on February 22, 2013
Might the rollout of this (long-awaited and awesome) feature be a good time to remind folks that MeFiMail isn't sent to peoples emails by default, and if they want to get these notifications outside of the MeFiSphere, they should update their prefs?
posted by softlord at 7:01 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by softlord at 7:01 PM on February 22, 2013
Yes! Good work!
posted by trip and a half at 7:41 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by trip and a half at 7:41 PM on February 22, 2013
I don't really understand what this feature means for me, and nor do I particularly care. But I simply must come in to this thread and be a part of MetaFilter history making... perfect consensus. Woo hoo!
So...to whatever it is pb just said, I agree, it's great!!!!!
posted by taff at 10:22 PM on February 22, 2013
So...to whatever it is pb just said, I agree, it's great!!!!!
posted by taff at 10:22 PM on February 22, 2013
This makes me happy. Thank you!
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:55 AM on February 23, 2013
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:55 AM on February 23, 2013
Hmm, if someone says "Yes" to a Proposed event, and then the event is Confirmed, does that "Yes" stick around? A lot of Proposed events don't even have a specified date or venue.
Also, yay!
posted by vasi at 2:59 AM on February 23, 2013
Also, yay!
posted by vasi at 2:59 AM on February 23, 2013
If I understand correctly, clicking 'yes' to a proposed event and/or 'attending' to a confirmed event opts you into the alerts? Sounds good to me!
posted by iamkimiam at 4:51 AM on February 23, 2013
posted by iamkimiam at 4:51 AM on February 23, 2013
Hmm, if someone says "Yes" to a Proposed event, and then the event is Confirmed, does that "Yes" stick around?
That's the idea, yeah. You'd still be able to change to Maybe or No after the fact of course, but the presumption is if you're offering a Yes or a Maybe pre-confirmation it's because that's your best guess about your status for the event.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:02 AM on February 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
That's the idea, yeah. You'd still be able to change to Maybe or No after the fact of course, but the presumption is if you're offering a Yes or a Maybe pre-confirmation it's because that's your best guess about your status for the event.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:02 AM on February 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
...clicking 'yes' to a proposed event and/or 'attending' to a confirmed event opts you into the alerts?
Yes, if you also have the "Receive IRL alerts?" option checked in your preferences. Only people with that option checked will get any sort of alert from IRL.
posted by pb (staff) at 9:17 AM on February 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yes, if you also have the "Receive IRL alerts?" option checked in your preferences. Only people with that option checked will get any sort of alert from IRL.
posted by pb (staff) at 9:17 AM on February 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
So the site checks for new alerts every 15 minutes or so and only sends one MeFi Mail for changes in that time period. That gives the OP a chance to make a few changes without alerting everyone each time.
DO NOT ABUSE HUMAN EDIT WINDOW
posted by mintcake! at 5:25 AM on February 24, 2013
DO NOT ABUSE HUMAN EDIT WINDOW
posted by mintcake! at 5:25 AM on February 24, 2013
I didn't realize I could get IRL alerts, so I set that up and now I'm double-happy and have all the ponies.
posted by jeoc at 10:06 AM on February 24, 2013
posted by jeoc at 10:06 AM on February 24, 2013
As someone who sets up a lot of IRL events, I am really excited about this change. Thank you, mods!
posted by jessypie at 1:19 PM on February 25, 2013
posted by jessypie at 1:19 PM on February 25, 2013
Thanks for all of the feedback. These changes are live on the site now, let us know if you have problems.
posted by pb (staff) at 3:30 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by pb (staff) at 3:30 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
This is the awesomest of all awesomes. I saw a pony, people liked it, and now this pony is here! I'm with jessamyn - this is MeTa heaven. Thanks, mods, for doing this!!
posted by youngergirl44 at 9:51 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by youngergirl44 at 9:51 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm so glad that this thread is still open so I can give a public thank you (to both youngergirl44's suggestion and pb) for the update functionality that I didn't realize we had already. I just received my first and it was perfect.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:36 AM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:36 AM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
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posted by Rock Steady at 12:50 PM on February 22, 2013 [3 favorites]