MetaFilter Chat for All May 21, 2013 2:54 PM   Subscribe

We just added MetaFilter Chat to the list of sites at the top of every page.

You'll find the new Chat link in the top row of links between IRL and MetaTalk at the very top of every page. We added this chat space last November so members could discuss US election results in real-time with no plans for it beyond that night. Many members have enjoyed having it available so we're going to keep it running. By adding a link to Chat at the top of every page, we're making it more widely available.

The Chat link will take you to a page that has a brief description of MetaFilter Chat and you can connect from there. We also added a couple ground rules for Chat.

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
posted by pb (staff) to Feature Requests at 2:54 PM (131 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite

I stopped going to Chat because the discussions always made me hungry.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:58 PM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


Woohoo! Thanks, mods!
posted by blurker at 2:58 PM on May 21, 2013


And nothing of importance was ever accomplished again.
posted by The Whelk at 3:00 PM on May 21, 2013 [28 favorites]


Except for that time I sent everyone who asked for them in chat a package of Zabar bagels. That was fun.
posted by The Whelk at 3:01 PM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


There goes the neighbourhood
posted by terrapin at 3:01 PM on May 21, 2013


I spend way too much time there already.
posted by double block and bleed at 3:01 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


Now that more people know about chat, we all need to watch Eurovision together again.
posted by houseofdanie at 3:01 PM on May 21, 2013 [6 favorites]


Acknowledging that, for France (and francophiles everywhere) at least, this website is all about les chats!
posted by carsonb at 3:03 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Yey!
posted by capricorn at 3:04 PM on May 21, 2013


This thread contains fantastic information for getting MeFi Chat to work in Adium. And likely in other things, but I use Adium and can vouch for the "it works!" of the instructions there.
posted by houseofdanie at 3:07 PM on May 21, 2013


I suppose now I should attempt to use this thing.
posted by SMPA at 3:11 PM on May 21, 2013


I need never be alone again!
posted by b33j at 3:12 PM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


seconding houseofdanie. browser chat looks nice and clean, but if anybody has problems with getting booted, i'd recommend using a chat client. i collected some links in my profile, including screenshots of the fields for both adium and pidgin.

Always.

Be.

Chattin'.
posted by twist my arm at 3:15 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


I liked the old metafilter better.
posted by Annika Cicada at 3:16 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


(just getting that out of the way!)
posted by Annika Cicada at 3:16 PM on May 21, 2013


Just curious, are there any differences in moderation philosophy/policy with chat versus the rest of the site?
posted by SpacemanStix at 3:17 PM on May 21, 2013


We don't expect to need chat to be moderated in any real sense, and we are depending on the good nature and self-control of mefites to keep it that way. And on the hopefully rare-to-never banning from chat to cover the remainder.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:18 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


I feel like I just cannot handle this. 1) Too fun 2) now everyone knows about it 3) CHANGE?? WHY??
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:21 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


I once typed in cat.metafilter.com trying to get to chat and was dissapointed it didn't go anywhere.
posted by hellojed at 3:21 PM on May 21, 2013 [20 favorites]


Anyone who can clue me in on how to do it in Trillian? I'm not grokking it, either from the original threads or twist my arm's profile.

If not, will just use the web interface, but it would be nice.
posted by Chrysostom at 3:22 PM on May 21, 2013


I once typed in cat.metafilter.com trying to get to chat and was dissapointed it didn't go anywhere.

I think it would be awesome if this defaulted to the last April Fools version of the site.
posted by SpacemanStix at 3:23 PM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


This news made me
posted by Wordshore at 3:24 PM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


If I remember right, Trillian doesn't support group chat via XMPP/Jabber. So I don't think you're doing anything wrong, I just don't think Trillian supports the chat protocol we're using.
posted by pb (staff) at 3:24 PM on May 21, 2013


THERE WILL BE BLOOD SPILLED TONIGHT AT TRILLIAN

Thanks, pb
posted by Chrysostom at 3:25 PM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


It's been so long since I've chatted anywhere, I literally forgot about the existence of Trillian, even though the shortcut is probably still on my desktop. Heh.
posted by SMPA at 3:30 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


I think that perhaps the chat link shouldn't be visible if you're not logged in. It's not like non-members can join the chat anyway. That is, all the other links up there lead to content that is visible to non-members, so it feels weird to have one thing that's members-only show up as available to non-members.
posted by yeoz at 3:31 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


I actually quite like Trillian for the most part. I use chat at work extensively.
posted by Chrysostom at 3:32 PM on May 21, 2013


Oh, I like it a lot too. Or did, when I used it.
posted by SMPA at 3:33 PM on May 21, 2013


yeoz, non-members can see the Chat information page. They can take a look at the description and ground rules. It's true that there isn't much else to read, but having the link there helps people discover what's available here.
posted by pb (staff) at 3:35 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


oh ok. nevermind then.
posted by yeoz at 3:36 PM on May 21, 2013


It works well with pidgin for my fellow neckbeards.
posted by double block and bleed at 3:38 PM on May 21, 2013


Wordshore: "This news made me "

My life will, from here on out, be defined as before I saw this video and now.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:38 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


I take it all back about Trillian. I just connected to MetaFilter Chat with Trillian 5.2 on Windows. Here's how:

1.) Go to Trillian preferences.
2.) Click Accounts.
3.) Add a new Jabber/XMPP account.
4.) Enter your MetaFilter Jabber ID and your password, click Connect.
5.) Once connected, click the Jabber account icon and choose Browse for Conferences...
6.) Select 'MeFi', click Join.
7.) Under Nickname, make sure it matches your username exactly, click Join.

That's it. I didn't say it was easy, but it is possible.
posted by pb (staff) at 3:42 PM on May 21, 2013 [7 favorites]


Well, there still might be blood, I can't make any promises.
posted by Chrysostom at 3:43 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


Awesome, pb. Let's see if any of the passwords/accounts saved in Trillian are still accurate.
posted by SMPA at 3:45 PM on May 21, 2013


Is there a better way to be in chat on an iPad? I get booted everytime I switch to another tab for a few seconds.
posted by bq at 4:09 PM on May 21, 2013


we are depending on the good nature and self-control of mefites

Well that sounds like a solid plan.
posted by John Cohen at 4:11 PM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


One of the remarkable things about this place is that it actually kind of is, yes.
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:12 PM on May 21, 2013 [9 favorites]


bq, there aren't any spectacular options on the iPad. You might take a look at JabberB or OneTeam. They both support group chat via Jabber/XMPP, but they both cost a bit of money. I'm not aware of any free options that work.
posted by pb (staff) at 4:14 PM on May 21, 2013


Well, there still might be blood, I can't make any promises.

More blood for the blood god.
posted by double block and bleed at 4:16 PM on May 21, 2013


All right! Hope to see more people on the server!

not that the other regs aren't absolutely lovely
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 4:18 PM on May 21, 2013


I didn't say it was easy, but it is possible.

hooray!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:22 PM on May 21, 2013


Isn't this what Ask MetaFilter is for?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:28 PM on May 21, 2013


Copyright Violation C&D Letter from Metachat.org coming in 5... 4... 3...
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:56 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Crap, inscrutable whining in real time? #outragefilter
posted by nrobertson at 4:59 PM on May 21, 2013


oh, chat, i forgot all about that. are we still talking about kale all the time because i don't like kale.
posted by elizardbits at 5:04 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


nb it is okay if other people like kale
posted by elizardbits at 5:04 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


no, it isn't
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:05 PM on May 21, 2013


i know i was just trying to be polite
posted by elizardbits at 5:06 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


TAKE IT TO #KALE GUYS
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:07 PM on May 21, 2013 [5 favorites]


You know what's great? A warm kale and chickpea salad. You chop up the kale and then massage it for a couple of minutes with olive oil. Heat up some chickpeas, then toss them in with the kale. It is freaking DELICIOUS.
posted by curious nu at 5:08 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Someone deserves a case of beer for this one.
posted by Pudhoho at 5:08 PM on May 21, 2013


TAKE IT TO #KALE GUYS

That has something to do with Twitter, right? I'm old.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:10 PM on May 21, 2013


You chop up the kale and then massage it for a couple of minutes with olive oil

Like, on a little table under a towel? Please say yes.
posted by elizardbits at 5:10 PM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]



That has something to do with Twitter, right? I'm old.


IRC. Clearly, you are not old enough.

Like, on a little table under a towel? Please say yes.

I don't see why not.
posted by curious nu at 5:11 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


careful, careful - extra virgin olive oil misseuse may be a felony
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:15 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


I idle in chat lots of days, some days I talk and some days I don't, just depends on the workload and the amount of fuck-off time that comes in inverse correlation to that workload.
posted by deezil at 5:15 PM on May 21, 2013


Extra-virgin-olive-oil masseuse?
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 5:16 PM on May 21, 2013


miss euse
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:19 PM on May 21, 2013


that's a character in proust right
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 5:20 PM on May 21, 2013


that's a character in proust right

What's in proust? I've never had it.
posted by curious nu at 5:25 PM on May 21, 2013


it's mostly tasteless little cookies that are additionally flavoured with nostalgia
posted by elizardbits at 5:27 PM on May 21, 2013 [9 favorites]


It's like the movie In Brouges but more erotic.
posted by The Whelk at 5:28 PM on May 21, 2013


Remembrance of tasteless cookies past. But more erotic.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:30 PM on May 21, 2013


I like the idea of chat, but it's kind of weird there. Like everyone is just having their own conversation and some people are being really quiet. It's like a kind of awkward party. Am I using it wrong?
posted by latkes at 5:34 PM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:35 PM on May 21, 2013 [5 favorites]


Internet chat has basically always been pretty much exactly like an awkward party but on the internet.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:35 PM on May 21, 2013 [12 favorites]


Yeah, but when I was on AOL chat at least I could have internet sex.
posted by latkes at 5:36 PM on May 21, 2013


Wait, wasn't there a special name for that?
posted by latkes at 5:36 PM on May 21, 2013


Cybersex.
posted by curious nu at 5:36 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


It is nothing like an awkward party because I am the one always talking

wait
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 5:37 PM on May 21, 2013


Yeah, but when I was on AOL chat at least I could have internet sex.
Wait, wasn't there a special name for that?


Being on the Internet.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:37 PM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


We're still working on the Chatroulette integration.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:40 PM on May 21, 2013 [8 favorites]


We are not!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:44 PM on May 21, 2013 [5 favorites]


Shatroulet?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:44 PM on May 21, 2013


Fart
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:04 PM on May 21, 2013


I'd like to say I support hellojed's innovative suggestion for cat metafilter. It would make both felinaphiles and felinaphobes happy.
posted by b33j at 6:11 PM on May 21, 2013


Thanks mods!
posted by A Bad Catholic at 6:32 PM on May 21, 2013


TAKE IT TO #KALE GUYS

In all seriousness, if Chat can siphon some of that banter from threads, I'd consider that a major benefit. This seems like a good site addition.
posted by cribcage at 6:33 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


Misread above comment as "This seems like a good site addiction."
posted by b33j at 6:37 PM on May 21, 2013


So, chat is finally official. That latest MeTa alphabet thread finally pushed you mods over the edge, didn't it.
posted by slogger at 6:48 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


totally, that thread is the worst, why do people even do that
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:50 PM on May 21, 2013 [5 favorites]


Also, does anyone have a screen shot of the old Metafilter home page? I'd be interested in seeing how it has changed over the years, maybe in a convenient visual timeline format, or perhaps a video montage interspersed with photos from meet ups and a sappy retrospective song ironically covered by cortex on solo acoustic guitar. And maybe a couple of sticks of good beef jerky to nibble on (none of that Jack Link bullshit, dammit).
posted by slogger at 6:53 PM on May 21, 2013


Easiest thing is to just head over to archive.org, type in metafilter.com, and start popping from year to year to look at the changes.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:55 PM on May 21, 2013


Has anyone gotten this to work with irssi or znc yet?
posted by cj_ at 6:56 PM on May 21, 2013


There's an XMPP plugin for irssi but I haven't actually done the work to try and get it functioning so I can't vouch for it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:00 PM on May 21, 2013


I messed a bit with irssi-plugin-xmpp (in Ubuntu repository) but couldn't get it to join the channel. I did see there was a third party service that joins IM for you as a proxy (forget the name) but didn't really want to give them my mefi password. Was sort of hoping someone figured out the former. Maybe I'll give it a shot again, I didn't put a lot of effort into it.
posted by cj_ at 7:04 PM on May 21, 2013


"Cybersex."

uh i am pretty sure that is sex with cyborgs

you must mean teledildonics
posted by klangklangston at 7:16 PM on May 21, 2013


"In all seriousness, if Chat can siphon some of that banter from threads, I'd consider that a major benefit. This seems like a good site addition."

Banter works on synergy. This is MetaFilter's opportunity to optimize their synergistic paradigm with a new curate stream for incent lifestyle.
posted by klangklangston at 7:19 PM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


dammit now I have to try to remember my password.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 7:19 PM on May 21, 2013 [8 favorites]


Is it
a4fa1d99962d64a918dbdcec3f0a4c330752229?
posted by klangklangston at 7:20 PM on May 21, 2013 [7 favorites]


Why are you logging the transcripts? It takes people a while to start conversations, it's rude to cut them down.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:25 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Getting back on topic, I'm eating kale right now. Big bowl of it. With some chicken. But mostly kale.
posted by rtha at 7:26 PM on May 21, 2013


My parents have a dog that lost a chunk of her kidneys and intestine when she was a puppy, so she can't have fat pretty much at all. They feed her a blended mix of baked kale and chicken. It's the best smelling dog food I've ever been around.
posted by klangklangston at 7:34 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


cribcage: "In all seriousness, if Chat can siphon some of that banter from threads, I'd consider that a major benefit. "

Depends on the thread in question, I'd say.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:38 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Without banter, there is no community. There, I said it. It's bullshit, but I said it.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:56 PM on May 21, 2013


It's not as though banter on the blue is going to stop, nor should it. This is an additional venue for it. The sum total of banter available on metafilter should increase.

Ever try tearing up some kale, coating it with oil, salt and pepper and then baking it in a toaster oven for a couple of minutes? It's great. It gets less tough and dries out a bit. The outcome is something like potato chips but theoretically healthier.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 8:11 PM on May 21, 2013


...so, tried chat for the first time and wandered into a bestiality discussion. "maybe it was just a really cute goat, you know" Wandering away now...
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 8:16 PM on May 21, 2013


In fairness, we only talk about that like 10% of the time.
posted by empath at 8:27 PM on May 21, 2013


15%
posted by double block and bleed at 8:29 PM on May 21, 2013


12.5% at most
posted by KathrynT at 8:29 PM on May 21, 2013


Still it's proof enough to get you drunk.
posted by carsonb at 8:32 PM on May 21, 2013


Tame by comparison to a certain IRC channel.
posted by mlis at 8:33 PM on May 21, 2013


Will there be a link to chat from the mobile site?
posted by Night_owl at 8:55 PM on May 21, 2013


If there's any suspicious activity around my account and the chat server, it's because I'm trying to get the xmpp plugin for either IRSII or weechat going. I know it's possible because I remember taking a screenshot of the chat in my terminal when it was first introduced. Getting closer, but at the moment when I try to join mefi@conference.chat.metafilter.com, my server screen scrolls the following endlessly:

"20:50 -!- Cannot join to room mefi@conference.chat.metafilter.com [Your desired nick is reserved (Retrying with your alternate nick...)"
posted by Lorin at 8:55 PM on May 21, 2013


Faldo? Riviera? Lachey? Nolte? Cave? Fury?
posted by Chrysostom at 9:04 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Lorin, are you logged in with another client while you're getting that error message? We only allow one client per account—so that could be causing problems. That's a guess, I don't know anything about IRSII or weechat. Our chat server is openfire. It might help to know that if you're googling around looking for other experiences connecting with those clients.
posted by pb (staff) at 9:23 PM on May 21, 2013


Thank you for the tip pb, and sorry if that came across as a request for support on what is obviously well into arcane territory. I was trying to find the old screenshot for clues but unfortunately I seem to have posted the imgur link to it IN THE CHAT.
posted by Lorin at 9:32 PM on May 21, 2013


is this something i'd have to install ircle to appreciate? (not a real question)

/me goes back to bed
posted by not_on_display at 9:45 PM on May 21, 2013


How come there's no link to chat on the mobile site?
posted by davejay at 11:47 PM on May 21, 2013


That's a pb question (and he'll be back to answer), but I think that it's not very reliable on mobile platforms.
posted by taz (staff) at 1:02 AM on May 22, 2013


you must mean teledildonics

That is similar, but more specific.
posted by solotoro at 1:02 AM on May 22, 2013


Kale chips are one of the very few things I know how to make. And they are fucking amazing. I don't think I need to learn how to make anything else.
posted by brundlefly at 1:26 AM on May 22, 2013 [2 favorites]


cj_: "Has anyone gotten this to work with irssi or znc yet?"

It's possible to set up an IRC/XMPP gateway with BitlBee.
posted by vasi at 2:30 AM on May 22, 2013


Yep, we didn't include a link to Chat on mobile because the web chat client isn't reliable on mobile devices. It'd be better to find a Jabber/XMPP app for your mobile device and connect to Chat that way.
posted by pb (staff) at 6:15 AM on May 22, 2013


Does the Cabal Know About This? The end is nigh, shurely.
posted by marienbad at 7:51 AM on May 22, 2013


No!
posted by clavdivs at 8:09 AM on May 22, 2013


hellojed suggested cat.metafilter.com nearly 18 hours ago and it still doesn't exist yet. I am disappoint.

In the meantime, here is a cat in a cabinet.
posted by elsietheeel at 9:14 AM on May 22, 2013 [2 favorites]


wtf, why do i have to keep refreshing or clicking the new comments popup here on MeTa? this is BS, MeTa suxor chat is leet.
posted by chasles at 9:18 AM on May 22, 2013


chat.metafiltre.com
posted by Lorin at 9:28 AM on May 22, 2013 [1 favorite]


for posterity:

to get metafilter chat working on android:

1. using xabber from google play
2. add account: type XMPP
3. user name is as described here:
4. password etc
5. it will log in and go to the main page.
6. use the menu button to "join conference"
7. under Multi User Chat Server put: conference.chat.metafilter.com
8. in the conference box put: mefi
9. in the nick box your user name
10. check join conference
11. click save and

presto, after a moment or two it will connect and start streaming raw unadulterated metafilter at your face.
posted by chasles at 10:21 AM on May 22, 2013 [6 favorites]


Je suis allergique aux chats.
posted by mareli at 10:41 AM on May 22, 2013


Probably a good thing it's not easily available on mobile. Improves my parenting by not allowing a HAVE ANOTHER ELMO, KID. MOMMY'S BUSY. type situation.
posted by sonika at 8:19 PM on May 22, 2013 [2 favorites]


Maybe I'm the only one, but if i'm watching a thread and following chat at the same time, switching between the dark and light backgrounds going from one to the other really does a number on my eyes. I've added custom CSS on my desktop to replicate the look of The Blue, but it was long enough ago that I'm not sure I remember how I did it. (It could be as simple as editing "Inspect Element" in Chrome. I think that's what I did.)

Anyway, my micro-pony point being I wish there wasn't such a contrast difference between the two.
posted by ob1quixote at 10:51 PM on May 22, 2013


Has anyone gotten this to work with irssi or znc yet?

I haven't tried it with MeFi Chat yet, but irssi-xmpp defo works pretty well with other Jabber chat thingies.

But, as vasi says above, Bitlbee is probably the easiest/most reliable option.
posted by jack_mo at 5:25 AM on May 23, 2013


Anyway, my micro-pony point being I wish there wasn't such a contrast difference between the two.

You could always change the main site to the plain theme when you're switching back and forth.
posted by pb (staff) at 9:42 AM on May 23, 2013


Should there be a link at the bottom of the page under 'sites' as well?
posted by dg at 5:30 AM on May 24, 2013


"We're still working on the Chatroulette integration."
posted by cortex

I look forward to playing with you.
posted by marienbad at 9:11 AM on May 24, 2013


This has been covered a few times but I wrote it up awhile ago and maybe it'll be useful to someone...Xabber works well on Android for me, nthing what was said before, but this is for Pidgin:

Dropbox Shared Link [pdf]
posted by lordaych at 2:26 AM on May 26, 2013


Chat pony request!

New chat messages re-position the scroll to the bottom of the chat window. That's real annoying if you're trying to catch up on a discussion or go back to find a link someone posted earlier (scroll scroll NEW CHAT 'DAMN IT' scroll scroll REPEAT).

If it could just stay w/ your current scroll man that would be rad!
posted by wemayfreeze at 5:07 PM on May 30, 2013


There's a button in the lower right that disables autoscroll.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 5:11 PM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


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