Comments on: The Guardian had a short article on Metafilter

The Guardian had a short article on Metafilter

adrianhon — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 04:40:12 -0800

The Guardian had a short article on Metafilter today, saying "The good news is that memberships are open again, at a price. Pay at least $10 via PayPal or Amazon's Honor system and you can get posting rights." Full marks for effort, zero for accuracy.

By: Summer

Summer — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 04:43:35 -0800

Yes, that's the Guardian. No fact ever checked.

By: adrianhon

adrianhon — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 04:44:30 -0800

According to the new user signup page there are 20 free signups per day, and it only costs $5 to pay to join.

The article was written by Neil McIntosh who you can also see at Onlineblog.com. I feel a bit bad about calling him out because he once mentioned one of my sites on the Guardian, but we're talking about the reputation of Metafilter here, after all...

By: insomnyuk

insomnyuk — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 05:11:19 -0800

Oh GREAT. More Guardian readers as members, just what the MetaFilter needs. You know, for balance.

Kidding!

By: MrBaliHai

MrBaliHai — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 05:21:57 -0800

Oh GREAT. More Guardian readers as members

I, for one, welcome our new crypto-marxist overlords.

By: Summer

Summer — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 05:34:18 -0800

No, it's OK. Most Guardian readers buy it for the jobs section.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 06:14:26 -0800

I, for one, welcome our new crypto-marxist overlords.

Heh.

By: salmacis

salmacis — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 08:31:17 -0800

Heh. I'm a Guardian reader, but I found MeFi independently. When did Matt start accepting donations for signups then?

By: timeistight

timeistight — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 08:47:49 -0800

salmacis, it's only recently been formally posted on the membership page but it's been in effect for months. Matt first mentioned it here.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 10:09:50 -0800

A few weeks ago, I figured out an automated way to do signups via paypal, so I instituted that. Previously, I had to allow people in by hand. So many people asked to donate their way in that I had to do it. That, coupled with Beth's thread in metatalk claiming unfairness at allowing donations for signups some of the time meant I had to make it across the board fair.

I still get emails everyday from people trying to get in on the 20 signups per day, saying that they are gone in a matter of seconds and that I'm not really allowing people in, so demand is still quite high for a signup here. The paid signup is instant, and works everytime, you signup, you pay, and you're enabled.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 12:26:35 -0800

Woah. I have to admit that's pretty cool. It does also explain our recent population problems on the front page though. If anyone can get in automated without having to tap Matt on the shoulder, all they need is money and they're in. So we could have albino stalkers monopolizing things around here and no one would know. Riff raff and all that.

But now that I have a job again, does this mean I'm overdue for sending Matt money? I mean damn! I just renewed my membership with public radio. I'm spent! Maybe in a couple few paychecks. Or maybe since I'm a three digit participant, I'm grandfathered and off the hook? Or maybe since I used to be really obnoxious and on occasion still am, that cancels out the grandfathering thing and by simple karmic mathematics I owe Matt anyway? Can someone help me out here cuz I've lost track. That reminds me, I think my paypal account is out of date. My credit card's expiration thingy just changed. Maybe I should do something about that.

Could be worse either way, at least Matt managed to avoid annoying banner or pop ads. (not counting the textad thingy cuz that was a pretty damn cool idea too).

By: mediareport

mediareport — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 14:09:58 -0800

Donating $5 is a pretty low bar, though, isn't it? It makes the 20-person limit/day seem kind of meaningless.

By: yhbc

yhbc — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 14:34:29 -0800

What 20-person limit/day?

By: mathowie

mathowie — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 15:12:19 -0800

What 20-person limit/day?

It was popular that first week.

By: timeistight

timeistight — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 15:31:50 -0800

Here's an idea: change MetaFilter to .Matt. $99USD per year, $49USD per year for existing members (first year only). Extra services to be provided once the money starts rolling in.

By: rhyax

rhyax — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 16:15:38 -0800

timeistight, hilarious.

By: dg

dg — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 16:52:13 -0800

Actually, all the new members are MiguelCardoso. You don't think he has really cut back on his posting do you?