MetaFilter Gift Swap Renaming January 4, 2021 2:23 PM Subscribe
Back in August, I made a post about how we were going to tackle Secret Quonsar in 2020 -- and we wound up talking about the name of the swap itself, as well. If you participated in the swap this year, you should have received an email this morning with a link to a Google poll with some options. I wanted to make a MetaTalk as space to discuss pros/cons of various options.
If you didn't participate in the swap but you want to join in the renaming, you can memail me and I'll send you the link.
From the poll:
General guidelines:
* No real-world holidays or associated references (Christmas is out, and thus Santa is out, for instance)
* No pop-culture references (Festivus)
* No real people (either real names or usernames)
* Be mindful of potential pitfalls (Secret Beans is cool, but also "Beaner" is a slur in American English) -- a potential pitfall isn't a dealbreaker, but we'll all need to be on the same page about it
If there aren't many responses, we'll probably just stick with the generic "Secret Gift Swap" or some similar variant. Poll will be available til January 18!
If you didn't participate in the swap but you want to join in the renaming, you can memail me and I'll send you the link.
From the poll:
General guidelines:
* No real-world holidays or associated references (Christmas is out, and thus Santa is out, for instance)
* No pop-culture references (Festivus)
* No real people (either real names or usernames)
* Be mindful of potential pitfalls (Secret Beans is cool, but also "Beaner" is a slur in American English) -- a potential pitfall isn't a dealbreaker, but we'll all need to be on the same page about it
If there aren't many responses, we'll probably just stick with the generic "Secret Gift Swap" or some similar variant. Poll will be available til January 18!
Eh, correction, almost an anagram.
posted by Chrysopoeia at 4:11 PM on January 4, 2021
posted by Chrysopoeia at 4:11 PM on January 4, 2021
Sadly Mailer Fett won't work, as it's a pop culture reference/real person.
Here are some alternate anagram names that might work:
Falter Time
Fetal Remit
Meat Trifle
Matt Relief (alas, disqualified)
A Flirt Meet
Flare 'em Tit
I Flatter Me
After I Melt
If met, Alert
Far Lit Meet
Mr. Teat Life
None of these are in the least bit helpful but I have a soft spot in the my skull for anagrams.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 4:31 PM on January 4, 2021 [6 favorites]
Here are some alternate anagram names that might work:
Falter Time
Fetal Remit
Meat Trifle
Matt Relief (alas, disqualified)
A Flirt Meet
Flare 'em Tit
I Flatter Me
After I Melt
If met, Alert
Far Lit Meet
Mr. Teat Life
None of these are in the least bit helpful but I have a soft spot in the my skull for anagrams.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 4:31 PM on January 4, 2021 [6 favorites]
I liked Decemberance.
posted by Oyéah at 5:13 PM on January 4, 2021 [12 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 5:13 PM on January 4, 2021 [12 favorites]
Sadly Mailer Fett won't work
They didn't say Mailer Fett, though, they said Mailer Fete, like the French for "party".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:22 PM on January 4, 2021 [7 favorites]
They didn't say Mailer Fett, though, they said Mailer Fete, like the French for "party".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:22 PM on January 4, 2021 [7 favorites]
Team Lifter?
posted by halfbuckaroo at 5:26 PM on January 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by halfbuckaroo at 5:26 PM on January 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
They didn't say Mailer Fett, though, they said Mailer Fete, like the French for "party".
Yes, but "Mailer Fete" has one more E and one less T than "Metafilter" so while it's a good name it's a bad anagram. Mailer Fett has the right assortment of letters, but makes no sense and is Boba Fett's estranged uncle.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 5:30 PM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
Yes, but "Mailer Fete" has one more E and one less T than "Metafilter" so while it's a good name it's a bad anagram. Mailer Fett has the right assortment of letters, but makes no sense and is Boba Fett's estranged uncle.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 5:30 PM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
We live in an age of lost E's, so I don't think it's a problem. See also, Tumblr and the sort.
Mailr Fete, problem solved.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:40 PM on January 4, 2021 [15 favorites]
Mailr Fete, problem solved.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:40 PM on January 4, 2021 [15 favorites]
(the other T is silent)
(or, the other T is the friends we had all along)
posted by Ghidorah at 5:46 PM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
(or, the other T is the friends we had all along)
posted by Ghidorah at 5:46 PM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
The other T is when the gifts carried you.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:53 PM on January 4, 2021 [15 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:53 PM on January 4, 2021 [15 favorites]
MetaGifter?
posted by platinum at 6:39 PM on January 4, 2021 [26 favorites]
posted by platinum at 6:39 PM on January 4, 2021 [26 favorites]
Silent T.
posted by clavdivs at 7:56 PM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 7:56 PM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
I don't have a name suggestion, (although there are some good ones here), but just wanted to say that my gift was the bright spot of my Christmas Day, IN ADDITION TO being a book that I'd been queueing for at the library for months! It was delightful to have a nice wrapped present to admire in the weeks before, as well. My own mailing was shamefully late, but the recipient sent a nice note saying that I hit their desires well, so happiness all around. This will definitely be an annual tradition for me. Thank you, MetaFilter.
posted by cyndigo at 8:03 PM on January 4, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by cyndigo at 8:03 PM on January 4, 2021 [4 favorites]
I completed the survey but also want to comment here regarding the concept of a secret gifter. I think the option of identifying yourself or gifting anonymously should be explained in the instructions. But calling the exchange Secret Something or Other means it should be anonymous, and I like knowing who sent my gifts (or cookies, or cards). For me, it’s a way to get to know the MeFi community. When I see a post or comment from mostly vowels, tipsyBumblebee, DingoMutt, mochapickle, cabin fever, and many others, I feel a very real connection because I received something from them.
posted by kbar1 at 8:49 PM on January 4, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by kbar1 at 8:49 PM on January 4, 2021 [4 favorites]
This might turn into one of those "You call it a what?!" threads, in which case I apologize in advance, but: in my particular experience participating in similar exchanges in various parts of the US for the past 30+ years, the "secret" part of (for example) Secret Santa has never meant it stays secret forever--only that it's secret until you receive the gift.
This clearly isn't universal, given the most recent comment and the fact that I have gotten a couple Metafilter gifts from folks who preferred not to identify themselves. But the majority of the time, here and in work, family, and Those Other Websites exchanges, the normal has been that you don't know who drew you until it is revealed at the time of gifting.
So to me, liking (preferring, even!) when my gifter identifies themselves does not invalidate any of the options that include "secret" in the same.
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:47 PM on January 4, 2021 [6 favorites]
This clearly isn't universal, given the most recent comment and the fact that I have gotten a couple Metafilter gifts from folks who preferred not to identify themselves. But the majority of the time, here and in work, family, and Those Other Websites exchanges, the normal has been that you don't know who drew you until it is revealed at the time of gifting.
So to me, liking (preferring, even!) when my gifter identifies themselves does not invalidate any of the options that include "secret" in the same.
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:47 PM on January 4, 2021 [6 favorites]
(If you got something anonymously that was really perfect and seemingly too expensive and made you think the world isn't such a bad place, I was probably your secret gifter. I mean, I really don't see how it could have been anyone else.)
The thing I liked about the old name was it was weird and unique. I don't miss giving up the specific name, but I kinda miss that aspect of it. But not enough to stomp off to my room and slam the door.
posted by maxwelton at 10:13 PM on January 4, 2021 [7 favorites]
The thing I liked about the old name was it was weird and unique. I don't miss giving up the specific name, but I kinda miss that aspect of it. But not enough to stomp off to my room and slam the door.
posted by maxwelton at 10:13 PM on January 4, 2021 [7 favorites]
Giftfilter?
posted by rjs at 12:21 AM on January 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by rjs at 12:21 AM on January 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
Giftfilter is a great name, but only if the mascot is a fish.
Giftfilter Fish.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:44 AM on January 5, 2021 [40 favorites]
Giftfilter Fish.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:44 AM on January 5, 2021 [40 favorites]
In an age of gift cards, it seems important that the gift exchange involves sending a physical thing through the old fashioned mail service. A behaviorist observer might call it something like a Reciprocal Postal Event.
posted by Morpeth at 6:13 AM on January 5, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by Morpeth at 6:13 AM on January 5, 2021 [7 favorites]
You've Got MetaGift.
posted by Wordshore at 8:39 AM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Wordshore at 8:39 AM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
I have no idea how these people got their gifts wedged into their postboxes, or why.
posted by corvine at 10:12 AM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by corvine at 10:12 AM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
Professional White Background Elephant?
posted by emelenjr at 11:27 AM on January 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by emelenjr at 11:27 AM on January 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
Presents Participle
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:59 AM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:59 AM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
The Great Enswapening
posted by bondcliff at 12:29 PM on January 5, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 12:29 PM on January 5, 2021 [9 favorites]
That Thing We Do In November TTWDIN
ScrtSwpr
PrezzyTime
Reciprocal Postal Event is pretty good.
posted by theora55 at 3:34 PM on January 5, 2021 [3 favorites]
ScrtSwpr
PrezzyTime
Reciprocal Postal Event is pretty good.
posted by theora55 at 3:34 PM on January 5, 2021 [3 favorites]
I think we've been too quick to dismiss Meat Trifle.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:31 PM on January 5, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:31 PM on January 5, 2021 [7 favorites]
Or Trifle Team.
posted by zamboni at 4:43 PM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by zamboni at 4:43 PM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
GiftMeFi
or
GiveMeFi
GiftFare
or
GiftFair
GetMeFi?
posted by calgirl at 5:40 PM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
or
GiveMeFi
GiftFare
or
GiftFair
GetMeFi?
posted by calgirl at 5:40 PM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
Alternately, "The Annual Metafilter Gift Swap" is a perfectly fine name. Descriptive, self-explanatory, and succinct.
posted by hippybear at 8:35 PM on January 5, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 8:35 PM on January 5, 2021 [7 favorites]
TAMGS? or TAMFGS?
If TAMFGS, the official logo could be like a scottish hat with a fig where the pom-pom would be. The plaid would be based on the various mefi colours, with the stripe width for each colour proportional to the amount of activity on the corresponding subsite.
Yes, keep it simple.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:54 PM on January 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
If TAMFGS, the official logo could be like a scottish hat with a fig where the pom-pom would be. The plaid would be based on the various mefi colours, with the stripe width for each colour proportional to the amount of activity on the corresponding subsite.
Yes, keep it simple.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:54 PM on January 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
Hey and the fig hats could be added to the available Mefi merchandise. I think the only open question at this point is whether the fig should be fresh or dried.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:55 PM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:55 PM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
Just to make things weird, I suggest picking a vaguely similar pair of nonsense words and swapping the title in rotation every year to keep everyone guessing: sacred Pon Farr, secrete moisture, severed mobster, effete porn star, high street keytar, vetted foster, suspect snack bar, elite wine bar, depleted dog star, accreted quasar, sulfide cinnabar. . .
(I voted in the poll, so don't count this - but, with less absurdity, the straightforward and description sounds like the right choice. The pony is also tempting.)
posted by eotvos at 9:57 PM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
(I voted in the poll, so don't count this - but, with less absurdity, the straightforward and description sounds like the right choice. The pony is also tempting.)
posted by eotvos at 9:57 PM on January 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
The MetaFilter gift swap. No inside jokes or made up words that need to be explained to new participants or that could fall out of favor when times change.
posted by kimberussell at 5:08 AM on January 6, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by kimberussell at 5:08 AM on January 6, 2021 [6 favorites]
I'm not going to vote in the poll because Google. But I like GiftMeFi or SurpriseMeFi.
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:21 AM on January 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:21 AM on January 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Pony Express
posted by sciencegeek at 9:37 AM on January 6, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by sciencegeek at 9:37 AM on January 6, 2021 [9 favorites]
Another vote for Metafilter Gift Swap with no inside jokes or things that need explaining or exclude newcomers. I've voted in the survey to that effect but just commenting in support here too!
GiftMe seems a good alternative for those who really want something a bit less utilitarian.
posted by penguin pie at 3:12 PM on January 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
GiftMe seems a good alternative for those who really want something a bit less utilitarian.
posted by penguin pie at 3:12 PM on January 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
I have no opinion about this but I miss quonsar and their hyperboloid shenanigans.
Vote #1 quidnunc kid!
posted by loquacious at 9:14 PM on January 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
Vote #1 quidnunc kid!
posted by loquacious at 9:14 PM on January 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
I'm normally all for using the -Me suffix but "GiftMe" sounds too much like a demand imo. The focus should be on giving, or at least swapping.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:41 AM on January 7, 2021
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:41 AM on January 7, 2021
Isn't Me- more commonly a prefix rather than a suffix? MeGift or MeGive?
posted by coppermoss at 5:16 AM on January 7, 2021
posted by coppermoss at 5:16 AM on January 7, 2021
No, we have AskMe with the suffix.
posted by ellieBOA at 7:16 AM on January 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by ellieBOA at 7:16 AM on January 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
JoyUs
Could be easily expanded to "the JoyUs gift exchange" or whatever. GiftMe and similar leaves out a lot of the community pleasure for me, of people talking together about the swap, sharing cool things, etc.
posted by jenettsilver at 12:51 PM on January 7, 2021 [4 favorites]
Could be easily expanded to "the JoyUs gift exchange" or whatever. GiftMe and similar leaves out a lot of the community pleasure for me, of people talking together about the swap, sharing cool things, etc.
posted by jenettsilver at 12:51 PM on January 7, 2021 [4 favorites]
.....I like "JoyUs" a lot.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on January 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on January 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
I think it's hilarious that Quonsar, like Saint Nick, has moved to the realm of the mythical now. Seems like only yesterday he was constantly commenting about having a fish in his pants.
Which is why I love the idea of the GiftFilter Fish, and the connected tradition of hanging your pants by the chimney.
posted by rikschell at 8:55 PM on January 7, 2021 [2 favorites]
Which is why I love the idea of the GiftFilter Fish, and the connected tradition of hanging your pants by the chimney.
posted by rikschell at 8:55 PM on January 7, 2021 [2 favorites]
I wish I’d thought of this when we did the original call for names, but:
The Metafilter End-Of-Year Wrap Up 🎁
posted by mochapickle at 6:56 AM on January 8, 2021 [6 favorites]
The Metafilter End-Of-Year Wrap Up 🎁
posted by mochapickle at 6:56 AM on January 8, 2021 [6 favorites]
So! With 149 responses, the top 3 were:
MetaFilter Secret Gift Swap -- 63
Secret Beans -- 60
Secret Pony -- 40
Going forward, we'll just use MetaFilter Secret Gift Swap. =) Thanks to everyone who voted and offered comments or suggestions.
posted by curious nu at 4:35 PM on January 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
MetaFilter Secret Gift Swap -- 63
Secret Beans -- 60
Secret Pony -- 40
Going forward, we'll just use MetaFilter Secret Gift Swap. =) Thanks to everyone who voted and offered comments or suggestions.
posted by curious nu at 4:35 PM on January 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
I think it's hilarious that Quonsar, like Saint Nick, has moved to the realm of the mythical now
like removing the manger scene, in the manger scene from the dude who was in the manger but nowhere to be seen.
Vote up for GiFtFilter.
posted by clavdivs at 9:07 PM on January 17, 2021
like removing the manger scene, in the manger scene from the dude who was in the manger but nowhere to be seen.
Vote up for GiFtFilter.
posted by clavdivs at 9:07 PM on January 17, 2021
I agree that the in-joke-free version is probably best, and am happy that's what won.
But in my secret heart of hearts I wanted it to be Pony Express as soon as sciencegeek suggested it, and I can't believe that didn't even make the top three.
posted by rhiannonstone at 2:52 PM on January 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
But in my secret heart of hearts I wanted it to be Pony Express as soon as sciencegeek suggested it, and I can't believe that didn't even make the top three.
posted by rhiannonstone at 2:52 PM on January 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
I haven't and don't participate but I just wanted to offer this.
posted by Chrysopoeia at 3:58 PM on January 4, 2021 [48 favorites]