MonkeyFilter: More Bananas, Less Flinging.

November 26, 2003 7:33 AM

As proposed in the recent "new members" thread, the lurker-activist MonkeyFilter is now open for the huddled masses.
posted by Dean King to MetaFilter-Related at 7:33 AM (54 comments total)

Let's steal all their posts and claim them as our own!
posted by Stan Chin at 7:53 AM on November 26, 2003

Another monkey-themed MeFi spinoff?
posted by Shane at 7:58 AM on November 26, 2003

I claim tracicle's. Or vote for him/her as new metamember.
posted by hama7 at 7:59 AM on November 26, 2003

The quality of posts seems pretty decent to me (excepting cock's contribution!) - but how does this help select new users - are current MetaFilter members meant to scoop posts they like from MonkeyFilter, then post them here with attribution to the monkey in question, with a tally being kept of monkeys who meet with approval?

Not that I mean to bash your efforts - just a bit puzzled.
posted by jack_mo at 8:02 AM on November 26, 2003

I think it's meant to be up to mathowie to screen the talent and invite those who catch his fancy, jack_mo. But I've nowhere seen him admit that he intends to do this.

But the outsiders are nipping at our heels, no doubt!
posted by rushmc at 10:03 AM on November 26, 2003

[giggle]

I love it. Buncha MeFi wannabes. Aren't they adorable?

But seriously, this is a great idea. Much thanks to tracicle for doing it. Especially if they can work in some sort of ranking system so that users get brought to Matt's attention.
posted by y6y6y6 at 10:06 AM on November 26, 2003

Another monkey-themed MeFi spinoff?

Prepare the banana-cannon!

Seriously, though. Whatsupwitdat?
posted by jpoulos at 10:06 AM on November 26, 2003

Meant to say: "..... so that outstanding users get brought to Matt's attention."
posted by y6y6y6 at 10:07 AM on November 26, 2003

It did begin life as an "audition site" but my understanding is that members would now like for it to stand on its own.
posted by Dean King at 10:22 AM on November 26, 2003

who is this goatse man they speak of?
posted by johnny novak at 10:26 AM on November 26, 2003

[humor: mode=on]
Well, clearly we should all email Matt and ask him to invite 'cock' right on over. Talk about a user with a perfect MeFi outlook!
[humor: mode=off]
posted by anastasiav at 10:27 AM on November 26, 2003

This is a great idea, and I second hama7's nomination of tracicle as a new MeFite, even though her acceptance here would throw the infant MoFi into chaos as others vied to take over her spot as Grand Poobah. Of course she was making a blatant play for my support by linking to Why obscure languages are more fun to learn, but what can I tell you—it worked.
posted by languagehat at 10:33 AM on November 26, 2003

Let's steal all their posts and claim them as our own!

I've been sorely tempted to steal this one on clorophyll photography. Great stuff!! But, you know, these crazy kids on MonkeyFilter have actually have beaten the MeFi folks to the punch by a day or so on a few topics now: here's the first time, here's the second time, and here's the third time. (I'm hoping that we can find a way for folks like dhruva, Kimberly, and tracicle to join us on the blue. I don't know how that will work, but that's what I'm hoping.)

On preview: If they're looking to be their own thing, that's cool too-- and they're well worth a visit if you're looking for even more of the best that the internet has to offer.
posted by .kobayashi. at 10:40 AM on November 26, 2003

languagehat, you're so easy!

I think it's funny, MoFi, but that cock person would be banned here, look at all those multiple posts? And for what?

This doesn't look good for MoFi's future, they'll have to pull him. [A figure of speech, really]

All those clamouring for new members, it's about the workload Matt doesn't have time for...c'mon, quit buggin' the guy. Sheesh.
posted by alicesshoe at 10:45 AM on November 26, 2003

"my understanding is that members would now like for it to stand on its own."

My hope would be that it's both. The plot - Two websites competing in the same niche, with some members trying to get into what they see as the "superior site", while others refuse to admit the rivalry. Toss in some debates over who has the best links, which site has a better right/left balance, and a divergence in features, and you have some serious fun.

This could get interesting. MetaFilter culture needs a serious kick in the ass, and this could be it.

I strongly suggest Matt add this site to the etc page.
posted by y6y6y6 at 10:57 AM on November 26, 2003

(if you don't like monkeys)
posted by angry modem at 11:34 AM on November 26, 2003

Mefi waiting room.
posted by thomcatspike at 11:54 AM on November 26, 2003

I'm sure glad I didn't have to audition.
posted by cortex at 12:20 PM on November 26, 2003

MeFi waiting room
posted by matteo at 12:31 PM on November 26, 2003

Matt re-opens registration
posted by matteo at 12:34 PM on November 26, 2003

Now I know how an obsolete computer feels when the technies wheel in a new, shiny model and ooh and aah over it. Sycophants! All of them! I say we send William Lynch and his neighbours after them.
posted by The God Complex at 12:35 PM on November 26, 2003

minus that pesky 'n'
posted by The God Complex at 12:39 PM on November 26, 2003

*feels tempted to join monkeyfilter just to get a low userid*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:59 PM on November 26, 2003

it's a good idea...now someone should take one of their posts, and post it here with a (via Monkeyfilter) : >
posted by amberglow at 1:14 PM on November 26, 2003

They have no MonkeyTalk? *jeers*
posted by The God Complex at 1:54 PM on November 26, 2003

I liked it very much, regardless of its purpose. I hope they all become MeFi users soon, without discrimination, as was always the case here. Meanwhile, it's an enjoyable website in its own right and deserves to be seen as Da Competition, rather than as a transitory decompression unit for all who want into MetaFilter.

I joined, of course, and urge all MeFi members who'd like those who like MetaFilter, as much as these guys obviously do, to be able to join as easily as we do, to do the same. (If ever a sentence needed editing...but you know what I mean. ;) )

Meanwhile, homonculus has a great post there already... The right spirit for us inclusivist, pluralistic old-timers is to show these snivelling, too-savvy-for-their-own-good upstarts we can be as good and quirky as they are! :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 2:00 PM on November 26, 2003

I just joined too, just to keep any unscrupulous cybersquatter from using my name and actually posting something good elsewhere...
posted by wendell at 2:13 PM on November 26, 2003

homonculus has a great post there
Agree, homonculus makes a great Ambassador too.
to keep any unscrupulous cybersquatter from using my name
But could they copy your style(s) wendell?
posted by thomcatspike at 2:20 PM on November 26, 2003

Why vie for a vague opportunity to become a Mefi member when you can simply purchase my username for a mere $1,000?
posted by vraxoin at 2:23 PM on November 26, 2003

I have a cybersquatter too, wendell, going under the MiguelCardoso monicker I use here. As a result, I'm enjoying the luxury of having a space between my names.

However, he or she turns out to be an unusually civilized and urbane cybersquatter, so I'm seriously considering using him here in those threads where I am at a loss for words.

It's only after you've had a cybersquatter of your own, you realize how useful they can be.

P.S. It's you, isn't it, you dissolute blackguard?!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 2:28 PM on November 26, 2003

$1000...kinda steep. You can have mine, and all its baggage, for $100, and that's negotiable.
posted by BlueTrain at 2:30 PM on November 26, 2003

I just joined too, just to keep any unscrupulous cybersquatter from using my name

me too.

also, I joined MonkeyFilter under mathowie's username, as well



just kidding, matt

posted by matteo at 2:41 PM on November 26, 2003

$1000...kinda steep. You can have mine, and all its baggage, for $100, and that's negotiable.

You mean that you're giving $100 for someone to take your username, right?
posted by eyeballkid at 2:56 PM on November 26, 2003

No, Miguel, I am not impersonating anybody but cartoon penguins for the rest of the year. When I saw the first comment under your name at MoFi, I thought "ruh roh", but when you reported here that you signed up there, I thought it was you after all, now I'm just confused. There's just something a little extra-spooky about MeFite doppelgangers.

And tcs, I was worried about somebody using my name without trying to duplicate my style... styles? (I and my medical professionals prefer to call them "mood swings") Anyway, you gotta be pro-active in "defending your trademark". I'm never going back to radio now that KFI has a token liberal talk host on weekends named "Johnny Wendell".

One more thing: "dissolute blackguard"??? What do I have to do to become a "resolute blackguard" or a "dissolute whiteguard" or a "destitute rightguard" ?
posted by wendell at 2:58 PM on November 26, 2003

I am shocked--SHOCKED--to find that someone has cyber-squatted Miguel's name! Oh what a world!
posted by ColdChef at 2:58 PM on November 26, 2003

Consider this plot, from my paranoid uncle Olaf:

Clever Kiwi sets up community weblog, ostensibly to give voice to all those who'd like to join MetaFilter but can't. In order to lure fickle simian defectors, said Kiwi calls it MonkeyFilter.

In record time, MoFi assembles a world-class core set of experienced posters, masquerading as neophytes and MeFi wannabes, to put together an attractive collection of intelligent and entertaining posts.

Arch-conspirator Dean King is recruited at great cost to expertly divulge MoFi on MeTa.

Soon, many veteran MeFi users are joining in droves and are welcomed with deeply suspicious warmth and enthusiasm.

Before very long, MoFi has become the new MetaFilter while the real one - or just let's say the original one; the merely biological mother - drowns its guts in an ever-decreasing number of bitching and whining cesspools, thus entering the spasms and agonies of a painful, lingering death.

What do you think? Olaf is positive he's right on this one. ;)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:04 PM on November 26, 2003

You're so cute when you're being an ass, eyeballkid.

::winks::
posted by BlueTrain at 3:06 PM on November 26, 2003

from my paranoid uncle Olaf

and something tells me that Uncle Olaf is just dying to get a MeFi username, right?

;)
posted by matteo at 3:12 PM on November 26, 2003

Damn you, Matteo! Discovered at birth!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:14 PM on November 26, 2003

Bathe them all, and bring them to us.
posted by Ljubljana at 3:15 PM on November 26, 2003

Before very long, MoFi has become the new MetaFilter while the real one - or just let's say the original one; the merely biological mother - drowns its guts in an ever-decreasing number of bitching and whining cesspools, thus entering the spasms and agonies of a painful, lingering death.

I think this was going to happen with BookFilter, but then they changed all our passwords to x8gl96v and everyone, by which I mean me, forgot to sign in again and p o o o f.

Hope this doesn't happen with the Monkeyfilter.
posted by furiousthought at 5:43 PM on November 26, 2003

Lame, someone took my "mathowie" login so I can't even post on the site as myself. And it looks like there are other "matthowie" users.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:29 PM on November 26, 2003

I can see potential confusion with the cross-over between the sites when other people register existing MeFi names (as has already happened with mathowie, MiguelCardoso and a couple of others). It is difficult to do much about this and it was bound to happen. I hope it does not create a problem between the sites.
posted by dg at 6:52 PM on November 26, 2003

How about matthaughey?

And I think I might try and be someone else over there. You know, re-invent myself. Handsome hand model, kind to small ladies and with an exquisite collection of first day covers.
posted by meech at 7:22 PM on November 26, 2003

Lame, someone took my "mathowie" login so I can't even post on the site as myself. And it looks like there are other "matthowie" users.

Matt, I think you ought to email their version of User Number one about that. I bet she'd fix it somehow. I suspect that a MoFi user posting as 'mathowie' could wreak some havoc in both communities if you're not careful....
posted by anastasiav at 7:31 PM on November 26, 2003

I signed up too, partly to protect my good name and partly because others were doing it. But I don't think it's a good idea for us to take over their site and use it as an annex for when we've used up our post-of-the-day here. It's their site, let them have the enjoyment of it without a lot of snotty MeFites coming in and pushing them around. Fair is fair.
posted by languagehat at 8:09 PM on November 26, 2003

Hmm. I figured that with all those lurkers out there at that site, all us regulars would have fan clubs there: "I hope I get in so I can meet that stavrosthewonderchicken, he's just dreamy...."
posted by jonmc at 8:36 PM on November 26, 2003

FYI About 'Identity Theft' on MoFi
posted by anastasiav at 9:12 PM on November 26, 2003

I love how they all have to post in NZ time. I mean, posting to a site with a timezone completely out of whack with your own. Whoever heard of that?
posted by Sonny Jim at 11:15 PM on November 26, 2003

MonkeyFilter has accomplished in a few days what the other Filter clones have never been able to attain. And it has changed MetaFilter, by pressing for the reopening of new memberships, much for the better.

Miguel, you do realise that this isn't why Sportsfilter (for one) was established?
posted by squealy at 3:29 AM on November 27, 2003

Of course I do, squealy. That's why that "And" is there at the beginning of the next sentence - it's a separate accomplishment. Besides, Sportsfilter isn't a MeFi clone - it's a specialized offshoot.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 6:56 AM on November 27, 2003

November 27, 2003
Books cost a bomb, film at 11 In the course of my work, more and more trade paperbacks are coming across my desk, and I wonder — is this (admittedly very attractive) packaging producing what is effectively an inflationary trend in paperback prices?

Now this is a fine post, better then most on the blue lately, IMO.
posted by clavdivs at 7:50 AM on November 27, 2003

There were no monkeys... I feel the FPP should have mentioned this a-la [NSFW]. Disappointed, so disappointed. Promising monkeys and then not promising monkeys, it's just like junior high and _____ .
posted by rudyfink at 3:31 AM on November 30, 2003

There is nothing in this world greater than a monkey knife fight.
posted by keswick at 12:18 PM on November 30, 2003