how is one supposed to pronounce "MeFi"?

June 7, 2001 4:41 AM

I'm sorry if this has been posted before, but I couldn't find any reference to it. I've been wondering, how is one supposed to pronounce "MeFi"? Most abbreviations exist in a pronounced form as well as written. But "meffy" just sounds really weird to me. Does this ever come up when people talk about the site face to face? :-)
posted by caveday to MetaFilter-related at 4:41 AM (40 comments total)

Mee-figh.
posted by crunchland at 5:07 AM on June 7, 2001

also, Mee-fee-ans.
posted by owillis at 5:59 AM on June 7, 2001

Is MeFians the accepted term for users? I've also heard "Metafilterians" and "Metafilistines". I suppose I prefer MeFians, though. Thoughts?
posted by jpoulos at 6:46 AM on June 7, 2001

I always say "meh-phi". And I still enjoy calling people MeFiFolk.
posted by hijinx at 7:34 AM on June 7, 2001

I saw somebody use the term Metafiltrons once and thought it was cool, but I usually use MeFi'ers.
posted by starvingartist at 7:38 AM on June 7, 2001

MeFi Fo Fum.
posted by rodii at 8:02 AM on June 7, 2001

MetaFilistines: I like it!
posted by trox at 8:13 AM on June 7, 2001

I'm partial to MeFites, myself.
posted by norm at 9:10 AM on June 7, 2001

What rodii said.

"Me-fi, she's so fly, making it happen..."
posted by holgate at 9:16 AM on June 7, 2001

Also, the process of discussion a topic to death then having the thread succumb to topic drift such that the last comment posted is only peripherally or not at all related to the original post is referred to as something passing through the MetaFiltration Process.
posted by bradlands at 9:20 AM on June 7, 2001

our fearless leader seems to suggest "Meee, Fiiiiii, Meeeee, Fiiiii..."

posted by judith at 10:01 AM on June 7, 2001

Yeah, I always pronounced it Mee-Phi (it looked funny in my post with Ph, so I hoped the 10 "i"'s made the long i sound clear).

the only downside to that pronounciation is that it reminds me of that freaky hip hop guy from a few years ago that went by the name Me Phi Me ("the fraternity of one"). The "fraternity of one" in the context of already boastful hip-hop always seemed a bit weird to me. Like the guy was embracing ego and personal pride, a sort of cockybastard for the hip hop set. Anyway, try to forget about this guy and say Me Phi.
posted by mathowie at 10:09 AM on June 7, 2001

Revival! Revival!
posted by anildash at 10:12 AM on June 7, 2001

Me Phi Me

Hey, I have that album ("One") and it's one of the few rap/hip-hop albums I actually liked. The "fraternity of one" idea was to take pride in yourself and be as self-reliant as possible instead of using others, who may have problems of their own, as a crutch for your own laziness. It wasn't so much a brag as it was a challenge. I found it interesting, and the acoustic guitar accompaniment was a nice touch.

That dude also contributed the rap tracks ostensibly by "Jeriko One" for the movie Strange Days. That one is a little angrier...
posted by kindall at 10:28 AM on June 7, 2001

There needs to be a word for the strange feeling one gets when one speaks, for the first time, a name or word that has previously only been encountered online in text. I've been getting that feeling a lot lately.
posted by owen at 10:41 AM on June 7, 2001

aargh! didn't link right to the comment. do a CTRL+F and search for "Metafilistines".
posted by jpoulos at 11:11 AM on June 7, 2001

Everything links back to 1142 somehow, jpoulos.
posted by norm at 11:45 AM on June 7, 2001

I like MetaFilterians because it's got a cultlike vibe to it.

"In the news today, a San Francisco-based group of MetaFilterians wearing #006699 robes and shaven heads took to the streets of Seattle to protest an alleged connection between Kaycee Nicole and Bill Gates, with the puzzling chant 'Nader nader nader!' Eight arrests were made, five of which were of sub-1000 users, and the MetaFilterians issued a cryptic statement on their official website promising mob vengeance for their detained brethren. Plans for the cult group's retaliation upon Seattle authorities appear to be falling apart at this hour, as a savage civil war has broken out on the MetaFilterian website over whether or not the fledgling jihad should be discussed exclusively in MetaTalk."
posted by Sapphireblue at 11:58 AM on June 7, 2001 [1 favorite]

I would suggest pronouncing "MeFi" as you would pronouce "MetaFilter" (meh-tah-fill-tur) because people sound ridiculous saying "mee-phi" (I have personal experience in this area).

I say "would" because this type of suggestion, if I actually suggested it, would result in people saying I am a party-pooper, that I wear "crankypants", and that I am a big stick in the mud. And I don't want that.
posted by jkottke at 12:20 PM on June 7, 2001

But Jason...people already say that about you, so there's no harm!

Kind of liberating in a way, isn't it?
posted by fooljay at 12:23 PM on June 7, 2001

I am dismayed to read that Matt actually says "mee-phi". Can't we all just agree to say metafilter when speaking and just use MeFi as a written abbreviation?
posted by ericost at 12:56 PM on June 7, 2001

sapphireblue you shall be the oracle of the cult.
posted by th3ph17 at 1:11 PM on June 7, 2001

Are the #006699 robes available on cafe press yet? I do hope they'll be stamped with a big 'ol "MeFi" in blood red letters on the back.
posted by Ms Snit at 1:23 PM on June 7, 2001

I've heard Matt say "MeFi". And I liked it.

Revival! Revival!
posted by anildash at 1:43 PM on June 7, 2001

owen: this has happened to me a lot in the comic book world. As in Galactacus or Mxyzptlk.
posted by owillis at 3:58 PM on June 7, 2001

I don't want to be the oracle. I am fond of my hair.

Kottke, on the other hand...
posted by Sapphireblue at 4:34 PM on June 7, 2001

Kind of liberating in a way, isn't it?

It's like a warm blanket on a cold day.

Kottke, on the other hand...

I've got the shaved head, Nikes, and a cult-like nickname (J Ko). With a little powder for my face and some dialating eye drops, I could definitely be a Marshall Applewhite-type freakgod. Pass the Kool-Aid.
posted by jkottke at 5:04 PM on June 7, 2001

Pass the Kool-Aid.

Yeah, pass the kool-aid, just leave those hedge-clippers out of it.
posted by jpoulos at 5:12 PM on June 7, 2001

Holgate! Another Finn fan!
posted by Avogadro at 5:40 PM on June 7, 2001

Galactacus?
posted by rodii at 6:57 PM on June 7, 2001

I have a personalized stereophonic record player which I call my Me Fi.
posted by dhartung at 9:32 PM on June 7, 2001

I agree with Jason, "Meh Phi" sounds nicer.
posted by riffola at 12:20 AM on June 8, 2001

For the record, jpoulous, I coined the term "MetaFilistines" on Metatalk in this thread from last November.
posted by waxpancake at 7:08 AM on June 8, 2001

For the record, I never said Jason *wore* crankypants. I said he was "Mr. Crankypants" - a distinction without a difference perhaps, but I felt it needed to be made. I personally like saying "mee-phi", but I like to do it in a booming voice while pretending to crush tiny villagers beneath my feet.

J-Ko can be my wet blanket on a warm day anytime.
posted by CrazyUncleJoe at 11:21 AM on June 8, 2001

In my head, I have always pronounced it "Meh-Fee", sorta like "Muffy" or some other prep-name from the 80s. But, as noted above by others, that is my *internal* dialogue; rarely do I mention MeFi to the external world...heavens, what would they *think* of me if they knew that I actually got some of my news & informed opinions via the web!?
posted by davidmsc at 12:09 PM on June 9, 2001

Well, I'm contaminated by French of course, so I say "Méfi". And with my local (swiss) accent, that means that the "é" is pronounced like the vowel in "faire".

Hope you like it!
; )

posted by Tara at 1:57 AM on June 11, 2001

Oops well actually, between "faire" and "mes" ; )
posted by Tara at 1:59 AM on June 11, 2001

Okay, so did we ever decide on the proper pronunciation?
posted by ZachsMind at 3:22 PM on June 11, 2001

Meh Fee, I call it Meh Fee
posted by riffola at 1:27 PM on December 28, 2001