New user signups are back on

November 18, 2004 1:05 AM

Hell hath frozenth overth. New user signups are back on, for a one-time five buck cover.
posted by mathowie to Feature Requests at 1:05 AM (486 comments total)

omigosh...
I wasn't expecting company!
posted by obloquy at 1:19 AM on November 18, 2004

Just in time for Xmas as well. Now - who do I know....
posted by seanyboy at 1:21 AM on November 18, 2004

$5?
Cheap at half the price, if you ask me.

PS: Hello MetaFilter! Hello World!
posted by JtJ at 1:37 AM on November 18, 2004

Great news!

To alleviate adaptation problems and lighten the load on Matt, I'm available to any new users (well, no more than four) who could use some guidance, as long as my own limitations are taken into account - since I still haven't "got" MetaFilter entirely. ;)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 1:46 AM on November 18, 2004

I guess it'd be nice if new users posted here, just to let me know the whole paypal scripting thing worked out. I tested it out a couple times and it worked, but it might die on other currencies or whatnot.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:52 AM on November 18, 2004

Thank you, dear sir, this has made my day.

Only I am a bit worried, because every site I join seems to start to suck immediately thereafter. Let's hope it's just a statistical fluke and not a causal relation.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:56 AM on November 18, 2004 [4 favorites]

With all the talk of Half Life lately (I just beat HL2, in fact), this reminds me of the beginning of Half Life 1 . . . namely, in that the floodgates to a world of shit have been opened.
posted by Ryvar at 2:00 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

Matt, the Paypal setup worked just fine. Many thanks to you, and hello everyone! It's so nice to have a voice here after watching for so long.
posted by katie at 2:02 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

A warm, sincere welcome to katie and Meatbomb! :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 2:05 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

Hi, Long time reader, first time poster!
The whole setup worked perfectly and what a great birthday present! Thankyou
posted by figment at 2:10 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

Signup process worked like a charm, Matt. Thanks for welcoming us aboard. I'm still incredulous... Hello everybody!
posted by rustcellar at 2:12 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

Sweet. Let the fresh flood drown politics and vibrating pony jokes alike!

Or, not.
posted by weston at 2:22 AM on November 18, 2004

Let the booking of Joke Login Names commence!!!
posted by mathovvie at 2:27 AM on November 18, 2004 [4 favorites]

that doesn't look as good as I thought.
posted by mathovvie at 2:27 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

Thanks, appreciate it.
posted by andendau at 2:29 AM on November 18, 2004

Awesome! I'm in. At last.

Cheap as chips. Thanks, Matt.
posted by veedubya at 2:30 AM on November 18, 2004

Hey, I'm in! Looks like it continues to work just fine.
posted by sbutler at 2:36 AM on November 18, 2004

Finally. Welcome aboard, newbs!
posted by rushmc at 2:40 AM on November 18, 2004

Hi to all of the newbies! Even mathovvie.

Well, if metafilter starts to suck now, we all know who to blame. Meatbomb.
posted by iconomy at 2:40 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

Finally my spouse can get an account! As long as the new user window doesn't close before he wakes up in the morning. :)
posted by litlnemo at 2:44 AM on November 18, 2004

Paypal worked fine.

Hello, world.

I never thought I'd actually be here. I'm at a bit of a loss for words.
posted by Bugbread at 2:54 AM on November 18, 2004

I'm (hopefully) speaking for the newbies when I say we'll keep the place clean. Most of us anxious enough to pay the fee have been reading the site for a while, and know enough about general guidelines and etiquette.

If the blue is fucked beyond repair by sun down, I retract this statement.

Thanks Matt!
posted by still at 2:56 AM on November 18, 2004

Just throwing a wild idea around here, but how about a site where you had to make a micropayment in order to comment in a FPP? It might make you think more carefully about what you post.
posted by Meridian at 2:56 AM on November 18, 2004

Worked great, Matt. Thanks for the invitation.
posted by Framer at 3:11 AM on November 18, 2004

another new boy here, Paypal worked great from the UK.
posted by lloyder at 3:17 AM on November 18, 2004

Newbies, please report to conference room C with your officially issued weasels and EZ Cheez for the initiation ceremonies.
posted by loquacious at 3:22 AM on November 18, 2004

I, for one, welcome our new Metafiler Underlords.
posted by Dagobert at 3:22 AM on November 18, 2004

G'day all, in like flynn, no worries from the southern hemisphere. Cheers Matt.
posted by Murphy's Law at 3:25 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 3:26 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

echo Hello World

Well PayPal worked a treat. I've been hitting the new user link at the top on and off for a while now. It was a somewhat pleasant surprise to see a different page.

Thanks Matt
posted by ModestyBCatt at 3:32 AM on November 18, 2004

*delivers wedgies to all newbies*

Welcome aboard kids!
posted by dabitch at 3:33 AM on November 18, 2004

It reflects well on the site that the new fellow members seem so cool, polite and agreeable. Theoretically, any savage could join. The Monkeyfilter factor continues and proves to be thoroughly benign. Perhaps - just this once - a moratorium could be established to allow them to find their place here and restrict snarkiness and bigbrotherism when they make their first posts? That would be nice.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:39 AM on November 18, 2004

Well hell, Miguel, if we did as you suggest then what exactly do us old-timers get out of this, huh?
posted by Ryvar at 3:43 AM on November 18, 2004

Well, this is a nice surprise. Hello MeKiddies - I kiss you!
posted by taz at 3:47 AM on November 18, 2004

I suspect that the $5 admittance fee will be a big boon to the quality of new users (which feels awfully conceited to say, as I would then be one of the "quality" new users). I'm guessing that most of us initial folks are pretty long-term readers. And, hopefully, a lot of us have been reading for long enough to remember fondly the pre-politicsfilter years.

Personally, I've taken a vow against snarkiness and agendas. Sure, I've got them, but I'll try to keep my agenda related stuff and ePenis inflation (sorry for the boyzone tone) to my own homepage or other boards. Metafilter's appeal to me is variety, after all.

And while we're in a thread where, presumably, we can bring up hopelessly newbie questions...Is there any place to recommend additions to Spell Check? I've just realized that "Metafilter's" is tagged as a misspelling by the spell checker (as is "snarkiness" and "boyzone", but I'm less surprised at that). Not worth a MetaTalk thread by a long mile, but I'm guessing mathowie is busy enough without questions like this.
posted by Bugbread at 3:58 AM on November 18, 2004

You new folks know about the 'tip the wonderchicken' rule, right?

*stands by the sink, gestures invitingly to folded towels and cheap cologne*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:02 AM on November 18, 2004

We're new posters, not new readers, stavrosthewonderchicken. :) I'm sure a lot of us are conversant with what a single "." as a post means, and the long and varied history of rapehaiku.
posted by Bugbread at 4:06 AM on November 18, 2004

Curses! Foiled again.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:08 AM on November 18, 2004

While gratuitance is, of course, strictly optional *glares at stavros*, I feel I should advise all our new members that signing up for a new account constitutes interstate commerce and thus is subject to a flat 20% tax ($1 in this case). As Metafilter's local tax auditor, I regret to inform you that I also charge a mandatory $9 processing fee and that your check for $10 can be made out to Ryvar Ryvarson, PO Box 69 Bellingham, WA, 98012 . . .

bugbread:
It's not about lust,
And not for power this time:
just breaking you in.
posted by Ryvar at 4:12 AM on November 18, 2004

Hi, guys and gals.

Make y'selves at home.



Eww, you do that at home?!!?
posted by dash_slot- at 4:16 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello world! The $5 paypal thing works. I guess this makes me a long time lurker and a first time poster.

I have a mouth...but I wont scream, yet...
posted by jabberwock at 4:16 AM on November 18, 2004

Miguel, they've paid their money so who are we to deny them all the benefits of membership?

Also, you have to remember that some of us high numbers have been waiting for a chance to sneer at new people for years.
posted by biffa at 4:19 AM on November 18, 2004

Well, even older posters tip the wonderchicken - our wives, before we go online, divide our money into two distinct pockets (the left for wonderchicken tipping; the right for buying unsolicited drinks for the wonderchicken) and this tradition has stood us in good stead - whatever stead is - for weeks on end. In certain circles, it's even considered customary to send a case of vintage Port to South Korea's remotest wonderchicken province whenever you want a post not to be deleted. Posts such as the celebrated "rape haiku" and the "feline incest sonnets" were nuked for lack of an appropriate tip - which, in the case of lack of funds, can be accomplished with equal aplomb by a hat.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 4:25 AM on November 18, 2004

i know it's been confirmed a couple've times that all the new-user-paypal funk works fine with other currencies, but i'm saying so again anyway - it's the heady high of finally getting to post, i guess. anyway, my two-pounds-seventy-something shot off into the internets just fine. very, very much appreciated, matt. thanks!

and i promise to try to make noise in only the right places, honest.

*tips the wonderchicken*
posted by terpsichoria at 4:27 AM on November 18, 2004

Wow, look at this! You shouldn't crowd near the doorway like that - COME IN!
Indulge yourselves and mingle! (Migs - crack open another Wolff Sauvignon '02 for our guests, please.)
This is a fine, fine day for the 'Filter family, to be sure.

*swats stravos in the back of the head

Gimmie those damn pretzels - I saw them first!
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:27 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello, cruel world. Thanks, Matt.

*Gives the wonderchicken his tip. So to speak*
posted by the_bone at 4:28 AM on November 18, 2004

I wonder if tipping the wonderchicken is at all like cow tipping…

Welcome new people, glad to have you on board. And for heaven's sake, don't listen to Miguel's advice.
posted by fvw at 4:30 AM on November 18, 2004

The paypal thing still works, even in Euro's. So add another long time reader to the list. I registered mainly for customizing and seeing new posts, and the occasional comment, so I won't start polluting the front page just yet.

As for tipping the chicken: I'll do it if he sets up a webcam, changes his name to stavrosthesubservientchicken and does my bidding... MUWHAHAHA!
posted by cameleon at 4:37 AM on November 18, 2004

Thank you, Matt. I've loved MeFi for a long time, and now for only $5, I can answer questions on AskMe! Woo!
posted by Plutor at 4:39 AM on November 18, 2004

I am among you!

Thanks, Matt.
posted by selfnoise at 4:47 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt! (Woo-hoo! Unrestrainted yelp of pure joy.)
posted by unrepentanthippie at 4:51 AM on November 18, 2004

Good afternoon, MeFi scratchlings! May your stay be fruitful and entertaining!

Top tip: "It vibrates!!"..... we already know. ;)
posted by metaxa at 4:53 AM on November 18, 2004

a/s/l?
posted by dash_slot- at 4:59 AM on November 18, 2004

Greetings, new users. I will now spank all of you with the sacred Pancake Spatula™. It is a high honor.
posted by sciurus at 5:00 AM on November 18, 2004

Top tip: "It vibrates!!"

The tip vibrates? That's pretty hot.
posted by the_bone at 5:01 AM on November 18, 2004

August 1. Nevah forget!
posted by matteo at 5:01 AM on November 18, 2004

YAY!!!!
I have underlords!
posted by kamylyon at 5:02 AM on November 18, 2004

kamylyon - you also have a homonym...
posted by dash_slot- at 5:11 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt! As my birthday was yesterday, I consider this a personal shout-out.

Wait. Aren't other people supposed to buy me stuff for my bday? This sucks.

Seriously, Yea!
posted by naturesgreatestmiracle at 5:18 AM on November 18, 2004

Oh dear. My heart went all aflutter when my daily click upon the New User link produced a page with instructions, nay, an invitation even to join in the fun.

After lurking for several years, it is surreal to be able to participate. Finally.

By the way, as a pretty active political blogger I would like to take this opportunity to vow never to post an obvious political or Iraq-related FPP. Won't stop me joining in the comments, but it's a start.

Cheers again fella!
posted by LondonYank at 5:21 AM on November 18, 2004

First time, long time.

Thank you!
posted by ssmug at 5:21 AM on November 18, 2004

Oh! Let's have a little Barry Manilow up in here! "Looks like we maaaaade it (aaaah aaaah aaah aaaah)".

I feel like a newborn baby goat who has just pushed her tiny little head through that last tough bit of womb, and is now wriggling on the wholesome farm grass in all her amniotic glory.

Truly, there was a higher purpose to my not spending that last fi' dolla' on rock.
posted by fricative at 5:23 AM on November 18, 2004

But now I am kicking myself for not picking the username "hopkin green frog" instead. My triumph is tinged with bitterness!
posted by fricative at 5:26 AM on November 18, 2004

Initiation time!
posted by adampsyche at 5:29 AM on November 18, 2004

welcome to the freakshow.
posted by cheaily at 5:31 AM on November 18, 2004

Another lurker joined, happy holidays.
posted by bratcat at 5:33 AM on November 18, 2004

Look at all these happy people!
posted by Tarrama at 5:35 AM on November 18, 2004

Oh brave new Metafilter, that has such people in't!</Miranda
posted by orange swan at 5:39 AM on November 18, 2004

Male newbies have to put on baby clothes, suck on a soother and hang out at a McDonald's. Female newbies, I have drinks ready just thru this here door. Welcome, welcome...Lookin' good, come on in, hi, hellllllo, how you doin'?!
posted by ashbury at 5:42 AM on November 18, 2004

Well, my good for nothing canadian money was still good enough to become part of the MeFi clique. Yay for me!

Now, I promise I won't... Oooh, a news clipping about Bush! Here comes my first FP post! :)

Seriously, I always wanted to participate in Ask MeFi. What a nice resource. There's a few things about Japan and japanese things I would've liked to comment on, I'm sure some more will pop up.

Now, back to lurking... Hey, I've been doing it for years, old habits die hard.
posted by splice at 5:42 AM on November 18, 2004

I only joined because I thought you could change the colors in your profile. Imagine my surprise.
posted by zorro astor at 5:43 AM on November 18, 2004

Yay !

The Paypal link worked for me !

Thanks !
posted by rfs at 5:45 AM on November 18, 2004

Oh! Let's have a little Barry Manilow up in here! "Looks like we maaaaade it (aaaah aaaah aaah aaaah)".

Please, Matt! I'm sorry about those mean things I said about you earlier - just stop this before it goes any farther!
posted by Ryvar at 5:49 AM on November 18, 2004

Matt, Thanks. The signup process was smooth (and I would have paid $10.)

On preview, I finally understand what "on preview" means.
posted by evoo at 5:50 AM on November 18, 2004

Yay!

Now I can stop bugging the S.O. to post my comments with his.

Thanks, Matt!
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 5:51 AM on November 18, 2004

The best part of this so far is seeing what user names people come up with. Banjo_and_the_pork, I have no idea what your name means, but I like it.
posted by orange swan at 6:02 AM on November 18, 2004

I'm in ... And. In. Shock.

Off to buy a lottery ticket ...
posted by thinkpiece at 6:05 AM on November 18, 2004

Initiation time!

*grabs tomato soup, cat-o-nine-tails and enema bag*

Next!
posted by jonmc at 6:06 AM on November 18, 2004

Excellent! Thank you Matt. Now I don't have to steal my old roommate's account anymore.
posted by Arch Stanton at 6:18 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello nubs! Thanks Matt! This is truly a joyous day for *filter.
posted by moift at 6:18 AM on November 18, 2004

zorro astor, here's how I changed the background color on my page.

[style type="text/css"]@import "/styles/default.css";body{background-color: #000000;}img, table, {display: none;}[/style] Change the brackets to greater than and lesser than symbols, of course.

Welcome, now get a fuckin email address! (I have a gmail invite if you want it. :))
posted by ashbury at 6:22 AM on November 18, 2004

Just remember, MeKiddies, - you're not a real MeFite until you've:

• taken some troll bait and argued with the guy until the thread drops off the front page,
• commented that Witty is not witty,
• acquired an enemy and a crush,
• gotten spanked in MeTa, and
• flirted with WolfDaddy.
posted by orange swan at 6:25 AM on November 18, 2004 [2 favorites]

Why are the new signups not making the number of members on the front page increase?
posted by Orange Goblin at 6:26 AM on November 18, 2004

Is there a reason why the SHIFT doesn't seem to work as the newbies are choosing their names?

InterCaps is where it's at, bitches.

(Flirted with WolfDaddy? You mean I let him sodomize me for nothing?)
posted by ColdChef at 6:27 AM on November 18, 2004

Paypal signups worked great for me- thanks Matt. Any chance you could post at the end of the day how many new users signed up? I'd be curious to know.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:28 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

YALRSI (Yet another longtime reader signing in). My predilection towards lurking will probably keep my posting frequency close to what it's been thus far, but it's truly heartwarming to be let in from the cold.

I'll be sure to contribute with my norwegian technologist perspective when I have something meaningful to say (and keep my mouth shut when I don't).

This made my month!
posted by tirrike at 6:28 AM on November 18, 2004

Shit. I'm not even close to being a MeFite.
posted by sciurus at 6:29 AM on November 18, 2004

(Flirted with WolfDaddy? You mean I let him sodomize me for nothing?)

Like your enjoyment of it counts as nothing, ColdChef.
posted by orange swan at 6:31 AM on November 18, 2004

Hey guys - don't blow this...

(Kidding! Welcome all!)
posted by Quartermass at 6:33 AM on November 18, 2004

Woohoo! Us April 2nd-ers will no longer have the highest user numbers. :)

Welcome all, especially the very large contingent of Monkeys I see amongst the usernames.
posted by livii at 6:34 AM on November 18, 2004

(Flirted with WolfDaddy? You mean I let him sodomize me for nothing?)

I cannot believe you're not receiving any royalties for that "ColdChef's Analicious Extravaganza" DVD I saw the other night at my local video parlor
posted by matteo at 6:36 AM on November 18, 2004

What up? I am clock.
posted by orange clock at 6:40 AM on November 18, 2004

I'd just like to say that I think MetaFilter has really gone downhill in the five minutes since I joined up. It's not the site I knew and loved five minutes ago. There's been six new comments in this period, and they're nothing but NewsFilter crap and pointless injokes. I'm not saying I'm giving up on MeFi, but over the past five minutes I have found myself visiting it less and less. It makes me sad, Matt, that you've let it slide so badly from what it was in the golden age of six minutes ago.


cheers, matt!
posted by flashboy at 6:42 AM on November 18, 2004 [7 favorites]

*waves a hello at all the people and tips the wonderchicken*

can I have some soda crackers to go with the tomato soup?
posted by squeak at 6:42 AM on November 18, 2004

[swan-slaps clock]

Welcome!
posted by orange swan at 6:43 AM on November 18, 2004

yay flashboy is here!
posted by sciurus at 6:44 AM on November 18, 2004

Hi Matt. Long time poster and reader who wanted a different username here! Log in and Paypal thing worked like a charm. Thanks for providing this option.
posted by ITheCosmos at 6:47 AM on November 18, 2004

Much thanks, Matt!
posted by mds35 at 6:47 AM on November 18, 2004

Please, flashboy. The site went downhill five minutes before that when I signed up.
posted by shawnj at 6:48 AM on November 18, 2004

Hurrah, the lurking ends. Well, probably not but at least a lack of posting will be by choice now.

Also, I must add to the chorus: thanks Mat, signup process was very smooth.
posted by gds at 6:49 AM on November 18, 2004

Flashboy: I take full responsibility, and I am truly sorry.
posted by Meatbomb at 6:50 AM on November 18, 2004

long-time lurker, happy first-time poster. thanks, matt!

the paypal worked fine...although i do have one suggestion (already!). like evoo, i would have donated more, and i think that many of us are too lazy to sign up and then click on the donate page later. is there an easy way for paypal to give us the option of paying $5 or more?

cheers!
posted by equipoise at 6:52 AM on November 18, 2004

Wow, I've been away a long time.
posted by tr33hggr at 6:54 AM on November 18, 2004

So, 200 users so far, and I wonder how much longer it will go on for. I was going to try and grab user 18000 with the name 18k, but it appears as if user numbers are added with random gaps between them. Matt, what gives?
posted by seanyboy at 6:56 AM on November 18, 2004

All you kids git off'n my lawn.
posted by Optamystic at 6:56 AM on November 18, 2004

So, are we officially changing the name to MetaFiver now?

Welcome newbies -- from a not-so-oldbie.
posted by papercake at 6:57 AM on November 18, 2004

Is this the Official End of (The Good Ole) Days?

And what's up with the 'orange' meme? In my day, purple was the color of the hep cats, I tells ya...
posted by Dagobert at 6:59 AM on November 18, 2004

Whee!!!!!

Hello everybody. My years of lurking are finally over. I just hope we can keep the signal to noise ratio high.
posted by Freen at 7:00 AM on November 18, 2004

After over two years of waiting and somehow missing every signup opportunity, I'm in. I'll be good, promise.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 7:01 AM on November 18, 2004

*fills candy dish*
*fluffs pillows*
*warms lube*


*waits*


wait a minute, why is stav standing around in the bathroom?
posted by whatnot at 7:01 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt.

I really only joined so I could get guidance from Miguel and kiss the wonderchicken.

Oh, sorry - tip the wonderchicken!
posted by tizzie at 7:03 AM on November 18, 2004

FEAR NOT METAFILTER!

I'm a trisexual lesbian Muslim robot, so finally we'll be able to get some alternative viewpoints around this joint. The fleshy white human male Demorepublicratican American Christian bias at Metafilter will finally be CRUSHED.

I've been waiting to register for so long that I was afraid I'd metaphorically piss my pants.
posted by Kleptophoria! at 7:07 AM on November 18, 2004

Oh, no. Teh tiz is in!
posted by adampsyche at 7:09 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt! I accidentally registered for an account as a gift, but the SO beat me to it. Still, that's 5 bucks well spent.

At last I will not have to pretend any indie rock cred when banjo_and_the_pork co-opts my account for AskMe music questions.

Of course, now she can see all the nasty stuff I've written about her.

kidding, honey, kidding! please don't beat me. ;)
much
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:12 AM on November 18, 2004

This is rad... yet another Internet forum where I can TOTALLY SCHOOL flashboy and quidnunc.
posted by the_bone at 7:17 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt. Now where do I find the boobies links?
posted by barjo at 7:17 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt. After (disturbingly long period) of reading MetaFilter and AxMe, and wanting to contribute, I'm now left with nothing to say but, "Thanks."
posted by piro at 7:17 AM on November 18, 2004

How about a rotating banner on the sign-up page that says:

* All proceeds from new user registration go to the Democratic National Committee.

Alternately replacing the DNC with "Republican National Committee" or "Committee to Elect Ralph Nader" or "al Queda" or "Illuminati". Just to keep everyone on their toes.
posted by Danelope at 7:18 AM on November 18, 2004

Ok I'm in.
Now it's up to you people to make it worth my five bucks.

you're not a real MeFite until you've:
• acquired an enemy and a crush

Can they be the same person?
posted by rocket88 at 7:19 AM on November 18, 2004

Bets are open: how many of these "new" users are really aliases for the usual gang of idiots?
posted by fuzz at 7:20 AM on November 18, 2004

At least one.
oops
posted by seanyboy at 7:22 AM on November 18, 2004

My $5 registration solely covers the legitimization of my idling in #mefi. Take that, Steve.
posted by fet at 7:22 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

Matt -- Yes, it works great!!! Sign up was very easy and fast!
posted by dsaelf at 7:25 AM on November 18, 2004

fuzz scribed down: Bets are open: how many of these "new" users are really aliases for the usual gang of idiots?

Can I at least get to be somebody legendary? I can even adopt their mannerisms!

Oh man, there is so much mystery afoot. Can these newbies really be trusted? Are they all truly unique individuals, or perhaps old users in disguise? This is pretty exciting.
posted by Kleptophoria! at 7:27 AM on November 18, 2004

Signup was indeed a cinch! Soooo very glad to be here at last!

Just last night I had given up and I registered at MoFi, but only with great consternation and after much heavy sighing.

Woo-hoo!
posted by mds35 at 7:28 AM on November 18, 2004

I can see Matt right now, channeling Oprah. "Everybody gets a login! Everybody gets a login!"

By the way, has anyone seen my special n00b-spankin' pancake spatula?
posted by chicobangs at 7:29 AM on November 18, 2004

Hooray! Now I have a second user to link to as a muse. (And yes, I know the classic version is -e, not -ia, but it's close enough for me.) Only seven more to go...
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 7:29 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome, for your convenience:
1) If you see a "." as a comment you must immediately make a new post here.
2) Delete your cookies.
posted by TimeFactor at 7:29 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome to the new meat.

And this is very cool, Matt. Any chance of getting some numbers as to the new signups over the next few days? I'm just curious.
posted by fenriq at 7:30 AM on November 18, 2004

Well, now my life is an official success.

This speaks volumes about me, sadly.
posted by brad! at 7:32 AM on November 18, 2004

you're not a real MeFite until you've:
• acquired an enemy and a crush

Can they be the same person?

Why not. How efficient of you, rocket88! And aren't you a MoFi?
posted by orange swan at 7:35 AM on November 18, 2004

Oh, no. Teh tiz is in!

All that experience for the farm team has paid off, maybe!
posted by tizzie at 7:39 AM on November 18, 2004

I've been checking the New User page every day for months now.

Thanks for having me.
posted by box elder at 7:41 AM on November 18, 2004

Another long time lurker/first time poster. Happy to pay the $5 to support MeFi. Thanks for opening things, up, Matt!

On preview: box elder, me too. I feel like my online existence has been validated.
posted by schustafa at 7:45 AM on November 18, 2004

Yay. I'm finally here. (totally doesn't believe it; is this some kind of cruel joke?)

So this is what a post box looks like. Thanks Matt!! I've been lurking for so long, it feels like up to me. Or something. And paypal worked, even though I had to resurrect an antique email address to sign into it!

*tips the wonderchicken - via a completely expired paypal account*
posted by mygothlaundry at 7:46 AM on November 18, 2004

Does anyone have a good set of rules for applying Mefi senority in interdomicile disagreements (besides "Don't.")? I've got like 7k of clout around the house now.
posted by yerfatma at 7:47 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome to the bigs, tizzie! And everyone else!

(Matt's got some heavy moderating ahead of him for a while, and the front page is going to get a little messy...)
posted by chicobangs at 7:51 AM on November 18, 2004

This is the cutest thread evar! *goes around, pinching cheeks*

er,,, face cheeks. fo sheezy.
posted by sugarfish at 7:51 AM on November 18, 2004

I hop up in the morning, check a few sites, and click the new user link before hopping in the shower, then just go -- whaaa? It actually works? Holy broken I-beams, Mattman!

Thanks a lot, Matt. You just made my day.
posted by BevosAngryGhost at 7:52 AM on November 18, 2004

Be still oh my heart! Finally in.

Thanks, Matt!
posted by redfisch at 7:52 AM on November 18, 2004

has anyone seen my special n00b-spankin' pancake spatula?

uh... yeah chico, i... uh... found it. i... um... didn't realize it was yours?
shit shit shit!
posted by sciurus at 7:52 AM on November 18, 2004

And the Blue is still undefiled.

Does this mean...

A. That all our neometafiltarians are as well behaved as they promise?
B. That all our neometafiltarians are too busy posting to this thread?
C. Mathowie is busy deleting posts like a chimp on crack picks lice?
posted by ursus_comiter at 7:55 AM on November 18, 2004

Theoretically, any savage could join.

AND I JUST DID! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh, god, that was so totally worth the $5.
posted by any savage at 7:57 AM on November 18, 2004

I can't believe I'm finally in! I've been lurking this site for years now... I feel like I won an oscar, or even a tony! And here I am, new award in tow, with no one to thank... well, except Matt. Thanks a million- I promise to behave.
posted by johnny quick at 7:59 AM on November 18, 2004

As another long-time lurker, I am elated to finally pay my dues and become a respectable member of the community. I find am now gripped by fear and performance anxiety, but still, hooray!
posted by Miss Bitchy Pants at 7:59 AM on November 18, 2004

Don't make the mistake of being the first one to tell me to suck it!
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 8:01 AM on November 18, 2004

suck it, bucket.
posted by sciurus at 8:02 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello all you new folks, make your self comfy, be sure to pitch in when needed. We love you all... ok except Meatbomb. ;)

Note to mathowie: Please send my cut from the million dollars you made today to the usual address via the usual means. xoxoxo.
posted by riffola at 8:05 AM on November 18, 2004

*delurks*
Yay, I'm out of my cage. What a great Thursday gift.

Hello world.
posted by Mercaptan at 8:06 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello, everyone. And thank you, Matt!
posted by digifox at 8:09 AM on November 18, 2004

I'm the guy who was trying to trade Gmail invites for an account earlier this year. Thanks Matt.
posted by LarryC at 8:10 AM on November 18, 2004

I thought this day would never come...

Signup worked like a champ Matt, danke. I think it even vibrated...
posted by m0nm0n at 8:13 AM on November 18, 2004

Can we get some more Republicans now just to even out the demographics? I'm not one for the echo-chamber theory but a more representative spectrum would be nice if politics is still going to be a topic de jour.

Also - yay to all the non-Americans joining - no disrespect intended to those from the Land of the Free but perhaps now we can get some more international flavouring with our MeFi pancakes.
posted by longbaugh at 8:14 AM on November 18, 2004

*waves* Hi - latecoming newbie. But yeah, the scripting worked jes' fine.
posted by medea42 at 8:14 AM on November 18, 2004

Hi, everyone! Thanks to the gentle nudging of Chico Bangs (well, as gentle as he's ever likely to be), I am among you! Prepare yourselves for mentions of things like Jandek and the long-departed World Football League to ratchet wayyyy up!
posted by AJaffe at 8:15 AM on November 18, 2004

suck it, bucket.

Argh!
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 8:15 AM on November 18, 2004

Woop. I've no doubt that now I'm able to post, I won't have anything to say. But hey, I have a MeFi account so I can start sneering at lesser netizens!
posted by NeonSurge at 8:23 AM on November 18, 2004

I think it even vibrated...
posted by m0nm0n at 8:13 AM PST on November 18

*Cries* Please don't tell me the new ones are already infected!
posted by Seth at 8:24 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello Everyone
posted by JennyJupiter at 8:28 AM on November 18, 2004

Theoretically, any savage could join.

Theoretically?

Nah, I keed, I keed. Welcome to tizzie and all the other new folks.

Any newbies are hereby invited to the next NYC meetup, at which they will be expected to buy us drinks.
posted by Vidiot at 8:29 AM on November 18, 2004

*Scotchguards the furniture*
posted by Kafkaesque at 8:31 AM on November 18, 2004

*guards the Scotch*
posted by Kafkaesque at 8:31 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello hello. I'm on...how surreal. THANK YOU mathowie.
posted by tidecat at 8:32 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome all!

Especially those of you with hilariously convoluted usernames!

I'm enjoying the thread just on that basis. But additionally entertaining myself by wondering how long it'll be before such hilarious luminaries as naturesgreatestmiracle, banjo_and_the_pork, ITheCosmos, Kleptophoria! and Miss Bitchy Pants find themselves in the midst of a serious discussion, where someone is addressing them by their username, and suddenly ask themselves: "shit, why the hell did I get myself stuck with that name?" For me it took about a month.

Yes, I realize some of these are importing names from other climes. But so was I. Everything changes once you're on the Filter. (That's right. THE Filter.)
posted by soyjoy at 8:37 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome!

No bickering.

Say, Matt, can you publish the paypal link somewheres so older members can kick in?
posted by mwhybark at 8:39 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello and welcome to all the newbies.

Looking forward to all the non political posts!
posted by konolia at 8:42 AM on November 18, 2004

crap. the new kids better not touch my stuff.
posted by Stynxno at 8:47 AM on November 18, 2004

soyjoy, banjo_and_the_pork is a great username.
posted by kenko at 8:47 AM on November 18, 2004

!
posted by drezdn at 8:49 AM on November 18, 2004

Say, Matt, can you publish the paypal link somewheres so older members can kick in?

yeah, otherwise the new kids will tease us for being cheap.
posted by th3ph17 at 8:50 AM on November 18, 2004

Older members can always find the donation link on the etc page, which is on the MeFi homepage menu
posted by y6y6y6 at 8:50 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt. Some of us have been waiting for a long time for this. I even broke my own 'No PayPal' rule.
posted by bh at 8:52 AM on November 18, 2004

What a great way to start the day. Play a few hours of GTA, bake some eggnog cookies, and then this. Thanks Matt!

::spills eggnog all over Stynxno's books::
posted by catachresoid at 8:53 AM on November 18, 2004

Feels nice to finally get picked for kickball.

Hey there, folks. Nice to meet ya.
posted by lovejones at 8:55 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome, fresh meat respected new members!

(BTW, "Hello, cruel world" is the best introductory comment I've seen. Good one, the_bone. Now please allow me to be the first to tell you to fuck off.)

:-)
posted by jpoulos at 8:55 AM on November 18, 2004

Orange swan and kenko- thanks! Soyjoy, I'll answer to "banjo" as well... I suppose that doesn't help much.
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 8:58 AM on November 18, 2004

My god - it's full of stars.

I am in awe - thanks Matt
posted by bibliowench at 9:01 AM on November 18, 2004

METAFILTER IS THE BEST.
posted by kyle at 9:02 AM on November 18, 2004

"namely, in that the floodgates to a world of shit have been opened."

Just because someone is a new member it doesn't mean they're new to MetaFilter. People willing to fork out money will like MetaFilter an awful lot. They'll like it a lot because they've read it a lot. These people have, prior to sign-up, a 1:0 ratio reading to talking. The odds are good that they "get" MetaFilter better than the rest of us.
posted by nthdegx at 9:02 AM on November 18, 2004

If you're a noob and you link me as a contact, I promise to defend your early posts from complaints and serve you OJ once a month.
posted by drezdn at 9:04 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome to the PAINHOUSE bi0tches!
posted by Jeremy at 9:06 AM on November 18, 2004

We're all doomed.
posted by dazed_one at 9:07 AM on November 18, 2004

Freedom isn't free. Yeah there's a hefty fuckin' fee. And if you don't chip your buck-o-five who will?


Mmm, buck-o-five.



Freedom costs a buck-o-five.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:08 AM on November 18, 2004

Having said that...

"And, hopefully, a lot of us have been reading for long enough to remember fondly the pre-politicsfilter years."

You can't sign up and then diss us!!!!! Can you? Oh... you can?

*Wanders off...*
posted by nthdegx at 9:08 AM on November 18, 2004

So I just paid $5 bucks and when I searched for my name i found my old account. And after some gueswork I even remembered the password. So here I am, a newbie with a membernumber under 10,000.

I hope you do something useful with my money, Matt.

And now, shall I put my second user up on eBay? (Just kidding)
posted by kika at 9:12 AM on November 18, 2004

MetaFilter: Freedom costs a buck-o-five.

(/firstpost)
posted by ludwig_van at 9:13 AM on November 18, 2004

It's a dream come true!!! Thank you so much.
posted by yodelingisfun at 9:16 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome all!

*enjoys long-awaited seniority*
posted by widdershins at 9:17 AM on November 18, 2004

Ok, I've been a member for nearly 8 hours now. Can I go and beat up on Seth, yet?
posted by veedubya at 9:17 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello there!
Registration went smoothly. This was the best use of my Paypal account ever. I'm so glad to be here after a couple of years lurking.
Thanks Matt !
posted by elgilito at 9:20 AM on November 18, 2004

Repeating what others have said - thanks a bundle. It's too cool that it happened right after I heard Matt on the radio (putting the voice with the text, finally).
I can't wait to beat up PP someday, or not.
posted by dbmcd at 9:20 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks Matt! I've been waiting for a while for the opportunity to join. Pay Pal from Canada worked out.
posted by Hanover Phist at 9:22 AM on November 18, 2004

N00B IRC INVASION

they're gonna kill me for that
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:24 AM on November 18, 2004

Matt, you are a golden screaming angel. Thank you for the site and thank you for opening up new memberships! Now I'll never do anything productive again ever in my life ever.

*does a jig*
posted by Sticherbeast at 9:24 AM on November 18, 2004

Ok, I've been a member for nearly 8 hours now. Can I go and beat up on Seth, yet?
posted by veedubya at 9:17 AM PST on November 18

Membership privileges for the 17kers is no less than the the 1kers.

I just hope you didn't wait for an account merely to bash people are get in fights.
posted by Seth at 9:25 AM on November 18, 2004

are should be or, of course.
posted by Seth at 9:26 AM on November 18, 2004

Well, I'm in. This place is officially a ghetto.
posted by hojoki at 9:26 AM on November 18, 2004

(dons snazzy dress to impress duds and brings out a welcome wagon full o' party supplies) From one noob to the rest: Hi all!
posted by ifjuly at 9:27 AM on November 18, 2004

Nice. New shiny happy people.
*waves*
posted by ginz at 9:30 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt and hello to everyone...

Now please, for all our safety, someone put away the scissors and put covers on all the electrical outlets.
posted by javabean at 9:31 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome all. May the EXXXTREME INITIATIONS COMMENCE!
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:31 AM on November 18, 2004

Seth, you intrigue me.
posted by veedubya at 9:32 AM on November 18, 2004

Female Londoners to my email address please.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:34 AM on November 18, 2004

Seth, I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
posted by kyle at 9:34 AM on November 18, 2004

You know... now that I'm allowed to post here, this place hardly seems as cool. (Thanks Matt)
posted by grapefruit at 9:35 AM on November 18, 2004

the Blue is still undefiled

It will still take a week for new users to get front page posting rights, as it has always been.

So this thanksgiving could be a drunken, tryptophan-fueled post football posting fest. Or not. These people seem like good folks.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:36 AM on November 18, 2004

Look what the cat dragged in. Welcome!

At least they know where MetaTalk is. :)
posted by me3dia at 9:37 AM on November 18, 2004

Can I play too?
posted by eatcherry at 9:37 AM on November 18, 2004

veedubya -
Well, it occurred to me that you were kidding. And, my comment wasn't directed at you completely. I am just feeling conflicted because I absolutely love the idea of new people in here. I just fear that the new people have joined to be a part of the me-too in-circle-jerk.

I will be a very happy man if we have people who are here to share new and interesting things. This will be a great day for the site if we have people who are here to share neat and new things like plep's latest offering. Or it will be a horrible day for the site if we have people who joined to preach to us daily like y2karl or make this site in to the BlueKos.

Which Metafilter do you want? I welcome all of you new people and hope this is the start of a bright new beginning!
posted by Seth at 9:39 AM on November 18, 2004

BTW, "Hello, cruel world" is the best introductory comment I've seen.

Damn, I was gonna say that, before I got distracted by all the funky new usernames. So now I will merely second it.

And hey, nowhere did I imply that these are not, in and of themselves, fantastic usernames. I especially enjoy the concept of pairing up banjo_and_the_pork and robocop is bleeding. "Hey, can you come over?" "Naw, man, I'm having dinner with banjo_and_the_pork and robocop is bleeding." "WTF?"

But banjo_and_the_pork, if I call you "banjo" I may mix you up with "barjo," which, though short, is another great name. (Anything referencing PKD is tops in my book.)
posted by soyjoy at 9:43 AM on November 18, 2004

So this thanksgiving could be a drunken, tryptophan-fueled post football posting fest. Or not.

He can only post once a day, so no worries.
posted by kenko at 9:44 AM on November 18, 2004

DevilsAdvocate: Hooray! Now I have a second user to link to as a muse. (And yes, I know the classic version is -e, not -ia, but it's close enough for me.) Only seven more to go...

Recognition! Whee! (I'm so, so sorry. I'm such a Mefi cheerleader. I actually got sorta excited that someone on the great big 'Filter had mentioned little me. I've been lurking here for so long, it seems weird that i can actually contribute rather than just watch threads wreck themselves (and Seth)...)

And yeah, I had a brief struggle with myself over whether to spell it right or make an obscure China Miéville reference. I lost. Darn.
posted by terpsichoria at 9:47 AM on November 18, 2004

Woot!

Thanks, Matt. You rock.

Now, off to scour CNN for a good link for my first FPP...

Ha ha just kidding I'll be good don't cancel my account
posted by jewzilla at 9:51 AM on November 18, 2004

*Snarky post about lurking for years*

I think it'll be nice to give back where I can.
posted by paramnesia at 9:52 AM on November 18, 2004

Seth, I was only kidding. Truly.

I don't think I'm alone in being a new sign-up that's been watching from the side-lines for what seems like far too long. Personally, I haven't joined to continue the pile-on culture. Just the opposite, in fact. Now I'm in, I'm not wasting it.

My apologies if my comment seemed snarky. It was intended as a sarcastic anti-snark snark. I guess I need more practice.

Peace, love, and free beer! (As long as thewonderchicken is paying.)
posted by veedubya at 9:52 AM on November 18, 2004

The odds are good that they "get" MetaFilter better than the rest of us.

I kinda doubt that, nthdegx. There's a level of understanding that comes only from participation. For example, I'm going to have to take MetaTalk more seriously now. Woe.
posted by catachresoid at 9:59 AM on November 18, 2004

Willkommen neuvolks.
posted by dhoyt at 9:59 AM on November 18, 2004

it's great to be here!

hey! cut that out. i paid 5 bucks!
posted by stirfry at 10:03 AM on November 18, 2004

ashbury: you only changed the background color on the user page? heck i changed the graphics. CSS positioning, baby!

it's just so much more subtle i guess...

welcome n00bs (ha, like i'm an old-timer or something. oh wait. guess now i really am. damn.) all you mofites, commence with the "link me as contact" goodness and stuff. i'm busy reciprocating when i recognize your names. and i'm bad with names so don't feel left out if i missed ya...
posted by caution live frogs at 10:06 AM on November 18, 2004

Please God don't make MetaFilter chirpy and vivacious.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:07 AM on November 18, 2004

Maybe we should have a contest for best new nick?

There are some damned fine ones in this thread already, so far I'm liking banjo_and_the_pork as the early frontrunner. We'll how they do in the debates though.
posted by fenriq at 10:12 AM on November 18, 2004

what is the etiquette of in-thread prayer?

;)
posted by mwhybark at 10:15 AM on November 18, 2004

Odd. I'm not one of the little kids anymore. Cool.

Welcome, new folks!

By the way, I like the idea of, and have implemented, the old-users-throw-in-a-fiver-or-so idea.
posted by mmahaffie at 10:16 AM on November 18, 2004

Hello everyone. Anyone from Liverpool?
posted by feelinglistless at 10:17 AM on November 18, 2004

I'll gladly poney-up some $ via pay pal. This is a great place.
posted by ParisParamus at 10:18 AM on November 18, 2004

For the constructive angst I ellicit around here, $25.00...coming via Paypal.
posted by ParisParamus at 10:20 AM on November 18, 2004

Ooh goodie!!...now i get to stalk talk to the Q for real!!!

Er...hi all, and thanks Matt. I'm Ramix the mofite from Ghana via Portland OR. Been a lurker since 2001 or so but always missed sign-ups. Glad to be here!
posted by ramix at 10:28 AM on November 18, 2004

Good god. I've been lurking for so long I'm not quite sure I know how to do this "posting" thing.
posted by savetheclocktower at 10:31 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome new MeFites!
(email me with any questions or anything, if you want)
posted by amberglow at 10:31 AM on November 18, 2004

Any hot girls?
posted by esch at 10:32 AM on November 18, 2004

woo-hoo, I'm in. No problem with the PayPal process.
posted by mach at 10:32 AM on November 18, 2004

FINALLY! My voice can be heard!
posted by JRun at 10:33 AM on November 18, 2004

I wouldn't worry too much about us new folks only being here for a "me too" circle jerk. I mean, yeah, that's why I'm in this thread, but not why I joined MeFi.

My only problem now is that I've relied on MeFi for so long to introduce me to interesting sites, now I have to think about how to find them otherwise in order to introduce them to MeFi. And don't worry, Associated Press will not be my trawling ground.
posted by Bugbread at 10:34 AM on November 18, 2004

*scopes the new crowd for cute guys*
posted by amberglow at 10:34 AM on November 18, 2004

JRun - LOL, but I thought I told you long ago to GYOB.

savetheclocktower, have you met orange clock?

Keep 'em coming!

Oh, but jewzilla, you should be aware, y6y6y6 believes MeFi is "not sure about the Jews."
posted by soyjoy at 10:35 AM on November 18, 2004

(P.S. I love you, honey!)
posted by esch at 10:35 AM on November 18, 2004

*holds in beer-belly*
posted by veedubya at 10:36 AM on November 18, 2004

YES! I don't have to scream the answers to 'ask metafilter' questions in vain at my screen any more!
posted by steveminutillo at 10:37 AM on November 18, 2004

<Insert inside joke to make it look like I'm not a newbie>
posted by spaghetti at 10:38 AM on November 18, 2004

When I clicked on 'new user' I never expected it to actually work! Thanks, Matt!

via MonkeyFilter
posted by Space Kitty at 10:38 AM on November 18, 2004

"Hello, cruel world" is very good, but I have to give the award to "Oh brave new Metafilter, that has such people in't!" :::tips his hat to orange swan:::

Growth itself contains the germ of happiness. —Pearl S Buck
posted by rushmc at 10:44 AM on November 18, 2004

I am loving the crazy new usernames.
posted by chicobangs at 10:45 AM on November 18, 2004

call me Ishmael.
posted by petebest at 10:45 AM on November 18, 2004

Hi, gang! Any pancakes left for me?

Thank you, Matt, very much for allowing me the chance to contribute to my favorite website. Huzzah!
posted by Dr. Wu at 10:46 AM on November 18, 2004

hello.
posted by rxreed at 10:51 AM on November 18, 2004

i know, chico : >

petebest, how come you monkeys are so bitchy now about us? what'd we do?
posted by amberglow at 10:52 AM on November 18, 2004

ONE OF US! ONE OF US!
posted by dobbs at 10:53 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt. I may stop sending you pleading email now. BTW, are we your first 3 generation family?
posted by Cranberry at 10:55 AM on November 18, 2004

So...who is going to program the widget to map the newbies by zipcode so we can ID the red staters?

:::looks around suspiciously:::
posted by rushmc at 10:56 AM on November 18, 2004

Wow I can't belive it. I've been a reader for about two and a half years now and have even had my site posted on the front page but have never been given the chance to post. I've seen the downtime and errors as has everyone else on this site so hopefully my $5 will go to good use. I'm glad to be a part of this community finally. Thanks for letting me in!
posted by Urgo at 10:56 AM on November 18, 2004

Hi Mom! ♥ ♥ ♥ Thanks, Matt!
posted by Lynsey at 10:59 AM on November 18, 2004

Woohooo!
posted by singletrack at 11:05 AM on November 18, 2004

Are you ready to fight alongside your Colonel Glorious Leader Mathowie and give your five bucks to the Homestarmy MetaFiltarmy if it comes to that?

Bennedetto! Don't you die on me Bennedetto! Not on my watch! Don't you give up! You never gave me the five bucks...
posted by filmgoerjuan at 11:08 AM on November 18, 2004

Seriously, though, I am kind of shocked. I guess I always expected that I would be locked out FOREVER. Here's to the 'filter.
posted by jenovus at 11:10 AM on November 18, 2004

I've just had a big, goofy grin reading this thread. I'm liking the new users a lot already! Welcome, everyone! You should take amberglow's offer for any help or advice, excepting (in my opinion) his strong tendency towards politico/advocacy posts. But otherwise, as a commenter, his behavior is exemplary.

Was it ColdChef who complained that new users aren't using the shift key? Well, some are, and some are using spaces, but very few are using both the shift key and spaces. Dammit, I want my username to blend-in more. You newbies are not satisfying my obscure desires. Well, except for the Seth-bashing. (Just kidding, Seth.)
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:14 AM on November 18, 2004

Happy St. Leonard Kimura Day.

And thanks to Matt
posted by Rumple at 11:15 AM on November 18, 2004

Thank you, Matt. You've made my day. And I'm happy to contribute $5 to a site I visit a dozen times day.

P.S. Please, no ads in the RSS feed!
posted by exhilaration at 11:16 AM on November 18, 2004

I'm in! I'm in! I'm in! Pardon me, I have to go piss in the corners.
posted by stray at 11:17 AM on November 18, 2004

Yay. I'm just another happy new member/long, long time reader, wanting to say hi. This is the first site I've actually paid to be a member on, and I believe the only one that would be worth it.
posted by ruby.aftermath at 11:19 AM on November 18, 2004

New people: there's nothing wrong with advocacy posts. When it's environmental stuff, no one says a word. When it's about free speech, no one says a word. When it's about racism, no one says a word. ... Only advocating some issues makes some people squeamish or assholey.

*smacks stray on the nose with a newspaper, and laughs* : >
posted by amberglow at 11:19 AM on November 18, 2004

Did the whole PayPal thing very smoothly. Thanks for opening it up.
posted by defasdefbe at 11:21 AM on November 18, 2004

Whoot, finally I'm able to have a handle and comment on metafilter threads...

For the past 9 months or so, i've had tons of insightful and witty things to add to mefi posts but couldn't.

Ok let' see...

uh-oh... I've got nothing.

rampy

ps when do I learn the secret mefi handshake?
posted by rampy at 11:21 AM on November 18, 2004

How many new users, really? This is crazy. I'm imagining the Server #1 going insane under the new burden.
Daisy . . . Daisy . . . give me your answer . . . do . . .
posted by jenovus at 11:25 AM on November 18, 2004

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the signup page :O
...I've been reading Mefi for probably three years now.
The links are *good* and many of the posters have insightful and intriguing views.

I look forward to becoming part of the conversation.
Thanks Matt!
posted by Radio7 at 11:28 AM on November 18, 2004

ps when do I learn the secret mefi handshake?

Um, it's not a handshake, exactly...
posted by jpoulos at 11:29 AM on November 18, 2004

A/S/L?
posted by Quartermass at 11:33 AM on November 18, 2004

"Only advocating some issues makes some people squeamish or assholey."—amberglow

I don't agree with the examples you gave. Even when I agree with the point of view involved, I don't think a post should exist as advocacy. I really believe that more than saying it's about "politics" or whatever, this gets to the heart of the matter. An advocacy post is a post like, say, a post on one's blog. It's an attempt to say your mind, change opinions, whatever. That means the raison d'etre of the post is itself, not its link. The linked page should be something that a lot of people would want to see (and they wouldn't see it on Google News or Yahoo News or CNN or NYT or wherever).
posted by kmellis at 11:36 AM on November 18, 2004

Oh shit, soyjoy totally name-dropped me, and that dude's user number is, like, a trillion times earlier than mine.

Honestly, though, I did feel a tinge of schoolgirl giggles when I read that post.

And I think I'll be able to manage having serious discourse even with this truly ridiculous name. I'll just pretend it's a statement on the nature of human, uh, nature.

I guess I should actually venture outside of this thread, now.
posted by Kleptophoria! at 11:37 AM on November 18, 2004

User 1996 welcomes you.
posted by VulcanMike at 11:37 AM on November 18, 2004

Ha! The clowns are running the circus now! I FEEL SO ALIVE!!
posted by deafmute at 11:37 AM on November 18, 2004

(...oh, I'm EB. I didn't mean to post as "kmellis", but I had just gotten this account in case I wanted to switch to it and to secure the name. Forgot who I was. Don't mean to mislead.)
posted by kmellis at 11:38 AM on November 18, 2004

Whee, thanks for having me! Being either an underlord or fresh meat oughta be good clean fun. Right?
posted by Miss Paaj at 11:39 AM on November 18, 2004

New people: there's nothing wrong with advocacy posts. .
posted by amberglow at 11:19 AM PST on November 18


I pray to God the new people don't listen to amberglow on this. I pray that people have seen how he is one of, if not the worst people on this site about constantly making everything partisan advocacy. I pray to God that people see what kind of shit pours forth from a Metafilter that is full of that which amberglow is promoting here. I pray to God that the new people understand they can go to Kos if they want that stuff, and that this site can be different.

Hope springs eternal. But please do not listen to one of the worst hacks on this site. You don't have to listen to me either, but look at the election and see how bad this site became and realize that THAT is what amberglow wanted.
posted by Seth at 11:40 AM on November 18, 2004

Um, it's not a handshake, exactly...

Just report to WolfDaddy and ask for "The ColdChef Special."
posted by soyjoy at 11:40 AM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

I just woke up. What the heck is going on?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:40 AM on November 18, 2004

Absurdly thrilled to be here.
posted by mothershock at 11:42 AM on November 18, 2004

After four years of lurking, I'm looking forward to my first dupe, my first bitchslap, my first YHBT...

It's gonna be great!
posted by ChrisR at 11:44 AM on November 18, 2004

I'm just glad I made it under the 1800-wire. Everyone with an 1800 number is a loser. Losers.

Oh, and, uhm, thanks for having me and stuff.
posted by MostHolyPorcine at 11:47 AM on November 18, 2004

Seth, I agree with you about amberglow's posts; but given that he's so well-behaved otherwise, I think your strong language against him is misplaced. If you took a poll about what people think is wrong with MeFi, the electionfilter stuff would only account for part of it. Lack of civility would be another. You know I agree with your point of view on FPPs, but you don't seem to ever do much to try to present that view in a nice, respectful manner...which is why I think people get on your case. I'm just sayin'.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:48 AM on November 18, 2004

I guess I should post an annoying "me new" post. I've only reading metafilter for about three months, so I didn't realize the new user signups were closed for oh so very long. Thank you waxy.org for the link on your site, or I might have missed it.

I hope I'm not overstepping my *noob* status by posting a question on the "ask" site five minutes after signing up. Though I was willing to spend $5 on google answer for the info, so it's a serious enough question.
posted by inthe80s at 11:49 AM on November 18, 2004

Welcome, new members!
posted by scottymac at 11:51 AM on November 18, 2004

I just noticed that I am user #18000!
Do I win a prize?
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:51 AM on November 18, 2004

Thanks Matt, I would have given much more. But thanks, I've been lurking for what seems like forever. It'll be nice to be able to say a thing or two when I'm feeling it.
posted by BlzOfGlry at 11:53 AM on November 18, 2004

Strolling around the grounds until I feel at home
posted by octothorpe at 11:57 AM on November 18, 2004

yay. Greetings and thanks to Matt and all the metafilter users.
You've made this place worth reading everyday.
With all the new members who have been waiting patiently for years to contribute,
I expect things to get even more interesting.
posted by Merik at 11:58 AM on November 18, 2004

Dr. Wu, see stavros for your prize.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:59 AM on November 18, 2004

via MonkeyFilter
posted by Space Kitty

You remember the last time you and your glasses got discussed on MeTa, don't you?

The real reason why #1 opened up new users: to assimilate the MoFi women for our meetups. Discuss.
posted by DaShiv at 12:00 PM on November 18, 2004

I remember it.

I wonder when the next time I'll be going home to socal is.
posted by kenko at 12:04 PM on November 18, 2004

In reference to the near-discussion that happened concerning amberglow and partisan discotheques or whatever... I really can hardly stand my own country's political parties, let alone America's. Partisan politics is boring. Ideologies are cooler. Let's start calling people communists again.

Also: something wacky because I'm new!
posted by Kleptophoria! at 12:10 PM on November 18, 2004

Cripes, Lynsey's mom is here?! Everyone straighten up and behave!

*waves to the nOObs whilst dusting off the wonderchicken*
posted by deborah at 12:19 PM on November 18, 2004

Many of us have been "dusting off the wonderchicken" for years.


Oh, you mean that wasn't a metaphor?
posted by chicobangs at 12:23 PM on November 18, 2004

Finally I can stop using the bugmenot login...
posted by guruguy9 at 12:25 PM on November 18, 2004

Glad to finally be part of the community. Even for a couch-scraper like me, $5 is totally worth it.

Hello everyone.
posted by killerConscience at 12:25 PM on November 18, 2004

hello world
posted by mai at 12:26 PM on November 18, 2004

Thanks Matt.
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 12:26 PM on November 18, 2004

And here come all the anonymous "AskSexMefi" posts.
posted by gramcracker at 12:29 PM on November 18, 2004

The Google cache of the Mefi front page, taken around 3 AM PST on Wednesday, shows 16929 members. The current count at the top of the Mefi home page is 17493 members.

That's pretty impressive, I have to say...
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:29 PM on November 18, 2004

Oh look, it's the Miss Nude World contestants! Hiya!
posted by orange swan at 12:29 PM on November 18, 2004

Matt, now that you have some extra cash, it's time to throw down a Portland MeFite gathering. Pump that money back into the local economy.

Oh, welcome new members. I remember well my first post. I typed it on a manual Remington and sent it via mail to Matt, who had to punch it in on a mainframe. It took seven days for that post to make it up on the front page, which is why he keeps that seven-day lag, even though today's technology allows posts to make it up there in at least 24 - 36 hours. That's progress, my friends.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 12:29 PM on November 18, 2004

And here's to you, mr. octothorpe.
posted by boomchicka at 12:30 PM on November 18, 2004

I look forward to the first "what does the . mean in the Bill Cosby is dead thread" mean?
posted by jonson at 12:30 PM on November 18, 2004

When people attack environmental posts the way they attack mine, those people will have a point about advocacy. Until then...just ignore Seth as usual.
posted by amberglow at 12:36 PM on November 18, 2004

strangeleftydoublethink:
Amen on the Portland meet up.
posted by karmaville at 12:37 PM on November 18, 2004

I don't think it's possible to communicate how "Fuck yeah!" I'm feeling right now.
posted by Plinko at 12:46 PM on November 18, 2004

Is anyone going to use the moniker "ignoring_Seth_as usual"?
posted by orange swan at 12:46 PM on November 18, 2004

Okay, I'm posting to tell Jewzilla he has the best new username of the bunch (love it and I've linked to you), but "..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.." probably wins for one that will be most often screwed up. If it weren't still right there on the screen, no way I'd get it right.
posted by livii at 12:48 PM on November 18, 2004

stayed in bed for my first class of the day... woke up to metafilter signups. Day's shaping up to be a good one.

thanks a lot matt... work will be entirely more enjoyable now that I can jump into the fray rather than silently fuming in my godforsaken cubicle. now to check out the damage on the front page...
posted by rooftop secrets at 12:48 PM on November 18, 2004

Now that I've somehow made kleptophoria's day, I hope I don't destroy everything by pointing out that "..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.." is my new favorite candidate for the phenomenon I mentioned above. (On preview, OK, seconding livii)

So, ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.., when we're casually discussing things with you, can we just call you ..ooOOoo..? Or even ooOO? How about ..?
posted by soyjoy at 12:54 PM on November 18, 2004

You can just call me .ooO if that is easier livii.
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 12:54 PM on November 18, 2004

Ahhh, that's much better. Thanks for letting me in-- It was cold out there.

Oh, and hi everybody.
posted by cosmonaught at 12:58 PM on November 18, 2004

I look forward to accelerating the decline of things around here. And I'll go ahead and blame quonsar.
posted by fnord at 1:00 PM on November 18, 2004

I used to think 16,956 was a high user number.

Welcome, new recruits. Any Richmonders among you?
posted by emelenjr at 1:12 PM on November 18, 2004

Man, lookit all the shiny new names!
It's like a new television season with a larger cast and new writers.
A lot of you seem very cool, and uh, welcome to the thunderdome.
posted by Peter H at 1:14 PM on November 18, 2004

Thanks, Matt!
Hey, where's the pr0n? This place is a ripoff!
posted by klausness at 1:15 PM on November 18, 2004

Hello everyone. Thanks for opening the floodgates long enough for me to sign up!
posted by J-Garr at 1:15 PM on November 18, 2004

Wow, eerie synchronicity, ..ooOO, on my question and your answer to livii. Now I see why you have that name.
posted by soyjoy at 1:17 PM on November 18, 2004

It's a gift.
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 1:21 PM on November 18, 2004

jonson, why do you hate Bill Cosby so much?
posted by boomchicka at 1:22 PM on November 18, 2004

Now I'm going to have to spend another five bucks to register "__________________" or maybe something in morse code.

THANKS A LOT SOYJOY.
posted by Kleptophoria! at 1:28 PM on November 18, 2004

From a completely nerd view, this thread and all the neat new names
reads a lot like Xmen #94 to yesterday's Xmen #93 (out-nerd THAT!)

(btw, ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. is fuckin splendid, and I also really like the parody ones)
posted by Peter H at 1:30 PM on November 18, 2004

*dirigibleman floats by*
posted by dirigibleman at 1:30 PM on November 18, 2004

I'm posting to tell Jewzilla he has the best new username of the bunch

not to mention, if you disagree with him you're an antisemite
posted by matteo at 1:32 PM on November 18, 2004

Hi, mathowie. Hi old MeFites. Hi new MeFites.

And an especially chirpy and vivacious HI! to MiguelCardoso.
posted by stinkeye at 1:33 PM on November 18, 2004

It's time to close the spigot!
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 1:35 PM on November 18, 2004

Oh my $deity. I'm in. I'm in. Wow. I don't know what to say. How ironic. Like everyone else here I've watched from under the grate for such a long while, enjoying so many threads, having so many things to say, and now... I've got nothing.

I thought I had cured myself of my addiction. I thought I was not clicking the 'New User' link daily. Yet today the gates opened, and I discovered it by a click.. and an eep.

Wow. MeFi. Hi.

MeFi. All your cute euphemisms, your geek culture overlords, your horribly cagey political trolls, your insightful and fascinating askme friends. Oh, hello. I've been stalking you, yes, stalking you. I use italics and improper grammar. I use parentheticals all the while (and I do it with a smile). Oh dear, this must be what letters to Ted Bundy and MC Hammer look like.

Hello world.

I almost have to wonder if turning new user signups off actually created a "cult of MeFites". Would these new members be so enthralled with their accounts if they could have had them easily? I doubt it...

For the record my morning brew consists of Slashdot, BoingBoing, Kuro5hin, and MetaFilter. To be honest BB and K5 tend to drift in and out of my readership, while the dot and the MeFi are always multiple refreshes. I am excited to see what the new group provides, this site, it almost, vibr--
posted by cavalier at 1:36 PM on November 18, 2004

Holy crap. I think I just saw a fnord.

Someone must have immunatized the echaton.
posted by papercake at 1:42 PM on November 18, 2004

No, I have the best username.

Especially because I hate everyone. Including and especially you.
posted by solid-one-love at 1:45 PM on November 18, 2004

A toast to the newbies.

With this stuff.

Worst. Beverage Name. Ever.
posted by jonmc at 1:50 PM on November 18, 2004

The influx of new members is making me so freakin' happy.
posted by Prospero at 1:52 PM on November 18, 2004

shazam, what's up?

thank god for a metafilter signup. a bright spot on an otherwise trying day.
posted by isthisthingon at 1:53 PM on November 18, 2004

mmm...speedowater : >
posted by amberglow at 1:53 PM on November 18, 2004

New girl checking in.

Like many others it seems that after champing at the bit for months to weigh in with my $5, I don't have anything to say. Except to respond to someone waaaaaaaay up there - I'm from Liverpool.

< insert scouse joke of choice here>>
posted by corvine at 2:02 PM on November 18, 2004

advocacy

n : active support; especially the act of pleading or arguing for something

Please note that there is nothing promoting advocacy in the link guidelines:

A good post to MetaFilter is something that meets the following criteria: most people haven't seen it before, there is something interesting about the content on the page, and it might warrant discussion from others.

Imagine if everyone posted "advocacy" links. The place would quickly go to hell. If you want to advocate, get your own blog.
posted by justgary at 2:03 PM on November 18, 2004

i'd just like to take this opportunity to complain that too many of the new users are not filling out their profiles and don't have personal websites. i get all excited over you n00bs, and want to learn more about you, and i get nothin'. haaaa-rrumph.
posted by t r a c y at 2:05 PM on November 18, 2004

Word up, t r a c y. You wacky kids are gettin a little somethinsomethin, and we old farts need a little somethinsomethin back, you dig?
posted by chicobangs at 2:16 PM on November 18, 2004

I want to thank all of you for getting me thru the election crap. Seriously, it was Jon Stewart and MetaFilter. This is the sanest, most reality based, articulate group of people I know of. I am really happy to be here, and promise to use my newfound posting ability only for good.

That said, w00t! :-)

Ditto on the "worst beverage name ever". The imagery is...

/shivers

-t
posted by -t at 2:19 PM on November 18, 2004

Hey!
Thanks Matt, been waiting awhile for this...
feel free to check out my site if you wanted tracy!
btw, this was my first internet purchase, so lets hope you will not be hearing the cautionary tale of how one more university student got caught up in the unfortunate web of credit card debt :(
posted by genevieve at 2:21 PM on November 18, 2004

There. I filled in more information.
Do I get a cookie?
posted by fnord at 2:23 PM on November 18, 2004

White, male, west coast, software engineer, ...
Hopefully the other new users will bring some diversity.
posted by yetanother at 2:25 PM on November 18, 2004

I pray that people have seen how he is one of, if not the worst people on this site about constantly making everything partisan advocacy.

Seth is a beady eyed grudge holder who, if he prays, prays like a Pharisee--insincerely and hypocritically. He is not for the site but rather against those individual members with whose politics he disagrees. He is all about personal attacks and personal vendettas and his concern for the site is a mere fig leaf pretending to cover his maggoty rancor.
posted by y2karl at 2:27 PM on November 18, 2004

*wakes up, checks thread, uses tips to buy beers for the house*

Welcome!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:31 PM on November 18, 2004

I'm curious as to how many veteran users took advantage of open registrations to "wipe the slate clean," as it were. Such as I have done.

Hallelujah I'm born again, gol durn it!
posted by Flem Snopes at 2:33 PM on November 18, 2004

*wakes up, checks thread, uses tips to buy beers for the house*

Except y2karl. He's had enough, and he's bringin' me down.

...


Oh, OK. A beer for y2karl, too! Everybody sing, everybody dance!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:34 PM on November 18, 2004

Very happy to be here in the blue with all of you.

You can expect a complete lack of consistency from this Hobgoblin. And a big thanks, Matt for opening up the doors.
posted by Hobgoblin at 2:46 PM on November 18, 2004

posted by ModestyBCatt at 3:32 AM PST on November 18
posted by terpsichoria at 4:27 AM PST on November 18
posted by corvine at 2:02 PM PST on November 18
posted by genevieve at 2:21 PM PST on November 18

look, look at the new girls. girls, girls, girls...!

*jumps up & down, acts like a girl*

i need a rest, this is too much excitement for me in one afternoon.
posted by t r a c y at 2:51 PM on November 18, 2004

I'm really tempted to register Mink Snopes. You'd best watch it, Flem.
posted by kenko at 2:52 PM on November 18, 2004

ain't nothing but a family thang, kenko
posted by Flem Snopes at 2:55 PM on November 18, 2004

Thank yuh very much, mathowie.

Sometimes, I get lonesome right in the middle of a crowd.
posted by Elvis Presley at 2:55 PM on November 18, 2004

Oh, no. No, no, no, no. More users --> more posting --> more time wasted reading Metafilter --> more online addiction threads in the Green. Run while you can!

(hello new people!)
posted by casarkos at 2:59 PM on November 18, 2004

I've read Metafilter for three years now. It's only been in the last year of reading Mefi that I've had the urge to register- and now, finally, I got the chance. Squeeeeeeeeeee!

I look forward to joining in on the conversation(s).
posted by kryptondog at 3:00 PM on November 18, 2004

Welcome people.
posted by bdave at 3:01 PM on November 18, 2004

Hey, there are two types of users--those that predate Anonymous AskMe and those who don't.
posted by grouse at 3:11 PM on November 18, 2004

t r a c y's complaint about empty user profiles has been heard. It's good advice. I imagine once we five-dollar-newbs get posting, people will be curious about us.

Also, can I coin a short-hand for this influx? 5DN? 5noobs? 5newbz? Five Dollar N00bz? $5N? Oh nevermind.

I'm now going to disappear from Metafilter for three days. I'll pretend it's because I'm going into the wilderness to prepare myself for FPP responsibilities, but it's really for a swim meet.
posted by Kleptophoria! at 3:25 PM on November 18, 2004

Good day 1.
Good Day all.
Paypal as always worked a treat.
posted by adamvasco at 3:27 PM on November 18, 2004

Hiiii everybody!

I consider it a freakin' miracle that "Kimberly" was available. And that probably made me happier than it should.
posted by Kimberly at 3:28 PM on November 18, 2004

Man, I leave the computer for a few hours and look what happens. This is the best MeTa thread in weeks... maybe EVAR! Welcome everybody (and a special noogie to the MoFites -- c'mere, petebest, you multifarious doofus! and quidnunc, fancy meeting you here!), and don't worry, you'll still get fresh towels even if you don't tip the wonderchicken. Watch the beak, though.

Seth, amberglow: can we pleeez keep political sniping out of this one thread? Thank you!
posted by languagehat at 3:28 PM on November 18, 2004

Kleptophoria!: You're a 17k-er. Unlike these fly by night real newbies like Kimberly and adamvasco. Learn to love your K. Unless you're really old, and you can just gloat about your C.
posted by seanyboy at 3:31 PM on November 18, 2004

insert scouse joke of choice here
So .... tempting .... must not betray .... party.
posted by Boris Johnson at 3:36 PM on November 18, 2004

You new people are almost as cool as us 14kers. ; >

and wait til you make enemies--then you'll know you've arrived.
posted by amberglow at 3:41 PM on November 18, 2004

Wow! I've been waiting a long time to sign up, and it only cost €3.97! Thanks Matt!
posted by daveirl at 3:42 PM on November 18, 2004

Rock on, seanyboy. Fourteen foreva.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 3:44 PM on November 18, 2004

Kleptophoria! - i just knew you were canadian. and there's even a new girl from winnipeg. i'm so happy *sniff*
posted by t r a c y at 3:47 PM on November 18, 2004

Wow, this is strange. I've been lurking for about two years and MeFi is still my favorite daily read. The entertainment and education I've gotten out of the site is worth much more than a measly five bucks. Glad to be here...finally. Thanks Matt!
posted by LeeJay at 3:48 PM on November 18, 2004

fnord and papercake, you might enjoy...

Oh and amberglow, ha, indeed. To those un-nutted, the kick in the nuts here is the best!

...It's really very very nice.
posted by Peter H at 3:48 PM on November 18, 2004

Also, can I coin a short-hand for this influx? 5DN? 5noobs? 5newbz? Five Dollar N00bz? $5N? Oh nevermind.

11/18/04 Nevar Forget!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:49 PM on November 18, 2004

Does anyone else think that the large amount of posts to MeTa (which most users don't normally read) from the new signups is a very good sign? And it does seem like we've gotten more women and more non-USAans, which is great! I'm so excited to see all these new people.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 3:54 PM on November 18, 2004

Long-time stalker reader, first time poster.
Hello all.
Thanks Matt for letting nooblood in.
posted by vapidave at 4:00 PM on November 18, 2004

Go Jets?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 4:01 PM on November 18, 2004

WELCOME ALL
posted by Peter H at 4:02 PM on November 18, 2004

bill cosby is dead?!
posted by quonsar at 4:08 PM on November 18, 2004

I'm curious as to how many veteran users took advantage of open registrations to "wipe the slate clean"

oh, I'm EB. I didn't mean to post as "kmellis"

Well, apparently EB is taking the opportunity to disappear and welch on paying off his lost bet...

;)
posted by rushmc at 4:10 PM on November 18, 2004

Hey Corvine!

[Checks user page to see where she is...]

Kent!?!

Oh the isolation continues...
posted by feelinglistless at 4:13 PM on November 18, 2004

Hello, MetaFilter. I am a shiny new user and I smell like lemons! So where do I go around here to post bundt cake recipes?
posted by Nedroid at 4:13 PM on November 18, 2004

I'm making the obligatory bow-and-scrape post...thanks, Matt. I missed the last sign-up window by a matter of minutes.

On preview, how do we make the text little?
posted by MrZero at 4:19 PM on November 18, 2004

On preview, how do we make the text little?

Run it by quonsar first.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 4:26 PM on November 18, 2004

On preview, how do we make the text little?

YOU DON'T (that feature is reserved for older members)
posted by eyeballkid at 4:33 PM on November 18, 2004

Nedroid, bundt cake recipes with semen frosting can be posted here, not sure where the semen-less versions are supposed to go.

MrZero, you make the text little by making it feel little by insulting it properly. Stupid little letters, useless without your gang of fellow letters, shrink, dammit, shrink! See? Magic!.
posted by fenriq at 4:40 PM on November 18, 2004

I'll add my (probably completely unnecessary) first post and thanks.

I've been reading for a few months and hopefully won't screw anything up now that I'm memberized. Right now, I'm in it for AskMe, which to me is the most interesting part of the whole thing.

Hopefully future posts won't be this content-free.
posted by flipper at 4:42 PM on November 18, 2004

like this

[small]stuffyouwantobesmall[/small]

change "[" to "< of coursebr>

equality for newbies!!!
posted by rooftop secrets at 4:42 PM on November 18, 2004

Gosh Toto, I don't think we're on 9622 anymore... hello everyone, it's lovely to be here!
And thanks, Chico, I owe you a beer or two ;)
posted by towerbrave at 4:42 PM on November 18, 2004

and that tag error on the end of course was not my fault
posted by rooftop secrets at 4:43 PM on November 18, 2004

I thought the text shrunk when it was cold out. or am I wrong?
posted by fnord at 4:43 PM on November 18, 2004

Wow, you NewFites are all so polite and enthusiastic! Not to worry, we've got your medicine right here.
posted by Scoo at 4:44 PM on November 18, 2004

in the fairness of equality,
BIG WORKS, too
posted by Peter H at 4:50 PM on November 18, 2004

wow. just.... wow. *deep breath* it's pretty nice in here. hi guys and gals. thanks, matt. (I'm seriously excited to get a membership, after watching through the window for this long.)
posted by exlotuseater at 4:59 PM on November 18, 2004

oooh...Quonsar is in da house...!!!

*swoons*
posted by ramix at 5:17 PM on November 18, 2004

Welcome on board, folks. It'll be interesting to see how this changes things and how long it takes for the dust to settle. Also, thanks to Matt for the fresh blood.
posted by Dzolali at 5:18 PM on November 18, 2004

Ohh man. I have been waiting for this for way too long, but now, like everyone else, I have nothing to say.
posted by Orrorin at 5:21 PM on November 18, 2004

like everyone else, I have nothing to say.

That's never stopped the rest of us, kid.
posted by eyeballkid at 5:22 PM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

If you want to advocate, get your own blog.

posted by justgary

BWAHAHAHA!

(P.S.: Hi Towerbrave!)
posted by Vidiot at 5:27 PM on November 18, 2004

It'll be interesting to see how this changes things and how long it takes for the dust to settle.

*looks at your user number* (tries to emote like the young folk)

It's not like we haven't been through this before a number of times. There's no reason to suspect that it won't proceed exactly the same this time as in previous openings. Bottom line is, the site gets better each time.
posted by rushmc at 5:28 PM on November 18, 2004

heh.

You're gonna regret this.
posted by wilful at 5:33 PM on November 18, 2004

Rock.

Long time listener, first time caller.

Worked for me as well; thanks, Matt!
posted by spinifex23 at 5:35 PM on November 18, 2004

Nah, rushmc, I'm still in denial. Give me a few more weeks.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:37 PM on November 18, 2004

I just wanted to come in here and tell you I'll be watching you...waiting...waiting for that first Triple Post, that query about the ".", the wondering why your post got deleted.

Oh yes, my young friends, I'm going to be your worst enemy. I'm going to be the one sitting behind you, waiting for you to hit that post button before doing a google search. I'll be ready for you. When you post with your sweaty palms, nervously hitting refresh over and over to see who's commented, it's me you'll think of with apprehension.

Then you'll discover how apathetic I am, and run roughshod all over the place like the rest of us do. But you need to earn that right, baby. You can't come in here and have it handed to you, sweetcheeks.

Though if you're seeing the posting box below me, I guess you just did have it handed to you. Look at you, you little minx. All logged in and raring to go. It's just too cute.
posted by Salmonberry at 5:40 PM on November 18, 2004

/me kicks Salmonberry in the head.
posted by loquacious at 5:42 PM on November 18, 2004

You're so off my Christmas e-card list, loquacious.
posted by Salmonberry at 5:47 PM on November 18, 2004

In an attempt to balance out the voices of the less-than-inspiring new members, I hereby offer a membership, on me, to 111, son_of_minya, neu, demo, test, bad commie, or insomnyuk.
posted by trharlan at 5:48 PM on November 18, 2004

So that's where I've been getting all that spam from, you bastard guy.
posted by loquacious at 5:49 PM on November 18, 2004

You know how after you've tried pushing the same button 500 times, and no matter what, it never works? Yeah, I thought that the new user button was like that. But I've seriously pushed it at least 500 times before. And it magically worked today.

I'm genuinely excited!
posted by stovenator at 5:50 PM on November 18, 2004

I AM EXCITED... about the house of God... fifty dollars or more... for the house of God!
posted by loquacious at 5:54 PM on November 18, 2004

This is such a wonderful surprise! Thanks Matt, for ironing out whatever kinks you needed to turn on the fun for the rest of us.
posted by szechuan at 6:18 PM on November 18, 2004

minya? is that you?
posted by quonsar at 6:19 PM on November 18, 2004

I pray that people have seen how he is one of, if not the worst people on this site about constantly making everything partisan advocacy.

*wanking motion*
posted by we heard you the first time, Seth at 6:26 PM on November 18, 2004

*wanking motion*
posted by we heard you the first time, Seth at 6:26 PM PST on November 18

Best user name ever!
posted by amberglow at 6:38 PM on November 18, 2004

Wake up. Check email. Shower. Check MeFi. Click the New User link just see. Scare the neighbors when I scream because OHMYGODITWORKS!

Seriously. Thanks, Matt.

MeFi is an interesting addiction. I like to pretend that I can quit whenever I want, when really, I just crave more and more and more. And now I've got it.
posted by asnowballschance at 6:49 PM on November 18, 2004

orange clock + MrZero = clockzero.
posted by kenko at 7:03 PM on November 18, 2004

Ack! I just got frightened by the rising white rectangle at the end of the post!

Happy!
posted by tinamonster at 7:06 PM on November 18, 2004

hey, we are all different people who happen to have a fondness for clocks or zeros or both
posted by clockzero at 7:07 PM on November 18, 2004

Oooh, an online community! This is going to be so much better than that OTHER community I'm supposed to be part of. Stupid town council with their stupid rules...

Anyway, I expect I'll be quite the productive contributor here! You see, I happen to get a number of links... each day.... from this, ah.... communal blog. (cough)

Damn
posted by deliquescent at 7:08 PM on November 18, 2004

I am earning my keep. I just spent that last hour reading this.

Glad to be hear...here, I mean, here.

I'm embarrassing myself.

(stop posting to yourself, you're trying to make friends..)


F#&$*#%&#*%&#*%CK!
posted by mic stand at 7:09 PM on November 18, 2004

I had always just thought that Tizzie was a member, but she just, you know, didn't say much around here.

Now, I'm not so sure I like her anymore. It kind of cheapens the whole Tizzie experience, you know?

Naah. Welcome, welcome to tizz and all the other wealthy newbies with five bucks to burn.

Now has anyone mentioned how we used to sneak in for free back in the day? No? Well ...
posted by yhbc at 7:15 PM on November 18, 2004 [1 favorite]

Kleptophoria!: You're a 17k-er.

Hey, easy on that 17k-er shite. Some of us are 17k-ers and have been here for over 2 years.

Christ, I was finally hoping to be considered amoung the older posters here, guess that's never going to happen
posted by psmealey at 7:20 PM on November 18, 2004

Surely I'm not the first to wonder when us n00bs get our complementary bucket of .... nevermind.
posted by blender at 7:22 PM on November 18, 2004

... and already we're dragging down the spelling quotient.
posted by blender at 7:25 PM on November 18, 2004

Guess my strategy of clicking on the "New User" link twice a day -- every day -- for the past two years *finally* paid off. Brilliant! (if I must say so myself)

Wasn't sure what to expect, but it has a similar feeling as to when you suddenly go from sitting at the kids' table to the grown-ups' table. (though I didn't have to pay my older brother $5.00USD to sit in his chair, I gladly would have if I it would finally get me away from my weird cousins).

As for posting: we'll be nice to them, if...they be nice to us. I swear. (my precious)

Props, Matt.
posted by hrbrmstr at 7:32 PM on November 18, 2004

Just want to say thanks for sending me to MoFi - it's feeling real comfy now. Oh, and



.
posted by fish tick at 7:34 PM on November 18, 2004

BAD SMELLING MAKE LOQZILLA ANGRY! LOQZILLA SMASH!




Seriously, please do use the spell checker. Or Google, or Dictionary.com. Don't abuse the punctuation. Grammar is your friend. Leave the IM and IRC-speak at home. And yeah, no one is perfect. Make an effort, at the least. It's just nicer to read and stuff.
posted by loquacious at 7:36 PM on November 18, 2004

This is seriously aggravating.

Two or three months ago I wrote a Bash shell script and put it in a cron job on my Linux box so that once an hour during daytime hours it would download the "New Users" page, grep for "Membership is again closed", and send me an email if it didn't find the phrase.

Apparently there was a bug in the program because instead of being the FIRST NEW USER I only discovered by accident tonight that membership was open when idly clicking on the link. Eh bien. Better here late than not at all.
posted by Creosote at 7:42 PM on November 18, 2004

I heard the pipes were calling.
posted by danny boy at 7:56 PM on November 18, 2004

bill cosby is dead?!

No, he's just on vacation on the moon.
posted by homunculus at 7:59 PM on November 18, 2004

Whee, a MeFi account of my very own!

One question though... what's up with the people who just post a single period? I don't get it.



...kidding! I'm just kidding! Please don't hurt me!
posted by The Pusher Robot at 8:13 PM on November 18, 2004

.
posted by SAC at 8:16 PM on November 18, 2004

Thanks Matt, The script worked great. Worth more than 5X the price for the entertainment that I have enjoyed reading this site. Special thanks to FFF and PP for keeping the hive agitated.
posted by white_devil at 8:16 PM on November 18, 2004

First post!

(Mine, anyway.) Hello all.
posted by aberrant at 8:17 PM on November 18, 2004

....but it has a similar feeling as to when you suddenly go from sitting at the kids' table to the grown-ups' table.
I hope it's not as disappointing as that was.

welcome, all of you. I can't wait for 7 days from now, and the tons of first posts from all of you. (but don't apologize, or cringe in them if you can help it.) : >
posted by amberglow at 8:27 PM on November 18, 2004

i am here. suffer my slings and arrows!
posted by kirstin at 8:39 PM on November 18, 2004

* suffers kirstin's slings and arrows after paying for her new mefi account *
posted by PrinceValium at 8:41 PM on November 18, 2004

I heard the pipes were calling.

Well, OK, call it want you want. We just say, "Oh, the heat's coming on. Good."

Anyway, I expect I'll be quite the productive contributor here! You see, I happen to get a number of links... each day.... from this, ah.... communal blog. (cough)

deliquescent, I know just what you mean (at least I think I do). I've been so entertained and just plain tickled by this thread (it's not often that we get so many joyous comments in one) I wanted to share it with someone. But I'm going through the people I might tell about it and none of them will get why it's such a big deal. But then I think of just who would love to hear about something like this. That, um, you know, that site that I post fun things at sometimes when I come across them... oh yeah...
posted by soyjoy at 8:52 PM on November 18, 2004

What does this big red button do?
posted by mek at 8:58 PM on November 18, 2004

* tests the springs *

* looks around *

* jumps on bed *

:)
posted by felix betachat at 8:59 PM on November 18, 2004

I can't wait for the hazing to start.

Mostly because there are like 400 people in front of me in line and those paddling arms will be mighty tired by the time I'm up.
posted by Endymion at 9:02 PM on November 18, 2004

Per t r a c y's request, I've also added some more info to my profile ...
posted by rfs at 9:11 PM on November 18, 2004

Hello, world.
posted by howling fantods at 9:26 PM on November 18, 2004

soyjoy, it's not quite what I meant, but I certainly understand it. I was actually referring to my own progression - the first thing I wanted to do was to put together the beginnings of a kick-rear post. It should be easy! I'm always coming across fantastic/interesting/fun links!

And then the realization: I get the vast majority of those links, well, here. Or from sites that I learned about here (boingboing is a good example). Or from sites I already knew about that are often referenced here (ah, waxy). So how do I contribute?

No, no - shed no tears for this noob: I think I've figured the secret (starts with "re" ends with "search"). Just a funny process to go through.
posted by deliquescent at 9:32 PM on November 18, 2004

posted by we heard you the first time, Seth

Best user name ever!

No, actually it isn't. There's enough interpersonal venom here as it is; we don't need to recruit new troops to add to it.
posted by rushmc at 9:35 PM on November 18, 2004

wow. hello everybody.
posted by muckster at 9:55 PM on November 18, 2004

thanks, matt!
posted by gubo at 10:12 PM on November 18, 2004

So here's a funny story.

I've been an avid MetaFilter reader since late '01, but i'd checked in occasionally a bit before that. I don't know when your new user signups stopped, but somewhere along the way i started to really want an account here. When the limited signups started a while back i'd try to get one at the set time, but i never got through.

Anyway, i check in today, and lo and behold, the new user signups have started. I find my visa card, and i'm all excited to finally get to post here, when i get an error: "your username already exists".

Turns out, i signed up three years ago.

Shit.
posted by svenni at 10:13 PM on November 18, 2004

Two or three months ago I wrote a Bash shell script and put it in a cron job on my Linux box so that once an hour during daytime hours it would download the "New Users" page, grep for "Membership is again closed", and send me an email if it didn't find the phrase.

Sure wish I'd thought of that "daytime hours" thing...I got paged at 4:05 AM last night by my cron job.
posted by jewzilla at 10:21 PM on November 18, 2004

crystalline blobs of liquid joy!!! I'm real. I touch my head, heart and arms and feel 20,000 freckles there for the rubbing. hello to all of my vicarious friends, I've been watching you for years, but now...

I'M IN!
posted by crystal.castles at 10:44 PM on November 18, 2004

*stretches, yawns, scratches balls*
posted by quonsar at 10:52 PM on November 18, 2004

Chipping in with thanks for the open MetaGates! Name's Aquaman, lurking since 2000, trying to join weekly since 2003.

For the record, I would have paid up to $40 to join. Damn this site is good!
posted by Aquaman at 10:52 PM on November 18, 2004

Finally, after getting stuck in the bottleneck of the last several signups! Been avidly reading since 2000, but couldn't get through a single opening. So many threads I have wanted to comment on for so long...

Thanks, Matt!
posted by kaseijin at 11:07 PM on November 18, 2004

That big, red, candy-colored button?
posted by mwhybark at 11:31 PM on November 18, 2004

Turns out, i signed up three years ago.

Hee hee. Shit like that happens to me all the damn time. Generally indicates that I've picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue. Again.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:34 PM on November 18, 2004

Sweet Jebus, this means I can start arguing with everybody. And then get beaten with the collective might of you established ladies and gents. So I'll just duck down, and be mighty silent, until I can TAKE OVER MEFI. Or something.

Thanks Matt, this is awesome.
posted by NoamChomskyStoleMyFace at 1:22 AM on November 19, 2004

If there's a group hug, can i be in the middle?


Oh... and if there's a hazing ritual, i'll have the purple one, prettyplease with a pony on top; I prefer the bruises to not show.

The paypal option worked for me because they accept CC#'s if you have no paypal account. The option also worked for me because i know one person who was willing to use a credit card online and lend me the 5 bux. This is the first time i've ever wanted to spend money online; i've never had a credit card (and am a real grownup.. honest). My moneylender will no doubt become usurious, but what the hell can he do.. write to the boss and get my membership revoked if i don't pay up?

Thanks for the opportunity to join Metafilter and to become a deadbeat in the same week.
posted by reflecked at 2:01 AM on November 19, 2004

I have to say that after having lurked on MeFi for a year and having had to literally bounce about in frustration because I *really* *really* wanted to say something in a comment but I didn't have a voice, it's so great to finally have a MeFi login.

On the other hand, having been forcibly mute for a year does teach you patience. So many times, I've been composing sarky comments in my head, knowing that I wouldn't get to say them to anyone - and then three posts later someone has already said exactly the same thing, only much better than I could ever have phrased it.

But anyway - OMG! I can't believe I finally got a MeFi login! Yay!

(Sorry. I'm not usually this hyper. But this is ridiculously exciting for me. I really should calm down now and go take some dried frog pills.)
posted by talitha_kumi at 3:16 AM on November 19, 2004

Now, I'm not so sure I like her anymore. It kind of cheapens the whole Tizzie experience, you know?

Oh, right, like it could get any cheaper! Heehee - thanks, Commish!
posted by tizzie at 3:43 AM on November 19, 2004

*smooches tiz*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:23 AM on November 19, 2004

...yet another delighted long time reader sneaks in...
posted by James_in_London at 5:14 AM on November 19, 2004

Hiya, tizzie!
posted by Vidiot at 5:35 AM on November 19, 2004

dried frog pills? WTF?
posted by caution live frogs at 6:20 AM on November 19, 2004

posted by we heard you the first time, Seth at 6:26 PM PST on November 18

Best user name ever!
posted by amberglow at 6:38 PM PST on November 18

which says a lot about both of you.
posted by andrew cooke at 6:31 AM on November 19, 2004

Hello all! Nearly 2 dollars to the pound... yum. Good time for us Brits to signup.
posted by altolinguistic at 6:47 AM on November 19, 2004

altolinguistic: Since you don't have any contact information on your user page (cough, cough), I'm forced to ask this here: does your handle indicate an interest in linguistics? Feel free to e-mail me at the address conveniently posted on my user page.
posted by languagehat at 6:57 AM on November 19, 2004

Hey all. I've been lurking here for a while and jumped at the opportunity to join.

Just in case the dozens of PayPal affirmations weren't enough it worked for me.
posted by srburns at 7:00 AM on November 19, 2004

Been standing outside the gates for awhile, thanks for letting us in.
posted by safetyfork at 7:10 AM on November 19, 2004

Yay! I can finally post!
posted by debgpi at 7:10 AM on November 19, 2004

Wow, you go out drinking for two days and look what happens.

Welcome all new people.
posted by squealy at 10:20 AM on November 19, 2004

First post!

Well, first post by this user anyway :)
posted by subverted at 10:44 AM on November 19, 2004

Let's see:
1. Charge $5 a head
2. Sign up 1500 in 36/hrs
3. ???

Did I do that right?

Welcome everybody.
posted by rschroed at 1:02 PM on November 19, 2004

Oh, the sweetness! Finally, finally, finally, I can post! :)

Just one more Canadian ex-evangelical-Christian atheist chick in Toronto joining the crowd, after about three years of missing every brief glimpse of new-user sign-ins. :)

Note to languagehat: 3rd year linguistics undergrad, right here!
posted by heatherann at 2:23 PM on November 19, 2004

Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good, I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, I got you

Whoa! I feel nice, like sugar and spice
I feel nice, like sugar and spice
So nice, so nice, I got you . . .

Yippee!
posted by Jim Jones at 3:17 PM on November 19, 2004

[Just testing...]
-h
posted by hoyab at 4:57 PM on November 19, 2004

Thanks!! Is great to join you guys.
posted by stereoworld at 4:59 PM on November 19, 2004

Finally :)
I've only been reading the site for 3 years...
posted by doctor_negative at 5:40 PM on November 19, 2004

Dude... jpoulos jokingly told me to fuck off upthread! That is teh rad.
posted by the_bone at 7:17 PM on November 19, 2004

caution live frogs - dried frog pills are an ancient remedy. Very effective. Or something.

and the_bone is teh_rad.
posted by jb at 8:49 PM on November 19, 2004

Yippee!

Four-year lurker here (never got around to signing up when it was open enrollment, and missed the previous windows). Now, Matt, don't go spending all of my $5 in one place...
posted by The Hidden Life of Lint at 9:11 PM on November 19, 2004

Thanks Matt.
I've been waiting for this since a long time.
I hope i won't say too many stupid things with my bad english.
posted by gatsugatsu at 1:40 AM on November 20, 2004

*Wipes two years of built up smudge on glass. Takes a breath. Walks in.*
posted by Physics Package at 3:10 AM on November 20, 2004

Long time reader!

And boy, am I glad to be in here. It's not so much the joy in being able to screw up my first FPP. Oh no, that will come with time.

But it IS the sheer joy of being able to COMMENT at will on other newbie's screwed up FPPs!

*sighs. sips coffee contentedly.*

It's a good day.
posted by bookmobile at 7:19 AM on November 20, 2004

I suppose I was lucky, being introduced by lowlife less than a year ago. It's great to finally have the opportunity to respond to all the monstrous drivel here with hand-picked, polished, organic drivel of my own.
posted by scruss at 8:53 AM on November 20, 2004

An extra-special welcome to heatherann: I need all the help I can get discussing language with this crowd.

gatsugatsu: I think Matt had you in mind when he put the box for "What's the deal with your nickname?" Please explain for us curious types who get very very frustrated when we can't understand words!
posted by languagehat at 1:05 PM on November 20, 2004

[Quick Raoul, think of something dramatic to say...]
Brothers, Sisters, Comrades, Friends, I greet you.
[Ok, now that was just pretentious.]
posted by comraderaoul at 7:20 PM on November 20, 2004

Hey, everybody I'm back from my sister's wed-

WHAT THE HOLY MOTHER OF THE DOUBLE-BREASTED GOD HAS BEEN GOING ON IN HERE?
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 3:04 PM on November 21, 2004

Well, I didn't expect this window still to be open after taking a three day break. Glad it was. There goes me using "I've never paid for it."
posted by tellurian at 7:28 PM on November 21, 2004

Hi - just joined - I've been waiting for about 18 months for the signups to come back online!
posted by kenchie at 3:47 AM on November 22, 2004

another long-time lurker. i can't recall the number of times i felt an agonizing need to respond to this or that comment. $5 is not a bad deal for a mouth.
posted by ori at 11:06 AM on November 22, 2004

Hello everyone, me be stinkycheese. Long time lurker, first time poster.
posted by stinkycheese at 2:39 PM on November 22, 2004

I feel cleansed, refreshed and downright sparkly -- at last, at long last. Thanks, Matt.
posted by desdemona at 7:50 PM on November 22, 2004

All that time patiently waiting for the timing to be right have finally paid off. Yes! I couldn't have clicked that paypal link fast enough. Cheers, everyone.
posted by nuala at 9:39 PM on November 23, 2004

First time I appreciate credit cards. Finally I get to see MeFi on the inside, but somehow I thought it would be more jazzy. Two years is a long wait. ah well, I'll wait for the design contest :)
posted by dhruva at 10:15 PM on November 24, 2004

Created an account a few days ago, just noticed this thread. I'm glad to finally have an account, someday I might even be able to post to the front page...
posted by dirvish at 10:30 PM on November 29, 2004