Metafilter By Committee?

January 30, 2006 5:25 AM

MeFi Committees: A Proposal (MI, This could get long and messy)
posted by wheelieman to Feature Requests at 5:25 AM (59 comments total)

(Please compose your MI before posting.)
posted by Plutor at 5:30 AM on January 30, 2006

It has come to my attention that the hierarchy of this place is not even. We only have two people controlling about 12,000 members and that can get daunting and long. So I propose that a few brave MeFite volunteers step up and help run the site as far as enforcing the rules. Matt will always be the moneychanger and the webmaster and I don't want this to change. However, he is always getting asked to write FAQs and boot people off the island. I say why don't we have a few committees in which the selected members get to make the decisions?
Examples:

AskMe Committee: where eyebrow raising questions get discussed.

MeTa Thread Watch: Keeping the discussions civil and not get turned to drama (queen.)



I know flags are in place for those but Matt is just 1 guy with a life and a beautiful family and I dont want him to stay on here trying to control stuff. The Subcommittees would write out a report, send it to either Matt or Jess and they would act accordingly.

Commentary is welcome and needed and if this has been posted before, sorry!
posted by wheelieman at 5:41 AM on January 30, 2006

Also I never learned to write MI ahead of time. Will do next time.
posted by wheelieman at 5:43 AM on January 30, 2006

You operate under the assumption that Matt hates this place and it's a huge burden to him. I highly doubt that, if only for the reason that it's what allowed him to quit his job and stay home in the first place (and I don't think that's the only reason he likes it, either).

You don't hate us Matt, do you? Do you?!?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:48 AM on January 30, 2006 [1 favorite]

Isn't Jessamyn's role evidence that Matt is already comfortable doling out authority when he thinks it will help?
posted by popechunk at 5:49 AM on January 30, 2006

Delete or close this if needed.
posted by wheelieman at 5:57 AM on January 30, 2006

I think this post is clearly within the jurisdiction of CRAP.
posted by rxrfrx at 6:11 AM on January 30, 2006

You know the wiki really could help be some of these things, at least be really good supporting documentation for users, summaries of complicated topics, notations of new rules and guidelines, but no one uses it that way. Flags seem to really be helping both to highlight notable posts as well as to keep an eye out for something that has gone wrong that mathowie or I haven't noticed. I guess my question is: what problem are you trying to solve?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:26 AM on January 30, 2006

fandango_matt: "Well, what does the the Committee for Reviewing All Posts think?"

[] Bad idea, leave thread open for hilarious snarks.
posted by Plutor at 6:28 AM on January 30, 2006

I'm sure Matt will come up with something to solve whatever it is you are trying to solve when he feels he has to.

Let there be snarks *grabs popcorn*
posted by keijo at 6:34 AM on January 30, 2006

I really don't see the point of creating a further hierarchy. I like that there is a sense of equality among a majority of the members, with only two individuals who are fairminded and trustworthy enough not to be pretty or hold grudges.

I don't want to see MeFi turned into a beuracracy, with comittees, subcomittes, etc.
posted by piratebowling at 6:46 AM on January 30, 2006

Popechunk is right, in terms of realpolitik around here. However, if there were committees, I'd like to work on AskMe.
posted by By The Grace of God at 6:48 AM on January 30, 2006

I'm pretty and hold grudges.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 6:49 AM on January 30, 2006

I nominate the acronym POOP
Perpetual Obsession Over Posting
posted by lobstah at 6:57 AM on January 30, 2006

Let's keep it simple. It actually works.
posted by Miko at 6:57 AM on January 30, 2006

Matt and Jessamyn are pretty reasonable if you talk with them. The more prominent posters around here are happily swayed by good ideas and sound logic. If you want to effect change, or help keep the place tidy, you can easily do so with quality posting and flagging.

AskMe works wonderfully as is - it's simultaneously incredibly useful without taking itself 100% seriously which leads to posturing.

MetaTalk is great because there is always going to be drama queenery in a community of this size no matter what you do. If you try to contain it too much it will explode all over the site. This subsection is a colossal angstsink for the site and it's loads of fun for those of us who enjoy that sort of thing.

Metafilter as a whole is working great as it is right now. I can't recall a time when I've seen the site better than in the time period between the stability fix and now. Deletions are down, awesome posts are up, drama is at precisely the right level to keep us entertained without setting everyone at each others' throats. Like Jessamyn said - what problem are you trying to fix?

My mouth tastes like semen :(
posted by Ryvar at 7:02 AM on January 30, 2006

I, too, think that a lot of the worthless crap should be more aggressively deleted. However, forming committees (mein Gott!) is possibly the worst way of getting anything done at all, let alone the kind of swift and decisive action that the many aspiring quonsars deserve.

This is a bad proposal. If Matt feels like he needs a third person to help keep up with the deletion of worthless crap, he'll scare somebody up.
posted by majick at 7:02 AM on January 30, 2006

Wheelieman, you have offended the tribe. Your fate has been sealed. The elder shamen have declared that for this offense you shall die. But our people are a compasisonate one, and you may choose the method of your demise. The choices are twofold: Ooga-Booga, or Death By Committee.
posted by mds35 at 7:02 AM on January 30, 2006

Ryvar's just siezed the coveted Fluffer position.

Can I be in charge of funerals?
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:12 AM on January 30, 2006

Some people call it a grudge, some people call it my penis.
posted by OmieWise at 7:13 AM on January 30, 2006

When you have a problem that you don't really want to solve, form a committee.
posted by caddis at 7:19 AM on January 30, 2006

Of course, we need a committee to see if we have a problem.
posted by caddis at 7:19 AM on January 30, 2006

Let's form a committee to select members for the committee looking into whether we have a problem.
posted by caddis at 7:20 AM on January 30, 2006

Oh, CRAP.
posted by caddis at 7:20 AM on January 30, 2006

Ryvar's just siezed the coveted Fluffer position.

Which is hilarious given my only sock puppet, isn't it?
posted by Ryvar at 7:21 AM on January 30, 2006

" The more prominent posters around here are happily swayed by good ideas and sound logic."

Heh.
posted by klangklangston at 7:28 AM on January 30, 2006

Yeah that was the only part of my little screed I wasn't too sure about.
posted by Ryvar at 7:31 AM on January 30, 2006

Filibuster + Deliberate = De-fibrillate

I just actually used the spell-checker for the first time. Awesome.
posted by cortex at 8:03 AM on January 30, 2006

I admit I've been lurking here for six years, and spend a diporportionate amount of time logged in, but, c'mon on--this shit ain't real life. It's just a website.

So, there are a couple of inflammitory posters--big deal. People repost to correct their typos--big whup. An FPP ain't up to your standards--tough shit. The occasional double is just a double. Skip it and move on. You aren't paying taxes here, no one is restricting your liberties here, no human rights are being violated. It's just a place we generally enjoy--sometimes more than other times.

Haven't you got a gig to play, a dog to walk, a garden to tend to or something?
posted by sourwookie at 8:45 AM on January 30, 2006

a committee won't happen ... the cabal wouldn't like it
posted by pyramid termite at 9:22 AM on January 30, 2006

This is a really bad idea, I think you need a coffee with lots of sugar, and a cigarette, because your brain appears to be going soft.

I like benevolent dictatorships.

...and our overseers are decent and kind and nice and perfect and so on and so on and so on
posted by gsb at 9:24 AM on January 30, 2006

Translation: "ops pls"
posted by nomad at 9:32 AM on January 30, 2006

What is it with lefties and committees?
posted by keswick at 9:43 AM on January 30, 2006

Translation: "ops pls"

No wai!@ STFU N00B!
posted by loquacious at 10:41 AM on January 30, 2006

Isn't this already within the jurisdiction of the Group Of All Trusted Site Experts?
posted by brain_drain at 11:29 AM on January 30, 2006

THere is yet another acronym that would solve all administrative complaints: GYOB
posted by Cranberry at 11:38 AM on January 30, 2006

Rats, Word always fixes those second capitals.
posted by Cranberry at 11:38 AM on January 30, 2006

I consider myself a lefty but I don't see any need for no steenkin' committee here. I agree with GSB.
posted by Lynsey at 11:46 AM on January 30, 2006

None of us is as dumb as all of us.
posted by fochsenhirt at 12:30 PM on January 30, 2006

So, a majority of votes for: there is no Cabal Committee
posted by Rothko at 12:51 PM on January 30, 2006

I know flags are in place for those

Flags are fun. I like to flag posts because I think drop-down boxes rock!
posted by wakko at 1:01 PM on January 30, 2006

None of us is as dumb as all of us. - fochsenhirt

The truth hurts.
posted by raedyn at 1:18 PM on January 30, 2006

I'd rather just wait for ajax powered flags. people will more more motivated to flag if it doesn't distract from the flow.
posted by furtive at 2:31 PM on January 30, 2006

You could have just emailed matt with your thoughts, you know.
posted by delmoi at 2:41 PM on January 30, 2006

I've tried that. After the first couple hundred, though, he just filed for a restraining order.
posted by cortex at 2:52 PM on January 30, 2006

I think this is a fantastic idea.

I nominate myself as chair.

Seconds?

Thanks, all in favour?

Great.

You're all banninated! Now get the fuck out of my site.

(Furiously writes report.)
posted by The Monkey at 3:55 PM on January 30, 2006

someone wake me when the coup d'etat begins.
posted by quonsar at 4:05 PM on January 30, 2006

I wouldn't mind a committee on reducing unnecessary bureaucracy around here.
posted by scarabic at 4:31 PM on January 30, 2006

Pssst, quonsar. Look up, you already missed it.
posted by deborah at 5:40 PM on January 30, 2006

I think there is a misunderstanding happening here. I don't think the post is being received the way it is intended. If I may, I'd like to offer a translation so that people better understand the proposition as it stands:

mathowie and jessamyn are not banning the people I don't like! They're also not deleting all the comments I don't like! Waaah!
posted by shmegegge at 5:49 PM on January 30, 2006

hmm. Actualy, while I think comitties are a bad idea, how about we give us all offical sounding titles?
posted by delmoi at 7:03 PM on January 30, 2006

I nominate myself six star general captain king, captain of all kings and lesser-star generals.
posted by nomad at 7:30 PM on January 30, 2006

First comes the committee ... then a salary (in order that they not be tempted by bribes) .... then they vote themselves health care ... then, in order to deal with the tax and health care paper work, .... YOUNG SEXY INTERNS!
posted by R. Mutt at 7:40 PM on January 30, 2006

I elect myself MeFi Toilet Monitor, and I want epaulets!
posted by gsb at 1:40 AM on January 31, 2006

I elect myself MeFi Toilet Monitor, and I want epaulets! - gsb

So, it's you I tip for toilet paper?
posted by raedyn at 6:22 AM on January 31, 2006

I nominate Afroblanco and nomad as co-chairmen of the Greedy Committee.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:43 AM on January 31, 2006

I have long been Grand Kaimakam and Hospodar of Upper and Lower Blogovia. Suck it, commoners!
posted by languagehat at 7:46 AM on January 31, 2006

YOU just want to have more POWER wheelieman and you're only proposing it because SECRETLY IN YOUR HEART you want to be in CONTROL of metafilter so you can USE it to send POWERFUL MIND CONTROL RAYS into our BRAINS.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:44 PM on January 31, 2006

*Furiously hammers gavel on table.*

This meeting is adjourned motherfuckers!

*Takes gavel and walks out.*

*Turns off microphones.*
posted by The Monkey at 4:12 PM on January 31, 2006