Coming soon to a city near you? February 5, 2011 4:17 AM   Subscribe

Would it be possible to make the "location" section a link to a list of MeFites nearby?

Similar to the new birthday feature, I was wondering if it would be possible to be able to see users who have the same town/area listed as their location. As someone who just recently moved to a new country, I was hoping to see if there were any users in my 'hood. (apologies.)

If this is something that is already somehow possible, I'm sorry that I'm slow.
posted by karminai to Feature Requests at 4:17 AM (39 comments total)

In order to ensure doublehappy doesn't accidentally go after the wrong person (and because profile photos tend to be quite small), perhaps this feature would be best if it also listed the user's full address, a photo of their house with driving directions, and a list of all occupants? Just an idea.
posted by gman at 5:28 AM on February 5, 2011


I have an attack bird. Just a warning.
posted by Splunge at 5:41 AM on February 5, 2011 [1 favorite]


If a map did get auto generated that shows a route from one person who listed coordinates on their userinfo page to another, can it have some animation like those maps when Indiana Jones is traveling?
posted by cashman at 5:46 AM on February 5, 2011


If you click on my coordinates in my profile, you will see a Google street image of my actual condo window. I'll go stand by it and wave to you. Ready? Go!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 5:52 AM on February 5, 2011


We need a Marauders' Map that shows everyone's footprints wandering around.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:18 AM on February 5, 2011 [7 favorites]


We should all get MeFi GPS chips, then we could just find the nearest member to a Supermarket when we need milk.
posted by arcticseal at 6:26 AM on February 5, 2011


KevinSkomsvold writes "I'll go stand by it and wave to you. Ready? Go!"

Geeez KevinSkomsvold, when you wave at people use your whole hand.
posted by Mitheral at 6:41 AM on February 5, 2011 [1 favorite]


Sorry, that was for my surly neighbor.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:42 AM on February 5, 2011


My apartment got molotov cocktailed once. The apartment didn't catch fire and no one was caught. Every once in a while I wonder if it was someone I pissed off on MetaFilter. Admittedly, that seems unlikely.
posted by Kattullus at 7:53 AM on February 5, 2011 [1 favorite]


We have the opposite problem in Chicago. Rather than people coming in, looking for the meet-up and not knowing who to approach, we have the Meet-Up, terrifying random people coming in for a drink by shouting "Hey Internet Guy! Meet-ups over here!"
posted by crush-onastick at 8:01 AM on February 5, 2011 [1 favorite]


^!%@^!%@^^&^(*#@ dual-window reading/posting
posted by crush-onastick at 8:09 AM on February 5, 2011


I have purposefully fuzzed my GPS coordinate to be a ways off in a certain direction. It's still honest-ish, but it's also far enough off that I feel OK exposing it to everyone here.

One thing I found interesting is that I have met many LA-area Mefites, but almost none of them are among the nearest of my "nearby" list.
posted by fake at 8:35 AM on February 5, 2011


Just for the record, setting your coordinates isn't as hard as it once was. We have a nifty form where you type the name of your city, verify it on a map, and click 'set'. You don't even have to get your hands dirty with longitudes or latitudes these days.

And if you'd like to browse member locations in Google Earth, there's the MetaFilter KML File (instructions).
posted by pb (staff) at 8:40 AM on February 5, 2011


other Chicago dangers include being accosted on the street by a roaming gang of karaoke-bound Mefites
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:41 AM on February 5, 2011 [1 favorite]


I entered my coordinates to 5 decimal places, was dismayed to see my address pop up, and went with the zip code instead.
posted by Bruce H. at 9:10 AM on February 5, 2011


There are 10 people within three miles of me.

Oh Lord. I've probably passed them in Sainsbury's. How disturbing.
posted by Decani at 10:51 AM on February 5, 2011


Oh Lord. I've probably passed them in Sainsbury's. How disturbing.

This is why I'm backing the Mefite Registation Act. Badges and everything. It'll help when we build the Sentinels.
posted by The Whelk at 11:21 AM on February 5, 2011 [6 favorites]


Whoa, there's actually three people "zero" miles away. Creepy.

The call is coming from inside the house!
posted by octobersurprise at 2:31 PM on February 5, 2011


Considering it seems every time I click on a username to find out where someone is to help answer an AskMe with relevant information there's absolutely nothing listed, it is a pretty incomplete list. I understand why people may not want to put their complete address into their profile but not at least their city? or state/province? or country?

Whoa, there's actually three people "zero" miles away. Creepy.
The other person zero miles from me must also live on the Star of India.
posted by birdherder at 5:04 PM on February 5, 2011


Whoa, there's actually three people "zero" miles away. Creepy.

That noise in the attic? Yeah, that's not squirrels.
posted by arcticseal at 5:31 PM on February 5, 2011 [2 favorites]


>I understand why people may not want to put their complete address into their profile but not at least their city? or state/province? or country?

I can't imagine why any sane person would include their street address. But if you want to retain some anonymity, listing that you live in Albuquerque or Saint Paul or Walla Walla (or Idaho or South Dakota) is going to make you much more identifiable.
posted by J. Wilson at 6:24 PM on February 5, 2011


Two people live within three miles of me, one of whom lives in the middle of a lake. Should I worry that my neighbour is the Creature from the Black Lagoon?
posted by deborah at 7:04 PM on February 5, 2011


The MeFite was IN THE HOUSE!
posted by bluedaisy at 7:35 PM on February 5, 2011 [1 favorite]


Two people live within three miles of me, one of whom lives in the middle of a lake.

Oh, that's jessamyn.
posted by maryr at 7:46 PM on February 5, 2011


I'm right here guys. I mean, anytime, just holler. Over here.

hi aquaman.
posted by GuyZero at 9:30 PM on February 5, 2011


Now everyone knows that I haunt city hall. Dammit.
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:37 PM on February 5, 2011


Also-- WTF THERE ARE 800 MEFITES IN PHILADELPHIA!?

Why aren't we, like, rioting or going on ice cream dates!?
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:39 PM on February 5, 2011 [1 favorite]


Also, 800 MEFITES is a telephone number, according to my iPhone. Please make it a working number. Thanks!
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:41 PM on February 5, 2011 [2 favorites]


Interesting, according to the kml file there are other four Chileans here in MeFi.

Of course, all of them live more than 400km away from me. *shakes fist*
posted by Memo at 5:46 AM on February 6, 2011


I'm standing on a green patch in central Southampton together with two invisible mefites
posted by Namlit at 6:07 AM on February 6, 2011


There are quite a few of us who live in lakes. Perhaps we should form a Society.
posted by catlet at 7:31 AM on February 6, 2011


And hand out swords?
posted by The Whelk at 7:39 AM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


My profile lists several other members as living within "0" miles of me -- I am not sure if they're disguised as my cats, or my mailman, or what.
posted by theredpen at 8:14 AM on February 6, 2011


they are inside of you always.
posted by The Whelk at 8:18 AM on February 6, 2011


Then they need to start chipping in with the housework.
posted by theredpen at 8:42 AM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


they are inside of you always
Is that the true reason why this thread was killed? Oh man, I don't wanna know.
posted by Namlit at 8:46 AM on February 6, 2011


Let it be known, Cortex is Pro-fart.
posted by The Whelk at 8:50 AM on February 6, 2011


Memo: "Interesting, according to the kml file there are other four Chileans here in MeFi.

Of course, all of them live more than 400km away from me. *shakes fist
"

That's what you guys get for hogging half of the coast.
posted by Splunge at 10:13 AM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


Interesting, according to the kml file there are other four Chileans here in MeFi.

How far underground are they?
posted by terrapin at 1:29 PM on February 7, 2011


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