One of a Numer, Part of a Whole June 15, 2011 8:12 AM   Subscribe

Pony Request: Can we have a reissue of the MetaFilter jerseys which featured the user numbers on back? Some of us missed out the first time around, and it'd be nice to include the newcomers...
posted by Smart Dalek to MetaFilter-Related at 8:12 AM (119 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite

I concur.
posted by The Whelk at 8:14 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Me too.
posted by Rory Marinich at 8:15 AM on June 15, 2011


If I recall right, this is kind of a non-starter because there's no cheap, non-labor-intensive to do one-off prints like that at a small scale.

With the t-shirts we've done more recently it's been a big print run of one or a handful of static designs, which has been manageable with good quality shirts and printing at a reasonable price. If someone knows an actual rock-solid source for making quality customized jerseys happen in a comparable fashion, that's one thing, but it hasn't happened in the last couple of t-shirt discussions we've had as far as I can recall. I think that's really the key sticking point: finding an affordable, not total-pain-in-the-ass way to produce these at an acceptable quality level.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:19 AM on June 15, 2011


We can't require a month long stint in the sweatshop before people can make an FPP?


I thought you people were supposed to be clever.
posted by The Whelk at 8:20 AM on June 15, 2011 [12 favorites]


Jerseys. Hmph.

Anyway, this would be easy to do on Zazzle, if you make the basic artwork/layout available and let people put the number on themselves.
posted by Wolfdog at 8:23 AM on June 15, 2011


Well since that got squashed, when's the next t-shirt batch for sale?
posted by cashman at 8:23 AM on June 15, 2011


I mean, let me be clear: I think jerseys coming back around would be keen, and maybe someone does in fact have a brilliant plan. We just don't know of said brilliant plan right now, which is the problem and without which it's probably not doable.

Get brillianting, people.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:25 AM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


My blue MetaFilter softball jersey with my original username and number on the back has now faded completely to grey, which is a neat metaphor.
posted by Curious Artificer at 8:29 AM on June 15, 2011 [13 favorites]


when's the next t-shirt batch for sale?

Can it be new Design Time?
posted by The Whelk at 8:30 AM on June 15, 2011


Anyone have link to one of these jerseys? I'm interested in that they looked like.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:31 AM on June 15, 2011


I don't know about any old jerseys, all I found on searching was something about a new jersey.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:34 AM on June 15, 2011


ear
posted by clavdivs at 8:35 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Those shirts are pretty swanky.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:39 AM on June 15, 2011


Oh, WANT.

crawls off into corner and mewls softly
posted by likeso at 8:39 AM on June 15, 2011


At the risk of asking a stupid question, how does one find out one's user number?
posted by cooker girl at 8:41 AM on June 15, 2011


Can we initiate random kidnapping of members in the middle of the night in order to sedate and tattoo them with their user number?

Or maybe RFID is the way to go?
posted by ODiV at 8:41 AM on June 15, 2011


Actually, looking at Matt's description of how it was down, perhaps he could mention where it was done and provide the graphic files and fonts? Spreadshirt does this, don't know if they have a baseball jersey.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:44 AM on June 15, 2011


Put your cursor on top of your user name, cooker girl, and look at the title bar at the bottom of the screen. Your user number is 57855.
posted by Curious Artificer at 8:44 AM on June 15, 2011


At the risk of asking a stupid question, how does one find out one's user number?

Easiest way is probably mouse-over your name in a thread. Yours is 57855.
posted by Infinite Jest at 8:44 AM on June 15, 2011


AH! That's the one thing I didn't try!
posted by cooker girl at 8:44 AM on June 15, 2011


I didn't know how find my user number either until my first meetup. Thanks JeffK for helping out a noob!
posted by raisingsand at 8:51 AM on June 15, 2011


1+ making the artwork available so we can make one ourselves. Thanks.
posted by mojohand at 9:00 AM on June 15, 2011


What is to stop us tricksy unscrupulous users from ordering a name/number not their own (and drunkenly defaming that user's presumably good name at meetups) if we use an outside-of-mefi source?
posted by elizardbits at 9:00 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Because we're not assholes? Or is this a trick question?
posted by mojohand at 9:06 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


What is to stop us tricksy unscrupulous users from ordering a name/number not their own (and drunkenly defaming that user's presumably good name at meetups) if we use an outside-of-mefi source?

Yay, summer project!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:07 AM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


What is to stop us tricksy unscrupulous users from ordering a name/number not their own (and drunkenly defaming that user's presumably good name at meetups) if we use an outside-of-mefi source?

Because Scott Adams looks like the dust jacket photo on his books.
posted by Smart Dalek at 9:08 AM on June 15, 2011 [8 favorites]


Hm.
posted by jerseygirl at 9:14 AM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


Can I just buy the Migs one?
posted by shakespeherian at 9:17 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Well, someone's gotta be in the business of making REAL jerseys, right? Like for little league teams n shit? Why don't we just ask them?

I think the problem there is that jerseys for little leagues and such like only have two numbers which are both pretty big, and therefore are relatively easy to swap out in the manual process... whereas Mefi numbers would (mostly) be five or six pretty small numbers, making it labor intensive for many suppliers.
posted by edgeways at 9:18 AM on June 15, 2011


Also want! Though I understand why it might not be at all possible or reasonably workable. For instance, I do not want enough to pay, say USD50 for one.
posted by rtha at 9:22 AM on June 15, 2011


I'd buy that for a dollar!
posted by owtytrof at 9:27 AM on June 15, 2011


I really want one of these! I asked Matt about this before and basically got the answer that cortex posted. I'd be willing to pay up to $40 for one if someone figured out how to get this done.
posted by white_devil at 9:33 AM on June 15, 2011


What does it say about me that I have my user number memorized?
posted by desjardins at 9:40 AM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


Do ten jerseys. Make a new batch of t-shirts, and with each t-shirt you get a raffle ticket to win one of the ten jerseys, and yours will have your user number on it.

Episode II of "Rafflers" comes into being.
posted by cashman at 9:41 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


elizardbits: "What is to stop us tricksy unscrupulous users from ordering a name/number not their own (and drunkenly defaming that user's presumably good name at meetups) if we use an outside-of-mefi source?"

Shame.

Which...something something Smart Dalek's comment something

posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:43 AM on June 15, 2011


a sew-on side patch for the sleeve or arm with a secondary user name/real name.
for example: "The commish"

come on, you want one.
posted by clavdivs at 9:48 AM on June 15, 2011


I think that's really the key sticking point: finding an affordable, not total-pain-in-the-ass way to produce these at an acceptable quality level.

The only way i see as was before...i think. Take pre-paid orders so as to have a quantity discount. OR, or, find some folks who would do this free lance. But i think the boss has something to say if a anew vendor/ printer is choosen, logo stuff and all.
posted by clavdivs at 9:53 AM on June 15, 2011


I'm probably thinking this because they just did a t-shirt, but this might be a good fit for Kickstarter.
posted by box at 9:54 AM on June 15, 2011


elizardbits: What is to stop us tricksy unscrupulous users from ordering a name/number not their own (and drunkenly defaming that user's presumably good name at meetups) if we use an outside-of-mefi source?

Because the potential for trickery is pretty limited. Who besides MeFites and that guy on Treme knows what MetaFilter is, let alone the handles of any given user? Plus, it's pretty easy to find pictures of the more positively notable MeFites (and the negatively notable already have a negative reputation, so what is there to soil?)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:11 AM on June 15, 2011


I'm going to stick on a beard and go to meetups as klangklangston.
posted by desjardins at 10:12 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Everyone at Chicago meetups is dressed as klangklangston.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:13 AM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


At first, I was skeptical. Then I made a mock-up of my user name and ID#, and I smiled.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:23 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


klangklangston wears checkered shirts and calls them striped.
posted by SpiffyRob at 10:30 AM on June 15, 2011


I'm probably ridiculously easy to impersonate, just wear a loud tie and blazer and be, generally, loud.
posted by The Whelk at 10:32 AM on June 15, 2011


A couple of ideas:

1) Find a place that will make these on a one-off basis, and publish a standard design where people can fill in their user number and order that directly from said place. Is there anywhere you can get a shirt printed from a PDF file (which could then be a fillable form)?

2) Get a bunch all the same, with the user number not included, and ship with a packet of iron-on numbers. Although it's important to make sure the numbers are compatible with the material being ironed onto (as one of the opposing football teams in my 2nd year of high school found out).
posted by FishBike at 10:35 AM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


The Whelk: I'm probably ridiculously easy to impersonate, just wear a loud tie and blazer and be, generally, loud.

CAN DO, TIGER. CRAP, I SOUND TOO OLD.

CAN DO, CHAPPIE. Is thet better?
posted by filthy light thief at 10:45 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Yeah, I also asked (begged) about this before - if it ever comes around again I would be soo happy to have one.

However, I have no idea how to make that happen.
posted by Julnyes at 10:47 AM on June 15, 2011


I SAY GOOD SHOW.
posted by The Whelk at 10:48 AM on June 15, 2011


Somebody post an askme looking for jersey manufacturers that don't suck.
posted by cashman at 10:49 AM on June 15, 2011


PIP PIP. CHEERIO.
posted by zarq at 10:55 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


LONG COMMENT ABOUT MEN'S FASHION THAT BORES EVERYONE AT THE TABLE
posted by The Whelk at 10:56 AM on June 15, 2011


If I recall right, this is kind of a non-starter because there's no cheap, non-labor-intensive to do one-off prints like that at a small scale.

With the t-shirts we've done more recently it's been a big print run of one or a handful of static designs, which has been manageable with good quality shirts and printing at a reasonable price.


What would the unreasonable price be? Perhaps people would still pay for one.
posted by SpacemanStix at 11:09 AM on June 15, 2011


I am the very model of a modern haberdasher-er.
I've information leather, cotton and spandex-ical,
I know Isaac Mizrahi, and I quote the snark historical
From Tim Gunn to Vera Wang, in order categorical....
posted by zarq at 11:10 AM on June 15, 2011 [6 favorites]


kick that shit, zarq!
posted by cashman at 11:13 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


QUOTE FROM BLADE RUNNER SLIGHTLY MODIFIED TO VAGUELY APPLY TO TOPIC OF THREAD
posted by shakespeherian at 11:15 AM on June 15, 2011 [3 favorites]


Mine (back | front) came with my cabal initiation. Just wait until you get the summons to join, then you can have all the numbered jerseys you want. I also have a jonmc version for when I want to go incognito.
posted by eyeballkid at 11:17 AM on June 15, 2011


cashman: "Somebody post an askme looking for jersey manufacturers that don't suck."

What we really need is a jersey manufacturer from Jersey who also tests on Jerseys.


I just like to say 'Jersey.'
posted by zarq at 11:18 AM on June 15, 2011


I thought there was no cabal :(
posted by desjardins at 11:19 AM on June 15, 2011


As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list--I've got a little list
Of fashion offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed--who never would be missed!
There's the men who wear shorts in spring and sandals avec socks--
lounging in large t-shirts ever around the clock--
All clashing colors and poorly plastic bits--
Drab and dour sacks that never ever fit--
And all who on the pointlessness of fashion insist--
They'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be missed!
posted by The Whelk at 11:22 AM on June 15, 2011 [3 favorites]


HYPERLINK TO WEBCOMIC THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND WAS USED AS A PUNCHLINE ON LENO
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:24 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]




I did kind of an endrun and just got a shirt that has this on the front:

BRO

and on the back:

#1!

Bought it at the seaport. Close enough.
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:27 AM on June 15, 2011


My blue MetaFilter softball jersey with my original username and number on the back has now faded completely to grey, which is a neat metaphor.

One word: hypercolor.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:31 AM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


I would totally get this even without the user number, I think they look really spiffy.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:40 AM on June 15, 2011


I'd be happy with one that just had a picture of a bunny on it.




flames optional.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 11:51 AM on June 15, 2011 [5 favorites]


I don't see the resemblance.
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:51 AM on June 15, 2011


I post upon the blue
And my FPP's a beauty
Now I want a garment too
That is fitting for my duty
When the favorites grow
From the 'Fites I know
I hammer F5 all day!
Then the talks slows down
And I scutter around
To Recent Activi-tay

Tater! Tater! The favorites grow
Tater! Tater! From the 'Fites I know
I hammer F5, F5 all day!
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:56 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Can I have a jersey with my name but konolia's number? We are spoused, after all.
posted by hermitosis at 11:59 AM on June 15, 2011


There's got to be a way to script ImageMagick or some kind of PDF-producing code that will spit out handle+usernumber art automatically. Of course, figuring that out is probably hard enough that it'll be easier to set the letters by hand, up to some fairly high number of customers.
posted by adamrice at 12:01 PM on June 15, 2011


I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major Mefite
posted by The Whelk at 12:03 PM on June 15, 2011


The Whelk: "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major Mefite"

*cough*
posted by zarq at 12:05 PM on June 15, 2011


Do they still make those iron-ons that can be printed on a color printer?
posted by Karmakaze at 12:05 PM on June 15, 2011


To give a rough idea of costs I went to customjersey.com. The cost breaks down like this, as best I can tell:

"MetaFilter" lettering ranges from $15.50 - $59.50, depending on style, coloring, and size. A 4" two color custom font version would cost $45.00 + $25.00 for setup. I think this is a fixed cost for the run. I certainly hope so or else the cost gets truly crazy.

Single color player names are $8.00 - $13.95, depending on the method of printing.

Numbers range from $4 - $15 per digit, depending on size and style (doubled prices for having more than 2 digits). Most users have 5 digits, so 8" digits is probably the maximum reasonable size. Call it $31 for an 8", 5-digit number in stock tackle twill.

So if I understand the pricing correctly that's something like $60-75 per jersey (depending on the cost of the jersey itself) if we went full-on name & number. Maybe with a bulk discount and some comparison shopping / haggling it could be brought down to $50-60.
posted by jedicus at 12:06 PM on June 15, 2011 [3 favorites]


So where's the cutoff between major mefites and minor mefites?
posted by madcaptenor at 12:06 PM on June 15, 2011


about 6 inches.
posted by The Whelk at 12:07 PM on June 15, 2011 [5 favorites]


We've actually got a print-on-demand thing going now, so its conceivable that this could happen, with our setup. The backs with usernames/numbers would have to be direct-to-garment inkjet, but the fronts could be screen printed. I'm not sure how the POD interface works as far as custom ordering, but I'm taking that part of the operation over starting next week, so mods, talk to me in a little while if you're at all interested in doing something like this. It might be semi-automatable, but I'll know more in a week or two, once I sit down and dig into this stuff.

There's back-end variable data stuff that happens around templates and stuff -- it's all opaque to me at this point, but it's not impossible that it could just be end-user data entry that drives what goes to the press. I.E. "type here what you want your shirt to say, and press enter." I think that's the concept, anyway.
posted by Devils Rancher at 12:12 PM on June 15, 2011 [4 favorites]


I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major Mefite

gotdamn tounge-twister.
posted by clavdivs at 12:20 PM on June 15, 2011


In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin",
When I can tell at sight a Mathowie post from a Jessamyn,

posted by The Whelk at 12:21 PM on June 15, 2011


Instead of baseball jerseys I think a MeFi blue prison jumpsuit with our user number embroidered above the right chest would be more appropriate.
posted by sambosambo at 12:33 PM on June 15, 2011 [3 favorites]


Starfleet uniforms.
posted by The Whelk at 12:35 PM on June 15, 2011


Oh God yes, Starfleet uniforms! I can finally win the "who is the biggest geek in the office" contest.
posted by Mister_A at 12:42 PM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


I will of course require a man girdle for my golden Starfleet uniform.
posted by Mister_A at 12:43 PM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


Wil Wheaton mentions the form-slimming muscle suits they had to wear for those costumes, which colors the series for me, knowing is wearing intergalatic spanx.
posted by The Whelk at 12:46 PM on June 15, 2011 [4 favorites]


intergalatic spanx

"The tummy control is out of this world!"

i am so sorry, oh my god that was horrible
posted by elizardbits at 12:51 PM on June 15, 2011 [4 favorites]


Would also like one of these. Although I would have picked a cooler name if I'd known, and not lurked before signing up as long as I did.
posted by theredpen at 12:59 PM on June 15, 2011


"I mean, let me be clear: I think jerseys coming back around would be keen, and maybe someone does in fact have a brilliant plan. We just don't know of said brilliant plan right now, which is the problem and without which it's probably not doable."

Brilliant plan!!!
We could totally sell more than 24 if you guys are willing to go through the mailing process again.
posted by Blasdelb at 1:03 PM on June 15, 2011


If it happens during the summer I'd be totally happy to come down to Portland from Olympia to help out.
posted by Blasdelb at 1:05 PM on June 15, 2011


Baseball?
posted by cmoj at 1:18 PM on June 15, 2011


I think that the price per user should be a function of their user number.

Take user number, make it with two decimals. Here, I'll give you two examples;

cmoj = 74149 = $741.49

rich = 123 = $1.23

All extra funds can go to charity.
posted by rich at 1:24 PM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


The Whelk: "I'm probably ridiculously easy to impersonate, just wear a loud tie and blazer and be, generally, loud."

Don Cherry?!
posted by deborah at 1:34 PM on June 15, 2011 [3 favorites]


I will gladly pay 71,074 Vietnamese dong or Lao kip for a jersey, sure.
posted by elizardbits at 1:58 PM on June 15, 2011


klangklangston.
The Whelk.
posted by Smart Dalek at 2:07 PM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Ahem - I'm pretty sure this is what the Whelk looks like.
posted by pecanpies at 2:18 PM on June 15, 2011


Get brillianting, people.

Stoking the fires, chief. I's a dim glow right now -- we'll see if it gets brilliant or not in the next couple weeks.
posted by Devils Rancher at 2:35 PM on June 15, 2011


Based on the last Pratchett thread, I re-read Small Gods and came across this.....

"As it is, I'll probably get in trouble for missing Comparative Religion with Brother Whelk."
posted by The Whelk at 2:44 PM on June 15, 2011


The Whelk: "I'm probably ridiculously easy to impersonate, just wear a loud tie and blazer and be, generally, loud."

I read this as "I'm probably ridiculously easy to impregnate, just wear a loud tie and blazer and be, generally, loud."

...which would be disturbingly specific and raises all sorts of clown-on-shellfish related nightmares....

Can I interest you in some bat porn?
posted by zarq at 2:45 PM on June 15, 2011


"As it is, I'll probably get in trouble for missing Comparative Religion with Brother Whelk."

I just reread that book yesterday, and thought of you when I came across that line. And I don't even know you!

Do I get my creepy internet-addict badge now?
posted by pemberkins at 2:52 PM on June 15, 2011


It means my name is now a triple reference. Where is my deep down geek badge?
posted by The Whelk at 2:54 PM on June 15, 2011


Truly you are a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, ensconced in a mollusk.
posted by pemberkins at 3:02 PM on June 15, 2011 [4 favorites]


"At the risk of asking a stupid question, how does one find out one's user number?"

Vision quest.
posted by klangklangston at 3:04 PM on June 15, 2011 [4 favorites]


First you have to ingest some smoked whelks.....
posted by zarq at 3:05 PM on June 15, 2011


From what I've seen, a jersey with embroidered design + personalized name/number goes for $20-$30 around here. Of course, you'd need to add shipping which, this being Chile, would be expensive. But hey, globalization.
posted by Memo at 3:12 PM on June 15, 2011


The Hold Steady forumites have customized jerseys with numbers on them. I'll ask how they got made.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 4:18 PM on June 15, 2011


I still have mine, but it's got holes in it.
posted by jonmc at 5:25 PM on June 15, 2011


want!
posted by freshwater at 5:28 PM on June 15, 2011


Also want. Of course they will be free to those whose user number is a prime, right?
posted by trip and a half at 5:38 PM on June 15, 2011


A Mefi varsity jacket would be nifty. Although the coolest varsity jacket I ever saw was one from the Bronx High of Science. It simply said "SCIENCE" on the back.
posted by jonmc at 5:38 PM on June 15, 2011 [4 favorites]


I want lab coats.
posted by The Whelk at 5:40 PM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


What about a Metafilter-branded dicky? Those will never go out of style.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:51 PM on June 15, 2011


Here are the PSD files I used to use at CafePress to make these by hand, one by one:
mefi-jersey.zip

It uses the Superstar Font for the back, but I bet there's a free equivalent, and I bet someone could re-make the files in a vector program that might be easier, but I used to open up the file, type in the name along the curved path, then change the number and export out a huge jpg file for printing.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:28 PM on June 15, 2011 [3 favorites]


I would be happy with just front print, back wouldn't show under all my tentacles anyway.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 11:32 PM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


So want this. T-shirt/jersey goodness, mmmm.
posted by arcticseal at 12:24 AM on June 16, 2011


Spreadshirt might be just the answer you guys are seeking, if I'm not mistaken they have the tools in place to make this happen.

I had read a little while ago about a new API they had unveiled that seems to be made for this kind of problem. One of the promises of the new API is that you could pass it an image automatically from, say a php script, and have it placed on a shirt ready for print without any human intervention. If that is the case then it would seem easy enough for a more skilled programmer then myself to create a PHP form where you enter your userID and then using one of the PHP image generation tools have it generate the text for the back of the shirt as JPG and passes it on automatically to a mefi controlled spreadshirt shop for purchase / print.

A couple of possible issues: I know they offer some Jerseys but I'm not sure if what they offer is really what you folks are looking for. It might be more of a euro-cut fitted shirt in a jersey style.

Also, I've never actually used the API before, so I'm not sure if it is in a fully functional state or still in beta, but either way you can see the documentation here.
posted by Jezztek at 12:42 AM on June 16, 2011


I've been kicking myself for years for not getting one of the original ones. Would so get one this time around if someone sets this up...
posted by widdershins at 11:05 AM on June 16, 2011


Um...
posted by likeso at 5:09 PM on June 16, 2011


...stoneweaver?
posted by likeso at 5:10 PM on June 16, 2011


That's a hell of a lot more interesting than what I got...
posted by FlyingMonkey at 6:28 PM on June 16, 2011


'Some Dark Thoughts on Happiness'
posted by box at 8:56 AM on June 17, 2011


stoneweaver's user number is 99473 and they are not just posting randomly insane rodent-related information for the craic. I googled my user number and found that I am associated with a polyclonal antibody grown in chickens that is called PEX19.

Chickens.

PEX.

Seriously now, give it a rest with the clever-clever. Fucking scientists, man.
posted by longbaugh at 11:02 AM on June 17, 2011


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