secret quonsar 2017: The Planning Thread October 11, 2017 5:18 PM Subscribe
Oh look! It's October and it's time to plan for this year's secret quonsar swap! The secret quonsar swap is - for the uninitiated - our holiday-adjacent wintery gift exchange (Read About it on the Wiki). Let's talk details!
This is the proposed schedule for this year's quonsartastic festivities:
November 1-9: Swap Signup Period.
November 10: Randomization Hamster Wheel Fired Up
November 11: Folks get notified about who they drew (This is a Saturday.)
(November 23: American Thanksgiving)
December 1: Shipping Deadline (This is a Friday.)
December 27: Second Chance Senders will not be needed because all gifts will have arrived*
phunniemee and arcticseal will be returninto as quonsczars this year.
We anticipate these swap groups:
Anywhere/International (You can receive a gift from or send a gift to anywhere on Earth, including your own country)
US Only
Canada Only
UK Only
Europe
[Folks'll have to lobby for AUS only or AUS/NZ)
The spending guidelines will be $10-20 again.
There are 2 issues facing us right now:
1. The perennial issue that some international shipping in, to, or from some countries takes FOREVER (or months and months and months). We can't fix much about that, but I wish I could.
2. The Google issue. (see this thread from September describing some users' discomfort with Google - I know there are others who did not post in the thread who feel the same way.)
If you are concerned you might miss the announcement of the swap signups being open (due to exams, teaching your alpaca the two-step, Halloween hangovers, ferret-sitting, pumpkin-cossetting, creeping holiday stress, record-breaking pie-making attempts, work demands, taking a break from the grey, possible alien abductions, binge-watching The Good Place, et cetera), you can sign up to be notified when secret quonsar signups are open. You don't have to sign up anew every year - you stay on the list until you ask us to take you off the list! Every year, when the signups go live, you will get an email letting you know. Signing up for this list is NOT signing up for secret quonsar - just to be notified when sq opens each year.
* we can dream! If a gift has been eaten by the customs/postal machinery, one of our wonderful second chance senders - volunteers who send someone whose gift never arrived a second gift - will step up to send a second gift out. These folks are the unsung heroes of quonsing, and should be lauded near and far.
This is the proposed schedule for this year's quonsartastic festivities:
November 1-9: Swap Signup Period.
November 10: Randomization Hamster Wheel Fired Up
November 11: Folks get notified about who they drew (This is a Saturday.)
(November 23: American Thanksgiving)
December 1: Shipping Deadline (This is a Friday.)
December 27: Second Chance Senders will not be needed because all gifts will have arrived*
phunniemee and arcticseal will be returninto as quonsczars this year.
We anticipate these swap groups:
Anywhere/International (You can receive a gift from or send a gift to anywhere on Earth, including your own country)
US Only
Canada Only
UK Only
Europe
[Folks'll have to lobby for AUS only or AUS/NZ)
The spending guidelines will be $10-20 again.
There are 2 issues facing us right now:
1. The perennial issue that some international shipping in, to, or from some countries takes FOREVER (or months and months and months). We can't fix much about that, but I wish I could.
2. The Google issue. (see this thread from September describing some users' discomfort with Google - I know there are others who did not post in the thread who feel the same way.)
If you are concerned you might miss the announcement of the swap signups being open (due to exams, teaching your alpaca the two-step, Halloween hangovers, ferret-sitting, pumpkin-cossetting, creeping holiday stress, record-breaking pie-making attempts, work demands, taking a break from the grey, possible alien abductions, binge-watching The Good Place, et cetera), you can sign up to be notified when secret quonsar signups are open. You don't have to sign up anew every year - you stay on the list until you ask us to take you off the list! Every year, when the signups go live, you will get an email letting you know. Signing up for this list is NOT signing up for secret quonsar - just to be notified when sq opens each year.
* we can dream! If a gift has been eaten by the customs/postal machinery, one of our wonderful second chance senders - volunteers who send someone whose gift never arrived a second gift - will step up to send a second gift out. These folks are the unsung heroes of quonsing, and should be lauded near and far.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY
posted by duffell at 5:30 PM on October 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by duffell at 5:30 PM on October 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's the moooooost quonsical tiiiiiime of the yeaaaar! Rock Jingle Bell!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:45 PM on October 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:45 PM on October 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Shoot, In addition to making up a word (returninto), I didn't hyperlink the notification signup (so you get an email once a year when secret quonsar signups go live each year):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesRJYOylj0JwWrmTYXAJT-DzmQ188pthQg4j5O6zlLaZBRLw/viewform (google form)
posted by julen at 5:53 PM on October 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesRJYOylj0JwWrmTYXAJT-DzmQ188pthQg4j5O6zlLaZBRLw/viewform (google form)
posted by julen at 5:53 PM on October 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by ChuraChura at 6:30 PM on October 11, 2017
posted by ChuraChura at 6:30 PM on October 11, 2017
Hurray! This is excellent news!
(bounces just a bit in chair with excitement)
posted by bookmammal at 6:57 PM on October 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
(bounces just a bit in chair with excitement)
posted by bookmammal at 6:57 PM on October 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
I am so happy to have something like Quonsmas to get excited about!!!
posted by msali at 8:11 PM on October 11, 2017
posted by msali at 8:11 PM on October 11, 2017
I've never done this and I'm moving out of the US at the end of the year. Time to jump on board say I!
posted by Bella Donna at 8:59 PM on October 11, 2017
posted by Bella Donna at 8:59 PM on October 11, 2017
Mod note: added the e-mail sign up link!
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 9:59 PM on October 11, 2017
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 9:59 PM on October 11, 2017
Quonsmas already? I feel like I haven't even seen the Dancing Pumpkins yet.
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:42 PM on October 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:42 PM on October 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
::happy snoopy dance::
posted by Faintdreams at 12:59 AM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Faintdreams at 12:59 AM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
This might be the year that I finally convince my +1 to do SQ.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:00 AM on October 12, 2017
posted by sciencegeek at 3:00 AM on October 12, 2017
I've only done SQ once and it was many years ago. Have read the wiki, but am unclear on something. Is it possible to sign up to be a second chance volunteer without also being a recipient?
posted by zarq at 4:46 AM on October 12, 2017
posted by zarq at 4:46 AM on October 12, 2017
Much as I love SQ I wasn't going to do it this year for mostly time reasons. But in a messenger thread of a group of friends who used to work together we just learned of an ex-colleague who ended his life yesterday. This world can be very hard and fuck it, for Lukasz, I'm going to do my bit to spread a little joy where I can. So I'm in.
posted by billiebee at 4:50 AM on October 12, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by billiebee at 4:50 AM on October 12, 2017 [20 favorites]
I'm in!
As the note at the bottom of this (or any MetaTalk) thread says, Everyone Needs A Hug, and that's what Quonsmas is: a big ol' innerwebs hug. Thanks for all you do, Quons-elves!
posted by easily confused at 5:37 AM on October 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
As the note at the bottom of this (or any MetaTalk) thread says, Everyone Needs A Hug, and that's what Quonsmas is: a big ol' innerwebs hug. Thanks for all you do, Quons-elves!
posted by easily confused at 5:37 AM on October 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
roger ackroyd: It's that damn Quonsmas creep, gets worse every year.
posted by deezil at 5:57 AM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by deezil at 5:57 AM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's not the early Quonsmas displays I mind so much, it's the door-buster Quonsmas sales that they've moved back as early as Quonsgiving Day. Fucking nothing is sacred anymore.
posted by duffell at 6:10 AM on October 12, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by duffell at 6:10 AM on October 12, 2017 [6 favorites]
Just try not to feed the Randomization Hamsters too much ahead of Wheel-firing: you remember that time they went to the all-you-can-eat buffet just before Wheel time, don't ya? Little suckers were so stuffed they just laid there, sleeping it off instead of working.
posted by easily confused at 6:21 AM on October 12, 2017
posted by easily confused at 6:21 AM on October 12, 2017
Excellent, now I can get out my list of all the British foods American Mefites thought sounded vile/interesting over the last year's FPPs and keep my fingers crossed on who the lottery will bring me.
posted by biffa at 7:19 AM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by biffa at 7:19 AM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's not the early Quonsmas displays I mind so much, it's the door-buster Quonsmas sales that they've moved back as early as Quonsgiving Day. Fucking nothing is sacred anymore.
Or when you walk into a shop to buy candy for trick or treaters and they're already blasting SQ music, ugh.
posted by phunniemee at 7:38 AM on October 12, 2017 [3 favorites]
Or when you walk into a shop to buy candy for trick or treaters and they're already blasting SQ music, ugh.
posted by phunniemee at 7:38 AM on October 12, 2017 [3 favorites]
Secret Qunsar makes me happy like My Best Friend Hank does -- I mean, this is my smile right now.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:51 AM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 8:51 AM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've been riding a wave of soul-crushing anxiety and depression for the past few months, but this brought a genuine smile to my face. Finding/making gifts for my quonsees every year is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season :-) Julen, thanks for being awesome and coordinating this year after year. You are gem!
posted by chara at 9:17 AM on October 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by chara at 9:17 AM on October 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
Yay! SQ is the best, and has made my last two Decembers bearable.
posted by minsies at 9:21 AM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by minsies at 9:21 AM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
SQ is almost on its way!
posted by angiep at 9:44 AM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
SQ is almost on its way!
posted by angiep at 9:44 AM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Woohoo!
posted by Secretariat at 10:13 AM on October 12, 2017
posted by Secretariat at 10:13 AM on October 12, 2017
I hate early holiday stuff, but Quonsmas, that's entirely different. This can't come too soon.
posted by limeonaire at 10:26 AM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by limeonaire at 10:26 AM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
YESSSSS
posted by tooloudinhere at 11:22 AM on October 12, 2017
posted by tooloudinhere at 11:22 AM on October 12, 2017
Hooray!
posted by kimberussell at 1:19 PM on October 12, 2017
posted by kimberussell at 1:19 PM on October 12, 2017
Zarq asked:
I've only done SQ once and it was many years ago. Have read the wiki, but am unclear on something. Is it possible to sign up to be a second chance volunteer without also being a recipient?
You absolutely can be a second-chancer only if you'd like. Second chancers must have a MeFi account, but otherwise we take all volunteers. We'll ask you for your location and your mailing preferences, and then put you in the pool.
Generally, with second chancers, we'll try to match the recipient with someone close but not too close (i.e. a person in Pennsylvania who needs a second chancer is more likely to get one from Wisconsin, California, Georgia or Missouri than New Jersey or Maryland or Pennsylvania itself. Similarly, if you are in Europe, your second chancer will likely also be European instead of a Canadian or from the US. We do this to try and minimize delivery times.
posted by julen at 1:45 PM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've only done SQ once and it was many years ago. Have read the wiki, but am unclear on something. Is it possible to sign up to be a second chance volunteer without also being a recipient?
You absolutely can be a second-chancer only if you'd like. Second chancers must have a MeFi account, but otherwise we take all volunteers. We'll ask you for your location and your mailing preferences, and then put you in the pool.
Generally, with second chancers, we'll try to match the recipient with someone close but not too close (i.e. a person in Pennsylvania who needs a second chancer is more likely to get one from Wisconsin, California, Georgia or Missouri than New Jersey or Maryland or Pennsylvania itself. Similarly, if you are in Europe, your second chancer will likely also be European instead of a Canadian or from the US. We do this to try and minimize delivery times.
posted by julen at 1:45 PM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, I've been low-key critical of Google at times, but I just upgraded the actual sign-up for sq form.
It looks less pretty but it will automatically send a confirmation of your signup info to you - I will not have to do this manually this year, and I am so excited about it. So so so excited about it.
posted by julen at 1:47 PM on October 12, 2017 [7 favorites]
It looks less pretty but it will automatically send a confirmation of your signup info to you - I will not have to do this manually this year, and I am so excited about it. So so so excited about it.
posted by julen at 1:47 PM on October 12, 2017 [7 favorites]
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO ITS HAPPENING
... soon!
posted by The otter lady at 2:22 PM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
... soon!
posted by The otter lady at 2:22 PM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
Thank you, julen.
posted by zarq at 2:55 PM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zarq at 2:55 PM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Stopping back in to say that I had a rough day today at work and right now everything just seems sad and mean... and I am SO GLAD to have something like Quonsmas to look forward to—because if there is anything that’s the opposite of sad and mean, it’s the Secret Quonsar Swap!
posted by bookmammal at 5:00 PM on October 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by bookmammal at 5:00 PM on October 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yay!
posted by sarcasticah at 6:36 PM on October 12, 2017
posted by sarcasticah at 6:36 PM on October 12, 2017
Since we’ll be in Canada this year waiting for our not-so-secret Quonsmas gift, I’ll sign up for the Great White North exchange!
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:33 PM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:33 PM on October 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
[[endless jingling]]
posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:00 AM on October 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:00 AM on October 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
HURRAH!
posted by RhysPenbras at 5:08 AM on October 13, 2017
posted by RhysPenbras at 5:08 AM on October 13, 2017
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Thank you, Qquonsczars! I hope the hamsters have been training for this all year and not just eating snacks.
posted by halcyonday at 6:53 AM on October 13, 2017
posted by halcyonday at 6:53 AM on October 13, 2017
Will send the right person 200 live crickets, but anyone else will just get a cool somethingorother. I'm in!
posted by heyho at 7:30 AM on October 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by heyho at 7:30 AM on October 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hooray for quonsmas.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 9:32 AM on October 13, 2017
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 9:32 AM on October 13, 2017
This is the most wonderful time of the year! We moved to Madrid in May so some lucky recipient will be getting Spanish goodies and nougat in the mail (if the hamsters don't get to it first).
posted by arcticseal at 12:12 PM on October 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 12:12 PM on October 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oooh yay! My first Quonsmas exchange! I kept not hearing about it until it was too late to participate (so have now signed up on the notification list).
... everyone wants yaoi graphic novels, right?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:44 PM on October 13, 2017 [4 favorites]
... everyone wants yaoi graphic novels, right?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:44 PM on October 13, 2017 [4 favorites]
I was a bad Quonsarian last year so I'll be watching from the Second Chancery.
posted by rhizome at 6:30 PM on October 13, 2017
posted by rhizome at 6:30 PM on October 13, 2017
2017 has made 2016 look like a bake sale, so I really need this.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 10:36 PM on October 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 10:36 PM on October 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
Huzzah!
posted by une_heure_pleine at 12:41 AM on October 14, 2017
posted by une_heure_pleine at 12:41 AM on October 14, 2017
PLEASE NOTE:
If you've signed up for this list in a previous year, there's no need to sign up again!
posted by infini at 9:40 AM on October 14, 2017
If you've signed up for this list in a previous year, there's no need to sign up again!
posted by infini at 9:40 AM on October 14, 2017
PLEASE NOTE:
If you've signed up for this list in a previous year, there's no need to sign up again!
I was operating out of desire, not need.
posted by heyho at 11:15 AM on October 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you've signed up for this list in a previous year, there's no need to sign up again!
I was operating out of desire, not need.
posted by heyho at 11:15 AM on October 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
I've never actually done secret quonsmas and no lie, I'm kinda excited.
posted by emjaybee at 11:16 AM on October 14, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 11:16 AM on October 14, 2017 [5 favorites]
Cel-e-brate Quonsmas, come on!
Cel-e-brate Quonsmas, come on!
There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration MeFites await each year
So bring your good times and your laughter too
We're gonna celebrate Quonsmas with you
Come on now, celebration
Let's all celebrate and have a good time
Celebration
We're gonna celebrate and have a good time
It's time to come together
It's up to you, what's your pleasure?
MeFites all around the world come on!
posted by carmicha at 3:24 PM on October 14, 2017 [5 favorites]
Cel-e-brate Quonsmas, come on!
There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration MeFites await each year
So bring your good times and your laughter too
We're gonna celebrate Quonsmas with you
Come on now, celebration
Let's all celebrate and have a good time
Celebration
We're gonna celebrate and have a good time
It's time to come together
It's up to you, what's your pleasure?
MeFites all around the world come on!
posted by carmicha at 3:24 PM on October 14, 2017 [5 favorites]
I missed last year (by a day!) and was so sad. so sad that I put the dates on my damn work calendar to remind me not to forget.
posted by vespabelle at 3:49 PM on October 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by vespabelle at 3:49 PM on October 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
PEOPLE OF METAFILTER! You have no idea how much I needed this. I've been away for a week doing very hard things and this is so wonderful to come back to. Thank you. Can't wait!
posted by Sophie1 at 1:12 PM on October 15, 2017
posted by Sophie1 at 1:12 PM on October 15, 2017
YAY QUONSMAS! I kept visiting MetaTalk hoping the discussion would start soon :)
posted by invokeuse at 1:43 PM on October 15, 2017
posted by invokeuse at 1:43 PM on October 15, 2017
OK! We're just a few days away. We will be making the accommodation for folks with an aversion to google as outlined in the other thread (and I'll repeat it in the announcement), and otherwise, I think we're good to go.
As always, I encourage folks to think realistically as to whether they have the (time, money, bandwidth, etc) to participate before they sign up. We all know life is unexpected and who knows what November and December will bring you, and we will work with you, but if you are concerned you won't be able to get it out, think about not participating this year.
posted by julen at 7:22 PM on October 29, 2017 [2 favorites]
As always, I encourage folks to think realistically as to whether they have the (time, money, bandwidth, etc) to participate before they sign up. We all know life is unexpected and who knows what November and December will bring you, and we will work with you, but if you are concerned you won't be able to get it out, think about not participating this year.
posted by julen at 7:22 PM on October 29, 2017 [2 favorites]
julen, do you need any adjunct elves? I can help out this year if that's useful (vs. gumming up a well-oiled machine).
posted by janell at 11:22 AM on October 31, 2017
posted by janell at 11:22 AM on October 31, 2017
janell! What a lovely offer!
I think we're good, but I may reach out in January if we have a bunch of folks who are pokey - or we get overwhelmed in the next two months.
posted by julen at 3:27 PM on October 31, 2017
I think we're good, but I may reach out in January if we have a bunch of folks who are pokey - or we get overwhelmed in the next two months.
posted by julen at 3:27 PM on October 31, 2017
OK, the Signups are Open thread is here:
http://metatalk.metafilter.com/24585/secret-quonsar-2017-Signups-are-Open
posted by julen at 10:52 PM on October 31, 2017
http://metatalk.metafilter.com/24585/secret-quonsar-2017-Signups-are-Open
posted by julen at 10:52 PM on October 31, 2017
« Older trying to remember a lovely love poem comment | Looking for a old solo musician post Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by cozenedindigo at 5:27 PM on October 11, 2017