The first members of the Metafilter Steering Committee August 29, 2022 9:09 AM   Subscribe

Hi y’all, we have the final results for the inaugural Metafilter Steering Committee, so without further ado, here they are, in alphabetical order:

aielen
bendy
GenjiandProust
It's Raining Florence Henderson
jacquilynne
JHarris
kimberussell
lazaruslong
Rhaomi
tavegyl
twelve cent archie
wesleyac

Congratulations to all! The Transition Team is extremely pleased that so many people are willing to volunteer to help make Metafilter better, and that 828 members participated in MetaFilter's first vote. We, and no doubt the rest of the community, look forward to seeing where they will guide us!

The next step for the Steering Committee is setting up their communication methods, determining specific consensus process(es), and chatting with the staff and jessamyn. They'll likely have their own MetaTalk announcing all that in the next couple of weeks.

That’s it, thanks again everyone!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) to MetaFilter-Related at 9:09 AM (196 comments total) 108 users marked this as a favorite

Huzzah! *balloons and confetti released from ceiling*
posted by the primroses were over at 9:23 AM on August 29, 2022 [8 favorites]


Thank you Brandon Blatcher for posting the news.
posted by 15L06 at 9:24 AM on August 29, 2022 [7 favorites]


Congrats to all, and I wish you the best!
posted by nubs at 9:26 AM on August 29, 2022 [4 favorites]


Thank you Brandon Blatcher for posting the news.

Thanks, but the rest of the TT saw and approved the post before it was put here. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Now, I will nap!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:28 AM on August 29, 2022 [18 favorites]


Yay! That looks like a really good committee.
posted by Kattullus at 9:35 AM on August 29, 2022 [12 favorites]


I, for one, welcome our new Transition Team overlords
posted by chavenet at 9:37 AM on August 29, 2022 [29 favorites]


Congratulations all!
posted by Dip Flash at 9:37 AM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


\o/
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:38 AM on August 29, 2022 [19 favorites]


congrats! now where's my confetti gun?
posted by fregoli at 9:48 AM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


be careful -- we may just get what we voted for.





[I don't know what that's supposed to mean]
posted by philip-random at 9:55 AM on August 29, 2022 [6 favorites]


congrats!
posted by Kybard at 9:56 AM on August 29, 2022


Congratulations! I just wanted to say good luck and we're all counting on you.
posted by grouse at 9:56 AM on August 29, 2022 [35 favorites]


Congratulations and thank you all (Transition Team, Steering Committee, Mods) for your service to this community.
posted by gauche at 9:57 AM on August 29, 2022 [8 favorites]


I just want to tell you good luck. We're all counting on you.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 10:05 AM on August 29, 2022 [15 favorites]


Seems like a great group--congratulations and thanks, and thank you also to the people who volunteered but weren't selected.
posted by box at 10:07 AM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


Congratulations to the new Steering Committee! Thank you to all the candidates who put their names forward, and to the Transition Team for all your work.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:08 AM on August 29, 2022 [5 favorites]


Congrats to all the newly-elected Steering Committee members.

Also, happy birthday, Brandon Blatcher
posted by terrapin at 10:14 AM on August 29, 2022 [6 favorites]


It's a big contribution of time and effort, and probably some willingness to weather storms. Thanks, all of you, for doing this. Big step forward for MeFi. w00t!
posted by theora55 at 10:15 AM on August 29, 2022 [4 favorites]


I was really shocked to discover that the Steering Committee can unite to form a giant mecha with all the powers of MetaFilter. The downside is that we also have to fight giant monsters from beyond the stars on a regular basis. The sparkles, spinning, and ribbons of the transformation scenes are kind of a mixed bag on the benefit/drawback spectrum.

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:19 AM on August 29, 2022 [53 favorites]


So, we all wanna know... group uniforms, or individual costumes with like an MF belt buckle or pin?
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:25 AM on August 29, 2022 [9 favorites]


I now know that some pieces of giant mechas are less fun than the other pieces seem.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:26 AM on August 29, 2022 [25 favorites]


The mechapancreas fulfills a critical function.
posted by Etrigan at 10:30 AM on August 29, 2022 [21 favorites]


Congrats y'all.

Thanks for caring so much about our community. It is appreciated.
posted by djeo at 10:32 AM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


group uniform ... MF belt buckle or pin

Badges! They all need steenking badges!
posted by djeo at 10:34 AM on August 29, 2022 [7 favorites]


I saw this announcement just as the Tron Legacy soundtrack I was listening to got super epic, so I think that bodes well.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:41 AM on August 29, 2022 [4 favorites]


Robes and chanting. Per usual.
posted by mochapickle at 10:41 AM on August 29, 2022 [8 favorites]


I want to say that this happened because cortex pulled the TT together originally and got us set up to work on this. He put a lot of thoughtful effort into sharing his experiences with running the site, and what a Steering Committee might be taking over and how it might operate. SC will chart their own path, but I wanted to make sure his contributions to this whole process aren't forgotten either.

The vote was able to happen the way it did because frimble said, oh, yeah, I can get that set up, and was able to knock it out in less than a week. (originally I'd been thinking everyone would just.. memail us their votes? it was going to be Pretty Interesting)

And everyone on the TT has been incredibly insightful and care a great deal about the site and making sure this was going to start off right.

It's been a time! Looking forward to the next chapters.
posted by curious nu at 10:43 AM on August 29, 2022 [57 favorites]


Also worth noting the curious nu put in substantial effort in keeping us organized and on target for dates. They did an extremely great job and they deserve all the thanks, cheers, and snacks they want!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:47 AM on August 29, 2022 [27 favorites]


I'm hopeful we'll be able to deploy the voting page in the future to determine, like, the right way to hang toilet paper, whether dogs are better than cats, and what pizza toppings we should order.
posted by box at 10:53 AM on August 29, 2022 [24 favorites]


I'm hopeful we'll be able to deploy the voting page in the future to determine, like, the right way to hang toilet paper, whether dogs are better than cats, and what pizza toppings we should order.

BOX

BOX WE JUST FINISHED CLEANING THIS PLACE UP
posted by curious nu at 10:54 AM on August 29, 2022 [37 favorites]


Going through the list, pleased to see that we are pulling from multiple eras of user waves; hopefully that will help MF adapt while not losing what I think is a unique and valuable culture.
posted by q*ben at 10:58 AM on August 29, 2022 [6 favorites]


Here's a helpful link for y'all mecha pilots:

Robert's Rules of UltraMegaFaunaRobots
posted by ursus_comiter at 11:08 AM on August 29, 2022 [4 favorites]


Good luck. The future of the site rests on your shoulders. No pressure though.

Seriously, congratulations and thank you for volunteering your time. Speaking of volunteering maybe a small stipend a la the BIPOC committee to buy an ice cream or a beer or a root beer float would be a great gesture in appreciation of their willingness to help for free.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:13 AM on August 29, 2022


Congratulations and thank you to all! I can't wait to be steered!
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:14 AM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]


So does this dissolve the transition team? And thank you also to the transition team.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:15 AM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


So does this dissolve the transition team? And thank you also to the transition team.

We're scheduled to officially wind down August 31. We have a few documents to get over to the new SC, we still have the survey data to poke at a bit for a couple of months, but our whole purpose was to get the SC up and running and that's checked off now. :)
posted by curious nu at 11:17 AM on August 29, 2022 [12 favorites]


Good luck all
posted by knapah at 11:30 AM on August 29, 2022


On a personal note, I'm feeling a bit smug, as I said if nominated I wouldn't run, and if elected I wouldn't serve--and I achieved all my goals!

In any case congrats all, and thanks to everyone who put their name in the hat!
posted by maxwelton at 11:31 AM on August 29, 2022 [10 favorites]


I'm hopeful we'll be able to deploy the voting page in the future to determine, like, the right way to hang toilet paper, whether dogs are better than cats, and what pizza toppings we should order.

Voting on whether Steering Committee meetings will be held sitting or standing would be a good use case, no?

In all seriousness, it's great to see a healthy division between operations and governance taking shape, and thanks to everyone who has been or will be volunteering their time and energy towards this.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:32 AM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Good luck everybody!
posted by TheophileEscargot at 11:39 AM on August 29, 2022


I was really shocked to discover that the Steering Committee can unite to form a giant mecha with all the powers of MetaFilter.

I’m sure you'll all Locke together beautifully.
posted by jamjam at 11:41 AM on August 29, 2022 [4 favorites]


Congratulations to the inaugural SC members, thanks to everyone who volunteered, and many thanks and kudos to the Transition Team for all their hard work!
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:00 PM on August 29, 2022 [6 favorites]


I personally condone and approve the formation of this first steering comittee and hereby endorse and empower the full slate of members both elected and selected.

Go forward with my blessings and support! Godspeed!
posted by Meatbomb at 12:04 PM on August 29, 2022


Congrats to the new Steering Committee!
posted by adrianhon at 12:05 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Forgive my confused asking please, were we allowed to vote for seven or twelve self-nominees, or some other number entirely? I (mis?)understood seven, and that seven would serve. Glad to see that the load will be spread out over a larger SC, just concerned about my brain's comprehension. Thanks! Congratulations to our SC, and continued thanks to our mods and jessamyn!!
posted by riverlife at 12:08 PM on August 29, 2022


I am misty-eyed. Now that was unexpected! Thank you, cortex! Thank you frimble, transition team, mods, New steering committee members, everyone who ran, who voted, etc. Thank you, jessamyn.

This feels huge. I am so grateful for the hard work so many people invested in making this happen. I was not one of those people, but I am cheering you on and eager to support you as needed. Y’all rock!
posted by Bella Donna at 12:11 PM on August 29, 2022 [6 favorites]


Forgive my confused asking please, were we allowed to vote for seven or twelve self-nominees, or some other number entirely? I (mis?)understood seven, and that seven would serve.

Folks had seven votes for twelve sitting members, with the Transition Team appointing the remaining 5. (This was implemented ad hoc based on Jpfed's very helpful commentary on balancing diversity and representation in earlier Metatalks; you can see a lot of the reasoning going back and forth in and around the MeTa comment I've linked here. Jpfed has since volunteered as a contributor to help with implementing voting for future cycles, which is a great resource available to the new Steering Council.) The Transition Team made our five choices after the votes were in, with an eye towards maintaining diversity on the board in case the popular vote didn't effectively do that.

As it happened, the Transition Team's unanimous choices were... essentially identical to the popular vote tallies for the remaining five spots, so it wound up being a little redundant this round! That's okay, though; redundancy exists in order to provide backup solutions in case things are weird and unpredictable, and I felt pretty good about how well the general line-ups matched.
posted by sciatrix at 12:18 PM on August 29, 2022 [35 favorites]


Thank you all for stepping up. Your labor and vision is much appreciated.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:32 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


(in my best Craig Ferguson voice) "It's a great day for MetaFilter, everybody! Yes it is!"
posted by /\/\/\/ at 12:37 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]


Thank you.
posted by amtho at 1:17 PM on August 29, 2022


Congrats and good luck out there! ♥SC♥
posted by Lynsey at 1:34 PM on August 29, 2022


Congrats!
posted by MythMaker at 1:40 PM on August 29, 2022


Congrats to the new Steering Committee and thanks to all the candidates! And to the Transition Team and mods for the work so far.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:52 PM on August 29, 2022


Yay, thank you! My brain is only decaying at a linear and not exponential rate!
posted by riverlife at 2:20 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


Thank you, candidates and elected SC folks!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 2:39 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Thanks all!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:45 PM on August 29, 2022


Congrats to the winners and thanks to everyone who ran! It was hard (and a bit arbitrary) picking among a field of universally strong candidates.
posted by mark k at 2:54 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


Yay! Thanks to everyone that stepped up and put themselves in the firing line and thanks to everyone that voted :-)

This looks like a nicely-balanced group and we are in good hands.
posted by dg at 2:59 PM on August 29, 2022


😀
posted by clavdivs at 2:59 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


Congrats all, (oh..and..whew)
posted by sammyo at 3:09 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]


(six months later, everything is on fire)

"Aaah, I shouldn't have made comment threads out of elemental hydrogen!"
posted by JHarris at 3:12 PM on August 29, 2022 [16 favorites]


Awesome team !
posted by seawallrunner at 3:33 PM on August 29, 2022


I’m honored and excited and a little bit nervous. Thanks to everyone who voted and to the Transition Team for their thoughtful stewardship!
posted by kimberussell at 4:42 PM on August 29, 2022 [13 favorites]


Wonderful! Thank you to everyone who stood and everyone who is willing to serve. This looks like a good group of people who will hopefully have some fun together while they work. Very grateful to everyone who has had a hand in making this happen.
posted by Bottlecap at 4:56 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Hmm... JHarris is on the SC... I look forward to more procedurally generated commentary and permadeath in metafilter threads.

More seriously, all the candidates looked great so I didn't vote. :P The rest of the candidates are a great bench to call on for replacement members or future elections. It bodes well that we've got a deep bench to draw from.
posted by kaibutsu at 4:59 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Thank you to everyone who volunteered. Looks like a great and suitably diverse representation of of Metafilter members. I look forward to seeing the fruits of your work.
posted by amusebuche at 5:04 PM on August 29, 2022


Can we call them...not "SC"?

I keep thinking "Supereme Court" when I see those two intiials, and I whole-heartedly believe ORSCO [Our New Steering Committee Overlords] will be so, so much better.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:35 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Good luck. We’re all counting on you.
posted by Ahmad Khani at 5:37 PM on August 29, 2022 [6 favorites]


If I’m not mistaken, this site is about to experience its first peaceful democratic transition of power. We’re doing the thing!
posted by eirias at 6:03 PM on August 29, 2022 [8 favorites]


I keep thinking "Supereme Court" when I see those two intiials, and I whole-heartedly believe ORSCO [Our New Steering Committee Overlords] will be so, so much better.

I vote CABAL. Someone else figure out the reverse acronym.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 6:43 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]


I don't know everyone and I'm not around much anymore (changed jobs a while back and I am busy busy) but there are some really good people on that list, very exciting
posted by an octopus IRL at 6:48 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]


We have voted
for the
new Steering
Committee

and which
we are excited
about
and hopeful

In closing
Good luck we are all
counting
on you.
posted by Gorgik at 6:57 PM on August 29, 2022 [16 favorites]


Does this mean they all get a duckboat parade around the city?

What do you mean, "Wrong city?"
posted by not_on_display at 7:26 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]


Congratulations!

Is it possible to see who we voted for? I remember being happy with my selections but I do not remember who they were, and I'd love to be able to cross-reference with who was elected.
posted by lapis at 7:34 PM on August 29, 2022 [5 favorites]


Do my bribes of favorites carry over from before, or do I need to start all over again?
posted by ctmf at 7:38 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


20 favorites, same as in town.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 7:46 PM on August 29, 2022 [4 favorites]


what is all this, I’m just looking for a used car
posted by cortex (retired) at 7:52 PM on August 29, 2022 [27 favorites]


THANK YOU!!
posted by latkes at 8:03 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Not trying to stir up trouble, but in the interest of a "more transparent metafilter", shouldn't the voting results be shared publicly? If not, is there are particular reason why? Again, not trying to insinuate anything, but just wondering.
posted by roaring beast at 8:13 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


I can’t think of anything good or useful that would come from sharing the vote counts.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:22 PM on August 29, 2022 [13 favorites]


A challenge, courtesy of a non mouse, a cow herd!

C - conscientiously
A - avoiding
B - being
A - a
L - list of secret names


C- camouflaged
A- appearance
B- belies
A- a
L- long con

Hm. Any help?
Long live the new cabal!
posted by Vatnesine at 8:42 PM on August 29, 2022 [8 favorites]


Congrats! This is a fantastic group. Thank you for stepping up to serve and develop this community - it's big work, but very worthwhile work. You've got my emotional support whenever it's needed.
posted by Sparky Buttons at 8:55 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Committee
Authorised
Beyond
Any
Legitimacy?
posted by dg at 8:55 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]


I can’t think of anything good or useful that would come from sharing the vote counts.

Also, the voting instructions were clear that vote counts would not be shared, which means sharing vote counts would be without the consent of those who voted.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:56 PM on August 29, 2022 [13 favorites]


Thanks to the TT. Welcome to the SC.
posted by Mitheral at 8:56 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


I just a few weeks ago formed the Committee Addressing Bioacoustic Annotation and Labelling. Not even joking.
posted by kaibutsu at 8:57 PM on August 29, 2022 [8 favorites]


Not trying to stir up trouble, but in the interest of a "more transparent metafilter", shouldn't the voting results be shared publicly? If not, is there are particular reason why? Again, not trying to insinuate anything, but just wondering.

The final voting results will not be shared because each member of the SC is a full member, so the voting totals are meaningless. A member who got more votes than another will not have more "power" than another, so the TT believes that revealing votes will not help the SC achieve anything worthwhile.

These are 12 people who stepped forwarded and agreed to volunteer their time to help make Metafilter better and that makes them equally extraordinary.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:54 PM on August 29, 2022 [42 favorites]


🥳 !
posted by kitten kaboodle at 9:58 PM on August 29, 2022


Thank you steering committee!! 🥳
posted by Bottlecap at 10:14 PM on August 29, 2022


OMG!!! THIS VOLCANO LAIR THE TT BUILT IS FREAKING AWESOME!!!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:28 PM on August 29, 2022 [18 favorites]


are there QUASARS!
posted by clavdivs at 10:57 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


These are 12 people who stepped forwarded and agreed to volunteer their time to help make Metafilter better and that makes them equally extraordinary.

Quoted for truth. Well said, Brandon Blatcher!

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
posted by Bella Donna at 11:49 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


Hello to the members of Metafilter's first Steering Committee!
posted by potrzebie at 12:09 AM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]


Good morning all! (It's morning where I am.) I'm really pleased, excited and also nervous about being on the Steering Committee. We're planning our first meeting in the next day or two, and then will start getting to grips with all the materials, picking the brains of the TT and site staff, thinking through communication and workflows and generally feeling our way towards understanding how we can help to steer a site that's sustainable, inclusive and meaningful to its members.

Luckily for us, the TT, jessamyn, cortex, mathowie and the mods who've come and gone over the years have already laid the foundations - the evidence is the fact that hundreds of members cared enough to vote. So thanks, all, for putting your trust in us, and a big thanks especially to the TT for their care and hard work in creating a process basically from scratch. We don't yet know what we'll do in this position or how we'll operate, but fortunately we've already got a model of a community-led body, one that delivered, to aspire to and build on.
posted by tavegyl at 12:09 AM on August 30, 2022 [21 favorites]


Covert Adjunct Bionic Assault Legion reporting for duty.
posted by vrakatar at 12:35 AM on August 30, 2022 [3 favorites]


I didn't vote for all of you, but had I been allowed more than seven votes I undoubtedly would have.

Thank you so much for taking on this work. It's much appreciated.
posted by flabdablet at 4:50 AM on August 30, 2022


Will the IMG tag be briefly reinstated so we can see a montage of pictures as The Cabal *ahem* you all watch your new Super Suits get torched, torn, frozen, and shot, like in The Incredibles? [SLYT]
posted by wenestvedt at 5:49 AM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]


woot woot!
posted by humbug at 6:11 AM on August 30, 2022


Okay, so we know now who gets to do the steering. My question is, who gets to work the pedals?
posted by rikschell at 6:13 AM on August 30, 2022 [4 favorites]


Congrats!!! Has anyone made the "I just wanted to say good luck and we're all counting on you" joke yet?
posted by grouse at 6:26 AM on August 30, 2022 [4 favorites]


Great set of people, maybe even better than that "chachachachanges" tag! (maybe)
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 7:30 AM on August 30, 2022


I was really shocked to discover that the Steering Committee can unite to form a giant mecha with all the powers of MetaFilter. The downside is that we also have to fight giant monsters from beyond the stars on a regular basis.

Unless they're Scott Adams' sockpuppets, we're probably in serious trouble.
posted by Merus at 7:32 AM on August 30, 2022


OMG!!! THIS VOLCANO LAIR THE TT BUILT IS FREAKING AWESOME!!!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson


Avoid the lava at all cost!
posted by h00py at 7:34 AM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]


OMG!!! THIS VOLCANO LAIR THE TT BUILT IS FREAKING AWESOME!!!

Oh, that’s just the break room.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:43 AM on August 30, 2022 [7 favorites]


Greetings from the secret lair and all that. I'm excited and also terrified -- which are remarkably similar feelings in the back of my neck -- to be part of the steering committee. I hope we're able to help the site move in positive directions.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:46 AM on August 30, 2022 [12 favorites]


are there QUASARS!

I've heard there's a mechanical quonsar next to the giant penny.
posted by zamboni at 8:02 AM on August 30, 2022 [3 favorites]


Speaking of the breakroom, someone said there were plums in the icebox but I don't see any...
posted by kimberussell at 8:08 AM on August 30, 2022 [19 favorites]


Thanks to the TT for doing all this legwork to get us here, and best of luck to the new SC members! It's always good to see this community evolve yet again into something familiar yet new, and (no shade on cortex, mind) I hope this format will bring some long hoped-for changes to fruition in a way that is more welcoming, transparent and inclusive than ever before. Huzzah!
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 8:09 AM on August 30, 2022 [3 favorites]


*adds note to the Start Document about where the plums really are*
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:16 AM on August 30, 2022 [6 favorites]


(no shade on cortex, mind)

This was cortex's idea, by the way. And it was an absolutely terrific one. While the specific activities and goals of the transition team were designed and developed by the transition team members, the concept of setting up an initial group to kick off a community model came from the dude himself. So cheers to cortex!

And cheers to the transition team for setting the initial tone of openness and transparency and candid goodwill. You've brought such us a long way in the past several months and it's all due to your hard work and love for metafilter.

And cheers to the SC, immediate and future, and all the nominees who stepped up. We're all in this together and you have my support!
posted by mochapickle at 8:23 AM on August 30, 2022 [18 favorites]


I'm already feeling humbled by the level and quality of engagement by my SC peers. And grateful for your trust. Feeling a bit of imposter syndrome over here, too, but also energized and hopeful. This group genuinely cares about MetaFilter's future and is laser-focused on serving you.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:23 AM on August 30, 2022 [15 favorites]


> laser-focused on serving you

Was that supposed to sound threatening? Because it sounds threatening.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:30 AM on August 30, 2022 [8 favorites]


Just to say thank you for your trust, MetaFilter community, and I will do my best. I strongly feel that the best days of MetaFilter are ahead of us, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to strive alongside other MeFites towards a common goal.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:32 AM on August 30, 2022 [14 favorites]


someone said there were plums in the icebox

It's beans all the way down.
posted by terrapin at 8:49 AM on August 30, 2022 [6 favorites]


Congrats! Please fix all the problems! And I hope you have fun doing so! (Or at a minimum an acceptable time.)
posted by Going To Maine at 8:55 AM on August 30, 2022 [3 favorites]


This is just to say

the plums
that were in
the icebox

were a bit off
so I made
you
plum wine

help yourself
it's delicious
so sweet
and so alcoholic
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:22 AM on August 30, 2022 [6 favorites]


Thank you all for stepping up to help out. You are appreciated.
posted by straight at 10:46 AM on August 30, 2022


conngrats! and thank you for your future work
posted by couchdive at 11:33 AM on August 30, 2022


Just wanted to say here's to good fortune, we're all pinning our hopes on you.

Any thoughts on a SC tag (like the staff or retired ones) for MetaTalk posts? It might get hard to keep track of all the members...
posted by trig at 11:50 AM on August 30, 2022 [8 favorites]


I just want to say good luck; we're all counting on you.
posted by dw at 2:22 PM on August 30, 2022 [5 favorites]


Surely the choice of badge is obvious
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson 🅲🅰🅱🅰🅻 at 9:22 AM on August 30 [+] [!]
posted by mubba at 3:32 PM on August 30, 2022 [9 favorites]


Inside info: CABAL is actually an acronym for...

...hold on there's someone at the door...

"Hi! how can I hel—" [indistinguishable muffles & protestations; screeching of tires]

NOTHING TO SEE HERE PLEASE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT COMMENT
posted by not_on_display at 4:42 PM on August 30, 2022 [9 favorites]


> > laser-focused on serving you
> Was that supposed to sound threatening? Because it sounds threatening.

It's a cookbook!
posted by Pronoiac at 4:44 PM on August 30, 2022 [11 favorites]


(I am really hoping we don’t make anything cabal related official. It’s a high bar for comfort in terms of joining a site now in a way that it wasn’t when those “jokes” were started. Even though I was around then, it still makes me wince in an “is this anti-semitism or QAnon?” way. I don’t want to be cold water, but damn wow it would 100% make me turn around from a new site and never look back in this day and age. It’s a dated reference that signals very differently than a decade or even five years ago.)
posted by Bottlecap at 4:58 PM on August 30, 2022 [14 favorites]


Many, many thanks to the team for volunteering to take this on; it means a lot to me and us all.
posted by honest knave at 5:22 PM on August 30, 2022 [2 favorites]


When I was a kid, the local pizza shop (red checked tablecloths, frosty mugs of pop) had a Cabal arcade game next to the jukebox (at the time, I thought it was pronounced like ’cable’). Good game, had a trackball, I fed it a lot of quarters. I don’t know why I bring this up, but yeah, it’s a dated reference that hasn’t aged all that well.
posted by box at 5:24 PM on August 30, 2022


"Cabal" falls into the category of in-joke for me, which makes it fun but unfit for public-facing use in any official sense. Whatever the Steering Committee ends up calling itself and whatever we end up calling it will probably accrue their own in-jokes eventually too but starting off with the cabal's existing history won't do anyone any favors.
posted by cgc373 at 6:02 PM on August 30, 2022 [5 favorites]


Good luck. We’re all counting on you
posted by Ahmad Khani at 6:42 PM on August 30, 2022 [4 favorites]


We’re all counting on

Sigh. When I run for SC, my entire platform will be instant permabans for that joke. I love you all with my entire heart, but it's so tired.
posted by mochapickle at 6:55 PM on August 30, 2022 [3 favorites]


Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit making Airplane references.
posted by zamboni at 8:13 PM on August 30, 2022 [15 favorites]


Looks like I picked the wrong week to start sniffing glue.
posted by not_on_display at 9:04 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]


OK, can someone explain the "we're all counting on you" joke to me?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:06 PM on August 30, 2022


There is no joke.
posted by clavdivs at 9:33 PM on August 30, 2022 [2 favorites]


If only I had a penguin..., it's a joke referencing a line from the movie Airplane! (YouTube link to 10-second clip from the movie).
posted by cgc373 at 9:51 PM on August 30, 2022 [4 favorites]


On the other hand, we are all counting on the Steering Committee now.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 11:16 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]


Congratulations all!

Will the steering committee get some kind of tag (like staff has, but for the steering committee) when commenting on MetaTalk?

I am awful at remembering usernames and would love to know when someone is posting in MetaTalk is doing so as a member of the steering committee vs another member of the site.
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 2:21 AM on August 31, 2022 [4 favorites]


When I was a kid, the local pizza shop (red checked tablecloths, frosty mugs of pop) had a Cabal arcade game

I strongly encourage everyone to check out the level-winning dance from that game, and propose that the SC adopts it as the Official SC Dance Move.
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 2:56 AM on August 31, 2022 [2 favorites]


The more often that joke gets said the funnier it is.
posted by h00py at 4:12 AM on August 31, 2022 [4 favorites]


I dunno, I was literally just thinking it's kind of in that same pokey basket as endless Monty Python quotes and a higher-than-average tendency to reference Hitchhiker, and then I clicked on h00py's profile and... ha!

Anyway, y'all have your fun. I'm going to remove from activity. Enjoy.
posted by mochapickle at 4:35 AM on August 31, 2022 [1 favorite]


Have you ever seen a grown man regret a joke he made forty years ago?
posted by box at 4:40 AM on August 31, 2022 [3 favorites]


Pokey baskets have their place :)
posted by h00py at 5:51 AM on August 31, 2022 [1 favorite]


The joke gives us the ironic distance to express our true feelings. If it takes references to 42 year old parody movies to say that we’re wishing the committee the best, and hoping they do great things, then that’s how it goes.

heh, 42
posted by zamboni at 6:00 AM on August 31, 2022 [5 favorites]


In the last sequence of "Airplane!" every minute or two Leslie Nielsen walks into the cockpit and says the same line, even after they have successfully landed the plane. The repetition of the joke is the joke.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 6:11 AM on August 31, 2022 [7 favorites]


42.
posted by 15L06 at 6:13 AM on August 31, 2022


In a row?

Oops. Sorry. Wrong old joke.
posted by terrapin at 8:11 AM on August 31, 2022 [1 favorite]


Twenty bucks, same as in town?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:36 AM on August 31, 2022 [1 favorite]


5X5
posted by clavdivs at 10:32 AM on August 31, 2022


I just want to count you. Good luck, we're all telling on you.
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:03 AM on August 31, 2022 [6 favorites]


The more often that joke gets said the funnier it is.

My understanding is one should also explain jokes in detail as well as repeating it, for maximum comedy efficacy.
posted by Jarcat at 11:44 AM on August 31, 2022 [6 favorites]


I think the rule is that something is funniest repeated three times, no more and no less.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 12:00 PM on August 31, 2022 [1 favorite]


Something something mechappendix something.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 12:23 PM on August 31, 2022 [1 favorite]


Thank you to all the candidates including those who withdrew candidacy.
I appreciate the consideration you all gave to the process and to our goal.

I, for one, welcome our new Bean-plating, Crouton-petting Overlords!
posted by calgirl at 1:57 PM on August 31, 2022 [3 favorites]


I dunno, I was literally just thinking it's kind of in that same pokey basket as endless Monty Python quotes and a higher-than-average tendency to reference Hitchhiker ...
In a world so full of negativity, It's heart-warming to see someone saying nice things about people for a change ;-)
posted by dg at 2:38 PM on August 31, 2022 [4 favorites]


Whatever the Steering Committee ends up calling itself

I think Steering Committee is fine, as is. No need to change.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 3:21 PM on August 31, 2022


Hello, and good luck to you all.
posted by freakazoid at 4:55 PM on August 31, 2022


Congrats, good luck, and thank you!!!
posted by smorgasbord at 6:18 PM on August 31, 2022


In a row? ... Oops. Sorry. Wrong old joke.

That's not that ol ... OMG 28 years ago.
posted by Mitheral at 6:27 PM on August 31, 2022


Is it possible to see who we voted for? I remember being happy with my selections but I do not remember who they were, and I'd love to be able to cross-reference with who was elected.

Did I miss an answer to this?
posted by lapis at 9:16 PM on August 31, 2022


Don’t think so.

There isn’t a way to see who ya voted for, sorry!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:13 AM on September 1, 2022


I think Steering Committee is fine, as is.

If we’re making Hitchhiker’s references, then: I dunno, it reads a little B Ark to me.
posted by Ryvar at 6:35 AM on September 1, 2022


SteeCom?
SteerCom?
posted by hydra77 at 3:17 PM on September 1, 2022


Given the imponderability all our futures right at this moment, we could probably use a SeerCom, too.
posted by jamjam at 4:21 PM on September 1, 2022


StCo.

Just imagine the fights about how to pronounce it.
posted by box at 5:46 PM on September 1, 2022


Secret
Team
Encompassing
Enthusiastic
Registered
Invested
Neighbors
Gathered

Cabal
Of
Members
Meeting
Incrementally
To
Transform
Enervated
Engagement

Man, I’m glad I don’t write acronyms for the government or anything- it’s an arcane skill.

Good luck, we’re all & cerera.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:56 PM on September 1, 2022


just call it The Committee
posted by philip-random at 9:44 PM on September 1, 2022 [2 favorites]


Crazy talk.
posted by Devils Rancher at 1:25 AM on September 2, 2022


just call it The Committee

and as policy decisions get written up, give each one a HHFL catalog number for easy reference.
posted by flabdablet at 1:51 AM on September 2, 2022


I feel that Mefi itself is a large committee, one that publishes its minutes continuously and has been stuck on ‘Matters Arising’ for more than ten years now.
posted by Phanx at 2:13 AM on September 2, 2022 [8 favorites]


I thiiiiiink me mentioning the Steering Council model of governance for the Python programming language is the origin of the word "steering" in our Steering Committee. I like both Steering Council and Steering Committee fine, personally, and would probably tend to say, let's keep the current Steering Committee name for at least 8 months to determine whether it settles in and whether it confuses new folks, non-MeFi institutions that the staff or SC members have to talk with about MeFi stuff, and irregular readers/posters.
posted by brainwane at 4:41 AM on September 2, 2022 [2 favorites]


SC initials . . . . hmmmm . . . .

[does CRTL-F for "Star Chamber," doesn't see it. Is disappointed in you all]
posted by JanetLand at 6:29 AM on September 2, 2022


[does CRTL-F for "Star Chamber," doesn't see it. Is disappointed in you all]

Hey, if you want to make a semi-obscure joke about secretive organizations that abuse their power without recourse, that's your prerogative.
posted by zamboni at 8:05 AM on September 2, 2022


Kind of imagining that as the current SC finds their footing, makes some long-term plans, and updates the charter, any new name will arise naturally out of that, if necessary. Part of the reason for how the TT set things up was so that they wouldn't spin their wheels for a few months trying to figure out the basics. :)

anyway, it's not really important until it's time for the hats and t-shirts and mugs and etc
posted by curious nu at 8:34 AM on September 2, 2022 [2 favorites]


Were hats, t-shirts and mugs not supposed to be our first order of business? Dang. Now you tell us.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:43 AM on September 2, 2022 [3 favorites]


I mean.. it could be! It just doesn't have to be. I'm not the boss of you! You can't make me!
posted by curious nu at 10:50 AM on September 2, 2022 [3 favorites]


So about this upcoming rollout of threaded commenting...
posted by sammyo at 2:32 PM on September 2, 2022


Exactly. The threads are being woven into t-shirts.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:29 PM on September 2, 2022 [6 favorites]


Hey, if you want to make a semi-obscure joke about secretive organizations that abuse their power without recourse, that's your prerogative.

It’s not even the secretive organization that…(etc.) that comes to mind when I see SC, for me I hear Special Circumstances.

I suppose The Interesting Times Gang is another option.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 10:48 PM on September 2, 2022 [4 favorites]


oh hell, late to the party again...Congratulations and thanks from your friend down in steerage!

Q: Does anyone read the comments down here.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 6:10 AM on September 3, 2022 [10 favorites]


Python programming, you see?! And some people say that the classics are old hat...
posted by h00py at 12:32 AM on September 4, 2022 [1 favorite]


House Slytherin it is then! 😂
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:44 AM on September 4, 2022 [1 favorite]


Congrats and thank you!
posted by glaucon at 1:28 PM on September 6, 2022


Congratulations! It's been awhile since I have been "home". However since I follow Jessamyn on twitter the Public Infrastructure article showed up in my feed today–and I ran all the way home!

I have never stopped supporting MF monthly since that Seldon Crisis way back when, and it is glorious to behold these evolutions. What a day!

BTW I was recently selected to go to space as part of Uplift Aerospace's first commercial crew–now in addition to being an astronaut teacher I get to be an astronaut!

(Will I be Mefi's first astronaut?! Probably not BUT in any case I look forward to carrying some Mefi swag to space and back!)

Love to all, thank you for holding down the fort. And oh what a glorious fort it is!
posted by Mike Mongo at 1:13 PM on September 7, 2022 [26 favorites]


Congrats Mike Mongo!

Please keep your eyes on the dials and don’t post from spaaaacccceeeee…
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:28 PM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]


some of my best friends are astronauts
posted by philip-random at 9:10 PM on September 7, 2022


but would you let your daughter marry one
posted by flabdablet at 2:51 AM on September 8, 2022 [1 favorite]


If I object, they’ll just elope to the Moon.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:15 AM on September 8, 2022 [1 favorite]


We like the Moon!
posted by flabdablet at 9:52 AM on September 8, 2022 [1 favorite]


*waits patiently for the Steering Committee to declare what kind of cheese it thinks the Moon is made out of*
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:32 PM on September 8, 2022 [2 favorites]


Moon Cheese, possibly Oh My Gouda.
posted by box at 4:57 PM on September 8, 2022 [2 favorites]


The fact that I recognize some but not all of these names is awesome. I've been away for so long that I shouldn't know all of these names, and that's how it should be: A combination of the old-timers and newcomers.
posted by TrishaLynn at 4:51 PM on September 9, 2022 [3 favorites]


Hi all! We, the Steering Committee (SC) met for the first time on September 1.

We are currently:
1) hashing out the best times to communicate with each other since we are spread around the globe
2) figuring out which tools to use to collaborate and share information, and
3) setting up a meeting with Jessamyn and Loup to gain more clarity on what's expected of us as well as the financial state of the site

We'll share more when there's more to share.
posted by kimberussell at 7:44 AM on September 10, 2022 [21 favorites]


Hello!
posted by Eideteker at 12:14 PM on September 14, 2022 [3 favorites]


Hello, indeed!
posted by Harald74 at 1:08 AM on September 15, 2022 [1 favorite]


ECHO
ECHO
Echo
echo
posted by Lizard at 6:58 PM on September 18, 2022


*waves*
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:14 PM on September 18, 2022


Wishing y’all nothing but the best, and many thanks for taking this on!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:26 PM on September 18, 2022 [1 favorite]


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