What's the point of metafilter?

April 21, 2001 12:35 AM

I'm really new here, and I was hoping I could get some input as to what Metafilter's all about. What I thought it was all about was a community blog where we posted the most unusual links, the ones that every other semi-popular blog site was posting at the same time. The best example of this is "all you base are belong to us". Everyone had that link.

But now I think it's more intelligent of a community than that, or at least it's supposed to be. So the question I have is two part:
1. What's the point of metafilter?
2. If it's not to point to all your base are belong to us, then where can we post (and find) such links?
posted by MarkO to MetaFilter-Related at 12:35 AM (10 comments total)

The point of MetaFilter is different depending on who you talk to, but at it's core, it's to find cool new things and talk about cool new things.

"Cool new things" isn't defined solely as the next All Your Base..., either. I mean, to me string theory is cool, and copyright issues and information flow and music and technology, they're all cool. So is anthropology and psychology and stupid crimes and robots.

So "cool new things" is a pretty wide-reaching area, and probably doesn't help you with your "Point of MetaFilter" question.

The next All Your Base is an acceptable link for some, and others will roll their eyes and ignore the thread.

Metafilter's not about actively seeking the next All Your Base, but if it turns up out there, it's likely to be linked to here.

MetaFilter's also about learning about other people, learning other opinions and world views and just in general meeting other people and learning that the world is never exactly as we see, because to someone else it's completely different.

That probably didn't help much, but defining MetaFilter isn't something that's easily done, because every member of MeFi comes here for a different, personal reason.
posted by cCranium at 6:47 AM on April 21, 2001

That it is difficult (if not impossible) to define a 'point of Metafilter' is, for me at least, one of its biggest attractions.
posted by normy at 9:18 AM on April 21, 2001

What I like about Metafilter, aside from the simple fact that it's a fun discussion site, is that it maintains the kind of standards and audience where when something unusual is posted, people very knowledgeable in that niche, sometimes even the creator, show up and speak their piece.

I don't need MeFi for what Kuro5hin calls mindless link propagation (which is tongue-in-cheek ghettoized in its own topic area). Memepool and other weblogs do that very well indeed ... although I understand that was Matt's original purpose. It's the high-signal discussions, even in some contentious issues. I recognize there's some culling behind the scenes we don't see, but I'm consistently amazed to find a thread already 79 posts long, scroll on down, and find discussion just as deep, insightful, and respectful as anywhere else on this site or even the net. When a thread drifts off topic (as many do), that doesn't mean it becomes aimless and noisy.
posted by dhartung at 11:15 AM on April 21, 2001

Maybe Memepool is what Mark's after. Looks like he's already into the e/n thing.

What I thought it was all about was a community blog where we posted the most unusual links, the ones that every other semi-popular blog site was posting at the same time.

Who would want MF to be *that*?

The best example of this is "all you base are belong to us". Everyone had that link.

I think MF was, after the gaming sites, an early adopter of AYBABTU and one of its conduits to mainstream stardom. But anyway, if "everyone" had it, why bother?

The linky side of weblogs is like scratching. It's someone else's music you're using as raw material, but what's important is what you do with it. If it's URL hiphop you want, Memepool is a good start. I also like Quonsar's site and Hey! URL. Metafilter is more like…a jam band? Friggin' analogies.
posted by rodii at 2:01 PM on April 21, 2001

MetaFilter is distinguished from being a"here's a novelty link" community blog because (most) front-page posts are picked for their ability to generate discussion, in addition to being ("merely"?) interesting.
posted by anildash at 3:51 PM on April 21, 2001

Another good perspective on what distinguishes MeFi is under "Good Contributions" on the New User page. When I was trying to help Matt with what he wrote there, I had to think at length of what "MetaFilter is all about" to me....
posted by anildash at 3:55 PM on April 21, 2001

I wasn't "looking" for any particular site to post links, but I did want to ask before posting a link I found about the regional liguistic differences of "pop" vs. "soda". I'm not about to add to the noise, and I have been reading (and loving) this site for about a month. I just figured it was time for me to give back to the site and wanted to make sure I was posting the right thing.

Thanks for the help everyone.
posted by MarkO at 6:31 PM on April 21, 2001

but I did want to ask before posting a link I found about the regional liguistic differences of "pop" vs. "soda".

That sort of post would be fine for Metafilter, infact it was a couple of days ago.

One important thing is to always try the search engine before posting.


posted by lagado at 8:13 PM on April 21, 2001

Aside from memepool, fuckedcompany, slashdot, drudge report, you might also want to check out:
Romenesko's Obscure Store and Robot Wisdom


Obscure Store is especially impressive. Romenesko's links seem to spread through weblogs like wildfire.
posted by Witold at 9:21 PM on April 21, 2001

Romenesko, it should be considered, is a group blog disguised as a one-man blog. He is considered an important meta-media entity by journalists, so they send him tips; plus, he is paid to thoroughly read all the periodicals like the NYT that we all depend on blogs to cull through for us.

Not to diminish what he does in any way; just be aware that it's what can be done with underwriting and sources.
posted by dhartung at 11:34 PM on April 22, 2001