Submission queue a la Kuro5hin?

September 5, 2001 10:58 AM

Feature request: A voluntary Kuro5hin-style submission queue for links that you'd like to post, but aren't quite sure they are worthy of MetaFilter. (And, possibly, for self-links.)
posted by rcade to Feature Requests at 10:58 AM (15 comments total)

As MetaTalk's etiquette forum demonstrates, there is no shortage of people who have an opinion about the kind of links that belong on MetaFilter's front page.

Rather than expending all of this energy on links that have already been posted, I thought it might be worthwhile to have a place where you can review prospective links that have been submitted by members.

This submission queue would be voluntary; it isn't suggested as a way to change MetaFilter to a moderated weblog. In order for a link to graduate from the queue to the front page, it must receive a certain percentage of Yes votes after a minimum number of votes has been reached (such as 14 Yes out of 20, 21 Yes out of 30, and so on).

If links that graduate from the queue have some kind of special icon or formatting, it might be a way to allow self-links on MetaFilter.
posted by rcade at 11:03 AM on September 5, 2001

The example that gave me the idea for the feature is this link, which I considered posting to MetaFilter:

"All I knew was to get the baby," explained a partially paralyzed man who dragged his great-granddaughter to safety during a housefire.

Great story (and it's good news that doesn't involve injuries or death, unlike a lot of the news items that are weblogged). I considered posting it, but it's a spot news story and there's already a lot of that on MetaFilter. Rather than unilaterally making the decision about whether it belongs on MetaFilter, I would have liked to put it on a "maybe" queue and let other MetaTalk-obsessed members decide its worthiness.
posted by rcade at 11:10 AM on September 5, 2001

Exhale.
posted by rcade at 11:11 AM on September 5, 2001

Good idea, so long as (like you mentioned) submission to the queue is a choice you can make a post time.... something like having two choices on the Post a Link page: "Post to Metafilter" or "I'm not sure if everyone would think this is as cool as I do, submit it to the review queue."

Not that I'm adding anything new. This is just a really long me too post.
posted by daveadams at 11:41 AM on September 5, 2001

I think it's a good idea. Sometimes, I feel that the MeFi front page is loaded with crap, sometimes I wish there were more to read.

Of course, if you give people what is essentially a "junk pile", they're going to fill it with junk pretty quick. And it would, probably, become Self-Link Central before too long. (Mixed metaphors RULE!)

Come to think of it, maybe it's not such a good idea. :-)
posted by jpoulos at 2:32 PM on September 5, 2001

It's a good idea for consciencous link posters who worry about whether their link is right for posting. But what of the 10kers who can't even get that part right?

Voluntary is what Mefi has been so far.




(Also, if I come off annoyed, please note I have not smoked in over 24 hours and have something due in 1.)
posted by perplexed at 4:22 PM on September 5, 2001

Me too. To Rogers, not Andre.
posted by anildash at 7:55 PM on September 5, 2001

How about new members must submit their first n posts to the "Is this okay?" queue. If we want to be really harsh to the newbies, they can't post directly to the front page until they have managed to get at least x posts promoted from the review queue.
posted by daveadams at 8:47 PM on September 5, 2001

But what of the 10kers who can't even get that part right?

Though MetaFilter has 10,000 registered members, I think there are no more than 150 who set the tone of the site by their front-page links and discussion comments.
posted by rcade at 9:05 PM on September 5, 2001

I see your point.

You're right, providing an alternate way to post a link would be a good thing.
posted by perplexed at 10:10 PM on September 5, 2001

I think that's a great idea. As someone who's new, I have been pretty reluctant to post something that I think is cool because I was afraid of backlash. This would help people get into the groove of the MeFi culture.

rcade: did you go to UNT?
posted by lnicole at 10:36 PM on September 5, 2001

... the 10kers...*giggle*

Not quite sure why I find that so amusing.

The day is coming when the 10kers will band together with the 20kers to overthrow the Cabal.

Pointless semi-humour aside, I think daveadams is right about the "newbie needs to get at least x posts promoted from the review queue" to post idea.

I think "I'm not sure if everyone would think this is as cool as I do, submit it to the review queue." might be too long a phrase for a button though. :-)

posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:39 PM on September 5, 2001

did you go to UNT?

I went there for the last four years of my 6.5-year plan, graduating in 1991. There are probably still people there who are angry about things I published as editor of the NT Daily.
posted by rcade at 5:34 AM on September 6, 2001

The idea sounds pretty good, but it will probably turn into the junkpile described by jpoulos. Who among us will want to wade through it to vote on the good posts? Eventually, the junkophiles will be doing the lion's share of the voting. If it helps keep the quality of the front page up, it might be worth trying, though.
posted by gimli at 7:16 AM on September 6, 2001

If it's monitored by people I don't think it'd turn into the junkpile because who's going to want us to review something they know is crappity crap, especially when they can just post it directly on the front page to waste Matt's time anyway.
posted by cCranium at 8:40 AM on September 7, 2001