Most Favorited Posts in the Past 7 Days:
Happy 20th Anniversary, MetaFilter
MetaFilter, that weird blue site (and, yep, we've finally turned it blue again), is 20 years old today.
It's a thrilling and boggling and remarkable and ungainly and heartening number. I've had trouble figuring out what the thing is that I want to say about the site today, and I've realized the problem is there's no one thing. MetaFilter is too complex, its history too complicated, to reduce to a tidy anecdote.
But I want to talk a little about what it means to me, and what I want it to aspire to, and to reflect a little bit on this twenty year milestone on an unsteady world wide web.
It's a thrilling and boggling and remarkable and ungainly and heartening number. I've had trouble figuring out what the thing is that I want to say about the site today, and I've realized the problem is there's no one thing. MetaFilter is too complex, its history too complicated, to reduce to a tidy anecdote.
But I want to talk a little about what it means to me, and what I want it to aspire to, and to reflect a little bit on this twenty year milestone on an unsteady world wide web.
State of the Site, July 2019 update
Hey, folks. It's been about a year since our last State of the Site update, and I want to let you know where things are at and where we're headed. The site turns 20 years old in a few days, which is a hell of an internet milestone. Financially, I wish I had better news: our ad revenue has dropped significantly again, and we're running at a significant monthly shortfall. This has underscored for me the need to seriously push toward the goal of making MetaFilter a fully community-funded site. Come inside and I'll talk more about our revenue picture, our short- and long-term fundraising goals, and some of where the site and community and mods are at more generally as we head on into the future.
Today was a good day for "Best of the Web"
On July 12 on the blue there were over 40 posts. They ranged in topic from alchemy to the struggles of black movie directors to making terrariums to giant moths and ghost orchids and a slew of other interesting topics.
I haven't seen a day like today in quite some time and jumped down the rabbit hole numerous times. This is what I love about Metafilter and what has kept me here for 18 years.
Well done, Mefites!
Following up on last month’s discussions: immediate actions and planning
Let's talk about how the MetaFilter community can be a more welcoming, comfortable, and equitable place for our non-white members. It's work that's overdue, from the moderation team and the community in general. There's a lot of context here, so read below before commenting. And it's vital that the voices at the center of this discussion are the community members with the most direct stakes in these issues, so if you're a member of the site's white demographic majority, you need to mostly be listening rather than speaking.
Proposal: Bookmarks cleanup month
Can we do a "post something interesting from your bookmarks" month?
Hugging Hugs
As we all know, everyone needs a hug! And as many know, the Fucking Fuck threads have been evolving, from the originally-intended politics venting space into a more personal venting forum and hugs distribution center. In recognition of this evolution and the kind support that has been shown in the Fucking Fuck threads, this is a new venting thread for everyone who needs a hug.
AskMe answer on how what to say to the dying.
Looking for an incredibly empathetic answer to an AskMe with what to say to someone when they are dying.
Following up on last month’s discussions: medium and long-term work
First, check out this other post today for necessary context and the immediate-term actions that the mod team is taking. This additional post is a roadmap for the future changes that we are considering, actions we have planned but haven't finished implementing yet, and some site issues that are not as directly related to the previous threads but tie into this process regardless.
Update on K & S
Update on K & S (and the effects of your support).
Hearing from our members of color
In this recent MeTa, the community discussed the ways in which Metafilter does not serve people of color well. So this post is a space for discussion, dedicated for people of color. If you identify as a person of color, and you have suggestions, complaints, or just thoughts about the site, please share them here!
No "children" category
I just posted an AskMe in the Grab Bag category because I did not find a Parenting/Grandparenting or Children category. Librarians and others, should I have posted it to Human Relations instead? Just looking for a general consensus about where to post such things next time until/unless we add a Children category to Ask. (I think this has been raised in the past but couldn't find a thread when I did a quick search.)
Metatalktail Hour: We Solved the Problem, So Everything Is Awesome
Good Saturday evening, MetaFilter! Quietgal asks, "What's the best bit of troubleshooting or problem-solving you've ever performed or watched?" I expand it to, What problem have you solved recently that has improved your life in tiny or huge ways? Feel free to link to problem-solving products!
Word for the dying?
My grandfather is dying. I am on my way to help my uncle and grandmom take care of him. I knew this day would come and at some point in the past I thought I had favorited a comment about how to help the dying let go. I cannot find the comment. Can you all help me find it? It was something along the lines of "it is ok. You did good. We will be ok."but I think there was more than that.
The Fifth Hyuck
This is the 5th in a series of Hyucking Hyuck threads, for riffing, joking, and misc. non-hollerin' overflow from politics discussion on the blue. If it breaks up the flow in a politics discussion, this is a better place for it.
Crouton Petting Over IP
crouton petting, n.
1. the state of feeling or expressing an anthropomorphized fondness, affection, or compassion for inanimate objectsMetaFilter has only been able to accommodate that first definition (cf. this discussion among others)...until now. Thanks to recent improvements in both baking and recombinant genetics, we're happy to announce the opening of the world's first interactive Crouton Petting Zoo.
2. the state of just literally petting some actual croutons
Concentration Camps, How Best to Help?
I was hoping we could make a place to talk about the humanitarian crisis at the U.S. border and private prison facilities, help each other with the best information and resources, and maybe talk about if people are going to the MoveOn Protest/Rally July 2 or the Indivisible one on July 13 (or is that just Chicago)? Or know of other plans?
June 30 "Families Belong Together" rally catch-all
Initially envisioned as an Ask post about sign slogans, I'm switching to a MetaTalk post to encompass anyone's need for ideas around signs, organizing, strategies, post-rally experiences, etc. for this weekend's (June 30, 2018) Families Belong Together rally.
Pokemongo friend codes
PokemonGo introduced friends today. Starts with level 40. Let us be friends!
Metatalktail Hour: Childhood Fun
Good Saturday evening, MetaFilter! This week, I want to know your favorite things to do as a child. Can kids still do that today? If you were a kid today, what would you be itching to do?
Spoilers on FanFare
My understanding was that FanFare is a place for people who have seen/read a thing to talk about that work. While spoilers are not allowed above the fold, they are absolutely allowed in the [more inside] and flat-out standard and to be expected in the comments within. Are we not all in agreement on that?