MetaTalk

Following up on some concerns raised in MetaTalk threads from a few weeks ago about the role of the Steering Committee and having volunteers working for a for-profit company. This is not the outcome we were hoping for, but it's the one we got. [more inside]
posted by jessamyn on Mar 29, 2023 - 89 comments

MetaFilter Events is back for a while to bring you two free standalone events featuring two significant figures from the Web’s early days: Ryan North (webcomic creator, known for his work with Dinosaur Comics and Marvel Comics), and Drew Curtis (founder of Fark). Take a break from your work week, and come reminisce and revisit the early days of the Internet. Join us as we ask some early Web movers and shakers about their experiences, how they made what they did, how they rose to prominence, what they’re doing now, and where the Web is going from here. [more inside]
posted by aielen on Mar 29, 2023 - 8 comments

PSA: This week is the last call for user nominations to the second Steering Committee, which will be setting policy and overseeing the budget for the year ahead. Do you want to help chart a course for this community (or know someone who would make a great pick)? Send in your nominations today! Or check inside for more details and questions answered. [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Mar 22, 2023 - 52 comments

After an initial six-month period marked by a successful fundraiser, volunteer projects, and the start of a long process of establishing important tools and processes for the operation of the site, the MetaFilter Steering Committee (SC) is launching a second round of elections to replace departing members and help us continue our efforts to improve MeFi. Can you build on the progress made addressing the site's urgent needs, partner with diverse stakeholders from the membership, admin, and others, and coordinate with a committed group of volunteers to set MetaFilter's direction? Do you have relevant expertise, a desire to give back to this community, and the time and capacity to put its ideas into action? If so, we want you! Self-nominations will be open from March 1st through midnight Pacific Time on the 15th, with a voting period to follow. Check inside for details! [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Mar 1, 2023 - 165 comments

A few months ago we came to you with information we had just learned about the dire financial state of MetaFilter. The site was losing money every month and the cash reserves keeping it afloat had run dry. The situation was grim. But MeFites, you stepped up in a big, big way: recurring contributions have gone up by $9,863.10 and we have received $78,857.91 in one-time contributions (both figures are net). This means that according to our targets MetaFilter has more than enough budget to Survive, and is within striking distance of Revive! There are more details inside about the specifics of the fundraiser and how the funds will be used, so please keep reading… [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Jan 23, 2023 - 296 comments

Welcome to our final week (Week 4) of 2022’s Metafilter Events - MetaFilter Week! Get to know Jessamyn and the admin, meet the Steering Committee, discover the secret sauce in MetaFilter's approach to moderation, check out creative performances by fellow Mefites and participate in Metafilter Trivia Night! Along the way, learn more about internet communities and content moderation - and how technology is shaping the way we communicate and act collectively. [more inside]
posted by aielen on Dec 13, 2022 - 18 comments

The MetaFilter Auction has ended - but it’ll be back soon! Thank you to everyone who contributed items, and everyone who placed bids. It raised around $5,740 for the 2022 MetaFilter Fundraiser (approximate because some generous Mefites overpaid for their items). It was the first time we've tried something like this, so we’re delighted at the community response, and we’re planning another round in the new year. [more inside]
posted by tavegyl on Dec 12, 2022 - 19 comments

Week 3 of Metafilter Events is here! Following Week 2, we’re moving on to a week that probes themes and topics around social justice, government, policy and research. You’ll learn more about advocacy and activism - and how you can have your voice heard on issues that matter to you. Find out more about Big Tech content moderation policies and how this affects you, get some perspective on the situation in Iran, and learn about the environmental impact of manufacturing. For those in the U.S, get the lowdown on current developments in redistricting policy and affordable housing policy - and what this means for the future. Complete your weekend with a creative doodling workshop, and hear about the gamification of everyday life from Metafilter’s own Adrian Hon. Come inside to find out more. [more inside]
posted by aielen on Dec 6, 2022 - 19 comments

Week 2 of Metafilter Events is here! Following Week 1, we’re back with more as we kick off a week about books, fiction and the humanities. (NaNoWriMo participants - this week is calling your name ✨ ) [more inside]
posted by aielen on Nov 28, 2022 - 12 comments

The inaugural Metafilter Events is finally here! As one of the closing initiatives under our Metafilter Fundraising Drive, our online events series features presentations, workshops and discussions across a fascinating range of topics, themes and perspectives - from Mefites and friends-of-Mefites that have generously volunteered to speak and/or teach on these subjects. Tickets, bundled passes and gift cards are available now, and you can also sponsor fellow Mefites to attend paid events. [more inside]
posted by aielen on Nov 19, 2022 - 45 comments

We’ve blown past our Survive target thanks to you, and are well on our way to being able to 🌱Revive🌱 Metafilter! As we enter the final week of the Metafilter Fundraiser 2022, here’s what you can do to help push the site over the finish line. [more inside]
posted by tavegyl on Nov 16, 2022 - 85 comments

We asked Mefites for funds, we opened up site finances to show their dire state, and you stepped up. Today, we’re only $500 a month away from our Survive target!* The community is coming together to keep the lights on at our shared online home. But we need to go further to safeguard Metafilter’s future. It’s time to 🌱Revive Metafilter.🌱 [more inside]
posted by wesleyac on Nov 9, 2022 - 104 comments

The Metafilter Auction is now live! Head over to https://www.myminiauction.com/metafilter and place your bids. It’s part of Metafilter’s Fundraising Drive - to contribute directly, visit Help Fund Metafilter! Take a look at the listings and comment below to tell us which ones you love! [more inside]
posted by Glinn on Nov 6, 2022 - 69 comments

In preparation for the 2022 Fundraising Drive, the MetaFilter Steering Committee has been trawling through the site’s finances and fundraising history. Here’s what we’ve found - and why we’re asking you to contribute to funding the site. [more inside]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson on Nov 2, 2022 - 166 comments

Seven days into our fundraiser, here’s an update on where we stand. (Click here to help fund Metafilter). [more inside]
posted by tavegyl on Nov 2, 2022 - 54 comments

Metafilter depends almost entirely on user contributions. The community needs your help to stay up and running and to improve in the future. Contributions, especially recurring contributions, are what pay for servers, moderators and technical support. Please contribute through the Metafilter funding page! [more inside]
posted by tavegyl on Oct 24, 2022 - 288 comments

The MetaFilter Steering Committee is excited to bring you the first Steering Committee Check-In! Inside we have some updates on what we’ve done in the past month, what we’re working on this month, and a request for input from the community. [more inside]
posted by lazaruslong on Oct 3, 2022 - 84 comments

Hi y’all, we have the final results for the inaugural Metafilter Steering Committee, so without further ado, here they are, in alphabetical order: [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher on Aug 29, 2022 - 196 comments

Voting for members of the Steering Committee is now open. The vote will run from 5pm GMT August 15 to 5pm GMT August 25. Each user has seven votes (i.e. can vote for up to seven people). Your ballot is at https://www.metafilter.com/voting/, and you can change your votes at any time up until the election closes. [more inside]
posted by curious nu on Aug 15, 2022 - 322 comments

The Transition Team (TT) is now seeking self-nominations from people who would like to become members of the MetaFilter Steering Committee (SC). Self-nominations will be open July 25 through August 7. SC member selections and voting will take place over the following weeks. The Steering Committee will launch on September 1, 2022. [more inside]
posted by curious nu on Jul 25, 2022 - 176 comments

Hi everyone, as promised, we’re sharing the initial survey results. Huge thank-you to iamkimiam for writing the questions, and to bleep, kimberrussell, librarylis, mochapickle, tiny frying pan, and valleys for stepping in to help us tag and summarize the data. bleep jumped in and put together some great dashboards for us to more easily count tags, do error-checking and get a handle on how to start those summaries. Again, these are the initial summaries for this MetaTalk, so necessarily a little abbreviated, but we hope it gives a broad-strokes picture of where the site is right now. [more inside]
posted by curious nu on Jul 17, 2022 - 169 comments

Update on how we're processing the user survey, and a couple of community questions related to it. [more inside]
posted by curious nu on Jun 27, 2022 - 84 comments

The MetaFilter Transition Team (TT) is excited and pleased to announce a MetaFilter User Survey (May, 2022). This is the first major step the TT is taking to help MetaFilter be more sustainable and community-driven. [more inside]
posted by curious nu on May 23, 2022 - 76 comments