Why you should join my favorite website

[tzikeh]

193 reasons (as of 8:50 pm Central time) to join MetaFilter.

The post asks: What do you know now that you didn't know before Metafilter?

Here's one of 226 answers (as of 12:51 am Central time):

I've learned a lot about being more sensitive in my conversation, most notably on the subject of rape culture.
I've learned about invisible backpacks and how racism is more about imbalances in power than anything else, often in ways the powerful can't see.
I've learned about some great musicians, movies and web resources.
I've learned the arguments against religion haven't changed in the last millennia or two, but the internet allows people to express those arguments and find support for each other like never before (which is a good thing).
I've learned what the "tone argument" is and that it is very unwelcome by some people.
And I learned about Minecraft... fuckers.

And here's another:

The most earthshaking thing was discovering that I've been peeling bananas the wrong way all my life. Seriously, I was staggered -- like, what other basic bedrock elements of daily existence have I been obliviously fucking up for 49 years?

And another:

I learned a better way to dispose of the bodies.

(BTW: this is entirely true.)

MetaFilter is the only place on the Internet where the mantra of "DON'T READ THE COMMENTS" is suspended. MetaFilter's raison d'être is for you to read the comments, because MeFites are pretty much the smartest, most interesting people on the Internet--even the ones I disagree with on every single thing there is to disagree on.

Join MetaFilter. Read the comments. And then, when you're ready, make comments of your own.

Comments

[skelody.livejournal.com]

Wasn't Metafilter the site where people were all like "...what's rape culture. Lol. Conspiracy theory?"

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

That's like saying "Isn't livejournal that site where people were all like "...what's rape culture. Lol. Conspiracy theory?"

There are over 12,000 *active* posters/commenters at MetaFilter (and I believe close to 50,000 members who just read). A few of them didn't know what rape culture is. They were schooled. When new people join, a few of *them* won't know what rape culture is. They will be schooled. And now, a number of men on MetaFilter who were schooled have learned what rape culture is, when they previously didn't believe in it, and are now hyper-aware of it.

Unlike most people on livejournal, people at MetaFilter listen to one another, and learn things, and when they begin to understand concepts that they had previously believed to be ridiculous or fabricated or some kind of misconstrued groupthink, they admit it, they apologize, and they comment about what they've learned. The site is the single-best moderated site I have ever seen, hands-down. It encourages intelligent, rational, thoughtful discussion, even if it is sometimes heated, as well as silliness, in-jokes, etc. Ad hominem attacks are forbidden. Asshole-ish comments are removed. There are ongoing discussions within the community about the community itself, including how we communicate with one another and how we use the site. The moderators are extremely responsive, and receptive to concerns and ideas. Member's ideas for new features are often coded in, if the mods think they will benefit the members.

So, to directly answer your question: no, MetaFilter was not "the site where people were all like "...what's rape culture. Lol. Conspiracy theory?"." Some people there had never head the phrase and some people thought that the concept was ridiculous. Vigorous schooling was administered.

People like that don't stay long, because they discover that MetaFilter is not like Digg or YouTube; if you're an asshole, and you're not willing to listen, and respect other members, you're not welcome. This is not your 14-year-old cousin's Internet.

one more thing

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I bet you didn't actually read what is at the link before you made your comment about what you thought MetaFilter is.

Maybe read it.

Re: one more thing

[skelody.livejournal.com]

You're wrong.

Re: one more thing

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Fair enough; I stand corrected.

for example

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

if you'd read the comments at the link, you would have seen things like this:

What do you know now that you didn't know before Metafilter?

I've learned a lot about being more sensitive in my conversation, most notably on the subject of rape culture.
I've learned about invisible backpacks and how racism is more about imbalances in power than anything else, often in ways the powerful can't see.
I've learned about some great musicians, movies and web resources.
I've learned the arguments against religion haven't changed in the last millenia or two, but the internet allows people to express those arguments and find support for each other like never before (which is a good thing).
I've learned what the "tone argument" is and that it is very unwelcome by some people.
And I learned about Minecraft... fuckers.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

So, um... I always thought MetaFilter was that site you looked at to see what people were looking for on the web. Outside of a few links from your LJ, I've never really understood what it's purpose was -- and that seemed to be just answering questions from people. Or heated discussions about things.

I don't see anything actually explaining what the site does. It's not a... hangout place, or a forum, is it? I mean, it doesn't seem like that. It seems like a place to ask questions. So why do I want to join? To be able to ask, or answer? What's the basic raison?

School me, baby.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

MetaFilter has three main sections, and five sub-sections.

The main site, MetaFilter (called "the blue," because the background is blue), is for members to post interesting finds on the web for discussion--they could be breaking news stories, or a link to a fascinating website of abstract art, or a collection of links about how the Internet changed deaf culture, or, well, absolutely anything. Post styles vary from a single link to something the poster feels is worth discussing, to a post crafted by the poster over several days about a particular subject, with links to all kinds of related sites. Discussion ensues in the comments.

Ask MetaFilter ("the green") is the part of the site where members can ask questions about absolutely anything, from "I'm looking for songs about people being put to death for crimes that someone else committed" to "I have a friend who wants to propose to his girlfriend in Napa Valley, CA in the spring. Any suggestions as to location?" to "How can I find this recently discontinued part for my GE Range hood?" to "In ColdFusion 7, How do I find every URL in a string containing HTML, and replace them with root-relative versions?" The rules of the site are quite clear about answers (first of all, they have to *answer the question*), and the AskMeFi site is carefully moderated (actually, the whole site is astoundingly moderated by amazing people).

MetaTalk ("the gray") is where members can post questions, suggestions, complaints, or compliments about the site itself, or where they can discuss posts that have been made on other parts of the site, when the specific discussion they want to have would be off-topic within the comments on the post in question.

The sub-sections are "projects," where members can link to things they've created/are working on; "music," where the (amazing number of) members who are musicians can post their music to share; "jobs" is self-explanatory; "podcast" is a once-a-month podcast that covers various things about the site (content and/or new code) from the past month; and "IRL" is In Real Life, where MeFites plan meetups at restaurants or coffeehouses or bookstores, and invite other MeFites in their areas to things like their performances, or trips to museum exhibits, or whatever.

I spend most of my time on the blue and the gray, with some on the green, depending. I've slowly begun to hang out in IRL, to see what's going on with Chicago MeFites.

Any other questions and I'm happy to answer them!

Helpful links:

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

About: What the hell is MetaFilter, anyway? (First lines: Metafilter is a weblog that anyone can contribute a link or a comment to. A typical weblog is one person posting their thoughts on the unique things they find on the web. This website exists to break down the barriers between people, to extend a weblog beyond just one person, and to foster discussion among its members.)

At the "about" page, you'll find a video of Matt Haughey, who created the site, giving a talk at GEL 2010 about the history of the site, and sharing some of the Best Of stories.

Membership: our guiding principle is that we trust one another, and how to contribute fruitfully.

Guidelines: What's a good MetaFilter post? What's a bad MetaFilter post?

The moderators are astoundingly good at their jobs. Assholery is simply not tolerated. That doesn't mean that arguments don't get heated, but the mods will delete comments that are beyond the pale, and they *will* ban users who abuse the site.

Something you'll appreciate: MetaFilter Loves Proper Grammar and Spelling.

EVERYONE on MetaFilter (for a generalized definition of "everyone") is really, really smart.

I suggest browsing; or, if you like, I could do a search for some of my favorite threads, but that'll take me some time.

[aerynvala.livejournal.com]

I found Metafilter right after the September 11th attacks, actually. Joined later that month. I mostly read the site, and I am off & on again about doing that. But yeah, it's a great site. :)

[greywingnut.livejournal.com]

I've had an account there for years, but I've never taken much advantage of it. I think I need to spend more time there. I don't really have an internet "home" right now. Maybe that's the place for me to be.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I gotta tell you, you could do much worse. I have so much love for MetaFilter, even when there are days that I want to set it on fire, I know that it's because we *care* so much that people get very, very passionate.

(Also, everyone spells correctly.)

Plus, as het up as we can get about our own bugaboos, or people who are WRONG ON THE INTERNET, the membership as a whole can almost instantly get goofy in unison, depending upon the subject.

I've made some really good friends there, and I've made some fascinating acquaintances there. And every once in a blue moon, someone (or a few people) are so specifically and intellectually elegant and persuasive that they've changed my mind on a topic or two. That's... not easy to do.

It's a wonderful place. Jump in.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Argh. Between LJ and DWth I already have enough timesucks. MF would be one more.

[jackiekjono.livejournal.com]

Metafilter is the one place on the internet where somebody noticed my Beckett essay and said nice things.

http://www.metafilter.com/19315/

[the-shoshanna.livejournal.com]

I appreciate getting pointed to fabulous things on MeFi, but I just don't have time to hang out there. (And if I had time, I'd be doing...something else.)

(MeFi also makes me incredibly glad of my zap all the crap bookmarklet; the site givesme eyestrain. But that's zappable!)