MeFi WIRED

Metafilter is an online community that has been around for 25 years. It was founded in 1999 as a curated space to share interesting links. It fosters a sense of community and shared discovery. Unlike most social media platforms, Metafilter uses a chronological feed and is text-only. It is known for its Ask Metafilter section, where users can ask any question and receive helpful answers. Metafilter has also played a role in debunking online hoaxes and promoting digital literacy. The community values quality over quantity and genuine human connection. I ever get the feeling like the internet's just stuck on fast forward, it's like trends change overnight, new platforms, they pop up faster than you can learn their names, you know? Yeah. It's all a bit much sometimes. For sure. But you know what I find fascinating? There are these little corners, these online communities that seem almost untouched by all the chaos, you know? Right, yeah. Where people still connect in ways that feel almost, dare I say, intentional. Yeah, yeah. And that brings us to today's deep dive, Metafilter. Mephi, as the regulars call it. Exactly, Mephi. Yeah. It's been around for 25 years, which in internet years- I know, right? Is like, well, you get the idea. Ancient. Ancient. It's a survivor. Wired even called it a cockroach that survived in a recent article. Oh yeah, I saw that. Now, before you think cockroach, trust me, it's a compliment in the best way possible. I think so, yeah. We'll unpack that a little later. We've got two main sources for our deep dive today. First up, good old Wikipedia gives us that basic Metafilter rundown. And to bring things to life a bit, we're also drawing from that recent Wired article we mentioned, which really gets into the heart of what makes Metafilter so unique. Cool. So what is Metafilter really? Yeah, good question. Picture this. It's 1999. The internet is still finding its feet. Oh, wow. Yeah. And Matt Hawley, the founder, has this idea. What if there was a curated space to share interesting links? Okay. Think of it like the original best of the web, but handpicked and shared by actual humans, not algorithms. I like it. It's like, back then, the internet was less about algorithms deciding what you see and more about people building their own little corners of the web. Right. Metafilter really tapped into that desire, but it also fostered something more, a real sense of community and shared discovery. And that's where it gets really interesting, right? As Metafilter grew, Matt had to make a choice. In 2004, he did something almost unheard of, especially back then. Yeah. He introduced a $5 lifetime membership fee. Wow. $5 to join the club. Really? And that really changed things, didn't it? Yeah. I think so. Because that $5, it wasn't just about money. It was a filter. Right. It weeded out people who weren't serious, who weren't willing to invest even a tiny bit in being part of something different, you know? It's that old saying, right? If it's free, you're the product. But on Metafilter, that small fee sent a message. It created a space where people actually cared about the discussions about the community itself. Yeah. And that comes through in everything. I mean, even the Wired article, right? They talked about Metafilter as smart people discussing what's cool on the internet. It goes beyond just sharing links. They dissect, debate, dive deep. It's different. It's really refreshing, actually. Yeah. And it's not just who you find on Metafilter. It's the whole experience. Yeah. It's actually true. Think about how most social media works today, right? Algorithms are constantly deciding what you see. Right. What's most likely to grab your attention to keep you scrolling, all that. Yeah. But Metafilter, they do things a little different, like a lot differently. They do. It's almost radical, really. Yeah. Metafilter uses a strictly chronological feed. Okay. So everything appears in the order it's posted. Everything. Exactly. No fancy algorithms trying to game your attention or anything. Interesting. So it's like reading a newspaper, remember those. Right. You start at the top and work your way down. No skipping ahead, no being bombarded with ads or suggested content. Just a steady stream of conversation unfolding in real time. That's kind of refreshing, isn't it? It is. And this might be the most surprising detail for anyone who hasn't actually experienced it firsthand. Yeah. But Metafilter is text only. What? Wow. No images, no videos, none of those flashy distractions. Wow. So it's like stepping back in time to the internet's early days. A little bit. Yeah. But in a good way. You're forced to engage with the ideas themselves, with the written word. You actually have to read and think about what other people are saying. It's lost art. It is. It really is. I mean, it's a stark contrast to the modern internet where it's all about visuals and short form content. Yeah, for sure. But Metafilter, it reminds us that sometimes the most engaging conversations happen when we slow down, take a breath, and actually read what others have to say. Absolutely. And speaking of engaging conversations, we have to talk about Ask Metafilter. Oh, yeah. Ask Metafilter. This is where that cockroach analogy really starts to make sense. Right. Remember how Wired used that term? I do. Yeah. To describe Metafilter's ability to kind of withstand the test of time. Well, Ask Metafilter is a perfect example of that resilience, I think. For sure. I mean, it's like the community's own collective brain, right? Yeah. And it's been around way before platforms like Quora or Reddit really took off. Oh, absolutely. And the sheer variety of questions is astounding. Oh, I bet. I mean, from the deeply personal to the utterly trivial, you know, everything. But here's the thing that gets me. Like on Metafilter, no question is too strange or too small. It's true. And the answers you find on Ask Metafilter, they often go beyond what you get from a simple Google search. Totally. It's like having access to a network of incredibly knowledgeable friends, all eager to share their expertise and experience. And that willingness to help, to share, it really speaks to the heart of what makes Metafilter so special. You know? Yeah. It's different. It's not just about consuming information. It's about connecting with other human beings, sharing knowledge, and supporting each other. Yeah. And sometimes that support takes on a more, I don't know, somber tone. Yeah. We're talking about the tradition on Metafilter. Oh, right. This one really struck me when I first learned about it. It's powerful. It's a powerful reminder that even in an online space, those connections are real. And like the loss is felt deeply, you know? Yeah. For sure. And speaking of the power of this community, we can't forget about Metafilter's role in debunking online hoaxes. Oh, great. Right. I mean, we've all seen how quickly misinformation can spread online these days. Totally. Yeah. But Metafilter has this knack for like sniffing out the truth. They do. Do you remember the Casey Nicole hoax? Oh, yeah. How could I forget? One of the first big internet hoaxes, really. Huge. And Metafilter played a key role in unraveling the whole thing. Totally. See, this is what I love about Ask Metafilter. It's like that friend, you know, who always seems to know a little something about everything. Right. Need to research a rare book. Ask Metafilter. Exactly. Trying to track down like a vintage board game. Ask Metafilter. I want to get to the bottom of some internet mystery that's been bugging you for years. Ask Metafilter. Ask Metafilter. They have the answers. They were way ahead of their time, really. Remember, this was before like collaborative fact-checking became, you know, commonplace. Right. It was the Metafilter community with their, you know, diverse backgrounds and a healthy dose of skepticism who really started like piecing together the inconsistencies in the Casey Nicole story. Yeah. They were doing it before it was cool. Yeah. Exactly. It's like a real-life internet detective story. You know? It really is. And it speaks to the spirit of, I don't know, digital literacy, critical thinking, whatever you call it. It's clear that Metafilter users, they don't just accept things at face value. They dig deeper. They ask questions and, you know, they hold each other accountable. Which is so important, especially online. It's like that resilient little cockroach, right? Exactly. Which, you know, makes you wonder, what's the secret sauce? How has Metafilter managed to not just survive, but thrive for so long in a digital landscape that's constantly shifting? It's a good question. And I don't know if there's like one easy answer, you know? Okay. But I think part of it is that Metafilter has never tried to be like everything to everyone. Yeah. You know? It's carved out this unique niche for itself. For sure. And it's stuck to its principles. Yeah. You know? It's still discussion, authentic connection, and that, you know, ever so slightly old school internet vibe. It's a good vibe. It is a good vibe. And maybe that's like the most important lesson we can take from Metafilter's story. Yeah. In a world of endless feeds and algorithmic echo chambers, there's still a place for online spaces that value quality over quantity, right? Right. Community over clout. Totally. And genuine human connection over everything else. Couldn't have said it better myself. So, hey, if you're tired of the internet's, you know, frenetic pace, if you're looking for a place to actually engage in thoughtful conversations and, you know, connect with a community that values like curiosity and authenticity, well... Head over to Metafilter. You might just want to wander over to Metafilter. Who knows? You might even find yourself sticking around. Yeah. It's pretty great. And that's it for our deep dive into the world of Metafilter. We'll catch you next time for another fascinating exploration of the online world. See you then. Until then, happy browsing.