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{{short description|General-interest community weblog}}
{{Update|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox Websitewebsite
| name = MetaFilter
| faviconlogo =
| logo =
| screenshot = MetaFilter screenshot 2015.jpg
| screenshot_size = 250
| caption =
| url = {{official URL|www.metafilter.com}}
| commercial = ▼
| alexa = {{DecreasePositive}} 2,787 ({{as of|2015|3|3|alt=March 2015}})<ref name="alexa">{{cite web|url= http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/metafilter.com |title= Metafilter.com Site Info | publisher= [[Alexa Internet]] |accessdate= 2015-03-03 }}</ref>
▲| commercial =
| type = Community Weblog
| registration = Required to contribute
| owner = MetaFilter Network LLC
| author = [[Matthew Haughey]]<ref name="washpost">{{cite webnews |last1last=Dewey |first1first=Caitlin |title=Metafilter’sMetafilter's downfall is the perfect metaphor for the way we Internet now |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/05/22/metafilters-downfall-is-the-perfect-metaphor-for-the-way-we-internet-now/ |publishernewspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 22, 2014 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022549/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/05/22/metafilters-downfall-is-the-perfect-metaphor-for-the-way-we-internet-now/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| users = 47,691 active users<ref>{{Cite web |title=MetaFilter activity stats |url=https://mefist.at/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=mefist.at}}</ref>
| launch datelaunch_date = {{start date and age|1999|7|14}}
| current statuscurrent_status = Active
| revenue =▼
| key_people = [[Jessamyn West (librarian)|Jessamyn West]]
▲| revenue =
}}
 
'''MetaFilter''', known as '''MeFi''' to its members,<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://metatalk.metafilter.com/13682/Announcing-the-new-weekly-MeFi-podcast |title=1: The First One &#124; MetaTalk |publisher=MetatalkMetaTalk.metafilterMetaFilter.com |date=February 16, 2007 |accessdateaccess-date=2009November 22, 2018 |archive-03date=November 23, 2018 |archive-25url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065617/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/13682/Announcing-the-new-weekly-MeFi-podcast |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://metatalk.metafilter.com/11398/Pronunciation-of-MeFi-and-MeFite |title=Pronunciation of MeFi and MeFite? &#124; MetaTalk |publisher=MetatalkMetaTalk.metafilterMetaFilter.com |date=March 2, 2006 |accessdateaccess-date=2009November 22, 2018 |archive-03date=November 23, 2018 |archive-25url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022817/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/11398/Pronunciation-of-MeFi-and-MeFite |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://metatalk.metafilter.com/14804/MeFil |title=MeFil &#124; MetaTalk |publisher=MetatalkMetaTalk.metafilterMetaFilter.com |date=August 29, 2007 |accessdateaccess-date=2009November 22, 2018 |archive-03date=November 23, 2018 |archive-25url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065534/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/14804/MeFil |url-status=live }}</ref> is a general-interest [[Online community|community]] [[weblog]], founded in 1999 and based in the [[United States]], featuring links to content that users have discovered on the web. Since 2003, it has included the popular question-and-answer subsite Ask MetaFilter. The site has sixeight paid staff members as of December 2021, including the owner,.<ref>{{Cite and,web|title=Who asare ofthe earlymoderators? 2011,{{!}} aboutMetaFilter FAQ|url=http://faq.metafilter.com/33/Who-is-in-charge-here-Are-there-admins-and-moderators-like-other-sites|access-date=2021-12-01|website=faq.metafilter.com|archive-date=2021-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129045714/http://faq.metafilter.com/33/Who-is-in-charge-here-Are-there-admins-and-moderators-like-other-sites|url-status=live}}</ref> MetaFilter has about 47,000691 active members as of May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MetaFilter activity stats |url=https://mefist.at/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=mefist.at}}</ref>
 
==Community==
From its early beginnings as a small [[community]] of webloggers who traded links, the weblog now enjoys international popularity. Members are permitted to make one [[Blog|post]] to the [[homepage|front page]] per day, which must feature at least one link. Members may then comment on these posts.<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web |url=https://www.metafilter.com/faq.mefi#5 |title=MetaFilter FAQ: How soon can I post again after making a post? |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065606/https://www.metafilter.com/faq.mefi#5 |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
MetaFilter was founded by [[Matthew Haughey]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jan/12/netbytes-metafilter|title=The shock of the old: MetaFilter may be just what you need|last=Schofield|first=Jack|date=2009-01-12|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-04-14}}</ref> Haughey wrote the software for the site himself, using [[Macromedia ColdFusion]] and [[Microsoft SQL Server]].<ref>
{{cite web
|url = http://www.noor.bz/pdf/ali-hasan_metafilter.pdf
|title = MetaFilter: An Analysis of a Community Weblog
|author = Noor Ali-Hasan
|publisher = [[University of Michigan]] School of Information
|accessdate = 2007-03-06
|deadurl = yes
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070228115436/http://www.noor.bz/pdf/ali-hasan_metafilter.pdf
|archivedate = 2007-02-28
|df =
}}</ref> The earliest<ref>[http://www.metafilter.com/19/ MetaFilter] Retrieved 2013-07-14</ref> Front Page Post (FPP), concerning cats in scanners and the resulting pictures, debuted on July 14, 1999.
 
Although membership was initially free and unrestricted, growing membership forced frequent extended closures of new-member signup. On November 18, 2004, Haughey reopened signups, but with a US$5 life-time membership fee.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Carr |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/business/media/soothe-the-blog-and-reap-the-whirlwind.html |title=Soothe the Blog and Reap the Whirlwind |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 23, 2006 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=January 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112133438/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/business/media/soothe-the-blog-and-reap-the-whirlwind.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine in 2009, this fee had kept the site "remarkably free of trolls, [[griefer]]s and other anonymous jerks", yielding a "public-spirited flavor of a small town or good university".<ref name="time2009">{{cite magazine |last=Fisher |first=Adam |date=August 24, 2009 |title=50 Best Websites 2009: MetaFilter |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1918031_1918016_1917970,00.html |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]] |access-date=November 22, 2018}}</ref> Although the number of registrations has topped 100,000, a design flaw in the counting process means that it counts users who abandoned the signup process mid-way; the actual number of posters is smaller, at around 38,700 as of October 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/15658/Metafilter-Infodump-more-stats-than-you-can-shake-a-stick-at |title=Metafilter Infodump: more stats than you can shake a stick at. |date=January 22, 2008 |publisher=MetaTalk.MetaFilter.com |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065457/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/15658/Metafilter-Infodump-more-stats-than-you-can-shake-a-stick-at |url-status=live }}</ref>
▲From its early beginnings as a small [[community]] of webloggers who traded links, the weblog now enjoys international popularity. Members are permitted to make one [[Blog|post]] to the [[homepage|front page]] per day, which must feature at least one link. Members may then comment on these posts.
 
MetaFilter has developed a fairly stable community with a variety of [[in-joke]]s. Members regularly gather for meetups in cities around the world, and there are numerous websites with strong connections to MetaFilter members and subgroups, including MetaChat and MonkeyFilter, the latter getting its start during the period when MetaFilter memberships were closed. Readers can mark other users’users' comments as a favorite, and commenters derive pride from how many times they have been "favorited.".<ref>{{cite news |authorfirst=Allen |last=Salkin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/fashion/30commenters.html |title=All-Stars of the Clever Riposte |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 30, 2007}}{{subscription required|access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123023050/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/fashion/30commenters.html |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
Although membership was initially free and unrestricted, growing membership forced frequent extended closures of new-member signup. On November 18, 2004, Haughey reopened signups, but with a 5 USD life-time membership fee.<ref>{{cite news|author=David Carr|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/business/media/23carr.html|title= Soothe the Blog and Reap the Whirlwind|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 23, 2006}}{{subscription required}}</ref> According to ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, this fee keeps the site "remarkably free of trolls, [[griefer]]s and other anonymous jerks", resulting in a "public-spirited flavor of a small town or good university".<ref name="time2009">
==History==
{{cite news
MetaFilter was founded by [[Matthew Haughey]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jan/12/netbytes-metafilter |title=The shock of the old: MetaFilter may be just what you need |last=Schofield |first=Jack |newspaper=The Guardian |date=January 12, 2009 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617165929/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jan/12/netbytes-metafilter |url-status=live }}</ref> Haughey wrote the software for the site himself, using [[Macromedia ColdFusion]] and [[Microsoft SQL Server]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.noor.bz/pdf/ali-hasan_metafilter.pdf |title=MetaFilter: An Analysis of a Community Weblog |first=Noor |last=Ali-Hasan |publisher=[[University of Michigan]] School of Information |date=April 20, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228115436/http://www.noor.bz/pdf/ali-hasan_metafilter.pdf |archive-date=February 28, 2007 |access-date=November 22, 2018}}</ref> The earliest Front Page Post (FPP), concerning cats in scanners and the resulting pictures, debuted on July 14, 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metafilter.com/19/CatScancom |title=Cat-Scan.com |date=July 14, 1999 |website=MetaFilter.com |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022747/https://www.metafilter.com/19/CatScancom |url-status=live }}</ref>
|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1918031_1918016_1917970,00.html
|title=50 Best Websites 2009: MetaFilter
|publisher=[[TIME magazine]]
|date=2009-08-24
|accessdate=2009-08-24}}</ref> Although the number of registrations has topped 100,000, a design flaw in the counting process means that it counts users who abandoned the signup process mid way; the actual number of posters is smaller, at around 38,700 as of October 2008.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://metatalk.metafilter.com/15658/Metafilter-Infodump-more-stats-than-you-can-shake-a-stick-at
|title=Metafilter Infodump: more stats than you can shake a stick at.
|publisher=Metatalk.metafilter.com
|accessdate=2012-11-10}}</ref>
 
MetaFilter was included in ''Time''{{'}}s ''50 Best Websites 2009'' feature.<ref name="time2009"/>▼
▲MetaFilter has developed a fairly stable community with a variety of [[in-joke]]s. Members regularly gather for meetups in cities around the world, and there are numerous websites with strong connections to MetaFilter members and subgroups, including MetaChat and MonkeyFilter, the latter getting its start during the period when MetaFilter memberships were closed. Readers can mark other users’ comments as a favorite, and commenters derive pride from how many times they have been "favorited."<ref>{{cite news|author=Allen Salkin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/fashion/30commenters.html |title=All-Stars of the Clever Riposte|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 30, 2007}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
 
At [[South by Southwest#2011|SXSW 2011]], Haughey gave a talk in which he noted that MetaFilter had about 125,000 user accounts, of which 12,000 are active.<ref>{{cite web | url = httphttps://vimeo.com/21043675 | title = Lessons from 11 years of community (my SXSW 2011 talk) on Vimeo |access-date=November accessdate22, = 2011-03-152018 | last = Haughey | first = Matt | date =March 2011-03-14, |2011 |publisher = [[Vimeo]] |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403164529/https://vimeo.com/21043675 |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
▲MetaFilter was included in ''Time'''s ''50 Best Websites 2009'' feature.<ref name="time2009"/>
 
In November 2012, MetaFilter experienced a huge drop of traffic due to the [[Google Panda]] search update; specifically, the Ask MetaFilter page lost 40% of its traffic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://searchengineland.com/metafilter-penalized-google-192168|title=On MetaFilter Being Penalized By Google: An Explainer|date=2014-05-22|website=Search Engine Land|access-date=2019-02-02|archive-date=2019-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202095624/https://searchengineland.com/metafilter-penalized-google-192168|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://matt.haughey.com/on-the-future-of-metafilter-941d15ec96f0|title=On the Future of MetaFilter|last=Haughey|first=Matt|date=2014-05-21|website=Technology Musings|access-date=2019-02-02|archive-date=2017-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611084234/https://matt.haughey.com/on-the-future-of-metafilter-941d15ec96f0|url-status=live}}</ref> This made MetaFilter overnight lose money and led to the letting go of multiple paid moderators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://metatalk.metafilter.com/23245/State-of-MetaFilter|title=State of MetaFilter|website=metatalk.metafilter.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-02|archive-date=2019-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131050723/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/23245/State-of-MetaFilter|url-status=live}}</ref>
▲At [[South by Southwest#2011|SXSW 2011]], Haughey gave a talk in which he noted that MetaFilter had about 125,000 user accounts, of which 12,000 are active.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://vimeo.com/21043675 | title = Lessons from 11 years of community (my SXSW 2011 talk) on Vimeo | accessdate = 2011-03-15 | last = Haughey | first = Matt | date = 2011-03-14 | publisher = [[Vimeo]]}}</ref>
 
In July 2017, the ownership of MetafilterMetaFilter was transferred from Matthew Haughey to long-time moderator [[Josh Millard]].<ref>{{cite web |title=mathowie transfers ownership of MetaFilter to cortex |url=httphttps://metatalk.metafilter.com/24487/mathowie-transfers-ownership-of-MetaFilter-to-cortex |website=MetaFilter.com |accessdatedate=6July August31, 2017 |access-date=2017November 22, 2018 |archive-07date=December 12, 2018 |archive-31url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212175924/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/24487/mathowie-transfers-ownership-of-MetaFilter-to-cortex |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In June 2018 the site was losing US$8,000 per month<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://metatalk.metafilter.com/24814/State-of-the-Site-Metafilter-financial-update-and-future-directions|title=State of the Site: Metafilter financial update and future directions|website=metatalk.metafilter.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-02|archive-date=2019-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202211946/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/24814/State-of-the-Site-Metafilter-financial-update-and-future-directions|url-status=live}}</ref> but rebounded with new sources of ad revenue and increased member contributions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/24834/MetaFilter-revenue-update-holy-cow-yall|title=Metafilter revenue update|website=metatalk.metafilter.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-02|archive-date=2019-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203201813/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/24834/MetaFilter-revenue-update-holy-cow-yall|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In May 2022, the ownership of MetaFilter was transferred to [[Jessamyn West (librarian)|Jessamyn West]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=[MeFi Site Update] May 25th |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/26078/MeFi-Site-Update-May-25th |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=metatalk.metafilter.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106012042/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/26078/MeFi-Site-Update-May-25th |url-status=live }}</ref> who had been MetaFilter's first volunteer and first employee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quick Summary |url=https://metafilterfinancialsummary.simple.ink/quick-summary-7d9d2ae497f044e3b0d90423ae264dc1 |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=Fundraising Drive Financial Packet |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106012042/https://metafilterfinancialsummary.simple.ink/quick-summary-7d9d2ae497f044e3b0d90423ae264dc1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, a Steering Committee of community members was proposed in March and elected in August.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First steps in some MetaFilter changes |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/26036/First-steps-in-some-MetaFilter-changes |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=metatalk.metafilter.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106012042/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/26036/First-steps-in-some-MetaFilter-changes |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The first members of the Metafilter Steering Committee |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/26145/The-first-members-of-the-Metafilter-Steering-Committee |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=metatalk.metafilter.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106012043/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/26145/The-first-members-of-the-Metafilter-Steering-Committee |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Content==
MetaFilter's name derives from the idea that weblogs "filter" the ''"best of the web"'', and MetaFilter posts would be the best of the best.<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.metafilter.com/guidelines.mefi |title=Posting Guidelines |publisher=MetaFilter |access-date=November 22, 2018 |accessdatearchive-date=2012-11-10}}</ref>November would23, be2018 the best of the best.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20181123022710/https://www.metafilter.com/guidelines.mefi |titleurl-status=Guidelineslive |publisher=MetaFilter |date= |accessdate=2009-09-23}}</ref> Posters are presumed responsible for selecting only the most interesting or novel websites to link, and users' reputations are largely determined by overall posting quality. Half-baked posts, self-promotion, open-ended questions, and other fare common on other community sites and [[internet forum]]s are strongly discouraged at MetaFilter, though such things do sometimes make it through{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}. Posts must contain a link, and the site linked must be of high quality.
 
===Best of the Web===
Line 68 ⟶ 51:
 
===Investigations===
Because MetaFilter bans "selflinks" or posts by a person with a significant conflict of interest, posts tend to be closely scrutinized. Members of the site also have, several times, worked closely together to root out deception and scams. In May 2001, MetaFilter played a key role in uncovering the [[Kaycee Nicole]] hoax,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/060301/news_pf/Worldandnation/Kaycee_chronicles__li.shtml |title=Kaycee chronicles: life, death, deception |first=Katie |last=Hafner |publisher=New York Times News Service |date=May 31, 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230001908/http://www.sptimes.com/News/060301/news_pf/Worldandnation/Kaycee_chronicles__li.shtml |archive-date=December 30, 2016 |access-date=November 22, 2018}}</ref> in which a woman made up a fake online persona of a teenage daughter who was dying of cancer, fooling many bloggers and garnering sympathy and gifts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metafilter.com/7819/Is-it-possible-that-Kaycee-did-not-exist#84672 |title=Comment by SethSD129 on "Is it possible that Kaycee did not exist?" |date=May 19, 2001 |publisher=MetaFilter |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022656/https://www.metafilter.com/7819/Is-it-possible-that-Kaycee-did-not-exist#84672 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metafilter.com/7819/Is-it-possible-that-Kaycee-did-not-exist#84697 |title=Comment by rcade on "Is it possible that Kaycee did not exist?" |date=May 19, 2001 |publisher=MetaFilter |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022656/https://www.metafilter.com/7819/Is-it-possible-that-Kaycee-did-not-exist#84697 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metafilter.com/7819/Is-it-possible-that-Kaycee-did-not-exist#84707 |title=Comment by tranquileye on "Is it possible that Kaycee did not exist?" |date=May 19, 2001 |publisher=MetaFilter |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022656/https://www.metafilter.com/7819/Is-it-possible-that-Kaycee-did-not-exist#84707 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metafilter.com/7819/Is-it-possible-that-Kaycee-did-not-exist#84799 |title=Comment by aaron on "Is it possible that Kaycee did not exist?" |date=May 20, 2001 |publisher=MetaFilter |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022656/https://www.metafilter.com/7819/Is-it-possible-that-Kaycee-did-not-exist#84799 |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2004, MetaFilter members uncovered the identities of the writers of the hoax Website ''Nick Nolte's Diary''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Greg |last=Allen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/31/arts/directions-timeline-the-positively-true-adventures-of-the-counterfeit.html?sq=MetaFilter&scp=4 |title=DIRECTIONS: TIMELINE; The Positively True Adventures of the Counterfeit Diary of Nick Nolte |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 31, 2004 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123023028/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/31/arts/directions-timeline-the-positively-true-adventures-of-the-counterfeit.html?sq=MetaFilter&scp=4 |url-status=live }}</ref> An [[astroturfing]] campaign by [[Holden Karnofsky]], the co-founder of the online charity [[GiveWell]], was detected in January 2008 through a [[sockpuppet (Internet)|sockpuppet]] posting to Ask MetaFilter, leading to Karnofsky's resignation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/GiveWells-Self-Promotion/192153 |title=GiveWell's Self-Promotion |first=Ian |last=Wilhelm |date=January 2, 2008 |work=Give & Take |publisher=[[Chronicle of Philanthropy]] |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022633/https://www.philanthropy.com/article/GiveWells-Self-Promotion/192153 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, a user detected [[photoshopping]] by photographer [[Edgar Martins]] in a ''[[New York Times Magazine]]'' gallery, which was subsequently withdrawn.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pdnpulse.com/2009/07/new-york-times-magazine-withdraws-possibly-altered-photo-essay.html |title=New York Times Magazine Withdraws Altered Photo Essay |first=Daryl |last=Lang |date=July 8, 2009 |publisher=[[Photo District News]] |access-date=November 22, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107192137/http://www.pdnpulse.com/2009/07/new-york-times-magazine-withdraws-possibly-altered-photo-essay.html
Because MetaFilter bans "selflinks" or posts by a person with a significant conflict of interest, posts tend to be scrutinized closely. Members of the site also have, several times, worked closely together to root out deception and scams. In May 2001, MetaFilter played a key role in uncovering the [[Kaycee Nicole]] hoax,<ref>{{cite news
|archive-date=January 27, 20082010}}</ref>▼
|url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/060301/news_pf/Worldandnation/Kaycee_chronicles__li.shtml
|title=Kaycee chronicles: life, death, deception
|author=Katie Hafner
|publisher=New York Times News Service
|date=May 31, 2001
|accessdate=2007-03-01}}</ref> in which a woman made up a fake online persona of a teenage daughter who was dying of cancer, fooling many bloggers and garnering sympathy and gifts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/7819#84672 |title=Comments on 7819 |publisher=MetaFilter |date= |accessdate=2009-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/7819#84697 |title=Comments on 7819 |publisher=MetaFilter |date= |accessdate=2009-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/7819#84707 |title=Comments on 7819 |publisher=MetaFilter |date= |accessdate=2009-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/7819#84799 |title=Comments on 7819 |publisher=MetaFilter |date= |accessdate=2009-03-25}}</ref> In October 2004, MetaFilter members uncovered the identities of the writers of the hoax Website ''Nick Nolte's Diary''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Greg Allen|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E2DD153DF932A05753C1A9629C8B63&scp=4&sq=MetaFilter|title=The Positively True Adventures of the Counterfeit Diary of Nick Nolte|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 31, 2004}}{{subscription required}}</ref> An [[astroturfing]] campaign by [[Holden Karnofsky]], the co-founder of the online charity [[GiveWell]], was detected in January 2008 through a [[sockpuppet (Internet)|sockpuppet]] posting to Ask MetaFilter, leading to Karnofsky's resignation.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://philanthropy.com/giveandtake/index.php?id=424
|title=GiveWell's Self-Promotion
|author=Ian Wilhelm
▲|date=January 2, 2008
|work=Give & Take
|publisher=[[Chronicle of Philanthropy]]
|accessdate=2008-01-22}}</ref> In 2009, a user detected [[photoshopping]] by photographer [[Edgar Martins]] in a ''[[New York Times Magazine]]'' gallery, which was subsequently withdrawn.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.pdnpulse.com/2009/07/new-york-times-magazine-withdraws-possibly-altered-photo-essay.html
|title=New York Times Magazine Withdraws Altered Photo Essay
|author=Daryl Lang
|date=July 8, 2009
|publisher=[[Photo District News]]
|accessdate=2009-07-08
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107192137/http://www.pdnpulse.com/2009/07/new-york-times-magazine-withdraws-possibly-altered-photo-essay.html
|archivedate=January 7, 2010 |deadurl=yes
}}</ref>
 
==Moderation==
One of MetaFilter's founding tenets and an important factor in the "feel" of the site is the idea that the bulk of moderation is done through [[social norms]] and [[peer pressure]], referred to as "[[Industry self-regulation|self-policing]]" in a site [[tagline]].<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.metafilter.com/ |title=MetafilterMetaFilter &#124; Community Weblog |publisher=Web.archive.org |access-date=November 22, 2018 |accessdate=2009archive-09-23 |archiveurl url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030205142917/http://www.metafilter.com/ |archivedate archive-date=February 5, 2003-02-05}}</ref> Posts that do not meet the community's standards for quality are often "called out" to '''MetaTalk''', an administrative area of the site, and interested members discuss how the post could have been improved, or, in some cases, ruthlessly mock the offender. (The community occasionally concludes, after discussion, that the call-out was unwarranted.) Moderators may step in and temporarily suspend an offending user's account, but this is rare; permanent bans are rarer still, and are generally reserved for spammers and other egregious abusers of the site. MetaTalk also sees particularly excellent posts called out for praise, and moderators regularly feature superlative contributions on the main page's sidebar.
 
For the site's first few years, this practice of self-policing ensured a high level of quality and allowed Haughey to use a light touch in moderating the site; however, as the community has grown, Haughey has expanded the site's staff and taken a more active role. In 2004, [[Jessamyn West (librarian)|Jessamyn West]] began assisting him with moderation duties; in 2007, user [[Josh Millard]] ("cortex") was appointed as an additional moderator. In 2008, [[London]] user Ricardo Vacapinta assumed off-hours moderator duties,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/16259/New-Overlord |title=New Overlord!! |publisher=MetaTalk.MetaFilter.com |date=May 18, 2008 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022613/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/16259/New-Overlord |url-status=live }}</ref> and in April 2011 Jeremy Preacher (restless_nomad) came on to keep an eye on things over the weekend.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/20541/Everybodys-workin-on-the-weekend |title=Everybody's workin on the weekend |publisher=MetaTalk.MetaFilter.com |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065555/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/20541/Everybodys-workin-on-the-weekend |url-status=live }}</ref> A flagging feature allows members to call moderator attention to substandard, offensive, or outstanding posts, allowing users continued input towards shaping the site while quickly alerting site staff to potential trouble spots.
|url=http://metatalk.metafilter.com/16259/New-Overlord#544344
|title=vacapinta announced as new moderator|publisher=Metatalk.metafilter.com|accessdate=2012-11-10|author=Jessamyn}}</ref> and in April 2011 Jeremy Preacher (restless_nomad) came on to keep an eye on things over the weekend.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://metatalk.metafilter.com/20541/Everybodys-workin-on-the-weekend
|title=Everybody's workin on the weekend|publisher=Metatalk.metafilter.com|accessdate=2012-11-10|author=Jessamyn
}}</ref> A flagging feature allows members to call moderator attention to substandard, offensive, or outstanding posts, allowing users continued input towards shaping the site while quickly alerting site staff to potential trouble spots.
 
On May 19, 2014, Haughey announced that effective June 1, 2014, moderators [[Jessamyn West (librarian)|Jessamyn West]], LobsterMitten and goodnewsfortheinsane would be laid off from their positions due to a sudden and unexpected slump in traffic caused by updates to Google's [[Google Panda|Panda search algorithm]], which reduced ad revenue generated by Ask MetaFilter by more than 40%.<ref>[http{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/23245/State-of-MetaFilter Metatalk|publisher=MetaTalk.MetaFilter.com |title=State of MetaFilter |date=May 19, 2014 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065544/https://metatalk.metafilter.com]/23245/State-of-MetaFilter |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
Haughey has long resisted adding [[killfile]]s and [[Slashdot]]-style scoring systems to MetaFilter, as he feels the former would fragment the community and the latter would result in users trying to "game" the system.{{cn|date=March 2016}}
 
▲On May 19, 2014, Haughey announced that effective June 1, 2014, moderators [[Jessamyn West (librarian)|Jessamyn West]], LobsterMitten and goodnewsfortheinsane would be laid off from their positions due to a sudden and unexpected slump in traffic caused by updates to Google's [[Google Panda|Panda search algorithm]], which reduced ad revenue generated by Ask MetaFilter by more than 40%.<ref>[http://metatalk.metafilter.com/23245/State-of-MetaFilter Metatalk.metafilter.com]</ref>
 
==Subsites==
As mentioned under Moderation, the administrative area known as MetaTalk, or MeTa for short, allows for meta-discussion of the community, including bug reports, feature requests, and "self-policing.".▼
{{unsourced section|date=February 2015}}
▲As mentioned under Moderation, the administrative area known as MetaTalk, or MeTa for short, allows for meta-discussion of the community, including bug reports, feature requests, and "self-policing."
 
In 2003, Ask MetaFilter was launched. This forum allows members to post questions to the community, without the link requirement. AskMe quickly grew to a strong side community with slightly different etiquette requirements and many daily threads that cover a broad spectrum of topics. Users are limited to asking one question per week and are allowed to ask questions anonymously.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/3702/ProtoAskMetafilter |title=Proto-AskMetafilter |date=December 8, 2003 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065520/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/3702/ProtoAskMetafilter |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="FAQ" />
 
At the end of 2005, MetafilterMetaFilter Projects was launched. This area of the site is for members to announce Webweb projects they have been working on—the one place on the site where so-called "self-linking" is permitted. Members can vote on projects, and often post interesting projects to the main site following the same guidelines as any other post.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/10484/Ive-got-the-basics-of-MeFi-Projects-working-now |title=I've got the basics of MeFi Projects working now |date=November 8, 2005 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022654/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/10484/Ive-got-the-basics-of-MeFi-Projects-working-now |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In 2006, MetaFilter Music launched. This area of the site allows users to upload their own musical creations, which others can listen to viadirectly aon [[Macromediathe Flash|Flash]] playerwebsite, along with playlist and favorites features.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/12190/Announcing-MeFi-Music |title=Announcing MeFi Music! |date=June 30, 2006 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022508/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/12190/Announcing-MeFi-Music |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Later, on August 24, 2006, MetaFilter Jobs was added. This section was created for members to post job openings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/12567/Announcing-MeFi-Jobs |title=Announcing MeFi Jobs! |date=August 25, 2006 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022652/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/12567/Announcing-MeFi-Jobs |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In 2007, MetaFilter launched a podcast, which lives at the Podcast subsite. <ref>{{Cite web|title=1: The First One|url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/13682/Announcing-the-new-weekly-MeFi-podcast|access-date=2021-12-01|website=metatalk.metafilter.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210154418/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/13682/Announcing-the-new-weekly-MeFi-podcast|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2014, FanFare was created to give the community a place to discuss entertainment media such as TV shows and films.
 
in June 2010, the IRL subsite was launched as a place to share community meetups and other events.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IRL is here!|url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/19487/IRL-is-here|access-date=2021-12-01|website=metatalk.metafilter.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201174152/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/19487/IRL-is-here|url-status=live}}</ref>
== See also ==
 
{{Portal bar|United States|Internet}}▼
In 2014, FanFare was created to give the community a place to discuss entertainment media such as TV shows, Movies, Podcasts, Books, and Special Events.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/23210/New-subsite-beta-alpha-FanFare |title=New subsite beta (alpha?): FanFare |date=April 16, 2014 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065606/https://metatalk.metafilter.com/23210/New-subsite-beta-alpha-FanFare |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
 
==External links==
* {{Official website}}
 
▲{{Portal bar|United States|Internet}}
 
[[Category:American blogs]]
[[Category:CommunityQuestion-and-answer websites]]
[[Category:Internet forums]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1999]]
[[Category:Knowledge markets]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in the United States]]
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