Best Of MetaFilter

Here’s what’s been popular on MetaFilter lately:

🎼 Emahoy’s lost works found If you don’t know Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, you're missing out on one of the most beautiful stories in music. A new release is unearthing her early bluesy, freewheeling waltzes, which had been feared lost. Bonus: great links to listen while you read.

🧠 🤖 “My factual analysis of genAI is hopelessly negatively biased” A bit of a spicy thread title, yeah. But AI is has been impacting our lives for a short while now and the reactions to this thoughtful essay span the gamut of emotions and reason. MetaFilter is proud of its skepticism (and occasional crankiness) of AI, but its use is being showing up in remarkable places and on a range of personal levels.

🎤 An interview with Van Morrison A new interview shows him being sympathetic, in-depth, and even non-grumpy! There's a bit of in-thread debate on whether he's still worth paying attention to, but the insights into his early influences, how he got started, where inspiration comes from, and more is worth checking out!

Real People Still Run This Place If you liked the above links, then check out the MetaFilter front page. Posts produced by people, no bots here!🧡

Tired of reading advice that sounds like it was stitched together by a toaster with a thesaurus? We hear ya. That’s why MetaFilter still hits different. It’s full of actual people sharing their smarts, experiences, and sometimes glorious petty victories.

Two recent threads over on Ask MetaFilter are especially worth a look:

🗣 How to Shut Someone Down Ever been in situation where a stranger really wants to talk to you, but you're in no mood for that nonsense? Yeah, been there. One female Mefite asked how to shut down a stranger in an such a situation. The answers? They're a range of practical, diplomatic, and occasionally just the right amount of salty.

✔️ To Do or Not To Do Sadly life isn't black and white, there are shades of grey (but hopefully not 50). So what morally grey life tips have you heard of? Or are you looking for some of those types of tips yourself? It's ok, we won't tell!

💬 Why MetaFilter? Because every post is created by an actual human being. That's it, that's the pitch, just real people posting interesting links. Check out the front page for more!

Two links today that highlight the real life experience of members of MetaFilter:

🥀 Unions Won't Protect You From AI Long time member Jilder breaks down why unionizing isn’t a universal fix for AI, how global gig work defies national protections, and why good writing matters even when it’s “invisible.” It’s a masterclass in articulating what’s at stake when we replace craft by people with cheap AI. Also: you will never think about cereal box copy the same way again.

Seriously, read the whole thing. It’s angry, funny, and eye openingly scary.

🛠️ 3D Printing and the Realities of Sci-Fi Prop Work Meanwhile, in a completely different kind of creative labor, another MetaFilter member, "many-things", gives a behind-the-scenes look at the practical magic of sci-fi prop building. The comment digs into how 3D printing fits into a toolkit that also includes MDF, fiberglass, welding, sanding, and... a lot of budget stress.

Turns out that printing everything in 3D isn’t always the best choice, especially when you’re balancing strength, weight, and the reality that a hero prop might only get three seconds of screen time before an actor accidentally snaps it in half.

🎯 Why MetaFilter? MetaFilter isn’t just a place where people post interesting links (though it does do that). It’s where real people still show up to share experiences, passions, and knowledge. No bots. No ghostwritten threads. Just actual people sharing what they care about or what interests them

If that sounds like something you need more of then come check out the front page of MetaFilter!

No AI summaries, no corporate clickbait. Just real people sharing what they find interesting, weird, or wonderful.

Here are two recent posts worth a click:

⚙️ Historical Tech Tree Ever wish real-world history had a tidy “tech tree” like in Civilization or Age of Empires? This post dives into an incredible visual project that lays out human technological progress like a strategy game, from stone tools to semiconductors.

🕸️ Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb” Targets Russian Airfield and Succeeds Big moves on the geopolitical chessboard: Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb launched a major strike against several Russian airbases. This isn’t just a breaking news post, it's a launch point for a deeper discussion about drone warfare, air power, and the shape of modern (and future) conflict.

💬 Why MetaFilter? Because every post is created by an actual human being. That's it, that's the pitch. Real people posting interesting links that they want to share with other people. Check out the front page for more!

Need a breather from al the AI generated stuff online? Then here are three posts, made by real live people, to check out:

🌳 Spend a Minute in a Park (Without Leaving Your Screen) This short, peaceful video is exactly what it says on the tin: a quiet, green, leafy pause in the middle of whatever chaos you’re currently navigating. No narration, no agenda—just birdsong, rustling trees, and someone quietly filming a moment of calm. Don't like that particular park? No problem, just choose another!

🏳️‍🌈 The LGBTQIA+ News Thread: Pride 2025 Edition It’s June, which means MetaFilter’s LGBTQIA+ roundup is here to collect stories, headlines, and perspectives that matter—posted and discussed by real people and allies.

It’s not all rainbows and celebrations, there is also serious stuff here. We're just keeping track it all, the good and the bad.

🛹 Corgi. On a Skateboard. That’s it. That’s the post. Corgi. On a skateboard. And it rules. No, it's not so much about people in this post, just corgis, but that's ok.

🧠 Real People Still Run This Place If you liked the above links, then check out the MetaFilter front page. All people, all the time.

There's a lot going on about the future of the governance of MetaFilter, here's a quick checklist of threads discussing the issues:

🗣 Discussion about the current and future bylaws

💬 Talk about how to run an election for new board members

📣 Introducing the MetaFilter Moderation Oversight Committee!

📢 A thread to announce candidates for the board

No bots here, just real people collecting and sharing interesting links from around the web, aka MetaFilter. Come check out today's highlights, a duo of cultural throwbacks.

🎶 Prince, Unplugged and Underrated Yes, that Prince. The Purple One. But this time, no vocals, no chart-toppers, just pure instrumental jazz-funk vibes straight from 1977. In Prince Jazz Funk Sessions, This is an incredible YouTube playlist showcasing rare tracks that feel like an intimate jam session in a smoky studio at 2am. 🎧 Listen in & get funky

📺 Local Weather on the 8s, Forever in Our Hearts Before smartphones, before smart assistants, there was The Weather Channel. And if you remember "Local on the 8s," that synth-heavy, oddly comforting forecast that ran like clockwork, you're not alone.
This post is a love letter to a forgotten media ritual. It links to a lovingly curated archive of old weather segments, complete with smooth jazz, lo-fi animations, and the kind of analog charm that makes you nostalgic for simpler, non-AI times 📡 Check out the weather, retro style

Cathedral-sized caves, WWI cyclist soldiers, and the kind of commentary you only get when actual people are doing the writing.

🕳️⛏️ Caves the Size of Cathedrals... Hidden in Plain Sight Tim Nichols and Dan Sandford love discovering and exploring caves. But it's their recent discovery of over 10 km (or miles as the Americans keep insisting) of previously unseen underground wonders that really highlight this extraordinary find. Come for the gorgeous photos, stay for the personal story in the comments of what's it's like to discover a cave.

Explore the underground story!

🚴‍♂️⚔️ War Is Hell (on Two Wheels) War is hell: bicycle edition highlights the forgotten tale of Canada’s Cyclist Battalion in World War I. Yes, bikes. In the mud. In war. So check out this fascinating post about the history, covering how soldiers used bicycles for recon, message delivery, and rapid deployment. Spoiler: they weren't as practical as hoped, but the stories? Absolutely wild.

Ride into history!

🔥🚛 The Logistics of Road War in the Wasteland We're driving straight into Mad Max territory with a deep (and weirdly practical) look at the fuel math, supply chains, and maintenance madness of running a war rig across a post-apocalyptic hellscape. Or you know, maybe America in a few years.

📰🌈 LGBTQIA News: In the Shadow of Madness – May 25 Edition This thread brings together real news, human voices, and community insight at a time when staying informed is more important (and more exhausting) than ever.

🦉🛁 Owls. In. Towels. We saved the fluffiest for last: Owls in Towels does exactly what it says on the tin. A serotonin-rich post filled with towel-wrapped birds of prey who look very unamused. Come see the floof!

In AskMetaFilter, we've got another set of recommendations! This time it's for common items with uncommon quality and universal gift ideas that range from inexpensive to oh that's a lot, but all of the suggestions are great!

✨ Common Item, Uncommon Quality Someone recently asked: What’s something super ordinary that you’ve found a shockingly great version of?

The responses are practical, passionate, and 100% recommended by humans, not AI. From a humble can opener, to the perfect pen that turns every note into a joy to write, this thread is full of recommendations that make ordinary daily life feel more deluxe.

Check it out here →

🎁 Universal Gift Ideas That Aren’t Boring Giving gifts can be tough, especially when you want to give something meaningful without knowing too much about the person.

So here's a thread of pure gold for both last-minute shoppers and thoughtful gifters. The MetaFilter hive mind is people powered, so all of suggestions are tried and true ideas that really manage to hit the mark for what folks need and/or want.

Read the thread here →

A draft of the proposed site bylaws is available for any member to review and comment on.

💻🧠 If H.R. Giger Made HyperCard Stacks... Welcome to the dark, drippy dream world of the "vestigial sexual needs and kinks of the various biomechanical components of a self-aware post-human spaceship". It's like someone gave an ‘80s goth kid a Mac and told them to channel their nightmares into something… clickable. This is so Not Safe For Work, so proceed with caution!

🧲🕳️ “This Post Sucks” And That's Totally The Point! No, really. Literally even! This post is a lovingly curated collection of things that suck, blow, inhale, exhale, and otherwise interact with air in compelling ways. From vacuums to bellows to reverse-engineered fans, this thread is equal parts satisfying and delightfully niche.

No AI summaries here, just thoughtful and curious people helping other thoughtful and curious people.

🏡 How Do You Set Yourself Up for Solo Aging Success? If you're aging without a partner or kids, you’re not alone in being alone. In this refreshingly candid thread, a user asks for help planning a secure and happy future as a solo ager, and the responses are full of wisdom and heartfelt advice.

🎶 What Are Your Favorite Sci-Fi Albums? Need a soundtrack for imagining distant futures, spacefaring epics, or just the right vibes? This thread has personal recommendations that range from retro synthwave to ambient space odysseys. There's some you’ve probably never heard of, and some you’ll want to queue up immediately!

🌎 Everything, Everywhere, All in One Thread Curious about what the other 8 billion people on the planet are doing? This check out this live-ish estimate of everyone is doing, based on global population dynamics & simulated day/night cycles. Who knew so many of y'all were on smoke breaks?!

Today we're hanging out in AskMetaFilter to get our dopamine hit for satisfaction and pleasure, figuratively and literally. 'Cause sometimes, you just want to feel something!

🚀 Looking for Sci-Fi That Hits a Little Too Close to Home? The post "Looking for science fiction that comments on what's happening right now" is a goldmine of dystopian, speculative, and all-too-real science fiction that explores everything from climate collapse to AI anxiety to societal change.

This is the perfect list of recommendations if you’ve ever finished the news and said, “Isn’t this already a Black Mirror episode?”

🍓 What Brings You Real, Physical Pleasure? (No, Not LIke That–Well, Okay Maybe) Meanwhile, in a refreshingly human (aka real people, not AI) post, "What brings you real, physical pleasure", individuals are sharing their small, tactile joys—those moments that make your body sigh in contentment. In a time when everything is optimized and digitized, it's good to hear about real humans sharing what feels good in their bones, their skin, and their hearts.

There's a fascinating post on the front page of Metafilter about Iceland's experiment with a four day work week. While a lot of people speculated it couldn't and wouldn't work, the results are in and they're eye opening! Two comments in particular illustrate why working less is possible and necessary:

🌍 “Americans Can’t Imagine Freedom” One commenter lays it bare: many Americans have been conditioned to see work-life imbalance as inevitable. Concepts like universal healthcare, paid maternity leave, and gasp, shorter workweeks seem like sci-fi.

💸 “Productivity” for Whom? Another commenter takes the gloves all the way off: conversations about “productivity” and “efficiency” are often code for “how much money the boss makes.”

What’s revolutionary about a four-day workweek isn’t just the better balance—it’s the redistribution of value. When you get the same pay for fewer hours, you’re reclaiming time: time to raise kids, build community, pursue hobbies, or simply rest.