What's the deal with meetups?

October 1, 2012 3:37 AM

What's the format for meetups?

There's a proposed meetup coming up in Rome this month, suggested by kjs4, but for some reason it doesn't appear to show up on the IRL page's "Proposed meetups" list. I'm hoping to take part, but I can find/access the thread again only by keeping it on my "Recent activity" list. Is a specific tag (e.g. maybe "meetup") required to get it onto that list where I (and others nearby) can follow it?

posted by aqsakal to Bugs at 3:37 AM (42 comments total)

I have no idea what's up with that; I'm looking at the edit view, and I don't see a single thing different from the ones that are showing up under "Proposed." A mystery for pb, it looks like.
posted by taz (staff) at 3:50 AM on October 1, 2012

Here the usual format for meetups:

1. Hopeful suggestions
2. Enthusiastic responses
3. Odious administration
4. Relieved agreement
5. Nervous introductions
6. Expensive booze
7. Enjoyable banter
8. Rowdy sing-a-longs
9. Tipsy longings
10. Drunken admissions
11. Lustful fumblings
12. Regretful awakenings
13. Embarrassing partings
14. Shocking pregnancy results
15. Hastily-organised weddings
16. Difficult labours
17. Joyous births
18. Congratulatory MetaTalk threads
posted by the quidnunc kid at 3:52 AM on October 1, 2012 [59 favorites]

aqsakal, did you happen to notice if it was definitely not showing up in the Proposed list during September?
posted by taz (staff) at 3:58 AM on October 1, 2012

11. Lustful fumblings

Finally, my band has a name.
posted by Rodrigo Lamaitre at 4:01 AM on October 1, 2012 [3 favorites]

well at the last London meet-up Katullus found his band name. Chips of Prostate
Long story. But fun.
posted by Wilder at 4:03 AM on October 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

taz: It did show up for a while, and then disappeared. Maybe kjs4 should have used one of the quidnunc kid's tags?
posted by aqsakal at 4:19 AM on October 1, 2012

I'm thinking that perhaps it's a time-related issue and that maybe the proposed list shows proposed meetings from the last 30 days or similar. pb can let us know what's happening there, so stay tuned!
posted by taz (staff) at 4:35 AM on October 1, 2012

aqsakal:
"What's the format for meetups? "

Ext4.
posted by charred husk at 5:10 AM on October 1, 2012 [3 favorites]

There's a format? I've been doing it wrong.
posted by arcticseal at 5:17 AM on October 1, 2012

Here the usual format for meetups:

Here'S

JESUS FUCK WHY CANT I WRITE THINGS PROPER???

DID YOU MEFI BASTARDS STEAL MY BRAINS????????

TELL ME WHY 4 CHRISSAKES YOU MEFI BASTARDS
posted by the quidnunc kid at 6:16 AM on October 1, 2012

There's a format? I've been doing it wrong.

This classifies under principle 12) regretful awakenings. You're good.
posted by Rodrigo Lamaitre at 6:16 AM on October 1, 2012

1. Turn up.
2. Ask likely looking person/people if they are Mefites. Get looked at like you are a mental case.
3. Notice group of mostly late-twenties - late-thirty-something people sitting at table. Correctly decide this must be them.
4. Introduce self.
5. Ignore vaguely confused/troubled looks.
6. Sit down, drink, chat.
7. Try not to think "Christ, I'm old" more than eight times per hour.
8. Have fun in spite of yourself, somewhat against expectations.
posted by Decani at 6:28 AM on October 1, 2012 [14 favorites]

You forgot the feats of strength.
posted by Miko at 6:30 AM on October 1, 2012 [4 favorites]

the quidnunc kid has the format for meetups in large American cities. For Tokyo, it's more like:

1)random user notices we haven't had a meetup. does nothing.
2)random user announces they'll be in town (or, rather, Tokyo mefite is leaving country, the gomichild protocol)
3)three to four, max five members get together in the IRL thread, trying to make concrete plans about an event possibly months away.
4)one or two members, possibly more by memail, mention they can't committ to plans that far in the future
5)the thread lies dormant for upwards of a month, until a week beforehand, someone tries to round up plans
6)contact lists and nearby mefites lists are scoured, and memailed
7)replies range from 'a meetup? I hadn't heard.' to 'I wish I'd had more time to plan.'
8)last minute plans fall through
9) flapjax has a gig and can't make it (I kid because I care), invites all to come
10) three to four mefites travel to busy train station to meet up with random traveller. awkward inner conflict over live-in-Japan-don't-make-eye-contact-with-other-gaijin vs. need to ask random strangers if they're "friends of Matt's." never the same group from the last meetup.
11)most everyone lives outside Tokyo, no one has any idea where to go.
12)drinks are had
13) conversation gets better after 12)
14)possible change of venue. visitor to Tokyo is introduced to the magic of walking down the street drinking a can of beer with no dirty looks or hassles
15)conversation continues, possibly loudly
16)references to past metafilter events, discussion of flameouts
17)trains must be caught, promises to meet up soon
18)months pass. possibly upwards of 12.
19) see 1)
posted by Ghidorah at 6:34 AM on October 1, 2012 [3 favorites]

1. Call the Valet to attend to one's dress (morning suit)
2. Ask Jeeves to prepare the carriage
3. Choose an appropriate walking stick
4. Place top-hat upon head, leave the ancestral mansion
5. Arrive at the private members' club (Athenaeum)
6. Stride in purposefully, nodding to the doorman
7. Insert monacle, spot Decani in the sitting room drawing upon a cigar, single-malt in hand
8. Smooth handlebar moustache, approach the said Decani
9. Opening gambit: "Gods wounds my old boy, these bloody youngsters, wot wot?"
10. Lustful fumblings, etc (see above list)
posted by the quidnunc kid at 6:40 AM on October 1, 2012 [9 favorites]

There usually a "throw up into a hat" portion as well
posted by The Whelk at 6:57 AM on October 1, 2012

Against club by-laws, old bean. Then again, you're probably a Reform Club man, with your "anything goes" philosophy of supporting the Great Reform Act of 1832. You blasted scoundrel.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 7:02 AM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

1. Arouse and organize the people.
2. Achieve internal political unification.
3. Establish bases.
4. Equip forces.
5. Recover national strength
6. Destroy the enemy's national strength.
7. Regain lost territories.
8. Serve ice cream.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 7:18 AM on October 1, 2012 [10 favorites]

I can't say too much more at this point, but step 1 is "Collect underpants."
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:26 AM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

1. Vote #1 quidnunc kid
2. Vote #2 quidnunc kid
...
n. Vote #n quidnunc kid
...
posted by the quidnunc kid at 7:30 AM on October 1, 2012

1. PRINT BASIC JOKE
2. GOTO 1
posted by the quidnunc kid at 7:31 AM on October 1, 2012

Don't forget to collect five dollars from each non-Mefi participant.
posted by ceribus peribus at 7:41 AM on October 1, 2012

naw you gift them accounts after getting them loaded and confused.

The first shot is always free.
posted by The Whelk at 7:42 AM on October 1, 2012

Proposed meetups are listed in the sidebar for 30 days. That's usually enough time to work out the details and move the meetup to Confirmed. Once a meetup has a date and location worked out, it shows up in the upcoming meetup lists around the site.

As you mentioned, anyone who commented in the thread will see it in Recent Activity. It's also on the Rome Proposed Meetups page.
posted by pb (staff) at 7:54 AM on October 1, 2012

This is free-form. Go nuts.
posted by schmod at 8:13 AM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Never realized meet-ups had such an Edward Gorey type progression of events.
posted by mlle valentine at 8:30 AM on October 1, 2012

1. Crush your enemies.
2. Drive them before you.
3. Hear the lamentation of their women.
posted by Diagonalize at 8:53 AM on October 1, 2012 [3 favorites]

Similar to the requirements of the meet-ups, is the requirements to earn a Metafilter Meet-Up Merit Badge:

Complete stated accomplishments from each section (member of 5 years standing must initial each completed section, except where noted differently):

I. Basic Meet-Up Etiquette (complete ALL tasks):

a. Post meet-up proposal IRL in home city
b. Post follow-up confirming venue, time and date.
c. Attend--reach venue early with neatly lettered sign reading 'Friends of Matt.'

II. Once Section I is complete, check-off AT LEAST TWO of following:

a. Post-meet-up proposal IRL in city you are visiting
b. Add at least two members to contacts at level greater than "contact" after speaking with them IRL at meet-up.
c. Post photographs from meet-up event
d. Memail member who has RSVP'ed to meet-up and request phone number to assure your timely appearance/and or uncomplicated meet-up. Text at least once.
e. Bring a +1 to meet-up who is not member. Non-member must be inspired to become member after meet-up and purchase 5.00 account within 30 days of meet-up.
f. Admit crush to fellow member IRL, add to contact list at level of crush/sweetheart/muse/spouse.
g. Refer to IRL event with inside-joke/meme on unrelated Metatalk within 30 days of meet-up.

III. Once Section I and II is complete, check-off AT LEAST ONE of following (two members of five years or greater must sign off on this section):

a. Host meet-up at your own home
b. Attend IRL spin-off event: (for example--date with member who attended same meet-up within 30 days of event, stand of one night or greater with member who attended same meet-up within 24 hours of events, Facebook or other social network friending of more than two (2) members at meet-up, hayride, dungeon meet-and-greet)
c. Post IRL event, arrange venue and time, realize better venue and time would accommodate a larger meet-up, make arrangements AND provide transportation to at least one (1) member stranded by change of venue
d. Announce or refer to meaningful relationship with member met initially at meet-up in-thread. Alluded to member must confirm or acknowledge call-out within same thread.

IV. Once Section I-III is complete, prepare report of previous three (3) sections and have two (2) members of greater than five years sign off on ONE of the projects below:

a. Parenting of mutual child with member met at meet-up, must be acknowledge in Metatalk
b. Formal initiation of long term romantic relationship with member met at meet-up, must be acknowledge in Metatalk
c. Founding of business or creative project greater or Band than six (6) months with member met at meet-up, must be posted on Projects OR Music section of site with at least one (1) favorite
d. Guest of Metafilter Podcast where invitation was due to and primarily related to meet-up activities or started at meet-up
e. Hired for Job posted at Jobs by member who was met at a meet-up OR with whom greater than three (3) memails have been exchanged and appear mutually on Contact lists.
f. Appear as a protagonist in comment or post that appears in Sidebar written by a member met at a meet-up OR write a comment or post that appears in Sidebar and features a member met at a meet-up.

Send report with electronic signatures to rumposinc for review. If approved, receive Metafilter Meet-Up Merit Badge by mail.
posted by rumposinc at 8:55 AM on October 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

The Boston meet-up format seems to go:

1) Beer?
2) Beer.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:03 AM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

I guess that teaches me to be more careful when I phrase my questions. (But in retrospect I'm glad I didn't this time - would never have had so many giggles...)
posted by aqsakal at 9:08 AM on October 1, 2012

Hope you have a good meet-up in Rome, aqsakal! Have a drink for me!
posted by the quidnunc kid at 9:16 AM on October 1, 2012

Other vital steps to successful meetups apparently include sending incoherent text messages, emails, and blurry photo txts to non-attending mefites in the middle of the night.
posted by elizardbits at 9:34 AM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

The Neener Neener Protocol is very strict about that
posted by The Whelk at 11:32 AM on October 1, 2012

Thanks, Kid! wish you could be here to have it for yourself.
posted by aqsakal at 1:20 PM on October 1, 2012

For extra humor, wear a MetaFilter t-shirt but deny being a MeFite.
posted by Bruce H. at 1:28 PM on October 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

The proper format for meet-ups can be found in the Chicago Manual of Style.
posted by klangklangston at 3:00 PM on October 1, 2012

Times New Roman, 12pt., single-spaced, 1" margins.
posted by Eideteker at 4:40 PM on October 1, 2012

Piffle. Comic Sans, 14pt., double-spaced, 2.5cm margins.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:50 PM on October 1, 2012

1. Someone in the greater Bay Area proposes a meetup, very probably at a Belgian Fry Joint.
2. I have to work and can't make it.

I presume there are other steps, but see Step 2.
posted by mollymayhem at 11:41 PM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Decani: 7. Try not to think "Christ, I'm old" more than eight times per hour.

My record is 10 times in an hour.

...That's my low record. My highest-number-of-times-per-hour record is too embarrassing to relate.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:32 PM on October 2, 2012

Alphabet game: unusual format for a meetup?
posted by not_on_display at 12:47 PM on October 11, 2012

no, huh? anyway...
posted by not_on_display at 8:39 PM on October 11, 2012