Austin Meetup

August 6, 2002 8:06 PM

Meetup - did it suck as much for you as it did for me?

When I checked yesterday, the Austin meetup was in some lame-o Starbucks downtown. When I checked back today for the address, it says the meetup was canceled. Maybe we should try again, but this time I think we need a Plan B ...
posted by chipr to MetaFilter gatherings at 8:06 PM (31 comments total)

I don't know how people feel about mailing lists versus new-fangled web-based doo-dads, but I'm willing to host a bunch of lists if folks think that might be useful. (I figure we can't be talking more than a couple dozen meetup groups worldwide.) It may not be optimal, but it's what I have at hand to contribute. Maybe somebody else has a better idea.
posted by chipr at 8:12 PM on August 6, 2002

Hey, chipr.

This thread, all about Meetup, had just cycled off the front page when you made your post. The general concensus, I think, was: suck.
posted by Marquis at 8:25 PM on August 6, 2002

We had fun. And yes, I am home way to early.
posted by adampsyche at 8:32 PM on August 6, 2002

Marquis - True enough. I wasn't looking to extend the bitchfest so much as start a new topic: what can we do to avoid repeating the litany of problems discussed there? What do you think?
posted by chipr at 8:52 PM on August 6, 2002

yea, houston's didn't happen either. not enough people :(

also, is it new that you can upload pictures to meetup? also they are asking for paypal donations now... that's a good sign
posted by rhyax at 8:53 PM on August 6, 2002

The DC Meetup consisted of me and MrMoonPie wandering through Kramerbooks wondering if any of these lost-looking souls scattered amongst the shelves were actually MeFites in disguise. We paged for "Anyone from Metafilter?" twice, and I accosted the one stranger we could find who was wearing an IT-related t-shirt. He was not from MeFi. We parted, weeping bitter tears.

(Actually we didn't weep. But we did compare digital cameras, and I learned what "Me Morde" means.)
posted by brownpau at 9:28 PM on August 6, 2002

I thought a "shot" meant the drink could be shot down the throat in one gulp. Who ever heard of putting ice cubes in a shot? I don't think I'm ever gonna get these blue stains out of my MeFi T-shirt, but I had a good time. =)

damn bartender
posted by ZachsMind at 9:47 PM on August 6, 2002

Right on, Zach. I think you and I were the half that got crapped on, for some reason. Damn Smurf Sperms. We tried to be all cool and take something blue...
posted by Ufez Jones at 9:59 PM on August 6, 2002

I completely failed in the being cool department, but that's par for the course for me.

I make uncool cool. =)
posted by ZachsMind at 10:45 PM on August 6, 2002

The Chicago meetup was cancelled for want of RSVPs, so a few of us plan on showing up to Thursday's Chicagoblogger thang at Hopleaf.

The first Chicago MeFi meeting was Sep. 10. It's like it was last century, and not just because of internet time. *shivers*
posted by dhartung at 11:52 PM on August 6, 2002

Mine was canceled simply because I'm the only registered MeFi member in this city of 155k people.
posted by mkelley at 6:16 AM on August 7, 2002

As brownpau reported, we were the only ones to show up out of 10 rsvps. Lame. In the future, any DC MeFites who want to get together can find me and my posse at our regular Tuesday night haunt, Madhatter, from 6:30 until I get tired of the free wings and cheap beer.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:56 AM on August 7, 2002

MeFiChi: What dhartung said.

I understand MeetUp's biz plan has them linking up with venues for revenue, but I once again have to say: if the location choices were better, I think more people would have attended.

I guess we'll just have to drink our sorrows away without MeetUp's help.
posted by me3dia at 8:29 AM on August 7, 2002

Ditto on the suckage (Austin never happened). I'm all for trying again in a month, though.

Maybe we could come up with a roving Texas thing where we get the Dallas / Houston / San Antonio folks to come to Austin (hey, we're the central point, dammit!) once in awhile to have a meta-meetup.

I'd even be willing to drive out to Dallas or Houston for a weekend shindig (especially if someone's willing to go ride rollercoasters with me). Probably best to wait until the weather is less punishing, though.

Note: Metafilter won't become a cult until we have a yearly national convention.

Ponderponder. Hmm, now that I'm thinking of gatherings, the idea of a Metafilter party for SXSW next year is gaining appeal. Would anyone be interested?

Dare I say, it might even be possible to have it at my house, if no better venue presents itself. (Gotta check with the boyfriend on that, though). Advantages: big barbecue, spa, swimming pool, outside deck, powerful air conditioning, net access, reasonably ample crash space, big telescope for stargazing if the sky's right, elbow room. Disadvantages: 45 minutes from central Austin.

But hey, if I held a party and no one showed up, more barbecue for me! :)
posted by beth at 9:00 AM on August 7, 2002

I'd make the drive from Louisiana for that. As long as the BBQ is from Rudy's: The Worst Barbecue in Texas.
posted by ColdChef at 9:10 AM on August 7, 2002

(that's their slogan. The meat is quite good. Especially the smoked turkey. *drool*)
posted by ColdChef at 9:11 AM on August 7, 2002

The meetup in Arkansas went great! Five raccoons, two opossums and a squirrel showed up.
posted by bargle at 9:27 AM on August 7, 2002

I'd be hip for that too, beth, so long as it's on a weekend. Can't do it during the week. I don't know if I trust ColdChef's bbq endorsement though. I hear his standards on meat are kind of low.
posted by Ufez Jones at 9:29 AM on August 7, 2002

i will most likely be heading out to SXSW next year so i would definately be down with an austin meetup..

or whatever.. meeting people is fun...
posted by PugAchev at 9:34 AM on August 7, 2002

oo, i was thinking of taking the mecca next year to sxsw, so that'd be totally sweet!
posted by lotsofno at 11:08 AM on August 7, 2002

MeFiSweMeet = double rum & cokes until five am.

Today has not been a very productive day.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 11:16 AM on August 7, 2002

What is this "mecca" you refer to?

"Is that a Qa'aba in your pocket or are you just..." oh, forget it.
posted by beth at 11:18 AM on August 7, 2002

me3dia - It isn't just the choices. It is the lack of interactivity. How the heck can you have a community website where the members can't interact? In Austin, anybody who set a profile was doing so in a feeble attempt at discussion.

It's worse than non-interactive. It's anti-interactive. This whole idea of a web site deciding on its own that there will or won't be meetups--and then capriciously canceling events--is crazy. Even at the peak of the bubble, a web site this flawed would have been laughed out of the room.
posted by chipr at 12:15 PM on August 7, 2002

I think you hit the nail on the head, chipr. There was something annoying me about the meetup site (well severally things, actually), but you really pinned it: "anti-interactive". Indeed.
posted by beth at 12:34 PM on August 7, 2002

the idea of a Metafilter party for SXSW next year is gaining appeal. Would anyone be interested?

I could be convinced. :) I need to remember to book a hotel though...I'll be toting an infant around and it's not fair to force everyone else to wake up for all the inevitable feedings and diaper duty. :)
posted by dejah420 at 12:39 PM on August 7, 2002

I'd make the trip to Austin, particularly if something cool, like SXSW, or the Austin City Limits Music Festival (Sept. 28-29) was going on.

I made the drive twice last year (to see Wilco and Tenacious D), and I'd do it again, for sure.
posted by nath at 3:26 PM on August 7, 2002

Rudy's does have some damn fine bbq. Maybe that's where the mefi meetup should have been.

I'd be all for a taking another stab at an Austin meetup. I'll be out of town the first Tuesday of Sept (but may crash the TO one if there is one).

Weekend rotating DFW/HOU/AUS meetups have promise too.
posted by birdherder at 8:37 PM on August 7, 2002

This morning's reminder email from meetup reminded me to remove myself from their list.

I'd be happy to try meetup again in 6 months, but I doubt they'll still be around by then.
posted by joemaller at 8:48 AM on August 8, 2002

Ohmigod ... you gave them a real email address?
posted by chipr at 11:01 AM on August 8, 2002

you gave them a real email address?

my main address is so far gone, it hardly matters. But I won't be surprised if meetup's last gasp will include revising their email privacy policy and selling off their list.
posted by joemaller at 11:10 AM on August 8, 2002

ColdChef: I live right across the street from Rudy's, and I haven't been there in a while... I think I was taking them for granted, ya know... (I think I know where I'm going for lunch today.)

Chipr: Dear God, I just realized that I gave them my real email address too. *smaking forehead* Now I can look forward to even MORE invitations to enlarge my penis.

So there seem to be a lot of MeFites in Austin. We should really put our heads together and find a way to meet that doesn't suck rocks. I was really turned off by the Meetup.com experience, but I'm turned back on by this thread!
posted by Jonasio at 9:09 AM on August 30, 2002