I recognize your name as well, but don’t remember any interactions. We likely crossed paths in a Tolkien thread, back when the board was obsessed with all things LOTR. Welcome back!
Ah, the worst Dopefest possible.
I am not a particularly organized man. But I kept seeing threads on Dopefests, with folks posting about meeting other Dopers and having a great time hanging out, having a few drinks and all that jazz. Sounded amazing!
At the time, I lived in Sacramento, CA. And I knew there were a handful of us there. So, I got the great idea to start a thread about having a get together for Sacramento area Dopers, and posted about having one. A few folks seemed interested, including a few of the Bay Area Dopers.
The problem was, I was 1- a broke dude with no idea what I was doing and 2- I got as far as planning a get together at the Fox and Goose, and then just figured we would wing it from there.
Which is exactly what we did. There was a couple that came up from the Bay Area, there were a few of the Sacramento folks, myself and my wife.
But I had exactly zero planned for after the initial meet up. I figured we would have a meal and a few beverages, and see where the night took us as we all got to know each other.
I was (am?) a homebody by nature, so I had no idea what else we could go do.
It kinda fizzled out after that. I was mortified that I had so badly failed to figure out things to do, and everyone was very polite about it.
Still feel bad when I think about it.
I feel like the Dopefests and Dope Events I went to went well. I hosted I think 4 Dopefests and went to two events that @twickster organized. This was all between 2005 & 2010.
I was suppose to go to another and didn’t take the highways and got lost trying to get to the Princeton area. So I guess that was my only bad one and that was on me. I need exits dammit.
Well yes, but …What Exit??
Sorry, coudln’t resist.
love it! Thanks for the Moanday morning laugh. Much needed and enjoyed.
What happened to snoopy ?
I have no idea. Seemed like a nice enough guy, but I do understand that he had a bit of an issue with a guy that was at the fest, and who eventually got banned for something or other. Can’t remember the name though.
Hello.
Hey Tristan ! Welcome back. I surely remember your name.
The place has changed a wee bit. For one thing, Cecil retired. I mean, he’s not here any more. What I mean to say is, check the Archives on this. The other - much more painful and stunning news in a way - thing to share is that we lost our beloved TubaDiva this year. Quite suddenly, too. Please Search for her memorial threads if you remember her.
Otherwise? The tone seems a bit different and as mentioned above, some of the atrocious behaviors shared verbally are being toned down or straight-out disallowed. More the better, I say.
Here, have a hot cider with some Fireball. Sit back. Enjoy !!! 
Hey, Tristan! I remember you… I started hanging out here about when you did, but I lurked for a decade or so before actually getting involved.
When I think back to the Early Oughts here, I’m amazed at how similar things are. Liberal Smartypants Sci-Fi Dorks galore.
Some of the worst ‘Equal Opportunity Offenders’ have been recently banned, and this place is easier on my blood pressure now (thanks, Mods!).
I always start my day by checking The Pit, for the quality of the writing… fresh quips and fresh takes on current events (the Trump Clusterf*ck thread is great for recreational schadenfreude, as is the thread for generic Republican malfeasance).
Come to think of it, I’ve changed more than this board. When I started, I was a Libertarian* office peon who’d come to work an hour early to load The Dope on our one computer that was connected to a modem. Since then, I’ve helped run an ad agency, taught design at a tech college, and just last year retired… to hopefully make art.
…
*I got better.
(thanks to Liberal Smartypants Sci-Fi Dorks…)