Do we have a DC area (D.C./Northern Virginis (NoVa)/Maryland) Doper group?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I know there have been some efforts in the past to create a local Doper group. I have avoided them in fear of having my online and real life identities merged, but given the conditions of the past year, the pandemic lockdown, the trauma we have all suffered, and reflecting on the community this place has offered, I really do think I want to know some of you as whole people, as friends, as part of my community.

Not to be maudlin about it, but we have had a couple of shocking losses in our community and I got to thinking, if it were to be my turn, no one on the Dope would really know who I am.

So, is anyone up for making a connection? I’m a Discord user, so that platform would be my first choice, but if folks have other preferences–Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, whatever–I’m open.

Can we get something started?

2

Once upon a time a while back, a bunch of us would occasionally get together for meals or other things, but for the life of me I don’t remember what we called ourselves. Was in MAD (Mid-Atlantic Dopers?) Some people have moved, and some have left the dope, and some have died, and some have moved into the area that weren’t part of the old gang - gee, sounds like real life!

I don’t have a camera or microphone on my computer and apart from chatting with my daughter on Messenger using my tablet, I’ve never done online visiting. I think I’d feel awkward having online visits with people I don’t know. But I’m ready for a meat space gathering once the plague has passed! I’ve volunteered my place in the past, but I live so far in the boonies, no one wants to come here. That’s a conversation for another day.

3

That’s interesting. I am more comfortable having an online introduction before meeting in real life.

Anyone else who might be interested?

4

I’m interested!

5

Okay, cool! Two is a group? Should I set up a Discord server or some other platform for us?

6

Sure.

7

Any preference?

8

I’ve used Zoom and Skype before, but not Discord. Which doesn’t mean I can’t figure it out, just haven’t used it.

9

Here’s the link to join the Discord server

10

There was, once, some kind of group (maybe an email list???). Faded away many years ago.

And - that link doesn’t seem to work.

11

For a few years, ending more than ten years ago, we had lots of meetings of mid-Atlantic dopers. This included parts of Maryland, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Some people traveled even further than that to these get-togethers. I’m not sure why they slowly came to a halt. Some people died, some moved away, some quit posting to the SDMB, and some got mysteriously angry at other people attending these events. There have been a few meetings since that point but not many.