Just like to add, I would like to meet legomancer at a dopefest, I still collect lego, and have two lego models in my office at the moment.
Anyone now if a San Francisco dopefest is likely in the near future?
Cheers, Bippy
Nope. Nothing at all.
Cool. That’s what I pretty much figured. I would still feel like a bit of an interloper though, at least till I got a couple drinks in me. Then all bets
are off. 
Me either. Meeting folks online is odd, I can’t imagine ever doing that!
Dopefests? Nah…I wouldn’t EVER go to one of those. This board is full of weirdos and sociopaths…
But I’ll do G’DopeFests anytime they’re happening. Our ‘down-under’ psychos are a very entertaining breed. 
Same here…and they are not really different from other friends I’ve made. Though it is true that people look at me strangely when I say: “I met him on the internet. And him. And her. And her boyfriend.” 
You should never pass up an opportunity to meet new people IMHO. As others have already pointed out, you can always leave again if you don’t like it.
Heck, as I’m posting this, I’m starting to yearn for an EuroDope.
I see people with less posts than I had in the same amount of time worrying that no one will know who they are. Trust me. Someone will.
I see people worrying about drinking (or, rather, not WANTING to). I know there have been reassurances already, but to add my two cents as an occasional drinker: at NYCDope I had a beer and a half on Friday night - had stopped bothering by 9pm…didn’t have a drop of alcohol OR any other substance, and had a fantastic time and laughed my ass off all weekend long. There are several alcoholics (I have heard “former alcoholic” is a contradiction in terms) who have attended 'fests and had a fantastic time as well, without a drop of the Devil’s Brew (or Devil’s Distillate) passing their lips.
PLUS…the first person I ever met at a 'fest was Weirddave…and I was STILL willing to meet other Dopers. And I am really shy and not generally a party type of person.
Dernit, what I’m saying is, if I can do it, anyone can.
As a final note…a friend I dragged to NYCDope (who was not a Doper) was sort of surprised at a couple of things:
-
I was more comfortable around Dopers than I am around most of my “IRL” friends.
-
People went out of their way to be nice to him and he had a lot of really entertaining conversations and hung out with some really fun people - even though he was not even registered on the boards.
-
“I have never seen that many people give each other the finger that frequently in my entire life. And laugh while they did it.”
Gotcha Ya!
You can count me in if there’s one within a 3-hour bussing distance of Ottawa
I’m willing, but theres not been one near me.
Yes, theres been some in Columbus, but I cannot afford to go there.(no car, no bus money)
I can not fathom meeting people from online. They are all a bunch of misanthropic freaks who look like butts.
I’ve always wondered if dopefests are places that you can take children. It doesn’t sound like it.
Depends. I wouldn’t bring my son to a bar where evening festivities are occurring, of course, but I did bring him to a museum with a couple of dopers last year during the ChiDope weekend. This time around, we’re trying to arrange a pizza gathering midday on the Saturday of ChiDope for folks to bring their kids.
I don’t really have any interest in attending one. I think the WI folks have them now and then, and one or two people have mentioned them in private e-mail. But I have plenty of IRL friends, and I have a pretty busy life, so taking time out to go drink and chat with people that I have a tenuous connection with just isn’t in the cards. (However, I would love to join one of the get-togethers frequently held by members of my copyeditors’ list; I don’t get to meet many CEs IRL! So far I’ve met only one fellow list member, and there are several with whom I’ve corresponded a lot that I’d like to meet someday in person.)
Nothing personal against y’all – It’s just that the Dope’s main purpose for me is entertainment and chat while I’m at my desk, usually working. I work at home and have no co-workers, so the Dope functions as my water-cooler. So apart from repeating the odd Doper story now and then to Mr. S or a friend, the SDMB doesn’t have much importance for me when I’m not in this chair. And sometimes even when I am.
But hey, for those of you who’ve made good friends and whatnot, cool beans for you. Have fun!
Ed Zotti asked me at the last big ChiDope what the appeal of Dopefests was. I thought about it for a second and said replied that it’s a number of things. They’re great for people watching, for one thing. So even if you’re not particularly outgoing, some of the interactions are pretty damn interesting to watch. I’ve also found the cross-section of people there to be a lot more diverse than what I typically run across in the rest of my social circle. I’ve met some wonderful people at fests.
I disagree with the comparison that it’s like going to a party where you don’t know anyone, though. I’ve found that for most dopers that have been around for a while, I remember something they’ve said somewhere on the boards, even if I’ve never met them in the flesh before, so it’s not like meeting a total stranger.
Obvioulsy some have no interest in going; I’m definitely not one of them.
I would definitely go to a Dopefest. After hanging around here for a few years, there are people here who I really do know, even though I’ve never seen their faces. I’ve read their words, seen their thoughts, and I like to think I’ve gotten to know their minds.
Actually, I’m now at the point where there are certain places I wouldn’t visit without letting at least a couple Dopers know. I’ve been known to go down to Washington D.C. for a get-away weekend, and I have a sneaking suspicion there are a few folks down there who think I’d better let them know next time I go. The same applies to next time I visit relatives in England (not that I’m looking at Kal and Washte or anything;)).
I’m not a drinker, and I’m not one for crowds and noise, but from what I’ve heard, Dopefests sound different, more like one of those Mensa RG’s I’m hooked on, but with less chocolate. By the way, Vanilla, next time there’s one up in your neck of the woods, I’ll let you know, if you’re interested in meeting face-to-face.
CJ
Even harder to believe, I didn’t swear off women forever, although the weeks of nausia were rough. Eventually I met the right one.