I’ve never been. I think I’d like to. I’m shy, but I don’t really mind bars. If it was a low key, stop by a bar type thing as opposed to a whole overnight camp out thing, I’d go.
I guess the thing I’m wondering is how do you know that the people are Dopers? Do you walk in and ask about planes taking off treadmills? Is there a secret handshake? Sorry if this is sounding stupid, I’m just not sure how it would “start,” so to speak.
The accepted method is to ask for the Cecil Adams party.
At least most of the reservations I’ve made have been made in that name.
I always tell myself that I will go, but then don’t.
To be fair to me, my health has almost always been in the way. (This last weekend I probably *could *have gone, but am again having some issues. Still, this was the time to go, if I were going.)
I’ve hosted 3 Jersey Dopefests BBQ style, I attended two others and I had to back out of a third at the last minute with a family thing.
I think anyone that met me would probably say I am the same in person as on the board; talkative, opinionated, friendly and a little goofy. I haven’t met anyone yet that really surprised me as being any different from their board persona. Mr. Bus Guy*, **twickster ** and Hal Briston standout as coming across as exactly who they are in person or on the board. BTW: **twickster ** organizes some killer doper outings.
I look into meeting more of the dope in the future.
Jim
I’ve been to 20 or 30, so yep, I sure would.
I’ve always had a blast. I’d definitely be up for another Bay Area one, but I think it might be hard to nail down a date with the holidays coming up.
Hmmm, sounds like I need to think about organizing another Bay Area dopefest… 
I think this time around I need to find a venue a little larger and quieter than The Chieftain. Nothing against the place, but it wasn’t really conducive to easy conversation, which I think is a good part of the draw for Dopefests.
Look for all the fat, ugly people over to one side of the bar.
We’re the people on the other side.
Never. I’d never go to one.
It’s fun, seriously - and I’m a non-drinker, non-smoker, not-too-interesting quiet person, too.
IMHObservation, most DopeFests take place in resaurants or other public places. You’d be more than welcome in those places, and there is no obligation to imbibe (i.e. “to beverate”).
We had a great time at Pork Dope '02 thanks to lno which was at a local city park–everyone who could made it to the Fest, and had a great time. Hell, even the caterer came back to the party (even after I pulled out a bayonet to help carve the pig).
A good time was had by all, and I think that if you play your cards right–and with any big Dope Fest the cards are in your favor–you’ll have a great time.
Tripler
We’re not all that bad. . .
I was introduced to DopeFests here in Toronto by matt_mcl, a Montrealer. 
I have enjoyed every DopeFest I’ve been to, and even helped to organise some. We typically meet at some restaurant or other, commandeer a large table, and talk into the night. Many people consume alcohol, but it is by no means mandatory–I’m sure we’ve had at least one under-19 at our table. Several times we’ve picnicked on the Toronto islands.
More DopeFests, please.
I think I’m going to start pestering people here about it again.
Let’s see. I’ve been to one, two, three, FOUR! Yes FOUR Gettydopes with Jayjay and a couple of other functions organized by Dopers.
I’d go again in a heartbeat. It’s the perfect social situation for me. There are plenty of smart, fun people to chat with, play cards with, and generally enjoy each other’s company.
I don’t think I’d mind being seen as totally cute. I’m sometimes a very good embodiment of kawaii.
Plus, this might be a good way of making sure that most people know I’m a girl…
Or you could just change your location to “NY, directly behind two boobs.”
Nah. Then people might think that I’m him.
I had some trepidation about going to my first DopeFest two years ago, but it helped that I’d met the hostess one-on-one a couple of times for coffee and chatting.
I’ve since been to two Christmas Dope-The-Halls, a “Welcome a Canadian Doper to Maryland” fest, all hosted by GingeroftheNorth and WeirdDave, a botanical garden outing organized by twickster, a Jersey DopeFest hosted by WhatExit?, a small get-together in New York, and my very first GettysDope this past Saturday. They’ve all been a lot of fun.
A handful of Dopers helped me move in July.
They’re not all about drinking in bars (where are those held, anyway? 
Someone let me know). It’s about getting together with fellow Dopers and just hanging out and talking.
And maybe even meeting someone who becomes a significant presence in your life.
Aw heck yeah I would–I used to go to MUPTs back in the BBS days and always had a great time. Hosted a few, too. I don’t have a problem with having faces to go with the usernames–I did SCA for many years and have no problem differentiating the persona from the person!
Shoot, I’d drive up to Whidbey Island next week if I had a @$#%&* car that worked worth half a shit…
C’mon, PDX, get it together! It’s raining outside, everybody needs to huddle up with congenial company to bitch and moan…
I’ve been to 3—Bay Area, Sac and Las Vegas just this August. If I hadn’t been married to a Doper, I might not have gone though…I don’t post a whole lot and I kind of fade into the background on this board. But now that I’ve been, I would go alone if I had to. Everyone is so nice and even if we meet in bars, nobody behaves obnoxiously.
If it’s within an hour’s drive, you’ll find me there. I’ve only been to one so far–but, like MacArthur, I shall return.
I haven’t been to one, and the only one I attempted to participate in and/or help in organizing fell through owing to typical Southern California apathy. I’m curious about silenus’ selection of wardrobe, though. And I’m not in the Bay Area, but were I so I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss and debate with Darwin’s Finch over the relative merits of various mechanisms of natural selection. I can’t imagine I’m the only one, but then again, I have a hard time grasping the fact that most people aren’t fascinated by public key cryptography, either.
Stranger
I’ve been to quite a few.
Rico is right about the Cecil Adams party. At my first dopefest, I get there early and was making some notes on my Palm Pilot. A person walked up to me and asked if I was part of the Cecil Adams party. Yes, I replied, how did you know? You were using a PDA was the reply. (they were fairly new at the time.)
I have met some great people at Dopefests. Dopers are great people. I don’t think I have met an idiot yet.
When my wife and I took a week in Orlando earlier this year, I drug her to the Orlando dopefest. She was very impressed with just how cool everyone was.
BTW, for future reference, if DMark and the other Las Vegas dopers offer to host a Dopefest, make reservations. When these people throw a party, they throw a party.
Scout is right. If Silenus is on the guess list, bring sunglasses.
