3 ms·

I hope to see more pure virtual ones like one I started on software internals this January [0]. Means anyone within a few timezones can present and attend and t

I hope to see more pure virtual ones like one I started on software internals this January [0]. Means anyone within a few timezones can present and attend and there's no hassle finding a physical space. Of course you miss out on chatting and free pizza but I think it's awesome to be able to get speakers from anywhere in the Americas. The only hazard is zoom-bombers. Don't make your zoom link public or you'll have weirdos join. [0] https://meetup.com/hackernights https://meetup.com/hackernights

sumy23 4y ago
Can’t you accomplish the same thing asynchronously via YouTube?
- eatonphil 4y ago
  All these talks are recorded and published on YouTube afterward so sure? Not sure what you mean.
  - sumy23 4y ago
    I mean that if you only want to watch the talks from the comfort of your home without conversation, then why attend a synchronous meetup? Why not watch YouTube instead?
    - ravenstine 4y ago
      Because the point of meetups isn't to just hear lectures.
      - isbvhodnvemrwvn 4y ago
        Have you attended virtual ones which "work" in that regard? I've been to a few and to be honest discussion dies out nearly completely.
        ravenstine 4y ago
        Sort of depends on what you're looking for. To me, the best value of a meetup or conference is meeting individuals and having one-on-one or small group conversations, as well as being able to hang out with people after an event. When I've hosted meetups, I usually get together a group of people to hang out at a pub down the street after the event. It's both fun and good for networking. Fake "meetups" will never ever fulfill that. Can a fake "meetup" work for honest discussion? Yeah, I've even hosted ones like that. It doesn't mean I think they're optimal that way. A fake "meetup" still necessitates that everyone participates in a single conversation and that not everyone gets enough of a word in. I really don't have anything against virtual meetups. I'm really more against the idea that they are equivalent or superior.
schwartzworld 4y ago
> Of course you miss out on chatting I spoke at a virtual meetup recently and it was awful. The talks were fine and interesting, but the "meetup" aspect was missing. What's the point of an event that could just as easily be a YouTube video?
- codingdave 4y ago
  To be fair, I've been to meetups that are exactly the same. People walk in, sit quietly, nobody talks, someone does a presentation, people look around at each other, maybe eat a slice of pizza, and leave. The point being that whomever is hosting an event, whether online or IRL, needs to take some initiative to make it a good event and put some structure in to welcome people and encourage engagement. That is easier in person, but can be done either way.
  - ravenstine 4y ago
    That doesn't speak for every meetup. I've been to plenty of tech meetup where people talked and had fun. Even when people are being introverted, at least there's the opportunity for people to have their own conversations. With virtual "meetups", you can't have one-on-one conversations, and that sucks. And good luck networking at a virtual "meetup" if the crowd is big enough that you can't get a word in.
    - codingdave 4y ago
      Chat functions and breakout rooms are getting more common in virtual meetings all the time. I agree that in-person is easier, but if you don't know how to use the latest features in the tools to communicate, I recommend learning those tools first, before rejecting all possibilities.
      - schwartzworld 4y ago
        I can't speak for everybody, but for me, virtual meetups feel more like work meetings than any sort of social activity.

sumy23 4y ago

Can’t you accomplish the same thing asynchronously via YouTube?

eatonphil 4y ago
All these talks are recorded and published on YouTube afterward so sure? Not sure what you mean.
- sumy23 4y ago
  I mean that if you only want to watch the talks from the comfort of your home without conversation, then why attend a synchronous meetup? Why not watch YouTube instead?
  - ravenstine 4y ago
    Because the point of meetups isn't to just hear lectures.
    - isbvhodnvemrwvn 4y ago
      Have you attended virtual ones which "work" in that regard? I've been to a few and to be honest discussion dies out nearly completely.
      - ravenstine 4y ago
        Sort of depends on what you're looking for. To me, the best value of a meetup or conference is meeting individuals and having one-on-one or small group conversations, as well as being able to hang out with people after an event. When I've hosted meetups, I usually get together a group of people to hang out at a pub down the street after the event. It's both fun and good for networking. Fake "meetups" will never ever fulfill that. Can a fake "meetup" work for honest discussion? Yeah, I've even hosted ones like that. It doesn't mean I think they're optimal that way. A fake "meetup" still necessitates that everyone participates in a single conversation and that not everyone gets enough of a word in. I really don't have anything against virtual meetups. I'm really more against the idea that they are equivalent or superior.

schwartzworld 4y ago

> Of course you miss out on chatting I spoke at a virtual meetup recently and it was awful. The talks were fine and interesting, but the "meetup" aspect was missing. What's the point of an event that could just as easily be a YouTube video?

codingdave 4y ago
To be fair, I've been to meetups that are exactly the same. People walk in, sit quietly, nobody talks, someone does a presentation, people look around at each other, maybe eat a slice of pizza, and leave. The point being that whomever is hosting an event, whether online or IRL, needs to take some initiative to make it a good event and put some structure in to welcome people and encourage engagement. That is easier in person, but can be done either way.
- ravenstine 4y ago
  That doesn't speak for every meetup. I've been to plenty of tech meetup where people talked and had fun. Even when people are being introverted, at least there's the opportunity for people to have their own conversations. With virtual "meetups", you can't have one-on-one conversations, and that sucks. And good luck networking at a virtual "meetup" if the crowd is big enough that you can't get a word in.
  - codingdave 4y ago
    Chat functions and breakout rooms are getting more common in virtual meetings all the time. I agree that in-person is easier, but if you don't know how to use the latest features in the tools to communicate, I recommend learning those tools first, before rejecting all possibilities.
    - schwartzworld 4y ago
      I can't speak for everybody, but for me, virtual meetups feel more like work meetings than any sort of social activity.