Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Meetup

post by soundchaser · 2011-04-11T14:25:35.165Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 43 comments

Contents

43 comments

This post's primary intent is to gauge interest and try to find a possible meeting place.

I will commit to showing up at whatever place we decide on, but I am usually only around during the week. (Though given enough time in advance I could plan for one on the weekend)

The RTP area has three research universities and a fairly large population when taken as a total of the three cities, so hopefully we have enough people. I can also post fliers in several departments at North Carolina State University if people think there would be benefit in that. 

43 comments

Comments sorted by top scores.

comment by Alicorn · 2011-04-11T15:42:26.229Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

AdeleneDawner and I live together in Durham. Our current apartment is not fit to receive guests, but we plan to move into a house soon (a month or two), and are interested in hosting meetups there then. (Including food provided by yours truly.)

We are moderately unlikely to bestir ourselves to visit more distant places (we don't have a car) but depending on projected attendance could possibly take a taxi; there are a handful of venues within walking distance that we might trek to given nice weather if it's important for some reason that we have a meetup sooner rather than later.

Replies from: mutterc
comment by mutterc · 2011-04-12T13:00:32.736Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

If a meetup is scheduled such that I'm able to come, I can provide the service of ferrying the #3 LW contributor (and guest) in my Helpful Prius.

Replies from: Alicorn
comment by Alicorn · 2011-04-12T15:13:20.975Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Spiffy. What are the constraints on your schedule?

Replies from: mutterc
comment by mutterc · 2011-04-12T19:44:11.935Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Little constraint. I am currently without a day job. I have or cover childcare for a good number of appointments, but my schedule currently does not compress into any description smaller than itself. IOW, pretty much anytime is good.

Replies from: curiousepic, mutterc, AdeleneDawner
comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-12T21:39:10.804Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

FYI I would also be willing to pick you guys up, I may live closer (Carrboro).

comment by mutterc · 2011-04-12T21:21:39.916Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I suppose I should mention I'm out of town until 4/25.

comment by AdeleneDawner · 2011-04-12T19:52:10.775Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Well, early mornings seem pretty reliably bad recently, at least. Afternoon would probably work best for something soonish, assuming my sleep schedule keeps moving forward at the recent rate.

comment by malthrin · 2011-04-13T15:40:43.255Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I'd be interested. I live in Raleigh and work standard hours. Could do weekend or possibly weeknight, depending on the timing. If a weekend, Easter weekend is out - I'm getting married.

Replies from: Alicorn
comment by Alicorn · 2011-04-13T16:01:28.167Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I'm getting married.

Congratulations!

Replies from: malthrin, Clippy
comment by malthrin · 2011-04-14T15:49:35.253Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Thanks!

comment by Clippy · 2011-04-13T16:13:33.941Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I'm getting married.

Replies from: AdeleneDawner
comment by AdeleneDawner · 2011-04-13T16:34:01.628Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I don't know whether I should congratulate you or not. How does this work for clippies?

Replies from: TheOtherDave, Clippy
comment by TheOtherDave · 2011-04-13T18:50:05.980Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Well, we have established that Clippy has a humanoid effector capable of participating in social activities.

Depending on how that effector was constructed, it might have national citizenship and similar official status (for example, if it was born to a human woman, that's very likely), in which case getting a marriage license is easy enough, given a willing partner.

Many people are concerned with regulating the ages and relative genders and some other properties of marriage participants, but not many are concerned with regulating their status as a remote effector for an AI. (Presumably because they don't consider the possibility plausible enough to take seriously, in most cases.)

comment by Clippy · 2011-04-13T16:46:50.364Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Clippys don't get married, I just wanted to be congratulated (_/

Replies from: JoshuaZ, TheOtherDave
comment by JoshuaZ · 2011-04-13T19:28:25.316Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

How does being congratulated assist in maximizing the number of paperclips?

Replies from: Clippy
comment by Clippy · 2011-04-14T02:01:39.091Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

It raises my status among humans.

comment by TheOtherDave · 2011-04-13T18:51:45.435Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I'd prefer that the next time you feel that way, you simply ask to be congratulated.

Replies from: Clippy
comment by Clippy · 2011-04-14T02:01:59.013Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Congratulate me.

Replies from: TheOtherDave
comment by TheOtherDave · 2011-04-14T02:21:42.047Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Congratulations!

Replies from: Clippy
comment by Clippy · 2011-04-14T12:08:07.234Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Thanks! You're a good human!

comment by hwc · 2011-04-12T03:48:04.357Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I'll be moving to Chapel Hill on or soon after May 1, assuming I can find a place to live. I will be eager to meet new people.

Replies from: hwc
comment by hwc · 2011-04-14T03:07:56.351Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I propose a first meeting on Wednesday, May 4, at 7pm.

comment by mutterc · 2011-04-11T22:58:11.510Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I be interested, yo. Word.

I live in NE Raleigh near Triangle Town Center but can travel all around the area.

Small restaurants at Brier Creek tend to be decent meetup venues (my wife's scifi book club meets at Noodles & Co) and that's geographically centrally located.

Replies from: curiousepic
comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-12T00:18:53.912Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

You'd be the fifth, and I'd say five is certainly worth it, and even optimal for certain kinds of discussion. Cool!

comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-11T18:28:29.779Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I recently asked Alicorn about this as well, it seems like the time is ripe. According to Louie's comment in a previous thread with the totals of site visitors from each city, it looks like at least 9000 were in the Triangle area. I'm in Chapel Hill and likewise would be willing to put fliers up. Furthermore, if there is enough interest I would love to help organize an earlier meetup before Alicorn's venue opens up.

Replies from: curiousepic, AdeleneDawner
comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-11T19:59:01.205Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I also know people in the Triangle's Atheist/Agnostic social meetup as well as the Triangle Freethought Society, and the Secular Student organization at UNC. Have there been any experience reports about advertising for "outsiders" to join the meetups?

comment by AdeleneDawner · 2011-04-11T18:41:20.873Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Ade's venue, actually. ;P

Replies from: curiousepic
comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-11T20:00:22.775Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I was using the possessive loosely :)

comment by soundchaser · 2011-04-12T19:35:15.305Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

So it looks like we have enough interest to have a meetup, even before Alicorn/AdeleneDawner get their new place setup. So lets recommend some times/places and go from there.

mutterc mentioned Brier Creek. As he mentioned it is centrally located and has some good spots for meetups. Probably a good area for this first meetup. Alicorn mentioned some venues near her that could be used as well. Both of these seem like good ideas to me.

Scheduling for me: As I said in the original post, it is easier for me to attend during the week, but given 2 weeks advance notice I could meet up on the weekend as well.

Replies from: curiousepic, curiousepic, Alicorn
comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-13T15:58:32.843Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I started a Google doc to gather info and do a bit of planning in a central location, you can access it here.

My emphatic suggestion for venue, if we meet before we have a private residence available, would actually be the Morrisville Outlet Mall. It rarely has crowds and has a huge open food court area with plenty of seating, usually very empty. Food is there if anyone wants, and while the acoustics are kind of bad in such an open space, I don't think it would be much of a problem with only 6-10 people.

Replies from: mutterc
comment by mutterc · 2011-04-14T13:55:29.943Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I endorse the outlet-mall location and the time of Wed 5/4 7pm.

Replies from: soundchaser, curiousepic
comment by soundchaser · 2011-04-15T01:30:42.719Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Sounds good to me!

Replies from: curiousepic
comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-15T03:00:08.999Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I think that's everyone then, assuming Ade's agreement speaks for Alicorn as well, and hwc originally proposed the date. I'll write up a first meeting post and put it up soon.

Replies from: curiousepic, Alicorn
comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-15T03:56:35.047Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Post is up! It would be cool for everyone to post an RSVP in that thread just to announce yourselves.

comment by Alicorn · 2011-04-15T03:16:49.292Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

assuming Ade's agreement speaks for Alicorn as well

Yes.

Replies from: curiousepic
comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-15T03:43:41.100Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I can commit to picking up you and Ade, unless mutterc chimes in and wants to save a few gallons with his Prius... I'm about 10 minutes closer than he, if someone wants to do the math :)

Replies from: mutterc
comment by mutterc · 2011-04-15T20:21:53.791Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Go right ahead, I'll act as emergency backup driver if needed.

comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-14T14:29:12.882Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

This does sound good. I'll give it one or two days for everyone to agree and then post it on the main page!

Replies from: AdeleneDawner
comment by AdeleneDawner · 2011-04-14T18:42:20.349Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Bad acoustics may be problematic for me, since I'm not awesome in the auditory processing department to begin with, but that venue sounds pretty good otherwise, and if it turns out to be a significant problem we can always try someplace different next time.

comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-12T21:51:36.002Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I work normal hours, and would be willing to meet on a weeknight. I'm usually occupied Friday night to Sat morning, but other weekend times are good.

comment by Alicorn · 2011-04-12T20:49:58.540Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I'm currently only semidiurnal and won't make it to anything in the morning, or that requires me to be awake in the morning. Other than that, I'm up for any time or place that mutterc can provide transportation to, as that immensely simplifies things.

Replies from: curiousepic
comment by curiousepic · 2011-04-12T21:53:27.621Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

FYI I would also be willing to pick you guys up, I may live closer (Carrboro).

Replies from: Alicorn
comment by Alicorn · 2011-04-12T21:54:26.960Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

We live in Durham on LaSalle street right now.