London film outing... (?)

[Calliope]

I'm not sure if this will seem like a good idea to anyone or not. But I was just looking at the list of Oscar nominated films and there are many there that I haven't seen.

I wonder if there are some other BGO-ers in London, or near London -- or who can get to London -- who might be interested in getting together one weekend to see a film? Maybe one of the Oscar nominated ones? I would quite like to see No Country for Old Men but would be open to other suggestions as well.

Anyone interested?

[Hazel]

What a great idea! Pity I am so far away...

[Grammath]

I'll sign up for this, certainly for "No Country for Old Men".

[Barblue]

Ditto what Hazel said! :mad:

[Tess]

What a great idea! Pity I am so far away...
Not quite so far for me but it's still not near enough for a cinema trip.

However this has got me thinking about future meet-ups, it really would be lovely to meet some of you in RL. What do you think?

I often feel there is a stigma about meeting up with online friends but you're all such a wonderful bunch that I would jump at the chance. :)

[megustaleer]

However this has got me thinking about future meet-ups, it really would be lovely to meet some of you in RL. What do you think?

The logistics always cause major problems when it comes to organising something like this. We are so few (comparatively), and so widely spread geographically that it is practically impossible to gather more than 3 or 4 together in one place at one time.

Not totally impossible, of course. The Glasgow contingent could probably manage it, there being so many of them ;) but there's still the problem of finding a date/time to suit all, or even most of them :rolleyes:

I have thought before that we could pick an event that might provide a suitable occasion for a meet, rather than the meet itself being the main attraction - to avoid the creepy 'meeting someone from the internet' stigma - such as a literary festival, but again, geography would limit the numbers willing to take part. I don't drive, so that will always limit venues for me.

[Grammath]

I have thought before that we could pick an event that might provide a suitable occasion for a meet, rather than the meet itself being the main attraction - to avoid the creepy 'meeting someone from the internet' stigma - such as a literary festival, but again, geography would limit the numbers willing to take part. I don't drive, so that will always limit venues for me.

Are you suggesting Cambridge Wordfest then, meg? ;)

I like the idea of a BGO get together, but I agree that the logistics of it could prove to be a nightmare. You have to bear in mind as well we have regular international contributors like Momo, jfp and Adrian, so such an event risks being somewhat exclusive. Even for UK based members, there's the cost of travelling plus maybe staying somewhere that perhaps not everybody will be comfortable with. Then there's partners and/or children to consider too.

Personally, I'm slowly getting used to meeting people over the internet and have met some other BGO members in person through the pub quiz team Bill used to run. The sad fact is that, in the 21st century, this is how many people widen their social circles. Internet dating wouldn't be such a thriving industry if this wasn't so.

That said, if you're in the London area and at a loose end and if you really want to experience the dubious pleasure of my company....

[Hazel]

You have to bear in mind as well we have regular international contributors like Momo, jfp and Adrian, I'm all for a BGO trip to France...just point me in the direction of the airport.

That said, if you're in the London area and at a loose end and if you really want to experience the dubious pleasure of my company....Awww, you do yourself a disservice, and thank you, I'll bear it in mind. ;)

[MarkC]

Long post warning!

The logistics always cause major problems when it comes to organising something like this. We are so few (comparatively), and so widely spread geographically that it is practically impossible to gather more than 3 or 4 together in one place at one time.


I have some experience of meeting people from the internet. It is possible to get more than a handful of people together but it generally requires people to commit at least a weekend, more normally Friday - Monday.

My Everquest (a "massively multiplayer online roleplaying game", like world of warcraft for those that don't know) guild has staged annual meetings at different cities around Europe every year since 2002 - Amsterdam, London, Brussels, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Edinburgh to date with the 2008 venue still under discussion, Bologna or Stockholm looking most likely. The guild itself effectively ceased to exist last year but we haven't stopped the meetings. I don't play any more but will still be going. Numbers have ranged from seven (Amsterdam) to nearly 20 (London) but more normally about a dozen. Most of the regulars live in the UK which is why the London meeting was most well supported, the others mainly attend the gatherings that are close to home.

Given the distances involved people tend to make a long weekend of it and the time is spent drinking, eating, drinking, sightseeing and drinking. Did I mention the drinking? We are mostly in our 30s and it's not just the people that play that attend, at the last one there were three partners, only one of whom also plays.

The timetable and logistics work something like this:

December / January - suggestions are made on the guild forum as to a venue and those interested in attending asked to indicate when will not be suitable for them. We often go to someone's home town or somewhere someone knows well if they are amenable to doing a bit of "tour guide" work. (e.g. for Edinburgh one of our members went to university there, if we go to Bologna my Italian friend grew up there although she now lives in Brixton).

Feb - tentative date and definite venue decided and posted on the forum.

Mar / April - date confirmed, a hotel is found and suggested on the forum, a venue for the formal meet (normally a pub / restaurant on the Saturday evening) is posted and people are asked to indicate if they will be coming so that a table can be booked.

That's about it, the "tour of the cities of Europe" subforum has fairly low traffic other than at those points and shortly before the actually weekend.

The "organiser" can do as much or as little as they wish, provided that somewhere is booked / arranged for the Saturday night meeting. Typically people arriving on the Friday will meet up in the evening and often groups go sightseeing on the Saturday and sometimes Sunday if they are not travelling back until Monday.

The sad fact is that, in the 21st century, this is how many people widen their social circles.People widening their social circle via their hobbies isn't a new phenomenon though, it's only that the internet has allowed people to share hobbies and interact with others that are located much further away than they otherwise would.

[brightphoebus]

I'll sign up for this, certainly for "No Country for Old Men".
Me too :)

[megustaleer]

Numbers have ranged from seven (Amsterdam) to nearly 20 (London) but more normally about a dozen. Out of an active membership of how many?

[FirelightSpirit]

A meet-up sounds great to me as well, but I'd also have to do a bit of travelling, though admittedly not as far as Adrian or Momo, or some of our US members. Unfortunately, time and money are also a little short at the moment, but I would like to get together some time in the future.

[MarkC]

I think we had a peak of about 40 active members.

[Radders]

I would be interested in meeting - just say when and where.
I am also happy to meet in New Zealand/France/The Netherlands, all I have to do is find someone to fund my travels :rolleyes: