Online Diary: Meeting Up, in the Flesh

By Pamela LiCalzi O'Connell

Meeting Up, in the Flesh

It's no longer unusual for online friends to arrange to meet in real life or for Web communities to hold face-to-face events. But a new, free service called Meetup ( (meetup.com ) offers a twist on the link between online and offline relationships.

The purpose of Meetup is not to help existing online communities meet in person, although many are using the site that way. Rather, it tries to "pull together people in the same location with shared interests who are strangers online" and encourage them to meet, said Scott Heiferman, co-founder and chief executive of the company. "We want to stimulate local communities."

This is how it works: visit the Meetup site and search the topics directory for something that interests you, like a hobby or a musical preference. The site will list "meetups," or informal gatherings, planned on that topic in your area. You can also start your own topic, but don't worry: you won't be expected to plan or lead the event. The site does the work.

Once registered for an event, you can vote on the local venue where you would like it to take place. (Meetup makes money by charging bars, cafes and the like to be listed on the site.) If fewer than four people register, the event is canceled.

Obed Fernandez started a Meetup topic for ex-Jehovah's Witnesses that has attracted more than 800 registrants. Mr. Fernandez said he used to run a site for XJW's, as they are called, "but I've become disenchanted with the reach of the Web and am more and more interested in offline interaction."

For Mr. Heiferman of Meetup, the goal is almost subversive. "We are very interested in using the Net to get people away from the Net," he said.


More: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/26/technology/circuits/26DIAR.html (Registration Required)