For anyone not familiar with it, Meetup is a website that connects people with common interests so they can actually have face-to-face common experiences. You register, give them your real-world name and address, check off the things you're interested in, and it sends you e-mails about groups you might be interested in within a 50-mile radius of your zip code. I belong to a dozen groups, some of which have yet to schedule their first event. Four of my groups are about cinema and movies.
Last night one of the organizers of a movie group held a screening at his apartment, where he has a blue-ray player, projector, and screen. Great electronics and the picture quality was excellent. Comfortable seating was provided and he called out for pizza, which he paid for and even declined to accept money from his guests in contribution. There were seven people total of various ages and occupations. All were pleasant and polite to each other for the most part.
So what was wrong?
First, I may have inadvertently embarrassed the host. Without being familiar with the protocol of this group (it was my first event with them), I brought fresh raw veg and dip to the gathering. The dip was prepared and the veg was cleaned and cut so all it needed was to be plated.
No platters or even proper plates. He had one glass bowl for dip. All he had were microwave-safe containers that take-out food is frequently sold in. No real glasses, either; just plastic disposables (despite owning a set of coasters). He was waiting for another guy to show up with soda and chips; the male guest who was already there brought paper plates and napkins (at the host's request).
One of the other women (whom I think was about my age; we were the oldest present) brought some artfully made Halloween cookies. At one point when the host joked about his ignorance of hosting he asked what minimum stuff a host should do she said "Make sure the bathroom is clean and there is enough toilet paper." Everyone laughed. Half an hour later when I entered the bathroom it was clean, there was a scented candle burning, and a new bottle of hand soap. However, the TP roll was down to the last two uses. There was only one new roll in the vanity cabinet, which turned out to be adequate for the evening.
Is it presumptuous to assume that when you attend something like this that the host have the basic kitchen equipment to serve snacks in? The chips brought by the other guy stayed in the bag because there was no bowl to put them in. The peppers I brought stayed in the rectangular Ziplock storage container I brought them in, but the cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots were put in a strainer that was placed in a microwave bowl to keep it steady. I declined to take the leftovers home because of the weight, so the host joked about acquiring a tupperware container.
BTW, the host is a single man in his 30s and he is gainfully employed.
The other issue was that the screening turned into Mystery Science Theatre 3000, but there was no prior warning of that.
I don't know whether ratings are required as this is only my 4th Meetup event altogether.
What would you say or do?
