Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Underground > Gathering >

Who's invited?

foot long subbacultcha

14:51 / 05.08.03

Ok here's the thing. How do these gatherings work? This is actually my first "delurking" post which I've always meant to ask. What's the deal? When you say "everyone", do you really, literally mean "everyone", like a potential flash mob of 'lithers, but instead of disappearing straight away they hang around in corners wandering if they should introduce themselves? Or has anyone ever turned up unannounced on their own and then run away as soon as they arrived due to sheer embarrasment? Or (sorry, stream of consciousness here) is there an exclusive "gatherings club", so "everyone" means everyone in the "club". (ok i'm gonna stop using quotation marks from this point on). Or... is there like a set time a 'lither becomes one of everyone? Or does it take a set number of posts? Or is it all about posting charisma that can potentially envelope a newbie in a barrage of hugs from the 'lith underground community?

Just curious, cos I might actually turn up to one of these things. There's a cool bunch of people here.

15:02 / 05.08.03

everyone generally means everyone -

saying you are coming in a gathering thread is usually handy if you want people to keep an eye out for you.

Barbelith meets are usually pretty easy to spot.

Tryphena Absent

15:06 / 05.08.03

Well there's a significant group who seem to always be around. Most of them post quite a bit on the board. Usually when something's up in Gathering it means anyone and everyone's welcome but it's best to turn up for the first time at an event with a lot of people. That way you can escape anyone who's freaking you out without making it too obvious! Actually it's like every other group in the world, you go along for the 250th time and suddenly it seems normal.

It's amazing how many people seem like complete bastards on Barbelith and turn out to be snuggly bunnies!

15:52 / 05.08.03

scoobyjah
Hey, had exactly the same concerns heading along to meet a big crowd of these wackos a few months back (twice in the one weekend in fact). Wondering if 'everyone' actually meant a clique or something of that nature. Having just headed along and looking to see how it went: I have rarely felt more welcomed in any group situation, on both occasions. You should certainly head along to one.

Or just organise one. How're you for drinks some evening next week?

07:02 / 06.08.03

Yep, Yep, Yep and Yep! What they've all said above.

Eveyone indeed means everyone and anyone. I think we tend to be recognisable by being the group of people in a pub who are talking incrediably intensely, and are usually joyous in our welcome of friends arriving.

If you want to come along please do, and if you are worried about recoginsing us/being recognised let us know in the relevant gathering thread approximately when you're turning up and what you look like/will be wearing. Coz that will give us an equal chance of seeing you when you get there.

The more the merrier as they say!

There is a large group of London lithers who come to gatherings and a percentage of whom you can be certain will turn up to any given gathering, but it's not always the same ones.

So come along, it'd be lovely to meet you!

foot long subbacultcha

09:31 / 06.08.03

Fantastic. Hey, this is really welcoming, I'm dead pleased. Maybe other lurkers will feel similarly empowered?

Cool I reckon I'll pop along to a gathering at some point. Just need to find one now when I'm not busy.

Waxy Dan - I could well be free at some point next week. Could arrange something over private messages or something?

Next time I'm in London is tomorrow (Thursday 7 Aug) night to see Bright Eyes perform. If anyone else happens to be going to tat we could hook up.

11:14 / 06.08.03

Hey, try starting a thread called something like Lurkers Special for a weekend soon and see how many you can lure out

.

11:36 / 06.08.03

I'm out of London plane-wise next Weds morning, so anytime before then.
Back for the Notting Hill Festival, so either during or after that?

Yup, drop me a pm.

foot long subbacultcha

08:17 / 07.08.03

Hehe, not a bad idea, Al. I might just do that!

Dan - can't make it for Notting Hill, I'll be at the Reading festival instead. After could be good though. Where are you jetting off to?