When you announce your meet - too early?

Started by vdeane, January 05, 2025, 03:07:54 PM

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Rothman

Quote from: Rothman on January 13, 2025, 09:01:12 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 13, 2025, 07:24:55 PM
Quote from: Rothman on January 13, 2025, 03:35:58 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 13, 2025, 01:44:07 PM
Quote from: vdeane on January 11, 2025, 04:58:38 PM
Quote from: Rothman on January 11, 2025, 12:21:19 PMand curse NY Civil Service for their lousy scheduling of promotion exams that prevent attendance at one of them thus far...
Honestly, it always makes me nervous when promotional exams come up for exactly that reason.  I was waiting with baited breath the last time they did the STA/ACPA exams before they were announced (at the time, I didn't know about the preliminary schedule link).

You guys have to take tests for promotions? Kentucky has done away with entrance exams for initial hires. It's all done by resume and experience now.

That was a weird way of saying "nepotism."

Resume and experience is how we get jobs in the private sector.

Dear heavens, nepotism is even more rampant in the private sector! :D

(Have you heard of Sanford and Son or any other company that ends with "and Sons"? :D)



Shoot, I knew a father that ran a healthy business representing people so they could obtain Social Security Disabilty and Social Security Supplementary Security Income.  He was particularly proud of when he successfully argued that a stripper was due benefits since she was only able to perform that one particular job.

Anyway, he felt compelled to bring his two drug-addicted sons into the business.  One surprisingly took to it okay, but his vices caught up to him.

The father passed away, one son disappeared into poverty and crime.  The son that held onto the business eventually just stopped showing up and the employees bolted.  Come to think of it, I'm not sure how the office property was handled after all of that.

I mean, even well-intentioned nepotism is still nepotism.

At a law firm I worked at, a senior partner insisted that his son work there as well as a junior partner.  Junior had been financed by his father to travel the world and whatnot prior.  Was a little funny when a bigger-than-expected trial popped up and Junior actually had to work for once.  Truth be told, he was a fun guy to be around.

And, heck, the first job I had was at a video store owned by a father and semi-managed by his son...in that case it was a good thing since the son was a better manager than their actual manager for a while...

In any matter, the idea that the private sector is some sort of bastion of meritocracy is patently unfounded.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.


vdeane

Quote from: Rothman on January 14, 2025, 12:07:03 PMHe was particularly proud of when he successfully argued that a stripper was due benefits since she was only able to perform that one particular job.
That must have been an interesting argument. :-o
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

Scott5114

Regarding meet hosts being unable to hold the meet for whatever reason... I feel like most of us are pretty sympathetic to that, since life is unpredictable (so long as it's not just someone flaking for no good reason). Still, I think a good insurance policy just about any meet host could use is to communicate the plans with the other attendees local to the area, so that if the primary host needs to bail out for whatever reason, they can pass the reins off to someone else. This is a lot easier now that a written itinerary has become standard issue for a roadmeet.

This was basically what ended up happening with the 2022 Oklahoma City meet; the initial planning was handled by @JMoses24 who was in contact with me during most of the process. He ended up having to drop out of hosting due to health issues (though he did make a brief appearance at one of the stops), but since I knew the area and his plans, the meet went on just fine.

I have to confess that, while I didn't watch the video that touched this off, I have a hard time understanding why there would be an issue with doing an exploratory inquiry before committing to a meet (as was alluded to upthread). I know there's been at least one instance of throwing a meet idea out there but didn't get any confirmed interest for the city and/or dates proposed. Better to know if that's what's going to happen ahead of time, rather than putting in the work to plan an itinerary and then getting no interest.

Surprise attendees...so long as it's not an issue where there's a cramped table or limited parking or  whatever I don't see why that would be an issue. If there is such a situation, the host should say so.
uncontrollable freak sardine salad chef

Rothman

Quote from: Scott5114 on January 16, 2025, 08:00:07 AMI have to confess that, while I didn't watch the video that touched this off,

Just watching the couple of minutes vdeane referred to would help.  This wasn't about an "exploratory inquiry" like what happened with that one particular recent instance where the meet went poof due to lack of interest or not finding a good date for it.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

vdeane

The quintessential example of the "cancelled meet" that caused issues is this one.  Although most I have known that have gotten so far but had the host drop out were for legitimate reasons, Jacksonville certainly lives on in infamy.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

hbelkins

Quote from: vdeane on January 16, 2025, 12:52:47 PMThe quintessential example of the "cancelled meet" that caused issues is this one.  Although most I have known that have gotten so far but had the host drop out were for legitimate reasons, Jacksonville certainly lives on in infamy.

Didn't Gene VanDusseldorp drive all the way from Kansas City for that one?
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: vdeane on January 16, 2025, 12:52:47 PMThe quintessential example of the "cancelled meet" that caused issues is this one.  Although most I have known that have gotten so far but had the host drop out were for legitimate reasons, Jacksonville certainly lives on in infamy.

Dude tried for years to get back into the good graces of everyone here but couldn't.  A grown adult using parental figures as an excuse for a last second cancellation was incredibly lame.

Brandon

Quote from: hbelkins on January 16, 2025, 01:16:55 PM
Quote from: vdeane on January 16, 2025, 12:52:47 PMThe quintessential example of the "cancelled meet" that caused issues is this one.  Although most I have known that have gotten so far but had the host drop out were for legitimate reasons, Jacksonville certainly lives on in infamy.

Didn't Gene VanDusseldorp drive all the way from Kansas City for that one?

Yes, he did.  He had a hotel reservation set up too.

It was a CF that made the 2014 St Louis meet look well planned by comparison.
"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." - Ramsay Bolton, "Game of Thrones"

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality." - Reg, "Monty Python's Life of Brian"

bandit957

Quote from: Brandon on January 16, 2025, 02:10:53 PMIt was a CF that made the 2014 St Louis meet look well planned by comparison.

St. Louis 2014 was one of the best meets.
Might as well face it, pooing is cool

Brandon

Quote from: bandit957 on January 16, 2025, 02:13:47 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 16, 2025, 02:10:53 PMIt was a CF that made the 2014 St Louis meet look well planned by comparison.

St. Louis 2014 was one of the best meets.

Never said it wasn't good.  It was a hell of a fun time, but just not planned very well.
"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." - Ramsay Bolton, "Game of Thrones"

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality." - Reg, "Monty Python's Life of Brian"

Rothman

Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

TheHighwayMan3561

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 16, 2025, 02:03:09 PM
Quote from: vdeane on January 16, 2025, 12:52:47 PMThe quintessential example of the "cancelled meet" that caused issues is this one.  Although most I have known that have gotten so far but had the host drop out were for legitimate reasons, Jacksonville certainly lives on in infamy.

Dude tried for years to get back into the good graces of everyone here but couldn't.  A grown adult using parental figures as an excuse for a last second cancellation was incredibly lame.

After the fact someone did explain that the host was mentally unable to function without assistance, and theorized that the parents may not have known what was happening until the last minute and were unable or unwilling to help with hosting the meet when they found out about it. At the very least it probably led people to make sure they personally knew the host or knew people who did, before committing to a meet.
I make Poiponen look smart

Rothman

Quote from: TheHighwayMan3561 on January 16, 2025, 03:38:38 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 16, 2025, 02:03:09 PM
Quote from: vdeane on January 16, 2025, 12:52:47 PMThe quintessential example of the "cancelled meet" that caused issues is this one.  Although most I have known that have gotten so far but had the host drop out were for legitimate reasons, Jacksonville certainly lives on in infamy.

Dude tried for years to get back into the good graces of everyone here but couldn't.  A grown adult using parental figures as an excuse for a last second cancellation was incredibly lame.

After the fact someone did explain that the host was mentally unable to function without assistance, and theorized that the parents may not have known what was happening until the last minute and were unable or unwilling to help with hosting the meet when they found out about it. At the very least it probably led people to make sure they personally knew the host or knew people who did, before committing to a meet.

Did he not show up to the Orlando meet last year, or am I thinking of someone else?  Good graces attained?
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

74/171FAN

Quote from: Rothman on January 16, 2025, 07:24:02 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan3561 on January 16, 2025, 03:38:38 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 16, 2025, 02:03:09 PM
Quote from: vdeane on January 16, 2025, 12:52:47 PMThe quintessential example of the "cancelled meet" that caused issues is this one.  Although most I have known that have gotten so far but had the host drop out were for legitimate reasons, Jacksonville certainly lives on in infamy.

Dude tried for years to get back into the good graces of everyone here but couldn't.  A grown adult using parental figures as an excuse for a last second cancellation was incredibly lame.

After the fact someone did explain that the host was mentally unable to function without assistance, and theorized that the parents may not have known what was happening until the last minute and were unable or unwilling to help with hosting the meet when they found out about it. At the very least it probably led people to make sure they personally knew the host or knew people who did, before committing to a meet.

Did he not show up to the Orlando meet last year, or am I thinking of someone else?  Good graces attained?

His dad brought him to my Raleigh/Durham Meet in 2022 and there were no issues.
I am now a PennDOT employee.  My opinions/views do not necessarily reflect the opinions/views of PennDOT.

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hbelkins

Quote from: TheHighwayMan3561 on January 16, 2025, 03:38:38 PMAt the very least it probably led people to make sure they personally knew the host or knew people who did, before committing to a meet.

Heck, there are people I personally know that I'd be hesitant about attending a meet they hosted due to poor planning issues in previous meets in the past.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

JMoses24

Quote from: Scott5114 on January 16, 2025, 08:00:07 AMRegarding meet hosts being unable to hold the meet for whatever reason... I feel like most of us are pretty sympathetic to that, since life is unpredictable (so long as it's not just someone flaking for no good reason). Still, I think a good insurance policy just about any meet host could use is to communicate the plans with the other attendees local to the area, so that if the primary host needs to bail out for whatever reason, they can pass the reins off to someone else. This is a lot easier now that a written itinerary has become standard issue for a roadmeet.

This was basically what ended up happening with the 2022 Oklahoma City meet; the initial planning was handled by @JMoses24 who was in contact with me during most of the process. He ended up having to drop out of hosting due to health issues (though he did make a brief appearance at one of the stops), but since I knew the area and his plans, the meet went on just fine.

I have to confess that, while I didn't watch the video that touched this off, I have a hard time understanding why there would be an issue with doing an exploratory inquiry before committing to a meet (as was alluded to upthread). I know there's been at least one instance of throwing a meet idea out there but didn't get any confirmed interest for the city and/or dates proposed. Better to know if that's what's going to happen ahead of time, rather than putting in the work to plan an itinerary and then getting no interest.

Surprise attendees...so long as it's not an issue where there's a cramped table or limited parking or  whatever I don't see why that would be an issue. If there is such a situation, the host should say so.

Just to back up what Scott said, I had had significant surgery a little over a week prior -- the four and a half hours I did that day was pushing it. 8 was just not going to happen without being heavily medicated for pain.



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