Too Much Information

I never like to wade into dangerous waters, but I feel like I want to say this, and so, I guess I will.

This thing in Boston…what is the big deal?

Don’t get me wrong.  I am sooooooo glad that Poeks took the open invitation route with NYC.  I had the most amazing night ever, but that isn’t the only kind of party there is.

But, that doesn’t mean that I think every time more than 3 internet people get together it needs to be an open invitation.

I follow a lot of people on twitter and tumblr, but even the most conservative among the funniest of us follows 150-250 people.  And not always the same 150-250.  It is very hard to socialize in a group larger than 20-30.  I’ve been at parties with my very good IRL friends that are 20-30 and the feeling I always come away with is, “I didn’t really get to talk to everyone I wanted to.”  So here are people coming from SUPER far away and the organizers want it to be meaningful.  I get that.

But, that is not even my biggest reason why I think getting worked up over “not being invited” is silly.  The biggest reason is this:  Just because you are on a social network and chose to get involved with some or all of those people does not give you any claim to their social lives.

I never expected anyone to even follow me back, much less befriend me in the way so many people have.  Some people compare these communities to high school, and complain about the “elite group” not following them, but whatever.  I watched Lonelysandwich be a mensch for like 5 hours.  He is completely lovely, soft spoken and sweet.  He never turned anyone away or acted like a stuck up internet celebrity.  On top of that, at the end of the night he was the perfect supportive brother to Irreverend.  Who am I to say that he shouldn’t be able to go to a smaller party the next night, where people aren’t going to be all worshipy?  Where he can relax?  He is never going to follow me, and that is OK, I can still think he is funny and like and admire him.  Same goes for all the great people in Boston.  I’m glad they had fun.

I come to twitter and tumblr with what I have: me.  I’m not super funny or super beautiful, but I managed to make some pretty damn fine friends.  I like it.

So, on Friday when I was checking into the hotel, Luckyshirt and Irreverend just happened to pass through the lobby on their way out.  They invited me to come hang out with them.  95% of my brain was telling me not to do it.  That it would just be easier to hang out in my room, that they really didn’t want to hang out with me, that it was rude of me to make them wait 15 minutes so I could check in and put my bags down, blah, blah, blah.

But, but… %5 of my brain was telling me that was idiotic.  That I would regret it if I didn’t go.  That, though it had the potential to be awkward, it was worth the risk.  That isn’t that the whole reason I came to NYC in the first place?  That, hello, they invited you, so it is ok to say yes.

Guess what?  100% of me is glad I said yes.

LET’S ALL LEARN TO SAY YES!