Review of our LessWrong Hamburg First Meetup:

I arrived early and the location was somewhat crowded and the reserved table in the back had been replaced by a center table - but I managed to switch for a better one.

Then I put up some books and a sign and was quickly greated by the first LWer.

We started with smalltalk, finding common background quickly. 

I had brought some books from the LW reading list I had in my collection and surprise: Half of them were recognized and the remaining quickly started a discussion (the Kahneman I later lent to C.F.).

Some friends trickled in and after some introduction we played Wits and Wagers and then Pandemic (without biasing because the game was new to most).  

Summary: The Meetup was a success for me. We introduced some friends to LW ideas and we enjoyed a lively discussion not without controversy. I adapted to the Meetup format easily.    

One idea I had was a Meetup Diary which I used to plan the Meetup and take notes in. I think it still beats digital for things like quick notes and diagrams. I had it handy to check our schedule, draw Bayes diagrams and write down a telephone number. I plan to have it around and maybe lend it to later Meetup organizers.

Outlook for the next Meetup: We planned it for Friday 21th in company offices somewhere in Hamburg, Altona (thanks to F.R. who will confirm the location later with a separate Post).

Topics will be then

• Procrastination (I committed to read up and present some techniques in exchange for C.F. committing to use beeminder).
• More discussion of LW topics, most likely: effective altruism
• I will bring books and games again.

More Meetups will likely follow roughly every fourtnight and alternating Friday and weekends.