ah, this is the kind of question that can put one in hot water. let's just say that they know who they are.
:)

(because, frankly, I'd invite dhoyt, but all his sockpuppets would come along and we wouldn't have enough food)

You know, I was going to name names, but then I realized people might not want to be known for the characteristics I appreciate in them. I'd love to have a few separate gatherings:

• One of the calm, logical people who call out retardation where they see it
• One of the queens and kings of snark -- and I mean really brilliant, well done snark, not just snark for snark's sake
• One battle royale of ignorant conservatives and ignorant liberals (for alas, both exist)
• One salon of master storytellers from both communities
• And finally, one of people I just happen to like, because they seem like fun people, which means pretty much everyone on MetaChat

ericb, I would not mind having a drink with you. Also, naming names like this causes me to make unfavorable comparisons between here and high school, in terms of who's in, who's out, who is popular, etc. And since high school was not a good time for me, I have no wish to repeat that.

Plus, it's hard to keep track of all the restraining orders.

Divine_Wino because he cracks my stuff up.

Mudpuppie because she seems a kindred spirit.

Mrs. Pants because she seems a very gifted eccentric.

Taz, as guest of honor, and to get her take on the whole thing.

By the way, ericb, because of this thread I ended up going through all the comments I had ever favorited on MeFi and either laughing hysterically or deciding that the answers were "too serious/real" and deleting them.

It turns out I mostly like it when people are mean to one another.

I could never choose just 3, and wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by leaving them out.

For a while I had a crush on ZachsMind, but he hasn't been posting as much lately. delmoi seems like he'd be interesting at a dinner party. I sort of heart jonmc (I have a soft spot for curmudgeons, what can I say!), so he'd be on my list. I've met occhiblu (I think) and scrump and tangerine IRL, but I want them at the party, too. Oh, hell, invite everyone!

Hmm, let's have a series of dinners where each table has four randomly selected MetaChatters who have not met each other. I guess this will require a huge travel budget... But let's get it all planned out in case someone wins the lottery.

In fact, let's get started on planning other projects to implement when one of us wins the lottery. We've already got some fairly solid ideas for a MetaChat chicken ranch in the mountains of Washington.

I met ZachsMind in Vegas, Claudia_SF, and I recommend the experience. Cool guy.

(Claudia, yes, we met at the Soluna meet-up. I was wearing a pink sweater. And had just gotten laid-off, so possibly was not at my most sparkling!)

It turns out I mostly like it when people are mean to one another.

I'd invite folks who have had issues with each other online and get them together to see how they interact in the real world. Put some flesh on the "words."

Jeez, you all seem like you'd be a hoot at dinner.

But I have often thought what fun it would be to get together with two MeChazens in particular: two intelligent, articulate people whom I admire for their abilities to dissect arguments and respond sensibly and with strength, but without rancor.

Both seem to enjoy good food, indulging when they want and understanding moderation without snobbery or handwringing. In a perfect world, I would have a chance to cook a lavish dinner for the two of them while they engaged in a lively and varied conversation.

(If you think this sounds like you, then I'd probably want to invite you to dinner.)

And I'd let them pick the third.

I'd never really be one to invite any of you guys to dinner. I never take the first social step. I'd gladly go if invited by someone else, though.

Plus y'all live pretty far away. ;)

curmudgeon? I've spent most of today hanging out with pips' nonagenarian mom, who broke her wrist recently, poor thing.

as for dinner guests: rainbaby, matteo, klangklangston, jrossi. just because.

Haha. Yeah, jon, you and Languagehat and maybe Divine Wino or OmieWise or Cold Chef...

actually, klang, you remind me of the wino a bit in the cantankerous-yet-friendly plus insanely smart tone of your ccomments, so even if we argued over dinner it'd be entertaining and applications of alcohol would quell the disturbance.matteo, I'd invite since I'd have my nonna from a small village in Varese, Italy cook the meal and he'd appreciate and be able to tell her so and if he got out of line, she'd dress him down in a way he'd understand. rainbaby and jrossi...they are both brilliant comic foils for me and pretty damned funny in their own right, which would keep things light.

(nonna would make minestrone, gnocchi, and risotto milanese, fwiw)

well ericb, it seems like you, me and amberglow like to hang out and post follow-ups to long dead political threads, so I'd love to hang out and shoot the shit with you both. There are many people I admire on both shades of blue, but today, I'll pick IRFH to round out the party.

I could have sworn I posted on this thread.

*muttermuttermutter*

I think I'd enjoy having dinner with any of you. But if you appreciate food, or booze, or me, figure you're near the top of the list. There is no list.

Plus, what everybody else said, especially danf.

Cannot cook for beans, but I always bring dessert.

I had a really lovely lunch with Miko once. I can think of about 10 more places I'd like to take her.

"... Plus, it's hard to keep track of all the restraining orders."
posted by danf 28 April | 13:23

Amen, brother, but that's only one of many practical considerations. Given that 4 is already too many for a real "My Dinner With Andre" two-camera-most-shots-locked-down script, we need to be thankful we're not also asked by the original poster to film it all, too. Still, there are practical considerations beyond personalities to be addressed, even in the thought experiment suggested.

First, we've got to be careful with gender issues, so that we don't wind up with 4 way Before Sunrise. Not that that might not be interesting, but it's a different result entirely than that framed by the original question. Still, given all the possible pairings with all the known and unknown orientations of all the individuals behind all the nics, it's a veritable minefield of suppositions, for all but the most open among us.

Next, we'd need an agreeable venue. Some place with great acoustics (to foster conversation), a first rate back of the house, and a waitstaff that's been serving professionally for 25 years, on average. Good lighting, memorable food, but none of that attitude that insists on "seatings," or has the executive chef out front at 9:00 pm, whoring for adulation, and signing autographs. A place with a tuned Steinway in the corner, and a cellar where a wine list is kind of superfluous, that can still serve a good draft beer with aplomb. Chairs that encourage you to order coffee and brandy after dinner, and ask about dessert, and who might be playing the Steinway later, and when they might start. And maybe (dare we hope?) a cigar girl, working out of a walk-in humidor.

And then there is dinner itself, where vegetarians might meet omnivores or even carnivores, with unhappy result. A competent house should be able to keep meat off veggie plates, but a lot of vegans are revulsed by the very scent of sizzling meat in a steakhouse atmosphere. And yet, were I picking the venue, the very air would naturally smack of umami and char by 7:00 pm, bless my unrepentant head. Again, a minefield of suppositions to be navigated.

At any rate, I'm thinking y2karl, dios, and box at an 8:00 pm 4 seater in the courtyard at Broussard's. Any Thursday in June is good for me.

I'm bringing a couple nice bottles of Nebbiolo, giovanni

ALL you peoples would invite ME, because this sumbitch can COOK.

Even though I know 'em all - I am really missing my Portland/Seattle homies and would love it if we could all get together again.

There, I said it.

mullacc, specklet, and cortex.

We'd feast on sashimi cut from the fat belly of klangklangston's hairy balls.

I've already met everyone from MeFi and here. You all rock. Now let's fight!

I am the guy who shows up univited.