Many others already pointed out the usefulness of meeting others and learning from them (or even socializing, if you're that kind of person).

I'd like to stress out a point mentioned by Todd : being able to ask question to specialists. When the meetups are great (from my own point of view), it's because:

• I learned something from the topic presented (either a technical thing, some pitfalls they went into and share what they learned the hard way, ...)
• or because we were able to get deeper into some specific points because of Q&A.
• (Ideally both!)

Since the best conferences are all other the world and expensive, I'm just not able to attend. Hence, like you, I learn a lot from the internet and have long playlist of talks (either the good ones I liked, or the ones yet to be seen).

But so many times, either there's no time for Q&A, or is was a conf and there was no Q&A, or there was, but nobody asked the question I had in mind.

And then, to answer your question, I could probably find the answer on the internet... but I might find diverging answers, and not know which one to trust or is optimal, or I could only find partial answers and would have to try... all to say that it hardly compare with being able to ask it yourself to an expert who is there to share his/her knowledge.

Since I held several talks, I try to convince myself that at least some of the people came for the topic. ;D ....

But I go there for the people ;D .... that's basically my "going out" once a month to and talking to fellow devs about problems or code and ofc supporting the community :)

Reasons to go to meetups:

1. To meet like-minded people and network.
2. To ask questions and get in-person responses
3. To contribute and help others
4. To learn new concepts.

After you've been attending for a while, Ideally, 3 should become #1. I'm sorry but if you cannot see the networking and social value of meetups, you're either going to the wrong one or that's just short-sighted. I know more people than I can count, including myself, who have attended meetups, met amazing friends, and gotten great jobs out of relationships even further down the road. Meetups are not always an instant-gratification thing... If you go to one or two and don't think you've learned anything, sometimes that means you need to keep going anyway and either teach others or build some new relationships.

However, if on a repeated basis you aren't able to offer any value and you receive none, stop going.

I think meetups are more about meeting good developers from your community and hearing what they're up to.

At least, that's what I focus on when I go to a meet-up.

The internet is great, but it cannot replace meaningful personal interactions with people who share a similar interest. It is important to surround yourself around a community of people who are 'in it together.'

A meetup's value is directly correlated with how invested everyone participating is, and from that what you make of it and invest in it. If you're devoting time to a subject, the more viewpoints the better, and a local angle is a special support network of similarly invested people.

Some of my best friends, advisors, and more have occurred from interpersonal relationships via meetups.

Approaching meetups with a 'me' attitude is short sighted. Communities exist for a reason. Help others and help others help you. You'll find that when you get the opportunity to receive that support, you'll be glad you did.

Sure you can.

I think meetups are more for networking than learning.