This must be the most asked question of the month for me, ‘What is a DO?’ nobody seems to know, but everyone wants to go! This post will explain what a “DO” is, and why our latest one was a success.
Firstly, don’t feel bad for not knowing, it is actually a British term. The closest anyone has got to knowing what a DO is, was reader Elaine who blatantly stole was inspired by the description on Flyertalk. Crisis was averted, everyone felt better and moved on… unfortunately the Flyertalk explanation is incorrect. Here is what she wrote:
Here’s what Catman wrote on FT:
“What’s a Flyertalk DO?
Some people have been asking what a “DO” is?While I may not have the purrfect answer, I’m going to try (and go ahead and move to the appropriate catagory
A Flyertalk gathering is when at least two and probalby no more than a dozen flyertalkers get together anywhere, from an airline club to a restaurant.
Example: Catman is flying through LA, and he calls his buddies PremEx and Newself and Mr. Limo for beers at the president’s Club. Koko happens to see Catman and joins in the fun and razzes geo1004 over the cell phone for not showing up.
A DO is one step up from a gathering. it’s where more than a dozen people get together centered around some event or city or restaurant. It has at least one big dinner with IF TIME PERMITS — Thank you MASHAV for the clarification a number of smaller events which could be everything from brunches and tours to even bar crawling
DOS are harder to organize than gatherings because there’s money to be colelcted, restaurants to review, handing several dozen people.
For example: the ORD event in May, 2002 is definitely a DO becuase it’s centereed around something: going to Chicago. It has at least 12 people going. Let’s say ORD can be considered a “MEGA” DO (when 50 or more peopel show for the event.)
The PIPS can be called DOS. Missy’s SEA party is a do. So is Portland and YYZ in July, 2002.
The word “DO” I believe was coined in 1999 when I put together the very first gathering of friends in NYC. I called it “The catman DO ” Two more followed, and the Catman Do 3, March 2001 holds the record for MOST FLYERTALKERS IN ONE SETTING — 82 AT DINNER AND several others meeting up during that weekend.
SO in sum:
Gathering: 2-12 flyertalkers for a small event like dinner or drinks.
DO: 12 or more people meeting at one central place like a restaurant, with other events during the period of the DO.FYI: OMNI is to title a post that can be considered totally off topic for a particular thread.
(Copyrighted: 2002, CMS, INC)
This message has been readjusted after my friend MASHAV made some good points about what a DO IS. Thanks!
[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 05-23-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 06-19-2002).]
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CATS Rule!!! Have a MEOWY Day!”
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Quoted from: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/communitybuzz/480017-whats-flyertalk-do.html
The flaw with this is the line:
The word “DO” I believe was coined in 1999 when I put together the very first gathering of friends in NYC. I called it “The catman DO ” Two more followed, and the Catman Do 3, March 2001 holds the record for MOST FLYERTALKERS IN ONE SETTING — 82 AT DINNER AND several others meeting up during that weekend.
The first Do: The Field of Cloth and Gold
While I am certain that Catman put together a great affair, it was hardly a scratch on the Field of Cloth and Gold, which was, in fact, the first official DO. Occurring on June 7th 1520 and lasted for a whopping 17 days. This event brought together the King of England (the infamous Henry VIII) and The King of France Francis I for the first time in generations, under a banner of truce and celebrations.
The French brought mastery culinary craftsmen, the finest bakers, butchers, and candlestick makers of the land. The English brought 2200 sheep and and a mighty thirst. It is alleged that things went well until King Henry challenged King Francis to a wrestling match and things went awry, quickly putting the two nations back to war. However, I am no historian and just googled that, so it may be total bollocks.
In more recent years the term DO was made famous by the aptly named ‘A Bit of a Do’ and this indeed was the inspiration behind our recent affair in Charlotte. Here is an excerpt of the show, which was required study for all British folk.
Please note, the Boston Tea Party was a Party, but it was not a ‘Do’ and we don’t like to talk about that.
There you have it, that’s what a “Do” is and we did it so well because we actually knew what it was supposed to be, a chance to get together, hob knob, talk smack about other people not present and enjoy lots of booze.
Actually it’s French… as in DEAUX
Oh hell no!
If I remember correctly, MM posed the question on the meaning of “DO” in a comment on one of Matt’s early posts about CLT, and I – ex-librarian that I am who likes this kind of question – zipped over to FT to get an answer. Now if we accept Catman’s definitions, CLT was really a Mega DO, since there were more than 50 people. But for me it will remain the #CharlotteDO, and I am proud to have been one of the lucky folks who gambled that it’d be worth flying across the country – in coach 😉 – to attend. You all know how the story ends!
Actually, I had heard this at a BOS DO some years ago… there were a bunch of FT MODs who were also having a meeting and we all met up in a bar. One bloke who had been around for quite some time explained it to me as such–but remember, we WERE in a bar:
Long ago there was a poster named CatMan. I think this was in line 1999 before many here were even online let alone born.
He wanted to have a get together and I believe it even may have been in Hawaii. So people asked… what would the catman do?
And there you have it.
To confirm this I will have to dig deeper, but that’s what I got.
:)MM
Elaine, glad you could make it and that it worked out! As for the DO thing… I think I am right and MM is making this up… but then again who really knows?
I am full o beans.
Matt knows this now after having met me in person. And to mention the French… to an Englishman? Oh dear.
Anyway I HAVE asked my FT TalkBoard members… just to see if THEY know the exact meaning.
I’m waiting with baited breath- no way it’s a French thing!
I think it is funny that I quoted what Catman wrote on FT and you guys are busy checking the provenance.
You’ll have to excuse me – I have some prepaids and GCs awaiting my attention, and AP is wondering where I’ve been this month…. not to mention the real people at SW and WM! Gotta go; duty calls!
BTW, George used the Dunkin’ Donuts guy from the “Gotta Make the Donuts” commercials as a metaphor for bloggers pimping CCs, but I am starting to think of MSing a little bit that way too, especially when I pass a drug, grocery or office supply store where I could stop but don’t really want to right then.
[“Gotta make the donuts, gotta make the donuts,” she says as she heads up the stairs to the home office to scratch off some more numbers]
As a TalkBoard member of FlyerTalk who should know of these things, I figured I should look into it and so I asked the experts–those who have been around FT a lot longer than I have… here is the info I recieved. I encourage you all to look further and post and explore Flyertalk yourselves, as it’s a great travel resource – and yes, has a lot of Dos.
I consulted seasoned FT experts and this is the conclusion:
The definition of what a Do is can be found in the CommunityBuzz forum in this thread: What’s a Flyertalk DO? The definition of Dos have changed over the years – ie, it doesn’t have to be 12 people getting together for a meal or something more for it to be a Do. Dos can be as simple as getting together for meals or as complex as multi-day events with schedules, tours, etc. For those who want to see/learn more about Dos & possibly attend one, check out the CommunityBuzz forum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/communitybuzz-380/
I then told them of this blog so they can become addicted to MS. In fact I think one of them already kinda is hehe.
:)MM
Nice detective work sir! I would like to see a little more on the origin of the term, as I’m pretty sure I nailed it and the only Frenchie involved was Francis I… 🙂
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/communitybuzz/480017-whats-flyertalk-do.html
I think that sums it up lol and it has been mentioned herein
Now I think it’s a German term… probably from post WW1.
You are bringing ze Germans into this?
Actually forgive me… It is Soviet…
ДЮ
Putin would have it no other way (and we should invite him to the next one)
Ahh I call shenanigans on this, but feel better it’s the Ruskies at least..
And it all comes full circle, both linguistically and geographically:
“So then is a person attending one too many of these events a Do-nut?” asks LarryU in the #3 post in
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/communitybuzz/480017-whats-flyertalk-do.html
Imagine my surprise to see someone from the next town over is posting on FT about Dos and do-nuts. Maybe donuts should be the official food of the next MS DO. And PDX is renown for VooDoo Donuts:
http://voodoodoughnut.com/blogging/ 😉
I still think you are all bonkers and it’s all about a bit of a do! I’m just not sure how I can be convinced otherwise. Maybe we need to contact Randy P and ask him what he thought when he founded FT back in the day?
So Im half Italian. If I attend one of these and happen to like some 1950s music, does this make it a DO WOP?
Or is that taking it all just too far?
I think we are doing a grand job of offending all nationalities, I believe if we get them all we are free and clear, and may qualify for some sort of coupon.
Well yes, because if we can get Inna to post here, it would be another 1950s song and be a jew wop hahaha (oh somebody shoot me now!)
But hey. She can ms easier cuz shes a nice girl. Im just a big oaf
Sure escalate from a nation to a religion… I can see this ending well 🙂 for all others, MM loves all Wops please don’t take offense!
Lol well cycling back… I think the greatest damage I can do is to somehow link anything British to the French. That I will avoid for security reasons
You are wiser than your years for backtracking on that one… We have long memories, and a long reach that will find you when you least expect…
Be forwarned people: Saverocity is Bancorp!
They WILL hold your funds
Lol
Oy vey, not to worry. You’ve already got one of the chosen people posting.
a member of the MS tribe!