Warning: I avoided game meetups until a random encounter changed my mind.

I always thought board game meetups were for hardcore geeks only, so I never went. Then I met this dude at a coffee shop struggling with a rulebook for a game I love. We chatted, and he convinced me to check out his local group. I went, and it was actually super fun and not awkward at all. Now I'm hooked and go every week, lol.