Before I reply to your questions. I would like state that the following is my experience and opinion which I have formed. Others might have different outlook about it and I respect that. I am not trying to insult or offend any of you. 🙂

@stayoutoftherz and @vikisecrets thank you for the clarification. I am aware of the meetup term in general. The reality of the hive meetup is different than what you stated because the rules are set or rather pushed by the organizer. So when I was a newcomer I also thought everyone in hive has done a workshop; at least that is how it was presented to me. Kindly read my reply below to @solymi .

@digitalmike Now I have learnt that it depends who introduced you to hive. I can understand why you would think this is just another story. I raised the concern in the telegram group immediately after the meetup this month (2nd February). Anyone in the group can check the chat but here is the exact quote from the meetup organizer: "First workshop then Meetup it's always better to be first on hive with a buddy". And you can see in the chat that @solymi also opposed to such a statement. I appreciated that!

@solymi Yes, it has happened to me. It was when some of the Hive members were at the Block & Wine meetup. I was told by one of the Hive member that only a Hive-person can join the hive vienna meetup. Anyone can join hive for free but to be part of the community it is recommended that I take a workshop first (this conversation was in-person so no proof).

But here is the conversation from the chat with the same person after the Block & Wine meetup. I am using HiveP (hive person who talked with me for the first time) to keep that person anonymous. I can show you the chat when we meet as it is a private conversation.

[HiveP] Do you want to make a workshop with me?

[Me] hey, ya that would be cool! do you have time after lunch this weekend?

[HiveP] Yes.
When do you have time? The workshop is 50€. I will help you to setup your own blog/wallet and we will publish your introduction to the full Hive Community 😉

[Me] Shouldn't that information be publicly available? Sounds strange when you are charging for introduction to the Hive community. Well if it is paid, let's talk about in person at the meetup
(here it is Block&Wine meetup)

[HiveP] Yes you can also do it without my support. If you want to be visible to all the Hive community then you can invest a bit in a workshop... Your choice but I cannot help everyone for free...

[Me] thanks! will think about it

Under the above pretext I paid for the workshop for introduction to the hive blockchain and community. During the workshop I was added to the discord and telegram group, which was told to be an active community. However, it has been a few months and there is hardly any activity. Additionally, I was told that if I refer a friend to take this workshop, I will be offered a referral HBD.

In another Block & Wine meetup, I met few others who have a similar story. They were offered to take a workshop to get an exposure to the hive community. And since we were new-comers, we would have not known that there are other Hivians who voluntarily help new-comers to join hive.

Lastly, would like to add it is not about few euros paid for the workshop, but rather the reality of how hive was introduced to some people.