Exactly. I started and run the largest crypto meetup in Aus (~3300 members). I've been very conscious about this problem for a few years and have been wading through trauma/drama to steer the ship back to basic pub meetups with no sponsors and no speakers.

Another huge problem are co-organisers. You bring them onboard because they're happy to take turns organising events and it takes the load off.

I never start meetups with the intention of getting a job or business opportunities, but that's often why co-organisers join. You think, sure, everyone's a volunteer so it's fine if they get something out of it.

Then years pass and those co-orgs are deeply involved to the point where their livelihoods depend on the subject matter (Ethereum in this case). And they want to keep the sales pitch lecture model, since they almost always slot themselves in as speaker when it's their turn to organise.

You suggest changing the meetup name to be less tribalistic and to change the format to drop speakers and sponsors. HUGE drama. You put it to a vote, 5-3 agree to the change. The other 3 decide to clone the meetup under the same old name, email all members telling them to join, steal the Facebook and Twitter accounts, harass me everyday for a week over Telegram until I snap, then screenshot my response and spread it through the community.

Communities man.