When you talk to an average person outside of the Web 2.0 culture, you get the impression that the startup culture of the Bay Area is unique. Kevin Lim has learned that is not true, half a world away in Singapore, at an event called BlogOut 2007. With the aid of his experience, we can identify several characteristics that define the worst of this proliferating cultural phenomenon.

1. Meet at the right place. The venue should be hip and well-decorated (but casual). For the event to be a success, the space should accommodate lots of seating but spill over to standing room only... with maybe a few people nonchalantly laying on the floor.

2. Photographic registration. Because you'll meet so many people you have no interest in remembering, a few iSight-enabled Macs will capture everyone who attends in a visual directory. If not, someone attending will...

3. Photos, photos, photos. What are you going to do: talk? Pictures of everyone you meet are obligatory.

4. Geek Chicks. Pictures of every cute girl in attendance are mandatory. Ideally, you'll capture them feigning to hug or kiss you... sandwiched between two girls blowing kisses is always best. The guy with the most geek chick pictures or the guy sandwiched between the most girls in one picture wins!

5. The happy corporate representative. Some attendees are there to work. They'll be the happiest, most talkative people in attendance. They'll leave you wondering why you already chose not to use their products. Don't feed them, but take their schwag (if it's not a conflict of interest).

6. Bring a sharpie and sketchpad. The person with the most complex diagram using the most arcane terminology with odd figures and a mass of interconnecting, spaghetti-like lines is the smartest.

7. The group photo. Because this event is so different from the one next week and the week after...

[Inspiration and Photo Credit: Kevin Lim]