[Smoofer]

Not sure what you're trying to imply with this comment. Outside of the workplace, I don't think anyone considers it inappropriate to get chatting with someone (read: NOT a coworker, especially not one you have power over) and later ask them out on a date. This happens probably millions of times in various settings every single night.

[FooBarBizBazz]

Ok. Say it's a Python conference and you've never met them before.

[Smoofer]

That seems a lot like a work event, where people are there in a professional capacity.

[FooBarBizBazz]

That's the convention now. But before that battle got fought, you might have thought it was a hobby. Like the local under-35s $LIGHT_RECREATIONAL_SPORT meetup, which people treat as a recurring singles event.