No, I am not suggesting a bad thing, I am suggesting a good thing.
I am talking about the differences between how liberal and conservative groups get together.
The wingnuts will have something in a hotel, with some speakers and some breakout sessions, and after that, later in the evenings, they will eat together, drink (a lot) together, and party together.
The after-hours portion of a College Republicans conference involves booze, hotel room parties, "hooking up," and (if rumors are to be believed) an aggressive use of the "closet space" in the hotel.
Liberals will have a conference, and they will take out a room at a university, or a library, or some other sort of function space, and have some speakers, and some breakout sessions, and after that, later in the evening They go home and have a quiet evening. (The Convention Formerly Known As "Yearly Kos" [TCFKAYK] is the exception to this rule.)
What I am suggesting here is that progressive political movements should move from daytime only venues to hotels, or venues attached to hotels to allow for greater social interactions.
I am not suggesting that there is a direct benefit to the progressive movement from sex and booze, though I do consider both to be generally good things in their own right.
Rather I am suggesting that the after-hours activities allows for more intense social interactions (even if you leave your socks on) that reinforces the social cohesion and the communication within the groups.
This improves both the communication capabilities and the knowledge base, and this makes for a more effective movement.