As America grapples with the most serious pandemic in decades, experts recommend social distancing as a way to limit the spread of the coronavirus. That means canceling events, closing schools, and working from home if possible. The fewer people who come into contact, the slower the virus will spread, and the less likely our health care system will get overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases.

Yet Meetup, a website devoted to facilitating meetings among strangers, is continuing to help its users organize face-to-face meetings.

Ordinarily, that’s a laudable mission. Over the last 18 years, the site has helped organize thousands of social, professional, and educational events. But in the middle of a pandemic, a website devoted to encouraging people to have face-to-face meetings seems more than a little counterproductive.