You're not a douche for saying that, I don't think. (At least I wouldn't be that harsh)
The problem is that people in your network are often, well, in your network so if you haven't exhausted your network already, you wouldn't be posting online asking where to look for jobs.
Do you attend meetups just to grow your network, or is growing your network a side product of your enjoyment of going to meetups?
I think for people who aren't naturally social butterflies, networking should be thought of as one of, but not necessarily the best or most efficient of, the ways to force the job search process. For people who just like to socialize with people in their field, networking might be strictly the best way to find work.
The problem is that people in your network are often, well, in your network so if you haven't exhausted your network already, you wouldn't be posting online asking where to look for jobs.