Internet ---> Real-Life?

Has anyone here ever met someone they knew from the internet in real-life?

I know it's a touchy subject for most people, but it I'd like to hear your experiences with it, if any. And if not, your opinion on the matter.

I'll start by saying I met someone from the internet face to face. It wasn't any kind of romance or anything. It was a guy, and I'm not homosexual. I met him off a game forum where he moderated an off-topic game forum concerning Spirituality and the like. We've talked back and forth for about 2 1/2 years on AIM and the forum until we agreed we'd known each other well enough to met in person, without feeling completely awkward. And since then have been great friends. He's an INTP, enjoys a lot of the same music and ideas on life as I do. Anyway, I decided I was ready to have him over to my house. Funnily enough, he lived thirty minutes down the road, in the same state, same county, all that. We laughed.

I was somewhat skeptical about him coming over, since until then I haven't met anyone from the internet in real-life, but I trusted my instincts anyway.

When he came over it was the most surreal experience. I was actually pretty nervous, as I'm sure he was, even though we've been talking all this time. He never met anyone from the internet, either, so it was mutual between us. From the moment I saw his car drive down my driveway, to the doorbell ringing, I was on alert. But he was totally cool. Without having a visual representation of him, he looked how I expected him to. I sort of have a keen sense of understanding of how people look based on how they type.

It was interesting talking with him over lunch. It's like we knew each other but didn't at the same time. Despite the bits of awkwardness, I got over it as the day progressed. I know how he thinks, which is a lot like mine, so I just treated him how I would expect for someone to treat me, and it worked out nicely. We have this awesome ESP thing going on too, where we could almost read what we would say next. It's neat having a friend like that.

We had a pretty laidback night. We had pizza and a movie, played video games, listened to music, had intellectual conversations, and just hung out - just like we like it.

I enjoyed meeting and hanging out with him, although my Dad was skeptical. I didn't tell him how I met him, so he had his eyes on me all day. Still, to this day, he doesn't know. And hey - whatever; I'm an adult, so I didn't feel like he had to piggyback me through my decisions.

My friend is usually busy so I haven't had a chance to speak with him lately or possibly plan another meetup. Last time I talked to him, we were thinking about getting a gathering full of the members from that forum together. There are a few others in my area who are possibilities but it's up in the air now. I'd like to hang out with him again, 1 on 1. Introvert to introvert. I like it better that way.

Anyway, I think I've rambled far too much. If anyone else has met someone from the internet in real-life, I'd like to hear your story. And if you haven't met someone from the internet face to face, what is your opinion on the matter?


Cheers.

Occasionally, for sex.

A few times because I was bored, and once because we had been friends for 4 years, and he was in brisbane, where i was, for working on his Masters of IT. We hung out for several months.

Once, but i knew him from a friend in real life who knew him in real life.
I have this one friend now from a random net thing who is INTJ.. I'm still skeptical about meeting him.
I have a friend who is dating a girl who he met off facebook. I don't like that at all, and still won't open up to her or trust her.

I'm like starry, I met a someone who was a friend of a friend and I trusted the friend, so we chatted for a few months and eventually met. We've remained good friends. I also ended up meeting a few of her friends. That's the only way I'd meet people from online.

Originally Posted by mcgooglian

I'm like starry, I met a someone who was a friend of a friend and I trusted the friend, so we chatted for a few months and eventually met. We've remained good friends. I also ended up meeting a few of her friends. That's the only way I'd meet people from online.

I shed a tear after reading that

Originally Posted by Res

I shed a tear after reading that

Why? Are you hinting at something?

Never. But I might be going to a gig in a few months with a girl I met online (through someone I know IRL). Nothing romantic or that, and gigs aren't usually my thing, but she lives on the other side of the country and is quite a bit younger than myself so I thought I'd show her around while she's up here.

Apart from that, no one else.

I'll let ya know in about 3-ish weeks....


and yeah. I did meet someone, but they were a friend of a friend IRL. She was quite nice, and we got along fine... still keep in touch with each other every so often too.

I wouldn't be averse to this, but I'd have to talk to the person first on the phone, to really get a feel for them. That whole FB thing...that creeped me out. I get creeped out on FB anyway, cuz people who I don't know from Adam want to be my friend and it's like, 'Who are you???' That's happened to me a lot in the past couple of weeks. Why would you want to befriend someone you know NOTHING about? My page is "friends only" anyway...how do these people even know who you are? Friends of friends, I guess....

Originally Posted by EspressiveGirl

I wouldn't be averse to this, but I'd have to talk to the person first on the phone, to really get a feel for them. That whole FB thing...that creeped me out. I get creeped out on FB anyway, cuz people who I don't know from Adam want to be my friend and it's like, 'Who are you???' That's happened to me a lot in the past couple of weeks. Why would you want to befriend someone you know NOTHING about? My page is "friends only" anyway...how do these people even know who you are? Friends of friends, I guess....

I get the impression some people just enjoy chatting for no reason other than that they enjoy it. It's never made sense to me... and I've always been dead suspicious of it to be honest.