@LadyShadow - I had a similar experience with a woman I met on the NextDoor app. Like you, I was wanting to find friends in the neighborhood. I texted a few times with this woman and we agreed to meet for lunch at Panera Bread. I get there, she showed up on time, I have to give her that, and the next thing I know, she spills like WAY oversharing intimate details of her life (sexual abuse, childhood neglect, abandonment, medical issues). I didn't think she'd ever stop. I think the most I said was, "Hi, nice to meet you" and "oops, I need to go!"I mean, I didn't think I was EVER going to get the heck out of there. I finally made up an excuse and left (only across the street to the Target next door). After that, I have to say I ghosted her. No doubt she had a lot of mental issues going on, but I did not sign up to be her therapist, and it made me so uncomfortable, I mean there in the middle of a crowded eating place where people passing by and next to us could hear. That is just way TMI for a first casual meetup.

But on the other hand, I met H on an online dating app back when they were a new thing, and we've been married 20 years now (have known each other 22.5 yr), so sometimes those things work out. I don't know though. H and I had a LOT of phone conversations (fairly long ones) before even meeting in person, he seemed pretty normal and when we met, he matched his profile picture (always a plus), he picked a classy restaurant was a perfect gentleman, didn't set off any weird vibes, and when he suggested a movie at the end of the date next time I was over the moon.

But yeah, it definitely pays to be cautious about who you meet in person from online.