[vacantangel]

Just wondering what experiences anybody else has had. I have met ppl from the net twice IRL.

The first time, it was predominately one person but we met up with about 5 others. We had all met in a msg forum and I had been friends with this one girl for about a 2 years. I live in Canada. They all lived in NY state. The msg board was for a singer, we were going to a concert together. When we first laid eyes on each other, it was an incredible feeling, like seeing an old friend that I hadn't seen in a long time. We hugged immediately. We were beyond excited. I became closer with the others I met there from the same msg board. It was a totally amazing and positive experience. Without realizing it, before being dx'd, I was extremely hypomanic at the time.

The 2nd time, it was also a F, she lives in a city about 1 hr from me. I barely even knew her. It was from the same msg board. I drove to her place, picked her up and we drove together to Saginaw MI. We spent the entire weekend there and had a total blast. It was one of the best experiences of my life. We were totally reckless and carefree. Again, before I was dx'd, I was also hypomanic this time too. It really showed in my behaviour. But I couldn't of had a better time if I tried. Thank God for hypomania. It sure added to the fun.

Of course, my family worried about my physical safety of meeting someone from the net, not really knowing if they are who they had always claimed to be on the net and that I could be murdered. Funny, I never had those concerns at all. Stupidity on my part? Recklessness? The wild child in me? Being naive? I didn't have any concerns whatsoever and both turned out to be extremely positive experiences and I had awesome times both times. So much fun. Geez, where did all that fun and carefree feelings go?

Would I do it again? Yep, you betcha. Would I be concerned? Nope, not if I felt like I really knew the person. I suppose they could turn out to be not who they portray themselves as but somehow the naive part of me doesn't even buy into that possibility. It's excitement for me. It gives me a chance to release the wild child within who doesn't have a care in the world.

My wild child within is screaming to be set free. She's been buried far too long.

So, how about anybody else here. Have you met IRL somebody from the net? From what type of place on the net did you know them from, how long did you know them and what was your experience like? Did you have any concerns if they were truly who they portrayed themselves to be? Would you do it again?

My curiousity awaits your experiences.

[silver_queen]

I met somebody off a teen depression forum i visit. she goes to my university and is the same age as me. we met when we started university in september, outside the student union building. we talked a lot about our experiences and how we had pictured each others' characters to be... for example, she was a lot more vivacious than i had expected her to be, and i was quieter than she thought i would be. we've kept in touch fairly regularly, mostly in the form of going to town shopping, but we haven't been in contact now for several months.

[somebodyelse]

I've met quite a few people from a couple of newsgroups to which I subscribe. It's funny how you picture someone a certain way and they turn out to be completely different IRL.

[h0kie]

I met my husband online...and well, you know how that turned out.

[Eva1nder]

I met a g/f online at pogo.com ...we became close friends. We had a lot in common.

She helped me a lot through my seperation with my ex. She had been in her past through similar experiences. I'm on the east coast and she's out in new mexico. When I things were getting really out of control with my ex I upped and left and flew out to new mexico...lol last minute.

I didn't think much of it until the connecting flight out there. Then I got a little nervous. I spent 12days out there. It was great. Her and her family were wonderful to me.

Shortly after I became friends with someone else online and she knew him as well and he's my b/f. (didn't meet him at pogo though.. lol)

Eva

[vacantangel]

Funny thing is, the girl I met in my 1st experience that I felt like it was seeing a friend that I hadn't seen in a long time, we are no longer friends. BP stole her from me. My behaviour was so erratic, I didn't know I was BP at the time, wasn't on any mood stabilizers. She couldn't handle a SA I had, can't say as I blame her. It is a scary thing for others to deal with and understand.

[vacantangel]

Yea, I've felt like that before too. The first girl I met, I had her pic beforehand but anybody else, I didn't. Nobody had my pic cuz I don't do pics. Usually they turn out totally different than you imagine them to look like, funny how that is.

[vacantangel]

How cool is that Erin. I just love hearing success love stories from the net. So sick of hearing all the horror stories all the time, it's refreshing to hear of an online romance working out. So happy for you!!!

[vacantangel]

Kinda sucks when the other person is quite a distance away from you but I'm glad you had the opportunity to meet her anyway, especially during a troubled time in your life. Really good to hear that you also found romance on the net that is successful. How far away from you does he live and have you had a chance to meet him IRL yet? So happy for you. Looks like love is in the air, first Erin and now you.

[radio_flyer]

I have met a man in person that I met online. We chatted for 2 or 3 years before we met. I was scared but yet I was excited. We met in a K-Mart parking lot first, and I guess if we scared each other off, he could just leave and would not know where I lived. lol..... But it turned out to be a great vist. jWe got along great and we are still good friends, 8 years later.......

[Parker10]

I love meeting people IRL after "meeting" them online. I think I have now met 27 ! First time was from a website called "tAPir" and 6 of us met at a restaurant in a nearby city (one from TX, one from OK, 4 from VA counting me), then I met 4 from the old "Psych Central" on WBS. 1 of them became part of my family in a way - she lives in FL, she came to VA 6 times, I went to FL 4 times. SHe was here when my first Grandchild was born ! I met a guy from WBS PC from Canada - he traveled the US meeting folks, he was totally different than I expected, but a super super person ! Another came from PA to meet me, and the rest were from Pogo ! Either meeting in restaurants, or Malls. I have not had ANY bad experiences with meeting the folks from the Internet. Oh - the funniest one was from Pogo - we had played alot as partners in Spades, Gin, and Canasta - never knowing we lived less than 10 miles from each other ! We have gotten together many times and are great friends now !

I still think we should ALL be cautious of where we meet folks, cause like someone said - people can be totally different online than in real life.

Should we plan a big get together for folks from this site????

[nothemama8]

Nope never met anyone oneline, had a couple friends that did though, the one girl met her new friend and they have had a good relationship even after 4 yrs, the other girl didn't far so well, she went to met the guy and he ended up brutaly beating her and raping her was not caught still out there somewhere, PLEASE be careful, I miss my friend and she was only 27 yrs old
Angie

[vacantangel]

Something tells me I'm getting more and more reckless with this. Why does my behaviour not concern me. Maybe my meds aren't working too well to curb my activities but I'm not worried at all.

I spent Thanksgiving in Austin and met my friend, Shar.....we met at Central Market and talked for three hours. I am really looking forward to living there, so I can be closer to her. I consider myself really blessed to have met her.....

Are you holding out on us? Have you met someone online that you're considering meeting IRL.....be very careful, if you do decide to meet up....I met one man and he talked for four hours without ever taking a breath.. I certainly believe that probably half of the people who are in chatrooms and on message boards aren't there just to exchange pleasantries with you.....be very careful.

[vacantangel]

Yea I am and I'm totally excited about it.

[kerria]

Last year i met someone that i was in another support forum with for ppl with DID in a hospital that had a unit for persons with trauma disorders. It was such a shock. She knew that it was me because i was just talking on the forum about going to a hospital near the West Coast that had a trauma unit - we were doing so badly. Someone at the forum, not her, gave me the name of the hospital and the idea to go there. It was a long trip alone- across the country. She was a patient also.
i guess the staff told the patients that someone would be arriving from my state and she put 2 and 2 together.
She said she knew me and i instantly knew who she was. i couldn't ask her to say her screen name or to call me by mine because not all my parts could deal with having someone that knew so much about me there. she was a good person, a friend and we shared some fun and time around music we liked there, outside of the group time.

Afterwards when we came home we talked on line a little at the forums and then she and i took turns disappearing from the forum and now she only comes back once in a great while and doesn't talk to me when she does. oh well.

She was very different then i'd imagined - not half as reckless as i thought but it was a positive experience meeting a friend i didn't know i had there - the long trip alone, for the first time out West.

kerria

tell us about him!!!

[nothemama8]

Yes, Yes do tell, is he from this forum or another msg board
At my age this is the only fun I get
Angie

[inkblot]

I've had a date or two from people I met online. They went okay. They one guy...O-M-G! Did he have *nice* hands! But, that ended. Haven't found another guy with hands like his, though.

[inkblot]

I believe Doc met his wife through online, too!

[nothemama8]

AngelGirl you must keep a level head on your shoulders, you can't leap into a relationship recklessly, those kind never last, take it so and careful
Angie

[Raynaadi]

I dated a guy I met online and it went very very badly. I wouldn't say I wouldn't meet someone IRL again, but I would plenty of precautions. I've been talking to a guy in Maryland for over 6 years now. Someday we'll meet. We talk on the phone sometimes. I almost went to meet him back in 2000 but I chickened out. Must not have been ready! I can't wait to meet him now though. He might come out next summer.

[Eva1nder]

Oh yah..btw .. I met another guy ..he was really nice, but I didn't like him like that.

He met other girls that I was friends with ..and they hooked up ..booty call on the girls end .. poor thing..he wanted a serious g/f. ..strange huh it's usually the other way.

This particular site seemed rather reckless to. Many ppl met and hooked up and they also had a runion once a year they would meet I believe in michigan where I heard things got a lil crazy.

I heard a couple from the site did get married though..so that was nice to hear and another engaged.

Many ppl seem to be meeting now a days. I guess just be really careful as you should off line too.

Take care
Eva

have you exchanged photos? what does he look like? where does he live?

[vacantangel]

Kerria, glad you had a positive experience but sorry that she doesn't talk with you anymore.