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I think as long as you've known them and trust them it will be okay. Though if you haven't spoken on the phone with him, it might be a nice way to ease into knowing him in RL. I met one guy OL, though I knew he was one of my best friend's cousin, I had never met him. So we hit it off, and when we finally met it was super awkward for the first hour or so, but it goes away soon, and we've remained really good friends. So best of luck with this guy. (:
Hm where to take him? Well the movies is always a sure fire place to kill time, though you don't get to know the person any better, maybe take him to some kind of nice nature spot? Like a lake, a park, nature trail, the scenery gives you a distraction when you've run out of things to say. xD Or maybe just go stroll through a shopping center and window shop. Good luck thinking of something. :3 |
Well, I'm actually planning to meet someone online...And I'm in a relationship with me. And he's 18 so it won't be easy convincing my parents. I'm actually really scared of what to do. If I ever get to meet him, then we might actually have to stay at my house. o.o;;
But I trust him, as far as I can with someone I've never met face-to-face before. I've known him maybe..A year and a half? I've seen a picture of him, too. We're not really planning to meet anytime soon, though. Maybe in a year when he gets settled in his place. I just hope I can tell my parents without them freaking out...Any ideas? Anyone? D: |
Meeting.
I really don't think meeting people from the internet is all that dangerous. Just be smart about it. I think some people are just paranoid about that thing and you really don't need to be. Yes there are bad people out there but if you're careful about who you talk to and who you decide to meet and where and how you meet, then probably nothing bad would happen. I've met many people who live in my area, who I met online first. Now we hang out quite a bit. It's really fun. I also have many friends who I've known on the internet for six or seven years, who I haven't yet met because they live far away, but I wouldn't think twice about meeting them. I've known them for so long. I talk to some of them on the phone on a regular basis. I met my boyfriend on the internet about seven years ago, and have been together for about six and a half years. He's the only person who lives far away from me who I've met so far. But I am so glad I got to meet him and I wasn't worried about it at all. I had known him for so long that I knew he was exactly who he said he was, and being with him in real life felt completely normal and I loved him just as much as I did online. In fact being with him in real life made us care about each other even more I think. He's coming to visit me again in a week and I'm just so happy to be able to spend time with him in real life. Meeting people from the internet can be a really good thing. And as for showing him around, well I live in Orlando and there's a lot of things to do here. Unfortunately last time he was here we didn't do all that much. I was in school and stuff and we only went a few places. Mostly I introduced him to my friends and stuff. I'm hoping this time around I can take him out and show him some of the town. He hasn't been to any of the theme parks yet either, but I don't know if we'll have time for it. One of these days I'll take him. I also might take him to the beach if I get a chance, hopefully this time.
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Alright...so I do some online dating. I am 24 so I feel that I am old enough to make that decision...I have never had a really bad experience with it, in fact I went out with a guy for over a year that I met online and I am currently dating a different guy that I also met online. I feel the risk involved is similar to that of meeting a guy at a bar.
You just have to be smart when meeting someone online irl. Meet in a public place, make sure you have seen plenty of pictures of them, maybe take a friend or two when meeting them especially if they are older than you, if they are significantly older than you (especially if you are under 18) DO NOT meet them, they probably don't have your best interests in mind if they are messing around with someone that much younger. Also I think it you should judge based on what site you met them on, myspace is not generally a good place to meet people in my experience, nor are IMs, but that is just an opinion. Anywho I have meet about a dozen online friends irl and gone on about a dozen dates from an online dating service... |
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Strangers
I've read most the replies in this topic and all of it was very interesting. I will say there are, in all sense of the word, evil people out there, but they are pretty easy to point out.
As Murchu Volpe stated, there are many ways to prove yourself if your online friend is a genuine friend or if he/she's someone entirely different. There's a difference between having a slightly different personality online and off, but there's a huge and much more important difference if the person has a disorder with pervish intents. Finding different ways to talk to your friend is good too. If he/she has a myspace, website, facebook, gaia, phone number, or any other contact, chances are he/she's an honest person and not masking him/herself using a screenname online. Usually it's the convenience of hopping online that allows the perverts to search for victims online. Eventually the honest barrier will break with those with bad intentions and will admit they want something more than a nice little get-together once you meet. It's sad, but it is the truth. >.< As for me, I met two people online in a Sonic chatroom(the hedgehog) about seven years ago. Their names are Bev(a guy =P) and Sarah( a gu- lol j/k, girl). I talked to them a lot, roleplayed, exchanged emotional struggles, went through a one-year departure, and finally talked with them again during those seven years. We've changed and grown a lot with eachother, and just last year I suggested I could meet with Sarah, and she was psyched! ^o^ Probably not nearly as much as I was but who knows, lol. I mainly wanted to visit her because I wanted to prove to myself she wasn't going through all her struggles without some close friends to help her, someone a couple states away couldn't help her with. I took a plane which is saying a lot since I HATE airplanes, my heart was racing the whole way. She met me at the airport with her friend Terry(a guy, srsly this time XD) and from there we had a blast for the next 5 days. She was very inviting. We both already knew eachother from talking over the phone and online for six or so years, we were both Christian and went to a Wednesday night service, played WoW, etc. It was a week I'll never forget! I want to go back or atleast bring Bev along next time, but I'm completely fine just talking with her online or by phone from now on too. A good way to get to know someone online is like others have said already; talk to them a lot and for a few years too. Don't let a little thing such as distance be an obstacle between you and your signifacant other or friend. Overcome your fear and have a good, safe time! =D |
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Agreed, I think someone should have a much higher coolness rating, before attempting this. I'm going with anywhere in the 58) to 88) coolness range. [/just being cute >>] Hear hear, IceHedge. :3 |
I 've known my friend that was online for 3yrs we meet this may and it was fun n.n
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hmm.. i would say i have met plp online on dates and believe me
Dont do it .>< las thing i remeber it was a guy around my age when i was 17 the guy came on the date whit a tux and everything i was mortifyed beyond i saw him looking for me a so i went and told him at the last minute my dad came to pick me up.. i was hidden in borders as i taled to him on the phone after that i blocked him and never spoke to him as for many friends i prefer meting them on malls and then chatting with them is a better way >,< for me |
Show him places that you know ppl can have fun doing. Whether its going shopping, to the zoo, try looking up nice restaurants and clubs to go to, events happening soon and seasonal festivals.
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no problem.
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There are allot of dangers, but it's not that dangerous if it's something like a convention center or something...Bringing my to remember to post that in the Suggestions and Feedback forum. Thanks for reminding me. xDD
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While this article says it is for online dating I think it is also applicable to online friendships where you plan on meeting.
http://www.mtbytes.com/mpbridge/arti...?articleid=350 |
Gahh,, I hate online dating sites. >.<
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I actually have no problems with meeting online people IRL.
Always kind of awkward at first because i'm just naturally shy despite what they think D: And eh, I only see a problem if one of them is a young gullible child who pretends to be older than they are therefore meeting older people...Who MIGHT, not necessarily WILL, take advantage of them. Also, the people who meet "friends" on those chatting sites where they're all Person 1 - A/S/L?!?!?!? Person 2 - OMG FIT LASS OTP Person 1 - YAYY!! LETZ MEET UP Person 2 - OKAAAAAA! ./Ahem D: Anyways aye, meeting people online is fine, you just have to be intelligent about it. I'm meeting another this October for a gig, just before my birthday and another in Cali either next year or during out Christmas holidays : D |
If you organise things properly I don't see the harm in meeting up with people online, in real life. The main danger is not pedophiles, liars or murders but simply that you do not have the same sort of chemistry offline with the person then you do online. People can come across differently online, whether intentional or not than they are in real life. I know my friends behave differently online than they would offline.
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I haven't read any of the replies to this thread, mainly because I don't want to spend that amount of time reading when I already have a solid opinion made. But, here are my thoughts:
I've met plenty of people irl that I first met online. I've even dated a few of them. Granted, they were local. And yes, there's plenty of pedophiles, rapists, and other various "evil-doers", but in this age of the internet they're fairly easy to identify. If in the first week of the relationship the person wants to meet you, then that person is more than likely going to be one of the aforementioned titles. But if you've known this person a while, and you've seen pictures and such, then that person could be an ok person. The notion that the internet is flooded with "evil" people is just stupid. Sure, there may be a few, but everyone uses the internet. Just look at all the people you know.. how many of them use the internet? How many of them are pedophiles? rapists? Sure, you could see pictures and say "Oh, well that could just be pictures of their grandson/daughter, or pictures of their neighbor, or pictures they found online." But really, who are you kidding? If an internet creep has the dedication to get pictures of the same person in different locations with the same camera, then that person deserves to have a chance to molest you. Which brings me to the second part of my argument; we're not completely defenseless. If some old guy was on the other end of that monitor and wanted to meet you, how well do you think that meeting would go? He's an old guy. Kick his oxygen tank and run away. Seriously. I don't think that anyone under a certain age should meet anyone they meet online, but to scare people by telling them that anyone online that wants to meet you is some form of rapist is no better than telling children not to go out at night because the boogie man will get them. If you're seriously considering meeting someone you met online, then you're probably not stupid enough to fall for some pedophiles tricks. And if you are stupid, then I'm sorry.. that's social darwinism for you. |
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Think about it. How many married couples do you know met at a bar or club? What you should hate is clubs and bars :] |
Yeahh, you said it was online dating precautions or whatever. >.>;
And I don't like dating sites because they're just weird like. Just going around looking at things people like and dislike. And then saying, "Oh my! This person is my soul mate!" And then going on in life saying they're soul mates when they only have similarities. |
Well then you don't dislike dating sites, you just dislike that sort of personality. There are plenty of people outside the internet that go "Omg! We kind-of sort-of have the same likes and dislikes! It's meant to be!" Look at high school, for example.
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I am in one at the moment and yes I love my gf completely as she loves me back. It is in fact very possible to fall in love with someone online. |
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