Light conversation: What forum posters would you like to talk to in real life? (beach, years)
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I know I am who I am here or anywhere out in the 'real world'. I, my opinions, my personality, the way I express myself in general do not change just because I am posting here rather than talking over coffee face to face with someone.
I am also quite aware that I may not be in the majority however - that many do feel that anonymity gives them the right or the opportunity to express things they would never say in person. And unfortunately also some may have had their personalities so warped by online participation for too long and that may now leak over into their offline persona - with less than savoury results (for me). Not sure I would take that chance without knowing much more about anyone here that I might even want to have coffee with - i.e. we would probably have to at least have a few phone conversations first.
And while I won't change here or there, there are some hot rock current issues I might be a bit reticent to speak about initially if I was not sure the person I was sitting across from me was also a very nice, reasonable and open minded person. I wouldn't right now just put on a Trump hat and wade into the middle of an anti-Trump protest for instance. I sort of like staying alive for the time being.
We have a unique opportunity too in forums like this one to cover a broad range of topics in a short period. Getting inputs from many people that provoke my thoughts on those subjects as we can do here online is a more 'effective' way of showing who I am quickly. It might take years of coffee klatching with a single person or even a small group of people in the real world to get to all the questions and answers we can read about, talk about and survey here at lightning speed.
There are a couple of posters (not necessarily in the retirement section) who based on their life stories, that mentioned where they went to school and lived. What their families were like and by their CD username I was able to figure out exactly who they are.
NYC may be a huge city but the neighborhoods can be like small towns.
I actually met two people on Internet message boards who became good friends. One was another message board and one was on CD. I was not disappointed when I met them.
The only C-D poster I have met in person is Curmudgeon (who granted me permission to reveal that fact). We would enjoy meeting again but geography is against us.
Two types of people would be interesting to meet: First, the ones with whom we feel we would be compatible - people we respect based on their posts. Second, the real weirdos might be very interesting to meet in the flesh out of curiosity, but that could be rather awkward. I decline to mention any names in the second category!
Yes, Kevxu. Also those whom I resonate with personality-wise (whether or not they ever agree with me), like in_newengland (whom I have met once), Minervah, Matisse, Brava, Fran66 (though she doesn't like me, lol), and a good half dozen others whose names escape me at the moment. I would actually very much like to meet HappyinWyoming whose life view is totally opposite mine. And...maybe even Escort and madman, two of my professed detractors.
Second, the real weirdos might be very interesting to meet in the flesh out of curiosity, but that could be rather awkward. I decline to mention any names in the second category!
I was lucky enough to meet AZDesertBrat after I came out here. She was very much as I imagined she would be and I loved the time I spent chatting with her.
I am a member of a local fishing forum and have met about 6 of the forum members in real life -- either buying/selling stuff or actually meeting to go fishing.
NONE of them were in real life as I imagined them from the forum posts and they were all very nice nice guys indeed.
As for this forum I think dirtgrinder would be fun to talk to.
Through the years I've been posting here I've always enjoyed the posts of Escort Rider and Greg W, and a host of other thoughtful writers. Meeting in person would be neat just for the fact that we already know a lot about these posters. I also have enjoyed some of the posts from those I never agree with, civility being the watchword when considering response posting. The truly obnoxious people seem to move on after a few years of rants, leaving a new crop of posters to contemplate. I think we all enjoy the latitude associated with the web's anonymity, some abuse that terribly, but--it is the web after all.
On internet tough guys: Political extremists are finding an audience on the web, and some forums (P&OC) are heavy with that aspect of posting, same with the economics forum, a hotbed of rude criticism doled out by the posters who have laid claim to that space. CD is always entertaining, and most of the posters are civil enough, I've tried other forums with way less moderator involvement and seen them turned into a real bar brawl scenario.
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