Meeting Online Friends Live in Person

[Dante Bunny]

Ok, you have a peson that you have trust over the past years and willing to get to know them. Like for example, I have only 6 people that I willing to get to know in person. When you talk to your parents will say that, "you can't trust that person" or "maybe he or she is pretending to be your friend" etc...There is one thing that you understand that is that you really trust in that person. The reason why is that you know him or her for at least a year or two. Either if it's friendship or relationship, tou must pick the right time of meeting an online person live.
:anime:

[Rune]

I'm not really sure where you're going with this. If you're advising people to be careful about meeting online friends then I agree wholeheartedly. The internet can be loads of fun and a great source of education but its also a place where people of a certain disposition can safely lurk behind a pseudonym and get away with the kind of language, behavior and even depravity that in public you ought to get flogged for.

But that's not to say there aren't regular people online too, of course there are, really it depends where you go online to talk/meet. Go somewhere dodgy and you'll no doubt meet dodgy people. I think there are plenty of people in TZ who have met up in R/L or who are planning too (and some who have and who have found romance which is wonderful) but the point is not to rush into it and get to really know your friend - as you say, build up a trusting relationship with them first, don't just chat to someone for an hour and then rush off to meet therm knowing next to nothing about them.

If you're complaining over the fact that your parents are a little suspicious about you meeting this person then that's a different kettle of fish. It also depends on how old you are, how old the friend is, where you met them online, what kind of relationship (ie do you think of them as your girlfriend) and where you want to meet in R/L. As a parent myself I'd want to know all the details before I let my kids meet someone they met online. I know that for a lot of youngsters this seemingly 'over-protective' attitude we moms n dads take really seems to suck, we're spoiling your fun, cramping your style, messing with your affairs etc but do try look at it from our POV just for a moment. Until I had kids myself I couldn't see why my mom acted like she was trying to spoil my fun all the time when all she was doing was worrying herself sick about what might happen to my trusting and oft-naive little head, and if the internet had been available then I know we'd have had even more arguments. Internet friendship scare stories in the media are rampant and often this is enough to put some parents mind on edge and give you an outright 'no' to meeting anyone. Personally I would possibly agree to a phone call or two from them (and maybe speaking to their parents myself) then if the friendship seemed firm, maybe a chaperoned meeting, keeping an unobtrusive background presence but also there to ensure it really is a 15 y/o boy and not some 53 y/o guy with a beerbelly. At the end of the day its down to the individual I guess.

Of course of you're an adult then you're responsible for your own actions, I've met several online friends in real life and got on like a house on fire, my friend in TX meets many online friends and has had mixed results ... sure have fun but get to properly know the person on the other end of that connection too, a little friendly caution never hurt anyone.

[Tienshin]

I'd like to echo many of Rune's points. If what you are saying is that you would like to meet someone, just use a bit of caution. A nice public place would be an ideal setting for at least the first couple of meetings, and will probably allay any concerns that either you or your buddy might have.

I met online friend the summer before I started college, and it ended up that she was also going to my school, so we talked for a while over the summer and then we finally met in person and she was pretty cool. Though one of the first things she did was show me all the porno she had saved on her computer and went on about how much she liked it. I think I missed a hint, to be honest. But I was dating someone anyways

Point is, the 'net is full of weirdos, so dont jump headfirst in to anything without being doubly sure.

***looking around suspiciously***

[Nightflower]

I've met nine of my online friends on one-on-one settings and it was always a lot of fun. ^_^

[Jaguar]

I actually wouldn't mind doing this if it were feasible in some way. Just as long as it were in a public place so if the person ended up being a homicidal maniac you could scream for help.

[Mek]

Well, I was actually kind of suprised when my parents let my sister meet her closest online friend a year ago. (And he's a guy, heh) Whereas with me; they refuse to let me meet any of my online friends- which was one of the reasons why I was barred from Wizard World Chicago.

But now that I think about it, my parents are just trying to protect me from the dangers of the online/offline world. I don't nessisarly like it; but then I realize that they love me enough to keep me safe. Heh, I'd actually be kinda upset if they didn't keep regular tabs about my online life and such.

[Digu Volz]

Wheet, gerp, snitzp, sntiszp... Everybody said what I would have said if they hadn't said what I would have said. You guys suck.

Anywho, if it counts for anything, familiarizing your parents with your online friends -- as mega harsh as that hizzle-gizzle may be, yo -- might help. I've actually had decent conversations with the mother of some sisters I know.

Fo' real. Thug life. I's out.

[MrBananagrabber]

I've met a bunch of people IRL that I met online, 7, if I'm not mistaken. The best thing I can suggest is to talk to your parents and suggest having them call and talk to your parents (the parents talking to eachother, too). It'll be awkward as hell for your friend, but I think as soon as the parent realizes they're a normal person and not a pedophile, things should work out. Meet in a public place, don't go off anywhere alone with them at first etc. A lot of it is just being careful, because as many cool people as I've met, I know there are still people online you should be afraid of. And always have a way to leave if you don't like the person or feel uncomfortable. Just my advice.

[Outlander00]

I have met friends online and it has been cool. In fact, theres a few from here I plan to meet sooner or later

Basically, just be careful and make sure you know the person long enough to trust them is all.

[Patrick Bateman]

It's all good, from my point of view. I just met an online "friend" a couple weeks ago, and it was a blast. There was no "first meeting" awkwardness. We just got together and it instantly became as if we'd been hanging out for years. So it can be a very positive experience.

[Mojo_Jojo]

Meeting online friends can be good and bad. It all depends on the person. There's not really much you can go on. I think if you talk to a person for a year or two and can trust the person then probably it's safe.

[night]

I met my besfriend online she's not really that tech-savy.

[Warnergirls]

Geeee! im gonna meet my online best friend in a few days!!! My moms coming with me, not cause of caution but she wants to see where my best friend lives, I trust that my best friend is who she is. But I understand you must be careful who to trust.
Anyway I cant wait!!!