Comments on: Meeting People Online…and Then in Person

By: Nora

Nora — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 04:15:44 +0000

In reply to Christine Breese. Ha ha - thanks! ;-)

By: Christine Breese

Christine Breese — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 19:48:42 +0000

I met you online first, and then in person, and you turned out to be far cooler in person than I would have ever guessed online! Online doesn’t capture even a fraction of the coolness factor that you have!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 14:01:26 +0000

In reply to Raymond.

Hi Raymond – I’ve never heard of Drigga. I’ll check it out, thanks!

By: Raymond

Raymond — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 08:31:47 +0000

i use DRIGGA.com and find people thru Panel “vacation” or “Lifestyle”. Had some good conversations and going to meet some people too when i go to Canada again

By: Sabina

Sabina — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 22:21:45 +0000

It’s true that people can often not be who they say they are, but so far everyone I’ve met in real life whom I first met on line has turned out to be really just almost identical to their online personalities. But then again, I havent met that many…

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:33:14 +0000

@Rachel – Awww…thanks for the offer! Remember…I just may take you up on it!

I think my ideology about taking people up on their offers and trusting people in general came from a book that I quite enjoyed: Tales of a Female Nomad, by Rita Golden Gelman. It’s worth a read!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:29:53 +0000

@Eric – You make a good point about persevering with the notion that people are good even after being burned. Sometimes crap happens. But not letting it affect your view of humanity is the high road! Cheers.

@Chris – True…the sort of people who are willing to take you into their homes based on an on-line meeting are also the sort of people that appreciate our style of travel. That’s part of what creates such strong bonds, I think.

@Dustin – I agree! Be it through Twitter, Facebook, organized websites like HouseCarers or Couchsurfing, I too have had nothing but great experiences. And any dodgy stuff I’ve usually be able to suss out quickly – and on-line.

I told somebody the other day that I tend to warn people not to offer up their couches if they don’t mean it, and he said “Great. I’ll make sure I don’t ask you to come over!” lol!

@Mikeachim – Don’t get me started on the media messages! Don’t go outside – it’s bad. Weather’s bad. Natural disasters bad. War bad. Crime bad. It’s a bad bad world out there. Very bad. Instead: think about sports, and entertainment, play games on-line. Heck – do everything online, including all your shopping. In fact, doctor’s say it’s healthy to never leave the house. Just fill it with stuff to keep you entertained – all sourced on-line of course. That’ll do.
**end rant**
(laughs)

I also agree with your thought about bridging the gap and taking risks (albeit calculated ones). Thank you for your inspirational words!

By: Rachel Cotterill

Rachel Cotterill — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:14:31 +0000

I love this kind of experience – and I’m also the sort of person to take people up on their most casual offers. And I do feel that most people-with-bad-intentions would be unlikely to develop the level of “blog life” that people like us have developed. So without further ado: there’s a bed in the Cotswolds if you’re ever passing through the middle of England. And, you know, coffee and cake and all good things… 😉

By: Mikeachim

Mikeachim — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:54:06 +0000

Works both ways. You were a stranger, and therefore a “risk” (albeit a very small risk, because you have a massive profile and it wouldn’t take long to track you down via Interpol if you did a runner with my silverware).

But I never felt twitchy about you visiting, because of two things. Firstly, I could tell you were a gift of a visitor even before I’d met you – and two, yes, People Are Generally Good.

I’m tired tired *tired* of alarmist nonsense in the most conservative papers and on the most sensationalist TV and radio shows, suggesting we need to metaphorically lock ourselves away behind our battlements, be suspicious by default, to presume guilt before innocence is proven. Yes, take precautions, but don’t err on the side of wild misanthropy.

Because *that* is a recipe for ignorance, loneliness and obscurity. The most successful people – in every sense – are the ones who bridge the gap between other people themselves. They step forward. They take the “risks”.

But the real risk is failing to do just that.

By: Dustin Main | Skinny Backpacker

Dustin Main | Skinny Backpacker — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:11:10 +0000

I subscribe to the same “99% rule” about people. I’ve had numerous fantastic experiences meeting people first through couchsurfing, twitter, and even my little ol’ website, and ending up meeting up for coffee or surfing a couch for a night or few. These have often led to some of my best travel experiences and great friendships.