Poll: Have you met up...?

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

Ok so I was having this discussion just yesterday (and many other days) with my best friend. See about a month before the release of Gears of War 2 I got a bragging message from and XBL friend of mine saying that he already had the game. Now this guy just happened to live, not only in the same city as me, but a mere 20-30 minutes from my house by car. So I jokingly sent him a message saying "I'm coming over to play with you" which he took seriously and we met up and had a great time playing gears 2 a couple of weeks before the release. This guy has since become one of my closest friends in real life, but one my other friends (and probably my best friend) doesn't like the idea of me having met a guy online, especially one 3 (i was 17 he was 20) years older than me. She gives out all the usual arguments about being raped and what not, but has kind of accepted it by now, and has even (to a degree) befriended this guy for herself.

So I was curious how my fellow escapists feel on the topic. One would assume being an internet gaming forum that most people would be open to it and many even done it themselves. But if I've learnt something from life it's never assume anything. Thoughts?

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Planning to.

Going to meet with you lot at Escapism UK and I might be going to Norway this / next year so I'll try to organise meeting with a couple of old WoW-mates.

I'm also hoping to go to China next October (2010) so I can meet some gold farmers

 

[SmilingKitsune]

Well escapism UK should give a lot of us here a chance to meet up, other than that, no I've never met up with anyone I got to know online, usually just because we live in different contries.

 

[mr mcshiznit]

Yep hes still a good bud of mine too.

 

[Calobi]

I was going to meet up with some of the Escapist people at ComicCon NY seeing as I won a ticket, but then I got the flu or something and couldn't make it. Worst day ever.

 

[dragontiers]

As long as you take the proper precautions, you should be fine. Make sure someone knows where you are going. If possible, have a friend go with you when you go to meet the person, even if they leave after you meet up. Have some way of protecting yourself in case the person does turn out to be a crazy (mace, defense training, etc.). Carry your cell phone or borrow someones. And just generally find out as much information ahead of time as possible. Where you'll be, if anyone else will be there, what you'll be doing, etc. The more you're informed and the more other people know, the safer you'll be. Oh, and have fun too.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

As long as you take the proper precautions, you should be fine. Make sure someone knows where you are going. If possible, have a friend go with you when you go to meet the person, even if they leave after you meet up. Have some way of protecting yourself in case the person does turn out to be a crazy (mace, defense training, etc.). Carry your cell phone or borrow someones. And just generally find out as much information ahead of time as possible. Where you'll be, if anyone else will be there, what you'll be doing, etc. The more you're informed and the more other people know, the safer you'll be. Oh, and have fun too.

A stab vest helps. Well that's my plan for Escapism UK & SmilingKitsune.

 

[AdamBomb]

I've met a couple people online but it's sort of been friends of a friend type thing. Nothing too terribly dangerous, and I probably wouldn't go too far out of my way to meet someone in person; I typically don't find people that interesting.

 

[GyroCaptain]

I'd certainly like to, haven't yet. On that topic, anyone going to Dragon*Con in Atlanta this fall? :B

 

[Time Travelling Toaster]

Planning to at Escapism UK. Should be a good weekend.

 

[Fairee]

Escapism UK - woohoo!

Although I may be meeting someone before then.....

 

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

As long as you take the proper precautions, you should be fine. Make sure someone knows where you are going. If possible, have a friend go with you when you go to meet the person, even if they leave after you meet up. Have some way of protecting yourself in case the person does turn out to be a crazy (mace, defense training, etc.). Carry your cell phone or borrow someones. And just generally find out as much information ahead of time as possible. Where you'll be, if anyone else will be there, what you'll be doing, etc. The more you're informed and the more other people know, the safer you'll be. Oh, and have fun too.

Well a couple of people new exactly where I was going and we actually met in front of the cinema's in the biggest shopping centre in South Australia. Not to mention, my phone is always on me and never off. Safe Enough ?

 

[Zac_Dai]

I've done it before and its been fine.

But then I'm not a kid so I don't have to worry about being molested by internet weirdos.

 

[Captain_Caveman]

No, everyone on the internet is creepy. Stay away from me.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

As long as you take the proper precautions, you should be fine. Make sure someone knows where you are going. If possible, have a friend go with you when you go to meet the person, even if they leave after you meet up. Have some way of protecting yourself in case the person does turn out to be a crazy (mace, defense training, etc.). Carry your cell phone or borrow someones. And just generally find out as much information ahead of time as possible. Where you'll be, if anyone else will be there, what you'll be doing, etc. The more you're informed and the more other people know, the safer you'll be. Oh, and have fun too.

Well a couple of people new exactly where I was going and we actually met in front of the cinema's in the biggest shopping centre in South Australia. Not to mention, my phone is always on me and never off. Safe Enough ?

Did you bring the Dickfor?

 

[Fairee]

No, everyone on the internet is creepy. Stay away from me.

I'm outside your house. Watching you through the window.

Didn't you notice the extra laptop hooked up on the wireless broadband?

 

[Hookman]

Well I'm hoping to head on down to Escapism UK but aside from that I've never met any internet friends as far as I can remember.

 

[MercenaryCanary]

A stab vest helps. Well that's my plan for Escapism UK & SmilingKitsune.

I highly doubt anyone on the Escapist is a serial killer/rapist.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Yeah, I've met plenty of people I originally contacted online. Mostly mountain bikers met on arranged meetings/at riding spots etc.
Pretty much all of them have been fine, a couple turned out to be complete jerks, but no-one's ever been what I would consider a threat.

I don't see any problem with meeting people you know online, I just think it's smart to go with a friend when you do (and get the other person to do the same). Partly on the offchance they're an axe murderer, bt mostly because if you meet, then find you can't stand the sight of each other, no-one gets left on their own in an awkward situation.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

A stab vest helps. Well that's my plan for Escapism UK & SmilingKitsune.

I highly doubt anyone on the Escapist is a serial killer/rapist.

I still haven't found a decent excuse to wear it yet...