Ever hooked up with anyone from MySpace?

[VvWolverinevV]

It is my (perhaps false) impression that MySpace for many is like some sloppy meat market where people spend way too much time doctoring pictures and adding tons of people they don't know in the hopes of hooking up with some internet hottie. And it is for this reason (in addition to the poor web design) that I prefer to use other social networking sites.

I am still curious, though, as to the validity of my impression. I am aware that the BBB community is probably not representative of society in general.

[Tigerblade]

Not directly because of an online medium, but I did date a girl who I first met via AIM. She was a friend of a friend, and the mutual friend got the two of us talking.

But that's not quite the same as seeing someone on MySpace and "hooking up" with them in the way a lot of people think.

[VvWolverinevV]

Yeah, that's not really what I meant. I should have specified "met on the internet, without any prior real-world connection." That's still interesting though, Tigerblade. How long were you talking on AIM before you actually met the girl?

[Tigerblade]

I think we were chatting online for about a month before we met in person (this was several years ago). We weren't "dating" online though - that didn't happen until we actually met in meatspace.

But I think your comment about MySpace being a "sloppy meat market" is probably pretty accurate for a lot of people. Especially when it comes to "MySpace photos" - extreme angles, usually from above, or in a mirror... etc. Then there's lots of ways to make someone look better by making the photo black&white, or sepia, etc...

[sarahtowny]

I am probably going to sound like a old bugger here, but can I just mention for the younger people on here, that you really do need to be careful about meeting up with anyone you know nothing about.

Stories are rife in the papers about teen girls, running off with so and so person. And the police have done many an investigation on this very subject.

I have to say I have met a couple of people, that I have met via the internet, but one was a girl, and we webcamed so I knew she was who she said she was and we spoke for a year before we met up for a shopping trip.

Then I talked to Jeff being on staff you do hehe but we spoke on IM for a long time. And we became good friends, so when he was working in the uk, my hubby and I went down to meet him for a few days, since then he has been to our house for holidays and we have been over to CA to see him, and will do again.

So I am saying, you can make some wonderful friendships on line before meeting in person.

If you do or have met anyone on line and want to meet up, I would say the following:

Make sure you have more than one photo of them, ie they are who you think they are.

If you do meet, make sure it is somewhere public, and if you are young, take someone with you.

Just be careful that's all, myspace, IM whatever medium you are using, just think before you leap.

Over and out

Great post VvWolverinevV

[Jeff]

I have met a lot of people that I first knew online (either via IM, a forum or whatever). I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I even went on a date with someone I "met" on Myspace (nothing came of it).

As Sarah mentioned, it's entirely possible to make new friends through the online world that later become real world friends, but it's probably the exception to the rule.

As for dating, I would personally recommend not going the "Myspace" route. In my opinion, it's better to live well in the real world, and expand your circle of friends through those contacts.

My girlfriend Lynn and I met kayaking in La Jolla, for example. As it happens, the kayaking group organized the excursion online, but it wasn't an online relationship.

Why do I recommend developing relationships in the real world? Mainly because you can learn so much more about the other person when you're actually meeting face-to-face. Online, it's too easy for people to create a personae that's attractive. Not that they're being dishonest, necessarily. Just that you only see what they want you to see.

You could argue that the same is true in the real world, but I personally think it's easier to spot the "posers."

[Philip]

I agree with Jeff and Sarah's viewpoints. There's nothing like meeting someone and establishing a relationship in real life, circa 1980's (no Internet then). I think people do put on a front (not that it's bad) when they're on social networks or IM, but that's actually what I like about IM.

For instance, I could wake up looking like a tornado hit me during the night, go straight to my computer and start chatting (without a webcam, hee hee) and not be bothered by my looks. And I'm usually honest when I chat with my friends (you know who you are). If I'm pissed, I'll say I'm pissed, that sort of thing.

Back to hooking up with someone online: it's probably a thrill, especially with younger people and when you don't know what he/she looks like in real life. But as Sarah says, this is a crazy world, so let's be very careful out there.


P/S That reminds me, Jeff. Our first physical staff meeting in Hawaii is overdue. I'm a troublemaker, aren't I?

[Jeff]

Hey Philip, I would love to do a face-to-face staff meeting in Hawaii. I've never been there myself, but I hear it's not bad. It would be fun though!

[iloveconor.com]

Yes and yes.

[David]

Originally Posted by iloveconor.com

Yes and yes.

Better get yourself checked out then, man.