Internet Meet-up - Could be Fun!

In July 1999 I met in person 4 women whom I met online through a Mommy Chat group on Msn.com.

There were 5 of us who met up in person. A woman from Bridgeview, IL; a woman from Crestwood, IL; a woman from Florida; a woman who went by the name of Stormy from Canada and myself from Chicago.

As the date approached the excitement grew. We were all looking forward to our meet-up. The women in Crestwood and Bridgeview were kind of the official hostesses, planning events at their homes.

I volunteered to pick up Stormy from O'Hare Airport since I lived the closest. Having never picked anyone up at an airport before I was very nervous that I wouldn't find the right gate. Eventually I found it and met up with Stormy and drove her to the Hampton Inn in Crestwood, IL.

The women from Crestwood and Bridgeview had been getting together before the big meet-up, since they lived so close to each other. This was supposed to be kind of a girl’s weekend, with Sunday being family day with a BBQ in Bridgeview. I decided to get a room at the hotel for 2 nights and bring the family. I thought it was a great idea. I figured that way I wouldn't be spending a lot of time driving back and forth and the kids could swim in the hotel pool. Kind of a mini vacation, and, it was my birthday weekend! I think perhaps this made me the odd person out. I felt like the 5th wheel, like I didn't belong. I also got a weird, stand-offish vibe from one of the women that's kind of hard to describe. It could have been they were just weirded out by my bringing the family, even though I did not bring them to the house party Friday night. Or, it could have just been that these women were just very cliquish and I didn't fit in. It kind of reminded me of high school.

There is a blogger near me, Patricia, who is having a meet-up in April for Chicago area bloggers that I'm really excited about. Patricia has 2 blogs, Communication Exchange and Subjective Soup. I've said I will attend, but in the back of my mind I keep remembering this bad experience from my past. Even at this point with the date so far off, I'm waffling back and forth, should I attend or not attend? Having said that, I realize that I shouldn't let that bad experience color my expectations of this new opportunity to potentially meet some of the really great bloggers I've come to enjoy reading.

All of you bloggers from the Chicago area (and I know quite a few) stop by Patricia’s sites, Communication Exchange and Subjective Soup and check out her meet-up and if you can, sign up on one of her sites to attend and let me know if you will be attending. Be sure to tell Patricia you found out about her meet-up from Lola.

I'm also kind of embarrassed to say that I'm reminded of how not only myself, but how other people seem to have kind of a different personality online. I don’t think it’s intentional. I think it's just the nature of the internet. I think it’s kind of like the difference between the personality of your writing style and your "in person" personality. Does that make sense? With writing we always have the opportunity to edit, to use extra care in crafting our sentences and to have unlimited time before hitting the publish button.

Having been through the '99 experience and having done online dating I can say (for myself anyway) without a doubt that there is a kind of a disjoint between my writing style personality and my "in person" personality. Sometimes in dating I was able to overcome it, sometimes not. Even in dating I had some really bad experiences, but I didn't let that keep me from the opportunity to meet new people. Had I not continued to give online dating a chance, I would have never met Anastasia.

Think about how many blogs you visit regularly (blogs of people you've never met in person). Do you ever wonder what their personality is like in "real life"? Think about that humor blogger that you visit regularly. Are they really that funny in person? Are they as quick witted as they seem? That political blogger that you visit, are they really that articulate in person? The frazzled mommy blogger that you visit, are they really that frazzled or are they the completely organized PTA mom?

Have I got you thinking?

Have you met in person people you’ve met online? Have you met any bloggers in person? Did you find a disjoint, or did they seem to be exactly like their online persona? Please tell me your thoughts in the Comment Section. Inquiring minds want to know.

Lola's Diner
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