Internet buddy relationships real?

[#1MMFan]

How close have you got to a buddy whom you met originally through the internet? I have a buddy over in MD who I met via an internet site. We talked initially via AIM, then once used a webcam. After that I wrote the occasional postcard to him c/o his university address. Finally, when he moved home I spoke to him by telephone - good job I got a cheap rate on the phone as we have been on the phone more than an hour sometimes! Although he is a little younger than me, we share a number of things in common. I hope ultimately to meet him face-to-face in the future.
So what are your experiences of internet buddies and meets etc, good or bad?

 

[dmslush]

I have a group of internet friends who I met in about 6-7 years ago on the old Rosie O'Donnell boards on the WB. It was right about the time of the columbine shooting (rosie went off on Tom Selleck, the boards were swamped with people). A small group of us became friends and stayed friends. We have an ez board message board that is private for about 10 of us. We have had many births, a few deaths, and have grown to love and respect one another. Several of us have met. I personally have met one of the girls that travels to TN to see her inlaws. We also do christmas exchanges every year.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The DIS is the only interactive board I participate on, and over the past almost 7 years I have been here, I have met many folks from the boards, have become close to a good number of them. My wife, Marie, (Lady M here) has been a participant here for almost 4 years, has met quite a few folks here locally in the Chicago area, has become friends with a number of them. I know she has had some phone conversations last hours.

I have often commented at DIS meets just how remarkable the Net is, and in turn, Net boards, in how they enable people who would never have met any other way, to, in fact not only meet, but also become friends and share.

 

[mudnuri]

I "met" a woman from a yahoo parenting chat back in 1998 shortly after I had DD8 and she had her twins. We chatted quite a bit in the chat, then on ymessenger, then progressed to phone calls.

We've been through parents illness and then deaths, her divorce, my seperation, kids things etc.. We spend hours on the phone each week, and still talk via ymessenger daily. our kids call each of us "aunt XXX" and "aunt Brandy"LOL..

FINALLY this December 28th she will arrive in Vermont for 4 days!!! she's from Kansas, and will be coming here !!! yeah!

As for the romantic part, I cant really comment on that..

Brandy

 

[Hermosa11]

I have a great internet buddy! Met her two years (this coming Feb.) on another Disney message board (sorry for cheating......) and we just started e-mailing !

I really enjoy chatting with her! I am in Calif. and she in Oregon....I want to visit her someday (have another friend that moved within a mile of her!).

 

[jekajekalynn]

Hmmm... how close have I personaly got to an internet buddy? Well he's napping on the couch right now !





My dh and I met what seems like a LONG time ago online (MST3k chat) and have been married for almost 4 years now.


I haven't had a same gender friends or plutonic friends online that I have kept, but my dh still talks to some of his old friends online.

 

[bicker]

I met a woman on an online chat system in 1990. We've been very happily-married for over 12 years.

 

[#1MMFan]

Thanks so far, guys, for the replies. Very positive. But how did you go about meeting the first time. What about safety etc?

 

[Papa Deuce]

Well, I met my wife via the net. And before her I was using the net exclusively to line up my dates, si I guess you can say I like it. Plus I created a group of folks to go biking the Valley Forge bike path that grew to about 25 people.

Whatever you do, make the first meet in a very public area.

 

[dmslush]

Thanks so far, guys, for the replies. Very positive. But how did you go about meeting the first time. What about safety etc?

My friend and I actually met at the Tennesse Aquarium in Chattanooga. She brought her husband and kids, I brought my SO and dd. I guess we both figured that our men would protect us if our 'friend' really turned out to be an ax murdering pervert LOL!

For the record, I would NEVER EVER meet anyone from the net without having SO with me.

 

[hiwaygal]

Thanks so far, guys, for the replies. Very positive. But how did you go about meeting the first time. What about safety etc?

I met several folks online then in person...some of them were friends for awhile and one of them is my new DH!

When you meet someone for the first time...do it at a public place! Meet at a favorite coffee shop or museum...someplace you can talk easily but not be too isolated.

You might want to let a "real-life" friend know what is going on and who you are meeting and where...just in case. They can also be a great back-up to get you out of a "sticky" situation if needed...have them call you 30 minutes after you are scheduled to meet...and if things are going badly, you can cut your losses and run, or not!

It's not so bad...I remember the hardest thing being what to talk about...which you think is silly because you've been talking for a long time...but it's different in person! Just try to remember all the "experiences" you've shared and keep that familiarity up front and things will go well!

Good luck!!

 

[Stitchfans]

I have one good friend from another board I used to go to often. It was a board for people involved with adoptions. I haven't been searching as hard as I did in the past so I seldom if ever go on that board any more. This friend just recently became very ill and isn't responding to my letters or emails. Sure hope all is well with her. She recently found her son and I hope with all my heart she will be able to meet him.

Recently there was a meet in Chicago for Dis friends, but due to the fact I am a baby and will not venture to Chicago by myself, I didn't make it. Maybe some day I will make it to one of them.

 

[JoenAdamnErinnSam]

I have hesitated to post this here..but here's my story..I made contact with a guy I went to kindergarten with, we went our separate ways til we re-met the summer after we turned 14-and spent that whole summer together, "fell in love" and I moved away for good at the end of the summer. We haven't talked to each other in 30 years. We have been catching up via e-mail off and on since September. Last Sunday we spoke on the phone for the first time, and its amazing how alike our lives have been, and how we've held the memory of each other so close all these years. We are both actually in a position to pursue this further at this point in our lives, however-he is in Daytona Beach, and I live in NY. But it just happens I am heading to Disney with family, and we are in the process of arranging to meet at Disney!!!. Sure I could have taken the trip to see him, but I felt it was smarter to do it where I feel comfortable, and also more comfortable for my sister and BIL if I stayed close. In my heart, I know it will be ok-it's my head that keeps making me be smart. I've never been in this position before, and I'm nervous and excited all at the same time.

 

[Danauk]

I have an internet friend who I have met. We met on line as we are both teachers and her class and my class became email pals (our classes paired up on a school email friend board.) She lives in Arizona and I live in the UK. So far we have both visited oneanother. She came to stay at my house when she visited the UK a few years ago and she came into work with me and met my class (her class sent gifts for them as well which was nice.) Then 6 months later my husband and I went to Las Vegas and then we went to stay with her for a week and then we all went to San Diego to stay with her mum for a few days. I also got to visit her school. We still email oneanother and hope to see one another again one day.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I have a few buddies from the internet. I've never met some, but would love to if I could. Some I have met, but I did so in a public place. Best of luck to you.

 

[Buckalew11]

I've met several and one time met them & spent 2 nights with them in a cabin in the mtns.! LOL
Lucky, for me they weren't ax murderers!!

 

[4greatboys]

I have made several very good friends online. We have vacationed at disney with our families at the same time and taken a girls trip.
Though none of the friends live close to me we are still close. IM with them often, if not daily.

 

[JVL1018]

I met Lisa(DVCFamily41801) at WDW about 5 years ago-we met online.
She's since come to my home and my family and I have gone to hers.
I have since met many of the people feom a Disney Loop I'm in-first time was a public place with husbands/kids.

I have a great circle of friends I met on a pregnancy board I joined when I was pregnant with my son.
We first met in Washington DC. About 15 of us went for a weekend, met at a restaurant..and then the next day had a bbq at one of the VA girls house(no address was given out until she met us all the night before).
Since then, we have had a meet at least once a year-people fly in form CA, TX, KY etc.
Us East Coast girls(NJ, VA, MA) meet more often. My girlfriends in VA and MA often come to my house since I;m in the middle(4 hour drive for each) to spend the weekend. I've gone up to Boston-5 of us had a Salem weekend last October.
I've been to VA quite a few times to visit--stop on our drive to Hiltin Head to meet for lunch, etc.
3 of the girls(NJ, VA and MA) even drove down for my Mom's wake and funeral--took the VA and MA girls over 7 hours in traffic--now that's a real friend!! Doesn't matter how we met.

 

[DVC Jen]

I met my best friend via the internet. My sister met her DH the same way.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I married mine.