Friends?

[Mission]

Think of it as a form of respect.

[Diosa De Cancion]

Think of it as a form of respect.

hmmm... is that the rare 'avoid them like they have a deadly disease respect' that you only learn about in Social Phych classes? :angry:

[Duchess]

I've found, through copious testing of course, that I can nearly always identify people on line that I won't get along with in person. But I have a much harder time telling whom I will get along with...

[Mission]

I've found, through copious testing of course, that I can nearly always identify people on line that I won't get along with in person. But I have a much harder time telling whom I will get along with...

The testing process is sort of interesting isn't it? You can't always rely on the results, however. I was talking with someone at PiP - I think it was Jessi - and we concluded that several people who were practically zeds from our on-line experience of them turned out to be quite charming and fascinating when experienced live and in color. Perhaps certain personalities come across strongly (especially when people are vocal and/or opinionated) and others do not. Also, searching for strands of personality in a public forum is fraught with potential error. Many people appear a certain way publicly but reveal bits and pieces in private emails that give you a better picture of who they really are. (In fact, you appear to me from our conversations to be one of them - although, admittedly, after 3 years of on-line discourse, I have no direct experience upon which to compare the data I've gathered, so I can't be certain.)

[Ransom]

I have also found that to be true. It's easy to come off differently than you are in person, when writing on an impersonal forum, especially under an assumed name. You might be braver in your opinions when you don't have to look into someone's face, or be less timid than you would be in a real crowd. Some people I had interacted with a lot on the Pub, turned out to be a bit stand-offish in real life (or maybe thought I was, hard to tell). While others, whom I had little interaction with, ended up being a great deal of fun. Then again, I've also lucked out and had the best of both worlds many times, which goes to show, you just never know. I guess the adventure is in finding out.

[Red Bess]

You might be braver in your opinions when you don't have to look into someone's face, or be less timid than you would be in a real crowd.

I confess, I find that to be very true. When I was introduced to quite a few folks (namely Ransom and the entire crew of the Archangel) at Port Washington I was so overwhelmed I couldn't think of anything to say. Afterwords, I was afraid I came off as aloof. That was a couple years ago, so I've had another year (and a few more drinks) to become more comfortable, but I still find those first face-to-face meetings difficult.

On the forums, I can choose my words carefully, and go back and edit my comments before I send them. In person, I'm always afraid I'll just blurt out something stupid.

[Rumba Rue]

Well as most have found out, I'm not much of a talker in real life, I listen to people.

I can write fairly well except when feeling cranky or whatever and I earn another blue ribbon for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

But I love to smile and laugh (when I can) because that's what makes my current pain-filled life somewhat less painful. (Hopefully that will be corrected sometime in January.)

[Mission]

Some people I had interacted with a lot on the Pub, turned out to be a bit stand-offish in real life (or maybe thought I was, hard to tell).

This is why I try to be distant and stand-offish in the pub.

[MadL]

Can someone you don't know in a physical sense really be your friend?

(one of those things I ponder to no end...)

They be th' very best kind o' friend....they don't drink all yer rum either!