I'm sure you have watched the television show where some man shows up to met a child with whom he has been having sexually explicit conversations within a chat room. Or you have read about a marriage breaking up because one of the partners found someone else over the Internet. Makes email and chat groups sound dangerous doesn't it?
But that hasn't been my experience. I've made dear friends over the Internet. Back in about 1991, I joined up with a group of photographers in a email group. That group has splintered and then both groups have added additional people. Over the years we have gotten to know the spouse and children, met up in locations or visited in each others homes. We've seen children grow up, been through marriages and divorces, job changes, illnesses. Friends....that is what we have become, that is what we are.
I've been blogging less than two years but I'm finding that I'm making the same kind of connections via blogs. I've met other bloggers on line and now I'm having the opportunity to met some of them in person. Several of them I know because they live here in San Miguel but last Saturday Ned and I met Deb and Chip for breakfast. It is like there wasn't any need for introductions because as soon as we walked into Cafe Colon we started talking and we talked and talked. Just wish we would have had more time but there will be another time.
Now I'm looking forward to meeting Nancy and Paul who will be in San Miguel for a day. Already I know that we'll have lots of things to talk about.
I wonder which blogger I'll actually meet next? Or maybe someone who doesn't have a blog but reads regularly will stop lurking, send an email and I'll get to know them as well as they know me.
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5 comments:
I have had a similar experience and met someone from the internet who I had communicated with in a photography forum and became photography friends with. We go out shooting together frequently. I had to chuckle though, because I have a 14 and a 12 year old and am constantly warning them about the dangers of the internet. Then last week when I mentioned to my wife that I had e-mailed someone from a photography forum the 14 year old overheard it and said "remember dad, don't give anyone from the internet any information!" Well at least he remembered.
I do think, though, there is a diffference between adult and child judgement when it comes to things like this.
Wish I were near enough to you to come by and say hi!
The blogs are a way of communication, you could find bad people if you talk about sex, violence, etc... but if you talk about family, dreams, friends, you will find good people
Hi Billie! We really enjoyed meeting you and Ned! You're as charming in person as you are in your blog. We're still talking about how lucky we are to have the opportunity to meet so many interesting people in SMA. We'll definitely see you again and I do want a tour of your digital studio! Deb
I need to write about this, too. I've met five other Honduran bloggers so far. Each was exactly as I expected from their blogs. I felt as if I knew them before we met so it was almost more like a meeting of old friends.
It's still amazing to me. When I started my blog, I thought I would stay anonymous forever.
Yes, Meeting old friends has been my experience too.
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